Real-time accounting using wireless traffic control

• US 20020188558A1
• Filed: 04/29/2002
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABC BULK Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nihon Dot Com Company Limited
• Inventors: Morimoto, Nobuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,917,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/128 Check-book balancing, updating or printing arrangements

Abstract

A method for real time accrual basis accounting may involve detecting a purchase made via a computer network and obtaining a guarantee for the payment via the network based on the determined method of payment. The guarantee may be an escrow account or an insurance policy that guarantees payment. The premium may be charged back to the client. At least a portion of the proceeds of from the sale may be recorded as income in a general ledger database in real time. Network-enabled assets may provide automated depreciation updates to further automate the accounting process.

Claims

1. A method for real-time accounting using a networked computer system, the method comprising:

detecting a purchase request issued to a computer system via a network;

determining a method of payment for the purchase;

obtaining a guarantee for the payment via the network, wherein the guarantee is based on the type of payment specified for the purchase; and

recording the payment as income in a general ledger database, wherein said determining, said obtaining, and said recording are performed substantially in real time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the guarantee is obtained from a credit card authorization server if the method of payment specified for the purchase is a credit card.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the guarantee is obtained from a bank, credit union, or savings and loan institution if the method of payment specified for the purchase is a debit card or an electronic funds transfer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the guarantee is obtained from an escrow agent if the method of payment specified for the purchase is an escrow account.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the guarantee is obtained from an insurance server.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

querying a credit reporting bureau server to determine a credit rating corresponding to a customer making the purchase; and

providing the credit rating to the insurance server.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a quote for an insurance premium for insurance to guarantee the payment;

providing an amended offer for sale with a new sales price based on the insurance premium.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

requiring a second method of payment for the insurance premium.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said recording is performed by automatically and periodically recording portions of the payment as income in the general ledger database, wherein the portion is determined according to a predetermined formula based on the amount of time that has lapsed since the purchase and the terms of the purchase, and wherein at least a first portion of the payment is recorded as income in the general ledger in real time.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving depreciation updates from intelligent assets; and

adjusting a database of equipment values in response to the depreciation updates.

11. A system for real time accounting, the system comprising:

a first server connected to computer network, wherein the first server is configured to;

detect a purchase;

determine a method of payment for the purchase;

obtain a guarantee for the payment via the network based on the determined method of payment; and

record the payment as income in a general ledger database hosted on the computer system, wherein the first server is configured to determine the method of payment, obtain the guarantee, and record the payment as income automatically and substantially in real time.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the guarantee is obtained from a credit card authorization server if the method of payment is a credit card.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the guarantee is obtained from a bank, credit union, or savings and loan institution if the method of payment is a debit card or an electronic funds transfer.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the guarantee is obtained from an escrow agent if the method of payment is a escrow account.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the guarantee is obtained from an insurance server.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the server is further configured to:

query a credit reporting bureau server to determine a credit rating for the purchase; and

provide the credit rating to the insurance server.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the server is further configured to:

request a price quote for insurance to guarantee the payment via the network;

receive the price quote via the network;

add the price quote to an initial purchase amount; and

present for approval, via the network, new sales terms including adjusted pricing based on the price quote for the payment insurance.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the server is further configured to require a second method of payment for the payment guarantee insurance.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the server is configured to record the payment as income automatically and periodically recording portions of the payment as income in the general ledger database, wherein the portion is determined according to a predetermined formula based on the amount of time that has lapsed since the purchase and the terms of the purchase.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the server is further configured to:

receive depreciation updates from intelligent assets; and

adjust a database of equipment values in response to the depreciation updates.

21. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium, wherein the computer program comprises a plurality of instructions, wherein the plurality of instructions is executable to:

detect a purchase by a customer connected to the computer system via a network;

determine which method of payment the customer has specified for the purchase;

obtain a guarantee for the payment via the network based on the type of payment specified by the consumer; and

record the payment as income in a general ledger database hosted on the computer system, wherein the plurality of instructions is executable to determine which method of payment, obtain the guarantee, and record the payment as income substantially in real time.

22. The computer program of claim 21, wherein the guarantee is obtained from a credit card authorization server if the method of payment specified by the customer is a credit card.

23. The computer program of claim 21, wherein the guarantee is obtained from a bank, credit union, or savings and loan institution if the method of payment specified by the customer is a debit card or an electronic funds transfer.

24. The computer program of claim 21, wherein the guarantee is obtained from an escrow agent if the method of payment specified by the customer is a

25. The computer program of claim 21, wherein the guarantee is obtained from an insurance server if the method of payment specified by the customer is not guaranteed.

26. The computer program of claim 25, further comprising:

querying a credit reporting bureau server to determine a credit rating for the customer; and

providing the credit rating to the insurance server.

27. The computer program of claim 26, further comprising:

receiving a price quote for insurance to guarantee the customer'"'"'s payment;

adding the price quote to an initial purchase amount; and

providing the customer with an opportunity to agree to new terms including adjusted pricing based on the price quote for insurance.

28. The computer program of claim 27, further comprising:

requiring a second method of payment for the insurance to guarantee the customer'"'"'s payment.

29. The computer program of claim 21, wherein the plurality of instructions is executable to record the payment as income by automatically and periodically recording portions of the payment as income in the general ledger database, wherein the portion is determined according to a predetermined formula based on the amount of time that has lapsed since the purchase and the terms of the purchase.

30. The computer program of claim 21, wherein the program is further configured to receive depreciation updates from intelligent assets and adjust a corresponding database or table of equipment values accordingly.