Patents by Inventor Luc H. Mercier

Luc H. Mercier has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8732047
    Abstract: In a computer-implemented method of contract execution, data about contracts is stored in a computer storage accessible to a processor of a computer along with data about a procurement plan and data about a purchase request that includes information about a first quantity of at least one good or service. The processor determines a second quantity of the one good or service and a second contract against which to complete the purchase request based on the procurement plan, the data about the contracts, at least one purchase made against one of the contracts, a trigger condition and associated effect, and the quantity of at least one good or service. In response to the second contract and the second quantity being approved, the processor causes a purchase order for the second quantity of the one good or service to be placed to the supplier associated with the second contract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: SciQuest, Inc.
    Inventors: Tuomas Sandholm, David C. Parkes, Craig E. Boutilier, Subhash Suri, Jason J. Brown, Luc H. Mercier
  • Publication number: 20130304636
    Abstract: In a computer-implemented method of conducting expressive payment reconciliation, a purchase transaction is stored in a computer storage accessible to a processor. The processor identifies a contract against which the purchase transaction is made and a first payment amount for the purchase transaction. Contract data is stored in the computer storage and the processor determines a second payment amount for the purchase transaction based on at least one good or service associated with the purchase transaction and the data about the contract. In response to a difference in the first and second payments, the processor either stores computer storage a modified invoice with a modified payment amount, stores in the computer storage a reconciliation payment equal to the payment difference; outputs over a computer network an explanation of the modified payment; or outputs over a computer network a dispute notification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Tuomas Sandholm, David C. Parkes, Craig E. Boutilier, Subhash Suri, Jason J. Brown, Luc H. Mercier
  • Patent number: 8494935
    Abstract: In a computer-implemented method of conducting expressive payment reconciliation, a purchase transaction is stored in a computer storage accessible to a processor. The processor identifies a contract against which the purchase transaction is made and a first payment amount for the purchase transaction. Contract data is stored in the computer storage and the processor determines a second payment amount for the purchase transaction based on at least one good or service associated with the purchase transaction and the data about the contract. In response to a difference in the first and second payments, the processor either stores computer storage a modified invoice with a modified payment amount, stores in the computer storage a reconciliation payment equal to the payment difference; outputs over a computer network an explanation of the modified payment; or outputs over a computer network a dispute notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: CombineNet, Inc.
    Inventors: Tuomas Sandholm, David C. Parkes, Craig E. Boutilier, Subhash Suri, Jason J. Brown, Luc H. Mercier
  • Publication number: 20100114784
    Abstract: In a computer-implemented method of conducting expressive payment reconciliation, a purchase transaction is stored in a computer storage accessible to a processor. The processor identifies a contract against which the purchase transaction is made and a first payment amount for the purchase transaction. Contract data is stored in the computer storage and the processor determines a second payment amount for the purchase transaction based on at least one good or service associated with the purchase transaction and the data about the contract. In response to a difference in the first and second payments, the processor either stores computer storage a modified invoice with a modified payment amount, stores in the computer storage a reconciliation payment equal to the payment difference; outputs over a computer network an explanation of the modified payment; or outputs over a computer network a dispute notification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: COMBINENET, INC.
    Inventors: Tuomas Sandholm, David C. Parkes, Craig E. Boutilier, Subhash Suri, Jason J. Brown, Luc H. Mercier
  • Publication number: 20100106652
    Abstract: In a computer-implemented method of procurement strategy optimization, data about a number of contracts is stored in a computer storage accessible to a processor of a computer along with a forecast of a future quantity of at least one good or service to be purchased. The processor of the computer determines a first plan for future procurement against at least one of the stored contracts based on the forecast and the following data specified by the one contract: a good or service, a payment rule, a trigger condition, and an associated effect of the trigger condition. In response to the processor automatically approving the first plan subject to one or more predetermined rules or the processor receiving an approval of the first plan, the processor causes the first plan to be adopted for future procurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: CombineNet, Inc.
    Inventors: Tuomas Sandholm, David C. Parkes, Craig E. Boutilier, Subhash Suri, Jason J. Brown, Luc H. Mercier
  • Publication number: 20100106653
    Abstract: In a computer-implemented method of contract execution, data about contracts is stored in a computer storage accessible to a processor of a computer along with data about a procurement plan and data about a purchase request that includes information about a first quantity of at least one good or service. The processor determines a second quantity of the one good or service and a second contract against which to complete the purchase request based on the procurement plan, the data about the contracts, at least one purchase made against one of the contracts, a trigger condition and associated effect, and the quantity of at least one good or service. In response to the second contract and the second quantity being approved, the processor causes a purchase order for the second quantity of the one good or service to be placed to the supplier associated with the second contract.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: COMBINENET, INC.
    Inventors: Tuomas Sandholm, David C. Parkes, Craig E. Boutilier, Subhash Suri, Jason J. Brown, Luc H. Mercier