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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A financial data processing system comprising:
central processing means, including a data bank into which data is written
and from which data is read, said data including financial credit
transaction information representing the balance outstanding for each
credit transaction, the finance charge payable for each credit
transaction, the amount due and payable for each periodic payment on said
credit transaction, the identity of each obligor of said credit
transaction, and the delinquency of payment, if any, on each credit
transaction;
a first level of distributed processing means including plural first
terminal means coupled to said central processing means selectively
operable to write into said data bank updated financial credit transaction
information;
a second level of distributed processing means including plural second
terminal means coupled to the first level of distributed processing means,
each second terminal means being operable by an operator to write to said
first level of distributed processing means and thence into the data bank
updated financial credit transaction information;
each second terminal means having means for writing during a single
operation to said first level of distributed processing means a batch of
credit transaction payment data representing payment amounts and the
identities of respective obligors for a batch of credit transaction
payments;
storage means associated with the first and second levels of distributed
processing means, respectively, each of the first and second levels of
distributed storage means being operable to store therein the updated
financial credit transaction information written from the first or second
plural terminal means; and
plural display means coupled to the second level of distributed processing
means to display data stored in the central data bank and in the storage
means associated with the first and second levels of distributed
processing means, including credit transaction payment data and credit
transaction application data written into the data bank or the respective
level of storage means by the operator.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein at least some of the first and second
levels of distributed processing means, are located at sites remote from
the central processing means; and further including first data
communication means for interconnecting the second level of distributed
processing means to selected first level of distributed processing means
and second data communication means for interconnecting the first level of
distributed processing means with the central processing means, to enable
data to be transmitted between the first and second levels of distributed
processing means, and between the first level of distributed processing
means and the central processing means.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second level of distributed
processing means comprises a plurality of microcomputers.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plural terminal means of the second
level of distributed processors include a plurality of keyboards for
entering data associated with respective terminal means.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the terminal means
associated with the second level of distributed processing means further
includes an optical character reader.
6. The system of claim 1, further including storage disk means associated
with at least some of the plural terminal means of the second level of
distributed processing means.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the plural display means coupled to the
second level of distributed processing means include video display units.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the second level of
distributed processing means include access identifying means for
identifying predetermined access codes which enable an operator to perform
certain financial transaction through the second terminal means and to
establish interconnection between the first and second levels of
distributed processing means.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second level of distributed
processing means is programmed to detect erroneous operation of the
terminal means included therein and to cause the display means coupled
thereto to display an error message thereby permitting an operator to take
corrective measures.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the terminal means
included in the second level of distributed processing means includes an
optical character reader to supply data, said data being stored in one of
the storage devices associated with the second level of distributed
processing means for subsequent transmission to the first level of
distributed processing means in batch mode.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the terminal means included in the
second level of distributed processing means are programmed to transmit
sets of multiple payment data to the first level of distributed processing
means in batch mode, when a communication link is established between said
terminal means and the first level of distributed processing means, said
terminal means being programmed to continually attempt to transmit the
multiple payment data to the first level of distributed processing means
if said first level of distributed processing means is not in a
data-receiving mode, until such mode is attained.
12. The system of claim 9, wherein the display means associated with a
terminal means of the second level of distributed processing means is
programmed to display operator help instructions for each type of
financial transaction that can be performed by the activation of
programmed function keys designated on a menu screen displayed on the
second display means.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the terminal means included in the
second level of distributed processing means are operable during
data-input sessions and are programmed to display a summary of the data
which has been entered during a data-input session, said summary
indicating the number of data sets which have been entered, the number of
data sets which cannot be further processed at the first level of
distributed processing means due to incorrect entry and the number of data
sets to be verified and acknowledged prior to being processed by the first
level of distributed processing means due to errors during batch-mode data
transmission from the second level of distributed processing means to the
first level of distributed processing means.
14. The system of claim 1, further including means at a terminal associated
with the second level of distributed processing means to initiate a
"multiple mail payment" financial transaction to cause the second display
means associated therewith to display a format by which data for plural
payments are entered for subsequent transmittal to a selected one of the
first level of distributed processing means in batch mode for updating of
the permanent data base associated with the central processing means; and
data input means at said terminal for entering said data for plural
payments.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein said displayed format enables a
predetermined maximum number of sets of multiple payment data to be
entered into said terminal associated with the second level of distributed
processing means for subsequent transmittal at one time in batch mode to
one of the first level of distributed processing means.
16. The system of claim 1, wherein the terminal means associated with the
second level of distributed processing means are micro-computers.
17. The system of claim 1 wherein the terminal means included in the second
level of distributed processing means includes means for transmitting
financial credit transaction information to said first level of
distributed processing means, means for detecting the incomplete receipt
of financial credit transaction information by said first level of
distributed processing means to cause previously written financial credit
transaction information to be displayed by said display means for review
and correction by said operator; and means for completing the transmission
of financial credit transaction information to said first level of
distributed processing means.
18. The system of claim 1 wherein the terminal means included in the second
level of distributed processing means includes means actuable by an
operator to correct financial credit transaction information displayed by
said display means and identified as not being received by said first
level of distributed processing means from said terminal.
19. A method of processing financial data comprising the steps of:
storing in a central data bank, into which data is written and from which
data is read, financial credit transaction data representing the balance
for each credit transaction outstanding, the finance charge payable for
each credit transaction, the amount due and payable for each periodic
payment on said credit transaction, the identity of each obligor of said
credit transaction, and the delinquency of payment, if any, on each credit
transaction;
operating individual ones of plural first terminal means, associated with a
first level of distributed processing means which are coupled to the
central data bank and to a second level of distributed processing means,
to write into and read from the central data bank and to receive batches
of input data from the second level of distributed processing means for
further processing and entry into the central data bank, updated financial
credit transaction data;
writing from said second level of distributed processing means to said
first level, during a single operation a batch of credit payment data
representing payment amounts and the identities of respective obligors for
a batch of credit transaction payments;
writing from said second level of distributed processing means to said
first level credit transaction application data representing the identity
of each applicant, the amount, type and duration of the requested credit
transaction, the finance charge payable on the requested credit
transaction and data representing the applicant's ability to repay the
requested credit transaction;
subsequently transmitting the credit payment data and application data from
the first level of distributed processing means to the central data bank
for updating of the central data bank; and
displaying data written to and read from the central data bank and read
from the second level of distributed processing means on first display
means associated with the first level of distributed processing means and
displaying data written to and read from the data bank through the first
level of distributed processing means. and written to storage means
associated with the second level of distributed processing means on second
display means associated with the second level of distributed processing
means, said data including payment data and credit transaction application
data, summary data representing summaries of plural credit transactions
outstanding, payment delinquencies of said plural credit transactions
outstanding, collection histories, loss of amounts resulting from credit
transactions which are not repaid, and summaries of batches of input data
entered from the second level of distributed processing means.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein batches of updated credit transaction
data are entered into the system utilizing an optical character reader
associated with a terminal means of the second level of distributed
processing means. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a financial data processing system and a method
of operating the system for keeping accounts of loans, loan histories,
leases and other financial transactions, and pertinent information
relevant to each loan, lease and transaction.
More particularly, this invention relates to a financial data processing
system having a "level" of distributed processors, such as micro-computers
which also are known as personal computers ("PC's"), coupled to a higher
"level" of mini-computers, such that the micro-computers are directly
connected to and interface with the mini-computers, and although not
directly connected to a host computer, are capable of communicating with
it via the mini-computers.
This invention further relates to a financial data processing system having
a lower level of distributed processors at the micro-computer level, which
are capable of receiving user input data in real-time and providing a
temporary storage of such data in a memory storage device of the
micro-computer or in a more permanent storage medium such as a disk file
readable by the micro-computer, for either processing by the
micro-computer or for later transmission to and processing by the
next-higher level of distributed processors, e.g. the mini-computers, in
batch-mode.
This invention also relates to a financial data processing system having
the capability of inputting data in real-time using means other than a
conventional computer keyboard to enter the data, particularly such as by
means of using an optical character reader directly connected to computer
memory storage means.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Prior to the invention described below, financial data processing,
utilizing a system such as is described in our co-pending U.S. Pat.
Application, Ser. No. 750,912, was performed using an essentially bi-level
system comprising a plurality of distributed processors at the
mini-computer level, each having a plurality of interactive video display
terminals ("VDT's") and other peripheral equipment, such as printers,
associated therewith, with each distributed mini-computer processor
further being connected to and interfacing with a mainframe host computer.
Although this bi-level system operates satisfactorily, it is believed that
the efficiency of the overall system can be improved. The operation of
this system is dependent, to a large part, on the rate at which data can
be input into the system by the individual operators using the VDT's
connected to the distributed mini-computer processors, in real-time, and
in a time-sharing mode. The capability of each individual distributed
mini-computer processor to accept data being input thereto greatly exceeds
the rate at which individual operators can manually input such data via
the computer keyboard. The full data processing capability of the
mini-computers, moreover, is not utilized even where a plurality of VDT's
are connected thereto in time-sharing mode. The system is limited, in some
instances, particularly at large branch office sites, by the relatively
small number of VDT's which can actually be connected to a single
distributed mini-computer because of hardware limitations, such as the
number of VDT ports that a single mini-computer can accommodate. In other
instances, the full data processing capability of the mini-computer is not
utilized because of the relatively small number of VDT's, less than the
maximum number which can be connected to a single mini-computer in
time-sharing mode, which actually interface with a single mini-computer
serving one or more branch offices. Finally, even when a plurality of
VDT's connected to a mini-computer are simultaneously being utilized for
the manual input of data into the memory storage devices associated with
the mini-computer, in real-time, or time-sharing modes, since the process
is relatively slow it prevents the mini-computer from performing other
important processing tasks internally.
For these reasons, a further improvement to the financial data processing
system as set forth in co-pending U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 750,912,
has been developed specifically to overcome the above limitations and to
avoid unduly restricting the processing capability of the mini-computers
in the system by releasing them from the function of processing input data
being entered into the system by relatively slow-speed manual entry via
keyboard from VDT's connected to the mini-computer in time-sharing mode,
thereby increasing the overall data processing efficiency of this system.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is object of the present invention to provide a further,
lower level of data entry and distributed processing capability for the
overall financial data processing system of our invention, by means of a
network (or subsystem) of micro-computers, also generally known as
personal computers, below the level of the mini-computers. This sub-system
is provided in order to facilitate the entry of data into the financial
data processing system by first inputting data into the micro-computers
either by direct manual entry of the data from the micro-computer keyboard
(i.e. from the level of micro-computers coupled to a mini-computer), or
alternatively, by means of an optical character reader to enter and store
the data. The input data is copied onto a permanent storage means (such as
a floppy or hard disk) of the micro-computer from the volatile working
storage memory, for more permanent storage. After a batch of data has been
so accumulated, the data is transmitted to the next-higher level of
distributed processors, i.e. the mini-computer connected thereto, by means
of a communication interface and link, such as a modem and standard
telephonic communication line, or by means of an optical fiber link,
connecting the micro-computer to a mini-computer. The transmitted data is
then entered into a direct access memory storage device connected to the
mini-computer, for master file updating and for further processing of the
data.
A further object of this invention is to provide a financial data
processing system having a lower level of distributed processors, i.e.
micro-computers, connected to a next-higher level of distributed
processors, i.e. mini-computers, the latter being connected to a mainframe
central host computer, such that the individual micro-computers are
capable of inputting file data into the system relating to all financial
functions performed by the system, in real-time. The inputted data
subsequently is transmitted to the mini-computers for file updating and
data processing in high-speed batch mode. Thus, the central processing
units of the mini-computers are thereby utilized more efficiently.
Various other objects, advantages and features of the present invention
will become readily apparent from the detailed description that follows,
and the novel features of the invention are particularly pointed out in
the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Heretofore, a financial data processing system utilizing several levels of
interactively linked distributed processors has not been possible because
of the unavailability of system operating and control software to
accomplish such an objective. The financial data processing system of the
present invention, which integrates a micro-computer sub-system with a
higher level of distributed processor, therefore, represents a significant
advancement of the state of the art. The system of this invention is made
possible by adapting Application Program Interface ("API") software
developed by IBM to the particular requirements of the financial data
processing field.
API software provides the means for operating an integrated hardware
system, such as that of the present invention based on PC's and
mini-computers. The API software enables hardware sub-systems to be linked
in a way that permits the exchange of data between the PC and the
mini-computer and allows the PC to perform certain designated processing
functions, such as high volume, routine data processing operations,
thereby freeing the central processing unit of the mini-computer to
perform other tasks. Through the adaption and use of API software, the
overall capabilities, flexibility, operating speed and efficiency of the
integrated financial data processing system are greatly enhanced.
In the present invention, the API software has been modified to create an
integrated system of hardware which links one or more PC's to at least one
mini-computer. The system is structured in such a way as to provide an
essentially unidirectional flow of operational control which is
established from the PC and can be extended to the mini-computer for
select designated operations. A tie-in from a PC to the mini-computer is
initiated from the PC. The link enables the PC to interrogate the
mini-computer and obtain data from data files corresponding to the
designated functions which the PC's are authorized to access. For certain
operations, the PC's may have "read only" access to data contained in
files at the mini-computer level. For other operations, particularly those
involving the processing of data which is used to update information in
the permanent data files at the mini-computer level, the PC's have the
further capability of transmitting the processed data to the mini-computer
and writing the data to memory at that level. A step-by-step detailed
description of how the system operates is presented below.
The PC/mini-computer interface is also structured such that, on the other
hand, the mini-computer cannot independently access a PC and transfer data
to it at the mini-computer's instance. Data transfer from the
mini-computer to a PC must be initiated as a request from the PC.
In accordance with a broad, general feature of this invention, a financial
data processing system and a method of operating that system are provided.
Included in this system are a central processor with a data bank into
which financially-related data is written and from which data is read.
Also provided is a higher level of distributed processors with associated
direct access storage devices and other peripherals, including video
display terminals (VDT's) and printers, into which data is also written
and from which data is also read. This higher level of distributed
processors (mini-computers) performs data processing for substantially all
financial functions programmed into the system. The aforesaid elements of
the system hardware and the financial functions performed by the system
are more fully described in co-pending U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No.
750,912. Also integrated as part of the overall system, as particularly
disclosed in the present specification, is a second, lower level of
distributed processors, for example, micro-computers which are used
essentially to input data into the system in real-time and to retrieve
data processed or otherwise provided at the mini-computer level for
real-time display and/or printout.
The financial data maintained and processed by the functions performed by
the system, and which the micro-computers are capable of inputting,
accessing and transmitting interactively with the system include, but are
not limited to, financial loan information representing the balance of
outstanding loans, the interest rate payable on a loan, the principal and
interest due and payable for each periodic loan payment, information on
the identity of each debtor, a record of any delinquency in payment of a
loan, the cumulative collection histories of each loan and financial
information relating to leases and leased property.
The input means of each micro-computer, including, e.g. a keyboard or an
optical character reader, are operable to write into the memory storage
area of the micro-computer, and optionally, to store on a disk file of the
micro-computer, data pertaining to financial loan information. In
particular, this includes multiple loan payment data representing
principal and interest payments and the identities of respective debtors,
for a batch of loan payments, multiple lease payment data, and loan
application data representing the identity of each applicant, the amount,
type and duration of the requested loan, the interest rate payable on the
requested loan and credit data representing the applicant's ability to
repay the requested loan.
The display means of each micro-computer, such as a video display screen or
the like, is operable to display data stored in and read from memory
storage of the microcomputer or from a disk file. Data can be input to
memory storage from a keyboard for newly entered data or it can be input
by reading-in previously entered data which has been retained on a disk,
from a permanent disk file. Disk files, containing previously entered
data, are a convenient means of playback for the purpose of verification
and/or reentry. The display means of the micro-computers are also operable
to access and retrieve processed data directly from the mini-computers or
from the central host computer, via the mini-computers.
In a preferred embodiment, each micro-computer, such as an IBM 3270-PC, is
provided with a keyboard, a multi-colored video display screen, a memory
storage area for the micro processor, means such as a floppy disk drive or
a hard disk drive, for permanently recording data that has been entered
into the memory storage and, alternatively for transferring data therefrom
into the memory storage. Optionally, an optical character reader is used
as an alternative to the manual entry of data from the keyboard.
Each micro-computer is connected to a direct access peripheral storage
device associated with the next-higher level of distributed processor,
i.e. a mini-computer such as an IBM 8100 processor/8101 storage device
combination. The mini-computer systems, with which the micro-computers are
interconnected may include one or more additional memory storage devices,
such as an IBM 8102 and one or more tape drive units, such as an IBM 8809.
A full description of the operation of the mini-computer system and the
financial data processing functions which are performed at this level of
the overall system is described in the co-pending application referred to
above and is not herein described in detail. A detailed description of the
operation of the micro-computer level of distributed processors in
conjunction with the operation of the overall system is discussed below,
with particular emphasis on a detailed description of the operation of
these terminals in performance of the multiple payment processing function
.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following detailed description is best understood in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGS. 1-3; 4A-B; 5; 5a; 6A-C; 7-9; 10A-B; 11A-C; 12-20 as described in our
co-pending U.S. Pat. Application referred to hereinabove.
FIG. 21 is a schematic representation of the components of the
micro-computer sub-system and their relationship to one another and to the
mini-computer level of distributed processors.
FIGS. 22A-22E are a flow chart representation of the program which the
micro-computer sub-system utilizes to perform the operation of data input
for the multiple payment processing function.
FIG. 23A is a display of the personal computer (PC) main menu for the
customer payments multiple mail option.
FIG. 23B is an illustration of the PC display screen for the main menu help
map.
FIG. 24A is a representation of the PC display screen for the input of
payment data.
FIG. 24B is a representation of the PC display screen for the multiple
input help map.
FIG. 25 is a representation of the PC display screen for the payment input
results.
FIG. 26 is a representation of the PC display screen for the payment
restart status map.
FIG. 27 is a representation of the PC display screen for the payment and
help screen restart.
FIG. 28 is a representation of the display screen for the instructions for
the input data verification procedure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The following detailed description is intended to provide an understanding
of the method of operation of the micro-computer sub-system of the present
invention, which is a part of the overall financial data processing system
described in detail in co-pending U.S. Pat. Application, Ser. No. 750,912.
Particular emphasis is given in the following to application of the
micro-computer sub-system of the present invention to the multiple payment
processing financial transaction option. It is to be understood, however,
that the micro-computer sub-system of the present invention can generally
be utilized to perform any of the financial data processing transaction
options which can be selected by the user from the main menu of all
financial transactions that may be carried out by the overall system as
described in the aforementioned patent application. The specific sequence
of steps followed in the performance of other options varies accordingly.
The determination of the specific steps for other financial transaction
options will be obvious to one skilled in the art of computer programming
based on the disclosure herein and on the disclosure in our above
mentioned co-pending application.
FIG. 21 is an overall view of a micro-processor terminal as utilized
according to the invention, including a keyboard, central processing unit
(CPU) and a video display terminal (VDT), together with an optical
character reader (OCR) for alternative means of data entry into the CPU
instead of the keyboard. Also shown is a data communications link between
the micro-computer sub-system and the next highest "level" of distributed
processor in the overall financial data processing system, namely the
mini-computer level, utilizing, for example, an IBM 8100 mini-computer and
its peripherals such as an IBM 8101 direct access storage device, one or
more IBM 8102 disk drives and an IBM 8809 tape drive for tape back-up of
data stored on hard disk. The two-way data transmission link between the
micro-computer and mini-computer sub-systems is established with an
appropriate interface at each terminal, such as a modem in the case of
interconnection over conventional telephonic lines. Alternatively, a fiber
optic link can be established between the two systems. Several
micro-computers may be coupled to a common mini-computer subsystem.
Referring to FIG. 22A, the operator first turns on the VDT and PC of the
micro-computer subsystem as at 1002 of the illustrated multiple payment
processing flow chart. Assuming the PC is provided with a hard disk drive,
the VDT screen shows a c> prompt as the last symbols echoed to the VDT, as
is conventional. If the c> prompt is not shown on the screen, the operator
is put on notice that there is a PC problem as represented by the inquiry
at 1004, that the system is not operating properly and that branch
support, which is a central user help desk, should be contacted to
determine the nature of the problem and to provide assistance. If the c>
prompt is properly shown on the screen, the inquiry at 1004 is answered in
the affirmative and the operator is apprised that he may proceed with the
session. The operator next presses the designated key (JUMP) or
combination of keys to tie-in the PC to the mini-computer, such as IBM
8100, with which it interfaces, as at 1006. This interconnection can be
established by means of a modem utilizing standard telephonic
communication lines or the interface can be established by means of other
devices such as a dedicated fiber-optic link. If a successful
interconnection is not confirmed, the inquiry at 1008 is answered in the
negative and the operator may first take corrective measures on his own,
and if still unsuccessful in establishing a link-up, he may call on branch
support for assistance. When a link-up is successfully established, the
inquiry at 1008 is answered in the affirmative and the operator proceeds
by logging-on to the system main menu, as at 1010. The Main Menu display
screen is illustrated in FIG. 7. As an illustrative example, any one of
eighteen separate financial transactions may be selected by the terminal
operator. After selecting one of the transaction options, the operator
enters a user identification number and password needed top verify that
the operator has the authority to access the selected option, as at 1012 | | |
