Patent ID: 7606766

Claim:
A computer-implemented method, comprising: accessing, by a hardware server, a first invoice stored on an invoice database, wherein said first invoice is associated with a first vendor; loading, by said hardware server, said first invoice from said invoice database into a computer memory coupled with said hardware server memory; parsing, by a control program, a plurality of first invoice line items from said first invoice into first invoice data, wherein said computer program is executed at least partially by said hardware server; analyzing, by said control program, said first invoice data, vendor rule data and payment selection rule data to determine a first settlement rule, wherein said payment selection rule data comprises payment rules to at least one of maximize cash flow for a payer, maximize short-term return on cash for a payer of said first invoice, maximize vendor discounts, or minimize transaction costs associated with paying said first invoice; selecting, by said control program and based upon said first settlement rule, a first settlement option from a plurality of settlement options to settle said first invoice; applying, by said control program, said first settlement option to said first invoice to facilitate settling said first invoice; accessing, by said hardware server, a second invoice stored on said invoice database wherein said second invoice is associated with a second vendor; loading, by said hardware server, said second invoice from said invoice database into said computer memory; parsing, by said control program, a plurality of second invoice line items from said first invoice into second invoice data, wherein said computer program is executed at least partially by said hardware server; analyzing, by said control program , said first invoice data, said vendor rule data and said payment selection rule data to determine a second settlement rule; selecting, by said control program and based upon said second settlement rule, a second settlement option from said plurality of settlement options to settle said second invoice, wherein said second settlement option is different from said first settlement option; and, applying, by said control program, said second settlement option to said second invoice to facilitate settling said second invoice.