Patent ID: 7050996

Claim:
A method for linking two or more distinct financial records to create a group of financial records that facilitates group-level processing of the group of financial records while allowing individual processing of the distinct financial records, the method comprising: identifying a first financial record associated with a first product, wherein individual processing of the first financial record is at least partially controlled by a first individual processing control (“IPC”) implemented by a computer; identifying a second financial record associated with a second product, wherein individual processing of the second financial record is at least partially controlled by a second IPC implemented by the computer; creating a first master record, wherein the first master record is used by the computer to associate the first financial record and the second financial record; defining a first group processing control (“GPC”), wherein the first GPC is used by the computer in conjunction with at least one of the IPCs to provide said group-level processing; defining a first relationship control, wherein the first relationship control at least partially controls an interaction between the second financial record and the first master record; identifying a third financial record associated with a third product, wherein individual processing of the third financial record is at least partially controlled by a third IPC implemented by the computer; identifying a fourth financial record associated with a fourth product, wherein individual processing of the fourth financial record is at least partially controlled by a fourth IPC implemented by the computer; creating a second master record, wherein the second master record is used by the computer to associate the third financial record and the fourth financial record; defining a second relationship control, wherein the second relationship control at least partially controls an interaction between the third financial record and the second master record; wherein a first set of parameters defining a relationship between the first financial record and the first master record is distinct from a second set of parameters defining a relationship between the third financial record and the second master record.