Method and process for providing relevant data, comparing proposal alternatives, and reconciling proposals, invoices, and purchase orders with actual costs in a workflow process
First Claim
41. A process in a workflow system for presenting the reconciliation of actual data compiled by a seller with estimated data projected for a project, the actual data received at the workflow system from a seller via a communication network, the process comprising:
- comparing the actual data to the estimated data to determine any discrepancy between the actual data and the estimated data; and
presenting an interface comprising the any discrepancy, the interface accessible by the buyer via the communication network connecting the workflow system to a buyer system.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a process and system for matching buyers and sellers of either goods or services, or goods and services for a project. The invention enables a buyer to specify a project in terms of physical, functional, temporal, financial, and transactional parameters that can be automatically converted, by the present invention, into at least one request for either goods or services, or goods and services to perform work related to the project. The requests are suitably provided to at least one seller. Upon receiving a request, the seller may submit a response to the request, as desired. The invention provides a forum for the negotiation of any agreements and the formation of contracts to provide the requested, or alternative goods or services, or goods and services, as well as reconciliation of purchase orders, actual field costs, and invoices.
-
Citations
119 Claims
-
41. A process in a workflow system for presenting the reconciliation of actual data compiled by a seller with estimated data projected for a project, the actual data received at the workflow system from a seller via a communication network, the process comprising:
-
comparing the actual data to the estimated data to determine any discrepancy between the actual data and the estimated data; and
presenting an interface comprising the any discrepancy, the interface accessible by the buyer via the communication network connecting the workflow system to a buyer system. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
-
-
103. An enhanced workflow system that provides supportive information for a project, wherein a buyer provides at least one request for at least one of either goods or services, or goods and services for the project, and a seller provides at least one response to the at least one request, the workflow system comprising:
-
a buyer interface with at least one buyer system;
a seller interface with at least one seller system;
a memory for storing the at least one request input by the buyer through the first interface; and
a processor connected to the buyer interface, the seller interface, and the memory, wherein the processor inserts an information source link into the request;
notifies the seller that the request is available for access and review in the second interface; and
responds to a selection of the information source link by the seller by presenting the supportive information in the second interface. - View Dependent Claims (105, 106, 107, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116)
-
-
104. An enhanced workflow system that provides supportive information for a project, wherein a buyer provides at least one request for at least one of either goods or services, or goods and services for the project, and a seller provides at least one response to the at least one request, the workflow system comprising:
-
a buyer interface with at least one buyer system;
a seller interface with at least one seller system;
a memory for storing the at least one response input by the seller through the second interface; and
a processor connected to the buyer interface, the seller interface, and the memory, wherein the processor inserts an information source link into the response;
notifies the buyer that the response is available for access and review in the first interface; and
responds to a selection of the information source link by the seller by presenting the supportive information in the second interface. - View Dependent Claims (108, 117)
-
-
118. A process in a workflow system for displaying information supportive of a request by a buyer to a seller for at least one of either goods or services, or goods and services, the process comprising:
-
displaying a seller interface accessible to the seller, wherein the seller interface connects the workflow system and a seller system, the interface comprising an information source link; and
in response to selection of the information source link, displaying the supportive information in the seller interface.
-
-
119. A process in a workflow system for displaying information supportive of a response by a seller to a request by a buyer for at least one of either goods or services, or goods and services, the process comprising:
-
displaying a buyer interface accessible to the buyer, wherein the buyer interface connects the workflow system and a buyer system, the interface comprising an information source link; and
in response to selection of the information source link, displaying the supportive information in the buyer interface.
-
Specification