Electronic factoring

• US 7,082,412 B1
• Filed: 11/23/1999
• Issued: 07/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Profitscape Incorporated, Tnetap LLC
• Original Assignee: ENET 30 Incorporated
• Inventors: Borges, Julie M., Treider, Kevin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): VINCENT, DAVID ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/447,524
• Time in Patent Office: 2,436 Days
• Field of Search: 705 30- 31, 705/33, 705 35- 45
• US Class Current: 705/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• 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 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• 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 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

The present invention is a method and system for electronic factoring. An electronic platform is provided for guaranteeing payment of receivables. Information from users is input into a profile database upon the electronic platform and is accessible by all users. The buyers are assigned a credit limit and are able to purchase from vendors within that credit limit. The payments for these purchases are guaranteed by a guaranteeing financial institution with is aligned with the platform.

Claims

1. A method of electronic factoring, the method comprising providing an electronic platform for use by a plurality of buyers, vendors and at least one financial institution for factoring receivables, wherein the electronic platform is not administrated by the vendors;

receiving, in the electronic platform, application information that is provided directly from the buyers,

electronically assigning, in the electronic platform, each of the buyers a credit limit for factoring of receivables owed the vendor, said receivables being generated from the purchase of goods or services to the buyer from the vendor, wherein the credit limit indicates a transaction limit of the buyer for purchasing goods or services in exchange for said receivable to the vendor;

electronically receiving, in the electronic platform, transaction information that describes a transaction between one of the buyers and a vendor, wherein the transaction creates a receivable for the vendor, and wherein as part of the transaction the buyer is obligated to pay the vendor a payable;

electronically accessing the electronic platform for verification of credit availability for the transaction;

electronically sending the vendor a transaction authorization message; and

electronically assigning, in the electronic platform, ownership of the receivable of the vendor to a financial institution.

2. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising:

issuing each buyer an identifying card showing membership on the platform;

purchasing from the vendor with the identifying card; and

accessing the buyer'"'"'s credit availability via the platform with information obtained from the identifying card.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

verifying a buyer as a member of the platform; and

purchasing from the vendor.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of purchasing from the vendor comprises first searching the profile database with a search engine.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of purchasing from the vendor comprises the steps of purchasing from the vendor with a line of credit within the credit limit established by the profile database.

6. The method of claim 5, additionally comprising:

making payment to the platform; and

forwarding payment from the platform to the vendor.

7. The method of claim 5, additionally comprising

making payment to the financial institution;

and

forwarding payment from the financial institution to the vendor.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein additionally comprising:

accessing the platform directly by the vendor for verification of credit availability; and

forwarding payment to the vendor upon verification.

9. The method of claim 5, additionally comprising:

accessing the financial institution directly by the vendor for verification of credit availability; and

forwarding payment to the vendor upon verification.

10. The method of claim 5, additionally comprising:

accessing the platform for verification of credit availability;

paying the financial institution for purchase; and

forwarding payment from the financial institution to the platform and merchant bank so that the merchant bank can credit the vendor.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising

maintaining credit records on the platform;

and

periodically reviewing credit records by the financial institution for buyer credit availability.

12. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising:

creating offers by the vendor;

sending the offers to an offer database on the platform for storage;

comparing the offer database with a profile database; and

creating a list of matching offers.