System and method of purchase request management using plain text messages

• US 10,755,339 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2017
• Issued: 08/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayStand, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Team Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Hoag, Andrew, Oblak, Justin, Hale, Preston
• Primary Examiner(s): Haq, Naeem U
• Application Number:
  US15/696,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20180268461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders

Abstract

The systems and methods may identify order requests from internal messaging or collaboration systems. Once order requests are identified, the systems and methods determine purchase orders based on the requests, and generate tokens (e.g., virtual credit cards) specific to a purchase order, to be used by the requestor to complete the purchase of requested items or services. Once the tokens are used, the systems and methods may then track the purchases in various databases, providing the organization with various views or insights into their employee'"'"'s expenditures.

Claims

1. A computerized method for managing purchasing operations within an organization, the method comprising:

accessing one or more messages associated with an employee within the organization,

wherein the one or more messages are sent between the employee and a virtual bot associated with a purchasing system, and

wherein the one or more messages are received as electronic text messages or converted into electronic text messages;

extracting, by the virtual bot and from the accessed one or more messages, purchase order information associated with a request from the employee within the organization to purchase an item or service;

generating, by the virtual bot, a purchase order object using the extracted purchase order information,

wherein the purchase order object includes parameters for the request to purchase the item or service;

upon receiving authorization for the purchase order object, generating, by the virtual bot, a configurable digital credit object specific to the purchase order object,

wherein the generated configurable digital credit object is configured to be utilized by the employee within the organization to purchase the requested item or service; and

wherein the generated configurable digital credit object includes metadata restricting use of the configurable digital credit object only to the purchase of the requested item or service; and

providing, by the virtual bot, the generated configurable digital credit object to the employee within the organization to purchase the requested item or service.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication that the employee within the organization has purchased the item or service using the generated configurable digital credit object; and

generating an entry in a purchase order database of the organization for the purchase of the item or service,

wherein the generated entry includes a description of the purchased item or service, information identifying a cost of the purchased item or service, information identifying the employee, and information identifying the configurable digital credit object used to purchase the item or service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a token configurable digital credit object specific to the item or service includes generating a virtual credit card having an authorization amount similar to a cost to purchase the item or service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a configurable digital credit object specific to the item or service includes generating a virtual currency object of an amount similar to an amount to purchase the item or service,

wherein the virtual currency object includes metadata that identifies an associated purchase order object, the employee submitting the request to purchase the item or service, and a category assigned to the item or service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing one or more messages associated with an employee within the organization includes accessing the one or more messages within a conversation supported by a collaboration tool of the organization;

and wherein providing the generated configurable digital credit object to the employee within the organization includes providing a virtual credit card to the employee via the collaboration tool.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing one or more messages associated with an employee within the organization includes accessing the one or more messages within a messaging system of the organization.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the parameters of the purchase order object indicate a recurrence of the purchase order object being received by the purchasing system; and

automatically authorizing the purchase order object based on the purchase order object being a recurrence of a previously authorized purchase order object within the organization.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein extracting purchase order information associated with a request from the employee to purchase an item or service includes:

parsing the one or more messages to identify a description of the item or service, a vendor providing the item or service, and an amount to purchase the item or service.

9. At least one computer-readable medium, excluding transitory signals, carrying instructions, which when executed by at least one data processor, performs operations to manage purchasing operations within an organization, comprising:

accessing one or more messages associated with an employee within the organization,

wherein the one or more messages are sent between the employee and a virtual bot associated with a purchasing system, and

wherein the one or more messages are received as electronic text messages or converted into electronic text messages;

extracting, by the virtual bot and from the accessed one or more messages, purchase order information associated with a request from the employee within the organization to purchase an item or service;

generating, by the virtual bot, a purchase order object using the extracted purchase order information,

wherein the purchase order object includes parameters for the request to purchase the item or service;

upon receiving authorization for the purchase order object, generating, by the virtual bot, a configurable digital credit object specific to the purchase order object,

wherein the generated configurable digital credit object is configured to be utilized by the employee within the organization to purchase the requested item or service; and

wherein the generated configurable digital credit object includes metadata restricting use of the configurable digital credit object only to the purchase of the requested item or service; and

providing, by the virtual bot, the generated configurable digital credit object to the employee within the organization to purchase the requested item or service.

10. At least one computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving an indication that the employee within the organization has purchased the item or service using the generated configurable digital credit object; and

generating an entry in a purchase order database of the organization for the purchase of the item or service,

wherein the generated entry includes a description of the purchased item or service, information identifying a cost of the purchased item or service, information identifying the employee, and information identifying the configurable digital credit object used to purchase the item or service.

11. At least one computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein generating a configurable digital credit object specific to the item or service includes generating a virtual credit card having an authorization amount similar to a cost to purchase the item or service.

12. At least one computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein generating a configurable digital credit object specific to the item or service includes generating a virtual currency object of an amount similar to an amount to purchase the item or service,

wherein the virtual currency object includes metadata that identifies an associated purchase order object, the employee submitting the request to purchase the item or service, and a category assigned to the item or service.

13. At least one computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein accessing one or more messages associated with an employee within the organization includes accessing the one or more messages within a conversation supported by a collaboration tool of the organization;

and wherein providing the generated configurable digital credit object to the employee within the organization includes providing a virtual credit card to the employee via the collaboration tool.

14. At least one computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein accessing one or more messages associated with an employee within the organization includes accessing the one or more messages within a messaging system of the organization.

15. At least one computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

determining the parameters of the purchase order object indicate a recurrence of the purchase order object being received by the purchasing system; and

automatically authorizing the purchase order object based on the purchase order object being a recurrence of a previously authorized purchase order object within the organization.

16. At least one computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein extracting purchase order information associated with a request from the employee to purchase an item or service includes:

parsing the one or more messages to identify a description of the item or service, a vendor providing the item or service, and an amount to purchase the item or service.