Patent ID: 7283976
Filing Date: 2007-10-16
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for processing invoices by having the individual employee of an enterprise creating an original order for goods and services for end-use by said individual employee determine that a resulting invoice should be paid or not triggered upon a three-way match, said three-way match assuring that the invoice match purchase order terms and conditions, and the goods and services received match those stated in quality and quantity against said purchase order, said goods and services including goods received through a receiving dock and for which a receipt is generated, and goods and services not received through a dock and for which a receipt is not generated, with invoices for selected goods and services identified as pertaining to items requiring positive confirmation, comprising the steps of: receiving at an enterprise accounting and catalog system from said individual employee a requisition for goods or services from a vendor for end-use by said individual employee; said enterprise accounting and catalog system preparing from said requisition a purchase order and identifying said goods or services as items requiring one of positive and negative confirmation; said enterprise accounting and catalog system submitting said purchase order selectively as one of an EDI message and a paper purchasing document to said vendor; receiving from a first vendor an invoice for said goods or services as an electronic invoice for processing by said enterprise accounting and catalog system; receiving from a second vendor an invoice for goods or services as a paper invoice for processing to said enterprise accounting and catalog system by accounts payable personnel other than said individual employee; preparing an invoice image of an invoice received for said goods or services ordered by said individual employee; storing said invoice image in an image store; keying said image to invoice data; said enterprise accounting and catalog system communicating by electronic mail a plurality of confirmation requests to said individual employee creating original orders for goods or services for end-use by said individual employee, each said request instructing said individual employee to log on to said enterprise accounting and catalog system, including said invoice data and a link to said invoice image, and specifying that each said invoice pertains to an item that is subject selectively to negative confirmation and positive confirmation processing; a negative confirmation processing for a first confirmation request including advising said individual employee via e-mail that said invoice is confirmed unless specifically not approved by said individual employee, and a positive confirmation processing for a second confirmation request including advising said individual employee that said invoice will be confirmed upon entry by said individual employee of approval that invoiced goods and services have been received in quality and quantity matching said purchase order; providing at a user workstation a search interface in said enterprise accounting and catalog system for said individual employee to enter criteria and have links to images of invoices that match said criteria be displayed at said user workstation; and responsive to selection of a link by said individual, displaying said invoice image for approval by said individual creating said original order selectively by said negative confirmation and positive confirmation processing.