Abstract:
A method of a financial institution monitoring operation of a check return clearing process comprises recording a first date/time value at which a transit check item is being processed at a first service location of the check return clearing process, recording a second date/time value at which a returned check item is being processed at a second service location of the check return clearing process, and storing the first and second date/time values in a data repository to allow an analyst to query the data repository and perform analysis of operation of the check return clearing process based upon the stored date/time values.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]    The present invention relates to check clearing processes, and is particularly directed to methods of a financial institution, such as a bank, monitoring operation of an image-based check clearing process. 
         [0002]    A typical image-based check clearing process of a bank includes a number of sub-processes. One sub-process is usually a check in-clearing process in which physical checks (or electronic images of the checks) which have been deposited at collecting banks are received from these collecting banks. The bank then processes the physical checks which have been received from the collecting banks. Items are posted and any exception items which need to be returned to the collecting banks are identified. The identified exception items are then returned to the collecting banks. 
         [0003]    Another sub-process is usually a check return clearing process in which physical checks (or electronic images of the checks) which have been cleared by the bank and subsequently forwarded to other banks are returned from these other banks. The bank then processes the physical checks which have been returned from the other banks to identify and post any items which need to be returned to the bank&#39;s customers. 
         [0004]    Time is required to process items which have been returned from other banks. A drawback in known check in-clearing processes or known return clearing processes is the difficulty in knowing where inefficiencies or bottlenecks in the processes may be occurring. It would be desirable to provide a system analyst with useful information so that inefficiencies or bottlenecks which may be present in the processes can be identified and corrected so that exception items can be identified and processed sooner rather than later. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method of a financial institution monitoring operation of a check return clearing process comprises recording a first date/time value at which a returned check item is being processed at a first service location of the check return clearing process, recording a second date/time value at which the returned check item is being processed at a second service location of the check return clearing process, and storing the first and second date/time values in a data repository to allow an analyst to query the data repository and perform analysis of operation of the check return clearing process based upon the stored date/time values. 
         [0006]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of a financial institution monitoring operation of a check return clearing process comprises recording a first date/time value at which a transit check item is being processed at outgoing exchange services, recording a second date/time value at which a returned check item is being processed at incoming returns services, and storing the first and second date/time values in a data repository to allow an analyst to query the data repository and perform analysis of operation of the check return clearing process based upon the stored date/time values. 
         [0007]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of a financial institution monitoring operation of a check in-clearing process comprises recording a first date/time value at which an in-clearing check item is being processed at a first service location of the check in-clearing process, recording a second date/time value at which the in-clearing check item is being processed at a second service location of the check in-clearing process, and storing the first and second date/time values in a data repository to allow an analyst to query the data repository and perform analysis of operation of the check in-clearing process based upon the stored date/time values. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0008]    In the accompanying drawings: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram representation of a known image-based check clearing process; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram similar to  FIG. 1  and shows one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram similar to  FIG. 1  and shows another embodiment of the present invention and 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram similar to  FIG. 1  and shows yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]    A known image-based check clearing process  10  is shown in  FIG. 1 . The image-based check clearing process  10  includes deposit capture services  12  in which images of deposit items (such as bank checks) are initially captured at remote capture points (such as branch teller stations, automated teller machines, point-of-sale terminals, and merchant/corporate terminals). The captured check images are consolidated, stored in image data memory  13 , and then processed in a back office facility of a financial institution (such as a bank). The processing in the back office facility of the bank includes activities such as recognition, codeline completion, amount keying, balancing and reconciliation, and encoding. During processing in the back office facility, check data associated with processed on-us checks are stored in a demand deposit account (DDA) host computer  22 . The processing of checks through deposit capture services  12  is well known and, therefore, will not be described. 
         [0014]    Also, as shown in  FIG. 1 , outgoing exchange services  14  receives check images from deposit capture services  12  and processes the check images to prepare those check images which are to be electronically transmitted to other banks to clear the checks. Those check images electronically transmitted to other banks are known as “eClearings”. The processing of check images through outgoing exchange services  14  is well known and, therefore, will not be described. 
         [0015]    From time to time, some of the eClearings which have been electronically transmitted to other banks are returned from these banks for various reasons. Incoming returns services  15 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , processes these returned eClearings in a known manner. Afterwards, incoming posting exceptions services  16  posts any of the returned eClearings which have been identified as being posting exception items. The DDA host computer  22  is updated with information about posting exception items which have been identified. Outgoing customer returns services  17  then processes the identified posting exception items in known manner to return these items to the bank&#39;s customers. 
         [0016]    The image-based check clearing process  10  further includes incoming exchange services  18  which receive electronic in-clearings from other banks (i.e., eClearings which have been transmitted from these other banks). Incoming exchange services  18  prepares the electronic in-clearings for further processing in known manner. Incoming capture services  20  then processes the electronic in-clearings in known manner, stores check image data in image data memory  21 , and stores check data in the DDA host computer  22  to post the items. 
         [0017]    Outgoing posting exceptions services  24  retrieves data from the DDA host computer  22 , and then identifies any exception items which are to be returned. Outgoing bank returns services  26  receives the in-clearings which have been identified as exception items which are to be returned, and returns the exception items back to the banks from which the in-clearings were originally received. The processing of in-clearings through outgoing bank returns services  26  is well known and, therefore, will not be described. 
         [0018]    One embodiment of present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The diagram illustrated in  FIG. 2  is similar to the diagram illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Accordingly, similar numerals are utilized to designate similar components, the suffix letter “a” being associated with the diagram of  FIG. 2  to avoid confusion. 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , a date/time stamp  100  is associated with incoming returns services  15   a.  The date/time stamp  100  provides a date value or a time value, or both, which is associated with each item processed through incoming returns services  15   a.  The date value (referred to herein as “the date”) may include, for example, the month, day, and year the particular item was processed through incoming returns services  15   a.  It is conceivable that the date may include more or less information than the month, day, and year. For example, the date may include just the month and day. The time value (referred to herein as “the time”) may include, for example, the hour and the minute the particular item was processed through incoming returns services  15   a.  It is conceivable that the time may include more or less information than the hour and the minute. For example, the time may include the hour, the minute, and the second. After the date or the time, or both, has been associated with a particular item, this date/time stamp information is stored along with check data which is representative of the particular item in a data repository  500 . Check image data may also be stored in the data repository  500 . The data repository  500  is of a type which can be queried by a system analyst to analyze the data stored in the data repository. For example, the data repository  500  may be a Teradata Enterprise data warehouse provided by NCR Corporation, located in Dayton, Ohio. 
         [0020]    Also, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a date/time stamp  102  is associated with incoming posting exceptions services  16   a.  The date/time stamp  102  provides a date value (“date”) or a time value (“time”), or both, which is associated with each item processed through the incoming posting exceptions services  16   a.  The date may also include, for example, the month, day, and year the particular item was processed through incoming posting exceptions services  1   a.  The time may include, for example, the hour and the minute the particular item was processed through incoming posting exceptions services  16   a.  After the date or the time, or both, has been associated with a particular item, this date/time stamp information is stored along with check data which is representative of the particular item in the data repository  500 . Outgoing customer returns services  17 a then processes the identified items to return these items to the bank&#39;s customers. 
         [0021]    It should be apparent that for any particular item in question, the time of the date/time stamp  100  associated with incoming postings exceptions services  16   a  will be later than the time of the date/time stamp  100  associated with incoming returns services  15   a.  The date of the date/time stamp  102  associated with incoming posting exceptions services  16   a  may be later than the date of the date/time stamp  100  associated with incoming returns services  15   a.  If the date of the date/time stamp  102  is not later than the date of the date/time stamp  100 , then the dates will be the same. 
         [0022]    By storing the time and/or date of the date/time stamp  102  and the time and/or date of the date/stamp  100  in the data depository  500 , a system analyst is able to query this stored data and analyze the data to determine how much time elapsed from when a particular item was processed at incoming returns services  15   a  to when the item was processed at incoming posting exceptions services  16   a.  By allowing the system analyst to determine this elapsed amount of time, the analyst is able to identify inefficiencies or bottlenecks which may be present in the process flow between incoming returns services  15   a  and incoming posting exceptions services  16   a.  When inefficiencies or bottlenecks are identified, corrective action may be taken to streamline the process flow between incoming returns services  16   a  and incoming posting exceptions services  24   a.  The result is an improved process flow in which returned items can be processed relatively faster, and in which the DDA host computer  22   a  can be updated sooner with information that an item has been returned. 
         [0023]    Although above-description describes a date/time stamp being at incoming returns services  15   a  and a date/time stamp being present at incoming posting exceptions services  16   a,  it is conceivable that date/time stamps may be present at other locations of the process. For example, a date/time stamp may be at outgoing customer returns services  17   a.  It is also conceivable that date/stamps may be located at any combination of incoming returns services  15   a,  incoming posting exceptions services  16 a, outgoing customer returns services  17   a,  and other services which may be in the flow of processing returned eClearings from other banks. Further, it is conceivable that any number of date/time stamps may be located within any one of incoming returns services  15   a,  incoming posting exceptions services  16   a,  outgoing customer returns services  17   a,  and other services which may be in the flow of processing returned eClearings from other banks. 
         [0024]    A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Since the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 3  is generally similar to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , similar numerals are utilized to designate similar components, the suffix letter “b” being associated with the embodiment of  FIG. 3  to avoid confusion. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , a date/time stamp  200  is associated with outgoing exchange services  14   b.  The date/time stamp  200  provides a date value (“date”) or a time value (“time”), or both, which is associated with each item processed through outgoing exchange services  14   b.  After the date or the time, or both, has been associated with a particular item, this date/time stamp information is stored along with check data which is representative of the particular item in the data repository  500   b.    
         [0026]    Also, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a date/time stamp  202  is associated with incoming returns services  15   b.  The date/time stamp  202  provides a date or a time, or both, which is associated with each item processed through the incoming returns services  15   b.  After the date or the time, or both, has been associated with a particular item, this date/time stamp information is stored along with check data which is representative of the particular item in the data repository  500   b.    
         [0027]    It should be apparent that for any particular item in question, the time of the date/time stamp  202  associated with incoming returns services  15   b  will be later than the time of the date/time stamp  200  associated with outgoing exchange services  14   b.  The date of the date/time stamp  202  associated with incoming returns services  15   b  may be later than the date of the date/time stamp  200  associated with outgoing exchange services  14   b.  If the date of the date/time stamp  202  is not later than the date of the date/time stamp  200 , then the dates will be the same. 
         [0028]    By storing the time and/or date of the date/time stamp  202  and the time and/or date of the date/stamp  200  in the data depository  500   b,  a system analyst is able to query this stored data and analyze the data to determine how much time elapsed from when a particular item was processed at outgoing exchange services  14   b  to when the item was processed at incoming returns services  15   b.  By allowing the analyst to determine this elapsed amount of time, the analyst is able to identify inefficiencies or bottlenecks which may be present in the process flow between outgoing exchange services  14   b  and incoming returns services  15   b.  When inefficiencies or bottlenecks are identified, corrective action may be taken to streamline the process flow between outgoing exchange services  14   b  and incoming returns services  15   b.  The result is an improved process flow in which returned eClearings from other banks can be processed relatively sooner. 
         [0029]    A third embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Since the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 4  is generally similar to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , similar numerals are utilized to designate similar components, the suffix letter “c” being associated with the embodiment of  FIG. 4  to avoid confusion. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , a date/time stamp  300  is associated with incoming exchange services  18   c.  The date/time stamp  300  provides a date value (“date”) or a time value (“time”), or both, which is associated with each item processed through incoming exchange services  18   c.  After the date or the time, or both, has been associated with a particular item, this date/time stamp information is stored along with check data which is representative of the particular item in the data repository  500   c.    
         [0031]    Also, as shown in  FIG. 4 , a date/time stamp  302  is associated with outgoing bank returns services  26   c.  The date/time stamp  302  provides a date or a time, or both, which is associated with each item processed through the outgoing bank returns services  26   c.  After the date or the time, or both, has been associated with a particular item, this date/time stamp information is stored along with check data which is representative of the particular item in the data repository  500   c.    
         [0032]    It should be apparent that for any particular item in question, the time of the date/time stamp  302  associated with outgoing bank returns services  26   c  will be later than the time of the date/time stamp  300  associated with incoming exchange services  18   c.  The date of the date/time stamp  302  associated with outgoing bank returns services  26   c  may be later than the date of the date/time stamp  300  associated with incoming exchange services  18   c.  If the date of the date/time stamp  302  is not later than the date of the date/time stamp  300 , then the dates will be the same. 
         [0033]    By storing the time and/or date of the date/time stamp  302  and the time and/or date of the date/stamp  300  in the data depository  500   c,  a system analyst is able to query this stored data and analyze the data to determine how much time elapsed from when a particular item was processed at incoming exchange services  18   c  to when the item was processed at outgoing bank returns services  26   c.  By allowing the analyst to determine this elapsed amount of time, the analyst is able to identify inefficiencies or bottlenecks which may be present in the process flow between incoming exchange services  18   c  and outgoing bank returns services  26   c.  When inefficiencies or bottlenecks are identified, corrective action may be taken to streamline the process flow between incoming exchange services  18   c  and outgoing bank returns services  26   c.  The result is an improved process flow in which exception items can be posted and identified sooner, and in which the DDA host computer  22   c  can be stored sooner with information that an item has been identified as an exception item. 
         [0034]    Although above-description of the third embodiment describes a date/time stamp being at incoming exchange services  18   c  and a date/time stamp being present at outgoing returns services  26   c,  it is conceivable that date/time stamps may be present at other locations of the process. For example, date/time stamps may be located at incoming capture services  20   c  and outgoing posting exceptions services  24   c.  In this case, elapsed times may be determined from when a particular item was processed at incoming capture services  20   c  to when the item was processed at outgoing posting exceptions services  24   c.  It is also conceivable that date/stamps may be located at any combination of incoming exchange services  18   c,  incoming capture services  20   c,  outgoing posting exceptions services  24   c,  outgoing bank returns services  26   c,  and other services which may be in the flow of processing electronic in-clearings from other banks. Further, it is conceivable that any number of date/time stamps may be located within any one of incoming exchange services  18   c,  incoming capture services  20   c,  outgoing posting exceptions services  24   c,  outgoing bank returns services  26   c,  and other services which may be in the flow of processing electronic in-clearings from other banks. 
         [0035]    The particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention. From the above description, those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. Numerous substitutions and modifications can be undertaken without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art to which the present invention relates are intended to be covered by the appended claims.