System and method for bill delivery and payment over a communications network

Abstract

A system for delivering and paying subscriber bills associated with a plurality of billers includes a server computer and at least one subscriber computer connected to a communications network. The server computer transmits bill presentment information representing one or more bills for a subscriber, each of the one or more bills having an associated biller, via the network. A subscriber computer includes a communications port for receiving the transmitted bill presentment information representing the one or more bills for the subscriber, and a display for displaying the received bill presentment information. An input device is also provided for selecting at least one of the one or more bills represented by the displayed bill presentment information. The subscriber computer additionally has a processor for causing the communications port to transmit a payment record for the selected at least one bill, to the server computer via the network, responsive to the selection. The server computer generates remittance advice based on the transmitted payment record, and routes the remittance advice that is generated based on the transmitted payment record for each selected bill, to the biller associated with that bill.

I/we claim:  
     
         1 . A system for delivering and paying subscriber bills associated with a plurality of billers via a communications network, comprising: 
 a server computer connected to the network and adapted to transmit bill presentment information representing one or more bills for a subscriber, each of the one or more bills having an associated biller, via the network; and    a subscriber computer, connected to the network, and including a communications port for receiving the transmitted bill presentment information representing the one or more bills, a display for displaying the received bill presentment information, an input device for selecting at least one of the one or more bills represented by the displayed bill presentment information, and a processor for causing the communications port to transmit a payment record for each selected bill, to the server computer via the network, responsive to the selection of the at least one bill;    wherein the server computer is further configured to generate remittance advice based on each transmitted payment record, and to route the remittance advice which is generated based on the transmitted payment record for each selected bill, to the biller associated with that bill.    
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the server computer is further configured to receive original bill information representing the one or more bills, generate the bill presentment information representing the one or more bills based on the received original bill information, and to transmit the bill presentment information to the subscriber computer, via the network.    
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the generated bill presentment information includes a summary of each of the one or more bills represented by the received original bill information.    
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 one or more biller computers connected to the communications network;    wherein the remittance advice which is generated based on the transmitted payment record for each selected bill, is routed directly from the server computer to a respective one of the one or more biller computers, which represents the biller associated with that bill, via the network.    
     
     
         5 . A method of delivering and paying bills via a communications network to which are coupled a central station, and a plurality of payor stations, comprising: 
 receiving bill presentment information representing one or more bills, each having an associated biller, at one of the plurality of payor stations via the communications network;    displaying the received bill presentment information at the one payor station;    entering an input at the one payor station to select at least one of the one or more bills represented by the displayed bill presentment information;    transmitting a payment record for each selected bill from the one payor station to the central station via the communications network;    generating remittance advice at the central station based on each transmitted payment record; and    routing the remittance advice which is generated based on the transmitted payment record for each selected bill, to the biller associated with that bill.    
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 receiving original bill information representing the one or more bills;    generating the bill presentment information representing the one or more bills based on the received original bill information; and    transmitting the bill presentment information from the central station to the one payor station via the communications network.    
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the generated bill presentment information includes a summary of each of the one or more bills represented by the received original bill information.    
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 one or more biller stations are also coupled to the communications network; and    the remittance advice which is generated based on the transmitted payment record for each selected bill, is routed dirertly from the central station to a respective one of the one or more biller stations, which represents the biller associated with that bill, via the communications network.    
     
     
         9 . A system for delivering and paying subscriber bills associated with a plurality of billers, comprising: 
 a communications port configured to transmit bill presentment information representing one or more bills for a subscriber, each of the one or more bills having an associated biller, and to receive a signal indicative of the selection by the subscriber of at least one of the one or more bills represented by the transmitted bill presentment information for payment, via a communications network; and    a processor configured to generate remittance advice based on each transmitted payment record, and to route the remittance advice which is generated based on the transmitted payment record for each selected bill, to the biller associated with that bill.    
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the processor is further configured to generate the bill presentment information based on original bill information representing the one or more bills, and to direct transmission of the bill presentment information; and    the communications port transmits the bill presentment information responsive to the transmission directive.    
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the generated bill presentment information includes a summary of each of the one or more bills represented by the received original bill information.    
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the processor is further configured to route the remittance advice to the associated biller by directing the transmission of the remittance advice; and    the communications port is further configured to transmit the remittance advice which is generated based on the transmitted payment record for each selected bill, directly from to the biller associated with that bill, responsive to the processor directive.    
     
     
         13 . A method of delivering and paying bills, comprising: 
 transmitting bill presentment information representing one or more bills, each having an associated biller, to a subscriber via a communications network;    receiving a payment record via the communications network, for at least one of the one or more bills represented by the transmitted bill presentment information, which has been selected by the subscriber for payment;    generating remittance advice based on each transmitted payment record, and directing a delivery of the remittance advice which is generated based on the transmitted payment record for each selected bill, to the biller associated with that bill.    
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 generating the bill presentment information based on original bill information representing the one or more bills.    
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein: 
 the generated bill presentment information includes a summary of each of the one or more bills represented by the original bill information.    
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 delivery of the remittance advice is directed by transmitting the remittance advice which is generated based on the transmitted payment record for each selected bill, directly to the biller associated with that bill via the communications network.