Validation approach for auditing a vendor-based transaction

• US 8,396,811 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2000
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Syncada LLC (US Bancorp)
• Original Assignee: Syncada LLC (US Bancorp)
• Inventors: Hahn-Carlson, Dean W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US09/527,717
• Time in Patent Office: 4,743 Days
• Field of Search: 705/75, 705/39, 705/44, 705/64, 705/72
• US Class Current: 705/75
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A computer processing system for auditing transaction information between vendors and service providers servicing a third party'"'"'s needs. The system also includes those transactions involving shippers and carriers. The system is particularly suited to efficiently and automatically audit and effect payment of a transaction and to efficiently provide access to relevant transaction and subscription information. According to one example embodiment, the system includes a processor arrangement that helps vendors validate transactions between service providers and third party customers. In some cases the system is able to monitor transactions initiated by the service provider, for the benefit of the customer, committing the vendor to certain actions not readily known by vendor. However, this is acceptable if the service provider uses a service quotation generating system, provided by the vendor, that has pre-determined parameters that vendor is willing to be committed to in order to immediately secure the new subscriber.

Claims

1. A method for validating a service transaction, the method comprising:

generating transaction information prior to processing by a subvendor, the transaction information related to a remotely-processed transaction that occurs between a vendor and a merchant-offering provider controlled by the subvendor, the remotely-processed transaction occurring entirely separate from a local processing arrangement;

providing an authorized profile list criterion that includes information about authorized users, wherein the authorized users are empowered by the vendor to authorize payment;

maintaining, by the local processing arrangement, data relating to the authorized profile list criterion,

processing the transaction information by determining whether the transaction information satisfies the authorized profile list criterion, and

using the authorized profile list criterion to generate information for auditing the remotely-processed transaction.

2. A transaction validation system for auditing, the transaction validation system comprising:

a central processor arrangement configured to;

maintain data relating to an authorized profile list criterion and data relating to business rules, the business rules defined according to the authorized profile list criterion;

process a business transaction submitted by an authorized user, the business transaction processed by using the authorized profile list criterion to determine that the user is authorized to perform the business transaction and by applying the business rules to perform the business transaction, the business transactions occurring entirely separate from the central processor arrangement; and

generate information for auditing the business transaction.

3. The transaction validation system for auditing, according to claim 2, wherein the authorized profile list criterion includes multiple levels of authorization.

4. The transaction validation system for auditing, according to claim 3, wherein at least two of the multiple levels of authorization respectively correspond to two different payment-authorization levels.

5. The transaction validation system for auditing, according to claim 3, wherein the central processor arrangement is further configured to provide correspondence between at least one of the levels of authorization and the business transaction.

6. The transaction validation system for auditing according to claim 2, wherein the business transaction is completed after correspondence is provided between at least one of the levels of authorization and the business transaction.

7. The transaction validation system for auditing according to claim 2, wherein the authorized profile list criterion includes a plurality of attributes associated with the authorized user.

8. The transaction validation system for auditing according to claim 2, wherein the authorized profile list criterion includes a plurality of attributes associated with the authorized user.

9. A processor arrangement configured to:

maintain data relating to an authorized profile list criterion that includes information about authorized users, wherein the authorized users are empowered by a vendor to authorize payment;

determine whether transaction information satisfies the authorized profile list criterion, the transaction information related to a remotely-processed transaction occurring entirely separate from the processor arrangement, the remotely-processed transaction being between a vendor and a merchant-offering provider; and

use the authorized profile list criterion to generate information for auditing the remotely-processed transaction.

10. The processor arrangement of claim 9, further configured to use the authorized profile list criterion to generate information for auditing in response to the processor arrangement determining that the transaction information satisfies the authorized profile list criterion.

11. The processor arrangement of claim 10, further programmed and configured to effect payment for the remotely-processed transaction in response to the transaction information.