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Collection agency data access methodRelated Patent Categories: Data Processing: Database And File Management Or Data Structures, Database Or File Accessing, Privileged AccessCollection agency data access method description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070022118, Collection agency data access method. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This invention relates generally to systems and methods for storing and retrieving account data. In particular, the invention pertains to a system and method for allowing secure client access to collection agency accounts over a network from a public site. BACKGROUND [0002] In conventional data access systems used by commercial recovery and other collection agencies, client account data is stored in databases maintained by various "collection agency software packages" and/or other databases or spreadsheets. This software is run on various computer hardware platforms running different operating systems. Access to the data is only available through the interfaces provided by the software and by a trained operator at the agency site. Typically, when a client requests data on a specific account or on a group of accounts, the request is routed to the appropriate person where it is acted upon immediately by telephone during business hours, or placed in an "In Basket" and worked as time and resources permit. This process may involve running queries on the database, creating spreadsheets, and writing status reports and letters. Client contact is often by telephone and depends upon the availability of both parties. The client then receives the requested data, but it is sometimes several days later, and the client only receives the data that the agency deems appropriate. [0003] Data maintained by the databases of these "software packages" include but is not limited to the following fields: Debtor Code, Debtor Name, Debtor Address, Debtor City, Debtor State, Debtor Zip, Phone Number, Employee Contact, Extension Date, Collection Number, Assignment Date, Original Amount Due, Total Amount Due, Status, and Comments (each time an account is worked the collector enters a note describing the outcome of the call or contact). This information is usually never shown to the client but is used by the collectors as historical reference. This data is typically processed and manipulated by the collection agency software to schedule collector calls, print letters and other statements, prepare reports and provide collection agency operators with access to the data. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] It would be advantageous for clients of collection agencies and other debt recovery companies to be able to access their accounts from their place of business, such as via the World Wide Web with a web browser at the client's site. In response to this need, the present invention in one embodiment is a system and method allowing access from public sites over a network to an agency account database, such as that of a collection or other debt recovery agency, by agency affiliates and clients of the agency from public sites over a network. In such a system, data items associated with the accounts belonging to clients of the agency are stored in the agency database. The database is accessed by a database server that interfaces with a network server. (The term "server" as used herein refers to a process that provides services to another process on the same or different host machine.) The network server processes database access requests received over a network from a user process controlled by a remote user at a public site or other remote location. In a typical embodiment, the network server is a web server (i.e., a hypertext transport protocol or HTTP server), and the user process is a web browser. [0005] In order to provide for data security, the network server processes credentials transmitted by the user process in order to authenticate the identity of the user as either a client representative or an agency affiliate authorized to access the database. After a user is authenticated and the identity established, the database server processes data access requests in accordance with a defined access scheme such that a user process controlled by a representative of a particular client is allowed access only to data items associated with an account belonging to that client. The defined access scheme further provides for a plurality of access tiers such that a particular client representative is allowed access only to those client account data items allowed by the tier to which the representative has been assigned. The network server may also process credentials transmitted by the user process to authenticate the identity of the user as an agency representative or affiliate, with the tiered access scheme including an access tier for agency representatives that allows access to all data items contained in the database. [0006] As aforesaid, the user process that the client uses to access the database is typically a web browser. In an exemplary embodiment, an authenticated client is presented with an HTML (hypertext markup language) form by the web server that the user fills in with a request for data. The web server then uses the information in the form to invoke a CGI (common gateway interface) program which then communicates with the database server to retrieve the requested information from the database. In another embodiment, the web browser executes a java applet downloaded from the web server that communicates with the database server over the network in order to retrieve the user requested data. [0007] The database in an exemplary system is a relational database that defines one or more tables for containing one or more records therein, with the data items stored in defined data fields of the records according to type. In the case of collection agency accounts, the data items may include, e.g., a debtor identifier, location of debtor, amount owed on an account, account status, amount paid, and original amount owed. Each such data item would be stored in a data field of a record associated with a particular account. The records thereby serve to group the data items into data entities, with each of such data entities being associated with a particular account. In order to associate each record (and thereby each data item) with a particular account, an account identifier may be related to each record by, e.g., a table of records containing all data items in the database with the account identifier used as a key. In order to identify the client to which a particular account belongs, a client identifier is stored in the database as a data item, with each account identifier being related to a client identifier by, e.g., a table of account identifiers for each client identifier. [0008] The database server in one embodiment may allow a user process to query the database with relational expressions (in, e.g., SQL) and be presented with data responsive to the query in accordance with the defined access scheme, thus providing a means by which a client can search for a specific account or group of accounts meeting the client's criteria. In another or the same embodiment, a client representative accessing the database through the web browser may request and be presented with a plurality of selected views of data items associated with accounts belonging to the client. ("Views" are derived relations or tables of a database.) Preferably, the system also allows a selected view to present data items sorted according to a selected data item, which the user specifies in the data request. Such views may thus present the data and/or subsets of a client's account data grouped in ways meaningful to collection agency clients. [0009] For example, the selected view may present data items sorted according to debtor name, debtor identifier, the account identifier, state in which a debtor is located, account status, date on which an account was entered into the system, or by a range of amounts owed on an account. A selected view could then show any combination of the following: an account identifier, the name of a debtor on the account, a state in which the debtor is located, amounts paid on the account, amounts owing on the account, original amount due, account status, account transactions, and a collector's notes on an account. A selected view may also include a link to an online-ledger for each account represented in the selected view, wherein the online-ledger presents a plurality of data items associated with a single account, such as a presentation of all the data for a single account on a single screen, or a listing of all transactions of an account. [0010] In a particular embodiment, the defined access scheme may be implemented by the views of the data that a client is permitted to see. In that case, the database server restricts a particular client's data access to only those views of the data items that include the client identifier for that client. Similarly, the access tiers are implemented by the database server restricting data access of particular client representatives to selected views of the data items to which the client has data access. The tiered access scheme may allow for differential client access to accounts owned by a client among representatives of the client in accordance with a management structure of the client, allowing managers to view and sort accounts of people working under them or at different divisions. In some embodiments, a particular access tier may allow a particular client representative to input data through the web site interface into the agency account database. Such data input operations by a client may include, for example, inserting comments into a designated record field, placing new business by entering a new account into the system along with data items associated with that account, or issuing instructions about accounts. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] FIG. 1 depicts the components of a particular system embodying the invention. [0012] FIG. 2 is a flow chart depicting the collection agency clients navigation and the data flow associated with that client in the use of the system. [0013] FIG. 3 is a high level flow chart depicting the collection agency client's navigation through different views and the Quick Search or Query function to arrive at the On Line Journal. [0014] FIG. 4 is a pictorial representation of a tiered access scheme. [0015] FIG. 5 depicts a tier being added to the access scheme. [0016] FIG. 6 is an actual print out of an On Line Journal using the print frame command of a web browser. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0017] A preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as described below, is a collection agency data access system that provides clients of commercial debt recovery and collection agencies the ability to access pertinent account data in real-time over the internet, requiring only internet access and a web browser at the client site. The system provides the clients of collection agencies a powerful tool at their places of business for the management of their accounts placed with the collection agency. The system further provides the client with the ability to view individual accounts or status groups of accounts via different views and quick search functions, to communicate comments and/or instructions, and to place new accounts. It further allows clients to access this data outside of normal business hours and at a much-reduced cost as compared to prior methods and systems which impose costs on the client involving both time and long distance phone fees. The system presents the data stored on the collection agency system "as is," such that, with the exception of formatting to improve readability, the data presented is not edited or changed by the collection agency. [0018] A "Quick Search" function is provided to further enable the client to find and ascertain the status of their accounts. When any individual account is accessed through any of the views or by using the Quick Search function, the account data is presented in an "On Line Ledger," as shown in FIG. 6. This ledger presents all the data for that account. This ledger form also lists account transactions or payments against the debt and the collector's notes showing dates of contact and the results of the call. [0019] FIG. 1 depicts a pictorial representation of a data processing system which may be utilized to implement the method and system of the present invention. As may be seen, the data processing system may include a plurality of computer systems and servers, such as separate web servers and production computers. Of course, a plurality of computers and servers is neither necessary nor desirable, in some cases, in order to implement the methods and systems of the present invention. A single computer may be sufficient in certain situations to implement a satisfactory system in accordance with the invention. Furthermore, there are a number of core technologies and software tools that provide methods to access data in databases and present the data to users on the internet. What is used is in part determined by the platform and operating system that the host collection agency software resides on. Availability and cost of the skill sets required for the different implementations also determine what tools should be used in a particular situation. Advancements in software and computing platforms will, of course, determine what implementation tools are used in the future. Continue reading about Collection agency data access method... Full patent description for Collection agency data access method Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Collection agency data access method patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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