Electronic confirmation to debit or credit an account

Abstract

A method for processing a check transaction includes receiving transaction information that is transmitted by a terminal; determining eligibility of the transaction for payment via a bank account; providing an electronic authorization response that is transmitted to the terminal, the authorization response including a unique transaction identifier if the transaction is eligible for payment via the bank account; and receiving an electronic response packet that is transmitted by the terminal if the transaction is eligible for payment via the bank account, the response packet including the unique transaction identifier and a transaction decision regarding payment via the bank account.

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       10 . A method of processing a check transaction, the method comprising: 
 providing transaction information to an authorization source using a terminal so as to determine eligibility of the transaction for payment via a bank account;    receiving at the terminal an electronic authorization response provided by the authorization source, the authorization response including a unique transaction identifier if the transaction is eligible for payment via the bank account; and    providing an electronic response packet to the authorization source using the terminal if the transaction is eligible for payment via the bank account, the response packet including the unique transaction identifier and a transaction decision regarding payment via the bank account.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising receiving at the terminal an electronic confirmation of receipt of the response packet provided by the authorization source.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising storing the response packet at the terminal.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising storing the response packet at a host computer in communication with the terminal, and comparing at a predetermined time interval the response packet stored at the terminal with the response packet stored at the host computer.  
   
   
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       17 . A system for processing a check transaction, the system comprising: 
 a terminal for transmitting transaction information associated with the transaction; and    an authorization source computer system in communication with the terminal and operative to receive the transaction information from the terminal, the authorization source computer system including instructions for determining eligibility of the transaction for payment via a bank account, and instructions for generating an electronic authorization response for transmission to the terminal, the authorization response including a unique transaction identifier if the transaction is eligible for payment via the bank account;    wherein the terminal is operative to receive the authorization response from the authorization source computer system and to transmit an electronic response packet to the authorization source computer system if the transaction is eligible for payment via the bank account, the response packet including the unique transaction identifier and a transaction decision regarding payment via the bank account.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the transaction identifier includes a number.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the transaction identifier includes a letter.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the transaction identifier includes a symbol.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising receiving at the terminal an electronic confirmation of receipt of the response packet from the authorization source.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising providing a settlement request to the authorization source using the terminal.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the step of providing a settlement request occurs simultaneously with the step of providing an electronic response packet.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the step of providing a settlement request occurs after the step of providing an electronic response packet.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the authorization source computer system further includes instructions for storing the authorization response in an authorization response file, instructions for storing the response packet in a response packet file, and instructions for comparing the response packet file with the authorization response file prior to settling the transaction.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the authorization source computer system further includes instructions for providing an electronic confirmation of receipt of the response packet to the terminal.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the instructions for determining eligibility include instructions for determining eligibility based on rules of one of an authorization host and a financial institution.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the instructions for determining eligibility include instructions for determining if sufficient funds exist in the bank account.  
   
   
       29 . A method of processing a check transaction, the method comprising: 
 providing transaction information to an authorization source using a terminal so as to determine eligibility of the transaction for payment via a bank account;    receiving at the terminal an electronic authorization response provided by the authorization source, the authorization response including a unique transaction identifier when the transaction is determined to be eligible for payment via the bank account; and    providing an electronic response packet to the authorization source using the terminal when the transaction is eligible for payment via the bank account, the response packet including the unique transaction identifier and a transaction decision regarding whether or not the check transaction is to proceed with payment via the bank account.