Payment identification code and payment system using the same

Abstract

A payment method including determining whether a first routing identifier included in a payment instruction has routing information for a financial institution. The payment instruction also includes a payee-related identifier. If the first routing identifier is determined to include routing information for a financial institution, then a payment message is transmitted based on the first routing identifier, wherein the payment message includes the payee-related identifier. If the first routing identifier is determined to not include routing information for a financial institution, then (a) payee-related account identification information and a second routing identifier are retrieved based on the payee-related identifier, and (b) a payment message including the payee-related account identification information is transmitted to a payee-related destination, based on the second routing identifier. The payment message does not include at least one of the payee-related identifier and the first routing identifier.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A payment method, comprising:
 determining whether a first routing identifier included in a payment instruction has routing information for a financial institution, the payment instruction also including a payee-related identifier;   if the first routing identifier is determined to include routing information for a financial institution, then transmitting a payment message based on the first routing identifier, the payment message including the payee-related identifier; and   if the first routing identifier is determined to not include routing information for a financial institution, then:
 retrieving payee-related account identification information and a second routing identifier based on the payee-related identifier, and 
 transmitting a payment message including the payee-related account identification information to a payee-related destination, based on the second routing identifier, the payment message not including at least one of the payee-related identifier and the first routing identifier; 
   wherein the steps above are performed by at least one computer processor.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the determining and transmittings is performed by a payment system. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the payment system is an automated clearing house (ACH). 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the payment system is a funds-transfer system. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 managing data stored at a database, the data including at least one of a name and the second routing identifier; and   generating an access request to the database for at least the second routing identifier.   
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the database is a secure database of a trusted third party. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising providing an instruction to debit an account of a payor. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the payee-related destination is a first financial institution, and wherein a payee account is credited at at least one second financial institution. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 23 , further comprising communicating between the first financial institution and the at least one second financial institution to effect crediting of the payee account. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein each payment message also specifies a value representing an amount to be paid, and wherein a payee account is credited based on the value. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the retrieving is performed at a third party entity. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the determining and transmittings is performed electronically. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising validating the payee-related identifier against a database of codes. 
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the account identification information includes at least an account number of a payee account. 
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the first routing identifier does not identify a financial institution. 
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the second routing identifier does not identify a payee financial institution. 
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the payment instruction is initiated from a payor. 
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the payment instruction is initiated from a financial institution. 
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising a payor providing the payee-related identifier to initiate the payment instruction. 
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 if the first routing identifier is determined to not include routing information for a financial institution, then replacing the payee-related identifier included in the payment instruction with the retrieved payee-related account identification information and replacing the first routing identifier with the second routing identifier.   
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the first routing identifier is a unique pseudo-code, and the payee-related identifier is a further unique pseudo-code. 
     
     
         37 . A system comprising:
 a determining unit that determines whether a first routing identifier included in a payment instruction has routing information for a financial institution, the payment instruction also including a payee-related identifier; and   a transmitting unit configured to
 if the first routing identifier is determined to include routing information for a financial institution, transmit a payment message based on the first routing identifier, the payment message including the payee-related identifier, and 
 if the first routing identifier is determined to not include routing information for a financial institution, then:
 retrieve payee-related account identification information and a second routing identifier based on the payee-related identifier, and 
 transmit a payment message including the payee-related account identification information to a payee-related destination, based on the second routing identifier, the payment message not including at least one of the payee-related identifier and the first routing identifier, 
 
   wherein the units above are included in at least one computer.   
     
     
         38 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions, the sequences of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to perform a method comprising:
 determining whether a first routing identifier included in a payment instruction has routing information for a financial institution, the payment instruction also including a payee-related identifier;   if the first routing identifier is determined to include routing information for a financial institution, then transmitting a payment message based on the first routing identifier, the payment message including the payee-related identifier; and   if the first routing identifier is determined to not include routing information for a financial institution, then:
 retrieving payee-related account identification information and a second routing identifier based on the payee-related identifier, and 
 transmitting a payment message including the payee-related account identification information to a payee-related destination, based on the second routing identifier, the payment message not including at least one of the payee-related identifier and the first routing identifier. 
   
     
     
         39 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one memory storing a computer program; and   at least one computer processor coupled to the at least one memory, and operating under control of the computer program stored in the at least one memory, to:
 determine whether a first routing identifier included in a payment instruction has routing information for a financial institution, the payment instruction also including a payee-related identifier, 
 if the first routing identifier is determined to include routing information for a financial institution, then transmit a payment message based on the first routing identifier, the payment message including the payee-related identifier, and 
 if the first routing identifier is determined to not include routing information for a financial institution, then:
 retrieve payee-related account identification information and a second routing identifier based on the payee-related identifier, and 
 transmit a payment message including the payee-related account identification information to a payee-related destination, based on the second routing identifier, the payment message not including at least one of the payee-related identifier and the first routing identifier. 
 
   
     
     
         40 . An apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein the at least one processor is associated with an automated clearing house (ACH). 
     
     
         41 . An apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein the at least one processor is associated with a funds-transfer system. 
     
     
         42 . An apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein the at least one computer processor also operates under control of the computer program to:
 manage data stored at a database, the data including at least one of a name and the second routing identifier; and   generate an access request to the database for at least the second routing identifier.   
     
     
         43 . An apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein the database is a secure database of a trusted third party. 
     
     
         44 . An apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein the at least one computer processor also operates under control of the computer program to provide an instruction to debit a payor account. 
     
     
         45 . An apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein the payee-related destination is a first financial institution, and wherein a payee account is credited at at least one second financial institution. 
     
     
         46 . An apparatus according to  claim 45 , wherein the first financial institution and the second financial institution communicate to effect crediting of the payee account. 
     
     
         47 . An apparatus according to  claim 45 , wherein each payment message also specifies a value representing an amount to be paid, and wherein a payee account is credited based on the value. 
     
     
         48 . An apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein retrieval of the payee-related account identification information includes accessing such information via a third party entity. 
     
     
         49 . An apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein the at least one computer processor also operates under control of the computer program to validate the payee-related identifier against a database of codes. 
     
     
         50 . An apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein the payee-related account identification information includes at least a payee-related account number. 
     
     
         51 . An apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein the first routing identifier does not identify a financial institution. 
     
     
         52 . An apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein the second routing identifier does not identify a payee-related financial institution. 
     
     
         53 . An apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein the at least one computer processor also operates under control of the computer program to:
 replace the payee-related identifier included in the payment instruction with the payee-related account identification information and replace the first routing identifier with the second routing identifier, if the first routing identifier is determined to not include routing information.   
     
     
         54 . An apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein the first routing identifier is a pseudo-routing number, and the payee-related identifier is a pseudo-account number.