Patent ID: 8725607

Claim:
A distributed traffic agent connected to a computer system of a host bank in an electronic check presentment (ECP) system in which ECP data are exchanged between the host bank and a plurality of other banks via packets communicated over a network, the distributed traffic agent comprising: an input module configured to accept an outgoing ECP data file from the computer system of the host bank, the outgoing ECP data file containing ECP data destined for at least one destination bank; an output module configured to accept an incoming ECP data file received from an originating bank, the incoming ECP data file containing ECP data, wherein both the outgoing and incoming ECP data files comprise data arranged in the same, standard ECP data file format, a network address module configured to obtain a network address of the at least one destination bank; a network interface module configured to accept the outgoing ECP data file from the input module and transmit the outgoing ECP data file via the network and to receive the incoming ECP data file via the network and send the incoming ECP data file to the output module, wherein the network interface module converts the outgoing ECP data file into packets to be transmitted according to a network protocol that is distinct from a communication protocol used by the network interface module to accept the outgoing ECP data file, and converts packets received over the network into the incoming ECP data file; and one or more processors configured to execute at least one of the above modules.