System and method for ensuring accurate reimbursement for travel expenses
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for ensuring accurate reimbursement of travel expenses by a computerized expense verification system comprising at least a processor and a memory operatively connected to the processor, the method comprising the computerized expense verification system operating the processor under control of processor-executable instructions stored in the memory to:
- store in the memory a plurality of rules for reimbursement of travel expenses for pre-existing travel reservations consistent with a company'"'"'s travel policy;
receive at the expense verification system, via a communications network, travel reservation record data for a pre-existing travel reservation, the travel reservation record data comprising a reference code associated with the pre-existing travel reservation;
process at the expense verification system the travel reservation record data to identify the reference code;
query, by transmitting from the expense verification system via a communications network, a company-independent computerized system to retrieve passenger name record data corresponding to the reference code;
process the passenger name record data received at the expense verification system via the communications network to identify a vendor identification code;
process at the expense verification system the passenger name record data to identify a fare basis identifier;
determine at the expense verification system whether the fare basis identifier reflects compliance with company policy as determined at least one of the plurality of stored rules that is applicable for the vendor identification code; and
issue via the expense verification system an exception alert identifying non-compliance with the company'"'"'s travel policy if the fare basis identifier does not reflect compliance.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An Expense Verification System (EVS) checks for fraud/errors in reimbursement requests. The EVS stores rules for reimbursement in accordance with company policies. The EVS receives travel reservation records for auditing, parses the records to identify a reference number, and then obtains from a trusted source travel record data for a corresponding reference number. Trusted data is compared to company policy-specific rules to determine compliance. In one embodiment, an extracted fare basis identifier is compared to lists of permitted and/or prohibited fare basis codes in the rules to determine compliance. In another embodiment, data is extracted from acknowledgment receipt records from a trusted data source and extracted booking and travel dates are compared to the rules to determine compliance. The EVS issues an alert in the event of non-compliance.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A computer-implemented method for ensuring accurate reimbursement of travel expenses by a computerized expense verification system comprising at least a processor and a memory operatively connected to the processor, the method comprising the computerized expense verification system operating the processor under control of processor-executable instructions stored in the memory to:
-
store in the memory a plurality of rules for reimbursement of travel expenses for pre-existing travel reservations consistent with a company'"'"'s travel policy; receive at the expense verification system, via a communications network, travel reservation record data for a pre-existing travel reservation, the travel reservation record data comprising a reference code associated with the pre-existing travel reservation; process at the expense verification system the travel reservation record data to identify the reference code; query, by transmitting from the expense verification system via a communications network, a company-independent computerized system to retrieve passenger name record data corresponding to the reference code; process the passenger name record data received at the expense verification system via the communications network to identify a vendor identification code; process at the expense verification system the passenger name record data to identify a fare basis identifier; determine at the expense verification system whether the fare basis identifier reflects compliance with company policy as determined at least one of the plurality of stored rules that is applicable for the vendor identification code; and issue via the expense verification system an exception alert identifying non-compliance with the company'"'"'s travel policy if the fare basis identifier does not reflect compliance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A computer-implemented method for ensuring accurate reimbursement of travel expenses by a computerized expense verification system comprising at least a processor and a memory operatively connected to the processor, the method comprising the computerized expense verification system operating the processor under control of processor-executable instructions stored in the memory to:
-
store in the memory of the expense verification system at least one rule, corresponding to each of a plurality of vendor identification codes, for reimbursement of travel expenses consistent with a company'"'"'s travel policy; receive at the expense verification system, via a communications network, travel reservation record data comprising a reference code; process at the expense verification system the travel reservation record data to identify the reference code; query, by transmitting from the expense verification system via a communications network, a company-independent computerized system to retrieve passenger name record data corresponding to the reference code; process the passenger name record data received at the expense verification system via the communications network to identify a vendor identification code; process at the expense verification system the passenger name record data to identify a fare basis identifier; determine at the expense verification system whether the fare basis identifier reflects compliance with company policy as determined the stored at least one rule that is applicable for the vendor identification code; and issue via the expense verification system an exception alert identifying non-compliance with the company'"'"'s travel policy if the fare basis identifier does not reflect compliance. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A computer-implemented method for ensuring accurate reimbursement of travel expenses by a computerized expense verification system comprising at least a processor and a memory operatively connected to the processor, the method comprising the computerized expense verification system operating the processor under control of processor-executable instructions stored in the memory to:
-
store in the memory at least one rule for reimbursement of travel expenses consistent with a company'"'"'s travel policy; receive a reference code associated with travel reservation record data; query, via a communications network, a company-independent computerized system to retrieve passenger name record data corresponding to the reference code; process the passenger name record data to identify a fare basis identifier; determine whether the fare basis identifier reflects compliance with company policy as determined the stored at least one rule; and issue via the expense verification system an exception alert identifying non-compliance with the company'"'"'s travel policy if the fare basis identifier does not reflect compliance. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
-
Specification