System and method for enhanced generation of invoice payment documents

• US 8,521,626 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2009
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BILL Operations LLC (Bill Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bill.com, Inc. (Bill.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Orttung, Mark, Lacerte, Rene
• Primary Examiner(s): Gart, Matthew S
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARIKH, HARSHAD R
• Application Number:
  US12/483,723
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 705/34
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• 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 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/10 Tax strategies

Abstract

Enhanced systems and methods for processing invoices, checks, and money transfers are described. Various aspects include the following: Invoices are compared to distinguishing features of known templates. Templates of matching features are used to extract data in the invoices. Enhanced payment documents are generated to include images of related invoices to ensure proper deposit. Payee information solicited from a payee is printed on an endorsement section of a check payable to the payee to ensure proper deposit. The payee information can be verified through a mock transaction. Unique invoice numbers and payor numbers are included in invoices to ensure proper accreditation of payments of the invoices. Money transfers among accounts of different banks are effected through master accounts in the different banks.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for generating enhanced invoice payment documents, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computer system having a processor, a plurality of invoices issued by a plurality of different issuers and issued to a plurality of different recipients;

creating, by the computer system, a digital image of each of the plurality of invoices;

storing, by the computer system, the digital images of the plurality of invoices in a database connected to the computer processor;

receiving, by the computer system, an authorization from one of the recipients to make a payment by check for one or more of the plurality of invoices of a common issuer, as selected by said recipient;

retrieving, by the computer system, an image of the selected one or more of the plurality of invoices from the database;

generating, by the computer system, an enhanced invoice payment document, the enhanced invoice payment document containing (1) a check payable to an issuer of the selected invoice or invoices, and (2) the image of each of the selected one or more invoices;

displaying, by the computer system, a layout of the enhanced invoice payment document to said recipient for approval; and

responsive to receiving an approval from said recipient for the layout, preparing, by the computer system, the enhanced invoice payment document to be transmitted to an issuer.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the receiving authorization comprises receiving authorization from said recipient to make payment by a single check for two or more invoices selected by said recipient, the selected invoices all issued by a single issuer; and

the enhanced invoice payment document further containing images of each of the selected invoices, wherein the images of each of the selected invoices are laid out on a same page as the check in the graphical representation of the enhanced invoice payment document.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to receiving a disapproval from said recipient for the layout, generating a separate enhanced invoice payment document for each one of the selected invoices, wherein each of the separate enhanced invoice payment documents for each selected invoice includes (1) a separate check payable to an issuer for payment of that selected invoice, and (2) the corresponding image of that selected invoice.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the enhanced invoice payment document further comprises at least one of the following:

a note about an underlying transaction, a mini-statement, and an advertisement.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the image of the one or more invoices is printed on a back side of the paper on which the check is printed.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein a classic statement is printed on a front side of the paper.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the received plurality of invoices to determine distinguishing features of templates of invoices from different issuers;

selecting templates for the invoices based on the determined distinguishing features, each template being identified with an issuer; and

extracting data from the received plurality of invoices based on the selected templates.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium on which is encoded executable computer program instructions, the executable computer program instructions comprising instructions for:

receiving, by a computer system having a processor, a plurality of invoices issued by a plurality of different issuers and issued to a plurality of different recipients;

creating, by the computer system, a digital image of each of the plurality of invoices;

storing, by the computer system, the digital images of the plurality of invoices in a database connected to the computer processor;

receiving, by the computer system, an authorization from one of the recipients to make a payment by check for one or more of the plurality of invoices of a common issuer, as selected by said recipient;

retrieving, by the computer system, an image of the selected one or more of the plurality of invoices from the database;

generating, by the computer system, an enhanced invoice payment document, the enhanced invoice payment document containing (1) a check payable to an issuer of the selected invoice or invoices, and (2) the image of each of the selected one or more invoices;

displaying, by the computer system, a layout of the enhanced invoice payment document to said recipient for approval; and

responsive to receiving an approval from said recipient for the layout, preparing, by the computer system, the enhanced invoice payment document to be transmitted to an issuer.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein:

the receiving authorization comprises receiving authorization from said recipient to make payment by a single check for two or more invoices selected by said recipient, the selected invoices all issued by a single issuer; and

the enhanced invoice payment document further containing images of each of the selected invoices, wherein the images of each of the selected invoices are laid out on a same page as the check in the graphical representation of the enhanced invoice payment document.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the executable computer program instructions further comprise instructions for:

responsive to receiving a disapproval from said recipient for the layout, generating a separate enhanced invoice payment document for each one of the selected invoices, wherein each of the separate enhanced invoice payment documents for each selected invoice includes (1) a separate check payable to an issuer for payment of that selected invoice, and (2) the corresponding image of that selected invoice.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the image of the one or more selected invoices is printed on a back side of the paper on which the check is printed.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the executable computer program instructions further comprise instructions for:

comparing the received plurality of invoices to determine distinguishing features of templates of invoices from different issuers;

selecting templates for the invoices based on the determined distinguishing features, each template being identified with an issuer; and

extracting data from the received plurality of invoices based on the selected templates.

13. A system comprising:

a processor and a memory storing instructions configured to instruct the processor to;

receive a plurality of invoices issued by a plurality of different issuers and issued to a plurality of different recipients;

create a digital image of each of the plurality of invoices;

store the digital images of the plurality of invoices in a database connected to the processor;

receive an authorization from one of the recipients to make a payment by check for one or more of the plurality of invoices of a common issuer, as selected by said recipient;

retrieve an image of the selected one or more of the plurality of invoices from the database;

generate an enhanced invoice payment document, the enhanced invoice payment document containing (1) a check payable to an issuer of the selected invoice or invoices, and (2) the image of each of the selected one or more invoices;

display a layout of the enhanced invoice payment document to said recipient for approval; and

responsive to receiving an approval from said recipient for the layout, prepare the enhanced invoice payment document to be transmitted to an issuer.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the received authorization comprises receiving authorization from said recipient to make payment by a single check for two or more invoices selected by said recipient, the selected invoices all issued by a single issuer; and

the enhanced invoice payment document further containing images of each of the selected invoices, wherein the images of each of the selected invoices are laid out on a same page as the check in the graphical representation of the enhanced invoice payment document.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the instructions are configured to further instruct the processor to:

responsive to receiving a disapproval from said recipient for the layout, generate a separate enhanced invoice payment document for each one of the selected invoices, wherein each of the separate enhanced invoice payment documents for each selected invoice includes (1) a separate check payable to an issuer for payment of that selected invoice, and (2) the corresponding image of that selected invoice.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the image of the one or more selected invoices is printed on a back side of the paper on which the check is printed.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the instructions are configured to further instruct the processor to:

compare the received plurality of invoices to determine distinguishing features of templates of invoices from different issuers;

select templates for the invoices based on the determined distinguishing features, each template being identified with an issuer; and

extract data from the received plurality of invoices based on the selected templates.