Method for managing buyer transactions and settlements using communication network between computers, and method for relaying information following buyer consumption trends to the buyer

• US 8,407,124 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2012
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Computer Applications Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Computer Applications Company Limited
• Inventors: Uehara, Tsuyoshi, Murakami, Masahuru
• Primary Examiner(s): Lemieux, Jessica
• Application Number:
  US13/445,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20120226583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• 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 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

Described herein are methods and apparatus for the processing of electronic invoices. A server for processing invoices communicates with computing systems such as a supplier system (used by a supplier), a buyer system (used by a buyer), and finance systems (which manage bank accounts of the supplier and buyer). The server communicates with the supplier system and the buyer system regarding an electronic invoice that relates to a transaction between the supplier and the buyer, and that includes a unique identification code. When the buyer has approved the electronic invoice, the supplier system and/or the server is able to settle the invoice using the unique identification code.

Claims

1. A method for use in a system that includes a server, a supplier system, a buyer system, a first account management system (FAMS), and a second account management system (SAMS),

the method comprising:

receiving, by the server, an electronic invoice associated with an identification (ID) code from the supplier system;

registering, by the server, the electronic invoice in a database;

transmitting, by the server, information that defines a Graphical User Interface (GUI) screen to the buyer system to show the contents of the electronic invoice,

receiving, by the server from the buyer system, approval of the electronic invoice;

transmitting, by the server, a transfer request message associated with the ID code to the FAMS in response to the received approval;

wherein the FAMS is configured to execute payment to the SAMS using the ID code, in response to receipt by the FAMS of the transfer request message;

wherein the SAMS configured, to send an electronic deposit statement associated with the ID code to at least one of the server and the supplier system,

wherein the electronic deposit statement indicates that payment has been received at the SAMS; and

wherein at least one of the supplier system and the server is configured to settle the electronic invoice using the ID code.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the server, the electronic deposit statement from the SAMS, and

settling, by the server, the electronic invoice using the ID code associated with the electronic deposit statement.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein settling the electronic invoice, by the server, is performed using only the ID code included in the electronic deposit statement.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least the supplier system is configured to settle the electronic invoice, using the ID code.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving, by the server, the electronic deposit statement from the SAMS, and sending, by the server, to the supplier system, the electronic deposit statement.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the approval is approval of making a payment for the electronic invoice.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the FAMS is configured to execute payment to the SAMS together with the ID code.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, by the server, to the supplier system information defining the result of the settlement,

wherein the supplier system is configured to receive, from the server, information associated with the ID code defining the result of the settlement, and settle the electronic invoice, using the ID code associated with the information.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic invoice received by the server is generated by the supplier system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the ID code associated with the electronic invoice is generated by the supplier system.

11. A server configured for operation in a system that includes the server, a supplier system, a buyer system, a first account management system (FAMS), and a second account management system (SAMS), the server comprising:

circuitry configured to receive an electronic invoice associated with an identification (ID) code from the supplier system,

circuitry configured to register the electronic invoice in a database;

circuitry configured to transmit information that defines a Graphical User Interface (GUI) screen to show the contents of the electronic invoice, to the buyer system,

circuitry configured to receive, from the buyer system, approval of the electronic invoice;

circuitry configured to transmit a transfer request message associated with the ID code to the FAMS in response to the received approval;

wherein the FAMS is configured to execute payment to the SAMS using the ID code, in response to receipt by the FAMS of the transfer request message;

wherein the SAMS is configured to send an electronic deposit statement associated with the ID code to at least one of the server and the supplier system,

wherein the electronic deposit statement indicates that payment has been received at the SAMS; and

wherein at least one of the supplier system and the server is configured to settle the electronic invoice using the ID code.

12. The server of claim 11, further comprising:

circuitry configured to receive the electronic deposit statement from the SAMS; and

circuitry configured to settle the electronic invoice using the ID code associated with the electronic deposit statement.

13. The server of claim 12, wherein the circuitry configured to settle the electronic invoice is further configured to settle the electronic invoice using only the ID code associated with the electronic deposit statement.

14. The server of claim 11, wherein at least the supplier system is configured to settle the electronic invoice using the ID code.

15. The server of claim 14, further comprising:

circuitry configured to receive the electronic deposit statement from the SAMS, and

circuitry configured to send, to the supplier system, the electronic deposit statement.

16. The server of claim 11, wherein the approval is approval of making a payment for the electronic invoice.

17. The server of claim 11, wherein the FAMS is configured to execute payment to the SAMS together with the ID code.

18. The server of claim 11, further comprising:

circuitry configured to send, to the supplier system, information defining the result of the settlement,

wherein the supplier system is configured to receive, from the server, information associated with the ID code defining the result of the settlement, and settle the electronic invoice, using the ID code associated with the information.

19. The server of claim 11, wherein the electronic invoice received from the supplier system is generated by the supplier system.

20. The server of claim 11, wherein the ID code associated with the electronic invoice is generated by the supplier system.

21. A server configured for operation in a system that includes the server, a supplier system, a buyer system, a first account management system (FAMS), and a second account management system (SAMS), the server comprising:

an interface configured to receive an electronic invoice associated with an identification (ID) code from the supplier system;

a processor configured to register the electronic invoice in a database;

wherein the interface is further configured to transmit information that defines a Graphical User Interface (GUI) screen to show the contents of the electronic invoice to the buyer system;

wherein the interface is further configured to receive, from the buyer system, approval of the electronic invoice;

wherein the interface is further configured to transmit a transfer request message associated with the ID code to the FAMS in response to the received approval;

wherein the FAMS is configured to execute payment to the SAMS using the ID code, in response to receipt by the FAMS of the transfer request message;

wherein the SAMS is configured to send an electronic deposit statement associated with the ID code to at least one of the server and the supplier system,

wherein the electronic deposit statement indicates that payment has been received at the SAMS; and

wherein at least one of the supplier system and the server is configured to settle the electronic invoice using the ID code.

22. The server of claim 21,

wherein the interface is further configured to receive the electronic deposit statement from the SAMS;

and

wherein the processor is further configured to settle the electronic invoice using the ID code associated with the electronic deposit statement.

23. The server of claim 22, wherein the processor is further configured to settle the electronic invoice using only the ID code associated with the electronic deposit statement.

24. The server of claim 21, wherein at least the supplier system is configured to settle the electronic invoice using the ID code.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor in a server, cause the server to perform a method for processing an electronic invoice,

wherein the server is configured for operation in a system that includes the server, a supplier system, a buyer system, a first account management system (FAMS), and a second account management system, (SAMS), the method comprising:

receiving, at the server, the electronic invoice associated with an identification (ID) code from the supplier system;

registering, at the server, the electronic invoice in a database;

transmitting, from the server, information that defines a Graphical User Interface (GUI) screen to the buyer system to show the contents of the electronic invoice;

receiving, at the server, from the buyer system, approval of the electronic invoice;

transmitting, from a server, a transfer request message associated with the ID code to the FAMS in response to the received approval;

wherein the FAMS is configured to execute payment to the SAMS using the ID code, in response to the receipt by the FAMS of the transfer request message;

wherein the SAMS is configured, to send an electronic deposit statement associated with the ID code to at least one of the server and the supplier system, wherein the electronic deposit statement indicates that payment has been received at the SAMS;

wherein at least one of the supplier system and the server is configured to settle the electronic invoice using the ID code.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, at the server, the electronic deposit statement from the SAMS; and

settling, at the server, the electronic invoice using the ID code associated with the electronic deposit statement.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein settling the electronic invoice is performed using only the ID code included in the electronic deposit statement.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein at least the supplier system is configured to settle the electronic invoice using ID code.