METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR GENERATING INVOICES

• US 20090089209A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Union
• Original Assignee: Western Union
• Inventors: Seifert, Dean, Petri, Elizabeth, Owen, Dave, Bixler, Matt, Newton, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,725,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for generating electronic invoices. The method may include logging on to an online invoicing service account, and looking up a customer account from multiple customers associated with the online invoicing service account. The method may further include selecting the customer account that has a pending financial transaction with a biller. A request for an electronic invoice to be generated for the selected customer is initiated and the electronic invoice may be transmitted to the selected customer.

Claims

1. A method of generating electronic invoices, the method comprising:

a biller, logging on to an online invoicing service account;

looking up a customer account from a plurality of customers associated with the online invoicing service account;

selecting the customer account, wherein the selected customer account has a pending financial transaction with the biller;

requesting an electronic invoice to be generated for the selected customer; and

transmitting the electronic invoice to the selected customer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising prior to the biller logging on to the online invoicing service account, subscribing to the online invoicing service account.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the subscribing further comprises:

providing company information of the biller to the online invoicing service; and

upon approval based on the provided company information, receiving a username and password granting access to the online invoicing service to the biller.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the company information includes at least one of company type, company financial status, company name, company contact information, and company'"'"'s governmental regulation compliance status.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the biller is a seller and the plurality of customers are buyers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of customers has an online invoicing service account.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein if a customer is registered with the online invoicing service, receiving the electronic invoice from the biller via the customer'"'"'s online invoicing service account.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the customer'"'"'s online invoicing service account is associated with one or more bank accounts, wherein the one or more bank accounts are configured to pay an amount of the electronic invoice.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic invoice includes at least one of a hyperlink configured for paying the electronic invoice, an attached document, a universal resource locator (URL) configured for paying the electronic invoice, a confirmation identifier, and interactive currency conversion.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising customizing the electronic invoice by using at least one of an uploaded invoice template, a customized logo, a customized background, a customized watermark, a customized language, and a customized format.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting at least one of an invoice notice and the electronic invoice to the customer by at least one of an email, a text message, a facsimile, electronic facsimile, and a mail service.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the biller'"'"'s online invoicing service account is associated with one or more bank accounts.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the electronic invoice transmitted to the customer includes payment options for the customer without disclosing information from the one or more bank accounts.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to transmitting the electronic invoice to the selected customer, translating the electronic invoice into a target language of the selected customer.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing the electronic invoice as a reoccurring invoice, wherein reoccurrence of the electronic invoice is based on an amount of time.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic invoice is a partial invoice with an associated balanced, wherein subsequent partial invoices are transmitted to the selected customer until the balance is paid.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining a record of transactions associated with the biller'"'"'s online invoicing service account; and

exporting the record of transaction to a financial accounting software program.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining, within the biller'"'"'s online invoicing service account, a list of unpaid invoices, wherein the electronic invoice transmitted to the selected customer is included within the list of unpaid invoices;

receiving a notification that the selected customer has paid a balance of the electronic invoice; and

removing the electronic invoice from the list of unpaid invoices.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the balance of the electronic invoice is paid using at least one of a wire transfer network, cash, a check, and a credit card.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically generating reminder notice for delinquent invoice payments, wherein the reminder notices are incrementally scheduled based on a duration of the delinquency.

21. A system for generating electronic invoices, the system comprising:

an online invoicing service center configured to look up a customer account from a plurality of customers associated with an online invoicing service account, to select the customer account, wherein the selected customer account has a pending financial transaction with a biller, to generate an electronic invoice for the selected customer, and to transmit the electronic invoice to the selected customer; and

a computing device coupled with the online invoicing service center configured to log on to the online invoicing service account and to access services related to the online invoicing service account.

22. The system of claim 22, wherein the computing device is at least one of a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld computer, and a portable computer.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

a database coupled with the online invoice service center configured to store invoice transaction history data; and

the invoice service center further includes a currency converter configured to convert invoice payments received from buyers using currency which is different from the biller'"'"'s currency.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the online invoice service center is configured to analyze the invoice transaction history data to determine changes to the plurality of customers'"'"' transactions with the biller, and based on a change to at least one of the plurality of customers the online invoice service center is configured to send the at least one of the plurality of customers a coupon.

25. A machine-readable medium having sets of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

log on to an online invoicing service account;

look up a customer from a plurality of customers associated with the online invoicing service account;

select the customer, wherein the selected customer account has a pending financial transaction with the biller;

request an electronic invoice to be generated for the selected customer; and

transmit the electronic invoice to the selected customer.