System and method for management and verification of invoices

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention include architectures and methods for automated management of invoices. Embodiments of the present invention may include techniques for receiving and unifying invoice data, retrieving information about each invoice, verifying each invoice and resolving invoice exceptions. The present invention includes software components for efficiently processing invoices. In other embodiments, the present invention includes methods of processing an invoice.

1 . An invoice management system comprising: 
 an invoice processor for receiving a plurality of invoices and automatically verifying each invoice according to a plurality of rules; and    an exception manager for processing invoices that fail verification.    
     
     
         2 . The invoice management system of  claim 1  further comprising an exception repository.  
     
     
         3 . The invoice management system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of work flows.  
     
     
         4 . The invoice management system of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of work flows include at least one of a duplicate invoice handler, a missing data handler, an invalid data handler, an authorization handler, a line item mismatch handler, a price variance handler, a quantity variance handler, a template exception handler, or a customized work flow.  
     
     
         5 . The invoice management system of  claim 1  wherein the exception manager includes an integrated communication system.  
     
     
         6 . The invoice management system of  claim 1  further comprising a search engine coupled to the exception manager.  
     
     
         7 . A computer implemented method of processing invoices comprising: 
 automatically verifying invoices according to a plurality of rules;    generating an invoice exception when an invoice is not verified;    associating data with the invoice exception; and    storing the invoice exception in an exception repository.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein invoice data and context information are stored in the exception repository.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising accessing context information through a reference to another repository.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising initiating one of a plurality of exception work flows to resolve the exception.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein different work flows are automatically initiated based on the type of error that triggered the exception.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the work flows are customized by a user.  
     
     
         13 . A method of processing invoices comprising: 
 automatically verifying an invoice according to a plurality of rules;    generating an invoice exception if the invoice is not verified;    retrieving data associated with the invoice exception; and    displaying the retrieved data to a user.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the data associated with the invoice exception is displayed to a user in an exception inbox.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the exception inbox includes one or more rows corresponding to invoice exceptions, and wherein invoice data is displayed as columns.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein if the invoice exception is a duplicate invoice exception, then the method further comprises retrieving and displaying data corresponding to an original invoice and a duplicate invoice.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising retrieving and displaying images of the original invoice and duplicate invoice.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising displaying invoice data and context data for an invoice in a detailed invoice view.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising sending an electronic notification of the invoice exception to one or more users.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the electronic notification includes at least a portion of associated invoice data or context information.  
     
     
         21 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method of processing invoices comprising: 
 automatically verifying an invoice according to a plurality of rules;    generating an invoice exception if the invoice is not verified;    retrieving data associated with the invoice exception; and    displaying the retrieved data to a user.    
     
     
         22 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 21  wherein the data associated with the invoice exception is stored in an exception repository.  
     
     
         23 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 21  wherein if the invoice is not verified, the data associated with the invoice exception is processed according to at least one exception work flow.  
     
     
         24 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 21  wherein the data associated with the invoice exception is displayed to a user in an exception inbox.  
     
     
         25 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 24  wherein the exception inbox includes one or more rows corresponding to invoice exceptions, and wherein invoice data is displayed as columns.  
     
     
         26 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 21  wherein if the invoice exception is a duplicate invoice exception, then the method further comprises retrieving and displaying data corresponding to an original invoice and a duplicate invoice.  
     
     
         27 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 26  further comprising retrieving and displaying images of the original invoice and duplicate invoice.  
     
     
         28 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 21  further comprising displaying invoice data and context data for an invoice in a detailed invoice view.  
     
     
         29 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 21  further comprising sending an electronic notification of the invoice exception to one or more users.  
     
     
         30 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 29  wherein the electronic notification includes at least a portion of associated invoice data or context information.