Methods and Systems For Processing Electronic Checks

Abstract

Methods and systems for receiving account data, where the account data includes an account number that is compared to a previously submitted account number where the previously submitted account number is associated with a successful payment. It is then determined if there is a likely match between the account number and the previously submitted account number by performing at least one of several fuzzy logic techniques. Upon determining that the likely match exists the parsed account number is automatically replaced with the previously submitted account number.

1 . A method comprising: 
 receiving account data;    parsing the account data to determine an account number;    comparing the parsed account number to a previously submitted account number wherein the previously submitted account number is associated with a successful payment;    determining if there is a likely match between the account number and the previously submitted account number by performing at least one of a plurality of fuzzy logic techniques; and    upon determining that the likely match exists, automatically replacing the parsed account number with the previously submitted account number.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fuzzy logic techniques include at least one of the following: 
 if there has been a transposition of a first digit of the parsed account number with a second digit of the parsed account number,    if there is no more than one digit of the parsed account number different than the previously submitted account number,    if the number of digits in the parsed account number and the previously submitted account number differ by no more than one, and    if more than a preset percentage of the string of digits of the parsed account number and the string of digits of the previously submitted account number match.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the preset percentage is equal to or greater than 80%.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the account number is associated with a customer.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing the parsed account number in a database.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting payment information to a financial institution associated with the previously submitted account number.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising parsing the account data to determine a routing number; 
 comparing the parsed routing number to a previously stored routing number wherein the previously stored routing number is associated with a successful payment;    determining if there is a likely match between the routing number and the previously stored routing number by performing at least one of the fuzzy logic techniques; and    upon determining that the likely match exists, automatically replacing the parsed routing number with the previously stored routing number.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the account data includes at least one non-numeric character.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the account data includes at least a portion of MICR line data.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of parsing includes separating the account data into fields based on the placement of at least one non-numeric character.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of parsing further includes counting the number of digits in each field of account data to determine at least a likely account number field.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of parsing further includes comparing the number of digits in the likely account number field to a predetermined number of valid digits for account numbers associated with a financial institution.  
     
     
         13 . A method comprising: 
 receiving account data, wherein the account data includes an account number;    comparing the account number to a previously submitted account number wherein the previously submitted account number is associated with a successful payment;    determining if there is a likely match between the account number and the previously submitted account number by performing at least one of a plurality of fuzzy logic techniques; and    upon determining that the likely match exists, automatically replacing the parsed account number with the previously submitted account number.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of fuzzy logic techniques include at least one of the following: 
 if there has been a transposition of a first digit of the account number with a second digit of the parsed account number,    if there is no more than one digit of the account number different than the previously submitted account number.    if the number of digits in the account number and the previously submitted account number differ by no more than one, and    if more than a preset percentage of the string of digits of the account number and the string of digits of the previously submitted account number match.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the preset percentage is equal to or greater than 80%.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising storing the account number in a database.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising transmitting payment information to a financial institution associated with the previously submitted account number.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the account data includes at least one non-numeric character.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the account data includes at least a portion of MICR line data.  
     
     
         20 . A system, comprising: 
 means for receiving account data, wherein the account data includes an account number;    means for storing a previously submitted account number, wherein the previously submitted account number is associated with a successful payment;    means for comparing the account number to the previously submitted account number;    means for determining if there is a likely match between the account number and the previously submitted account number by performing at least one of a plurality of fuzzy logic techniques; and    means for automatically replacing the parsed account number with the previously submitted account number when the likely match exists.    
     
     
         21 . A system, comprising: 
 a database, wherein the database includes a plurality of previously submitted account numbers;    an interface; and    a processor, in communication with the database and interface, wherein the processor is configured to execute software instructions for: 
 receiving, via the interface, account data,  
 parsing the account data to determine an account number,  
 comparing the parsed account number to a previously submitted account number stored in the database, wherein the previously submitted account number is associated with a successful payment,  
 determining if there is a likely match between the account number and the previously submitted account number by performing at least one of a plurality of fuzzy logic techniques,  
 automatically replacing the parsed account number with the previously submitted account number when the likely match exists, and  
 transmitting, via the network interface, payment information to a financial institution associated with the previously submitted account number.