Abstract: A system and method for best practice based budgeting is described. In a preferred embodiment, adaptive financial information model is created out of transaction data, best practice data, and payment history data. A combination of workflow information, client defined strategies, and client past transaction and payment history is utilized in determining the model.

Abstract: A method of making payment. A request is received to effect payment between a buyer and a seller for a transaction having established terms. The terms include a payment amount and a settlement date. Messages are exchanged between the buyer and the seller that include an offer and acceptance of new terms for payment at other than the established terms. The new terms include an adjusted amount of payment to be made at a particular time after an event associated with the transaction. An electronic notification that the event has occurred is received, and the after the notification, payment between the buyer and seller is effected under the new terms.

Abstract: A method of making payment. A request is received to effect payment between a buyer and a seller for a transaction having established terms. The terms include a payment amount and a settlement date. Messages are exchanged between the buyer and the seller that include an offer and acceptance of new terms for payment at other than the established terms. The new terms include an adjusted amount of payment to be made at a particular time after an event associated with the transaction. An electronic notification that the event has occurred is received, and the after the notification, payment between the buyer and seller is effected under the new terms.

Abstract: A method of making payment. A request is received to effect payment between a buyer and a seller for a transaction having established terms. The terms include a payment amount and a settlement date. Messages are exchanged between the buyer and the seller that include an offer and acceptance of new terms for payment at other than the established terms. The new terms include an adjusted amount of payment to be made at a particular time after an event associated with the transaction. An electronic notification that the event has occurred is received, and the after the notification, payment between the buyer and seller is effected under the new terms.

Abstract: A method of making payment. A request is received to effect payment between a buyer and a seller for a transaction having established terms. The terms include a payment amount and a settlement date. Messages are exchanged between the buyer and the seller that include an offer and acceptance of new terms for payment at other than the established terms. The new terms include an adjusted amount of payment to be made at a particular time after an event associated with the transaction. An electronic notification that the event has occurred is received, and the after the notification, payment between the buyer and seller is effected under the new terms.

Abstract: A method of making payment. A request is received to effect payment between a buyer and a seller for a transaction having established terms. The terms include a payment amount and a settlement date. Messages are exchanged between the buyer and the seller that include an offer and acceptance of new terms for payment other than the established terms. The new terms include an adjusted amount of payment to be made at a particular time after an event associated with the transaction. An electronic notification that the event has occurred is received, and after the notification, payment between the buyer and seller is effected under the new terms. In one implementation, a digital signature indicating acceptance of the new terms is received. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of effecting payment that includes receiving requests to effect a set of transactions with a set of entities.

Abstract: A method of making payment. A request is received to effect payment between a buyer and a seller for a transaction having established terms. The terms include a payment amount and a settlement date. Messages are exchanged between the buyer and the seller that include an offer and acceptance of new terms for payment at other than the established terms. The new terms include an adjusted amount of payment to be made at a particular time after an event associated with the transaction. An electronic notification that the event has occurred is received, and the after the notification, payment between the buyer and seller is effected under the new terms. In one implementation, a digital signature indicating acceptance of the new terms is received. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of effecting payment that includes receiving requests to effect a set of transactions with a set of entities.

Abstract: A method of making payment. A request is received to effect payment between a buyer and a seller for a transaction having established terms. The terms include a payment amount and a settlement date. Messages are exchanged between the buyer and the seller that include an offer and acceptance of new terms for payment other than the established terms. The new terms include an adjusted amount of payment to be made at a particular time after an event associated with the transaction. An electronic notification that the event has occurred is received, and after the notification, payment between the buyer and seller is effected under the new terms. In one implementation, a digital signature indicating acceptance of the new terms is received. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of effecting payment that includes receiving requests to effect a set of transactions with a set of entities.

Abstract: A method of implementing buyer and seller transactions is provided. A set of rules for accepting information into a document is received from the buyer. Also defined is the form of the presentation of an interface to the seller for creating the seller's invoice. The seller also receives address information from the buyer. The rules for accepting information, the rules regarding presentation and the address information are stored in a storage resource. The rules regarding presentation are accessed from the storage resource, and an interface is presented to the seller based on those rules. The rules for accepting information are accessed from the storage resource, and information for the document based on those rules is accepted through the interface. The address information is accessed from the storage resource, and the document with the accepted information is sent to the buyer.

Abstract: A method of implementing buyer and seller transactions is provided. A set of rules for accepting information into a document is received from the buyer. Also defined is the form of the presentation of an interface to the seller for creating the seller's invoice. The seller also receives address information from the buyer. The rules for accepting information, the rules regarding presentation and the address information are stored in a storage resource. The rules regarding presentation are accessed from the storage resource, and an interface is presented to the seller based on those rules. The rules for accepting information are accessed from the storage resource, and information for the document based on those rules is accepted through the interface. The address information is accessed from the storage resource, and the document with the accepted information is sent to the buyer.

Abstract: A method of effecting payment. A system for effecting payment. Instructions to send a set of financial instruments to a set of recipients are received at a first system from an agent. A digital signature of the agent is created using a private key associated with the agent is added to the instructions. The agent is associated with a first entity. The instructions are transmitted to a second system. The second system in the instructions are verified using a public key corresponding to a private key associated with the agent. A set of financial instructions is created electronically and digital signatures created using a second private key are added to the financial instruments. The financial instruments from among the set of financial instruments are sent to respective recipients according to the instruments. According to one embodiment of the invention, the financial instruments are encrypted using public keys of respective recipients.

Abstract: Method of facilitating resolution of a dispute between a buyer and a seller in an electronic payment system. An electronic payment system is also described. An invoice is received from the seller and is electronically routed to the individuals in the buyer's organization. Indications that the invoice is disputed, corrections to the invoice, comments for the seller regarding the invoice and comments for other individuals in the buyer's organization are received from a set of two or more individuals in the buyer's organization. An indication that the invoice is disputed, corrections to the invoice and comments for the seller are forwarded to the seller without forwarding the comments for other individuals in the buyer's organization. A response to the buyer's indication that the invoice is disputed is received from the seller. The response includes an acceptance of changes suggested by the buyer or an indication that the seller disputes the changes suggested by the buyer.

Abstract: Method and system of exchanging business documents between a set of entities. The set of entities include a plurality of buyers and sellers. Identification information is received from respective entities. The identification information includes at least the names of respected entities from which the identification information is received. The information received from the entities is stored in records in a first storage resource. The records include information to facilitate the sending documents to the entities. Based on similarity between information in respective records, approximate correspondence is determined between records (a) the first storage resource and (b) a second storage resource. The second storage resource is included in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system belonging to a first entity. Links are established between the respective records based on the approximate correspondence. A request is received to send a document from the first entity to a second entity.

Abstract: A method of effecting payment. A system for effecting payment. Instructions to send a set of financial instruments to a set of recipients are received at a first system from an agent. A digital signature of the agent is created using a private key associated with the agent is added to the instructions. The agent is associated with a first entity. The instructions are transmitted to a second system. The second system in the instructions are verified using a public key corresponding to a private key associated with the agent. A set of financial instructions is created electronically and digital signatures created using a second private key are added to the financial instruments. The financial instruments from among the set of financial instruments are sent to respective recipients according to the instruments. According to one embodiment of the invention, the financial instruments are encrypted using public keys of respective recipients.

Abstract: A method of making payment. A request is received to effect payment between a buyer and a seller for a transaction having established terms. The terms include a payment amount and a settlement date. Messages are exchanged between the buyer and the seller that include an offer and acceptance of new terms for payment other than the established terms. The new terms include an adjusted amount of payment to be made at a particular time after an event associated with the transaction. An electronic notification that the event has occurred is received, and after the notification, payment between the buyer and seller is effected under the new terms. In one implementation, a digital signature indicating acceptance of the new terms is received. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of effecting payment that includes receiving requests to effect a set of transactions with a set of entities.

Abstract: A method for effecting a transaction between two parties. A system for effecting a transaction between two parties. Electronic data regarding management relationships between respective employees at one of the parties is received. An electronic document related to the transaction is received from the other party. An interface is provided through which users can take actions with respect to documents. The actions include authorization of invoices and applying signatures to checks. A notification regarding the document is sent to an electronic mail account of a user who is responsible for at least an aspect of the transaction, and if the user does not take a particular action within a particular period, the invoice is automatically sent to the user's manager as determined based on the electronic data.

Abstract: Method of facilitating resolution of a dispute between a buyer and a seller in an electronic payment system. An electronic payment system is also described. An invoice is received from the seller and is electronically routed to the individuals in the buyer's organization. Indications that the invoice is disputed, corrections to the invoice, comments for the seller regarding the invoice and comments for other individuals in the buyer's organization are received from a set of two or more individuals in the buyer's organization. An indication that the invoice is disputed, corrections to the invoice and comments for the seller are forwarded to the seller without forwarding the comments for other individuals in the buyer's organization. A response to the buyer's indication that the invoice is disputed is received from the seller. The response includes an acceptance of changes suggested by the buyer or an indication that the seller disputes the changes suggested by the buyer.

Abstract: A method of effecting transactions between a buyer and a seller. A set of rules for accepting information into a document is received from the buyer. Also defined is the form of presentation of an interface to the seller for creating the seller's invoice. Address information for shipping to and billing the buyer is also received from the buyer. The rules for accepting information, the rules regarding presentation and the address information are stored in a storage resource. The rules regarding presentation are accessed from the storage resource, and an interface is presented to the seller based on the accessed rules regarding presentation. The rules for accepting information are accessed from the storage resource, and information for the document based on the accessed rules for accepting information are accepted through the interface. The address information is accessed from the storage resource, and the document with the accepted information is sent to the buyer based on the accessed address information.