Abstract: Distribution of electronic documents is described, including receiving an electronic document to be distributed, identifying whether a destination identifier is associated with a destination account among a known group of customer accounts, routing the electronic document, and calculating a fee associated with delivery of the electronic document based on whether the destination account is among the known group of customers and a set of billing rules. The set of billing rules may specify a discounted fee for routing an electronic document to each of a known group of customer accounts. In other aspects, the set of billing rules may specify a discounted fee for routing an electronic document to a first group of the known group of customer accounts and specify a standard fee for a second group of the known group of customer accounts.

Abstract: Time record entries are automatically constructed using software modules and methods for presentation in response to prescribed interactions with email and other electronic messages in which there is a basis for recording a time-record. Heuristics are applied to parsed electronic messages to construct proposed time-record entries. The timekeeper has discretion whether to approve any proposed entries. Software tools are also disclosed to present and manage the automatically constructed time-record entries. The invention eliminates reliance upon the timekeeper to capture such activities as billable events in the first instance, and thereby can increase revenue opportunities. The same heuristics used to identify the entity to be charged for the activity can also be used to identify a logical path for storage of incoming and outgoing messages in a record management system.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, a method of driving the image forming apparatus, a billing apparatus, a method of driving the billing apparatus, and a computer-readable recording medium are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a first counter to count the number of sheets used as a job amount of an image forming job, a second counter to count the number of sheets billed as a billed amount after billing for the number of sheets used is performed, and a controller to control the billed amount to coincide with the job amount if values of the job amount and the billed amount do not coincide with each other when an event occurs.

Abstract: A system and method for management and processing a plurality of types of telecommunication invoices at a user's site involving importing the plurality of types of telecommunication invoices to provide comparable telecommunication invoices and auditing the comparable telecommunication invoices by performing an automated reasonability test on the comparable telecommunication invoices. The system and method also provide a means for approving, processing and reporting on the comparable telecommunication invoices.

Abstract: Transaction management for processing payment-related aspects of transactions is facilitated. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a transaction management approach involves the processing of payments on behalf of a buyer or other owing party. These payments are made, e.g., in connection with accounts payable or other functions implemented by the buyer/owing party. In some applications, the payment processing involves a trade credit approach, wherein payment is made on behalf of the buyer/owing party against a credit-type account.

Abstract: Efficient network based techniques can be implemented in the equipment of an operator of a mobile communication network to automatically obtain an operator or billing identifier associated with a mobile device of a user or subscriber associated with the network. Such techniques can be utilized even when a client application program on the device is restricted by the device manufacturer from providing the operator's billing identifier in communications through the mobile network with an associated application server. The operator identifier associated with the user's mobile device can be obtained without significantly impacting system resources, performance, or user experience.

Abstract: A data management system includes a record database, an account database, a scenario database, and a computing device. The computing device includes a data management tool that is configured to identify scenarios based on information stored in the record database and store the identified scenarios in the scenario database. Further, the data management tool may associate identified scenarios with customer records stored in the account database. Upon receipt of a scenario selected by a user, the data management tool may automatically generate a query that identifies at least one customer record associated with the selected scenario, execute the query, and create a sample billing record for each customer record identified.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for assisting in checking accuracy of bank transaction records edited in a bank statement and performed by at least one transaction device. The method includes, for at least one of the transactions: emission, by the transaction device, of at least one first signal including a message relating to the transaction; receipt, by at least one mobile terminal, of the at least one first signal; transmission, by the mobile terminal, of a second signal including at least the message, to at least one banking organization; association, by a server of the banking organization in charge of the transaction, of the message with at least one datum relating to the transaction, and marking of the transaction as a pre-checked transaction.

Abstract: A home gateway accesses a host system that differentially routes messages over a communication network to a destination system. The selection of a communication pathway from multiple possible communication pathways through a communication network is based on a user experience type (e.g., gaming user experience, streaming user experience, or browsing user experience) that generally reflects network resource consumption preferences of the user of the access account for the home gateway. Examples of user experience types include a gaming user experience, a streaming user experience and a browsing user experience. The user experience type generally reflects the online experience desired by the user.

Abstract: A system and method facilitate dynamic QoS-based billing in a P2P network. According to one embodiment, a peer node identifies a plurality of partner peer nodes that transiently stage streaming media data the peer node requests and receives from the partner peer nodes. The peer node further collects QoS information for the received data and communicates a QoS information report to a remote node to facilitate QoS-based billing.

Abstract: Large volumes of financial transactions are processed today across a variety of financial platforms including but not limited to debit cards, credit cards, prepaid cards, e-purse, Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) transactions, and Point of Sale (POS) cards. It would be beneficial if financial transaction software systems and/or software applications supported discrete and periodic transactions wherein the timescales of transactions may be established with high flexibility. It would be further of benefit if the financial system provided increased security such that customer specific financial data is stored within a trusted platform wherein external databases identifying a customer cannot be linked directly to that within the trusted platform. Further it would beneficial for such a system to exploit an encryption key pool such that an encryption key employed was only identified through a unique identity and that said encryption keys within the pool may be expired with arbitrary policies.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are provided for routing electronic invoices. The computer system is in data communication with a network. The computer system is programmed to receive an electronic invoice in a first electronic invoice format via the network, translate the electronic invoice from the first electronic invoice format to an intermediary electronic invoice format, and identify, using the processor, a second electronic invoice format that is different than the first electronic invoice format. The computer system is further programmed to translate the electronic invoice from the intermediary electronic invoice format to the second electronic invoice format and transmit the electronic invoice in the second electronic invoice format via the network.

Abstract: A computer parses a fee list from a patent office website and saves each fee record of the fee list into a data list stored in a database. The computer calculates a first fee of each case in the data list and a second fee of each case in the patent management server. The computer notifies a person in charge of checking fee, in response to a determination that the first fee of the case does not match the second fee of the case.

Abstract: A system and method for providing redundant customer communications delivery using hybrid delivery channels is provided. In one configuration, the system utilizes an initial delivery channel to send a batch of customer communications and later utilizes a different, delayed backup delivery channel to reseed only a subset of those communications as deemed necessary.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method may include associating a first bundle with a subscriber on a first subscription date, the first bundle defining a pre-paid service, a first renewal date, and a first renewal price. The method may include associating a second bundle with the subscriber on a second date different than the first subscription date and different than the first renewal date, the second bundle defining a feature, not defined in the first bundle, of the prepaid service and a second renewal price, the second bundle having the first renewal date. The method may also include renewing the first bundle and the second bundle on the first renewal date if a balance of an account associated with the subscriber is greater than or equal to the first renewal fee plus the second renewal fee.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus embodiments for electric power grid and network registration and management of physical and financial settlement for participation of active grid elements in supply and/or curtailment of power. Settlement is provided for grid elements that participate in the electric power grid following initial registration of each grid element with the system, preferably through network-based communication between the grid elements and a coordinator, either in coordination with or outside of an IP-based communications network router. A multiplicity of active grid elements function in the grid for supply capacity, supply and/or load curtailment as supply or capacity, and are compensated through settlement for their functional participation in the electric power grid.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus embodiments for electric power grid and network registration and management of physical and financial settlement for participation of active grid elements in supply and/or curtailment of power. Settlement is provided for grid elements that participate in the electric power grid following initial registration of each grid element with the system, preferably through network-based communication between the grid elements and a coordinator, either in coordination with or outside of an IP-based communications network router. A multiplicity of active grid elements function in the grid for supply capacity, supply and/or load curtailment as supply or capacity, and are compensated through settlement for their functional participation in the electric power grid.

Abstract: An Internet-coupled transaction service has a link to a computer appliance coupled to a merchant site, the computer appliance operated by a person who has selected one or more products or services to purchase at the merchant site, and who has selected, through the merchant site, the transaction service to arrange payment, and software executing from a computer-readable medium accessible to the service. The transaction service, via the software verifies the identity of the person, determines a credit worthiness for the person, and the score being sufficient, arranges payment to be made to the merchant on behalf of the person, and arranges repayment terms with the person for the payment to the merchant.

Abstract: In methods and systems for allowing a user to book an appointment with a service provider, and for charging the service provider a fee for a successfully booked appointment, a user provides a search request via a client computer. In response, a calendar system provides search results including a link corresponding to a service provider. Upon user selection of the link corresponding to the service provider, the calendar system provides a calendar view showing available time slots of the service provider. The user selects an appointment time and available service, which initiates an appointment request to schedule an appointment with the service provider. Upon determining that the appointment request can be accepted, the calendar system books the appointment. Then the calendar system charges the service provider a pre-arranged fee for the booked appointment. In some embodiments the calendar system also collects payments from the user for the services provided.

Abstract: Automated workspace usage management methods and apparatus associate one or more users with membership plans for usage of at least one workspace resource. Workspace usage data is collected from the one or more automated monitoring devices for monitoring workspace resource usage by one or more users. The collected workspace usage data is first measured and then compared against the membership plans associated with the users. A billing- and/or reporting-related action is performed, according to the measurement of collected workspace usage data compared against the membership plan.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated time reporting and billing solution that facilitates billing and payment for time-related activities and manages contract workflow from end to end. The present invention can be employed in any industry for any employment relationship where in-house or supplemental contract labor is tracked by time. In one embodiment, the invention includes a contractor submission and tracking system (CSTS) and back office workflow management system (BOSS) to track and report vendor activity and contractor spend. The present invention can be used by employer-clients, contractors and contractor suppliers to facilitate contractor requisition, contract creation and modification, document tracking, business rule implementation, reporting, communications, timesheet entry, timesheet approval, and billing presentment, payment and other aspects of contract workflow management.

Abstract: A networked system for managing commercial interactions is providing. In some embodiments, the system includes: a bundle-passing interface between a plurality of networked users including distribution logic including a distribution control input responsive to machine-readable information in the bundles; and a statistics collection engine including a control input responsive to machine-readable information in the bundles.

Abstract: Online document storage and/or retrieval techniques are described. In an implementation, one or more computer-readable media comprising instructions that are executable to provide a web service application programming interface (API). The web service API is configured to accept a document and information specified by the document's provider. The information specifying which of a plurality of tabs in a user interface at least a portion of data included in the document is to be is to be associated with for display in which at least one of the tabs pertains to billing data and another one of the tabs does not pertain to billing data.

Abstract: A system for providing a business intelligence report for a user. The system displays a list of available business intelligence reports. The system receives a request, from a business intelligence application, for at least one business intelligence report from the list of available business intelligence reports. The system provides configuration details to the business intelligence application. The configuration details determine a query. The business intelligence application performs the query on business data of a user database. The at least one business intelligence report is based upon the results of the query.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium, a service controller, and a method for obtaining one or more credentials from a device communicatively coupled to the service controller over a network, the credentials identifying an aspect of the device; determining, using the credentials, that a user of the device has not selected a service plan for the device; identifying one or more candidate service plans, at least one of the plans identified based on the one or more credentials; establishing a secure link between the service controller and a service processor of the device over an ambient services connection enabling the user to select one of the candidate service plans for the device; sending, to the service processor over the secure link, information about the candidate service plans; and obtaining, from the service processor over the secure link, a response identifying a service plan selected by the user.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a computer-based method performed in a first transaction-tax-related application. The method comprises exchanging transaction-related data with at least a second transaction-tax-related application according to a standardized transaction-tax interface data model. The invention is also directed to another computer-based method and a related data record, a related software interface, a related computer-based data warehouse module and a related software application.

Abstract: Methods and systems for communicating expense management information between an expense management system and a mobile device are provided. The methods and systems include one or more applications for a mobile device, such as mobile phone, that enable a user, such as an expense manager for an entity such as a business entity or other organization, to use their mobile device to communicate and exchange data with an expense management system, such as a telecommunications expense management system. The methods and systems enable an expense manager to review and approve invoices, generate graphics to review usage or other data, and conduct data searches relative to the expenses being managed.

Abstract: Electronic assigning of expense data related to sales calls to customers such as health care professionals (HCPs) aids in complying with local, state, federal, or other regulatory reporting requirements and guidelines. The method includes providing expense report data and presenting a line-item entry of the report on a display. Through a user interface, one or more customers included within a database are selected. An expense amount associated with the line-item entry is automatically allocated into dollar amounts among the selected customer(s) and entries in the database are updated for each selected customer to now include the allocated dollar amounts.

Abstract: There is proposed a charging control in which a policy and charging control function provides first (preliminary) charging control information, such as PCC rules, when the communication connection is set up or modified. Then, service information can be retrieved leading to an updated set of charging control information. The policy and charging control function provides then the updated charging control information for enforcement, wherein the charging system is informed about both the preliminary nature of the first charging control information and the validity of the second charging control information for a time before the update, i.e. before the transmission of the second charging control information. The charging system can use this updated charging control information and knows that it has to replace the former charging control information, so that the charging procedure can be corrected accordingly.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for managing account data for accounts having a negative balance. The invention embodiment includes a method, process or workflow for processing data for accounts associated with a debit, credit, pre-paid card or other form of financial instrument that have a negative balance. The data processing includes application of issuer criteria or filters to determine if certain of the accounts having a negative balance are not suitable for chargeback processing and instead may be processed in bulk, thereby reducing administrative and data processing overhead. For each account that is potentially eligible for chargeback processing, the invention embodiment accesses the account data and determines if the data supports initiation of a chargeback procedure for one or more transactions described by the account data.

Abstract: Techniques are described that facilitate performing accounting and billing separately for each customer of a service provider account registered to an owner of a shared customer device. An access router performs separate data usage accounting for each of the customers in sub-accounts of the registered service provider account based on customer virtual local area network (CVLAN) and service VLAN (SVLAN) tags included in data packets. A network operator may, therefore, generate a bill for the shared customer device that includes separate data usage charges for each customer. To facilitate the techniques, the access router may determine a CVLAN and SVLAN associated with a customer. The CVLAN and SVLAN tags are included in a service request toward a service provider, and copied into a service request reply toward the shared customer device. The shared customer device then includes the tags in data packets to identify the customer to the access router.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for facilitating real-time pricing with volume discounting. The method includes receiving a request for a real-time price quote for a transaction from a first account. The request is received at a first instance in time during a billing cycle. The method also includes determining a first production service, where the first production service is a component of the transaction, and determining a count of first production service instances representing the first production service in the received transaction. The method further includes determining a billable entity for the transaction, where the billable entity includes one or more related accounts, and the related accounts include the first account.

Abstract: There is provided a synchronization procedure built to gather customer multi-function printer (MFP) usage and to verify and aggregate gathered data and associate it with a customer and child sites associated with the customer. The aim of this procedure is to ensure that the client has been billed/credited properly and the services provider receives the monies that it is due.

Abstract: A system including at least one memory having a plurality of individual contributions forming a compilation stored in the at least one memory; and at least one processor connected to the at least one memory, where the processor is configured to use provenance data associated with a catalog item to track an individual contribution in a compilation of contributions, where the compilation is stored in the at least one memory; and dynamically compute a royalty distribution for the individual contribution based, at least partially, upon at least one metric related to the contributions which form the compilation.

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.

Abstract: A method and network system for obtaining, from a management entity, a bill-by-account service policy applicable to a device group managed at least in part by the management entity, the device group including a plurality of devices including a particular device identified by a particular credential, the bill-by-account service policy comprising classification and accounting policies; identifying wireless access network data traffic associated with the particular device; based on the classification policy, identifying a particular service activity within the wireless access network data traffic, the particular service activity being a bill-by-account service activity; obtaining a record comprising the particular credential and a usage measure indicating a wireless access network usage associated with the particular service activity; and, based on the accounting policy, allocating the usage measure to an account associated with an entity that is financially responsible for usage of the wireless access network a

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a mass reversal of documents in a convergent invoicing system may be accomplished by first receiving a first set of one or more reversal triggers, wherein each of the one or more task triggers corresponds to a document in the convergent invoicing system. Then a reversal task is received, wherein the reversal task corresponds to the first set of one or more reversal triggers. A second set of reversal triggers may then be automatically corresponded to the reversal task, based upon documents corresponding to the one or more task triggers in the first set of one or more reversal triggers. Once an indication that the reversal task has been released is received, for each reversal trigger corresponding to the reversal task, the reversal trigger is processed, causing a corresponding document to be reversed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that provide a unified view of invoice and revenue information for a contract. One embodiment includes receiving a request to display information about a contract, and displaying, in response to the request, a financial summary interface including invoice and revenue information for the contract in the same financial summary interface. The invoice and revenue information for the contract may include contract value, invoiced amount, accrued revenue, and backlog amount.

Abstract: A device is provided that includes a processor to: receive current billing information associated with an account of a customer; receive prior billing information associated with the account; compare the current billing information with the prior billing information; determine whether an inaccuracy exists in the current billing information based on the comparison; determine whether an inaccuracy exists in the current billing information due to improperly applied promotional information to the account; determine whether an inaccuracy exists in the current billing information due to an improperly applied set of rules to the account; correct, when one or more inaccuracies exist in the current billing information; the one or more inaccuracies; and create a final bill for the account based on the current billing information and the corrected one or more inaccuracies.

Abstract: An international transaction system for operation over the internet/intranet provides a pre-transactional calculation of all charges involved in any international transaction. Upon the option of the customer, the goods can be viewed on catalogue sheets translated to a language of the customer's choice, and the price provided in a currency selected by the customer. The customer also has the option of initiating the order with automatic credit authorization, generation of an electronic title or commercial invoice and arrangements and payment of shipping charges and any taxes and import/export duties.

Abstract: A workflow system allows a user to define dispatch forms for use by workers working on jobs of various job types. A dispatch form is a combination of the form and a query for selecting jobs. A query specifies a criterion for matching jobs by specifying a field of the form and a corresponding data value. When a worker accesses a dispatch form via a mobile device, the query of the dispatch form is sent to a data store to access the data of jobs that are ready to be dispatched to that worker. The worker can then update the data of a job using the form of the dispatch form that has been deployed to the mobile device of that worker. As the data store is updated, queries for dispatch forms for other workers will indicate that the job is now ready to be dispatched to them.

Abstract: A method, system and program product, the method comprising accessing, databases, comprising: aggregated account information for FDIC accounts; client account information for each of the respective client accounts, wherein the client account represents funds of the respective client held in the one or more aggregated deposit accounts holding funds of the respective client, the client account information; capacity caps; and obtaining, high, second and lowest stratification balances held in respective depository institutions; calculating for depository institutions a respective total balance in the program; calculating respective excess capacities for respective depository institutions; modifying, parameters selected from the group of a number of client accounts, additional client account funds, a total number of the depository institutions participating in the program, and the capacity caps for one or more of the depository institutions.

Abstract: A business derives its cost to pay accounts payable (AJP) with a corporate card versus other payment methods. The business identifies each merchant to whom the business owes AJP who but does not accept the corporate card. A weighting factor is derived for each such merchant from costs of paying with and without the corporate card, as well as from its history of past payments to the merchant. The benefit to the business is derived, using the corresponding weighting factor, for each such merchant in paying the corresponding AJP to the merchant with the corporate card. Where the benefit exceeds a predetermined threshold, information is sent to each such merchant sufficient for the merchant to receive payment of the corresponding AJP with the corporate card.

Abstract: A computing system partitions received events into a number of channels by account identifier. The channels receive the events and perform de-duplication of the events. This de-duplication can be performed with a filter that is updated to reflect the receipt of any original event. The filter may be used to either determine that the event is not a duplicate of another, or to determine that the event cannot be ruled out as being a duplicate of another. In the latter case, further processing may be performed to for definitively determine whether the event is truly a duplication, or in the alternative, the event may be immediately treated as a duplicate.

Abstract: A system is provided. An application determines a consolidated cycle date for a master prepaid account where a cycle date comprises the first day of usage periods for prepaid accounts. The application determines that a first prepaid account is associated with a first cycle date and a second prepaid account is associated with a second cycle date where the first, second, and consolidated cycle date differ from each other. A first and second prorated amount is determined by multiplying a remaining fraction of a current first and second usage period times a first and second periodic payment, respectively. The first prorated amount is added to the second prorated amount to determine a first credit. Individual billing is discontinued for the first and second prepaid account. The first credit is applied to a first master payment amount payable on the consolidated cycle date under the master prepaid account.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a system is provided that uses historical and current energy usage data generated by advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) meters to allow users conduct an analysis of energy usage via a portal. In accordance with one embodiment, a tool is provided to allow customers to display an estimated next month bill.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for usage billing of one or more hosted applications serving one or more clients. The hosted applications are contained within one or more isolated environments or run without isolated environments. The system may include usage billing based on one or more of resources open, amount of data flowing through resources, number of open files, number of transactions, number of concurrent users, number of processes, CPU utilization and memory usage, The system may further include a management interface where administrators may add, remove and configure isolated environments, configure client policies and credentials, and force upgrades. If using isolated environments, the isolated environments may be isolated from other applications and the host operating system on the clients and applications within the isolated environments may run without performing an application-installation on the client.

Abstract: A method for providing technical support for a computing device is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, such a method includes detecting a problem associated with a computing device. The method then determines a support level assigned to the computing device. A set of problems is associated with the support level. If the problem belongs to the set of problems associated with the support level, the method automatically sends a message to a support provider so that the support provider can address the problem. A corresponding system and computer program product are also described herein.

Abstract: Techniques, including systems and methods, for virtual resource cost tracking account for unused capacity of implementation resources that is dedicated to particular customers and, as a result, is unusable for maintaining virtual resources for other customers. Customers requesting dedicated use of implementation resources are charged in a manner that compensates the virtual resource provider for the lost ability to use unused capacity of implementation resources to serve other customers. Customer charges may be determined by a pricing function that is calculated such that, for a base of customers, expected revenue from the base of customers approximates a revenue goal. The revenue goal may be determined based on revenue that would have been expected had the unused capacity of the dedicated implementation resources been available for serving other customers.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for usage billing of one or more hosted applications serving one or more clients. The hosted applications are contained within one or more isolated environments or run without isolated environments. The system may include usage billing based on one or more of resources open, amount of data flowing through resources, number of open files, number of transactions, number of concurrent users, number of processes, CPU utilization and memory usage, The system may further include a management interface where administrators may add, remove and configure isolated environments, configure client policies and credentials, and force upgrades. If using isolated environments, the isolated environments may be isolated from other applications and the host operating system on the clients and applications within the isolated environments may run without performing an application-installation on the client.