Computer implemented multi-currency invoice capture, trading, access and payment system

Abstract

A computer-implemented invoice capture, trading, access and payment systems. In particular, to a computer-implemented invoice capture, trading, access and payment system that facilitates the automated capture of invoices in multiple currencies, the trading of those invoices against each other and into different currencies, and which generates payment instruction files capable of effecting the efficient payment of those invoices around the world.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A computer-implemented invoice trading system, comprising:
 a processing computer having a central processing unit and a memory, the memory storing an exchange rate database and an invoice database, the invoice database including:   a plurality of client invoice records storing a client currency and a client invoice amount; and   a plurality of supplier invoice records storing a supplier currency and a supplier invoice amount;
 wherein the system is configured, for each supplier invoice record where the supplier currency does not match the client currency, to: 
   a) convert the supplier amount in the supplier currency into a displayed invoice amount in the client currency using an exchange rate retrieved from the exchange rate database; and   b) display the displayed invoice amounts of the supplier invoice records on a user interface.   
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43  wherein the exchange rate is selected from:
 i) the most recently-updated exchange rate in the exchange rate database; 
 ii) an exchange rate corresponding to an invoice date stored in the supplier invoice record; and 
 iii) a forward exchange rate calculated with reference to a planned payment date selected by a user. 
 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 44  wherein the exchange rate is further selected from:
 a sell rate; 
 a buy rate; and 
 a mid-market rate. 
 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 45 , further configured to:
 sum the invoice amounts of a plurality of client invoice records;   sum the displayed invoice amounts of a plurality of supplier invoice records; and   calculate the difference between those two sums in the client invoice currency.   
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 46  further configured, for a selected group of client and supplier invoice records, to:
 extract information comprising: 
 i) a trade date; 
 ii) an invoice number; 
 iii) a biller name; and 
 iv) a payer name; and 
 store the information in a file in a banking file format. 
 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 47  further configured to, in response to a user selection of a plurality of client and supplier records, store a trade date and a trade reference in the selected client invoice records and store the trade date and the trade reference and the displayed invoice amount in the selected supplier invoice records. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 48 , further configured, for a selected group of client and supplier invoice records, to create a consolidated foreign exchange instruction by:
 creating a buy and sell total in each currency;   cancelling any buy totals for a particular currency against any sell totals for that same currency, so that each currency has only a buy or sell total; and   converting each remaining buy or sell total into a foreign exchange instruction compatible with a third party foreign exchange computer system.   
     
     
         50 . The computer system of  claim 49 , wherein the consolidated foreign exchange instruction is created so as to include all of the remaining buy or sell totals, the consolidated foreign exchange instruction being compatible with a third party foreign exchange computer system. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the stored instructions are further adapted to perform any one or more of:
 displaying the foreign exchange instruction on an interface for the client to download;   downloading the foreign exchange instruction to a client computer system; and   converting the foreign exchange instruction into an XML request compatible with a webservices API operated by a third party foreign exchange provider.   
     
     
         52 . A computer-implemented invoice trading method, comprising:
 for each of a plurality of supplier invoice records where a respective supplier currency does not match a client currency:   a) converting the supplier amount in the supplier currency into a displayed invoice amount in the client currency using an exchange rate retrieved from an exchange rate database; and   b) displaying the displayed invoice amounts of the supplier invoice records on a user interface.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52  wherein the exchange rate is selected from:
 i) the most recently-updated exchange rate in the exchange rate database; 
 ii) an exchange rate corresponding to an invoice date stored in the supplier invoice record; and 
 iii) a forward exchange rate calculated with reference to a planned payment date selected by a user. 
 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the exchange rate is further selected from:
 a sell rate; 
 a buy rate; and 
 a mid-market rate. 
 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , further including the steps of:
 summing the invoice amounts of a plurality of client invoice records;   summing the displayed invoice amounts of a plurality of supplier invoice records; and   calculating the difference between those two sums in the client invoice currency.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55  further including the steps of, in response to a user selection of a plurality of client and supplier records, storing a trade date and a trade reference in the selected client invoice records and storing the trade date and the trade reference and the displayed invoice amount in the selected supplier invoice records. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56  further including the steps of, for a selected group of client and supplier invoice records:
 extracting information comprising: 
 i) a trade date; 
 ii) an invoice number; 
 iii) a biller name; and 
 iv) a payer name; and 
 storing the information in a file in a banking file format. 
 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , further including the steps of, for a selected group of client and supplier invoice records, creating a consolidated foreign exchange instruction by:
 creating a buy and sell total in each currency;   cancelling any buy totals for a particular currency against any sell totals for that same currency, so that each currency has only a buy or sell total; and   converting each remaining buy or sell total into a foreign exchange instruction compatible with a third party foreign exchange computer system.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the consolidated foreign exchange instruction is created so as to include all of the remaining buy or sell totals, the consolidated foreign exchange instruction being compatible with a third party foreign exchange computer system. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the stored instructions are further adapted to perform any one or more of:
 displaying the foreign exchange instruction on an interface for the client to download;   downloading the foreign exchange instruction to a client computer system; and   converting the foreign exchange instruction into an XML request compatible with a webservices API operated by a third party foreign exchange provider.   
     
     
         61 . Computer software configured to, when executed by a computing device, implement the method of  claim 52 . 
     
     
         62 . A computer readable medium, comprising the computer software of  claim 61 .