Patent ID: 7509288

Claim:
An invoice processing system, comprising: an imaging system for scanning and storing a paper invoice in a human readable format, wherein the paper invoice can comprise a purchase order (PO) invoice or a non-purchase order (non-PO) invoice, wherein the imaging system comprises operational capabilities that include barcode scanning, document routing and work queue processing, comment insertion, security, faxing, labeling, archiving historical data and reporting; a data entry queue for receiving the scanned paper invoice from the imaging system; a web payment request system for receiving invoice details including the scanned paper invoice from the data entry queue and for generating an electronic invoice, the web payment request system further comprising: a system for determining if the scanned paper invoice is a PO invoice or a non-PO invoice; a system for determining if additional invoice details are required, if the scanned paper invoice is determined to be a non-PO invoice; a system for notifying a party associated with a non-PO invoice that additional invoice details are required; and a system for allowing the party to enter the additional invoice details for the non-PO invoice; and an accounts payable system for processing the electronic invoice, wherein the accounts payable system includes a preprocessor for auditing the electronic invoice in real-time and for notifying the web payment request system if a problem exists as the invoice details are being inputted, wherein the preprocessor comprises operational capabilities that include edit checking of the electronic invoice against real-time, supplier communication relating to the electronic invoice, receiving the electronic invoice in different data formats, posting the electronic invoice, lifting blocks on the electronic invoice, reporting of the electronic invoice and real-time communication with the accounts payable system.