Patent ID: 7840455

Claim:
A computer implemented method of processing invoices comprising: storing, in the automated electronic processing system, a plurality of initial invoice templates and context data corresponding to a plurality of transactions, wherein each transaction has a corresponding electronic invoice, and wherein the context data comprises a plurality of data elements corresponding to each electronic invoice; sending the invoice templates and context data to a learning engine in the automated electronic processing system; generating, by the learning engine, a plurality of initial valid invoice models based on the invoice templates and the context data; generating associations in an associative memory between the context data elements corresponding to each electronic invoice using the invoice templates and the context data, wherein the associations indicate relationships between context data elements for each particular electronic invoice, and wherein the valid invoice models comprise rules that operate on the associations in the associative memory to produce additional context data elements for each electronic invoice; receiving, in the automated electronic processing system, a plurality of electronic invoices; applying, in the automated electronic processing system, one or more of the electronic invoices against one or more the valid invoice models and associations, wherein the valid invoice models access said associations between context data elements using the associative memory and apply said rules, and in accordance therewith, identifying fraudulent or erroneous electronic invoices; verifying, in the automated electronic processing system, the electronic invoices to identify false positives or false negatives; receiving, in the automated electronic processing system, additional information about electronic invoices identified as false positive or false negative; receiving the additional information in the learning engine; and updating the valid invoice models and associations based on the additional information.