SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING FUNDS
A computer-implemented payment processing system includes an account information directory comprising a database of registered users of a payment network, at least one of the registered users having a plurality of public identifiers associated therewith that are stored in the account information directory, at least one of the plurality of public identifiers being useable by the user to send funds to other users and to receive funds from the other users; and a rules engine accessible to the user by way of a computer network, the rules engine being accessible by the user to separately configure attributes of the plurality of public identifiers.
1 . A computer-implemented payment processing system comprising:
an account information directory comprising a database of registered users of a payment network, at least one of the registered users having a plurality of public identifiers associated therewith that are stored in the account information directory, at least one of the plurality of public identifiers being useable by the user to send funds to other users and to receive funds from the other users; and
a rules engine accessible to the user by way of a computer network, the rules engine being accessible by the user to separately configure attributes of the plurality of public identifiers.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the rules engine is accessible by the user to configure a rule that controls a manner in which a notification is sent to the user informing the user that a funds transfer request has been received from a sender.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the rule specifies a channel by which notifications are sent, the channel selected from the group consisting of e-mail, text message, and voicemail, and wherein the rules engine is further configured to permit the user to specify at least one of an e-mail address and a telephone number to which the notifications are sent.
4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the rule specifies a channel in which a notification is sent when the funds transfer amount is greater than a threshold value, the channel selected from the group consisting of e-mail, text message, and voicemail.
5 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the rule specifies a channel in which a notification is sent when the funds transfer request originates from a particular sender, the channel selected from the group consisting of e-mail, text message, and voicemail.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the rules engine is configured to permit the user to configure a payment channel to be used.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the payment channel is selected from the group consisting of Automatic Clearing House (“ACH”) transfer, credit card network, PayPal network, and printed and mailed check.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the rules engine is accessible by the user to define an account associated with one of the plurality of public identifiers, the account being a demand deposit account held by the user at a financial institution, wherein funds transfers received using the one of the plurality of public identifiers are deposited to the account.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the demand deposit account is a first demand deposit account and the financial institution is a first financial institution, wherein the funds are received from a sender having a second demand deposit account at a second financial institution, and wherein the funds are received by the first financial institution directly from the second financial institution via an interbank electronic payment clearing system.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the first and second financial institutions are first and second banks.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the rules engine is accessible by the user to configure a manner in which received funds are split between a plurality of accounts held by the user at a financial institution.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the rules engine is accessible by the user to configure a manner in which received funds are forwarded to another user that is registered with the payment network.
13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the rules engine is configured to permit the user to configure the speed with which funds are transferred from the user to a recipient, wherein the speed is selected from the group consisting of immediate, same day, overnight, and 2-day payment.
14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the rules engine is configured to permit the user to configure a transaction limit for outgoing funds transfers, such that an outgoing funds transfer having a dollar value in excess of the transaction limit is not permitted.
15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the rules engine is configured to permit the user to configure a transaction limit, such that outgoing funds transfers having an aggregate dollar value within a predetermined time period in excess of the transaction limit are not permitted.
16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the rules engine is configured to permit users to configure aspects of the plurality of public identifiers that are displayed to other users.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the aspects that are configured include a name of the user.
18 . A computer-implemented data processing system, comprising:
a computer system including a processor and computer readable storage media, the computer readable storage media having instructions stored therein that when executed by the computer system configure the computer system to:
process funds transfers between a user and a plurality of other users, each of the funds transfers being initiated by the user or by one of the plurality of other users, the funds transfers using a plurality of public identifiers to identify the user; and
provide a graphical user interface to the user, the graphical user interface comprising at least one display screen, the at least one display screen comprising an identifier management field useable by the user to separately manage attributes of different public identifiers from the plurality of public identifiers; and
an account information directory implemented in a data storage system, the account information directory maintaining registration information for the user, the registration information including the plurality of public identifiers and account number information.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one display screen includes a field that displays a link to modify a source account.
20 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one display screen includes a field that displays an indicator reflecting whether one of the plurality of public identifiers is active.
21 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one display screen includes a field that displays a list of the plurality of public identifiers.
22 . A computer-implemented payment processing method comprising:
storing, by a computer system, information regarding a recipient in an account information directory, the account information directory being implemented in a data storage system, the information including a plurality of public identifiers identifying the recipient;
receiving, by the computer system, a funds transfer request identifying the recipient by one of the plurality of public identifiers, the funds transfer request being received via a computer network;
determining, by the computer system, a private identifier for the recipient based on the received public identifier;
transmitting, by the computer system, a funds transfer message via the computer network to cause funds to be transferred from a sender to the recipient, the funds transfer message being generated using the private identifier; and
providing a graphical user interface to the recipient, the graphical user interface comprising at least one display screen, the at least one display screen comprising an identifier management field useable by the recipient to separately manage attributes of different public identifiers from the plurality of public identifiers.