Patent ID: 7734543

Claim:
A switching system for electronic presentment and payment of bills over a network, comprising: a first consumer service provider device which is in electronic communication with a first consumer terminal; a first biller service provider device which is in electronic communication with a first biller terminal; a second consumer terminal; a second biller terminal; and a switching network which is in electronic communication with said first consumer service provider device using one of a first message standard protocol and a second message standard protocol, with said first bill service provider device using one of said first and second message standard protocols, with said second consumer terminal using one of said first and second message standard protocols, and with said second biller terminal using one of said first and second message standard protocols, routing presentment information between said first consumer service provider or said second consumer terminal and said first bill service provider or said second biller terminal, said switching network being a multi-standard switch configured to facilitate electronic communication between said first consumer service provider or said second consumer terminal and said first bill service provider and said second biller terminal irrespective of which message standard protocol each of said first consumer service provider, said first bill service provider, said second consumer terminal, and said second biller terminal use.