Method for the Automatic Generation and Processing of an Invoice Document

• US 20080288413A1
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jan Weber
• Original Assignee: Jan Weber
• Inventors: Weber, Jan
• Application Number:
  US11/916,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20080288413A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/71
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for automated invoice generation and settlement from a payer (50) to a payee (20), comprising the steps of recording the invoice data necessary for carrying out the payment process for the invoice settlement, generation and printing of an invoice document, (10, 18), application of a memory element (12) to the invoice document, sending the invoice document (10, 18) with memory element (12) to the payer (50), read out of the invoice data from the memory element (12) by means of a reading device (52), transmission of the read-out invoice data to an automatic payment transfer system (30) and carrying out the payment process to the payee (20), based on the read-out invoice data. Said method permits a simple and economical transmission of the data necessary for an automated execution of an invoice settlement together with an invoice document.

Claims

1. Method of generating and processing an invoice document for a payment transaction from a debtor (50) to a payment beneficiary (20) on an automated basis, comprising:

retrieving the invoice data needed to implement the payment transaction in order to settle the invoice,

generating and printing an invoice document (10, 18) containing the invoice data in printed format,

attaching a memory element (12) to the invoice document,

storing the invoice data needed to implement the payment transaction in order to settle the invoice in the memory element (12), this invoice data comprising at least one of the following invoice data;

the payment beneficiary, account number, bank sort code, credit institution of the beneficiary, amount, currency, intended purpose and invoice number,

sending the invoice document (10, 18) with memory element (12) to the debtor (50).

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps:

reading out the invoice data from the memory element (12) by means of a reading device (52) and

transmitting the read invoice data to an automated payment transfer system (30) and implementing the payment transaction to the beneficiary of the payment (20) on the basis of the read-out invoice data.

3. Method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the automated payment transfer system (30) is an online banking system.

4. Method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the automated payment transfer system (30) is a telephone banking system and the data stored on the memory element (12) is transmitted to the telephone banking system via a telecommunication link.

5. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an authorisation code is read onto the memory element (12) by the debtor (50) and the memory element is sent to a bank (40) to implement the payment transaction.

6. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the invoice document (10, 18) is provided with a second memory element (14) by the debtor (50), which contains an authorisation code and/or account information of the debtor, after which the two memory elements (12, 14) are sent to a bank (40) for implementing the payment transaction.

7. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory element (12) is an RFID chip, in particular a read-only RFID chip.

8. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory element (12) is attached to a transfer document.

9. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory element (12) is adhered to or laminated into the invoice document (10, 18).

10. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein printed invoice documents (10, 18) are provided with memory elements (12) in different positions on the invoice document (10, 18).

11. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the invoice document (10, 18) has a tear-off region (17), to which the memory element is attached.

12. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data stored on the memory element (12) is provided with a data encryption key and/or password protection.

13. Method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the password is contained in the printed invoice document (10, 18).

14. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data stored on the memory element (12) has a standardised format, in particular a specific sequence of individual data elements.

15. Method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the data read out from the memory elements with data retrieved from an order confirmation, a quotation and/or an order letter or similar existing in a computer system of the debtor (50).

16. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the invoice data stored on the memory element (12) additionally includes date information pertaining to the issue of the invoice and/or the terms of payment.

17. Method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the date information includes the date on which the invoice was issued.

18. Method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the date information includes a predefined payment period.

19. Method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the date information includes date-dependent terms of payment.

20. Method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the invoice data stored on the memory element (12) additionally includes date information pertaining to the issue of the invoice and/or the terms of payment and wherein the payment transaction is implemented as a function of the read-out date information.

21. Method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising comparing the date information with an external time measuring system.

22. Method as claimed in claim 20, wherein a date match is run with an external server computer (60) prior to implementing the payment transaction in order to identify the invoice document and/or retrieve additional information relating to the payment transaction.

23. Invoice document (10, 18) containing in printed format invoice data to implement a payment transaction in order to settle the invoice, the document comprising a memory element (12) attached to the invoice document (10, 18), on which the invoice data to implement the payment transaction in order to settle the invoice is stored in a format which can be digitally processed.

24. Invoice document as claimed in claim 23, wherein the invoice document (18) is a pre-printed form for a payment transaction.

25. Invoice document as claimed in claim 23, wherein the memory element (12) is an RFID chip.

26. Invoice document as claimed in claim 23, wherein the memory element (12) is adhered to the invoice document (10, 18) or laminated into it.

27. Invoice document as claimed in claim 23, further comprising a tear-off region (17) for removing the memory element (12).

28. Invoice document as claimed in claim 23, wherein the data stored in the memory element (12) is provided with a data encryption key.

29. Invoice document as claimed in claim 23, wherein the data stored on the memory element (12) is provided with password protection and the password is printed on the invoice document.

30. Invoice document as claimed in claim 23, wherein the invoice data stored on the memory element (12) additionally includes date information relating to the issue of the invoice and/or the terms of payment.

31. Invoice document as claimed in claim 30, wherein the date information includes the date on which the invoice was issued.

32. Invoice document as claimed in claim 30, wherein the date information includes a predefined payment period.

33. Invoice document as claimed in claim 30, wherein the date information includes date-related terms of payment.

34. Method of processing an invoice document on an automated basis for implementing a payment transaction from a debtor (50) to a beneficiary of the payment (20) comprising:

reading out, by means of a reading device (52), invoice data including date information pertaining to the issue of the invoice document and/or terms of payment from a memory element (12, 14) attached to the invoice document,

transmitting the read invoice data to an automated payment transfer system (30) and implementing the payment transaction to the beneficiary of the payment (20) on the basis of the read invoice data.

35. Method as claimed in claim 34, wherein the payment transaction is implemented as a function of the read date information.

36. Method as claimed in claim 35, further comprising comparing the date information with an external time measuring system.

37. Method as claimed in claim 35, wherein a data match is run with an external server computer (60) prior to implementing the payment transaction in order to identify the invoice document and/or retrieve additional information relating to the payment transaction.

38. Method as claimed in claim 34 further comprising:

comparing the data read from the memory elements (12, 14) with data retrieved from an order confirmation, a quotation, general terms and conditions of business and/or an order letter or similar already existing in a computer system of the debtor (50).