CA2244915A1 - Invoice purchase order system - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method for tracking and reconciling a plurality of purchase orders between a customer (100) and a manufacturer and a payment between a financial institution and a beneficiary pursuant to a letter of credit corresponding to the plurality of purchase orders. The system includes a receiving means (102) for receving data from the customer (100), a storing means (110) for storing the data and a processing means (116) for processing the data.

Description

W O 97129445 PCT~US97/01415 V~r~F.PlnR~}lA~F. ~R nFR ~Y~TF~

~F~T.n OF ~7~ n W F~ll~N
This inYention relates gen~ y to 5~:t~ s and ~ for ~ g .u.cl~c orters, and more particularly to a system snd process for ~ n~~t;c~lly 8. recQ"riling and othcrwisc ~ xc-~;~.g ~-,l.ssc orders and CG
letters of cretit.

!R~K~rR~ln~n ~F 7~rF nNnnFNll~N
~ n the i.lt~ . " ,1 ;~nol ma~L ~.ln~e, it is c~ n~ In ~ for 8 pulcl~ --such as a retaiicr -- to is~uc a ~ h~c order when contrac~ng unth a rnanufiacturcr to p.~hLcc goods for the customer. 1~ ' - -e ort~ contsin anumber of p.ov;s,ons a dcli~ date, the quand1y of thc goods, 3pccificadon~ forthe 15 ~ e of ~e goods, and p~ ~ price. In ordcr to receive p ~ for the ;eo~ p.od~ccd unter the~e ~h&x order~, the raanufi~r will issue an invoice.
~e~, in the intcma~ional rn~' ~-- ~ a ~;.. .t~ have the necd to issue many purchase orders for J;~ p.~u~ or to li~,~t manuf~ctur~~. lt i!~ often usefi~ and/or nece~y for the ~ G~' I to woric with a financial inc-itl-tinn who 20 will c~ .o~.~te the~e ~ _ ' -e orden und~ a le~r of c~t. This lcttcr of credit is 1 to thc ,~ . " and ~ 5 payment, g~11y to the man~acturer. It should be ~ o~ that payrnent may be to a ~.~_r..,;~lry other than the r ~ ".. Ilo. _- l, for the ~ o~c ofthis tesenrti~n~ the manufi~ctutcr will be thc ~ - ~c:~ry/payee for the letter of credit.
The letter of credit is ~w th¢ key interface ~._. ., thc .~ and the manufacn~rer. T~e letter of crcdit sl;i,u1A~ ~ g s~1 ....;u ;~g ~a~----- .~t~ of Cf mr1in1U~e by WO 97~9445 PCTrUS97/01415 the ~ ~c~lrer in order to receive payment of an invoice from the finstnci~l i. . .t~ or~ For e. _~p ' e the ~ er may be ~ ui~ to show a bill of lading, an invoice ,,nd a c~.l;Lc..le of origin sLov~;ng where the goods ori~in~t~ and/or an c~ ifi~t~. Upon1~ t~t;onto thet;n~ ofthc 5 doc~lm~nt~ rey~id by the letter of cretit, tne ~ o ..~r is debited snd the ",. ..~, r, ~ or ~ A- ~ P-- y of the letter of credit) is paid. In this way letters of credit assure manufacturers (or ~ - ~c~ ) who are oftcn in co~ .Irics difr~c~ll ~om that of the ~ - .s -- that the ~ r--~C~I of fi~nt~ are available and will be paid if the dcl;v~. ~ of the goods c~ ~fol ~--c to thc tcrm~ of the letter of crcdit. Letters of 10 cr;edit IL~.-cfolc ~ ~.csc .l a valuable tool in eo~ ;-.g ;.~t. ~,~C~ 1 trade.
~uccdu.es wh}ch are grn~QIly intemationally ~oa ;--J for hst~ ing letter of crcdit arc set forth in variou~ $ _nd ~~f~ ,. ce books i~lu~ g the r rnifOITn t~m-~ Qn~
Thcre is rr ~ .tl~, agr~atdealofpa~.- J,killvolvedwithi..~ ...Ar;n.-~l 15 trade b ~ti~?n~-- only a po~tion of which rclates directly to the letter of credit.
Tracl~ng the ~ ., which iS e ~ 2~ for proper receipt of goods and ~r~
ro.~, for thc j~t. ~..~ n~ tiQn- ca~l bc ~ time CQ~ and 'Iy, banks have not con~ d thcmselve~ with infonnation ancillary to the letter of credit but rather have limitet t~eir ul~ol~_.u~ t to the 20 i..rG...~ .. and d~- ~ dircctly E~-~ to the ler~ of crcdit. Acco.dillgly, users of letters of credit, thc cu~tomcn, havc limitcd thc amoun~ of i--r~ r~
provided to thc banlc about thc transaction bcc ~ such information w~ cQncidrredexccssivc detail by thc ba~c and i5 not re~ fu.d by the Unlform ~ t~m~ and Prac~ces (UCP) ~o~r~ the issuance of lctters of cretit. Trat~ y, ~ o 25 Elave co ~ ated with manufacturers di cctly in matters not directly rehtcd to a letter of credit, witllno i~vol~ l fhm the banlc.
Large ~ may have n~y li~.~ Ictters of crcdit with a banlc. The banlc, Ln cascs whcre therc arc a large numbcr of letters of credit, may lwnp a number of letters of cretit tr,E,~ ., assign a master lctter of credit ,efe.~.,ce ..~bc.
30 to the group, thus v~ g the !r.--~ using the banic's .cf,.~nce r--mher. ~his ng creates a mas~r letter of credit. When c ~ ~.o . altempt to recnn~ e thcîr PCT~US97/01415 ~sc orders with invoices and letters of credit, the different groupings and ...,.1~ .~ u5ed by the cv~ , the banlc, and the .~ A ~.~r~"...,,. ma~ces reConriling - untc r~ l For eY~rnrlc, .~ o..~ ~ ~ wishing to know ~e s~nls of a ~ ha3c order po~ g only thc ~ e orter number would ha-~e to: I) call the bank to 5 find the lctter of crcdit and/or the baDlc .~ c number; 2~ call ~e bank for aninvoice ~ ., ant 3) call thc bank to obtain the lettcr of credit and bank ~cf,.~,~c n~l~c~ for the ~.v~ i~e n.~ , there is a need in thc i~ for a financial inC~ tjon~ such as a ban~c, to provide ~ c ordcr i~f~r ~ - hOA to the c-~ - . coo..l--.dt~ d with the10 lettcr of credit, snd the m~ rt~r~-. s' in~o~ .g.
Further, the cu~,el&Lo,~ of the d<~ t~ t~d by the ~7~ r~;~ .r in compli~nrc with the letter of credit i~ largely manual and is an c.~..s;~c, time-~ d..~ for tke bank. Thcrc is a need in thc ~..1~ ~ for an i~ dmethod to input compliance ~ t' ~ in a ~tand~rt ..~,1~. so that the review 15 is tonc as e~ nd as verifiably a~ po~ible.
Furthér, bCCalJ~ h:-~o, ~ ly bank~ were only ~ol~. xl with the issuance of le~er of credit in a t~u~actio~ ~ di~ co~ r~tiûn~ be~ween the ~ and the manufacturer may have been ._.~od for ancil}a~y itcm~ co.~ , tkere is a need in the i~ for banlcs to have a grcater h.~ em~t in order to ~t~,~
20 the i- f -, ...~ r a~railable to thc ~;--~----- a~d the msnufacturcr. ~his i~;"r,~ not ~ c,~ relsted ~i~tl~ to the let~er of cretit. This would allow the ~!~,' V."~ to traclc the sta¢us of a l u..La~c orter and payment thereof, by making the flow of infomlation more c~- ;c .1 and ,L.,.~f~l~ p.~;dc a '~slue added" service to thc cu~tom~er. Fu~her, there is a need for thst infûnnstion to be avaUable as2~ quickly ~ E,r,~ nd prcfersbly clc~,~v.).c~lly sr rMMARy ~F 7~ INVF~I-)N
The applicsnts hsve created a systcm th~t facili~ates thc proce~ dc ~, ;bcd albo~re ~h,v~l~L the use of an .~p.~c~ invoice purchase ordcr ~. L;.~ system and30 ~n~hn~l Thi!t system and methcd stores ~.h~ ordcr data im a c3atabase, and associates this data with the let~ of cretit issued by the finsnciai ;~ The CA 0224491~ 1998-07-29 W O 97129445 -PCT~US97/01415 letter of credit format issued by the fin~nriol inel ;tll~ ;n~ inrllJd~s arcf~ ce tO the purchase order ~d ~ L ~ .g unit ("S~U") that it covers. This association .,llow~ for the entry of and sesrch for i-.r, - ...~ n relsted to either the 1~ L~I~ order or the letter of credit.
The system O~.dt~S ss follows. First, the ~7~.0~ issues a ILU~ of ~hasc orders. The l,.u.,l~c orders are then ~u~cd under a letter of credit. The dsts f~m the ~ h~sc orders is then entered into a computer, slong with the letter of c~c~it rcf.,.~ncc number provided by thc ~ n, and is sent in s~ L~d n~ ge format to thc clc~ho~e message center of the finon~ iol ;on This letter of credit nU L~. is a unique i~ for the issued letter of credit, it serves as a link to all other transactional tata T~c Ci~ ul)~C mcssagc center is then ~oc~ by a Ir~ v~ JCc ~ 8 system which recon~ s the ;l~fo, ~-- I ;on to assure that thc co~Tcct mes~es ~avc becn ~ecc;~.d and that thc ~l~sc order m~n~e~ match the l~f,.~ cc~ letter of crcdit. If thc recQnrilia~ n is ~cc--r~-l thc ~ t --~ ortcr mcssagcs are then stored in the invoicc purchase order system databasc ~ o~ ~ on a filc scrvcr. Later ~ t~ to the i~.,h~c ordm, andfor lettcrs of credit, flow in a similar manner llho~h the system.
When thc manufacturcr sccl~ ~ ~-..c~ ~om the f~ncial ;.. ~ under the letter of credit by p~ r~ d by the letter of credit (~.L.
20 invoi-,c5, billsofladil~g,cc.;~'~~ oforigin,; ~r~ ;O C~ r~), thedctailsof these ~ are cntered into the invoice ~ order sys~n i~om h&.lco~: s by a .- ~.e~.ltativc of the financial ;1- !;1--1 ~~1~ The system thcn ultomaticaily compares thc data from the ~ .e ~ ~ by thc msnufacturer to thc delina~io~ of the ondno' purchasc ortcr ant letter of credit. The system i~ntifi~5 25 ~~ a~ltomatically. For c~ p1-. the numbcr of good~ s~;r~rd inshe purchase ord~s. I~e~e t~c~..cc3 are i~ ~ i~egulantics. The system automatically repor~s to the .~ c~ g the ~ tion presented by thc ..,.~...r.~ r~ any",~ ;Ir5 ThUS~ unterthisi~i~sy~temthe C~ is automatically appnset of any irregulandes. Thus, the cwtomer has timely ;~r~- "~I;nn tha~,forC~n "i1~ the goodshavobc~ S~-rpc~1 thatthecû~Tect ~ t has bcen~ Fed ûrtka~then~Q~r~ ~-c,did nothsve 8ccess tothcco~cct W O 97/29445 PCTAUS97/0141'5 materials and thc.efo.~ had to ship slightly different goods. T}~s enables the 'h~ ' to update their own internal system and retuccs thc nu,~ of iLqui~;es that nced to bc placcd to thc . -~ r~ ...., and/or the f~ r;Al jt ~ ;ol~ Thesc irreg ~ are fct back to the ~ J~ r as i ' -' tata.
~3eforc ~.. t.lt is mate, a ~,cs~,.it~ , of the fi~ ri~l imetihlti- n 5 the doc~ C~ t by the rnanufacturcr agsin~ t the Icttcr of crcdit to cor-f;. th~t the terms and co l~ e of the letter of credit have been met by the m~ ..r, ~ e ~ . has sccess to thc report dcs_.;be~ a~ove inri~l-iinga list ng of any i"~ If the tenns and c~ hsve not been met, then the 10 I~ l in~titllti~n's .cp.cse.l~li.~e with the aid of ~e report tdentifi~s the p~blc....
termed a dis~c~ . Commnr~ discrepancies may include thc bill of lading bcing too old or llstale,'l or the A9C----- ~ were S~ by the manufact~rer after the lettcr of crcdit has cxpired. In thc cYent of such a tiscrcp~mcy, ~c fi"~nci~l ;'--1;~"1;0!l has to obtain ~n, oval from the customer bcfore ~ ..c.lt is (or can be) 15 m~de. Thc ~ ., in turn, eith~ ~p~._~ payment notwithstanding the c, ~" or negotiatcs with the manufacturcr (~ ~r ~ry) outsidc the lettcr of crctit.
c~lly~ thc discrepancies were .~.d~ as a text Seld in a ~
Untcr ~is system, therc was no way to traclc co r~ tiscrepancics udng the ~ rl~ However, unter the il.~y~ ~ in~roicc purcbasc order system di~ 5 are entered in a stand~rd co~ <d formai Thc y~JC~ of this is to enablc a ~ to trae~ co ~ on dise repaneies by cotc. ~his u~-plO~.d systcm enablcs tbfe customcr to not only a~y.-,~e or tisapprove payment basct upon a di~epan~ but ~o to eomril~ a history of d~.e~ ~ from a particular 25 ma~ufiacn~. I~is history can be used by t~c eustom~ to cither evaluate ~nt compare dilr~.,~t manufiletur~rs arldlor as ~.~,.~e when ~g J~ with a given . r; r-~ ~,. ba~ed on past p~rfom~nee.
Fin~ inQtih~i- nQ traditionally made a single draw from a ~ "" ~5 ~cco- -~t to honor a letter of eretit that covered a number of ~ ' ~ - e order~. Larger 30 .~ may have had a number of traws eaeh day. A eustomer was then faeed with the task of r~on~ ing ~e various debits by the ~~ ' ir t;l ,l;or with all ot W 097129445 PCTrUS97/0141S

thc E,~cl~ orders correspo~iing to the debits. The poccibility for errors and the rlced for follow-up was great.
The inYoicc ~ order system a~ Q... ~t;r~ lly provides tke c~ o~ with a report which break~ down each debit into the various l,~cl~sc orders covered by 5 the debit. l hese yu~ L;c order tebits are ~f~ co~ by the .~ o - . 's own ~f~ cc id~n~ifir~ n that was ~ ly storet in the rc~ih...~. This ~ kd ~3lor~tinr of the debit for each ~ l~c order enabks the ~ to autom~ti~lly reeQr~ the debit ~nth the a~.o~ , !mtC payable entry and thereby close the cntries. rkus~ m~ reconc~ tinn of debits to pu.-,k~c orders may be c~ ted lo ~ g. ~ r.
Fur~cr, h at~ition to the d~t~ d ~ ti~n of the tebit 8t the purckase orderfSKU level, tke invoice ~.u.,Lase order system also ~ the c ~ , . witk the detsils of charges ~lat;.,~ to ~ lt of the goods. Thus, the ~ it.~ '''iS
able to id~ all cos~ in ~ s"ecific merch~dise. ~his information l S s..~w. ~ p~ici.~lg dc~ r ~ Cl~ti~ thc customcr to cv .~t~ more c~ti~ in the market place.

p~R .'~F nF~2 .'PTI'~N OF T~ nR ~ 'c Figure I is an ~ ;_.. of the integr~cd c~ t~ and cc~ t;~n~
20 that CG..l~;~ this ,nvoice ~ ' ~ Order System (often ~g....d to as the "System"
hcrein).
Figurc 2 is thc ~ g flow chart for op"-~' ~8 thc Invoice Purchase Orter Sy~tem, which is amethod for ~ ;t~";r~g international tmde tansactions. This, and thc othcr disgr~, unlc~ 0~ . isc noted, depict the steps ~at a ~radc Ser~ice 25 ~ ~ive would tal~e in lou~ g into the S~rstem and oç,. ~ g it.
Figurc 3 di~grasns the System Main Menu, which gives an uv~ ,.v of the Systems main fi--.- I;n..~
Figure 4 diagrams the Start-of-Day P~oc~l~ uset to inîtiatc thc System a~er shut dow~.
~igure ~ diagrams the process of S~lt~ t~

CA 022449l5 l998-07-29 W 0 97129445 PCT~US97/01415 Figure 6 is a contin~ n of Figure 5, and shows the procedure ~or a Lettcr of Cr~dit (T C) ~~r~ t~
Figu~e ~ is a co ~ ;or~ of Figurc 5, artd shows the ~-~cc~. for a ~ Order (PO) ~
S Figure 8 shows the r ",t~ ;O.~c available undcr the Infio{mation menu of the System.
Figure g is a co--~ on of Figure 8 and d~ 5 how to obtain infQ~n~tinn about a P~ c Ordcr.
Fi~ure 10 tliaj~ the other p..~ options available ~der the System.
Figure I I diagrams thc l~.occlu.~ fO- p,~c~ c~ r.,iccs.
Figure 12 tcpic~ thc options for ol~ 8 information in the invoice ~n~C~ C~ area Figure l3~t~ thcl.,occ.l~forp..Jc~ e~ nvoices.
Figure l4 is a co~ ;n~ of Figure 13 t~. ti~ the options for ob~;~
l 5 infonnation in the ~ c~ of ~ ~A-~ -t Invoic~s.
Figure15 tlin~y~ th~ ,cc1 ~forF'~ Dis~ r i~ s Figure 16 ~I:~, --c the ~.~c~ c for ~ P~u,~.~ Status.
FiE~?re 17 diagram~ the ~ for ~ ~,u~t Sta~ for In~ ln~oicea Figure 18 d~ the ~ cc~ for repairing I.~ or D;3c.~pn~ s Figure 19 ~ the p.~ for the End-of-Day ~occ~
Pigure 20 depic~ the gene~l optior~ svailsble in the System for ;~ g i~..~ts that ha~re been entered into thc Sy~tem.
Fi~ure 2I di~am~ the a~ tive cap~ iti~ of the System.
Figure 22 is a co~t~ tion of Figure 20, din~umming the ~.. occd~ for g ~p ecific ~ t~
Figure 2~ is 8 continuation of Figure 8, ~ a~ 3 the stcp for obt~nl.lg inf~ n about I,.~ or Pa~ t Stan~.
Figure 24 is a continuation of Figure 21, di~ming the ~occ.l~, for A~ing ~h~ , or~ gc~ onnation.

W O 97/29445 PCTrUS97/01415 nFT~rFn n~R7PT~ON OF TH~ PR~FFRRFn ~ROn~ NT
Tbe system (Figurc 1) is a trade ~ ;/ Q i~.r~"-~ t system for i~ ~-h-~ and e.~.tc.s. It provides a mea~ for c~ Jl"C''~ to fo~ o andr~~n~ p~ ordersagainstco..~ uice~. Tr~ ;0~
S inforfn~tir ~ is crca~cd by the .~ (Block 100~ or input by the Trade Sen~icc Rc~.cscnt~ (Block 112). Thc C'~t~t~-~ may send Lctter of Crcdit (LC) 8pp~ tiQnc~p~c~ Order (PO) infonnation, LC ~ ts,pO ~...~ r~
and replies to Di~,~p~
This infonnation is creatcd in the c ~ c.-~-.o. - -~l ~hcrc r~ d, the ".. ~o~"rr i--r~.. ,~;,-" is co-~_.~d to ,~clu,~ m-~cD~ using son- ~., resident in the ioca~ cl Cv~ t ho~ g thc Local T~nsport Modulc (Ll-M) (Block 102~. The messages arc c.~ yt-d and sent via The Local T ~;~- l Module (Block 102) to thc Elc~ ic Messagc Ccnter (EMC) (Bloclc 104). Thc C~ Message Tl~,sl.G.l 1~1~ ' k (CTM) (Block 10C) ~ ,5 thc m~ hclt in thc EMC and I S through a ''~huL.lalce'' routinc puscs the il~h"....A mcssage~ to the System Message P~r ~SMP) (Block 108).
The SMP Yalidates the me~ages and chec~ for forma~ ~t"~
CC --rl~ n~- and co....~ --. Me~ages failing vdidation arc ..,;~ i and deleted pcriotically and the c~ n ~ of thc CQr~ by mcans of a status .. css~0 gcnerated by the SMP ~nd sent to the EMC via the CTM. Oncc vaaitated, thc age F~ pa~es thc ~ to thc system file server (Bloclc 110), which t~ .ru, ;ly stores the me~ge ~ ~ g ach,~ -1 of issuancc by the Ccntral Proce~or.
Once on the SYSTEM FILE SERVER (I~lock 110) messages are scnt-to 25 tiffese~ a~. LCs, snd LC ~ ~t~ that have bcen preliminarily ~.-,cc ~
are sent ~adc Ih~l~h~ the SMP to thc Central P~ Mc~sgc l'L~.l Module ~C:PMl~ BIoc~c 114). The CPMTM ~ "~1- thc me~ages to the EMC (Block lO4). The ba~c's Central P~ g system (Bloclc 116) r~ the mc~ages f~om the EMC ~Block 104) and l,.~c~s them. The LCs or LC ~ -A~ ~t~ a~e 30 eithcr ~vv ~ (issuct) or .cjc~,~d. Cen~ P~ a messagc to the EMC wherc it is ~ d by the CPMTM and pa~sed on to the SMP.

W 0 97~29445 PCTnUS97101415 The SMP ~n turn, updates the system filc server accGrling to the status:
issue~ LC~ ant ~ are passed to the p .-~ data base; rejectcd transaa~on~ are deleted ~om thc tC~ file. At the sarne eune the SMP passes the stan~s CQ ~ - on to the CTM (Block 106) to be sent to the EMC (Block 104).
5 Status messages sene from the SMP are ~ct&ncd h the EMC until the ~
et~ .s the ~ b~5 using their local Transport Modulé (Block 102).
POs ant PO ~ arc similarly ente~ed. PO inr.. GI;nl- is created by thc ~ (Bloclc 100) into a locai system. The ~ . groups several POs under an ~C, creating a linkcd Ir~ I ;nn The local system either creates the 10 linked m~5sge~e~ linking ~ou~ POs to the LC, or uses the COI.~c.~;Ofl so~ware to Fonnatthelinked i~f~ ;;or~ into ~hu,lu~ mes~ge_. The~ c~,~srethensent via the ioca~ T~ Module to the EMC (131OC~ la4) where they are tf ~ Iy stored a~ u~ ~trieval ~om the CTM (Blodc 106).
Again, the CTM p~ses the ~ B through a H~ L- rou~ne to the~5 SMP (B}ock lO8)~ The SMP v~ A~s thc mcssag~, c1~r L ;~g for format i~
n~S5and c~ ion. V~ti~l-Ated ~ s~g~ are sent to the system file server (Block 1103 where the PO info~nation is stored ~ notification ofthe I,C or {,C ~ rl." ..~ i~uance by thc Central Proce~ing unit. Me~ag~ failing v~ n are l~;c~.~d ant teletet p,~ nd the c ~ , n" ified of the ZO co~ r,~ by mea~ of a stan~ ~"r~ generated by the SMP and sent to the EMC
via ~he CTM.
Sta~ messag~ .~ om the CP (Bloclc 116) ~ ~ the EMC ~BIock 104~ upd~e the ~y~m fik senrer. E~sued LCs ~nd LC ~...- ,-.l.. .~t'. move the POs f~m the temporary file to the ~ ,"6 ~ ~~t file in the senrer. LCs a~d LC

2~ ,nh failing i~uance, upta~e the system fik serv~ by d~ tho~failed POs f~om thc tempor~uy file. All ~tus ~ ~ ~ are fon~rarded ~om the SMP
~lock 108~ to the CTM (Block 106) to the EMC (Block 1043 where they await ~ieYal by the customa's LTM (8lock 102).
POs and PO ~ t~ are p.o~c ~ ~i by the Tmde Service 30 ~ c~.ltadYes ~TSR) at the C~'~ tOf~ R ~ lt.lt;~,_ Temtinal (Bloclc 112~ using~e System Application SoRware (System). Invoice P~ g against POs h the W O 97129445 rCTAUS97101415 hA~ is ~.r~ rd by the TSR acsing as "Malccr." The "Maker" retricves records fhm the databa e, works thc record and retums it to the ~IAt~l~n~e with a flag indic~ing that the record is ready for ~ ;on by another TSR called the "C}~ r." The"Checker" (TSR).ct~ ,c~ thcrecord, ir~ I's thcworkofthc 5 "Makcr" and eithcr approvcs the record or rejects it. Thc MalccrtChcckcr fcature ensures that the same person cannot p ~ both ti.~ ...c for the salsle record.
Rejected records are "flsgged" as '~je.,t.d" and are once more available for either repair where they are once again p,~ccs~ by the "Maker" and i~ red by the "Ch~L~r." Ap~ d recordls are ' ~,,,, "' as "T-~ " and arc sent as 0 ~ sAg~Ll~u~ll the SMP (Block 108) to the CTM (Bloclc 106) to the EMC (Block awaiting n~icval by the c-- ~
TSRs also u e the System to entcr Ind~~ Invoices, report the ra~ ..L
Status of P~,h~c Orders, detail Ch~ at the Invoice lcvd and advise of LC
Dis.,~ ;e5 using a c~ ;~ format. All infosmation is p~xc.~ ~ by a Maker and 15 ir ,l~ct~ by a Ch~r~. The Syst~ co..~.~ the ;-- I~t~d record~ into aLru~ cd Q th&t are sent through the SMP to the CTM to the EMC (Block 104) where they awa~t re~ieval by the cu~omer.
I~e fi-~ ;o--:-.g ofthc Invoice P~,l~c Ordcr Systcm (SystemXFigure 1) is ~ym~ olly flow ch~cd ~tarting with Figurc 2 at Bloclc 100. The TSR sSarts 2~ (Block 200) by entering thc Sy~em (Bloclc 202)~o~ a CQ~ -hP t- ,.. ;. ~I that is c~ ~ted to the Sy~em ~ .. The compu~r may be any BM compatiblc ~ cc,. ..p~t~ with a 486/66 ~occ~sol or abovc. The first screen to appear is the login ~ecn. Thc u~er i5prompted for a U~er ID ~Block 204) and Pa~. ord ~B~ 206). l~e User ID is 6 to 8 "~ t ~ in len~h. If thc pas~wort tha¢ has 25 been e~aed is i~-~o- ~~ he System will prompt the user to reenter the pa~word. If the P~a~.d i~ enteret ~~ c~ ~J..IIy 3 time~, the System will tcrminate(Block 21Q}. In this case, thc user must contact thc Sy~em Atminiserator (Bloc~ 212) to- t~ thc privilege~ of the u~er. If the User ID and ra~. rd arc co~t, and it is the first login since d~en End-of-Day ~ , was mn (Blocl~ 1900, Figurc 19)30 ~he Start-of-Day process will bcgin h.~ t;- ~lly. If the user is logging in at any other time, ~e Sy~em Main Mcnu urill bc disyla~r~.

W O 97/29445 PCTrUS97/01415 If it is the first login since thc Ent-of-I:)ay procedure was n~n, the user willbe ~.~ to run a Start of-Day. Thc Start-of-Day ~egins ~ r;~ily a~er an Eind~f-Day has been run. The Start-of-Day bcgins with a screen ~,c~pi(~g the s1~atus of the Message ~ocessor (SMP), the number of i~ o - ~I messages ~ ce ~
5 since the End-of-Day and the nusnber of ~ ag~9~ bd since the End-of-Day. A
~t ' ~ 8 "~r, t~g~ appears on the scr~n asking ~e u!ier if the date and time areco~Tect. This ~L~cl~L~ ensures that the System clock co;A~i~- c with the actual time.
}he scrcen u~ll a~sk if the time ~lisl,lu~ is within 3 to 4 ~ t 5 of the actual time (Block 404). ~f it is, the u~er selects "Yes" and cQ..t;.~ ~.! 8 ~f it is not within 3 to 4 10 ~ 5 sclect "No." The System will abort (Block 406). Ihe uscr must thcn notify~e supen~isor ofthe t,..~1 In this case, a Sy~em ~ t ~r would ha~e to rcset the Systcm clock prior to use of thc _ystem.
If the system time is within the ~ol~re the next screen atvises the user that ~le Summary Log and i.~ho...~-i m~g~ will be printed. The S~ Log .
15 Cof~J~ new ~nt ~cj~-,~ Me~sgc~. Ihe Summary Log is automadcally printed ag a~e all j~,h"~ r-~ ,. Q, recc;~ ~ si~ce the Pn~f Day p.occ~hu~. The system thcn a~ises ~e u~er that St~t-of-Day ~ has been ~Ifflxed. When the uscr clic~
or eaters ~OK>, the system then mo~ the user to the Main Men L These ~r5~e~
illclute LC ~ t;r~;o"~, LC ~ "~t~ pOS~ Po ~ and D~ p~u,~
20 ~lies. The Systesn ~- r --.--c ~ee r~ Q automatically, once Contin~c h~ been c~ns~- checic~ for ~r-- ..~ t~ thal have boen out~tanding for over 15 tays (Block 412~; checks for incomplcte me~ssagc~Q over four hours old (Block 416); and ~enc~alogofall:-J~-~ ando~ A m~ r~ (~lock420). If~m 1 h~ be~outstanting for over 15 tays, a statw message i'Q sent.to the 25 uscr ~locl~ 414). In the case of a . ~ ~ s~gc that ha~ been incomplctc for over ~our ho~rs, the System deletes ~e incomplete message~ and ~cnts a ...- ~ ~c to the t.~ ;c~ theincomplete~ ~ gBloclc418). Onccthese r~ chave ~een comple~ thc Start of-Day ~ JCCl~ is ~ ~A The System en~ters the ';ystem Mai~ Menu ~Block 300).
l~e Sys~m Main Menu (Blocic 302) is thc originatulg poin~ for all of the r~tn~tinn~ she System ~ The System Main Menu ~.ovidc3 the user with WO 97/29445 PCT~US97/01415 five choiccs of ~nctir~nC ~."~ c (Block 304); Infoml~tio~l (Block 308);
Proca5i~g (Block 312); Incpectiolt ~BIock 316~; and A~lminic~a~ior~ ~BIock 320).The Systan M~in Menu also enablcs the user to obtain Help (Block 324) and to Exlt from the Syttem (Block 326). The user may select any of the above options from S the System Main Menu.
Thc u~er would select ~ to begin the l~.oc~ 8 of both LC
~." ~ acld pO ~". ~,.1.,, ~t., In orter to proces~ either an LC or P0 .4 n . ~ , the user sclccts the ~ oc~ a~ pull down menu from the ~r~ C scrcen (Bloclc S02). Unt~ thc ~ g pull down menu, thc uscr lû may choose ci~ter LC ~~ ts (Bloclc S04) or P0 ~ (Block 514).
LCs ~nt LC ~ t~ Ca~l only be i~ucd a~ Ccntral P~ 8s no other users may issue LCs or LC ~--- ,.l--- .~t~. When eithcr LC ~.nr...l... -~t or P0 ,r.~,h. ' -t is chosen for yiOC~ / the ~ el~c~ . screen i~ invoked.
The slser f~t selects a ~ase N~be. ant then cl~0~5 an ~ to process from the xle~ nR .l;~l~d ~3310cks S06, S16). Thc u~r sclects "~s" to tnvolcethe,4~ s<~ Detailsscreen(Blocks508,S18). Fromthis s~Y~ which is CQ~ to both LC ant P0 ~ .. -t~, thc u~et ~.~cc~cs the status of the am~ BIoch S 12, S22).
~,,...~A... -~ C~ e~ ~ the detail~ ofthe - ~ t 20 and ~ n;r/g a "s~" to the ~an~action cv~nt. Thc ~ of r .. ..1~ can be "A.ccept~ " "Rj~l" ot "P~nJ;iu." Procc~ing the ~ta~ ,~c~ the work of both a Maket and a Ch~~ Un~cr no ~ir~iu~lanccs cJn ei~ter the Ma~et or the C~h~l~r altct or input data into the ~-~ /I~pectton screcns.
When ~ither ~n L~ or a P0 ~ is chosen for 25 p~, the ~ -t SCI ~ sc~een i5 involcet. l~c wcr mu~ fi~choosc the Cus~omer l~ase N~. before p~occ~ & thc a~ t Af~~ r~oQ~ cc~" the sy~em ~,vill display the onginal transac~ion on the le~ hand site of the screen ant will tisplay the rela~ 1 on ~e righthand sidc of ~e screen. The wer may scroll ~rough multipk ~ h-~ ~t~ for the 30 s~lc~t~ibase~ ~.. Foreach~ evic~ heMalcercan"Approve,"
"Reiect" or "Pend" the P ~

W'O 97129445 PCTrUS97/0141S

Oncc the status is applied, the TSR Malcer exits the system. This action passe~ dle ~ t~ reviewet by thc Maker along with their Status to n At any time, if the t ser wishes to cancel the Review of ~ t~, thc ~r can se}cct cancel and return to tne ~-~ t-~ Sclc- ~ion Screen.
5If the LC ~ also c;E~ries ~ t~ to the ~d~ ;ng, P~ ase Order~s), the ~er rnay view the deta~ls of the PO ~ by s r,l~ PO
~etails. When s~lcc~ the PO Detuls are d;;.~hycd with the Original P~.,hasc Order i~-f -",.~ n shown on thc le~L hand side of tho screen ~nd the Details reflect~<~ on the right hant side of thc scrcen. Thc LC A~
;- ft.. ~ n iS then d,~la~- t on the scrccn to the right ofthc LC that it ~rn.~n~l~
~BIock 602). If this is not the correct LC, thc user selccts "Cancel" and rcturn to thc ~...- .-1-..- --1 ~el~ti~n screen (Block 504). Once the correct LC is ~ ~ the user drt~ ,..i...~c if the ~C ~---- -,-1-" -- displaycd is the onc to be ~ cc ~ (Block 606) if it is not. the correct A~ canL bc 5~ r~ om a list (Block 6Q8). The user ~ ;n~ 5 if t~e I~C ~.,.~.~.1.,.. '.. ~ i5 re8dy to be ~,~)c~d (Block 610). nle user may wish to YiCW detsi}s of tne LC ~ (Block 614) or ~Block 620~ prior to g the stan~. If thc user wishes to view detail!~ of the ~ t prior to ~< ~ "PO Dctails" is ~k~d (Block 616~. Dcs~ils are d~ d on the screen. Thc user selccts cancel when examiaation of the dctails is complete (Block 6~8).
Once the details of the LC ~ hsve been exan~ined the user may cither Approvc, Reject, or usign a status of ~ "8. Thi~ i~ donc by scl.~e~ g thccu,~ A~ eus ~om the LC P~.vce .~ screen ~BIoc~c 6123. This completes the proce~i~g to be ~ f~ A Th¢ user msy save the changes by s~l<~l;n~ "SaYe,"
~lock ~;22}. To c~cel, selcct "Cancel" (Block 626) to exit ~;illuul ssvir* If the user save~ the changes, the LC ~". ~ ".. -t Record is .--~:r.~d and the Record is sent ~aack to the system file server, where it is storet ~ ~
If the ~ 1 bcing p~ce;~d is a PO, it may be 1~ ro,m a CRT
(Block 1~2~. T~e PO ~ f~..... .~n is then d;_t~l~ on thc screen to ~he 30 r~ht of thc PO that it amends (Block 702). If this is not the correct PO, the user selects "C~ncel" (Block 706) and rcn~s to the ~ .. .1 S~ ;o~ screen ~BIock W O g7129445 PCT~US97/01415 504). Once the correct PO is selecte~ the user determines if ~he PO ~ -c~-t o~ is the onc to ~e ~uc~cccd (Block 704) if it is not, the correct csn be ~ l~ted f~om a list (Block 708).
~ e uscr rnay either Approvc, Reject, or assign a status of P~nd.n~. Thi5 iS
5 donc by sck~ the CG~ ol~r~ing status f~om the PO ~ g screen (Block 71Q). l~euser~ sifanyfurther~rucc~ gis~ (Block712). Ifthis completes the ~,oce~ 8 to be ~ fr~ t the user may either save the c~A~gr s by s~l~cting "Sav~," (Block 714) or select "Canccl" (Block 7}8) to exit without sa~ring.
lf thc user saves the ch ~2~5. the PO A~ A~ is ~ d and the Recort is sent 10 back to the system file ser~er, where it is stored.
Toselectan~n~ tobe;--~ e~ theuserselects"Au~ho~ ion"
from the ~ Menu and c}~ either LC ~ .. rl.. ~1c or PO
I- - -c- ~ (Bloclc 524). Anoth~ ~ r1-. .~ ~s Sel~ n screen will be di~yl&~l. The user sclects a Base N~,,,.~. and thc ~c~L.~ to be , " ~i and sclects ''P~oce~w' to inYokc the ~oc-c ~ Detail~ screens (Blocks 602, 702). The user rnsy also select exit from the ~,.,~ t.. Menu tO return to thc Syste~n M~in Menu (Block SS2).
When the Ay~ t PO ~ is i- ~ ~e PO ~
Record updatcs the Permancnt File of the ~ystem file ~e~ver (Block 110) by moving 20 the record ~om tbe Temporary File to the Permancnt File. A Rejected PO
~ -- ---1--- ~1, when ;~ ce~i will dcletc thc record a~d r a ~ mes~sge through the SMP ~Block 108) to the CTM (Bloclc 106) to thc EMC (Block ~04) to the customer. Pendin~ cQn~ to not move the rccord f~om the Tc."~l~ ~ File in the system file semr (Block 110~.
~5 The uxr m~y obtain ;~-f~ ;n~. about Cu~nm~ LCs, POs, In~voi6es, l S~, Discrepancies, and ~f~< p. . -1. ..1 In~ 8 ~ - r_ - ~inn"
ftom the System Main Menu (Block 308). Sr1~ "Information" ~om ~e System Main Menu in~vokes the T~fo~ screen (Block 800).
In order to obta~ information about a customer, the user selects ~CV~J"'~ "
30 ~om ~e Information screen (Block 802). llle (~ Information screen is dia~l~y~l. To seiect All Record~ the uscr must click <OEC>. To sclect Individual . CA 02244915 1998-07-29 W 0 9712g44S PCT~US97/0141S

Rccords, the user selec~s ~ Base Number firom the drop down lis~ing availablc under the Ba~e Num~er fielt on the screen. The screen tisplays the ~ r base ..h~r~, ~e c~ t "".~ name, the giobal or local ID numherJ and/or thc loc~ion (81Ock 804). The user can print the inforrnation displayed by scic~
S "Print" (Block 806) or retum to the System Main Menu by cr~ g "Exit." ~BIock 808) To display i..fo~ ;n.. ,e~,z.~ng an LC for a given .~lc~ ~ ~, the user selec2_ "Letter of Credit" from the r, r.-- ..-~;0.. screen. llle LC ~nr.~. ,,.~I;nn screen is i,.vo~d.
To seleet All Recorts the user must click <OK~. To select Indivitual ~CQ~C, the user selects a Base Nuul~. or an Intividual LC Ref~ cc Number from the drop down listings available under the r~_,~Li./e criteria fields on the screcn.
All of the LCs for a given c~-lc ~ ~. number are displayed (Block 812). The 15 user select~ the base nwn~er ofthe ~ t~""~ (Bloclc 814) ant selects <OK~ in order to dispiay i~ LCs (Block 816). The user may print thc information ~ la~l by x~ g "Pr~t" ~BIoclc 818) or retum to the Sy~tem Main Menu by s~
"Exit." (Bloclc 820~
Information .~,~&d;.-g a PO is obt~ct by ~ l~c';~8 "P~c~ Ort~" firom 20 the ~nfo~nation screen (Bloclc 822). To select All Records the u~er must click <OK>. To select ~li~;-l~l Records the user enters the LC No., Ba~e No., and or PO No. ~B{octc gO4). Then selects <OR> to obtain infomlation about a piarticul~rPO ~Block 905). I~e user can print thc information d;s~JlO~d by ~l~ d "Print"
~Blocl~ 908~ or reih~m to the System Main Mcnu by s~ ~ ~ ti~ "Exit" (Block 9 ~ 6).
2~ The usermay obtain ;"f""" i~ c~ uiiing particular items ortered in the*O by h;~ a ~ PO and sel,.~ g "SKU (Stock ~r~ir~g Unit~ Dctails" from the P~ I~ist screcn ~BIock 910). A screen CQ~ g detail about the itan!~ ordered is invoked. I he wer a~n print the informadon di~,l&~d by ~ l~v~ g "Print" (Block 913~ or ren~m to the P'~ '~ ~~e Order List screen ~y 5-'~ tino "Exit." (Block 914) }O The user may tisplay Invoice Info.. ~ by s~ 9 "Invoicc" ~om the Infonslation screen ~BIock 826). Alt~ tively, this information can be displayed b~

W O g7/2g445 PCT~US97/01415 bieJ7lighting the particular item listed and doublc c!~ ing to display ~drlitio~l SKU
detaiL. To ~elcct All Records the user must click <OK>. To sclcct Individual Rccords the user enters status, base nllmkr, LC, and/or PO nurnber and s~ ;ng <OK~ at the IDYoice S~l~v~;on scrccn (Block 2302). lbe user hi~hlig~tQ an invoice S from those listed (Block 2304). The user carl print the il~f~ ;or displayed by xlr~ "Prin~" (Block 2306~ or rcturn to the Syst~m Main Menu by s~lr~;ng "Exit." (Block 2314) The user carl obtain a list of charges against the invoicc scl~ct~i by scle~ ng "Charge Detai~s" from the ~nvoice Tt~rO....~-;Ol~ scrc~cn (Block 230g). ~It~ cl~, this iofo~ l;o~, can be d;s~l&~.d by l-ig~ the 10 particulsr item listed and double cli~ to disp~ay ~ '~itinn~l charg~ details. The user can print the information ~ ,la~e~ by ~cle~ "Print" (Block 2310) or close thcscreenby ~l~ .g <OK~. (Block2312).
The ~ may displsy the ~lu~lt stat~ of ~v~,;ccs by srle "P~ t Status" from the i-~ f.!." ~ ~ ;I-n option of the Main Menu (Bloclc 830). I~ uices are 15 ~.:lis~ by ~ sta~, b~e .~ ~r, Bill N~, Invoice N~c., LC, andJor PO nun~ber, snd s~ c~ g cOK> at the P~..~ Status Infonnation screen (Block 2302). The user h~ sn invoicc liom tho~e lis~d ~BIock 2304). ~e user can print thc info~ ion ~ by xlecdng ~P:int" (Blocic 2306) or ren~rn ~o the System Msin Menu by ~le~l:"~ "Exit~" (Bloclc 2314) The u~ercsn obtain a 20 ~istofchar~tthcinvoice~lc~dby~1~ C "ChargeDetail~f~omthe .C.I~ St8~ ~creen. ~It~tively, this i..f~ .. Ca~l be d~.yla~ d by h;ghl~ 8 the p~icular item listed Uld double cl; ~; 8 to di~play r ~ t;~n~l char~es dc~il~ T~e IL~cr can pnnt the i~fo~mation d; ,)l~d by srl ~vl: ~ "Print"~Bloclc 2311)) or clo~e the screen by sclc~ g <OK> (Block 2312).
2~ Ihe ~y tisplsy Discrepancy Infom~ion by sr~ 8 "Disc~psncy"
~om the Infon~ation option of Main Menu (Block 832). The Discrepsncy List scrcen is invokcd. Is li~ all Discrcpancies that havc ~ecn sccep~d ant .c,c~
~BIock 834)~ To selcct All Record~ the user mu~ click cOK?. To #leCt hdi~idual rccords, Specific Discrepancies arc scl~c~ by c ~ 8 Ststus, Base n~n~r, LC, 30 antior Bill ..~ and xlr~ g <OK~ at the Disc~epancy List screen (B~ock 836~.

=

Wo 97/29445 PCT/US97/0141S

The user can pn:nt the inform~'ion displayed by s~k~ g "Print" (Block 838) or returnl:o the System Mam Menu by Ykc~ R "Exit." (Block 840).
The user may display ~n~ Invoice ;~-fu~ ;on by s~lc~ g "rn~y.-A.~.qt Invoice" from the Tllfo~ ;on option of the System Main Menu 5 (13lock 842). The tnf~ Invoice List screen is invoked. It lists all of the Inrl~ t In ~oices for a particular .~ (Block 844). To select All Recordsthe user rïlay cliclc <OK~. To selec1: Individual Records, Specific rn~c~ ~.AcntInvoices are s~lc~teil by e ~ g Status, Base nusnber, LC, arld/or Bill nurnber and sek~ g ~OK> at the tnf~ -A- -t Invoice List screen (Block 846). The user can 10 print the ;--r.--~ - displayed by sclr ~ g "Print" ~Block 848) or return to the System Main Menu by s.~ lc l :-~g "Exit" (Block 8S0).
The user rï~ay process Invoices, In~ t l~lv~is ~ ~, Discrepancies, P~,llc.l~ Status, ~ t Status for Ti~lC~ t Invoices, execute Rcpairs to Records, and ~.~c~.,t,_ the Ent-of-Day sc~ e by sclc~ v "P.o~ s~ " from the System Main Menu ~Block 312, Block 1000).
~ r- ~1~ must be ~".x~ c~ ~ prior to l,~oc -- ~8 invoices (Block 1104). For ~ P~ see Figure S ~tarting at Block S00. To input inYoice ;--r -, ~ , the Malcer (u~r) selects the C~ - . B~se ~1~., Related LC Rcf~ ,e, PO R~f ~ .rC Uld SiKU Rcf~ c6 N~, thcn enters the Invoice 20 Number. This action invoke~ the Bill Rcf~encc (BRN) Window ~BIoclc 1110). Thcuser enters the Bill Rcfe.~.-ce N~r, the Bill Date if the item is to be paid, the Cu..~n._., and the Amount (Block 1112). When completed, thc u~er thcn cliclcs on<OK> to move to the Invoice ~lcc ~ 8 screen ~Bloclc 1116). If there i~ an error upon invoice 5~ r, thc Msk~ sclects "Reset" and n~ t .;- the Invoice ~çlcc~ior-25 Data (Bloclc 1120~. At a~ly time, the user msy clear and reset the screen to~r~-input data by 5~4 ~3 "Reset." The screen returns to the orig~r~ol infonnation c~ried in the Pu~ a3c Ortcr and thc user carl once again enter da~a into the ~ , fields.
A~ter inYOice 5 ~ - _tinr~ data has been entered, invoices can be ~
~BIock 1118). If the user wishes to process ~ cOK> is 3, ~ d ~om the 30 Invoice ~electicm screen ~Block 1130), if not "Exit" is s,~ t~ to return to the System Main Menu ~BIwk I 128). Sl~lectinr~ of cOK> invoke~ the Invoice W O 97/29445 ~CT~US97/~141 ~ocess;~g screen. The proccsjing of an Invoice }nvolves cvn.,~&;ng the invoice data to the dlata ofthe PO to which it applies. Thc lnvoice P'~vc~ e~ g screen di;.~ the Bill S~ on the left of the screen, and thc PO i~ ;on is on thé
right ofthe screen. The Bill ~ ? shows the sum of ~e i~ cs that have been 5 entered }nto the System under a given BRN. The user co~n~ s the original PO
details on thc lnvoicc P~e~-;u8 wreen against a hardcopy papcr invoice or other demand for ~ ..,.,nl p~...cnt~ (Block 1132). If any of the ;--f~ does not coin~idç~ the info~ fidd~ in the PO Record are c~ E~1 (Bîock 1134) by the user. Any of thesc c1~ng~ s will appear in red and an "I~ ity" will be created and n~ l;r~11y shown on the le~ hand side ofthe screen (Block 1135~.
h-.C~ can also be viewed by s~ler~ g the "File" pull town menu f~om the InvoiceP~oce ~ scrcenthensel~ IrL~ ics." Oncealldatahasbeen entered or ~ h~ ~g.~ c<,..~.~tl~, thc uscr selects "Save" to ssve thc invoicc record (Block 1136). "Save" sav~ the invoice record to the sy~tem ffle sen~er, where itresides until rccallet for ;A ,pC~ or ~ ~C ~ If thc u~er do~ not wish to save the changes made to the invoice record, "Cancel" is 3clc~t' ~ C~ g the userto the System Main Menu (Bloclc 1140). To process anotb~ invoice after saving, the user selects "Ncxt," which re~ms the user to the Invoice Scl~ ;nA screen (Block 1138). If after completing input and sa~nng the ~.~ie e the wer realizes that an20 inc~ BRN hss been ent~ed, the error can be co..~c~ by ~ to the Invoice ~ k~.! ;n-- Sct~e~ ant s Chsnge BRN~ (Blocl 24). A new or another BRN can be applied to the scic~e~ oi: The u~~ selects "set" to replace ~he o"~n-l Bill Rc~.~..cc Data with the changet Bill Refe.L..ce Information (Bloclc 1 126).
The ~Yoice E~ g screen has i~lf~ ",~-1;o ~ categories available under the "File" pull down menu (Bloclc 1202). The information topic~ are: C~
13c~ ~'iP~; Irre~arities; Charges; Bill Summary; LC Infonnation; ant PO
~nfr~ inn The C~, ,-_. screen, chosen ~y s~ g "FilelCustomer" f~om the InYoice PL~er~ a the namc and atdres~ for the Customer 3~ associated with a given Base NUU~ L (Block 1204). Select cOK~ to closc the scr~en or sele~ another option from the "File" menu to automatically close thc -WO 9712944s PCTIUS971~1415 cu~rent window (Bloclc 1206). The P~ fici~ry screen, choscn by selecting "Filc/l~ ' - fi~i9ry" ~om the Invoice P~oc~ g screen dis~l~s the name ant atdress for the n~,~ fi ~ (Block 1208). Selcct <OK> to close the screen (Block 1210).
The ~ v ' ~i-s screen, choscn by s~lc~ .g '~FileJlr~ul~iLic~ from the Invoice 5 Plocessing sc~en displays a list of L~l&;~csg~ in ~e p.oce~ g of OiC-,S (Blocic 1212). Select COK~ to closc the scrcen (Block 1214). Thc Charges screen, chosen by scJc~l ng "File/C~ " from the Invoice ~oc~ g screen allow entryofanycharps~ ~wi~agiveninvoicc(Block 1216~. Chargcs ~e entered a~ debi~ ant ~ t'~ / atj-~C1~ t~. / rev~sals are entered as credits in 10 this screen (Block 1218). Sclcct <O~C> to closc the screen. ~he user must "Save"
~thc ~nYoice Record before thc Bill Summ~ screen w~ll bc Lrl ~ d to reflect any charges input ~nto the Charges scrcen. The Bill S~nm~ry screen, choscn by s~ "File~Bill Su~ " fiom the Invoice P~ g screen dis"l~;~ the total bi~ hc invoice plus charges, under the bill r~f .~..cc ..~. (Block 1222). The 15 :Bill Sumrnar,Y also ;.~ 5 the number of 1~ J~ that have been entered, the nu.,lbc. that haYe becn ;.. ;~ ~ and the numberthat remain to bc in~ tc~ Sclect ~OK> to c}ose ~he scrcen (Block IZ22). The PO Infonna~ion ~creen, chosen by 'File~PO Lnfonnation" ~om the Invoice ~. - - ~;~ screen di;".l~s n~ -A~'~ or o~igil~sl PO Info~nation (Block 1224). Select <OK~ to clo~e the screen 20 (Bloc~c 1226). ~he LC Information screen, chosen by sdc~ g "File/LC
r~-fv~ om thc Invoice P~ g screen d;a~L~ ~ or orlgi~l LC
~f~"... ~;Qn (Block 1228). Sdect ~OK> to chse the screen (Block 1230).
The Sy~tem allows the user to process il~ for which there is no CC~ -A;~ PO. Thete u._~uu ~.~ are callet "IA~ A~.~t Invoices (Vl)." I/Is 25 can~eente~ QCC- AUSUlg theSystem. Select"~c~ g''~om~lae System Main Menu ~BIock 312), then "~nAC~ ~ om the P~cc '';~8 menu (Bloclc 1004). This invokes the l/I Sclc~ . screen (Block 1302). After ~ k~ g the Basc N~ -, en~er da~a in the fields a~railablc (Bloclc 1304)~, If thepr~per tata has ~een enter select ~OK> to save the da~a (Bloclc 1306) ant p~cccd to 30 the If I E~,ccc<i~ screen (Block 1312). If thc tiata has been entered mcu~

W O 97f29445 PCTrUS97/01415 select i'Reset" to clear all fields. and reenter data (Block 1308). To return tO the System Main Mcnu wiLl,o~l saving, select "Exit" ~BIock 1310).
E~ ~5involves c"t~.,n~ ~I dsta R~n~fir;~ry infom~ation. Enter thc applicabk data fieldl~ (Block 1318). Select "Save" to save the ch~-~e.~ to the ~/1 5 (Block 1320). When the 1/~ is saved, the VI record m~s~gç is sent to the system file server. To prwess another 1/1 select "Next" (Block 1323). This retums the user to the l/I Scl~tion screen. To return to the System Main Menu without saYing, select "Cancel" (Block 1324).
The Ill ~ g screen, like the Invoice P~occ~ 8 screen, allows the user 10 to input inforrnation on Charges and the Bill S~ . The Charps screen, chosen by s~ g "File~Charges" (Block 1402) from the VI ~IvC~ screen allows entry of ant displays any ch~r~es input with a ~ivcn invoice (Block 1404). Charges sreti~yl~c~ as ~ebit and ~li~o~ntC are entercd ss credits in this screen. Select <OK~
to close the screen (Block 1406). Thc Bill ~S-------- ~ screen, chosen by s,elcc~
15 '-FilefE~ill S~ ..&.~" (Block 1402) ~om the ItI ~ screen d;~l~;. the total bill, the invoice plu~2 char~es, under the bill ~ f~ number (Block 1408). I~e Bill ~u,~r al~o ;~ rl~ S the ~..u-ll~. of 11~ ~ ~ ~ t~at have been entered, the number that have been ;~ t~ ~d the number tbat remain to be ;-- ~ Select <OK> to close the screen (Blocl~ 1410). "Cancel" canal~o be ~e'ect~ f~om the l/I20 Ploc~ 2.-~ sc~een to exit the Itl P ~ creen wi~out sa~ing Ill ;,~r.~,... ,;-.,~
~BIock 14123. "Exit" can be ~~ t~1 to ren~ to the System Main Menu (Block 1414).
To prace~s D- ~r ~ , seleet P~occ ~ - ~8 ~om the Sy~tem Main Menu (Block 312), then Di~ om the ~ ;ng pull town menu (Block 1006).
2~ ~e invoke~ the Oi~.~ ~ y S-~ lc.;1 ;o - sc~en (}~loclc 1502). l~e user selec~s the Ba~e Number (Block 1501~. The Disrepancy .se~r~ scr~n is ~ia~la~l:d. The u~er entcrs ~he BRN and selects the LC number a~ the top of the scr~en (E~loclc 1504), this invokes thc Discrepancy ~oc~ l;AD ~creen (Block 1506).
From ~is screen Discrepancies associated with the LC number can be s~ e~ from 30 any ofthe ~ollowing c~ r - :r~ by s~ l;-.g the categories on the screen: LC, Draft.
Invoicc, P~in8 Li~, Bill of Lading, In~...t....-e. Certificate, PO, and Oth~ ~BIock =

CA 022449l5 l998-07-29 W 0 97/29445 PCTrUS97/01415 1507~ A list of Respective Dis~-ep~ s will be displayed when any of the above c,4t~ 3 is s~ k .~t~ Thc user selects a Discrepancy f~om thc desircd list ~Block1508) ant '~ O~' 5 or adds infio~I I;OI~tO the Di.e,et,~lcy fields (Block 1509) Once ;l~f~, 4~;on on Dis~ been added or c~ e~ in a 5 c~ticf~rtory manncr, select "Save" to save the changes to the I)is~lep~~ r (Bloclc 1514~ Thc h~3~D,~ c~message,senttotbcsystemfileserverawaidng c~l;n~l, is storet until recallct for filrther ~ cc ~ 8 (Block 1516) Select "Next" to process another ti~,c~t LC (Block 1518). Delete a Disc,~ r by hi~hlightir~g the Dis~ c~ ant sc~ 8 "Deletc." ~Block lS12) If the j, r.J, . -~1 ;r~n was not entered in a ~r~ t~ manner; selcct "Reset" to ck~ the screen of previously sele~l~ Discrcpa3scics (E~lock IS10), selcct "Cancel"
to retum to the Discrepa LetteF of Credit screen wilL~u~. saving (Block 1524), or select "Exit" to return to the System Main Menu wiLhoul sa~ing (BIQCIC IS26).
g of ~ t Sta~ can be ~ f~ r~7, using thc System.
F~ec~ E of P~ t Status ~o ~ pnmarilyofc~n~_,;n~ to the customer the status of ~ ~ ag8instPOs and LCs When 8 bill or invoice is paid, the y~ C.ll is le~;;,~.e~ on the Sys~Am. Thus t~e Systan ~ 7i- ~ the customer with 0-~O l~g }nfo~ms;tion ~,~ , to the status of ~ ltS. Thc F~oc~ .g of ~hyl,.c,lt Status i~ i 7x~ with the Yle~ of ~ g fiom the System Main Menu (B}ock 312, 1602), thcn s~ P~,,.~.lt Statu~ from thc pul}
down menu (Block 1008, 1602).
To procc~ thc ~a~ Status of a specifiic cu~tom~, selest thc . ~o ei~her by Basc N~, or f'~ Short Name, and the ~RN (Block 1604). ll~e Msk~ msy cha~ge thc sta~ of the bill baset on ~io~ tinn by sck~ g "Paid,"
2~ ~-Ope~n or "E2~jc~ 1606~.
~ft~e Payment Sta~ ehA~. s are correct, the Malcer selests "Save," which saves the P~ Stan~ (Block 1612) The ~ t StatlL messagc is then sent to the systern filc server via thc SMP (Block 1614).
If ~e P~ stntl-c ~b ~y~c ~e ~--rO~ ~ c~ l ~ ~e user may selcct "Reses,"
w~ch ckars all fielt~ to allow data reentry (Block 1616). A~so, the user may selcc~
"Exit" to return to the System Mairl Menu without sa~ing (Bloc3c 1624) CA 022449l5 l998-07-29 W O 97/29445 .PCTAJS97tO141S

rnfsrrn~tion about chargcs can also be viewed f om the P~ c,~L Status screen. The user may select "Chargc Details" to view thc charge Details for the invoice s~l~te;l (Block 1608). In this screen, charges are entcred as tebits, and disco~ts are ent~ed as credits (Block 1610) Click the right mouse button to 5 closc the Charges screen.
Similarly the p.oeec~ g of ~ .~ under 1/1 can ~e ~,ru~ cd using the System. The P~oc~ g of ~ t Status is e~ ,t A bc~ g with the selecti~n of F~,c~ g ~om the System Main Menu (Block 312, 1702), then ~le~ g P~--l~nt Status from the pull down menu (Block 1008, 1702).
To process the ~ t Sta~us of a specific ~. h---- , select the c ~lo~ el, either by Base N~-~cr or C~ ~t~ r~ Short Name, and the BRN ~BIock 1704). The Maker may change the status of the bill based on rlo~.. ~r, ~ by .~ g "Pa d,"
"Open," or '~ ect~ " (Block 1706) If the Pa~"~t Status changes are correct, the Malc~ se}ects "Ss~ve," which 15 saves the Pa~ Status (Block 1710). The ~a~."c~ Stanls rne~age is then sent to the system file server ~ .~ g; ~ l;o~ (Block 1712).
If the P~,...~..i,~ Status change~ are inco...,~l, the user msy select "Reset."
which clears all fields to sllow data reentry (Bloclc 1714). Also, the user may select "Exit" to retum to the System Msin Menu without savin~ (Block 1722).
Inforsllation sbout chsr~es can al o bc viewed ~om thc P~.l,.,~ Ststus .,ce~ scne~ The user rnay sclcct "Charge Details" to view the charge Dctails for thc l/I 5rl~ .~d (Bloclc 1706, 1708). Click the right mousc button to close the Char~e~
Pc~ ant Discrepancies are n~p~ :- d on the System USiI~g the Pr~ing Repair ~ Select E~ ;n~ ~om the Systcm Main Menu~Block 312, 1802), then "Repa~' from thc ~OC~ ~5 pull down menu (Bloclc 1012, 1802) This invokes the R~ Events screen. Using the "File" pull down menu of the, select cither Invoices (Block 1804) or Discrcpa~cy (Bloclc 1808) to view ~list of ~c;c_t :~ item~. Select "File" f~om the pull town menu then "Exit" to ~urn to the System Main Menu (Block 1806). When ei~er "In~ro.oe~.'' or "Discrepancies" is 5~lr~teA a list of ._jc_t~l itesns is ~li~ ,d in the Repsir Events screen (Block W 0 97/29445 PCTrUS97/0141 1810). The user then selec~s thc item to be repaired (Block 1812~. If ~e itcm chosen i~ a ~ejected Disc.cpa~.~;y, the Rc3ectet Dis.~ scrcen is displayed (Bloclc 1816). The process for repair is i~lc~tirsl to the original P~oc~c;t~g Discrcpancics ~om this point on.
When "Invoice" is sc~t~ at the Rcpair Even~ screcn, thc Invoicc Repair screcn is disyl~,d (Block 1814). Thc Invoicc Repair scrcen is the same as thc :Invoice ~oce, i~g screen (Block 1132). Thc uscr co..,~ thc ficlds on thc InvoiceRepairscreentothe origin~lpo (Blockl820~. Ifanyoftheil-f,.. l ;r,,,n toes not co; ~ thc ~"f~".~.AI;on fields in the PO arca src c~ gc~ lock 1822).
Any ofthese changes will appear in rcd and an "Irregularity" will bc created ant;r5~11y shown on the lcf~ of the scrccn (Bloclc 1824). I~ itics can be vicwed by sr~ ;n~ the "File" pull town menu fhm the Invoice Plocce~;~g scnen lhen ~1;~ g "~l,eg~ c " Oncc all data ha~ been entcred or chAag~'~icG~
1:he user selects "Save" to save the invoicc record (Block l828). "Save" saves thc invoice rccord message to the systcm fik server ~ g i" ,l~I nn (Block 1830). If hc user does not wish to savc the ci~S~ ~B~s rnade to the invoice record, "Canccl" is ~;ek- t~ re~ 8 ~e user to the System Main Menu (Block 1834). To process .~otL~. invoice after saving, t~e user selccts "Next," which retums the user to the l.nvoice S~lec~ion screen (Block 1832).
The user may al~o invoke the Fnd-of-Day 1~ cc~ om the ~ ;ng menu (Bloclc Iûl4). Thc Ent-of-Day sc~ c mu~t be ~ . r~ at the end of cach day. It ensures that all queues have been clearet and all mes~ages ~.ocesYdcci,.c~ . The E~d-of-Day F~-~cctu.~ involve~ the following ten steps:

1. C~l for the End-of-Day making sure that all users are logged o~f the Sy~tcm.

2. Select "P~ " firom the System Main Menu (Block 312), then select "Ent-of-Day" (Block 1014). Ent-of Day ~ - r ~ .the System y~ SOI (ShtP) turing the time that thc System baclcup is F~- 1-.. ~

CA 022449l5 l998-07-29 W O 97129445 .PCT~US97/0141S

3. When End-of-Day is activated, gc.~.a~e the S~ set of reports (Blocks 1908-1912).

4. Re~!iew the reports to d~h ""llr whl}~ therc are~ny errors or p~O~ C Assoc:~t~d with the day's events.

5. Have a System S~ sign offto 8~ t~nC that reports have been ~ t~d and ~ v~.d for accuracy.

6. As soon as reports h~ve been & ~ . activatc the Purge filn~tj~ n, if appli~ able (Block 1922).

7. Back up the day's yL~c;~ g on an eYt~nAI .~ rA;I -, (e.g. tape) and store off-~,e.. Lise.

8. t"~ the day's Activity JoumaL

9. Venfy that all steps have becn ~ . f~

10. Malce sure that the ~l~c~. is ~ ~ing prior to leaving.
Several of these End-of-Day steps are ~- r.--.- ~ using thc Sys~m. To 15 initiate the End-of-Day s~ selcct ' ~ om the System Maisl Menu (Block312~,thenUE~d-of-Day"~omtheF~ pulldownmenu(Block1014).
The ~creen d;*~L~ja the following m ~Pg~ "Have you ch~rL-r~ c rl~
entria?" (Bloclc 1902~. If thc user has not ~h~ L. d ~ o~ lete entries, "No" is selectet s~d the ~ is ~.,tu...c~ to the System Main Menu to check queucs (Block 19~4). If thewerha~ c ~ rL~ ~Ithequeue~,"Yes"is s~le~(Block 190C). This u~vokes tl~ie Print E~eports screen. From this sc~een, the ~ may sclect ~om the following the repor~ to pnnt: T Scnt; Out~anting~; Item~ Expired;
Invoice Registeret; Paid Bill; S!l~ Log; Transact~ons Rcc~ l, Itesns Pcnding t~ ems Purged; Open Bill; Su~ Log ant User Log. Any or all of the repor~ may be ~ 1~ for r,~ 8 ~BIock 1908). The pnDting of the Summary Log ant the Audit Log is mantatory. Select <OK~ to inltiate the l'~ of reports (Block 1910). The following r ~ is then d; "~l~ on t~e wreen: "Do you warlt W 0 97t29445 PCTrUS97/0141 to print the re}~orts?~ (Block 1912). ~he user may seiect "Yes" to print hardcopies oft~e report~ (Block 19163, "No" if no l~r~lco~ is desired (Block 1918j, or ~cancer to return to thc previou~ screen ~BIock 1914). After p~ g, the End-of-Day in Process screen is ~i~yla~ BIoclc 1920). The user may select any or all of5 thc following filnrtione to be pc~ro---,tt on the ~nd-of-Day in Process screen: Print r.~ M~rQ~!~e~5, Purge ~ G~ 8 MeeQag~; Print Out-going M~sng,!s; Purge Out-going ~t CU'~ 5 (Block 1922). Select ~OK~ to ~ . fi,.~- ~ the filnrtjone scl~ d (Block 1924). After ~ 8 mes~ges and purging .~ s~c ~ a System Backup is ~, r6~ .~ rd ~BIock 1926). When ~- , 'et~ i the user clicks <OK> to .ca~ .t~ the10 Mcss~ge F~cc~sor (Block 1928). A tih.lc-s~..p is affixed to the task and thc screen will show ~he ~S: 9~ ~e P~c~so~ is running.
All items created and saved under the F~ menu are pc.fo ct by the Maker. l~e System creatcs a queuc at the system filc ser~er of all ~ cc ssed items that have been savet by the Maker for the t'h~ ~- to inspect pnor to official 15 ~py~ l. The ~h~l-er wes thc T.~ mcnu to in~ he Sy~tem docs not allow the same intividual to be both Msker and ~h~r on a given item.
The Tn~T~inr~ menu i~ involced by ~l~ g ' T~ n from the System Main menu (E3lock 316). The In .~!:or~ menu di.~ s the f~ ..u~, s~l~ tinnc for inCpection L..oir.: s (Block 2004); r~. r~ -A, -1 Invoice~ (Bloclc 2010);
Dis.,~ (Block 2014); P~.. ~,~t Status (Block 2Q32); and P~,~ Status for In~ c ~ ,-t Invoices (Block 2038). !~el~ of any of these by the chccl~r invokes a screen with a queue of iterns p~ g in~ The ~h~L-~ then initiate~ the h .~ either in Batch or Detail Level. To ir~p~t at the Batch Level, the ~'h~--~ selcct~ one or more items listet for ~ ;On and selec~ "Save 2S to savc the actio~ and send the n~ss~e(s) to the c ~ , or selects "Rep~t" to reject the tt ~inn ant rdurn it to the Malcer for ~ io~. S~ 8 "Reset"
clears the s~ le ,, ~ (s3 and returns tE~c screen to it~ o, ;~ l ~ode. To inspect at the Detail Level, the ~'h~ ~ selects aE~ item d;JI.la~l in ~he list and ~elect~ "petails' (Blocks 2006, 2012, 2016, 2034, ant 2040). Ihe r--r:h ~ ~ for ;n~ particular30 In~oic ~ J n~ ,t Invoices, Payment Status, and Pa~ 1 Status for tn~ ~, n~ nvoiceg are c,~ lly thc same. Once an item has ~een ~cd for W O 97/29445 PCTrUS97/01415 increcti- n, the data on the screen is cor~ aled to a hardcopy of the ~ ;or ~f the dctails cntered are co~ t~ w~th those on the ~nico~, "Approve" is sclc~t~d by the f'h~r~r (Block 2202). the l~.rC~g~ is saved to the database, and a message is sent to the ~ -, (Block 2204). ~f the data d;~ c~ on thc sc~en does not 5 match the ha~-kG}~f data, the rh~ selects "Reject," (Block 2206) and the item is sent to the Repair queuc (Bloclc 2208). The Ch~ r may also select "Bill" to review the Bill S~ y screen (Block 2210~. Thc Ch~ ~r may exit from the Bill S~ screen by select <OK> (Block 2212). If the Cb~r wishes to ~c ~CIe~l any iterns, "Reset" is sel~ ~1 (Block 2214). Thc Ch~ may a~so selcct "Exit" to 10 rcturn to the System Main Menu (Block 2216).
The method for in ~el;on of Disc..,~ es diffcrs ...~il~lly from thi~
process in that it does not offer access to the Bill S~ scrccn. An LC is 5c1~1e~1 firom the Disc.~ on - SCIC~I:Q~' scrcen ~BIock 2016). When "Dctail"
has bcen srlc~t~d (Bloclc 2016), the Discrepancy t~l;n~ - Detai} screen is 15 d,st>l&~.~. This scrcen d;_~L~ra a list ofthc Disc~cie~ e checker compares the s~c:rc of Dis~c~ ;r~ ikms to the ~ C, if the Discrepancy is ~~allt~ cOK~ is 5~ (Block 2018) and a Di__~el.~c~ notice is f~, . . d~ to dle f-~ . (Block 2020). If the Discrop~cy i~ not valid, "Reject" is ~ el ~ BIoclc 2022), ant the Discrepancy is ~ ucd to thc Repair Queue ~md the Maker for p~ BIock 20 2024). "Save" may be ~ to save the approval~ and l.,jC~ and ~ ltO ~e Di-- ~p~l~i~ rn ~ scrcen (Block 2026). "Next" may be ~1~ t~ d to rcnlrn to the Di~ y Selr~ crcen without sa~ing (Bloclc 2028), a~t "Exit" may be r~ b. t to r~ to tho Sy~ern Main Menu without saving (Bloclc 2030).
;~ative ~ t-one need to be ~ ~f~-- ...~ in order to ~ t~ the 25 Sys~em. For ~;I~, acce~ to all a~ ation r~ nc other than P~o,.ls is ~c~ 1 to a "Manag~" User ID. To ~ ~ Xn-- r.. ~;Onl~ select "~l~..;.. ~hdt~on" from the System Main Menu (Bloclt 320). The ~ ;on menu is used to: atd or modify c~ r in~om~ion; atd or motify .,~.c~y i~-r~- ...5.~;O,~; cha~ge passwords; aWmodify to the Discrepancy Code table.
To either atd or modify C~t~ r".. ~ n, selcct "C~o.. ,~." from ~e A~ ion pull down menu (Block 2104). This invokes thc C~. ' ---~rr screen.

W O 97/294~5 PCTrUS97/01415 Either enter or select a C-blul-~r Base Number (Block 2402~. ~f the cll~tom~r ~umber is a new .~I~...bcr, ent~ cual,~ . i..r..~ n ~nto the available ficlds, if thc ~ualuu~ record i~ ;J;~g one, modify thc entries in the field as .~ uu~ (Bloclc 2404). Sclect "Save" to save the new C~ n~, or the ~ 5 to the ~
~ 3 ~u~ ,.C.infGI---Al;ol~Block2406). The ~!' tJ~ f~ ni~ thcnsenttothe system filc serva (Block 2408). A c--~ may also ~e teleted. ~n orter to delete a .~ , the Ma2~ger must first tclete all recorts relating to the ~ o~ from :he Systcm (Block 2410~. Once all of the records have been ~lelet~A select a c~ u~ ~. at the C~ sc~een, then select "Delete" ~BIock 2412). l~is l O step deletes the .~ o~ om the ' bns: on the system file server. Once the Manager has ~ r~i altering c-~ records, "Exit" is scl~ted to ret~rn to the System Main Menu (Block 2414).
C~.~,...,;cs can ~e added or deleted ~om the System. Select "C~..cIcs"
from shc ~ h~ n pull down menu ~BIock 2108). Enter thc al~ 3 Ch~ wL~ S.W.LF.T.c~ code(131ock2110),a~ ofthe.,u.. ~
~BIock 2112), the name ofthe cO~ in which the c~,~ is used (Block 2116~, and the ..~ubc~ of c~ t places to be used (Block 2118). Once this ;--f~ t;on Ihas been ente~et, select "Savc" ~o save the ~ to the database (Block 2120), or "Dclete"toera~etne~ codea~idc~c~,1~ (Block2122~. Sclect"Exit"
20 renlrn to the Sy~em Main Menu ~Bloclc 2124~.
Fasa~ can be changed ~m the ~ f-ion menu. A pas~word must be ch~ged every 30 day!~, but no more o~en thaD once per day. A pas~word may not be repeatet until three ,.~ diII~ t p~;.-.o.ds have been uset. To change a passwo~d, select "~ 1" &om the A~ n pull down menu 25 (Block 2126). This invokcs the Change ~as;~ screen. ~he user enters~e User ID, Old ~ 1, the New P~a~ . ~, and thcn retypa the New Pas~ .1 in thc ficld~s provided (Block 2128). The user then select~ ~OK~ to save the new p&ssword to the database (Bloclc 213û), or "Cancel" to unto the pa~wort cha~ge aRd retum to thc System Main Menu (~lock 2132).
Dls~ as ~ above, are deviations from the LC terms and conriitionc Di~.~l,nn- ;~ 5 have co--~,~n~ g code ,.-~ that are stored in ~e CA 022449l5 l998-07-29 W O 97/29445 .PCTrUS97/01415 ~t~b~ These codes are used not only to (ic5~ ~ibc the Dia~ but to make the ~c~ of Discle~s ~ ies concictent and more pP~ticqlly accG~ ~ ~t~ hli-Di~ codc~ can bc added of moAifie~ us~g the AAn,i ~ h~ ~on menu. To atd or modify a Discrepancy codc, sclect "Discrepancies" from thc A.~ ~Gn S scrcen (Block 2146). To mo_ify an c. ;~ g Dis~.. "r -~y code, se}cct a Disc.~
cote. To cnter a new cote enter the new code in thc Disc.~ Codc field ~BIock 2148). Oncc a codc has becn s~ec~d either modify the Ç~ 8 ~ n or enter a new dcs~ ion (B}oclc 2150). Selcct "Ssve" to save the m~ific~tiQn or new code (Block 21S2), "Exit" to return to the Systan Main Menu without saving (Block 2154), or "Delete" to crasc the s~l~.. b A code from thc ~tabsse (Block 2156).

Claims (23)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for tracking and reconciling a plurality of purchase orders between a customer and a manufacturer and a payment between a financial institution and a beneficiary pursuant to a letter of credit corresponding to said plurality of purchase orders comprising the steps of:
receiving electronically first data from said customer, said first data regarding said purchase orders and said letter of credit at said financial institution;
storing said first data in a repository associated with a processing system associated with said financial institution;
inputting second data from said manufacturer corresponding to the performance of said manufacturer pursuant to said purchase order;
comparing automatically by said processing system said first data against said second data to automatically identify a difference, if any, between said two sets of data;
generating automatically by said processing system a message identifying said difference and at least a portion of said second data;
sending electronically said first report from said financial institution to saidcustomer;
making a payment to said beneficiary from said financial institution pursuant to said letter of credit and debiting an amount corresponding to said payment from an account of said customer at said financial institution;
dividing automatically by said processing system said payment amount into individual purchase order payment amount, each said individual purchase order payment amount corresponding to a purchase order; and providing electronically a second message to said customer containing each individual purchase order payment amount and said debit payment amount to enablesaid customer to reconcile the debit payment amount to the corresponding purchase orders.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said financial institution is a bank.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said first data includes purchase order reference number used by the customer, each reference number corresponding to a purchase order.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein more than one difference is identified in the comparing step and further comprising the step of:
identifying each difference by its corresponding purchase order in said first message.

5. The method reference number of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
identifying each said purchase order payment amount by its corresponding purchase order reference number in said second message.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of generating automatically said first message further comprises the step of:
codifying automatically said difference and including said codified difference in said first message.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
authorizing payment pursuant to said letter of credit by an individual associated with said financial institution after said individual has reviewed said first message.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
negotiating payment under said letter of credit between said customer and said manufacturer after said customer has been made aware of said difference contained in said first message.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said difference is taken from the group of:
the goods to be manufactured being made of a material which is out of specification;
the goods being made are fewer than the number required in the purchase order; and the term of the purchase order having expired.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said first data includes an SKU
reference number used by the customer.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said manufacturer is said beneficiary.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said difference constitutes a discrepancy and including said discrepancy in said first message.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said difference constitutes an irregularity and including said irregularity in said first message.

14. A system for tracking and reconciling a plurality of purchase orders between a customer and a manufacturer and a payment between a financial institution and a beneficiary pursuant to a letter of credit corresponding to said plurality of purchase orders comprising:
receiving means for receiving said first data from said customer said first data regarding said customer orders and said letter of credit at said financial.institution;
storing means for storing said first data;
processing mean associated with said financial institution for processing said first data;
second data corresponding to the performance of said manufacturer pursuant to said purchase order being input into said processor means;

further processing means for automatically comparing said first data against said second data to automatically identify differences between said two sets of data;
further processing means for automatically generating a fist message identifying said differences;
means for sending said first message to said customer;
payment means for making a payment to said beneficiary pursuant to said letter of credit and debit means for debiting an amount corresponding to said payment from an account of said customer at said financial institution;
further processing means for automatically breaking down said payment amount into individual customer order amounts each corresponding to a purchase order; and means for sending a second message to said customer said second message containing said broken down information thereby enabling said customer to automatically reconcile the customer order amounts to the corresponding customerorder.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said financial institution is a bank.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein said first data includes purchase order reference numbers used by the customer, each reference number corresponding to a purchase order.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein more than one difference is identified and further wherein said first message identifies each difference by its corresponding order.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein said second message identifies each purchase order payment amount by its corresponding purchase order reference number.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein the processing means further includes codifying means for codifying each difference and including the codified difference in said first message.

20. The system of claim 14 further comprising:
an individual associated with said financial institution authorizing payment pursuant to said letter of credit after said individual has reviewed said first message.

21. The system of claim 14 wherein said manufacturer is said beneficiary.

22. A method for tracking and reconciling a plurality of SKU's between a customer and a manufacturer and a payment between a financial institution and a beneficiary pursuant to a letter of credit corresponding to said plurality of SKU's comprising the steps of:
receiving electronically first data from said customer, said first data regarding said SKU's and said letter of credit at said financial institution;
storing said first data in a repository associated with a processing system associated with said financial institution;
inputting second data from said manufacturer corresponding to the performance of said manufacturer to said SKU's;
comparing automatically by said processing system said first data against said second data to automatically identify a difference, if any, between said two sets of data;
generating automatically by said processing system a message identifying said difference and at least a portion of said second data;
sending electronically said first message from said financial institution to said customer;
making a payment to said beneficiary from said financial institution pursuant to said letter of credit and debiting an amount corresponding to said payment from an account of said customer at said financial institution;

dividing automatically by said processing system said payment amount into individual SKU payment amounts, each said individual SKU payment amount corresponding to a SKU; and providing electronically a second message to said customer containing each individual SKU payment amount and said corresponding debit payment amount to enable said customer to reconcile the debit payment amount to the corresponding SKU's.

23. A system for tracking and reconciling a plurality of SKU's between a customer and a manufacturer and a payment between a financial institution and a beneficiary pursuant to a letter of credit corresponding to said plurality of purchase orders comprising:
receiving means for receiving said first data from said customer said first data regarding said customer orders and said letter of credit at said financial institution;
storing means for storing said first data;
processing means associated with said financial institution for procession said first data;
second data corresponding to the performance of said manufacturer pursuant to said SKU being input into said processor means;
further processing means for automatically comparing said first data against said second data to automatically identify difference between said two sets of data;
further processing means for automatically generating a first message identifying said differences;
means for sending said first message to said customer;
payment means for making a payment to said beneficiary pursuant to said letter of credit and debit means for debiting an amount corresponding to said payment from an account of said customer at said financial institution;
further processing means for automatically breaking down said payment amount into individual customer order amounts each corresponding to a SKU; and means for sending a second message to said customer said second message containing said broken down information thereby enabling said customer to automatically reconcile the customer order amounts to the corresponding customerorder.