Patent Publication Number: US-9846786-B2

Title: Methods, systems, and products for anonymous loan documents

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/227,534 filed Sep. 8, 2011 and since issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,098,882, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/381,602 filed Sep. 10, 2010, with both applications incorporated herein by reference in their entireties 
    
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTIFICATION 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its attachments contain material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The exemplary embodiments generally relate to mortgages and, more particularly, to safeguarding personal information in mortgage applications. 
     A borrower applying for a reverse mortgage loan must get counseling from an independent counselor. This independent counselor is not permitted to have direct contact with a lender of the reverse mortgage loan. The counselor, though, should have access to loan documents prepared by the lender. A conventional solution is for the borrower to mail, electronically send, or physically present the loan documents to the counselor prior to or at counseling. This conventional solution, though, is cumbersome for the borrower. Another conventional solution is to publish the loan documents on a website, so the counselor may electronically access the loan documents via the Internet. Because the loan documents are borrower-specific and contain confidential information, a complicated authentication procedure is required. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the embodiments are better understood when the following Detailed Description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic illustrating an environment in which exemplary embodiments may be implemented; 
         FIG. 2  is a more detailed schematic illustrating the lender&#39;s server, according to exemplary embodiments; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic further illustrating the access code  36 , according to exemplary embodiments; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic illustrating publication of the anonymous shadow copy  32 , according to exemplary embodiments; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic illustrating retrieval of the anonymous shadow copy  32 , according to exemplary embodiments; and 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a processor-controlled device, according to more exemplary embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. The exemplary embodiments, however, may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. These embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure). 
     Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the diagrams, schematics, illustrations, and the like represent conceptual views or processes illustrating the exemplary embodiments. The functions of the various elements shown in the figures may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing associated software. Those of ordinary skill in the art further understand that the exemplary hardware, software, processes, methods, and/or operating systems described herein are for illustrative purposes and, thus, are not intended to be limited to any particular named manufacturer. 
       FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic illustrating an environment in which exemplary embodiments may be implemented.  FIG. 1  illustrates a client-server network architecture that provides anonymous loan documents. A lender&#39;s server  20  communicates with a web server  22  via a communications network  24 . When a borrower applies for a loan  28 , the lender&#39;s server  20  prepares electronic loan documents  30  associated with the borrower. The loan  28  may be any type of loan, such as secured or collateral-backed home mortgage, reverse mortgage, home equity loan, or car loan. Regardless of a type of the loan  28 , the lender&#39;s server  20  may also generate an anonymous shadow copy  32  of the electronic loan documents  30 . The anonymous shadow copy  32  may be an electronic copy of the loan documents  30  that were prepared for the borrower, but some or all personally identifying information  34  is eliminated from the anonymous shadow copy  32 . The lender&#39;s server  20 , for example, may remove names, addresses, and social security numbers from the anonymous shadow copy  32 . Account numbers, credit card numbers, and any other personally identifying information  34  may also be redacted or rendered undecipherable (such as by blacking-out, striking through, or garbling). Because some or all of the personally identifying information  34  has been removed or rendered undecipherable, the anonymous shadow copy  32  has been rendered anonymous. Detailed financial information may remain, but any fields containing the personally identifying information  34  may be cleared of data. 
     The anonymous shadow copy  32  may then be electronically published. Once the anonymous shadow copy  32  is generated, the lender&#39;s server  20  may associate the anonymous shadow copy  32  to an access code  36 . The access code  36  may be created prior to building the anonymous shadow copy  32 . The access code  36  may even be part of, or integrated into, the anonymous shadow copy  32 . The anonymous shadow copy  32  may then be uploaded to the web server  22  and/or published to a website  38 . The anonymous shadow copy  32  may then be accessible to any person having the correct access code  36 . 
     Exemplary embodiments greatly reduce security concerns. The anonymous shadow copy  32  may contain none of the personally identifying information  34 . Even if a rogue user may guess the correct access code  36  and download the anonymous shadow copy  32 , no personally identifying information  34  will be revealed. That is, any unauthorized or unintended access to the anonymous shadow copy  32  will not violate any regulation or reveal the personally identifying information  34 . Even greater security measures may be taken, as later paragraphs will explain. 
     Exemplary embodiments may be applied regardless of networking environment. The communications network  24  may be a cable network operating in the radio-frequency domain and/or the Internet Protocol (IP) domain. The communications network  24 , however, may also include a distributed computing network, such as the Internet (sometimes alternatively known as the “World Wide Web”), an intranet, a local-area network (LAN), and/or a wide-area network (WAN). The communications network  24  may include coaxial cables, copper wires, fiber optic lines, and/or hybrid-coaxial lines. The communications network  24  may even include wireless portions utilizing any portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and any signaling standard (such as the I.E.E.E. 802 family of standards, GSM/CDMA/TDMA or any cellular standard, and/or the ISM band). The communications network  24  may even include powerline portions, in which signals are communicated via electrical wiring. The concepts described herein may be applied to any wireless/wireline communications network, regardless of physical componentry, physical configuration, or communications standard(s). 
     Definitions 
     Unless otherwise specified the following definitions apply throughout this document: 
     Or is inclusive, meaning: “red or green” may be either red, green or red and green. 
       FIG. 2  is a more detailed schematic illustrating the lender&#39;s server  22 , according to exemplary embodiments. Here the lender&#39;s server  22  has a processor (e.g., “μP”), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other component that executes loan origination software  50  stored in memory. The loan origination software  50  may cause the processor to produce a graphical user interface (“GUI”). The graphical user interface is illustrated as being visually produced on a display device, yet the graphical user interface may also have audible features. The loan origination software  50 , however, may operate in any processor-controlled device, as later paragraphs will explain. 
     The lender&#39;s server  22  generates the electronic loan documents  30  associated with the borrower. The lender&#39;s server  20  may also generate the anonymous shadow copy  32  of the electronic loan documents  30 . Some or all of the personally identifying information  34  is eliminated from the anonymous shadow copy  32 . The loan origination software  50  causes the processor to store the anonymous shadow copy  32  in the memory of the lender&#39;s server  20 . 
     The lender&#39;s server  20  may also associate the anonymous shadow copy  32  to the access code  36 . While the access code  36  may be robust and/or complicated, exemplary embodiments may utilize a simple access code. Because most borrowers want a simple and easily understood loan process, the access code  36  is preferably a unique alphanumeric combination that is easy to remember, easy to communicate, and easy to enter. The access code  36 , then, is preferably only a few alphanumeric characters, even though such a simple access code  36  may be easily guessed by a rogue, unauthorized user. Regardless of the complexity of the access code  36 , the access code  36  may be associated with date and time stamp  60 . The access code  36  and the date and time stamp  60  may then be associated in a table in a database  62 . 
     The loan origination software  50  may then match the anonymous shadow copy  32  to the access code  36 . The loan origination software  50 , for example, may store the anonymous shadow copy  32  directly in the same database row as the access code  36 . The loan origination software  50  may alternatively store a pointer to the anonymous shadow copy  32 . The loan origination software  50  may also associate some or all of the personally identifying information  34  to the access code  36 . The loan origination software  50  may also associate or link the access code  36  to a unique identifier for the loan in the system or to a loan number. The database  62 , for example, may link or associate the access code to a loan record containing the personally identifying information  34 . The loan origination software  50  may additionally or alternatively store and retrieve borrower information (such as the borrower&#39;s initials in an additional field in the same row as the access code  36  in the relevant table of the database  62 ). The access code  36  enables access to the anonymous shadow copy  32  by matching the borrower information to the corresponding anonymous shadow copy  32 . In other words, only someone knowing the access code  36  may access the corresponding anonymous shadow copy  32 . Only someone knowing what access code  36  matches what corresponding anonymous shadow copy  32  will be able to match the borrower information to the corresponding anonymous shadow copy  32 . 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic further illustrating the access code  36 , according to exemplary embodiments. After the access code  36  is generated, the access code  36  is communicated to the borrower.  FIG. 3 , for example, illustrates an electronic communication of the access code  36  to a borrower&#39;s device  70  associated with the borrower. The access code  36  may be communicated in an email, text message, data message, or any other electronic communication. The loan origination software  50 , however, may also cause the access code  36  to be communicated by physical mail, voice message, telephone call, or any other means of communication. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic illustrating publication of the anonymous shadow copy  32 , according to exemplary embodiments. Once the anonymous shadow copy  32  is generated, the lender&#39;s server  20  may send the anonymous shadow copy  32  to the web server  22 . The web server  22  has a processor (e.g., “μP”), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other component that executes a client-side loan application  80  stored in memory. The client-side loan application  80  cooperates with the loan origination software  50  to upload and store the anonymous shadow copy  32  to the memory of the web server  22 . 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic illustrating retrieval of the anonymous shadow copy  32 , according to exemplary embodiments. At or prior to counseling, the borrower will communicate the access code  36  to the counselor. When the counselor has the borrower&#39;s access code  36 , the counselor may then access the anonymous shadow copy  32  stored in the memory of the web server  22  and match the anonymous shadow copy  32  to the respective borrower. The counselor, for example, may download the website  38  to a counselor&#39;s device  90 . The website  38  may provide access to the anonymous shadow copy  32 . The counselor, at the counselor&#39;s device  90 , may input the access code  36  into the website  38  and return the access code  36  to the web server  22 . If the client-side loan origination software  80  verifies the access code  36 , then the client-side loan origination software  80  may download the anonymous shadow copy  32  to the counselor&#39;s device  90 . As an additional restriction, the borrower initials or another non-identifying information may be required to access the anonymous shadow copy  32 . Moreover, access to the website  38  may, yet need not, be password-protected. Whoever accesses the website  38  and downloads the anonymous shadow copy  32  will only be able to match these documents to the borrower if they know the access code  36 . Only somebody who can 1) match the access code  36  to a document and 2) match the access code  36  to the borrower will be able to match the anonymous shadow copy  32  to the borrower. 
     The counselor may then advise the borrower. While the borrower will have the originally-prepared electronic loan documents  30 , the counselor may retrieve the anonymous shadow copy  32 . The counselor may thus discuss contents of the electronic loan documents  30  without having access to the borrower&#39;s personally identifying information  34 . 
     The access code  36  may also be purged. The loan origination software  50  may have a sub-module or routine that purges old access codes. The loan origination software  50  may periodically inspect all access codes and analyze whether the access code  36  should be expired based on a rule that is applied onto the date and time stamp  60  and a time offset. If the access code  36  is expired, then the entry in the database  62  may be deleted or marked deleted. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic illustrating still more exemplary embodiments.  FIG. 6  is a generic block diagram illustrating the loan origination software  50  operating within a processor-controlled device  100 . As an earlier paragraph explained, the loan origination software  50  may operate in any processor-controlled device  100 .  FIG. 6 , then, illustrates the loan origination software  50  stored in a memory subsystem of the processor-controlled device  100 .  FIG. 6  also illustrates the client-side loan application  80  operating within the processor-controlled device  100 . One or more processors communicate with the memory subsystem and execute the loan origination software  50  and/or the client-side loan application  80 . Because the processor-controlled device  100  is well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art, no detailed explanation is needed. 
     Exemplary embodiments may be physically embodied on or in a transitory or non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. This computer-readable medium may include CD-ROM, DVD, tape, cassette, floppy disk, memory card, and large-capacity disks. This computer-readable medium, or media, could be distributed to end-subscribers, licensees, and assignees. A computer readable medium comprises processor-executable instructions for generating anonymous loan documents, as the above paragraphs explained. 
     While the exemplary embodiments have been described with respect to various features, aspects, and embodiments, those skilled and unskilled in the art will recognize the exemplary embodiments are not so limited. Other variations, modifications, and alternative embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments.