US6070150A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic bill presentment and payment system
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
•
Filing: 1996-10-18
•
Granted: 2000-05-30
•
Expires: 2016-10-18
Abstract
Abstract A bill presentment and payment remittance system is configured for use over an electronic network, such as the Internet. The bill presentment and payment remittance system allows the biller to create a bill and payment remittance information in a format specified by the biller. The biller submits the bill and associated payment remittance information by electronically transmitting it over the Internet to the consumer. The consumer authenticates that the bill did indeed come from the indicated biller. The bill is presented in a user interface which provides a line-by-line itemization of the bill, along with a predefined dispute reasons which the consumer can check to challenge particular items on the bill. The bill can then be automatically or manually adjusted to reflect any disputed amounts. Payment of the bill is preferably in the form of a "direct debit check" that is formed by the consumer software using the billing and remittance information provided in the bill to automatically name the biller as the payee. The consumer completely controls the payment authorization, specifying the amount to be paid (either partial or full), and the date for the payment to be made, and the account from which the money will be drawn. The electronic payment and any dispute criteria are associated with the payment remittance information. The payment instruction and remittance information are then transmitted in the biller prescribed format back over the Internet to the biller. In this manner, the payment remittance information is automatically returned directly to the biller in the format that the biller chooses, without intervention by the consumer. The biller executes the payment instructions sent to it electronically by the consumer by sending them onto the biller's bank.
Inventors
- 👤 Darren B. Remington
- 👤 Warren T. Dent
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 00:28
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/04; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/04; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/10; G06Q20/102; G06Q20/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for electronically presenting and remitting payment of bills, comprising the following steps: generating a bill and associated payment remittance information at a biller, the payment remittance information being arranged within a data structure according to a format prescribed by the biller, the data structure having one or more open data fields to hold data that a consumer can enter or alter and one or more closed data fields to bold data that the consumer cannot alter, the remittance information further including hidden structured remittance data that is kept hidden from the consumer; electronically transmitting the bill and associated payment remittance information to the consumer; enabling the consumer to authorize electronic payment of the bill; associating the electronic payment with the payment remittance information; and transmitting the payment remittance information, including the structured remittance data, from the consumer back to the biller in the format prescribed by the biller.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for electronically presenting and remitting payment of bills, comprising the following steps: generating a bill and associated payment remittance information at a biller, the payment remittance information being arranged within a data structure according to a format prescribed by the biller, the data structure having one or more open data fields to hold data that a consumer can enter or alter and one or more closed data fields to bold data that the consumer cannot alter, the remittance information further including hidden structured remittance data that is kept hidden from the consumer; electronically transmitting the bill and associated payment remittance information to the consumer; enabling the consumer to authorize electronic payment of the bill; associating the electronic payment with the payment remittance information; and transmitting the payment remittance information, including the structured remittance data, from the consumer back to the biller in the format prescribed by the biller.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of electronically transmitting the bill and associated payment remittance information over a network.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of electronically transmitting the bill and associated payment remittance information over the Internet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of electronically transmitting the bill and associated payment remittance information from the biller to the consumer via at least one intermediary.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of enabling the consumer to specify payment instructions for paying the bill.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of enabling the consumer to specify an amount to be paid on the bill.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of enabling the consumer to specify partial payment of the bill.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of enabling the consumer to specify a payment date.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of automatically designating a payee for the payment and prohibiting the consumer from specifying a different payee.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of making the payment authorized by the consumer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of settling accounts between the biller and consumer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of submitting the payment instructions from the biller to an ACH payment system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting non-billing messages along with the bill and payment remittance information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of encrypting the bill and payment remittance information prior to transmission.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of digitally signing the bill and payment remittance information prior to transmission.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of authenticating the biller.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
209 words
A method for electronically presenting and remitting payment of bills, comprising the following steps: generating a bill and associated payment remittance information at a biller, the payment remittance information being arranged within a data structure according to a format prescribed by the biller, the data structure having one or more open data fields to hold data that a consumer can supply or alter and one or more closed data fields to hold data that the consumer cannot alter, the remittance information further including structured remittance data that is kept hidden from the consumer; electronically transmitting a bill and associated payment remittance information from the biller to at least one intermediary; electronically transmitting the bill and payment remittance information from the intermediary to the consumer; presenting the bill to the consumer without revealing the structured remittance data; enabling the consumer to specify payment instructions which include at least one of a payment amount and a payment date; electronically transmitting the payment instructions and payment remittance information from the consumer to the intermediary; and electronically transmitting the payment remittance information including the structured remittance data, from the intermediary back to the biller in the format prescribed by the biller; and settling accounts between the consumer and biller using the payment instructions.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
209 words
A method for electronically presenting and remitting payment of bills, comprising the following steps: generating a bill and associated payment remittance information at a biller, the payment remittance information being arranged within a data structure according to a format prescribed by the biller, the data structure having one or more open data fields to hold data that a consumer can supply or alter and one or more closed data fields to hold data that the consumer cannot alter, the remittance information further including structured remittance data that is kept hidden from the consumer; electronically transmitting a bill and associated payment remittance information from the biller to at least one intermediary; electronically transmitting the bill and payment remittance information from the intermediary to the consumer; presenting the bill to the consumer without revealing the structured remittance data; enabling the consumer to specify payment instructions which include at least one of a payment amount and a payment date; electronically transmitting the payment instructions and payment remittance information from the consumer to the intermediary; and electronically transmitting the payment remittance information including the structured remittance data, from the intermediary back to the biller in the format prescribed by the biller; and settling accounts between the consumer and biller using the payment instructions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the electronically transmitting steps comprises transmitting over an electronic data network.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising the step of settling the accounts through a clearing network.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising the step of encrypting the bill and payment remittance information prior to transmission.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising the step of digitally signing the bill and payment remittance information prior to transmission.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising the step of authenticating the biller.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising the following steps: generating account clearing instructions at the intermediary; and electronically transmitting the account clearing instructions to the biller.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising the following steps: generating account clearing instructions at the intermediary; and electronically transmitting the account clearing instructions to a bank handling the biller's account.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising the following steps: generating clearing instructions at the intermediary account; and electronically transmitting the account clearing instructions to an account clearing network.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
199 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising: storing a bill and associated payment remittance information, the payment remittance information being arranged within a data structure according to a format prescribed by the biller, the data structure having one or more open data fields to hold data that a consumer can supply or alter and one or more closed data fields that hold data that the consumer cannot alter, the remittance information further including structured remittance data that is kept hidden from the consumer; presenting the bill to the consumer without revealing the structured remittance data; enabling the consumer to specify payment instructions including at least one of an amount to be paid on the bill, a payment date, and an account from which to draw payment, while prohibiting the consumer from altering data contained in the closed data fields; associating the payment instructions with the structured remittance data; electronically transmitting the payment instructions to initiate payment of the bill; and electronically routing the payment remittance information, including the structured remittance data, in the biller prescribed format to the biller so that the structured remittance data is automatically returned to the biller without intervention by the consumer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
199 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising: storing a bill and associated payment remittance information, the payment remittance information being arranged within a data structure according to a format prescribed by the biller, the data structure having one or more open data fields to hold data that a consumer can supply or alter and one or more closed data fields that hold data that the consumer cannot alter, the remittance information further including structured remittance data that is kept hidden from the consumer; presenting the bill to the consumer without revealing the structured remittance data; enabling the consumer to specify payment instructions including at least one of an amount to be paid on the bill, a payment date, and an account from which to draw payment, while prohibiting the consumer from altering data contained in the closed data fields; associating the payment instructions with the structured remittance data; electronically transmitting the payment instructions to initiate payment of the bill; and electronically routing the payment remittance information, including the structured remittance data, in the biller prescribed format to the biller so that the structured remittance data is automatically returned to the biller without intervention by the consumer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 26, having further computer-executable instructions for performing an additional step of enabling the consumer to specify both the amount to be paid and the payment date.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 26, having further computer-executable instructions for performing an additional step of enabling the consumer to specify a partial payment of the bill.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 26, having further computer-executable instructions for performing an additional step of presenting the bill to the consumer through a graphical user interface.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computing unit configured to read and perform the computer-executable instructions on the computer-readable memory as recited in claim 26.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
176 words
An electronic bill presentment and payment remittance system including a network, a biller computing unit with computer-readable medium, and a consumer computing unit with computer readable medium, the computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising: operatively linking the biller computing unit and consumer computing unit to the network; generating a bill and associated payment remittance information in a particular format at the biller computing unit, the remittance information including structured remittance data that is kept hidden from a consumer; transmitting the bill and payment remittance information over the data network from the biller computing unit to the consumer computing unit; receiving the bill and payment remittance information at the consumer computing unit and presenting the bill to the consumer without revealing the structured remittance data to the consumer; and facilitating entry of payment instructions including at least one of a payment amount and a date at the consumer computing unit, and following said entry, automatically routing the payment remittance information, including the structured remittance data, in the particular format to the biller computing unit.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
176 words
An electronic bill presentment and payment remittance system including a network, a biller computing unit with computer-readable medium, and a consumer computing unit with computer readable medium, the computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising: operatively linking the biller computing unit and consumer computing unit to the network; generating a bill and associated payment remittance information in a particular format at the biller computing unit, the remittance information including structured remittance data that is kept hidden from a consumer; transmitting the bill and payment remittance information over the data network from the biller computing unit to the consumer computing unit; receiving the bill and payment remittance information at the consumer computing unit and presenting the bill to the consumer without revealing the structured remittance data to the consumer; and facilitating entry of payment instructions including at least one of a payment amount and a date at the consumer computing unit, and following said entry, automatically routing the payment remittance information, including the structured remittance data, in the particular format to the biller computing unit.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
Computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions as recited in claim 31, and further having computer-executable instructions to transmit the payment instructions from the consumer computing unit over the network to initiate payment of the bill.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
197 words
A computer-readable medium having a data structure for bill and payment remittance information used in an electronic bill system, the data structure comprising: an account identification data field to hold information identifying an account to which a bill is being posted; an amount data field to hold a payment amount entered by a consumer toward payment of the bill; a date data field to hold a payment date entered by the consumer; a payee data field to hold an identity of a payee of the payment amount, the payee data field being closed to the consumer so that the consumer cannot enter the payee; the account identification data field, the amount data field, and the date data field being organized according to a particular format prescribed by an originator of the bill to collectively define payment remittance information; an originator address data field to hold a network address of the bill originator for use in routing the payment remittance information containing the account information data field, the amount data field, and the date data field back to the originator in the particular format; and structured data to hold remittance data that is kept hidden from the consumer.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
197 words
A computer-readable medium having a data structure for bill and payment remittance information used in an electronic bill system, the data structure comprising: an account identification data field to hold information identifying an account to which a bill is being posted; an amount data field to hold a payment amount entered by a consumer toward payment of the bill; a date data field to hold a payment date entered by the consumer; a payee data field to hold an identity of a payee of the payment amount, the payee data field being closed to the consumer so that the consumer cannot enter the payee; the account identification data field, the amount data field, and the date data field being organized according to a particular format prescribed by an originator of the bill to collectively define payment remittance information; an originator address data field to hold a network address of the bill originator for use in routing the payment remittance information containing the account information data field, the amount data field, and the date data field back to the originator in the particular format; and structured data to hold remittance data that is kept hidden from the consumer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-05-30 | 2003-11-29 | 2004-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-30 | 2007-11-29 | 2008-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-30 | 2011-11-29 | 2012-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |