Abstract: Historical data is used to manage and authorize payment for merchant offerings for transactions among a plurality of transaction parties. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, invoiced item quantities are processed using historical fulfilled and billed quantities of each item. If invoiced item quantities involved items that have been fulfilled but not billed, payment for the invoiced items is authorized. If some or all of the invoiced items have not been fulfilled or have been previously billed, payment authorization is withheld for at least the portion of unfulfilled or previously billed (and paid) invoiced items. With this approach, historical information relative to order fulfillment and payment status is used to automatically process invoices (e.g., audit the invoices for payment).

Abstract: Electronic transactions are audited using a processing system to interact with each of a multitude of entity-specific processor circuits to process transaction data sets. In connection with an example embodiment, a processor circuit communicates with entity-specific processor circuits to receive electronic transaction data sets therefrom, each set of transaction data pertaining to an electronic account. The processor circuit executes processing functions to audit the transaction data set and generate evaluation information for use by the entity-specific processor, respectively using auditing rules defined for the entity-specific processor and evaluation criteria available to the processor circuit.

Abstract: Transaction management for financial institution-based transactions is facilitated. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a transaction management approach involves the processing of financial aspects of transactions for a plurality of buyers using transaction rules associated with each buyer for automatically auditing each transaction (for each buyer) and any associated invoices. When a transaction or series of transactions are approved for payment for a particular buyer, the payment is automatically facilitated on behalf of the particular buyer. A fee is then assessed for each transaction or series of transactions, to one or more of the particular buyer, involved seller (or sellers), and a sponsor of the buyer that sponsors the buyer's participation.

Abstract: Historical data is used to manage and authorize payment for merchant offerings for transactions among a plurality of transaction parties. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, invoiced item quantities are processed using historical fulfilled and billed quantities of each item. If invoiced item quantities involved items that have been fulfilled but not billed, payment for the invoiced items is authorized. If some or all of the invoiced items have not been fulfilled or have been previously billed, payment authorization is withheld for at least the portion of unfulfilled or previously billed (and paid) invoiced items. With this approach, historical information relative to order fulfillment and payment status is used to automatically process invoices (e.g., audit the invoices for payment).

Abstract: Transaction management for resource pools is facilitated. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a transaction management approach involves the processing of transactions for different transaction parties involved with different transactions. Resources are allocated for the transactions using a pool of resources, with an associated fee assessed against one or more of the transaction parties for the allocated resource.

Abstract: Transaction management is facilitated using an approach involving the use of transaction characteristics to authenticate transaction information. According to an example embodiment, a computer processing system is programmed to process a shipment transaction involving a shipper and a carrier. The system is particularly suited to efficiently automate the payment of a shipment transaction and to efficiently provide access to relevant shipment information. The system includes a shipper processor that receives transaction document information such as purchase order information and assists in generating a bill of lading for the transaction. A shipper access terminal interfaces between the shipper processor and a central processor arrangement to control the quantity, quality, and timeliness of information transferred to the central processor arrangement.

Abstract: Adaptive transaction data processing and analysis is carried out using inputs that are dynamically responsive. Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a computer-based system and related linking database that are configured to adaptively generate and output audit and electronic resource allocation data (e.g., payment data) based upon tracking fields that dynamically change across a multitude of disparate transactions.

Abstract: Transaction processing for financial institution-based transactions is facilitated. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a transaction processing approach involves the processing of financial aspects of a transaction between buying and selling parties using transaction rules associated with a sponsoring financial institution. Transaction-related information is processed as a function of business rules associated with the sponsoring financial institution to facilitate payment for the transaction and the assessment of fees associated with the transaction processing.

Abstract: Transaction management is facilitated using an approach involving the use of transaction characteristics to authenticate transaction information. According to an example embodiment, a computer processing system is programmed to process a shipment transaction involving a shipper and a carrier. The system is particularly suited to efficiently automate the payment of a shipment transaction and to efficiently provide access to relevant shipment information. The system includes a shipper processor that receives transaction document information such as purchase order information and assists in generating a bill of lading for the transaction. A shipper access terminal interfaces between the shipper processor and a central processor arrangement to control the quantity, quality, and timeliness of information transferred to the central processor arrangement.

Abstract: Accounting data is classified to facilitate transaction processing and management. According to an example embodiment, data based rules are implemented for classifying transaction-related data into accounting categories. Accounting information is processed as a function of the data based rules and accordingly automatically classified. This processing involves, for example, the identification of particular data based rules to apply to the accounting information, applying the rules and processing the information accordingly.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a computer-based contract-management approach processes transactions involving at least one supplier (i.e., seller or sellers) fulfilling one or more sub-components of the transaction. Each of the suppliers (e.g., as well as other transaction parties) reference the transaction when communicating transaction information such as invoices, regardless of which sub-component of the transaction the seller is involved with. The invoices are associated with the transaction using the transaction referenced in each invoice and each supplier is accordingly paid for its performance of the sub-component of the transaction with which it is involved. From a buyer's perspective, the transaction is processed in accordance with the sub-components associated with the at least one supplier.

Abstract: Transaction processing for financial institution-based transactions is facilitated. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a transaction processing approach involves the processing of financial aspects of a transaction between buying and selling parties using transaction rules associated with a sponsoring financial institution. Transaction-related information is processed as a function of business rules associated with the sponsoring financial institution to facilitate payment for the transaction and the assessment of fees associated with the transaction processing.

Abstract: Transaction management for contract and contract-related approaches is facilitated. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a transaction management system automatically sets contract terms including currency conversion terms for a transaction based on business rules previously established between parties to a transaction. In one implementation, the transaction management node automatically derives a contract term including a pricing-related term for a transaction between a buyer and seller using contract information therefor. The pricing-related term is used to set a price for the transaction, and a currency conversion term is used to convert the set price (or a portion of the set price corresponding to a particular transaction party) into a different currency.

Abstract: Transaction processing for distributor-based transactions is facilitated. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a transaction management approach involves the processing of aspects of a transaction between contracting parties using transaction rules associated with an administrator and at least one distributor sponsoring the transaction. In some applications, the administrator finances the transaction. Fees are assessed as a function of the transaction processing on behalf of the administrator and, in come instances, the distributor.

Abstract: Accounting data is classified to facilitate transaction processing and management. According to an example embodiment, data based rules are implemented for classifying transaction-related data into accounting categories. Accounting information is processed as a function of the data based rules and accordingly automatically classified. This processing involves, for example, the identification of particular data based rules to apply to the accounting information, applying the rules and processing the information accordingly.

Abstract: Transaction management for financial institution-based transactions is facilitated in various example embodiments. According to one such embodiment, a transaction management approach involves the processing of financial aspects of a transaction using transaction rules associated with a buyer for auditing the transaction and any associated invoices. A processor arrangement processes transactions for merchant offerings subject to a related set of inventory data by auditing the transactions relative to inventory data corresponding to an inventory to which the transaction applies and stored contract data for the transaction, by processing payment in response thereto, and by assessing a processing fee against one or more parties to the transaction.

Abstract: A transaction management and processing approach involves using timing-related aspects of transaction events to manage and process transaction-type information. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a transaction management approach involves using a transaction processor arrangement to track transaction events with or as a function of timing characteristics. In one implementation, the timing between related transaction events for a particular transaction is tracked such that parties to the transaction can identify and monitor the timing. In another implementation, the timing between pickup and delivery events for a shipping transaction is identified and processed for use by parties to the transaction. With these and other approaches, the management, monitoring and processing of transactions is facilitated.

Abstract: Transaction management for contract and contract-related approaches is facilitated. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a transaction management computer is programmed to automatically set contract terms for a transaction based on business rules previously established between parties to a transaction. In one implementation, the transaction management node automatically derives a contract term including a pricing-related term for a transaction between a buyer and seller using contract information therefor. In one instance, previously-agreed-upon price approaches, such as fixed pricing, seller-controlled pricing, quantity-related tiered pricing and pricing management schemes are stored and used by the transaction management node to automatically derive the prices. With these approaches, pricing disputes that can occur after a transaction has been processed are reduced and/or eliminated.

Abstract: Transaction management for contract and contract-related approaches is facilitated. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a transaction management computer is programmed to automatically set contract terms for a transaction based on business rules previously established between parties to a transaction. In one implementation, the transaction management node automatically derives a contract term including a pricing-related term for a transaction between a buyer and seller using contract information therefor. In one instance, previously-agreed-upon price approaches, such as fixed pricing, seller-controlled pricing, quantity-related tiered pricing and pricing management schemes are stored and used by the transaction management node to automatically derive the prices. With these approaches, pricing disputes that can occur after a transaction has been processed are reduced and/or eliminated.

Abstract: Accounting data is classified to facilitate transaction processing and management. According to an example embodiment, data based rules are implemented for generating transaction data using stored rules and identified valid accounting codes. Transaction information is processed as a function of the rules and generated transaction data (e.g., for classifying expenses under generated valid accounting codes). This approach involves, for example, identifying data based rules and valid accounting codes to use in processing received transaction information and in generating/applying accounting codes to the transaction information.