Computer system and method for processing account data

Abstract

The present invention is embodied in an online-like transaction processing method and system for processing account information contained in batch process files, the method including: reading at least one batch file containing a plurality of records, each of the plurality of records being related to an associated one of a plurality of accounts; identifying which of the plurality of records relate to same ones of the plurality of accounts; identifying one of the accounts; and, processing all of the records identified as relating to the one of the accounts together and independent of processing any of the records relating to any other of the plurality of accounts.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A computer system for processing insurance account information, comprising:
 a memory device storing data indicative of a plurality of records, each of said plurality of records associated with one of a plurality of accounts, at least two of said records being associated with a first one of the accounts;   an input/output subsystem for controlling data transfer to and from the memory device; and   a processor in communication with the memory device and the input/output subsystem, the processor configured to:
 access stored data indicative of the plurality of records from the memory device; 
 prevent access to the first account; 
 responsive to prevention of access to the first account, process each record associated with the first account; and 
 following the processing of each record associated with the first account, end the prevention of access to the first account. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the accounts relates to a plurality of insurance policies for a same insured. 
     
     
         3 . The computer system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the accounts relates to a plurality of insurance policies for a same insured, each of the policies corresponding to an account being billed and managed together. 
     
     
         4 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the records comprises a data structure relating to at least one of a transaction or a processing activity. 
     
     
         5 . The computer system of  claim 4 , wherein each of the records comprises a data structure having a plurality of fields. 
     
     
         6 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing the at least one record comprises modifying account information. 
     
     
         7 . The computer system of  claim 6 , wherein the modifying account information comprises modifying an address associated with the account. 
     
     
         8 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to process each record associated with the account in real time responsive to real time requests received from a front end computer system. 
     
     
         9 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the records comprise non-financial data fields. 
     
     
         10 . A computer-implemented method for processing data related to accounts, comprising:
 storing in a database server data indicative of a plurality of records, each of said plurality of records associated with one of a plurality of accounts, at least two of said records being associated with a common one of the accounts;   accessing by a processor in communication with the database server, via an input/output subsystem, stored data indicative of the plurality of records from the memory device; and   responsive to data indicative of prevention of access to the common account by at least one other process, and prior to ending the prevention of access of the common account, processing by the processor each of the plurality of records associated with the common account.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein the common account is an automotive insurance policy account and further comprising, responsive to the processing of each record, generating a notice to an insured under the automotive insurance policy. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein the processing the at least one record comprises modifying account information. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the modifying account information comprises updating of contact information of an insured of an insurance policy. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein the accessing of the stored data and the processing of each of the plurality of records is performed in real time responsive to a real time front end computer system. 
     
     
         15 . A computer system for processing data related to insurance accounts, comprising:
 a hardware database server system comprising a plurality of processors and data storage devices and storing data indicative of a plurality of records, each of the records being associated with one of the insurance accounts, and at least two of the records being related to a same one of the insurance accounts;   one or more processors having an associated input/output controller, in communication with the hardware database server, the one or more processors configured to:
 access stored data indicative of the plurality of records from the data storage devices; 
 responsive to prevention of access of the same one of the insurance accounts, process each of the plurality of records associated with the same one of the insurance accounts; and 
 responsive to completion of processing of each of the plurality of records associated with the same one of the insurance accounts, end prevention of access of the same one of the insurance accounts. 
   
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of processors in communication with the hardware database server, each of the processors being configured for parallel processing of records, and to process each of the plurality of records associated with one of the insurance accounts prior to processing records associated with another one of the insurance accounts. 
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 16 , wherein the system is configured to restrict access to a plurality of the insurance accounts being simultaneously processed by the plurality of processors, while permitting access to others of the insurance accounts. 
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein each of the accounts relates to a plurality of insurance policies for a same insured. 
     
     
         19 . The computer system of  claim 18 , wherein each of the accounts relates to a plurality of insurance policies for a same insured, each of the policies corresponding to an account being billed and managed together. 
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the system is configured to process each of the plurality of records associated with the same one of the insurance accounts in real time in communication with a real time back end computer system.