Method and system for processing messages in a bill payment and presentment system over a communications network

Abstract

In a bill payment and presentation system, a method for electronically routing billing information over a communications network is provided, using an open financial exchange communication protocol. The method provides for a centrally located mainframe system and a switching system for coordinating the routing of messages between customer service providers and biller service providers. In particular, the method collects at the CSPs and at the BSPs mainframe application files comprising the messages, forwards these files in batch mode to the mainframe system and converts with a switching system these mainframe files into web-enabled addresses, allowing for the effective transmission of financial billing information in flat-file and/or Internet-based form.

1 . In an electronic bill payment and presentment system having a centrally-located computer system, a plurality of customer service providers interfacing with one or more customers, and a plurality of biller service providers interfacing with one or more billers, a method for electronically routing billing information over a communications network using an open financial exchange communication protocol, comprising:
 facilitating providing a centrally located switching system which allows for server to server, file to server, server to file and file to file connectivity, in part through the use of a file distribution agent, coupled to said bill payment and presentment system for coordinating the routing of messages between said customer service providers and biller service providers;   receiving at said switching system in one or more message queues application files generated at one or more of said customer service providers or said biller service providers comprising said messages; and   converting at said switching system said application files into messaging accessible addresses for delivery of said messages over said communications network to one or more intended recipients comprising at least one of said customer service providers or said biller service providers.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said converting step comprises: using a file distribution agent for appending to said application files a header; and using a look-up table to determine the messaging accessible addresses. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising: delivering said messages to one or more of said customer service providers; and bursting said messages to two or more of said plurality of biller service providers. 
     
     
         4 . In a bill payment and presentation system, a method for electronically routing billing information over a communications network using an open financial exchange communication protocol, comprising:
 providing a switching system for routing messages including said billing information between one or more customer service providers and one or more biller service providers;   providing multiple connectivity options into said switching system, said options including an open connection over public lines and a closed-line connection;   receiving from one of said customer service providers or one of said biller service providers application files including said messages with one or more intended recipients over said closed-line connection to said switching system; and   converting at said switching system said application files into messaging accessible addresses for delivery of said messages to said intended recipients over said public lines.