# US 8,543,477 B2 · Value tracking and reporting of automated clearing house transactions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,543,477 B2 - Document ID: US8543477B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/953,754 - Filed: 2004-09-29 - Published: 2005-04-21 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2003-09-30 - Assignees: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta - Applicants: Robert Anthony Love; Lantanya Neale Mauriello; Nesta Valerie Reckord-Yarde; Susan Lynne Robertson; Robert Williams; Donald E. Nelson - Inventors: Robert Anthony Love; Lantanya Neale Mauriello; Nesta Valerie Reckord-Yarde; Susan Lynne Robertson; Robert Williams; Donald E. Nelson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543477B2 ## CPC - G06Q 30/06: Buying, selling or leasing transactions - G06Q 40/02: Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance (credit or loans G06Q40/03) - G06Q 40/12: Accounting - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Value tracking of automated clearing house (“ACH”) payments processed by an ACH operator includes receiving an ACH file for ACH processing. The ACH file comprises ACH payments originated by a remote sending point on behalf of a sending customer. A sum value of the ACH payments is added to a value of prior payments processed for the sending customer during a specified time period to obtain an accumulated payment value. The accumulated payment value is compared to a pre-established payment cap to determine whether the accumulated payment value exceeds the payment cap. The ACH payments are processed in response to a determination that the accumulated payment value does not exceed the payment cap. Whether to override the payment cap can be determined in response to a determination that the accumulated payment value exceeds the payment cap. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method for value tracking of automated clearing house (“ACH”) payments processed by an ACH operator, comprising the steps of: receiving via a computer at the ACH operator an ACH file for ACH processing by the ACH operator, the ACH file comprising at least one ACH payment originated by a remote sending point on behalf of an originating depository financial institution (“ODFI”) and forwarded to the ACH operator by the remote sending point; determining via the computer whether the at least one ACH payment creates an accumulated payment value for ACH payments processed for the ODFI during a specified time period that exceeds a pre-established payment cap; processing the at least one ACH payment in response to a determination that the at least one ACH payment does not create an accumulated payment value that exceeds the payment cap; and determining whether to override the payment cap and to process the at least one ACH payment in response to a determination that the at least one ACH payment creates an accumulated payment value that exceeds the payment cap. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein said step of determining whether the at least one ACH payment creates an accumulated payment value that exceeds the payment cap comprises the steps of: adding a sum value of the at least one ACH payment to a value of prior payments processed for the ODFI during the specified time period to obtain the accumulated payment value; and comparing the accumulated payment value to the payment cap. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein said step of determining whether to exceed the payment cap comprises the steps of: receiving approval from the ODFI to exceed the payment cap; and processing the at least one ACH payment in response to receiving the approval. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein said step of determining whether to exceed the payment cap comprises the steps of: receiving a denial of approval from the ODFI to exceed the payment cap; and rejecting the at least one ACH payment in response to receiving the denial of approval. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein said step of determining whether to exceed the payment cap comprises the step of following default instructions from the ODFI regarding approval to exceed the payment cap. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: determining whether the ODFI desires value tracking of the at least one ACH payment; and performing said method in response to a determination that the ODFI desires value tracking of the at least one ACH payment. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The computer-implemented method according to claim 6, wherein said step of determining whether the ODFI desires value tracking comprises identifying a data string associated with the ACH file which indicates that the ODFI desires value tracking. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The computer-implemented method according to claim 7, wherein the data string identifies at least one of the ODFI and the remote sending point. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The computer-implemented method according to claim 7, wherein the data string identifies an originator of the ODFI. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The computer-implemented method according to claim 6, wherein said step of determining whether the ODFI desires value tracking comprises identifying the ODFI based on a dedicated node via which the ACH operator received the ACH file from the remote sending point. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of pending the ACH file prior to performing said step of determining whether the at least one ACH payment creates an accumulated payment value that exceeds the payment cap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the ACH file comprises a plurality of ACH payments, wherein said method further comprises the step of processing a portion of the ACH payments in response to a determination that the at least one ACH payment creates an accumulated payment value that exceeds the payment cap, wherein the portion of the ACH payments does not create an accumulated payment value that exceeds the payment cap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the ACH file comprises an ACH batch that comprises the at least one ACH payment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ACH payment comprises at least one ACH credit payment and the payment cap comprises a credit payment cap. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ACH payment comprises at least one ACH debit payment and the payment cap comprises a debit payment cap. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the specified time period comprises one of a settlement date on which the ACH operator will settle the at least one ACH payment, a process date on which the ACH operator will process the at least one ACH payment, and an exposure period based on processed but unsettled payments. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the remote sending point comprises one of a third party direct depositor and a remote originator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the ODFI comprises an originating depository financial institution. ### Claim 19 A computer-implemented method for value tracking of automated clearing house (“ACH”) payments processed by an ACH operator, comprising the steps of: receiving via a computer an ACH file at the ACH operator for ACH processing by the ACH operator, the ACH file comprising an ACH batch that comprises at least one ACH payment originated by a remote sending point on behalf of an originating depository financial institution (“ODFI”) and forwarded to the ACH operator by the remote sending point; adding via the computer a sum value of the at least one ACH payment in the ACH batch to a value of payments previously processed for the ODFI to obtain an accumulated payment value; comparing via the computer the accumulated payment value to a pre-established payment cap to determine whether the accumulated payment value exceeds the payment cap; processing the at least one ACH payment in response to a determination that the accumulated payment value does not exceed the payment cap; and determining whether to override the payment cap and to process the at least one ACH payment in response to a determination that the accumulated payment value exceeds the payment cap. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The computer-implemented method according to claim 19, wherein the ACH file comprises a plurality of ACH batches that each comprise at least one ACH payment, and wherein the method further comprises the step of parsing the ACH file to identify one of the ACH batches that comprises the at least one ACH payment originated by the remote sending point on behalf of the ODFI. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The computer-implemented method according to claim 19, wherein said step of determining whether to override the payment cap comprises the steps of: receiving approval from the ODFI to exceed the payment cap; and processing the at least one ACH payment in response to receiving the approval. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The computer-implemented method according to claim 19, wherein said step of determining whether to override the payment cap comprises the steps of: receiving a denial of approval to exceed the payment cap from the ODFI; and rejecting the ACH batch in response to receiving the denial of approval. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The computer-implemented method according to claim 19, wherein the ACH batch comprises a plurality of ACH payments, and wherein said step of determining whether to override the payment cap comprises the steps of: receiving a denial of approval to exceed the payment cap from the ODFI; and rejecting a portion of the ACH payments in response to receiving the denial of approval. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The computer-implemented method according to claim 19, wherein said step of determining whether to override the payment cap comprises the step of following default instructions from the ODFI regarding approval to exceed the payment cap. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The computer-implemented method according to claim 19, further comprising the steps of: determining whether the ODFI desires value tracking of the at least one ACH payment; and performing said method in response to a determination that the ODFI desires value tracking of the at least one ACH payment. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The computer-implemented method according to claim 25, wherein said step of determining whether the ODFI desires value tracking comprises identifying a data string associated with the ACH batch which indicates that the ODFI desires value tracking. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The computer-implemented method according to claim 26, wherein the data string identifies at least one of the ODFI and the remote sending point. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The computer-implemented method according to claim 26, wherein the data string identifies an originator of the ODFI. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The computer-implemented method according to claim 25, wherein said step of determining whether the ODFI desires value tracking comprises identifying the ODFI based on a dedicated node via which the ACH operator received the ACH file from the remote sending point. ### Claim 30 (depends on 19) The computer-implemented method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of pending the ACH batch prior to performing said comparing step. ### Claim 31 (depends on 19) The computer-implemented method according to claim 19, wherein the ACH batch comprises a plurality of ACH payments, wherein said method further comprises the step of processing a portion of the ACH payments in response to a determination that the accumulated payment value exceeds the payment cap, and wherein a sum value of the portion of the ACH payments added to the value of payments previously processed for the ODFI results in an accumulated payment value that does not exceed the payment cap. ### Claim 32 (depends on 19) The computer-implemented method according to claim 19, wherein the at least one ACH payment comprises at least one ACH credit payment and the payment cap comprises a credit payment cap. ### Claim 33 (depends on 19) The computer-implemented method according to claim 19, wherein the at least one ACH payment comprises at least one ACH debit payment and the payment cap comprises a debit payment cap. ### Claim 34 (depends on 19) The computer-implemented method according to claim 19, wherein the value of prior payments previously processed for the ODFI is based on prior payments processed during a specified time period. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The computer-implemented method according to claim 34, wherein the specified time period comprises one of a settlement date on which the ACH operator will settle the at least one ACH payment, a process date on which the ACH operator will process the at least one ACH payment, and an exposure period based on processed but unsettled payments. ### Claim 36 (depends on 19) The computer-implemented method according to claim 19, wherein the remote sending point comprises one of a third party direct depositor and a remote originator. ### Claim 37 (depends on 19) The computer-implemented method according to claim 19, wherein the ODFI comprises an originating depository financial institution. ### Claim 38 A computer-implemented method for value tracking of automated clearing house (“ACH”) payments processed by an ACH operator, comprising the steps of: receiving via a computer at the ACH operator an ACH file for ACH processing by the ACH operator, the ACH file comprising at least one ACH debit payment originated by a remote sending point on behalf of an originating depository financial institution (“ODFI”) and forwarded to the ACH operator by the remote sending point; adding via the computer a sum value of the at least one ACH debit payment to a value of prior debit payments previously processed for the ODFI during a specified time period to obtain an accumulated payment value; determining via the computer whether the accumulated payment value exceeds a pre-established debit payment cap; and rejecting the at least one ACH debit payment in response to a determination that the accumulated payment value exceeds the payment cap. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The computer-implemented method according to claim 38, wherein said rejecting step comprises the steps of: determining whether to override the payment cap and to process the at least one ACH debit payment in response to a determination that the accumulated payment value exceeds the payment cap; and rejecting the at least one ACH debit payment in response to a determination not to override the payment cap and to process the at least one ACH debit payment. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The computer-implemented method according to claim 38, further comprising the step of processing the at least one ACH debit payment in response to a determination that the accumulated payment value does not exceed the payment cap. ### Claim 41 (depends on 39) The computer-implemented method according to claim 39, wherein said step of determining whether to override the payment cap comprises the steps of: receiving a denial of approval from the ODFI to exceed the payment cap; and rejecting the at least one ACH debit payment in response to receiving the denial of approval. ### Claim 42 (depends on 39) The computer-implemented method according to claim 39, wherein the ACH file comprises an ACH batch that comprises the at least one ACH debit payment. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The computer-implemented method according to claim 42, wherein said step of determining whether to override the payment cap comprises the steps of: receiving a denial of approval from the ODFI to exceed the payment cap; and rejecting the ACH batch in response to receiving the denial of approval. ### Claim 44 (depends on 42) The computer-implemented method according to claim 42, wherein the ACH batch comprises a plurality of ACH debit payments, and wherein said step of determining whether to override the payment cap comprises the steps of: receiving a denial of approval from the ODFI to exceed the payment cap; and rejecting a portion of the ACH batch in response to receiving the denial of approval, the portion comprising ACH debit payments that cause the accumulated value to exceed the debit payment cap when added to the value of prior debit payments. ### Claim 45 (depends on 39) The computer-implemented method according to claim 39, wherein said step of determining whether to override the payment cap comprises the steps of: receiving approval from the ODFI to exceed the payment cap; and processing the at least one ACH debit payment in response to receiving the approval. ### Claim 46 (depends on 39) The computer-implemented method according to claim 39, wherein said step of determining whether to override the payment cap comprises the step of following default instructions from the ODFI regarding approval to exceed the payment cap. ### Claim 47 (depends on 38) The computer-implemented method according to claim 38, wherein the ACH file comprises a plurality of ACH batches that each comprise at least one ACH debit payment, and wherein the method further comprises the step of parsing the ACH file to identify one of the ACH batches that comprises the at least one ACH debit payment originated by a remote sending point on behalf of the ODFI. ### Claim 48 (depends on 38) The computer-implemented method according to claim 38, further comprising the steps of: determining whether the ODFI desires value tracking of the at least one ACH debit payment; and performing said method in response to a determination that the ODFI desires value tracking of the at least one ACH debit payment. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The computer-implemented method according to claim 48, wherein said step of determining whether the ODFI desires value tracking comprises identifying a data string associated with the ACH file which indicates that the ODFI desires value tracking. ### Claim 50 (depends on 49) The computer-implemented method according to claim 49, wherein the data string identifies at least one of the ODFI and the remote sending point. ### Claim 51 (depends on 49) The computer-implemented method according to claim 49, wherein the data string identifies an originator of the ODFI. ### Claim 52 (depends on 48) The computer-implemented method according to claim 48, wherein said step of determining whether the ODFI desires value tracking comprises identifying the ODFI based on a dedicated node via which the ACH operator received the ACH file from the remote sending point. ### Claim 53 (depends on 38) The computer-implemented method according to claim 38, further comprising the step of pending the ACH file prior to performing said step of determining whether the accumulated payment value exceeds the debit payment cap. ### Claim 54 (depends on 38) The computer-implemented method according to claim 38, wherein the specified time period comprises one of a settlement date on which the ACH operator will settle the at least one ACH debit payment, a process date on which the ACH operator will process the at least one ACH debit payment, and an exposure period based on processed but unsettled payments. ### Claim 55 (depends on 38) The computer-implemented method according to claim 38, wherein the remote sending point comprises one of a third party direct depositor and a remote originator. ### Claim 56 (depends on 38) The computer-implemented method according to claim 38, wherein the ODFI comprises an originating depository financial institution.