Aggregation and processing of check-based payments

Abstract

The present subject matter involves a system and method for producing and processing electronic transactions, including electronic checks, in a secure manner. In various embodiments, a secure server provides an electronic check service that maps payees to participating lockbox service providers and provides electronic payment instructions from the payor to the lockbox service providers to process payments to the payees. In various embodiments, a check is printed to fulfill Check21 Act requirements, electronic images are obtained of front and back of the printed check, and check image pairs are created of the electronic images of the front and back of the printed check. In various embodiments, paper items are processed where the electronic check service does not find an electronic deposit match. In various embodiments, the electronic lockbox files are used in a secure electronic payment platform that assists in the generation of electronic checks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for processing electronic payments requested by a payor, comprising:
 receiving payables files, check issuance files, and electronic check files with payment instructions for aggregated payments to payees;   converting the payment instructions into electronic check files and paper items instructions; and   providing an electronic check service configured to receive electronic check files, map payees to participating lockbox service providers, and send an electronic lockbox file to the participating lockbox service providers to provide aggregated payments.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating paper payment items from the paper items instructions. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving X9 files from a payee's bank where electronic lockbox files and paper items are processed. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein mapping payees to participating lockbox service providers includes using an application programming interface (API) to map a post office (PO) box address to a participating lockbox bank. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein mapping payees to participating lockbox service providers includes using an API to map a PO box address to a participating lockbox service provider. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic lockbox file includes electronic information regarding a bill or invoice. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising tracking individual check items using a distributed ledger system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the distributed ledger system includes blockchain. 
     
     
         9 . Them method of  claim 1 , further comprising recording the aggregated payments using enterprise resource planning (ERP) files. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the participating lockbox service providers include an image remittance processing system (IRPS). 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a computing device comprising at least one processor and a data storage device in communication with the at least one processor, wherein the data storage device comprises instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to:
 receive payables files, check issuance files, and electronic check files with payment instructions for aggregated payments to payees; 
 convert the payment instructions into electronic check files and paper items instructions; and 
 provide an electronic check service configured to receive electronic check files, map payees to participating lockbox service providers, and send an electronic lockbox file to the participating lockbox service providers to provide aggregated payments. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the computing device is configured to communicate with a client device of the payee. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the client device includes one or more of a desktop computer, a mobile phone or a laptop computer. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the client device executes a browser-based program or API to communicate with the computing device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the client device executes an applet to communicate with the computing device. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium including instructions that when executed by computers, cause the computers to perform operations of:
 receiving payables files, check issuance files, and electronic check files with payment instructions for aggregated payments to payees;   converting the payment instructions into electronic check files and paper items instructions; and   providing an electronic check service configured to receive electronic check files, map payees to participating lockbox service providers, and send an electronic lockbox file to the participating lockbox service providers to provide aggregated payments.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the computer-readable storage medium further includes instructions that when executed by the computers, cause the computers to perform operations of:
 generating paper payment items from the paper items instructions.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the computer-readable storage medium further includes instructions that when executed by the computers, cause the computers to perform operations of:
 receiving X9 files from a payee's bank where electronic lockbox files and paper items are processed.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the computer-readable storage medium further includes instructions that when executed by the computers, cause the computers to perform operations of:
 recording the aggregated payments using enterprise resource planning (ERP) files.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the computer-readable storage medium further includes instructions that when executed by the computers, cause the computers to perform operations of:
 tracking individual check items using a distributed ledger system.