(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2013/0332352 A1
`Imrey et al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Dec. 12, 2013
`
`US 2013 0332352A1
`
`(54)
`
`(71)
`
`(72)
`
`METHOD FORFUTURE PAYMENT
`TRANSACTIONS
`
`Applicant: Apollo Enterprise Solutions, Inc., Long
`Beach, CA (US)
`Inventors: G. Christopher Imrey, Newport Beach,
`CA (US); William J. House, III, Corona
`del Mar, CA (US)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: Apollo Enterprise Solutions, Inc., Long
`Beach, CA (US)
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.: 13/964,887
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Aug. 12, 2013
`
`(63)
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Continuation of application No. 12/925.312, filed on
`Oct. 18, 2010, now Pat. No. 8,510,189, which is a
`continuation of application No. 1 1/372,850, filed on
`Mar. 9, 2006, now Pat. No. 7,818,229, which is a
`continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/256,404,
`filed on Oct. 19, 2005, now Pat. No. 8,504,468, which
`is a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/256,
`405, filed on Oct. 19, 2005, which is a continuation
`in-part of application No. 1 1/256,406, filed on Oct. 19,
`2005, now Pat. No. 8,510,214.
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/620,131, filed on Oct.
`19, 2004, provisional application No. 60/620,131,
`filed on Oct. 19, 2004, provisional application No.
`60/620,131, filed on Oct. 19, 2004.
`Publication Classification
`
`(2006.01)
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`G06O20/10
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC .................................... G06O20/102 (2013.01)
`USPC ............................................................ 705/40
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A method for the online modification, Submission and
`approval processing of a future payment request to afford a
`user the ability to renegotiate established loan agreement debt
`terms in which network communications are established
`between a user, such as a debtor, and a computing device,
`Such as a server or server arrangement, is presented. The
`method comprises receiving information, at the computing
`device, regarding the loan agreement debt terms, presenting
`received information to a debtor, providing an interactive
`environment enabling a debtor to modify existing terms, Sub
`mitting modified terms, processing data from the available
`information using a rules based engine, and processing a
`future payment request based on at least one decision made by
`the rules based engine. While online, the user/debtor may
`engage in revising a rejected future payment request in an
`attempt to reach a satisfactory renegotiation of debt terms.
`
`CREDITOR SERVER
`
`CREDIT BUREAU SERVER
`
`
`
`SERVER
`
`USER/DEBTOR DEVICE
`
`PAYMENT PARTNER SERVER
`
`APPL-1009
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`APPL-1009
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`35f.
`
`353
`
`ESTABLISH RULES FOR EACH
`APPROPRIATE CREDITOR/CREDIT
`AGENCY BY ORCUNIT
`
`OBTAIN RULES FOR SELECTED
`DEBT
`
`352
`
`359
`
`LOAD THE DEBT PORTFOLIO ONTO
`THEY SYSTEM
`
`PREPARE SET OF OFFERS
`
`560
`
`PRESENT OFFER SET TO
`USER/DEBTOR
`
`361
`USER/DEBTOR SELECTS OFFER
`(OR NEGOTIATION IF AVAILABLE)
`362
`USER/DEBTOR ENTERS f
`COUNTEROFFER
`
`a
`
`353
`NOTIFY USER/DEBTOR OF
`OPPORTUNITY TO SETTLE
`OUTSTANDING DEBT
`
`3.54
`
`USER/DEBTOR LOGS ONTO
`SYSTEM
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`AUTHENTICATE USER
`
`355
`
`5. 6
`
`USER/DEBTOR SELECTS A DEBT
`
`357
`
`SEEK CREDIT REPORT FOR
`USER/DEBTOR - SEEK OTHER
`INFORMATION REGARDING
`DEBTOR - PARSE DATA
`
`FIG. 3B
`
`REPORTING
`
`APPL-1009
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`401
`
`
`
`WEB SERVER
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`ASP.NET
`WEB APPLICATION
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`OBJECT PROXY r
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`BUREAU WEB
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`PROCESSOR
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`44
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`501
`
`502
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`503.
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`CREDITOR WEB/FTP SERVER TIER
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`CREDITOR ASP.NET
`WEB APPLICATION
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`FILE FOLDERS
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`CREDITOR OBJECT
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`MSMQ Notifications to Package Data Exports
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`511
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`BUREAUTIER SERVER
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`SQL SERVER
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`SERVICE
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`531
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`521
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`FIG. 5
`
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`Dec. 12,2013 Sheet 7 of 24
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`SIGN UP/SET CREDITOR DEFAULTS
`
`CONFIGURE SETTLEMENT TERMS
`
`UPDATE PORTFOLIO
`
`UPDATE ADDRESSES
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`RATE PORTFOLIO
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`SEND LETTERS OR OTHER COMMUNICATIONS
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`RECEIVES COMMUNICATION
`
`LOG INTO WEBSITE
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`1001
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`OBTAIN CREDIT REPORT
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`1004
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`APPL-1009
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`US 2013/0332352 A1
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`Dec. 12, 2013
`
`METHOD FORFUTURE PAYMENT
`TRANSACTIONS
`0001. This application is a continuation of co-pending
`U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/925,312, entitled
`“Method for Future Payment Transactions inventors G.
`Christopher Imrey et al., filed Oct. 18, 2010, which is a
`continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`1 1/372,850, entitled “Method for Future Payment Transac
`tions, inventors G. Christopher Imrey et al., filed Mar. 9.
`2006, which is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S.
`patent application Ser. No. 1 1/256,405, entitled “System for
`Resolving Transactions. Ser. No. 1 1/256,406, entitled
`“Method for Resolving Transactions, and Ser. No. 1 1/256,
`404, entitled “System and Method for Compiling Information
`for Resolving Transactions, all filed Oct. 19, 2005, which
`each claim the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application
`60/620,131, “Debt Settlement Computer System and
`Method,” filed Oct. 19, 2004, all of which are incorporated
`herein by reference.
`
`COPYRIGHT PROTECTION
`0002. A portion of the disclosure of this patent document
`contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The
`copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduc
`tion by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure
`in its entirety and in the form as it appears in documents
`published or released by the U.S. Patent and Trademark
`Office from its patent file or records, but otherwise reserves
`all copyright rights whatsoever.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0003 1. Field of the Invention
`0004. The present invention relates in general to systems
`and methods for collecting debt and/or managing information
`relating to debt, and more specifically to systems and methods
`for processing and setting future payment transactions using
`a computer network.
`0005 2. Description of the Related Art
`0006 Financial transactions can entail establishing a
`series of payments over time to either purchase an item or
`settle or resolve a debt. One example of a debt resolution
`system is described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser.
`No. 1 1/256,405, where a transaction resolution system is used
`to resolve debts between a creditor or debt buyer and a debtor/
`user. Such a system can facilitate debt resolution and can
`establish a payment schedule. Such as payment of 36 pay
`ments of $500.00 per month.
`0007 Financial transactions such as a credit or loan con
`tract or agreement, or a debt resolution, may provide for
`future payments to be made and applied against the outstand
`ing debtor outstanding principal. The concept of “future pay
`or “future payment relates to an acceptable modification of
`debt terms within an existing contract for an additional pay
`ment or additional funds received.
`0008. A common example of future payment may be
`found in today's home mortgage lender contracts where the
`creditor may allow the debtor to include additional funds
`designated for application against their outstanding balance.
`Although common, current methods of collecting future pay
`ment are fairly limited and inflexible. Present future payment
`collection methods are limited to written solicitations and are
`typically communicated via monthly account statements
`delivered either by postal mail or as an electronic form via the
`
`Internet. Current methods are further limited because the
`debtor has only a few proactive options for providing future
`payment outside of the normal billing cycle. These proactive
`options typically include calling the creditor on the phone and
`requesting to make an additional payment, or by mailing a
`payment to the creditor with a letter of explanation. In short,
`the option must be presented and expected by the payee or
`creditor.
`0009 Current future payment collection methods may
`only provide the debtor the ability to make an additional
`principal payment to be applied to the principal amount
`remaining at the end of the loan. This becomes problematic
`when a debtor, who is current up to a point in their loan
`payment schedule, encounters unusual circumstances such as
`a receiving a windfall, encountering a natural disaster or
`illness or loss of employment, either affecting the debtor's
`ability to continue to satisfy the terms of their loan agreement
`or providing an ability to pay additional funds. When such a
`circumstance befalls the debtor, the situation can also affect
`the creditors ability to collect funds.
`0010. In the situation where the user cannot meet the
`monthly payment, for example, the creditagency may wish to
`accommodate selected debtors, in this case those affected by
`a natural disaster, i.e. hurricane, during periods of time they
`may be unable to meet their obligations. The natural disaster
`or other circumstance may provide an incentive to the loan
`originator or holder to provide relief to debtors in a particular
`geographic area. In order to provide this relief, the debt terms
`generally will require modification or renegotiation. Modifi
`caiton or renegotiation can be problematic since the payment
`process is generally managed and realized via a programmed
`or paper-based process that requires effort and time on the
`parts of the creditor and debtor to create and execute new loan
`documents. In addition, multiple loan document copies may
`be required, signatures may need to be captured, and various
`instruments may require distribution and recordation to effec
`tuate and implement the new changed circumstances. In addi
`tion, a manual paper-based modification process requires sig
`nificant effort.
`0011. In a windfall scenario, the debtor may be unable
`modify debt terms in order to submit additional payments.
`For example, the debtor receiving a windfall may desire to
`pay a greater monthly installment or make additional princi
`pal payments by scheduling aperiodic installments during the
`life of the loan and may desire to pay different amounts in
`each aperiodic installment. Current payment schemes do not
`alow for the user to make additional payments on the out
`standing debt. For example, if S5000 remains owed, with a
`S500 monthly installment due, a debtor paying S2000 has
`S500 applied against the outstanding payment and S1500
`applied typically to the end of the loan. The following month
`requires an additional S500 payment. A debtor may wish to
`apply, in this example, the S1500 against the next three pay
`ments, or may wish to apply them to the next three December
`payments So she will not have to make payments around
`holiday time.
`0012. In current practice, for a debtor to engage in any of
`the above activities, debt terms will require complete renego
`tiation, and aperiodic payments are virtually unheard of. The
`renegotiation process is generally managed and realized via a
`paper-based process that requires effort on the parts of the
`creditor and debtor to create and execute new loan docu
`ments. Renegotiation of debt terms, whether desired on
`
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`behalf of the creditor or debtor can be inefficient, cumber
`Some, and in certain circumstances difficult or unachievable.
`0013 Additional complexities arise when a party outside
`of the creditor and debtors mortgage loan contract, for
`example a relative or business partner, desires to provide an
`additional principal payment on behalf of the debtor. In this
`instance, the third party is typically unaware of the pertinent
`information and generally unable to make the payment with
`out providing the funds directly to the debtor. This can be
`disadvantageous when the third party is a spendthrift, i.e.
`spends significant funds on matters other than the outstanding
`debt.
`0014. In light of the above, it would be desirable to have a
`system and method that improves collection of debtor initi
`ated future pay, or future payment attributed to the debtor, and
`enables creditors to modify contracted debt terms “on-the
`fly' in a manner readily accessible to users/debtors.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`0015. According to one aspect of the present design, there
`is provided a method for the online settling of a future pay
`ment transaction in which network communications are
`established between a user, such as a debtor, and a server. The
`server receives information regarding the transaction. Finan
`cial information, macroeconomic factors, historical data,
`and/or information from other sources pertinent to the trans
`action, Such as a credit report, may also be obtained, and the
`information obtained and/or other information related to the
`user and/or transaction may be processed using a rules engine
`running on the server. The ability to accept future payment
`may be predefined or established on behalf of a party to the
`transaction, Such as a creditor, based on a desired transaction
`resolution strategy. While online, the user or an authorized
`third party may edit debt terms describing the current debt in
`order to essentially present a modified or renegotiated debt
`contract, submit the modified debt terms and wait for a
`response (e.g. approval). The server may examine the Sub
`mitted debtor modifications to the debt terms and applies
`these terms to the debt contract in accordance with transac
`tion information previously received and may be processed
`using a rules based engine. The server responds by sending an
`acceptance of debt terms to the debtor or presents other offers
`containing modified debt terms to present acceptable
`approved contracts for the debtor to consider.
`0016. These and other advantages of the present invention
`will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the
`following detailed description of the invention and the
`accompanying drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0017 For a more complete understanding of the present
`disclosure, reference is now made to the following figures,
`wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items
`throughout the figures:
`0018 FIG. 1 illustrates a computer system for use in
`accordance with one embodiment of the present transaction
`resolution design;
`0019 FIG. 2 is a logical representation of software mod
`ules executed by the server of FIG. 1 in accordance with one
`embodiment of the present design;
`0020 FIG.3A illustrates a process flow for debt collection
`in accordance with one embodiment of the present design;
`
`FIG. 3B is an alternate process flow for the present
`
`0021
`design;
`0022 FIG. 4 illustrates an architectural representation of
`the debtor interaction side of one embodiment of the present
`design, implemented on a Microsoft platform;
`0023 FIG.5 is one embodiment of a creditor system archi
`tecture;
`0024 FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment of system
`operation representing an embodiment of the present design;
`0025 FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a payment part
`ner server transaction flow;
`0026 FIG. 8 is one embodiment of the general concept of
`mapping source data to dictionaries using schemas;
`0027 FIG. 9 illustrates a general creditor/credit agency
`workflow in accordance with the present design;
`0028 FIG. 10 is a general debtor workflow in accordance
`with the present design;
`0029 FIG. 11 shows an internet browser screen shot hav
`ing settlement items particular to a credit bureau;
`0030 FIG. 12 presents a general set of settlement terms for
`a particular creditor or credit agency;
`0031
`FIG. 13 illustrates a settlement dictionary, including
`in this embodiment an option to create and edit debt settle
`ment items and assign tags, such as XML tags, to match
`Source data;
`0032 FIG. 14 represents a general format for reports, spe
`cifically reporting collection statistics for a debt portfolio;
`0033 FIG. 15 illustrates a general blank form including
`fields that may be filled with settlement offer data and pre
`sented to a creditor for purposes of issuing settlement offers;
`0034 FIG. 16 shows a portfolio manager and illustrates
`the concept of OrgUnits:
`0035 FIG. 17 is shows a rule manager for a portfolio
`created by the system;
`0036 FIG. 18 illustrates the concept of child portfolios:
`0037 FIG. 19 shows a dictionary manager screen;
`0038 FIG. 20 is a screen shot of a selected dictionary
`including attributes;
`0039 FIG. 21 illustrates a screen shot viewable by a
`debtor/user;
`0040 FIG. 22 is an alternate embodiment of the use of
`settlement terms, including rules, used to form offers to debt
`ors for the embodiment presented; and
`0041
`FIG. 23 illustrates a process flow for future payment
`debt collection in accordance with one embodiment of the
`present design.
`0042. The exemplification set out herein illustrates par
`ticular embodiments, and Such exemplification is not
`intended to be construed as limiting in any manner.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`DISCLOSURE
`0043. The following description and the drawings illus
`trate specific embodiments sufficiently to enable those skilled
`in the art to practice the system and method described. Other
`embodiments may incorporate structural, logical, process and
`other changes. Examples merely typify possible variations.
`Individual components and functions are generally optional
`unless explicitly required, and the sequence of operations
`may vary. Portions and features of some embodiments may be
`included in or substituted for those of others.
`0044. In general, the present design includes a system and
`method for resolving transactions, including but not limited
`to resolving debts, resolving insurance settlement claims,
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`establishing charitable donations, and the like, by providing
`an automated information collection system that collects
`information about one party, parses and/or operates on the
`information collected based on a set of rules established by
`the other party, and presents certain offers to an individual
`based on the information collected and parsed. The offers and
`information are typically provided via a computer network,
`Such as over the Internet, typically via an encrypted connec
`tion. The individual may then elect one of the options pre
`sented or may refuse, whereupon certain additional informa
`tion may be solicited and/or entered and the transaction
`moved further toward resolution. Even in instances where the
`transaction is not resolved using the present design, the infor
`mation received can be useful in determining the ability and
`willingness of both parties to resolve the transaction and can
`indicate the next logical steps to resolving the transaction,
`Such as initiating litigation or refraining from resolving the
`transaction altogether. The present design thus automates the
`overall transaction resolution process, and can reduce the
`costs, time, and complexities associated therewith at terms
`acceptable to the parties to the transaction.
`0045. Whereas previous systems have been offered that
`enable an online presentation of offers to Suit a need, such as
`an individual contacting a website to obtain car insurance or
`a mortgage, those types of designs have typically presented a
`variety of offers to a user without any information regarding
`the user being sought regarding the user before presenting
`offers. While those types of sites may request input from the
`user, no external investigation or information seeking occurs
`before the three offers from three different lenders, for
`example, are presented to the user. The present design not
`only seeks relevant external information pertinent to the user
`and/or the transaction, but the present design also resolves an
`existing difference of opinion regarding the transaction. The
`present design contemplates two parties having different
`positions regarding an existing transaction, such as a debt,
`insurance settlement, or other two party type of transaction.
`0046. The present design brings the two parties together
`with the ability for one party to employ a set of rules in a rules
`based engine to form an offer set to resolve the transaction.
`The present design thus automates resolution of the transac
`tion using information externally obtained regarding the
`transaction and/or user in a rules based engine having rules
`provided in part based on desired negotiation rules for one
`party.
`0047. The elements that implement the various embodi
`ments of the present system and method are described below,
`in some cases at an architectural leveland in others at a logical
`level. Many elements may be configured using well known
`structures. The functionality and processes herein are
`described in such a manner to enable one of ordinary skill in
`the art to implement the functionality and processes within
`the architecture.
`0048. The processing described below may be performed
`by a single platform or by a distributed processing computer
`platform. In addition, Such processing and functionality can
`be implemented in the form of special purpose hardware or in
`the form of software or firmware being run by a general
`purpose or network processor. Data handled in Such process
`ing or created as a result of Such processing can be stored in
`any type of memory as is conventional in the art. By way of
`example, Such data may be stored in a temporary memory,
`Such as in the RAM of a given computer system or Subsystem.
`In addition, or in the alternative, such data may be stored in
`
`longer term storage devices, such as magnetic disks, rewrit
`able optical disks, and so on. For purposes of the disclosure
`herein, a computer-readable media may comprise any form of
`data storage mechanism, including existing memory tech
`nologies as well as hardware or circuit representations of such
`structures and of Such data.
`0049. The techniques of the present system and method
`might be implemented using a variety of technologies. For
`example, the methods described herein may be implemented
`in Software running on a programmable microprocessor, or
`implemented in hardware utilizing either a combination of
`microprocessors or other specially designed application spe
`cific integrated circuits, programmable logic devices, or vari
`ous combinations thereof. In particular, the methods
`described herein may be implemented by a series of com
`puter-executable instructions residing on a storage medium
`Such as a carrier wave, disk drive, or other computer-readable
`medium.
`0050. Further, while primarily described herein with
`respect to an exemplary system and method for resolving
`transactions in a debt settlement scenario, the invention and
`disclosure herein are not intended to be so limited. As noted,
`the present design may be employed in a variety of scenarios,
`further including but not limited to insurance claim settle
`ments, charitable contributions, and so forth.
`0051. As used herein, the term “entity” refers to an indi
`vidual, corporation, partnership, or other type of legal entity.
`A specific embodiment of the system and method as
`described below is sometimes referred to as an “Intelligent
`Debt Settlement system” or an “IDS system”, or even simply
`as an IDS.
`0.052 The system may be operated online, or via the Inter
`net, as a web-based platform for creditors or their agents
`(including, for example, debt collection companies, collec
`tion agencies, and legal representatives) that allows debtors to
`settle accounts online at any time of day. Debtors may log into
`or connect to the system and settle accounts from the privacy
`of their home or office without the inconvenience of calling
`the collections department or a collection agency and talking
`to a collector. The system enables a creditor to create debt
`settlement terms online, using his own decision criteria, thus
`helping both the debtor and the creditor/collection agency
`more rapidly reach a mutually beneficial resolution online
`without involving the agency's collectors.
`0053 When the debtor engages in an online session, the
`system may acquire certain credit information, including but
`not limited to a credit report. Based on the credit information
`so located and collection criteria predefined by the creditor,
`the creditor/collection agency may determine the settlement
`offers available to the debtor based on the debtor's ability to
`pay. The debtor may choose a most desirable settlement offer
`in a less adversarial environment. The system may be
`employed to process payments using online bill paying tech
`niques, and the system may update credit bureaus with cur
`rent information, such as actual settlement of the debt. The
`system may send notification to all appropriate parties memo
`rializing the transaction. The system may provide creditor
`information so that a creditor may view and manage real-time
`portfolio settlement parameters online.
`0054 The system generally may be implemented using
`open standards. The system may be, for example, built in
`Microsoft Visual Studio .NET and SQL Server 2000 and may
`be fully XML compliant. The system may run in a secure data
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`center and may be enabled as a web service to provide the
`technology foundation for its strategic enterprise partners.
`0055 End users of the system may include delinquent
`consumer debtors with access to the Internet. For purposes of
`defining the entities potentially using and/or associated with
`the system, such parties may include “creditors.” namely
`entities that loan money to other entities, such as individuals,
`and are owed money by these “debtors. Entities may include
`banks, credit unions, and other lending institutions, but also
`may include others who provide money, goods, and/or Ser
`vices to entities. Such as attorneys, physicians, and so forth. A
`“primary creditor is a creditor having an internal collection
`facility or capability. In this scenario, “debtors' are those
`entities who have incurred the debt from the creditors. Indi
`viduals, partnerships, corporations, government entities, and
`virtually any person or business structure may become a
`debtor. A “collection agency' collects on behalf of a primary
`creditor, typically for a percentage of the fees recovered. A
`“collection discounter typically purchases debt and collects
`that debt internally, or in-house. A collection discounter is
`independent of the creditor or primary creditor, while a col
`lection agency is typically an agent of the creditor or primary
`creditor.
`0056. A logical overview of the system is illustrated in
`FIG.1. From FIG.1, a computer system 100 includes a server
`102 used generally for transaction resolution. Server 102 may
`be in communication over a communication network 110
`with a debtor device 106 such as, for example, a personal
`computer or PDA. Creditor server 104, operated for or on
`behalf of a creditor (e.g., a creditor of a debtor operating
`debtor device 106) may be connected by a communication
`network 108 to server 102. Collection software 120, which
`may be existing Software used by a creditor, runs on creditor
`server 104. Credit bureau server 116 communicates with
`server 102 over communications network 107. Payment part
`ner server 114 communicates with server 102 over commu
`nications network 109.
`0057 Communication networks 107, 108, 109 and 110
`may be, for example, the Internet or a local or wide area
`network. An application program, for example an Internet
`browser or another application to provide a graphical or other
`user interface to a debtor, may run on debtor device 106 and
`provide access by the debtor to server 102. A debtor account
`on server 102 may be activated or accessed, for example,
`using logon information provided by the debtor.
`0058 Server 102 may execute software 112, described in
`more detail below. Information regarding debtor