Patent Publication Number: US-2022237572-A1

Title: System and method for processing transactions

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This utility patent application claims priority to the provisional patent application titled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING TRANSACTIONS AMONG DISPARATE COMPUTER SYSTEMS” (Ser. No. 63/140,767) that was filed on Jan. 22, 2021, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to systems and methods for processing transactions. More specifically, the system can process transactions where more than two parties are involved in the transaction, such as where the party making the decision to buy something will subsequently be fully reimbursed for the purchase (collectively, the “system”). The system was originally conceptualized to address flaws and limitations relating to the business travel marketplace, but the system can be implemented far beyond that context. 
     In 2019, global business travel spending reached $1.4 trillion dollars before falling 54% to $661 billion dollars due to the pandemic in 2020. According to the Global Business Travel Association&#39;s forecast that was reported on by CNBC on November 2021 report on CNBC, business travel in 2022 is expected to surpass the $1 trillion dollar threshold. 
     While the business travel marketplace is economically significant to buyers and sellers alike, that marketplace is plagued by intrenched structural inefficiencies resulting the use of intermediaries in lieu of direct interactions. Business travel involves more than two parties, and the inability of all the relevant parties to access pertinent and accurate information in a timely and convenient manner is a substantial obstacle of efficient processes. There are well established structural barriers stopping the prior art from addressing this problem. 
     I. Use of Intermediaries. In other contexts, a buyer pays money to a seller in exchange for goods or services that benefit the buyer. Both parties have access to all the relevant information. Adding third parties to the transaction changes that dynamic. Business travel involves more than two parties contracting with each other, and each party lacks access to pertinent information. The seller sells airline tickets, hotel stays, rental car service, etc. that a business or other organization ultimately pays for. However, in the instance of business travel, the seller deals almost exclusively with the traveler even though the traveler is not the ultimate payor of the expenses. The traveler has no direct access to the organization paying the bill, and the organization paying the bill has no direct access to the vendor providing the ticket or hotel room. There is also a time delay, as the business traveler is the initial payor for travel expenses, but the business traveler then submits expense reports to the employer for reimbursement. There are multiple payments for the same transaction, with the traveler paying the vendor and then the employer paying the traveler. The business traveler is a middleman navigating disparate processing with the seller and the employer. The number of intermediaries increases even further if travel agencies or travel portals are used or if the traveler&#39;s employer is providing consulting services to a client who is ultimately paying for the travel. 
     II. Over Reliance on Credit Cards. The redundant processes, information silos, and needless delays of time has resulted in an industry that is overly reliant on the use of credit cards. Credit card authorizations cost the vendors more than other forms of payment, but credit card authorizations give the traveler time to fill out expense reports and hopefully receive reimbursement before the applicable payment is due. Unfortunately, the service fees on credit cards do add up and they constitute an unnecessary expense by vendors that are ultimately passed along to the ultimate payors of business travel. 
     III. Inability to Access Information. Prior art computerized booking and expense reimbursement methodologies involve highly complex transactions between an increasing number of computer systems and platforms that are unable to share accurate information in appropriate ways in a timely manner across data silos. The inability to share data prevents their effective use. The prior art prevents parties from efficiently and accurately processing and manage service transactions related to service booking and expense reimbursement 
     The system is described in greater detail below in the Summary of the Invention section. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to systems and methods for processing transactions. More specifically, the system can process transactions where more than two parties are involved in the transaction, such as where the party making the decision to buy something will subsequently be fully reimbursed for the purchase (collectively, the “system”). 
     The system was originally conceptualized to address flaws and limitations relating to the business travel marketplace, but the concepts can be applied far beyond that context. 
     The system can use a system-wide ledger to enable the exchange of information across the various data silos. Every party participating in the system can have selective access to the ledger to access information relevant to their participation in a transaction. The ability to better enable access to information allows parties utilizing the system to streamline processes and remove intermediaries. Instead of forcing individual business travelers to separately navigate processes with their employer and travel vendors, the system enables information such as an expense authorization from an employer or other organization with respect to be communicated by the system to the appropriate vendors, bypassing the need for reimbursements after the fact and enabling more accurate, timely, and automated management of those expenses. 
     The system can be better understood by referencing the drawings discussed below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Different examples of various attributes, components, and configurations that can be incorporated into the system are illustrated in the drawings described briefly below. No patent application can expressly disclose in words or in drawings, all of the potential embodiments of an invention. In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principles, functions, and modes of operation of the system are illustrated in certain preferred embodiments. However, it must be understood that the system may be practiced otherwise than is specifically illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope. 
         FIG. 1A  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a prior art process by which business travel services are purchased, with the individual purchasing and utilizing the travel doing so on behalf of an organization, and with the organization subsequently reimbursing the individual after the submission of an expense report. 
         FIG. 1B  is a flow chart diagram illustrating an example of a prior art process by which business travel services are purchased, with the individual purchasing and utilizing the travel on behalf of an organization, with the organization subsequently reimbursing the individual after the submission of an expense report. 
         FIG. 1C  is a block diagram similar to  FIG. 1A , with additional process steps resulting from the context that the organization associated with the traveler is providing consulting services to a client, and the client is the ultimate payor of the expenses. 
         FIG. 2A  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a system being used by an individual to purchase non-monetary consideration for which an organization associated with the individual is the payor. 
         FIG. 2B  is a flow chart diagram illustrating an example of a process by which non-monetary consideration is purchased by an individual on the basis of an expense authorization that enables the transfer of money directly from the organization to the vendor. 
         FIG. 2C  is a block diagram similar to  FIG. 2A , with the additional context of a client receiving consulting services from the organization and the consulting client being the ultimate payor for the expenses. 
         FIG. 3A  is a block diagram illustrating an example of different parties interacting with each other through their interactions with the system, with the system including a ledger for the recording and accessing of information relevant to the handling of the transaction. 
         FIG. 3B  is a block diagram illustrating an example of different parties interacting with each other through the interactions of their respective IT platforms with the IT platform of the system. 
         FIG. 3B  is a diagram illustrating an example of different parties interacting through the system. 
         FIG. 3C  is a diagram illustrating an example of different components that can be included in an IT platform used by the host, vendors, organizations, and other parties participating in the system. 
         FIG. 4A  is a flow chart diagram illustrating an example of a system in which the usage of the assets and services making up the non-monetary consideration of a transaction are monitored and recorded in the ledger of the system. 
         FIG. 4B  is a flow chart illustrating an example of a system in which credits from unused assets and services can be recorded on the ledger of the system. 
         FIG. 4C  is a flow chart illustrating an example of a system in which credits from unused assets and services can be used for new purchases using the system. 
         FIG. 5A  is an architecture diagram illustrating an example of the system being used to process a transaction. 
         FIG. 5B  is an architecture diagram illustrating a continuation of the process that began in  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 5C  is an architecture diagram illustrating an example of the process that began in  FIG. 5A  and was continued in  FIG. 5B . 
         FIG. 6A  is a block diagram illustrating an example of the ledger of the system position positioned between a transaction layer and a settlement layer. 
         FIG. 6B  is a more detailed example of the transaction layer illustrated in  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 6C  is a more detailed example of the ledger illustrated in  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 6D  is a more detailed example of the ledger illustrated in  FIG. 6A . 
     
    
    
     The system can be further understood by the text description provided below in the Detailed Description section. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention relates generally to systems and methods for processing transactions. More specifically, the system can process transactions where more than two parties are involved in the transaction, such as where the party making the decision to buy something will subsequently be fully reimbursed for the purchase (collectively, the “system”). The system was originally conceptualized to address flaws and limitations relating to the business travel marketplace, but the system can be implemented far beyond that context. 
     I. Alternative Embodiments 
     No patent application can expressly or comprehensively disclose in words or in drawings all of the potential embodiments of an invention. This is particularly true when the system can be used in conjunction with a wide variety of different configurations of information technology components and platforms and in a wide variety of operating contexts. In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principles, functions, and modes of operation of the system are illustrated in certain preferred embodiments. However, it must be understood that the system may be practiced otherwise than is specifically illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope. Alternative embodiments of the system can be described and categorized on the basis of a variety of variables. 
     Although the system was conceptualized with the goal of processing transactions involving business travel expenses, the system can be implemented more broadly than that. For example, there are other contexts in which employees or contractors routinely purchase items or services that are subsequently reimbursed by an employer or client. Whether the transactions involve buying packages on Amazon, food or beverages at Starbucks, or gas at a nearby gas station, the system could be used to cut out the middleman in those transactions as well. Moreover, the system could also be used in other third-party payor contexts that go beyond the employee/employer or contractor/company relationship, such as insurance, healthcare, secured lending, etc. 
     II. Glossary of Terms 
     All terminology associated with an element number is defined in Table 1 below. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Number 
                 Name 
                 Definition/Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                  60 
                 TRANSACTION 
                 An exchange between two or more parties 
               
               
                   
                   
                 100, in which promises of consideration 
               
               
                   
                   
                 61 is exchanged. The system 200 was 
               
               
                   
                   
                 originally conceived to achieve efficiencies 
               
               
                   
                   
                 by streamlining transactions 60 where an 
               
               
                   
                   
                 individual 112, such as employee, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 associated with an organization 110, such 
               
               
                   
                   
                 as an employer obtains non-monetary 
               
               
                   
                   
                 consideration 62 from a vendor 130, such 
               
               
                   
                   
                 as an airline ticket, in exchange for 
               
               
                   
                   
                 monetary consideration 70 provided by 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the organization 110. 
               
               
                  61 
                 Consideration 
                 A promise by a party 100 to provide 
               
               
                   
                   
                 something of value in a transaction 60. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Transactions 60 can involve non- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 monetary consideration 62 as well as 
               
               
                   
                   
                 monetary consideration 70. 
               
               
                  62 
                 Non-Monetary 
                 A promise in transaction 60 that is not for 
               
               
                   
                 Consideration 
                 the providing of money. In a sales 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transaction, the non-monetary 
               
               
                   
                   
                 consideration 62 is the good being sold. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 In a transaction for services, the non- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 monetary consideration 62 is the service 
               
               
                   
                   
                 being performed. The system 200 was 
               
               
                   
                   
                 originally conceived to achieve efficiencies 
               
               
                   
                   
                 by streamlining transactions 60 where an 
               
               
                   
                   
                 individual 112, such as employee, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 associated with an organization 110, such 
               
               
                   
                   
                 as an employer obtains non-monetary 
               
               
                   
                   
                 consideration 62 from a vendor 130, such 
               
               
                   
                   
                 as an airline ticket, in exchange for 
               
               
                   
                   
                 monetary consideration 70 provided by 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the organization 110. 
               
               
                  63 
                 Business-Travel 
                 Services pertaining to travel on behalf of 
               
               
                   
                 Services 
                 an organization 110, such as tickets 64, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 hotel rooms, rental cars, restaurant 
               
               
                   
                   
                 dinners, taxi cabs, and other similar 
               
               
                   
                   
                 benefits and services. 
               
               
                  64 
                 Ticket 
                 Non-monetary consideration 62 in the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 form of a right to a seat on a plane, boat, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 bus, etc. It is believed that the system 
               
               
                   
                   
                 200 will be particularly beneficial with 
               
               
                   
                   
                 respect to airline tickets 64. 
               
               
                  65 
                 Hotel Room 
                 Non-monetary consideration 62 in the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 form a right to a night at a hotel. 
               
               
                  66 
                 Unused 
                 Non-monetary consideration 62 that has 
               
               
                   
                 Consideration 
                 not yet been utilized. By way of example 
               
               
                   
                   
                 unused airline tickets. 
               
               
                  68 
                 Use 
                 An attribute that pertains to non-monetary 
               
               
                   
                   
                 consideration 62. In many embodiments 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of the system 200, non-monetary 
               
               
                   
                   
                 consideration 62 such as ticket 64 can be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 used, unused, or in a state of currently 
               
               
                   
                   
                 being used. 
               
               
                  70 
                 Monetary 
                 Monetary consideration 70 is the payment 
               
               
                   
                 Consideration 
                 of money. In many instances, monetary 
               
               
                   
                   
                 consideration 70 is provided in two steps: 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (1) a promise to pay 72; and (2) the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 settlement 80 of that promise. 
               
               
                  72 
                 Promise to 
                 In the formation of an agreement between 
               
               
                   
                 Pay/Promise of 
                 the applicable parties 100, the buyer will 
               
               
                   
                 Payment 
                 often commit to a binding promise of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 payment 72. This can be done through a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 variety of different payment mechanisms, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 such as credit cards, debit cards, checks, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 certified checks, money orders, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 promissory notes, etc. 
               
               
                  77 
                 Credit 
                 A promise of payment 72 that is made 
               
               
                   
                 Authorization 
                 using a credit card. 
               
               
                  78 
                 Debit 
                 A promise of payment 72 that is made 
               
               
                   
                 authorization 
                 using a debit card. 
               
               
                  80 
                 Settlement/ 
                 The fulfillment of a promise to pay 72, 
               
               
                   
                 Settlement 
                 such as the closing on a house. 
               
               
                   
                 Transfer 
                 Settlements 80 can involve a wide variety 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of means for transferring money from one 
               
               
                   
                   
                 party 100 to another party 100. Such 
               
               
                   
                   
                 mechanisms will often involve financial 
               
               
                   
                   
                 service entities 150 such as banks or 
               
               
                   
                   
                 credit unions. 
               
               
                  81 
                 Simultaneous 
                 A settlement 80 that occurs in real time 
               
               
                   
                 Settlement or 
                 such that the promise to pay 75 and 
               
               
                   
                 Real-Time 
                 settlement 80 occur simultaneously or 
               
               
                   
                 Settlement 
                 substantially simultaneously. 
               
               
                  82 
                 ACH 
                 ACH stands for “Automated Clearing 
               
               
                   
                   
                 House. It&#39;s the financial network that 
               
               
                   
                   
                 electronically moves money and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 information from one bank to another. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ACH payments are a way to electronically 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transfer money from one financial 
               
               
                   
                   
                 institution to another without the need for 
               
               
                   
                   
                 wire transfers, paper checks, cash, or 
               
               
                   
                   
                 credit/debit cards. The system 200 can 
               
               
                   
                   
                 be implemented to take full advantage of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the existing ACH network. 
               
               
                  83 
                 eCheck 
                 eCheck is a digital version of a paper 
               
               
                   
                   
                 check and is also known as an electronic 
               
               
                   
                   
                 check, online check, internet check, and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 direct debit. eChecks use the Automated 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Clearing House (ACH) 82 to direct debit 
               
               
                   
                   
                 from a customer&#39;s checking account into a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 merchant&#39;s business bank account, with 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the help of a payments processor. 
               
               
                  84 
                 Wire Transfer 
                 The term wire transfer refers to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 an electronic transfer of funds via a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 network that is administered by banks 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and transfer service agencies around the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 world. Wire transfers involve a sending 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and receiving institution and require 
               
               
                   
                   
                 information from the party initiating the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transfer, such as the receiver&#39;s name and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 account number. These transfers don&#39;t 
               
               
                   
                   
                 actually involve the physical exchange 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of cash but are settled electronically. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Types of wire transfers include those 
               
               
                   
                   
                 facilitated between domestic banks and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 international ones. 
               
               
                  85 
                 Cash 
                 Cash currency 
               
               
                  86 
                 Cryptocurrency 
                 A digital or virtual currency that is secured 
               
               
                   
                 or Cyber 
                 by cryptography. Often utilize blockchain 
               
               
                   
                 Currency 
                 technology to promote use and security. 
               
               
                  88 
                 Credit 
                 Unmonetized value that remains from the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 failure to use 68 unused non-monetary 
               
               
                   
                   
                 consideration 66. In many contexts, if a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transaction 60 for the purchase of a good 
               
               
                   
                   
                 or service is subsequently cancelled, the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 monetary consideration 70 is fully 
               
               
                   
                   
                 refunded. That is not the case however 
               
               
                   
                   
                 with respect to all transactions 60 
               
               
                   
                   
                 particularly transactions 60 involving 
               
               
                   
                   
                 business travel expenses 63. The ability 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of the system 200 to monitor the use 68 of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 such consideration 61 and to manage the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 credits 88 that result from non-use or 
               
               
                   
                   
                 cancellation can be an important 
               
               
                   
                   
                 advantage of the system 200 with respect 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to the prior art. 
               
               
                  90 
                 AUTHORIZA- 
                 A grant of permission or authority by a 
               
               
                   
                 TION 
                 party 100 that impacts the processing of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the system 200. The system 200 was 
               
               
                   
                   
                 originally conceptualized to streamline the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 process of an individual 112 purchasing 
               
               
                   
                   
                 non-monetary consideration 62 such as 
               
               
                   
                   
                 business-travel services 63 from a vendor 
               
               
                   
                   
                 130 based on an authorization 90 by the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 organization 110 associated with the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 individual 112. Examples of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 authorizations 90 include expense 
               
               
                   
                   
                 authorizations 96, transaction 
               
               
                   
                   
                 authorizations 94 and policies 92. 
               
               
                  92 
                 Policy 
                 A rule of a party 100 with respect to one 
               
               
                   
                   
                 or more of applicable activities that are 
               
               
                   
                   
                 accessible through the system 200. By 
               
               
                   
                   
                 way of example, an organization 100 can 
               
               
                   
                   
                 have many policies 92 on business-travel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 expenses 73 that impact what 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transactions 70 are acceptable and which 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transactions 70 are not. In some 
               
               
                   
                   
                 embodiments of the system 200, policies 
               
               
                   
                   
                 92 in conjunction with other variables and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 data points such as user profiles, expense 
               
               
                   
                   
                 codes 97, attributes of what is purchased 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (length of travel) can proactively impact 
               
               
                   
                   
                 not only what the individual does in terms 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of entering into transactions but even what 
               
               
                   
                   
                 options the individual can see on the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 system 200. 
               
               
                  94 
                 Transaction 
                 Permission pertaining to a type of 
               
               
                   
                 Authorization 
                 transaction 70 or a party 100 participating 
               
               
                   
                   
                 in the transaction 70. 
               
               
                  96 
                 Expense 
                 Permission pertaining to a monetary 
               
               
                   
                 Authorization 
                 expenditure. In some embodiments of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 system 200, an expense authorization 96 
               
               
                   
                   
                 can be associated with one or more 
               
               
                   
                   
                 expense codes 97. 
               
               
                  97 
                 Expense Code 
                 A key or indicator that links an expense 
               
               
                   
                   
                 authorization 96 to a particular activity, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 project, division, decision maker, etc. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Different parties 100 using the system 200 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to enable individuals 112 to enter into 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transactions 60 on behalf of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 organization 110 can map their own profit 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and loss units into expense codes 97 that 
               
               
                   
                   
                 are cognizable to the system 200. 
               
               
                 100 
                 PARTIES/ 
                 An individual, group of individuals, and 
               
               
                   
                 ENTITIES 
                 organizations including but not limited to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 businesses, membership-based groups 
               
               
                   
                   
                 government agencies, and religious 
               
               
                   
                   
                 organizations capable of entering into 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transactions 60. Parties 100 can interact 
               
               
                   
                   
                 with the system 200 through their users 
               
               
                   
                   
                 101 and administrators 102 as well as 
               
               
                   
                   
                 through IT infrastructures 210 that they 
               
               
                   
                   
                 control that interface with the system 200. 
               
               
                 101 
                 User 
                 A human being interacting with the system 
               
               
                   
                   
                 100 on behalf of a party 100. 
               
               
                 102 
                 Administrator 
                 A human being authorized to manage the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 users 102 interacting with the system 100. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Administrators 102 can be persons acting 
               
               
                   
                   
                 on behalf of the host 160, as well was 
               
               
                   
                   
                 persons acting on behalf of the parties 
               
               
                   
                   
                 100 interacting with each other by 
               
               
                   
                   
                 participating in the transactions 60 and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 settlements 80 of the system 200. 
               
               
                 103 
                 Bot 
                 An automated technology interacting with 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the system 100 on behalf of a party 100. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 The IT platforms 210 of the various parties 
               
               
                   
                   
                 100 that exist independently of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 operations of the system 200 can be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 enabled to interact with the system 200. 
               
               
                 104 
                 Role 
                 A function played by a user 101 or party 
               
               
                   
                   
                 100 participating in the interactions of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 system 200. By way of example, an 
               
               
                   
                   
                 individual 112 can be an employee to an 
               
               
                   
                   
                 organization 110 and that organization 
               
               
                   
                   
                 110 can provide consulting services 
               
               
                   
                   
                 through the individual 112 to a different 
               
               
                   
                   
                 organization 110. 
               
               
                 106 
                 Association 
                 A relationship between two parties 100, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 two users 101, a party 100 and a user 
               
               
                   
                   
                 101. 
               
               
                 108 
                 Sub-Unit 
                 In many instances, a party 110 can be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 broken down or divided into subsidiaries, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 divisions, departments, etc. for accounting 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and other purposes. The expense codes 
               
               
                   
                   
                 97 used by the system 200 to authorize 
               
               
                   
                   
                 expenditures can be defined in a highly 
               
               
                   
                   
                 granular manner as to match the internal 
               
               
                   
                   
                 accounting divisions within a party 100. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Any sub-unit 108 of a party 100 that has 
               
               
                   
                   
                 its own distinct P&amp;L (profit and loss) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 statement can have their own distinct 
               
               
                   
                   
                 expense code 97 that is associated with a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 distinct expense authorization 96. 
               
               
                 109 
                 Project or 
                 In some embodiments, a party 100 will 
               
               
                   
                 Program 
                 have specific projects or programs that 
               
               
                   
                   
                 are distinct from other operations. Such 
               
               
                   
                   
                 activities can also be mapped to distinct 
               
               
                   
                   
                 expense codes 97 and expense 
               
               
                   
                   
                 authorizations 96. 
               
               
                 110 
                 Organization 
                 A party 110 that uses the system 200 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 create authorizations 90, such as expense 
               
               
                   
                   
                 authorizations 96, in support of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transactions 60 of the individuals 112 who 
               
               
                   
                   
                 are acting on behalf of the organization 
               
               
                   
                   
                 110. Organizations 110 can include but 
               
               
                   
                   
                 are not limited to corporations, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 partnerships, LLCs, membership-based 
               
               
                   
                   
                 organizations, non-profit organizations, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 religious institutions, and government 
               
               
                   
                   
                 agencies. 
               
               
                 112 
                 Individual 
                 A human being who is engaging with a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 vendor 130 to form a transaction 60 that is 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to be funded by an organization 110 with 
               
               
                   
                   
                 whom the individual 112 plays some role 
               
               
                   
                   
                 104 or has some relationship 106. and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 has some measure of discretion to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 engage in transactions 70 in which the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 individual 112 receives non-monetary 
               
               
                   
                   
                 consideration 62 that the organization 110 
               
               
                   
                   
                 is paying for. In many embodiments of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the system 200 that relate to transactions 
               
               
                   
                   
                 60 for business travel services 63, the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 individual 112 is an employee, contractor, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 or consultant who is travelling on behalf of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the organization 110 paying the for the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 travel. The individual 112 is the person 
               
               
                   
                   
                 utilizing the non-monetary consideration 
               
               
                   
                   
                 62, so in the context of business travel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 services 63, the individual 112 is the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 person traveling. In many instances, the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 individual is also the user 101 booking 
               
               
                   
                   
                 their airlines, hotels, etc. 
               
               
                 120 
                 Employer 
                 An organization 110 to whom the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 individual 112 is an employee. 
               
               
                 122 
                 Client/Customer 
                 An organization 110 can be a client or a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 customer of another organization. 
               
               
                 130 
                 Vendor 
                 A provider of non-monetary consideration 
               
               
                   
                   
                 62 through transactions 60 entered into 
               
               
                   
                   
                 through use of the system 200. 
               
               
                 132 
                 Airline 
                 A vendor 130 in the business of air travel. 
               
               
                 134 
                 Hotel 
                 A vendor 130 in the business of selling 
               
               
                   
                   
                 stays at a hotel. 
               
               
                 136 
                 Rental Car 
                 A vendor 130 in the business of renting 
               
               
                   
                   
                 cars to travelers. 
               
               
                 138 
                 Travel Agency 
                 A vendor 130 in the business of making 
               
               
                   
                   
                 travel arrangements on behalf of travelers. 
               
               
                 140 
                 Food 
                 A vendor 130 in the business of selling 
               
               
                   
                   
                 meals to travelers. 
               
               
                 142 
                 Travel Portal 
                 An IT Infrastructure 210 where travel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transactions can be purchased. 
               
               
                 150 
                 Financial 
                 A financial services company that 
               
               
                   
                 Services 
                 provides the mechanism for actually 
               
               
                   
                 Organization 
                 transferring the funds to accomplish a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 settlement 80 of the transaction 60, such 
               
               
                   
                   
                 as a bank 154, credit union 156, or credit 
               
               
                   
                   
                 card company 152 
               
               
                 152 
                 Credit Card 
                 A company that issues credit cards. 
               
               
                 154 
                 Bank 
                 A company that accepts and safeguards 
               
               
                   
                   
                 money for account holders. 
               
               
                 156 
                 Credit Union 
                 A nonprofit cooperative of members that 
               
               
                   
                   
                 functions like a bank. 
               
               
                 158 
                 Account 
                 An arrangement by which a financial 
               
               
                   
                   
                 services organization 150 accepts a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 customer&#39;s/account holder&#39;s financial 
               
               
                   
                   
                 assets and holds them on behalf of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 customer/account holder. 
               
               
                 160 
                 Host 
                 An entity responsible for the operation and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 maintenance of the system 200. In some 
               
               
                   
                   
                 instances, the host 160 is neutral with 
               
               
                   
                   
                 respect to the other parties 100, and the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 host does not participate in the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transactions of the system 200. In other 
               
               
                   
                   
                 embodiments, the host 160 of the system 
               
               
                   
                   
                 200 can actively participate as a vendor 
               
               
                   
                   
                 130, a financial services organization 150, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 or some other organization 110 that 
               
               
                   
                   
                 enters into transactions 60 utilizing the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 system 200. 
               
               
                 170 
                 GDS or Global 
                 Global distribution systems are corporate 
               
               
                   
                 Distribution 
                 operated systems that keep track of travel 
               
               
                   
                 Systems 
                 inventories (e.g., air, hotel, car rental) for 
               
               
                   
                   
                 their corporate travelers, as well as keep 
               
               
                   
                   
                 track of corporate travel parameters (e.g., 
               
               
                   
                   
                 travel policies, corporate negotiated rates, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 etc.). But such systems are severely 
               
               
                   
                   
                 limited in that they are designed for 
               
               
                   
                   
                 booking via travel agencies. Moreover, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 there are unnecessary fees from both the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 global distribution system and the travel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 agencies. 
               
               
                 180 
                 Online Booking 
                 Similar to a travel agency, except the 
               
               
                   
                 Tool or OBT 
                 service is provide through an IT platform 
               
               
                   
                   
                 210. 
               
               
                 200 
                 SYSTEM 
                 An IT platform 210 that is implemented to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 maintain the ledger 500 and to enable 
               
               
                   
                   
                 other IT platforms 210 from the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 participating parties 100 to interact with 
               
               
                   
                   
                 each other through the system 100 and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the ledger 500. 
               
               
                 210 
                 IT Platform 
                 A configuration of computers 220, 
               
               
                   
                 or IT 
                 applications 230, user interfaces 240, 
               
               
                   
                 Infrastructure 
                 databases 250 and networks 260 that: (1) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 are under the control of the host 160 and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 enable the functionality of the system 200; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 or (2) are under the control of another 
               
               
                   
                   
                 party 100 participating in the system 200 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to conduct applicable business activities 
               
               
                   
                   
                 as well as interact with the system 200. 
               
               
                 220 
                 Computer 
                 A digital electronic device that can run 
               
               
                   
                   
                 applications 230 and process data. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Computers 220 typically include a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 processor/RAM 222 component as well as 
               
               
                   
                   
                 some type of storage component 224 for 
               
               
                   
                   
                 storing data. Examples of computers 
               
               
                   
                   
                 include but are not limited mainframe 
               
               
                   
                   
                 computers, workstations, desktop 
               
               
                   
                   
                 computers servers, laptops, smart phones 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and smart watches. 
               
               
                 222 
                 Processor 
                 Sometimes referred to as the CPU or 
               
               
                   
                   
                 central processing unit, the processor 222 
               
               
                   
                   
                 is an integrated electronic circuit that 
               
               
                   
                   
                 performs the calculations that run a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 computer 220. 
               
               
                 224 
                 Storage 
                 A device such as hard drives, solid state 
               
               
                   
                 Component 
                 drives, optical drives, flash memory, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 random access memory, or any other 
               
               
                   
                   
                 presently existing or subsequently 
               
               
                   
                   
                 invented way to store data. 
               
               
                 230 
                 Application/ 
                 A set of instructions which are “run” by the 
               
               
                   
                 Program 
                 processor 222 of a computer. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Applications 230 can exist in source code 
               
               
                   
                   
                 as well as object code form. 
               
               
                 240 
                 Interface 
                 A device or program that enables 
               
               
                   
                   
                 interactions between programs 230, IT 
               
               
                   
                   
                 platforms 210, or in the case of a user 
               
               
                   
                   
                 interface 242, a user 101 and a computer 
               
               
                   
                   
                 220. 
               
               
                 242 
                 User Interface 
                 A programming layer, typically a graphical 
               
               
                   
                   
                 media, through which a user 101 interacts 
               
               
                   
                   
                 with a computer 220. 
               
               
                 250 
                 Database 
                 An application 230 that serves the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 function of organizing data so that it can 
               
               
                   
                   
                 be efficiently stored, searched, updated, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and deleted. The various IT platforms 210 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of the participating parties 100 will involve 
               
               
                   
                   
                 databases 250 that can manage 
               
               
                   
                   
                 information relevant to the processing of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transactions 60 by the system 200. 
               
               
                 260 
                 Network 
                 A connection between two or more 
               
               
                   
                   
                 computers 220 or similar devices. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Networks 260 can be private, public, or 
               
               
                   
                   
                 something in between. The Internet is a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 prominent example of a network 260. The 
               
               
                   
                   
                 system 200 can interact with the IT. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 platforms of the participating parties 100 
               
               
                   
                   
                 through the use of networks 260. 
               
               
                 270 
                 Notification 
                 A message generated by the system 200. 
               
               
                 280 
                 Prohibition 
                 An action prevented by the system 200. 
               
               
                 300 
                 Transaction 
                 The IT Platform 210 of the system 200 
               
               
                   
                 Subsystem/ 
                 performing processing that relates to the 
               
               
                   
                 Layer 
                 formation and execution of transactions 
               
               
                   
                   
                 60 as well as the recording of transaction 
               
               
                   
                   
                 records 530 on the ledger 500. The 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transaction subsystem 300 can interact 
               
               
                   
                   
                 with various IT platforms 210 of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 participating parties 100. 
               
               
                 350 
                 Settlement 
                 The IT Platform 210 of the system 200 
               
               
                   
                 Subsystem/ 
                 performing processing that relates to the 
               
               
                   
                 Layer 
                 settlement 80 and recording of settlement 
               
               
                   
                   
                 records 540 on the ledger 500. 
               
               
                 360 
                 Expense Report 
                 A submission by an individual 112 to an 
               
               
                   
                   
                 organization 110 in order to receive a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 reimbursement of travel expenses. The 
               
               
                   
                   
                 system 200 can make expense reports 
               
               
                   
                   
                 360 obsolete. 
               
               
                 370 
                 Expense 
                 An invoice by an organization 110 to its 
               
               
                   
                 Invoice 
                 client 122 for reimbursement of travel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 expenses. The system can make 
               
               
                   
                   
                 expense invoices 270 obsolete. 
               
               
                 400 
                 Use Subsystem/ 
                 The IT Platform 210 of the system 200 
               
               
                   
                 Layer 
                 performing processing that relates to the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 use 68 and recording of used records 550 
               
               
                   
                   
                 on the ledger 500. 
               
               
                 450 
                 Credit 
                 The IT Platform 210 of the system 200 
               
               
                   
                 Subsystem/ 
                 performing processing that relates to 
               
               
                   
                 Layer 
                 credits 88 and recording credit records 
               
               
                   
                   
                 560 on the ledger 500. 
               
               
                 500 
                 Ledger 
                 An information processing platform 210 
               
               
                   
                   
                 used by the system 200 to enable the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 features and advantages of the system 
               
               
                   
                   
                 200. The various parties 100 can interact 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the system 200 and the ledger 500 through 
               
               
                   
                   
                 their own respective IP platforms 210. The 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ledger 500 selectively makes the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 appropriate information to the appropriate 
               
               
                   
                   
                 parties 100 participating in a transaction 70 
               
               
                   
                   
                 supported by the system 200. The ledger 
               
               
                   
                   
                 500 can be implemented using a wide 
               
               
                   
                   
                 variety of technologies that are capable of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 storing, updating, and retrieving 
               
               
                   
                   
                 information. Common examples of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ledger 500 used by the system 100 can 
               
               
                   
                   
                 include but are not limited to: (1) a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 blockchain ledger 502; and (2) a database 
               
               
                   
                   
                 504 that the participating parties 100 have 
               
               
                   
                   
                 selective access to. In many 
               
               
                   
                   
                 embodiments, the ledger 500 will be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 designed, configured, controlled, and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 maintained by a neutral host 160 who is not 
               
               
                   
                   
                 otherwise a participating party 100 in the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 system 200. In other embodiments, the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 host 160 of the system 200 will also be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 party 100 engaging in transactions 70, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 settlements 80, and other processes as a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 participant. 
               
               
                 502 
                 Blockchain 
                 One category of ledger 500 embodiments 
               
               
                   
                 Ledger 
                 is blockchain ledgers 50. A blockchain is 
               
               
                   
                   
                 a distributed peer-to-peer database that is 
               
               
                   
                   
                 shared among the nodes of a computer 
               
               
                   
                   
                 network. As a database, a blockchain 
               
               
                   
                   
                 stores information electronically in digital 
               
               
                   
                   
                 format that is encrypted. One key 
               
               
                   
                   
                 difference between a typical database 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and a blockchain is how the data is 
               
               
                   
                   
                 structured. A blockchain collects 
               
               
                   
                   
                 information together in groups, known 
               
               
                   
                   
                 as blocks, that hold sets of information. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Blocks have certain storage capacities 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and, when filled, are closed and linked to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the previously filled block, forming a chain 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of data known as the blockchain. All new 
               
               
                   
                   
                 information that follows that freshly added 
               
               
                   
                   
                 block is compiled into a newly formed 
               
               
                   
                   
                 block that will then also be added to the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 chain once filled. A database usually 
               
               
                   
                   
                 structures its data into tables, whereas a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 blockchain, like its name implies, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 structures its data into chunks or blocks 
               
               
                   
                   
                 that are strung together in a chain. This 
               
               
                   
                   
                 data structure inherently makes an 
               
               
                   
                   
                 irreversible timeline of data when 
               
               
                   
                   
                 implemented in a decentralized nature. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 When a block is filled, it is set in stone 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and becomes a part of this timeline. Each 
               
               
                   
                   
                 block in the chain is given an exact time 
               
               
                   
                   
                 stamp when it is added to the chain. 
               
               
                 504 
                 Database 
                 Another category of ledger embodiments 
               
               
                   
                 Ledger 
                 is a conventional database 504. The 
               
               
                   
                   
                 database ledger 504 functions as a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 “register of deeds” for the system 200, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 enabling records to be added, but not 
               
               
                   
                   
                 modified or deleted. To “undo” a record, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 one has to record a superseding record to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 “zero out” the earlier record. 
               
               
                 520 
                 Ledger Record 
                 An entry on the ledger 520. Different 
               
               
                   
                   
                 actions by the various parties 100 using 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the system 200 can trigger the creation 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and recording of a ledger record 520 on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the ledger 510. Each ledger record 520 
               
               
                   
                   
                 can be associated with a record ID 522 
               
               
                   
                   
                 that is unique to the system 200. In some 
               
               
                   
                   
                 embodiments, each ledger record 520 
               
               
                   
                   
                 also includes an applicable expense 
               
               
                   
                   
                 authorization 96 or an expense code 97. 
               
               
                 522 
                 Record ID 
                 A unique identifier associated with each 
               
               
                   
                   
                 entry on the ledger 500. 
               
               
                 530 
                 Transaction 
                 A ledger record 520 in which information 
               
               
                   
                 Record 
                 relating to a transaction 70 is posted to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the ledger 500. Examples of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 information that can be included in the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transaction record 530 can include but are 
               
               
                   
                   
                 not limited to the parties 100 to the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transaction, the consideration 71 (both 
               
               
                   
                   
                 non-monetary 72 and monetary 74), the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 date, an expense authorization 96 or 
               
               
                   
                   
                 expense code 97. In a preferred 
               
               
                   
                   
                 embodiments the recording of a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transaction record 510 is permanent and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 irreversible. The only way it can be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 undone or modified is by the creation of a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 subsequent transaction record 530 that 
               
               
                   
                   
                 “zeroes out” the prior record. 
               
               
                 540 
                 Settlement 
                 A ledger record 520 that is recorded upon 
               
               
                   
                 Record 
                 the execution of a settlement 80 
               
               
                 550 
                 Use Record 
                 A ledger record 520 that is recorded 
               
               
                   
                   
                 relating to the use 68 an asset or service 
               
               
                   
                   
                 constituting non-monetary consideration 
               
               
                   
                   
                 62. 
               
               
                 560 
                 Credit Record 
                 A ledger record 520 that is recorded 
               
               
                   
                   
                 relating the issuance or utilization of a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 credit 88. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     III. Overview 
     The system  200  is an IT platform  210  with a ledger  500  that can selectively be accessed by the parties  100  participating in the system  200 . The IT platform  210  enables more efficient communications and interactions across other information silos, applications, and platforms. Marketplaces such as the business travel market which rely heavily on third-party payors and involve various intermediaries typically involve information silos which hamper the collective process of forming, executing, and closing out transactions  70 . 
     In many instances of business travel, the purchaser and beneficiary of the travel-related services is an employer  110  of the traveler  112 . The traveler  112  interacts with the employer  110  in terms of authorizing the travel, complying the applicable policies  92 , submitting expense reports  410 , and other administrative tasks. However, even though the employer  110  is the ultimate beneficiary of those expenses, the employer  110  has no direct interaction or communication with the various travel vendors  130 , such as the airline  132 , hotel  134 , or rental car company  136 . The vendors  130  and employer  110  are not in direct communication with each other, and as a result the employee  112  is forced to support the transactions  70  with a separate bifurcated processes with the vendors  130  and employer  110 . The absence of desirable communications and data access between the vendor  130   s  and employer  110  also has negative impacts on those parties  100  in terms of costs, time, redundant processes, and an inability to monitor business activities in a convenient manner. 
     The system  200  can integrate with various IT platforms of the vendors  130 , employers  110 , employees  112 , and other parties  100  through a ledger  500  that is selectively accessible to the parties  100  participating in the system  200 . This can orchestrate the purchase, validation, payment, settlement, reporting, invoicing, and servicing of airline tickets and hotel reservations for business travelers  112 . The system  100  can be managed and operated by a host  160 , which is preferably an independent party  100  that does not otherwise participate in the system  200 . However, the system  200  can be implemented in such a manner that the host  160  is a vendor  130 , an employer  110 , or some other entity who both manages the system  200  as well as participates in transactions formed through use of the system  200 . 
     In many embodiments of the system  200 , the functionality of the system  200  can be involved through a payment option on the checkout page of the applicable vendor website or mobile app Instead of relying on a credit card authorization  76  from the credit card of the employee  112  of the employer  110  as the primary driver of the transaction, the system  200  can use an expense authorization  96  from the employer  110  that is stored on the ledger  500  and is accessible to the applicable vendor  130  and financial institutions  160 . The resulting efficiencies are readily visible in a comparison of  FIG. 2A  (the system  200 ) to  FIG. 1A  (the prior art) and of  FIG. 2B  (the system  200 ) to  FIG. 1B  (the prior art). 
     The replacement of a credit authorization  76  from a financial institution  150  with an expense authorization  96  from the ultimate payor  110  is all by itself a significant benefit the parties  100  of a transaction  70 . When corporate travelers  112  book airline tickets and hotel reservations for work, the prior art uses credit cards as a method of payment, but the credit card approval is a proxy for expense approval (once an expense report is generated from the credit card bill and processed). The system  200  can skip the credit card (and its approval process) and process an expense approval at the time of booking, directly with the corporate buyer&#39;s expense system. 
     The system  200  can disintermediate the credit card, which saves the supplier the 2.5-3% merchant fee. The system  200  can disintermediate the Global Distribution System (aka the GDS, companies such as Sabre, Amadeus, TravelPort, TravelSky), which saves the supplier $3-21 in fees per booking. By cutting out GDSs, parties participating in the system  200  can have the opportunity to sell inventory or buy inventory that the GDS can&#39;t display, such as American Airlines Main Cabin+, wifi passes, seat upgrades, lounge passes, mileage multipliers, etc. The system  200  also eliminated the expense report, which can save organizations $1 per booking in fees. 
     Facilitating communications and data access between the different parties  100  involves facilitating the ability of the IT platform of the various parties to interact with each other. That means of interaction is facilitated by a ledger  500 , which in many embodiments will be a blockchain ledger  502 , although a database  504  that is selectively accessible to the applicable parties  100  of the system  200  can also be used. 
     The system  200  is a superior clearinghouse for transactions  70  than the prior art because of the ability to use the ledger  500  as an interface for processing transactions among disparate computer systems by the various parties  100 . Prior art booking and expense reimbursement methodologies involve highly complex transactions between an increasing number of computer systems and platforms. Each of these platforms suffer from drawbacks that prevent their effective use together to efficiently and accurately process and manage service transactions related to service booking and expense reimbursement. The system  200  can enable organizations  110  to create authorizations  90  that can replace the current use of the credit card authorizations. Expense codes to unused ticket value which allows the system  200  to administer that value in an expense compliant manner. The system  200  can implement a peer-to-peer network that contains a universal data model that allows multiple publishers of event data to share that data among all subscribers in one gesture, creating a shared state among all parties  100 . The prior art uses a sequence, hand-off, segmented, blackbox, pending transaction style of architecture that makes it impossible to have a shared state or single version of the truth accessible to all the appropriate parties. 
     This approach has the advantage of verifying and distributing the data in one gesture as each transaction is directly or effectively signed by all participants in a cryptographic audit log or blockchain or distributed ledger. Another advantage of this approach is the ability to rewind through the history of the state, as each transition of the state is immutably recorded and shared among all actors. Data is appended vs overwritten or updated in a manner that is similar to the recording of a transactions, liens, and other transactions for real property at the register of deeds. 
     IV. Prior Art 
     The benefits of the system  200  and the components and processing of the system  200  that enable those advantages can be better understood by first looking at the prior art. 
       FIG. 1A  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a prior art process by which business travel services  63  are purchased, with the individual  112  purchasing and utilizing the travel doing so on behalf of an organization  110 , and with the organization  110  subsequently reimbursing the individual  112  after the submission of an expense report  360 . As disclosed in the Figure, there are two processing loops in the prior art: (1) the process loop between the individual  112  and the vendor  130  in which a transaction  60  occurs; and (2) a process loop between the individual  112  and the organization  110  associated with the individual  112  in which the individual  112  submits an expense report  360  to the organization  110  which triggers a reimbursement from the organization  110  to the individual  112 . Neither loop directly impacts the other. As illustrated in the Figure, the individual  112  typically uses a credit card authorization  77  to pay the vendor  130 , while the organization  110  typically provides its reimbursement to the individual  112  through a bank. 
       FIG. 1B  is a flow chart diagram illustrating an example of a prior art process by which business travel services  63  are purchased, with the individual  112  purchasing and utilizing the travel on behalf of an organization  110 , with the organization  110  subsequently reimbursing the individual  112  after the submission of an expense report  360 .  FIG. 1B  is a flow chart that corresponds with the block diagram of  FIG. 1A . At  40 , the individual  112  shops with the vendor  130  to explore potentially desirable transactions  60 . At  42  the individual  112  enters into a transaction  60  with the vendor  130 . At that point, the process splits into the two loops discussed above. At  44  the payor  150  such as the credit card company  152  executes a settlement  80  of the credit card authorization  77 . This can happen before or after the individual  112  submits the expense report  360  to the organization  110  at  48  and before or after the organization  110  provides reimbursement of the individual. 
       FIG. 1C  is a block diagram similar to  FIG. 1A , with additional process steps resulting from the context that the organization  110  associated with the traveler  112  is providing consulting services to a client  122 , and the client  122  is the ultimate payor of the expenses. Instead of two processing loops that are substantially independent of each other, there are now three such loops. The individual  112  uses a credit authorization  77  to purchase the non-monetary consideration  62 . The individual  112  submits an expense report  360  to the organization  110 . The organization  110  sends an expense invoice  370  to the client for reimbursement. 
     V. Introduction of Elements 
     A transaction  60  consists of an exchange of consideration  61  between the parties  100 . The vendor  130  typically conveys non-monetary consideration  62  to the individual  112 , and the individual conveys a promise to pay. Unlike the prior art, the promise to pay is not a credit card authorization  77  but is a more reliable and less risky expense authorization  96  from the organization  110  who is the ultimate backer of the transaction  60 . 
     The system  200  represents a substantial improvement to the processing illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1C . Instead of a chain of reimbursements, the system  100  channels settlement  80  from the ultimate payor (the organization  110  of  FIG. 1A  or the client  122  of  FIG. 1C ) to the ultimate recipient of the monetary consideration  70 , the vendor  130 . This fundamental difference in the flow of a transaction  60  can involve substantial benefits for the parties  100  participating in the system  200 . 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates how use of the system  200  can improve the processing of  FIG. 1A .  FIG. 2A  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a system  100  being used by an individual to purchase non-monetary consideration  62  for which an organization  110  associated with the individual  112  is the ultimate payor. The individual  1121  receiving the non-monetary consideration  62  is not the ultimate payor of the transaction  60 , and as such the individual  112  is involved in any kind of settlement  80  or reimbursement. An expense authorization  96  from the organization  110  is used to form the transaction  60  with the vendor  130 . It is the expense authorization  96  and not a credit card authorization  77  which is used to consummate the transaction  60 . A financial services company  150  such as a bank  154  uses the expense authorization  96  on the ledger  500  of the system  200  to facilitate the transfer of money to the vendor  130 . All the parties  100  are participants in the system  200  and as such, all of the parties  100  have selective access to the ledger  500  of the system  200  (subject to the processing rules of the system  200  which prevent access to information to which the parties  100  have no reason to access). No chains of expense reports. No chains of reimbursements. No credit cards needed. Just the transfer of money from an account  158  of the ultimate payor (e.g., the organization  110 ) to the account  159  of the ultimate payee (e.g., the vendor  130 ). 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates this concept in the form of a flow chart. No two-pronged multi-threaded process, unlike  FIG. 1B .  FIG. 2B  is a flow chart diagram illustrating an example of a process by which non-monetary consideration  62  is purchased by an individual  112  on the basis of an expense authorization  96  that enables the transfer of money directly from the organization  110  to the vendor  130 . At  910 , an individual  112  shops with the vendor  130  to explore potentially desirable transactions  60 . At  920 , the individual  112  and vendor  130  enter into a transaction  60 . The expense authorization  96  is the promise of payment. The system  200  records the transaction  60  in a transaction record  530  on the ledger  500  at  530 . The organization  110  does not wait for an expense report  360 . The settlement  80  is issued at  940  in response to the recording of the transaction record  530 . The settlement  80  is recorded as a settlement record  540  on the ledger  500  at  950 . Recording information on the ledger eliminates the bifurcated loop of  FIG. 1B . 
       FIG. 2C  is a block diagram similar to  FIG. 2A , with the additional context of a customer  122  receiving consulting services from the organization  110  and the consulting client  122  being the ultimate payor for the expenses. This is in sharp contrast to the chain of payments from customer  122 , to organization  110 , to individual  112 , and to vendor  130  that is illustrated in  FIG. 1C . 
     VI. Interaction Through it Platforms 
     The functionality of the system  200  is based on the ability of the parties  100  to interact with each other in the context of a common ledger  500  that records transactions  60 , settlements  80 , and in some embodiments usage  68  and credits  88 .  FIG. 3A  is a block diagram illustrating an example of different parties  100  interacting with each other through their interactions with the system  200 , with the system  200  including a ledger  500  for the recording and accessing of information relevant to the handling of the transactions  60 . The mechanisms to manage the interactions of the parties  100  is the interaction of their respective IT platforms  210  with the IT platform  210  of the system  200 , which is managed and operated by a host  160 . 
       FIG. 3B  is a block diagram illustrating an example of different parties  100  interacting with each other through the interactions of their respective IT platforms  210  with the IT platform  210  of the system  200 . In many embodiments, the system  200  is an overlaying interface between the information silos of the parties  100 . Many vendors  130  already have sophisticated IT platforms  210  to facilitate the sale of their goods and services. The same is true for financial services organizations  150  such as banks  154 , as well as various organizations  110  such as businesses, government agencies non-profit organizations, etc. The system  200  takes advantage of that existing architecture and does not supplant any of it. Rather, the system creates an interfacing IT platform  210  that can interact with the others, and function as a clearinghouse for activities between the participating parties  100 . The ledger  500  is used to store information that is relevant and helpful to that clearinghouse functionality. The ledger  500  is used to make available the necessary information to eliminate wasteful processes that cost time and money. 
       FIG. 3C  is a diagram illustrating an example of different components that can be included in an IT platform  210  used by the host  160 , vendors  130 , organizations  110 , and other parties participating in the system  200 . The system  200  can flexibly accommodate a wide range of different IT platforms  210  with varying degrees of complexity and potentially extra levels of proactive validation beyond the recording of ledger records  520  on the ledger  500 . A wide range of computers  220  can be used, with varying processors  222 , storage components  224 , applications/programs  230 , user interfaces  242  interfaces  240 , and databases  250 . Different networks  260  can connect the computers  260  and other devices together. Such platforms can be configured by the system  200  to send and receive various notifications  270  as well as to inform or request certain prohibitions. 
     The “footprint” of the system  200  can vary widely. If the host  160  is a prominent vendor  130 , travel portal  142 , or other participating party  100 , the system  200  can be the IT platform  210  that users  101  visit to initiate transactions. On the other end of the continuum, the system  200  can be implemented with a small “footprint” using a widget on the websites or platforms of participating parties  100 . Participating individuals  112  can invoke the system  200  when checking out on a vendor  130  IT platform  210 , but with most of the processing being performed on the vendor  130  site. 
     Current computerized booking and expense reimbursement methodologies involve highly complex transactions between an increasing number of computer systems and platforms. Each of these platforms suffer from drawbacks that prevent their effective use together to efficiently and accurately process and manage service transactions related to service booking and expense reimbursement but the ledger  500  of the system  200  can alleviate those weaknesses. 
     The functionalities described of the system  200  may be implemented via hardware, software, firmware or any combination thereof, unless expressly indicated otherwise. If implemented in software, the functionalities may be stored in a memory as one or more instructions on a computer readable medium, including any available media accessible by a computer that can be used to store desired program code in the form of instructions, data structures or the like. Thus, certain aspects may comprise a computer program product for performing the operations presented herein, such computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions being executable by one or more processors to perform the operations described herein. It will be appreciated that software or instructions may also be transmitted over a transmission medium as is known in the art. Further, modules and/or other appropriate means for performing the operations described herein may be utilized in implementing the functionalities described herein. 
     The system  200  is implemented in a highly automated clearinghouse platform  210  configured to send to and receive service-transaction related data from the component systems. The service-transaction related data may be communicated via one or more application programming interfaces (APIs) and/or software widgets integrated with the component systems. 
     As used herein, the term “service transaction” and its derivatives generally refers to transactions related to services provided by one or more of the service provider systems. The service transactions may include, for example, booking-related service transactions, such as transactions for booking, purchasing, etc. a hotel, flight, rental vehicle, or other goods or services via the service provider system, whether directly or indirectly. The system is primarily focused on expenses which can be expensed to a different party. The service transactions may also include, for example, expense-related service transactions, such as transactions for settling payment for the good or service via the service provider system, whether directly or indirectly. 
     The system is generally configured to generate, update, and otherwise manage a transaction record, which records the service-transaction related data that drives the logic of one or more of the component systems. In particular, the ACH system collects travel, expense, and payment events from travel suppliers, sellers, aggregators, settlement organizations, corporate buyers, duty-of-care platforms, reporting platforms, calendar platforms, customer and agent service providers and their relevant platforms—in order to sequence these events in the appropriate order, verify them, and distribute them among component systems and/or platforms, thus minimizing the errors and inefficiencies typically associated with booking and expense reimbursement methods. 
     The system may be a server system that includes one or more system computers connected to the network. Each system computer may include computer components, including one or more processors, memories, displays and interfaces, and may also include software instructions and data for executing the functions of the ACH system and/or platform described herein. The ACH system may also include one or more storage devices configured to store large quantities of data and/or information, and may further include one or more databases. For example, the storage device may be a collection of storage components, or a mixed collection of storage components, such as ROM, RAM, hard-drives, solid-state drives, removable drives, network storage, virtual memory, cache, registers, etc. The storage device may also be configured so that the system computers may access it. 
     The service provider systems may be computer systems of service providers, which may be supported by service provider servers, and which are generally configured to support online platforms via which services of the service provider may be booked or otherwise provided. The service provider systems may include one or more service provider computers connected to the network. Each service provider computer may include computer components, such as one or more processors, memories, displays and interfaces, and may also include software instructions and data for executing the functions of the service provider computer systems and/or platforms, as is known in the art. The service provider computer systems, including components, services, databases, software and platforms thereof, may be accessible to the ACH system, and/or vice versa and/or other component systems, via one or more application programming interfaces (APIs) and/or software widgets. 
     The service provider systems may include one or more booking-related service provider systems, which are generally configured to support online booking-related platforms, such as those of travel agencies, on-line booking services (e.g., Kayak, Expedia, etc.), vehicle rental companies (e.g., Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz, etc.), airlines, hotels, etc., via which users can directly or indirectly book or otherwise purchase expensable goods or services provided by the service providers. The service provider systems may also include one or more expense-related service provider systems, which are generally configured to support online expense-related platforms, such as those of settlement organizations (e.g., PayPal, etc.), banks, etc., via which payment for the expensable good or service may be settled, whether directly or indirectly. 
     The corporate systems may be computer systems of business organizations or other entities, which may be supported by organization servers, and which are generally configured to support business services and/or platforms of the business organization. The corporate computer systems may include one or more corporate computers connected to the network. Each corporate computer may include computer components, such as one or more processors, memories, displays and interfaces, and may also include software instructions and data for executing the business services of the business organization, as is known in the art. The corporate computer systems, including components, services, databases, software and platforms thereof, may be accessible to the ACH system and/or other component systems, and/or vice versa, via one or more application programming interfaces (APIs) and/or software widgets. 
     The user devices are generally computing devices of users affiliated with one or more of the business organizations. The user devices may be mobile (e.g., laptop computers, tablet computers, smartphones, PDAs, wearables, etc.) or stationary (e.g., desktop computers, etc.) devices connected to the network, and generally provide the user with the ability to interact with one or more of the service provider systems via the respective platforms of the service providers to book, purchase, etc., the goods or services respectively provided by the service providers. 
     The user devices may access the ACH system (directly or indirectly) and/or other component systems, including components, services, databases, software and platforms thereof, and/or vice versa, via one or more application programming interfaces (APIs) and/or software widgets. Such user interaction may be via a graphical user interface, as is generally known in the art. The user devices may include computer components, such as one or more processors, memories, displays and interfaces, and may also include software instructions and data for executing the functions of the user devices. 
     The processors may instruct the computer components to perform various tasks based on the processing of information and/or data that may have been previously stored or have been received, such as software instructions and/or data stored in the memory(s). The processors may be standard processors, such as a central processing unit (CPU), or may be dedicated processors, such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or a graphical processing unit (GPU). 
     The memories may store at least software instructions and/or data that can be accessed by the processors. For example, the memories may be hardware capable of storing information accessible by the processors, such as a ROM, RAM, hard-drive, CD-ROM, DVD, write-capable, read-only, etc. The set of instructions may be included in software that can be implemented on the computers. It should be noted that the terms “instructions,” “steps,” “algorithm,” and “programs” may be used interchangeably. The data can be retrieved, manipulated or stored by the processors in accordance with the software instructions or other sets of executable instructions. The data may be stored as a collection of data. Accordingly, the computers may include one or more respective software applications, stored in respective memories, which software applications, when executed by the processors configures the computers to execute the various functions described herein 
     The displays may be any type of device capable of visually communicating data, such as a liquid-crystal display (“LCD”) screen, a plasma screen, etc. The interfaces allow users to communicate with the computers and may be a physical device (e.g., a port, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch-sensitive screen, microphone, camera, a universal serial bus (USB), CD/DVD drive, zip drive, card reader, etc.) and/or may be virtual (e.g., a graphical user interface “GUI,” etc.). 
     The network may be any type of network, wired or wireless, configured to facilitate the communication and transmission of data, instructions, etc. from one component to another component of the network. For example, the network may be a local area network (LAN) (e.g., Ethernet or other IEEE 802.03 LAN technologies), Wi-Fi (e.g., IEEE 802.11 standards, wide area network (WAN), virtual private network (VPN), global area network (GAN)), any combination thereof, or any other type of network. 
     It is to be understood that the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 1  serves only as an example and is thus not limited thereto. The various illustrated systems and the system environment, for instance, may include numerous other components, or more than one of each component, connected to network, and the network may be connected to other networks. As discussed, the systems may be implemented via computer executed software, appropriately programmed hardware, or any combination thereof. As such, the various functionalities of the systems may be understood in terms of computer executed software modules in accordance with respective system architectures. 
     VII. Usage and Credits 
     Some embodiments of the system  200  can include the functionality of tracking the usage  68  of assets or services and tracking the issuance of credits  88  for unused items and services. 
       FIG. 4A  is a flow chart diagram illustrating an example of a system  200  in which the usage  68  of the assets and services making up the non-monetary consideration  62  of a transaction  60  are monitored and recorded in the ledger  500  of the system  200 .  FIG. 4A  identical to  FIG. 3B  except that it includes additional steps. At  960 , the system  200  checks to see whether the non-monetary consideration  62  has been used. At  970 , the usage  970  can be recorded on the ledger  500  as a use record  550 . 
       FIG. 4B  is a flow chart illustrating an example of a system in which credits  88  from unused assets and services can be recorded on the ledger  500  of the system  200 .  FIG. 4B  is identical to  FIG. 4A  except with additional steps of determining at  980  whether a credit  88  is owed and recording a credit  88  on the ledger  500  as a credit record  560 . 
       FIG. 4C  is a flow chart illustrating an example of a system in which credits  88  from unused assets and services can be used for new purchases using the system  200 . The process closely resembles any other transaction process, with the credit record  560  linking back to the original expense authorization  96  and expense code  97 . At  910 , the individual shops  910  to enter into a transaction  60  at  920 . If credits  88  exist at  921 , they can be used at  942  and their use can be recorded at  950 . 
     Although not indicated in in the figure, the system  200  can be implemented in such a manner that the shopping step at  920  is impacted by things such as available credits  88 , usage  68  of past transactions  60 , expense codes  97 , user profiles, system history, etc. For example, the system  200  can be configured in such a manner as to force an individual  112  to use available credits  88  before other forms of settlement. Organization policies  92  can also impact preferred vendors, what options are available to the individual  112 , etc. Attributes of the services or goods themselves can also impact user selections. For example, the length of a flight, the cost of a ticket, the time of day, time of year etc. can be selectively used to filter options available to the individual  112  or to encourage certain behaviors. 
     VIII. Example #1 
       FIG. 5A  is an architecture diagram illustrating an example of the system  200  being used to process a transaction  60 .  FIG. 5B  is an architecture diagram illustrating a continuation of the process that began in  FIG. 5A .  FIG. 5C  is an architecture diagram illustrating an example of the process that began in  FIG. 5A  and was continued in  FIG. 5B . The exemplary operation reflects a simple use case scenario with respect to an airline system. It will be understood, however, that the simple use case is provided solely for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the systems and methods disclosed herein. 
     At  602 , the IT platform  210  for the organization  110  (which can also be referred to as a corporate system) transmits or otherwise establishes travel policies with the airline system. The travel policies regulate which goods or services, or classes thereof, can be properly expensed and the respective users or classes of users may be authorized for. For example, the organization may have two classes of potential users: executive and non-executive, and the travel policy may permit executive users, but not the non-executive users, to travel first class. The establishment of these travel policies may be periodic or on-demand but are generally updateable to reflect current policies. 
     At  604 , the IT platform  210  for the airline  132  sets corporate rates/fares with respect to the organization and provides for accepting alternative forms of payment (i.e., not user credit card) for goods and services booked by the user via the airline system platform. 
     At  606  and  608 , the IT platform  210  for the host  160  establishes API connection with corporate system and with the airline system. As discussed herein, the API connection permits the transfer of service-transaction related data for verification and other purposes. 
     At  610 , the IT platform  210  for the host  160  uses the API connection to incorporate a system widget within the airline system platform. The system widget is a software application that is configured to collect user-expense data from the airline system in connection with the booking of a fight by the user via the airline system platform. In some embodiments, the system widget is configured to display an interactive window via the airline system platform (e.g., website) where the user may enter the user-expense data. In other embodiments, the system widget is not visible to the user and is instead configured to gather the user-expense data automatically from the airline system platform. 
     At  612 , the airline system offers the corporate rates/fares to the user via the airline system platform. 
     At  614 , the individual traveler and user, via the operation of the user device to access the airline system platform, selects a flight for booking and provides the user-expense data. The user-expense data may include data related to the user that may be used by the corporate system verify that the user is authorized by the organization to book the service (i.e., to make the service transaction) and subsequently expensed. 
     At  616 , the user-expense data and service data relating to reimbursable expenses is transmitted to the system  200  for confirmation that the user is authorized by the organization  110  to book the expensed service. The service data is data relating to the service that may be used by the corporate system to verify that the user is authorized to book and expense the service. 
     At  618 , the IT platform  210  for the host  160  requests confirmation from the corporate system that the service transaction is authorized. In at least one embodiment, this involves the host platform  210  transmitting all or some of the user-expense data and/or the service data (i.e., service transaction related data) to the corporate system for verification against travel policies and user profiles stored by the corporate system. 
     At  620 , the airline system confirms authorization or rejects it, as the case may be, based on a comparison of the service-transaction related data with travel polices and user profiles. The airline system transmits the authorization or rejection, as the case may be, to the host platform  210 . 
     At  622 , the host platform  210  relays the authorization or rejection to the airline. 
     At  624  and  626 , the host platform  210  generates a unique identifier assigned to the service transaction and transmits the unique identifier to the airline system. 
     At  628  and  630 , the airline system associates the unique identifier with its passenger name record (PNR) or other internal identifier, if any, and confirms the booking with the user via the airline system platform (e.g., website). This may involve displaying or otherwise sending the user a confirmation of the booking via the user device. 
     At  632 , the airline system transmits booking-confirmation data to the system  200  ledger  500  for recording of the service transaction (i.e., the confirmed flight booking) on the blockchain. This creates a transaction record for the service transaction, which is stored on the ledger  500 . The transaction record may include the unique identifier, as well as any service-transaction related data, and a status indicator. The status indicator for new transaction records may be “new.” 
     At  634 , the system  200  confirms successful recording of the service transaction on the ledger  500  and transmits confirmation of the successful recording to the airline system. 
     At  636 , the host platform  210  periodically queries the ledger  500  to identify service transactions from associated transaction records based on their status indicators, unique identifiers, and/or any other feature. These transaction records may be utilized for reporting information to the DOC system, and/or other auditing and reporting systems. Such queries may be periodic, or on-demand. 
     At  638  and  640 , the platform  210  for the organization  110  queries the blockchain to identify “new” service transactions, and the system  200  may provide the transaction records of such identified services transactions in response. 
     At  642 , the organization platform  210  generates an expense-payable file based on the unique identifiers, and associated service transactions identified from the blockchain. The corporate system may then generate invoices for the service based on the expense-payable file, which invoices may be provided to third-party payers for settlement. 
     At.  644 , the organization platform  210  transmits a request to the blockchain to update the status of the transaction record to “verified,” which indicates that the organization acknowledges that payment of the airline for the associated service transaction will be settled. 
     At  646 , the system  200  changes the status of the transaction record to “verified” in response to the request from the corporate system and transmits a confirmation of the status change to the corporation. 
     At  648 , the system  200  periodically queries the blockchain to identify service transactions from associated transaction records based on their status indicators, unique identifiers, and/or any other feature. These transaction records may be utilized for reporting information to the DOC system, and/or other auditing and reporting systems. Such queries may be periodic, or on-demand. 
     At  650  and  652 , the platform  210  for the financial services organization  150  in control of the account  158  such as a bank  154  platform periodically queries the ledger  500  to identify transaction records  520  with “verified” status indicators, and the system  200  transmits the “verified” transaction records to the financial services organization  150   
     At  654 , the settlement organization platform  210 , based on receipt of the “verified” transaction records, provides payment to the airline on behalf of the organization for the good or service (i.e., the airfare) booked by the user. 
     At  660 , the settlement organization platform transmits a request to the blockchain to update the status of the transaction record to “settled,” which indicates that payment of the airline for the associated service transaction has been settled. 
     At  662 , the system  200  changes the status of the transaction record to “settled” in response to the request from the settlement organization platform and transmits a confirmation of the status change to the settlement organization platform. 
     It will be understood that the system  200  periodically queries the ledger  500  to identify service transactions from associated transaction records based on their status indicators, unique identifiers, and/or any other feature. These transaction records may be utilized for reporting information to the DOC system, and/or other auditing and reporting systems. Such queries may be periodic, or on-demand. While such queries are disclosed above in relation to other process steps, the queries may be at any time. 
     IX. Example #2 
       FIG. 6A  is a block diagram illustrating an example of the ledger  500  of the system  200  position positioned between a transaction layer  300  and a settlement layer  350 . 
       FIG. 6B  is a more detailed example of the transaction layer illustrated in  FIG. 6A .  FIG. 6C  is a more detailed example of the ledger illustrated in  FIG. 6A .  FIG. 6D  is a more detailed example of the ledger illustrated in  FIG. 6A . 
     For bookings that are shopped and booked with the supplier, after signing in to the supplier website, ( 701 A) the traveler enters search criteria directly with the supplier, ( 702 A) the supplier returns offers that are in policy with the corporate negotiated rate, ( 7033 A) the traveler selects on offer, ( 7044 A) the supplier passes corporate account code and employee ID to the system  200 , ( 705 A) system  200  returns the appropriate expense module criteria, ( 706 A) the supplier presents the appropriate expense module to the traveler, ( 707 ) the traveler enters in the appropriate expense information to the module that pertains to his/her trip such as job code and/or cost center code and/or “reason for trip” information, ( 708 ) the expense module checks that information with the corporate buyer, ( 709 ) the corporate buyer confirms or fails that information, ( 710 A) the expense module creates a unique expense ID or ( 710 B) the module passes the expense data to the blockchain and the blockchain generates the unique expense ID, ( 711 ) the expense module authorizes the charge, ( 712 A) the expense module passes the unique ID to the supplier or the ( 712 C) the blockchain passes the unique ID to the supplier via the expense module and the system restricts and prohibits the supplier (through various means, including encryption) from ever being able to access the underlying expense information that the traveler entered on the expense module, ( 713 A) the supplier confirms the reservation, ( 714 A) the supplier writes reservation data and expense ID to the blockchain, ( 714 B) or the supplier passes the reservation and expense ID to the settlement agency, ( 715 ) all on-chain parties can access the data on the chain to which they are granted permission via private keys, ( 716 ) the expense file generator generates an expense file from the blockchain data and sends that file into the corporate buyer&#39;s expense system from the blockchain data, ( 717 ) the EDI file generator generates an EDI file from the blockchain data and sends that file into the corporate buyer&#39;s accounts payable system from the blockchain data, ( 718 ) the corporate expense- and accounts-payable systems ingest the expense and EDI files and issues funds from the blockchain data, ( 719 ) the corporate expense- and accounts-payable systems ingest the expense and EDI files and issues invoices to the corporate buyer&#39;s client, from the blockchain data, ( 720 A) the supplier sends reservation status information from the blockchain data to the traveler, ( 721 ) the supplier sends reservation status information from the blockchain data to system  200 , ( 722 ) the supplier sends reservation status information from the blockchain data to the agency, ( 723 ) the supplier assigns unused ticket funds to the client of the corporate buyer, ( 724 ) system  200  sends calendar data to the traveler from system data, ( 725 ) the travel agency sends reservation and ticket info to the traveler, ( 726 ) the online booking tool sends reservation and ticket info to the traveler, ( 727 ) the settlement agency issues funds to corporate buyer and supplier bank accounts. 
     For bookings that are shopped and booked with an online booking tool (OBT), after signing in to the OBT, ( 701 B) the traveler enters search criteria directly with the supplier, ( 702 B) the OBT queries the supplier for offers, ( 702 C) the supplier returns available offers, ( 702 D) the OBT filters offers for negotiated, in-policy offers and displays them to the traveler, ( 703 B) the traveler selects on offer, ( 704 B) the OBT passes corporate account code and employee ID to System  200 , ( 705 B) System  200  returns the appropriate expense module criteria, ( 706 B) the OBT presents the appropriate expense module to the traveler, ( 707 ) the traveler enters in the appropriate expense information to the module that pertains to his/her trip such as job code and/or cost center code and/or “reason for trip” information, ( 708 ) the expense module checks that information with the corporate buyer, ( 709 ) the corporate buyer confirms or fails that information, ( 710 A) the expense module creates a unique expense ID or ( 710 B) the module passes the expense data to the blockchain and the blockchain generates the unique expense ID, ( 711 ) the expense module authorizes the charge, ( 712 A) the expense module passes the unique ID to the supplier or the ( 712 C) the blockchain passes the unique ID to the supplier via the expense module and the system restricts and prohibits the supplier (through various means, including encryption) from ever being able to access the underlying expense information that the traveler entered on the expense module, ( 713 A) the supplier confirms the reservation, ( 714 A) the supplier writes reservation data and expense ID to the blockchain, ( 714 B) or the supplier passes the reservation and expense ID to the settlement agency, ( 715 ) all on-chain parties can access the data on the chain to which they are granted permission via private keys, ( 716 ) the expense file generator generates an expense file from the blockchain data and sends that file into the corporate buyer&#39;s expense system from the blockchain data, ( 717 ) the EDI file generator generates an EDI file from the blockchain data and sends that file into the corporate buyer&#39;s accounts payable system from the blockchain data, ( 718 ) the corporate expense- and accounts-payable systems ingest the expense and EDI files and issues funds from the blockchain data, ( 719 ) the corporate expense- and accounts-payable systems ingest the expense and EDI files and issues invoices to the corporate buyer&#39;s client, from the blockchain data, ( 720 A) the supplier sends reservation status information from the blockchain data to the traveler, ( 721 ) the supplier sends reservation status information from the blockchain data to System  200 , ( 722 ) the supplier sends reservation status information from the blockchain data to the agency, ( 723 ) the supplier assigns unused ticket funds to the client of the corporate buyer, ( 724 ) System  200  sends calendar data to the traveler from blockchain data, ( 725 ) the travel agency sends reservation and ticket info to the traveler, ( 726 ) the online booking tool sends reservation and ticket info to the traveler, ( 727 ) the settlement agency issues funds to corporate buyer and supplier bank accounts. Table 2 below corresponds to  FIGS. 6B-6D . 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 # 
                 From 
                 To 
                 Action 
                 Layer 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 701 
                 Traveler 
                 Vendor 
                 Enter search criteria 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                 701A 
                 Traveler 
                 OBT 
                 Enter search criteria 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                 701B 
                 Traveler 
                 Vendor 
                 Enter search criteria 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                 702A 
                 Vendor 
                 Traveler 
                 Returns corporate negotiated 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 offers filtered for travel policies 
               
               
                 702B 
                 OBT 
                 Vendor 
                 Queries vendor for offers 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                   
                 (online 
               
               
                   
                 booking tool) 
               
               
                 702B 
                 Vendor 
                 OBT 
                 Returns available offers 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                 702B 
                 OBT 
                 Traveler 
                 Returns corporate negotiated 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 offers filtered for travel policies 
               
               
                 702C 
                 Vendor 
                 Traveler 
                 Returns corporate negotiated 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 offers filtered for travel policies 
               
               
                 703A 
                 Traveler 
                 Vendor 
                 Selects offer 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                 703B 
                 Traveler 
                 OBT 
                 Selects offer 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                 704A 
                 Vendor 
                 Ledger 
                 Passes corporate account code 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 and employment ID 
               
               
                 704B 
                 OBT 
                 Ledger 
                 Passes corporate account code 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 and employment ID 
               
               
                 705A 
                 Host 
                 Vendor 
                 Returns appropriate expense 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 module criteria 
               
               
                 705B 
                 Host 
                 OBT 
                 Returns appropriate expense 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 module criteria 
               
               
                 706A 
                 Vendor 
                 Traveler 
                 Presents appropriate expense 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 module 
               
               
                 706B 
                 OBT 
                 Traveler 
                 Presents appropriate expense 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 module 
               
               
                 707 
                 Traveler 
                 Expense 
                 Enters expense information 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Module 
               
               
                 708 
                 Expense 
                 Organization 
                 Confirm expense information 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                   
                 Module 
               
               
                 709 
                 Organization 
                 Expense 
                 Confirm expense information 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Module 
               
               
                 710A 
                 Expense 
                 Expense 
                 Generate expense ID 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                   
                 Module 
                 Module 
               
               
                 710B 
                 Expense 
                 Ledger 
                 Generate expense ID 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                   
                 Module 
               
               
                 711 
                 Expense 
                 Vendor 
                 Authorize charge 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                   
                 Module 
               
               
                 712A 
                 Expense 
                 Vendor 
                 Passes expense ID 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                   
                 Module 
               
               
                 712B 
                 Expense 
                 OBT 
                 Passes expense ID 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                   
                 Module 
               
               
                 712C 
                 Ledger 
                 Vendor 
                 Passes expense ID 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                 712D 
                 Ledger 
                 OBT 
                 Passes expense ID 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                 713A 
                 Vendor 
                 Traveler 
                 Confirms reservation 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                 714B 
                 Vendor 
                 OBT 
                 Confirms reservation 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                 714A 
                 Vendor 
                 Settlement 
                 Writes reservation information 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 and expense ID 
               
               
                 714B 
                 Settlement 
                 Ledger 
                 Passes reservation information 
                 Transaction 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 and expense ID 
               
               
                 715 
                 ALL 
                 ALL 
                 Distribute and partition data 
                 Ledger 
               
               
                 716 
                 Organization 
                 Expense 
                 Deliver expense file 
                 Settlement 
               
               
                   
                   
                 system 
               
               
                 717 
                 Organization 
                 Accounts 
                 Deliver EDI/Accounting file 
                 Settlement 
               
               
                   
                   
                 payable 
               
               
                 718 
                 Accounts 
                 Settlement 
                 Issue funds 
                 Settlement 
               
               
                   
                 Payable 
               
               
                 719 
                 Accounts 
                 Client of 
                 Issue invoice 
                 Settlement 
               
               
                   
                 Payable 
                 Organization 
               
               
                 720A 
                 Vendor 
                 Traveler 
                 Issue reservation status and info 
                 Settlement 
               
               
                 720B 
                 OBT 
                 Traveler 
                 Issue reservation status and info 
                 Settlement 
               
               
                 721 
                 Vendor 
                 Host 
                 Issue reservation status and 
                 Settlement 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 settlement info 
               
               
                 722 
                 Vendor 
                 Trave; 
                 Issue reservation status and 
                 Settlement 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Agency 
                 settlement info 
               
               
                 723 
                 Vendor 
                 Client of 
                 Assign un-used tickets 
                 Settlement 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Organization 
               
               
                 724 
                 Host 
                 Traveler 
                 Issue calendar data 
                 Settlement 
               
               
                 725 
                 Travel 
                 Traveler 
                 Issue reservation status and info 
                 Settlement 
               
               
                   
                 Agency 
               
               
                 726 
                 OBT 
                 Traveler 
                 Issue reservation status and info 
                 Settlement 
               
               
                 727 
                 Settlement 
                 Bank 
                 Issues funds 
                 Settlement