Online reduction in repair and maintenance costs

• US 20060155616A1
• Filed: 01/13/2005
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vixxo
• Original Assignee: First Service Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Ferreira, Michael A., Joyner, J. Russell, Moore, Clyde R., Russell, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,685,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

The present invention provides an automated invoice vetting, negotiation and payment system that automatically collects goods and labors hour data, sets a reasonable pricing structure for each such good and service, dynamically analyzes the price data to adjust for market changes and provides a automatic negotiation and settlement feature for bill payment. The present invention readily accommodates the above features over electronic networks such as the Internet. The present invention therefore provides a method of payment of invoices of vendors by purchasers, comprising providing a settlement authority with invoice information from a vendor, comparing the invoice charges to a predetermined range of values for the charges, accepting the charges that are within a predetermined sub-range for the charges, adjusting the charges that are greater or less than that the predetermined sub-range for the charges and paying the accepted charges and the adjusted charges.

Claims

1. A method of payment of invoices of vendors by purchasers, comprising:

providing a settlement authority with invoice information from a vendor;

comparing the invoice charges to a predetermined range of values for said charges;

accepting said charges that are within a predetermined sub-range for said charges;

adjusting said charges that are greater or less than that said predetermined sub-range for said charges; and

paying said accepted charges and said adjusted charges.

2. A computer program containing code segments which when executed on a computer perform invoice settlement utilizing a network, the computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program comprising:

(a) a code segment for allowing a vendor to select from a group of options in order to enter invoice information utilizing a network, wherein the options include action performed, work category, work performed, equipment and labor;

(b) a code segment for receiving the selected options utilizing the network;

(c) a code segment for comparing the invoice charges to a predetermined range of values for said charges;

(d) a code segment for accepting said charges that are within a predetermined sub-range for said charges;

(e) a code segment for adjusting said charges that are greater or less than that said predetermined sub-range for said charges; and

(f) a code segment for paying said accepted charges and said adjusted charges.

3. A system for invoice settlement utilizing a network, comprising:

(a) means for allowing a vendor to select from a group of options in order to enter invoice information utilizing a network, wherein the options include action performed, work category, work performed, equipment and labor;

(b) means for receiving the selected options utilizing the network;

(c) means for comparing the invoice charges to a predetermined range of values for said charges;

(d) means for accepting said charges that are within a predetermined sub-range for said charges;

(e) means for adjusting said charges that are greater or less than that said predetermined subrange for said charges; and

(f) means for paying said accepted charges and said adjusted charges.