EP1338998A2

EP1338998A2 - Post-transaction communication with invoice and credit items via page

Info

Publication number: EP1338998A2
Application number: EP02007124A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thomas Müller; Jürgen Köhling
Original assignee: SAP SE
Current assignee: SAP SE
Priority date: 2002-02-15
Filing date: 2002-03-28
Publication date: 2003-08-27
Also published as: EP1338998A3

Abstract

Processing data from an electronic financial transaction (600) with invoice items (I) and credit items (C) is performed as follows: A first computer (901) provides a page (300) with a plurality of representations of monetary amounts (310) relating to the invoice items (I) and credit items (C) and with instructions (320) and sends the page (300) to a second computer (902). The second computer (902) interprets the instructions by a browser to receiving a list selection from a user and - according to the selection - to display a list with invoice items and credit items on a screen (952).

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to data processing and, more particularly, relates to computer systems, computer programs, and methods that support financial transactions via browser pages.

Background of the Invention

Service providers (i.e. private companies or governmental organizations) utilize computer systems to perform routine tasks, such as for billing/payment processes. Self-service scenarios are convenience and cost saving not only for the provider, but also for the customer. For example, the customer can review invoice or bank accounts that are presented by a browser interpreting a page.
The following references are useful:

US 6,175,823,
US 6,336,098, and
US 6,324,525.

For invoices with multiple items that either charge or deduct to/from the customer's bank account, there is a technical task to calculate balances and to communicate items to/from the customer with minimum load to the network.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for processing data from an electronic financial transaction with invoice items and credit items. The method comprises: by a first computer, providing a page with a plurality of representations of monetary amounts relating to the invoice items and credit items and with instructions, sending the page to a second computer; by the second computer, interpreting the instructions by a browser for receiving a list selection from a user, and - according to the selection - displaying a list with invoice items and credit items.
Preferably, the list selection is selected from the group of: open invoices, paid invoices, used credits, open credits, payments per item, and payments per pay date.
Preferably, providing the page comprises to add representations of monetary amounts of invoice items and credit items obtained from a response being sent prior to performing the financial transaction from the second computer to the first computer.
Preferably, providing the page comprises to add representations of any of the following amounts: entry invoice amount, modified invoice amount, entry credit amount, modified credit amount, payment amount.
Preferably, providing the page comprises to distinguish representations of amounts into open amounts and residual amounts.
Preferably, providing the page comprises to provide a page in markup language.
Preferably, sending the page comprises to sent the page via a network that operates according to an Internet protocol.
Preferably, displaying the list comprises to calculate sum amounts according to predefined rules from the representations in the page.
Preferably, displaying further comprises any from the group of: splitting amounts into partial amounts; indicating transaction dates; introducing warnings to unpaid items; listing residual invoice and credit items; calculating credit amounts during selection so that the user sees potential benefits; calculating payment amount in the first computer in parallel to the second computer to inform the user; displaying due dates; displaying available dates; simulating bank statements; and searching items according to predefined criteria.
The invention also relates to a computer program product with program code means for causing a processor to perform all the steps of the method as well as to a computer system with processor means to execute the method.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1: illustrates a simplified block diagram of an inventive computer network system;
FIG. 2: illustrates an overview about the system environment while preparing an electronic financial transaction;
FIG. 3: illustrates a simplified flowchart diagram of a first method for preparing the electronic financial transaction;
FIG. 4: illustrates an overview about the system environment while presenting results of the electronic financial transaction;
FIG. 5: illustrates a simplified flowchart diagram of a second method for processing data from the electronic financial transaction to present results;
FIG. 6: illustrates a classification of monetary amounts;
FIG. 7: illustrates computers and program code;
FIG. 8: illustrates an overview of an assignment feature;
FIG. 9: illustrates an overview of the assignment in a variation;
FIG. 10: illustrates an overview over consecutive executions of the first method, the transaction, and the second method;
FIG. 11: illustrates conventions for further figures;
FIGS. 12-16: illustrate screens during execution of the first method at consecutive time points;
FIGS. 17-23: illustrate screens during execution of the second method.

Computer System in General

FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified block diagram of the inventive computer network system 999 having a plurality of computers 900, 901, 902 (or 90q, with q=0...Q-1, Q any number).
Computers 900-902 are coupled via inter-computer network 990. Computer 900 comprises processor 910, memory 920, bus 930, and, optionally, input device 940 and output device 950 (I/O devices, user interface 960). As illustrated, the invention is present by computer program product 100 (CPP), program carrier 970 and program signal 980, collectively "program".
In respect to computer 900, computer 901/902 is sometimes referred to as "remote computer", computer 901/902 is, for example, a server, a router, a peer device or other common network node, and typically comprises many or all of the elements described relative to computer 900. Hence, elements 100 and 910-980 in computer 900 collectively illustrate also corresponding elements 10q and 91q-98q (shown for q=0) in computers 90q.
Computer 900 is, for example, a conventional personal computer (PC), a desktop and hand-held device, a multiprocessor computer, a pen computer, a microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, a minicomputer, a mainframe computer, a personal mobile computing device, a mobile phone, a portable or stationary personal computer, a palmtop computer or the like.
Processor 910 is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a micro-controller unit (MCU), digital signal processor (DSP), or the like.
Memory 920 symbolizes elements that temporarily or permanently store data and instructions. Although memory 920 is conveniently illustrated as part of computer 900, memory function can also be implemented in network 990, in computers 901/902 and in processor 910 itself (e.g., cache, register), or elsewhere. Memory 920 can be a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), or a memory with other access options. Memory 920 is physically implemented by computer-readable media, such as, for example: (a) magnetic media, like a hard disk, a floppy disk, or other magnetic disk, a tape, a cassette tape; (b) optical media, like optical disk (CD-ROM, digital versatile disk - DVD); (c) semiconductor media, like DRAM, SRAM, EPROM, EEPROM, memory stick, or by any other media, like paper.
Optionally, memory 920 is distributed across different media. Portions of memory 920 can be removable or non-removable. For reading from media and for writing in media, computer 900 uses devices well known in the art such as, for example, disk drives, tape drives.
Memory 920 stores support modules such as, for example, a basic input output system (BIOS), an operating system (OS), a program library, a compiler, an interpreter, and a text- processing tool. Support modules are commercially available and can be installed on computer 900 by those of skill in the art. For simplicity, these modules are not illustrated.
CPP 100 comprises program instructions and - optionally - data that cause processor 910 to execute method steps of the present invention. Method steps are explained with more detail below. In other words, CPP 100 defines the operation of computer 900 and its interaction in network system 999. For example and without the intention to be limiting, CPP 100 can be available as source code in any programming language, and as object code ("binary code") in a compiled form. Persons of skill in the art can use CPP 100 in connection with any of the above support modules (e.g., compiler, interpreter, operating system).
Although CPP 100 is illustrated as being stored in memory 920, CPP 100 can be located elsewhere. CPP 100 can also be embodied in carrier 970.
Carrier 970 is illustrated outside computer 900. For communicating CPP 100 to computer 900, carrier 970 is conveniently inserted into input device 940. Carrier 970 is implemented as any computer readable medium, such as a medium largely explained above (cf. memory 920). Generally, carrier 970 is an article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for executing the method of the present invention. Further, program signal 980 can also embody computer program 100. Signal 980 travels on network 990 to computer 900.
Having described CPP 100, program carrier 970, and program signal 980 in connection with computer 900 is convenient. Optionally, program carrier 971/972 (not shown) and program signal 981/982 embody computer program product (CPP) 101/102 to be executed by processor 911/912 (not shown) in computers 901/902, respectively.
Input device 940 symbolizes a device that provides data and instructions for processing by computer 900. For example, device 940 is a keyboard, a pointing device (e.g., mouse, trackball, cursor direction keys), microphone, joystick, game pad, scanner, disk drive. Although the examples are devices with human interaction, device 940 can also operate without human interaction, such as, a wireless receiver (e.g., with satellite dish or terrestrial antenna), a sensor (e.g., a thermometer), a counter (e.g., goods counter in a factory). Input device 940 can serve to read carrier 970.
Output device 950 symbolizes a device that presents instructions and data that have been processed. For example, a monitor or a display, (cathode ray tube (CRT), flat panel display, liquid crystal display (LCD), speaker, printer, plotter, vibration alert device. Similar as above, output device 950 communicates with the user, but it can also communicate with further computers.
Input device 940 and output device 950 can be combined to a single device; any device 940 and 950 can be provided optional.
Bus 930 and network 990 provide logical and physical connections by conveying instruction and data signals. While connections inside computer 900 are conveniently referred to as "bus 930", connections between computers 900-902 are referred to as "network 990". Optionally, network 990 comprises gateways being computers that specialize in data transmission and protocol conversion.
Devices 940 and 950 are coupled to computer 900 by bus 930 (as illustrated) or by network 990 (optional). While the signals inside computer 900 are mostly electrical signals, the signals in network are electrical, magnetic, optical or wireless (radio) signals.
Networking environments (as network 990) are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the internet (i.e. world wide web). The physical distance between a remote computer and computer 900 is not important. Network 990 can be a wired or a wireless network. To name a few network implementations, network 990 is, for example, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a public switched telephone network (PSTN); a Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), an infra-red (IR) link, a radio link, like Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), or satellite link.
Transmission protocols and data formats are known, for example, as transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP), hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP), secure HTTP, wireless application protocol, unique resource locator (URL), a unique resource identifier (URI), hyper text markup language HTML, extensible markup language (XML), extensible hyper text markup language (XHTML), wireless application markup language (WML), Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) etc.
Interfaces coupled between the elements are also well known in the art. For simplicity, interfaces are not illustrated. An interface can be, for example, a serial port interface, a parallel port interface, a game port, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, an internal or external modem, a video adapter, or a sound card.
Computer and program are closely related. As used hereinafter, phrases, such as "the computer provides" and "the program provides", are convenient abbreviation to express actions by a computer that is controlled by a program.

Detailed Description

FIG. 2 illustrates an overview about the system environment for using the invention. For convenience of explanation, the following conventions are made:
provider 01 is an organization that provides service to customer 03 (e.g., energy supplier supplying electricity to a private household); customer 03 is (a) a person or (b) an organization that receives the service. Account institution 02 is an organization that arranges payment for the service (from customer 03 to provider 01). The user is a person (i) being the customer or (ii) being associated with the customer.
The computers of FIG. 1 are conveniently classified into provider computer 900, account computer 901 and customer computer 902. This classification is convenient for explanation; computers 900 and 901 can be combined as well; or computer functions can be distributed to further computers.
Initially, provider computer 900 forwards invoice and credit information (I/C INFO) to account computer 901.
Performing the first server/client method of the present invention,

account computer 901 sends page 200 to customer computer 902 and thereby forwards I/C information in first portion 210 (of page 200) and forwards calculation instructions in second portion 220;
customer computer 902 uses a browser to interpret portion 210 (of page 200) to present different invoice items (e.g., "ALPHA 10
", "BETA 20
") and credit items ("CREDIT 5 Euro") on screen 952;
the user (at computer 902) selects at least one invoice item (e.g., "BETA 20 ") and at least one credit item (e.g., "CREDIT 5 ");
the browser uses the instructions in portion 220 (of page 200) to calculate a payment amount (P, i.e. 15 being the offset between the selected invoice item BETA and the selected credit item CREDIT); and
customer computer 902 returns response 250 with the payment amount (P, e.g., "15 ") to account computer 901.

Transaction 600 has now been prepared according to first method (cf. FIG. 3, 400) of the present invention, so that account computer 901 performs transaction 600 by deducting P (e.g. 15 ) from customer account 601 (C/A) and adding P to provider account 602 (P/A).
Alternatively, the browser uses the instructions in portion 220 (of page 200) to include a selection representation into response 250. The selection representation indicates the selected invoice item (e.g., BETA) and the selected credit item (e.g., CREDIT). Calculating P is shifted to computer 901.
FIG. 2 is also convenient to illustrate other conventions:
An invoice list (IL) is a statement that is made available by provider 01 to customer 03 and that lists invoice items (e.g., "ALPHA 10 ", "BETA 20 "). The invoice list is illustrated as presented to the user (on screen 952). An invoice item generally is a representation of at least a particular service together with a corresponding monetary amount (e.g., service ALPHA and amount 10 ). The invoice item number (M) stands for the number of items on the invoice list (FIG. 2: M = 2).
A credit list is a statement that is made available by provider 01 to customer 03 and that lists credit items. A credit item is a representation of a monetary amount that the provider credits to the customer for a particular action (e.g., 5 for overpayment). The credit item number (N) is the number of items on the credit list (FIG. 2: N = 1).
An invoice/credit list is a combination of invoice and credit lists for simultaneous presentation to the user (cf. FIG. 2). Euro ( ) is the exemplary currency used for explanation herein. Cents are conveniently not illustrated but can be added by those of skill in the art.
The sum invoice amount (ΣI) is the sum of the invoice amounts (I) to be paid, independent of selection (e.g., 10 + 20 = 30 ). It is an advantage that the user selection determines which items are to be paid by transaction 600.
Likewise, the sum credit amount (ΣC) is the sum amount of all credit items (e.g., 5 ). The credit amount (C) is the amount of the selected credit items. The advantage applies likewise.
A selector is an interactive screen element presented by customer computer 902 to the user. FIG. 2 symbolizes selectors by check boxes. Persons of skill in the art can implement the selectors otherwise, such as by radio buttons, input fields, or by keys. In FIG. 2, there are 2 invoice selectors for selecting an invoice item (e.g. only BETA selected) and a credit selector for selecting credit item (e.g., CREDIT 5 selected).
The term browser-page stands for any document with browser readable language (i.e. markup language, script language, e.g., HTML, XML, Java, JavaScript). The term browser presentation collectively stands for lists, amount indicators, selectors or the like that the browser displays on screen 952 to the user based on page 200 with portions 210/220.
FIG. 3 illustrates a simplified flow chart diagram of method 400 of the present invention. Method 400 is a method for preparing an electronic financial transaction, wherein prior to preparing the transaction, first computer 900 of provider 01 forwards invoice and credit (I/C) information to second computer 901 of account institution 02, and wherein after preparing, second computer 901 performs the transaction by deducting a payment amount (P) from customer account 601 to provider account 602 is characterized in that preparing comprises:
sending 410 page 200 to third computer 902 to forward invoice and credit information in first portion 210 of the page 200 and to forward calculation instructions in second portion 220 of page 200;
interpreting 420 first portion 210 by a browser of third computer 902 to present different invoice items and
credit items on screen 952;
receiving 430 from the user of third computer 902 a selection of at least one invoice items and of at least one credit item;
calculating 440 the payment amount (P) by offsetting the amounts of the invoice and credit items, thereby using the instructions in second portion 220; and
returning 450 response 250 with P to second computer 901.
FIG. 4 illustrates an overview about the system environment while presenting results of the electronic financial transaction. Illustrated are account computer 901 (transaction 600, I/C) and customer computer 902, page 300 with first portion 310 (representations of monetary amounts) and second portion 320 (instructions), as well as screen 952 with selector and lists.
FIG. 5 illustrates a simplified flowchart diagram of method 500 for processing data from electronic financial transaction (600) with invoice items (I) and credit items (C). In other words, method relates to post-processing transaction 600.
Computer 901 performs step providing 510 page 300 (cf. FIG. 4) with a plurality of representations of monetary amounts relating to the invoice items and credit items (portion 310) and with instructions (portion 320), step sending 520 page 300 to computer 902.
Computer 902 interprets the instructions by a browser to perform step receiving 530 a list selection from the user, and - according to the selection - displaying 540 a list with invoice items and credit items.
The following optional features are useful alone or in combination:

List Feature: presentation of different lists (L) on screen 952 of computer 902 (cf. FIGS. 11-23);
Modification Feature: modification of invoice amounts (I) and credit amounts (C): from entry (E) amount to modified (M) amount by delta (D) amount (cf. FIGS. 11-23);
Multiple Instrument Feature: payment of single items by charging multiple payment instruments, payment instrument being any means for paying (e.g., credit card, bank account, cash card, prepaid card), such as BANK X or BANK Y (cf. FIGS. 12-16);
Business Rule Feature: calculation of payment amount under consideration of credit amount, interest and the like, calculation at computer 902 or computer 901 (cf. FIG. 7);
Consecutive Transaction Feature: invoice or credit items with states such as open (O) and residual (R)(cf FIG. 6, cf. FIGS. 11-23); and
Invoice-to-credit assignment feature (FIGS. 8-9).

Letters in parenthesis are conveniently combined to acronyms (e.g., E and I to EI). There is no need to display these acronyms or letters to the user. In other words, the acronyms in the FIGS. are only provided for convenience of understanding.
FIG. 6 illustrates a classification for monetary amounts. As indicated in columns, amounts are classified into amount types:

invoice amount (I): the amount that provider 01 charges to customer 03,
credit amount (C): the amount that provider 01 credits to customer 03, and
payment amount (P): the amount that is actually paid by customer 03 during the transaction.

Provider 01 communicates I and C (i.e. I/C information) to account institution 02; account institution 02 communicates I and C to customer 03. Customer 03 communicates P to account institution 02 for payment to provider 01 during the transaction. In terms of computers 900-902, I and C are part of page 200/300, and - implicit or explicit - P is part of response 250 (optionally of page 300).
Wherever possible, the explanation conveniently refers to positive amounts. However, it is within the scope of the present invention that amounts can be negative as well.
As indicated by rows, further classification follows some of the features:
Modification feature: entry amount (E) is the amount in I/C information of page 200 sent from computer 901 to computer 902 (e.g., 10 , 20 and 5 for ALPHA, BETA, CREDIT, respectively). Modified amount (M) is the amount derived from E by user interaction in computer 902. Delta amount (D) is the arithmetic difference between entry amount E and modified amount M:

D = E - M.

E is also distinguished for I, C and P:

EI (entry invoice amount, e.g., 20 for BETA),
EC (entry credit amount, 5 as credit),
EP (entry payment amount, e.g., EP = EI - EC), 15 payment).

Modified amount (M) is also distinguished for I, C and P:

MI (modified invoice amount, e.g., user reduces EI = 20 to MI = 18 ),
MC (modified credit amount, e.g., user limits credit spending from EC = 5 to MC = 2 ),
MP (modified payment amount, e.g., MP = MI - MC = 18 - 2 = 16 ).

Delta amount (D) is also distinguished for I, C and P:

DI = EI - MI (delta invoice amount),
DC = EC - MC (delta credit amount),
DP = EP - MP (delta payment amount).

Delta amounts are calculated in computer 902 (e.g., by code in portion 220 of page 200) or in computer 901. The above definitions can be applied to derive a modified amount M from an entry amount E and a user-defined delta amount D. This is convenient for optional implementations where the user indicates D instead of M. For example, for given EI = 20
, the user indicates DI = 2 , and MI = 18 is calculated automatically.
In other words, D and M can be replaced. For convenience, the explanation refers to M only (cf. examples in response 250).
D und M are used to calculate residual amounts.
Still referring to FIG. 6, page 200 communicates M invoice items (e.g., FIG. 2, M = 2, ALPHA, BETA); and N credit items (e.g., FIG. 2, N = 1). Sum amounts are defined as follows:

ΣI (sum invoice amount) as the sum of all I(m) with m=1 to M,
ΣC (sum credit amount) as the sum of all C(n) with n=1 to N.

Response 250 communicates Q payment items. A sum payment amount is defined as:

ΣP as the sum of all P(q) with q=1 to Q.

For symmetric payment assignment, M, N and Q are equal. For asymmetric payment assignment, M, N and Q are not necessarily equal. The number Q of payments is determined by a number of (m,n) pairs. Details are explained in connection with FIGS. 8-9.
Still referring to FIG. 6, for the consecutive transaction feature, the following is defined: In repetitions of method 400, transaction 600, and method 500, entry amounts (E) are split into portions for consecutive transactions. For example, an invoice amount (I) is open (O) ("unpaid") as long as a first transaction is not yet completed. When the first transaction serves only a fraction of I, a residual (R) amount becomes the entry amount (E). For convenience, open and residual amounts are distinguished by superscript O and R. The distinction is made for I and C.

E^OI (entry open invoice amount), the invoice amount in page 200 during the first execution of method 400 (e.g., E^OI = 20 , BETA),
E^RI (entry residual invoice amount), the invoice amount in page 200 during the second execution of method 400 (e.g., E^RI = 2 if MI = 18 was initially paid, BETA),
E^OC (entry open credit amount), the credit amount in page 200 during the first execution of method 400 (e.g., 5 ),
E^RC (entry residual credit amount), the credit amount in page 200 during a second or further execution of method 400 (e.g., EC = 3 ).

Preferably, the amount classification remains hidden from the user.
FIG. 7 illustrates computers 901 and 902 with program code ("CODE") for executing methods 400 and 500. The code is part of CPP 101 and 102 in computers 901 and 902, respectively. Optionally, CPP 102 is communicated to computer 902 from computer 901, for example, in portion 220 of page 200. Java script, java applets or other browser interpretable code is advantageously used in computer 902. Calculation steps, for example, to calculate P, are performed either by computer 901 alone, by computer 902 alone, or by computers 901 and 902 in combination.
Business-rule feature: A business rule is any predefined rule for calculating P, for example, the one-to-one rule with P being the difference between invoice amount I and credit amount C.
This one-to-one rule can be applied to the classification of FIG. 6, for example:

ΣP = ΣI - ΣC (sum payment amount),
P = I - C (any payment amount),

Further rules can be introduced:

discount calculation rule, e.g.,
P = E - DISCOUNT,
time rule, e.g., DISCOUNT as a function of time,
interest rule, consideration of accumulated interest over time, or
deriving P from a modified amount (M).

A rule for calculating credit is, for example:

C = M - E (for details cf. FIGS. 11-23).

A rule for calculating modified amount is, for example:

M = E * 95 % or E * 105 (pay 5 % less or more depending on available credit).

Persons of skill in the art can introduce still further rules without departing from the scope of the invention.
FIGS. 8-9 illustrates an overview about the invoice-to-credit assignment feature.
Generally, the user assigns invoice amounts I to credit amounts C. More specific, the user assigns a number of M invoice amounts I(m) to a number of N credit amounts C(m). In the example, both numbers are equal: M = N.
The figures indicate each assignment by a separate arrow and by the payment amount (P(q) or P(m,n)) calculated, for example, according to P = I - C (one-to-one rule). The plurality of (m,n) indices forms an assignment vector.
The button row indicates sum amounts ΣI, ΣP and ΣC. Both figures conveniently use the same exemplary amounts:
20 , 10 , 40 and 30 as I (invoice) and 30 , 10 , 20
and 20 as C (credit). In both cases, customer 03 has to pay ΣI = 100 . Using credits with ΣC = 80 , customer 03 pays only ΣP = 20 .
The assignments are classified into symmetric assignment with P(q) (FIG. 8) and asymmetric assignment with P(m,n) (FIG. 9).
For example in FIG. 8,

P(1) = -10 is the amount to be paid for invoice item 1 (I(1) = 20 ) by using credit item 1 (C(1) = 30 );
P(2) = 0 is the amount to be paid for invoice item 2 (I(2) = 10 ) by using credit item 2 (C(2) = 10 );
P(3) = 20 is the amount to be paid for invoice item 3 (I(3) = 40 ) by using credit item 3 (C(3) = 20 );
P(4) = 10 is the amount to be paid for invoice item 4 (I(4) = 30 ) by using credit item 4 (C(4) = 20 ).

[(m,n)] = [(1,1), (2,2), (3,3), (1,1)], simplified to
[q] = [1, 2, 3, 4].

For example in FIG. 9,

P(1,4) = 0 is the amount to be paid for invoice item 1 (1(4) = 20 ) by using credit item 4 (C(1) = 20 );
P(2,2) = 0 is the amount to be paid for invoice item 2 (I(2) = 10 by using credit item 2 (C(2) = 10 ) ;
P(3,3) = 20 is the amount to be paid for invoice item 3 (I(3) = 40 ) by using credit item 3 (C(3) = 20 );
P(4,1) = 0 is the amount to be paid for invoice item 4 (I(4) = 30 ) by using credit item 1 (C(1) = 30 ).

The assignment vector is

[(m,n)] = [(1,4), (2,2), (3,3), (4,1)].

The assignment vector (e.g., either of FIG. 8 or 9) is conveniently communicated from computer 902 to computer 901 in response 250. Preferably, the assignment is determined through user interaction. The following description refers to FIG. 9 under the assumption that 4 screens with checkboxes are displayed one after the other. Optionally, amounts are displayed to the user next to the checkboxes.

Screen with check boxes for I(1), I(2), I(3), I(4), C(1), C(2), C(3) and C(4). The user selects I(1) and C(4). The first vector element is determined as (1,4).
Screen with remaining check boxes for I(2), I(3), I(4), C(1), C(2) and C(3). The user selects I(2) and C(2). The second vector element is determined as (2,2).
Screen with remaining check boxes for I(3), I(4), C(1), and C(3). The user selects I(3) and C(3). The third vector element is determined as (3,3).
Screen with remaining check boxes for I(4) and C(1). The user selects them. The fourth vector element is determined as (4,1).

Modifying the amount according is optional (modification feature, E to M). For example, the screen could have input fields to invite the user to alter entry invoice amounts (EI) to modified invoice amounts (MI).
FIG. 10 illustrates an overview over consecutive executions of method 400, transaction 600, and method 500.
Vertical lines symbolize computers 901 and 902; a diamond symbolizes transaction 600 (on computer 901). Arrows indicate the following steps:

sending page 200 (method 400),
returning response 250 (method 400), and
sending page 300 (method 500).

MARCH, APRIL, MAY, JUNE, JULY, AUGUST and subscripts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, respectively, indicate consecutive time points of method execution.
Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul (or "...") indicate services provided by provider 01 to customer 03. These 3-letter words appear on the list and also serve as indices (instead of m or n).
Page 200 has EI(...) (entry invoice amounts) and EC(...) (entry credit amounts) corresponding to the service (by provider 01). Both EI(...) and EC(...) can be open (O) or residual (R).
Response 250 has MI(...) (modified invoice amounts) and MC(...) (modified credit amounts).
Page 300 has amounts to be presented, such as payments amounts P(...) .
It is assumed that provider 01 has already forwarded I/C to account institution 02 for January and February services to customer 03. Method 500 can be executed at any time point; the illustration at AUGUST is a convenient example.
While pages 200, 300 and response 250 remain hidden from the user, corresponding example for screen 952 of computer 902 at time points MARCH to AUGUST are illustrated in the following figures.
FIG. 11 illustrates illustration conventions for FIGS. 12-21.

Plain-line frames illustrate screen 952 as presented to the user with selectors and lists (L). The selectors are symbolized by a check box, by a radio button and by a register tab.
Dashed-line frames illustrate acronyms for content of page 200, response 250 or page 300, usually hidden from the user. The acronyms correspond to these in FIG. 10.

FIGS. 12-16 represent repetitions of method 400 from MARCH to JULY. Illustrated are (list feature)

EIL (entry invoice list),
ECL (entry credit list),
MIL (modified invoice list),
MCL (modified credit list), and
BL (bank list).

An EIL becomes a MIL when the user modifies at least one invoice amount; an ECL becomes a MCL when the user modifies at least one credit amount (modification feature). EIL and ECL are preferably presented simultaneously; MIL and MCL are also preferably presented simultaneously.
Optionally, items are automatically selected if the user modifies the amount of the item. The order in time of modifying (EI to MI, EC to MC) and of selecting is not important.
After modification/selection, P (payment amount) is calculated (business rule feature), and BL is presented to determine the preferred payment instrument (multiple instrument feature).
Although illustrated together, EIL/ECL, MIL/MCL and BL are conveniently presented to the user consecutively.
Texts are presented to assist the user, for example by:

"Jan", "Feb" etc. to identify invoice or credit items,
"INVOICE" for an invoice list (EIL, MIL),
"CREDIT" for a credit list (ECL, MCL),
"Total to pay" for ΣEI minus ΣEC;
"Decided to pay" for ΣMI minus ΣMC;
"BANK" for indicating the payment instrument, for example, BANK X or BANK Y.

Text is accompanied by amounts (EI, EC, MI, MC, Σ). Preferably, sum amounts and payment amounts for display on screen 952 are calculated by computer 902. (Amounts for transaction 600 are optionally calculated by computer 901.)
As indicated in the dashed frames, data from page 200 is:

EI (entry invoice amount) and
EC (entry credit amount)

Data going into response 250 is:

MI (modified invoice amount),
MC (modified credit amount), and
bank indicator X or Y.

FIG. 12 illustrates MARCH. Customer 03 using BANK X partially pays for Jan and Feb services. In other words, customer 03 pays less than required.

lists: EIL, MIL, and BL.
entry invoice amount:
sum entry invoice amount ("Total to pay")
modified invoice amounts:
delta amounts:
business rule: one-to-one
Bank selection: X

FIG. 13 illustrates APRIL. Using BANK Y, customer 03 completely pays the residual amounts for Jan and Feb services, partially pays for Mar service. Again, customer 03 pays less than required.

lists: EIL, MIL and BL
entry invoice amount:
modified invoice amount:
business rule: one-to-one
Bank selection: Y

FIG. 14 illustrates MAY. Using BANK X, customer 03 completely pays the residual amount for Mar service and overpays for Apr service.

lists: EIL, MIL and BL
entry invoice amounts:
modified invoice amounts:
business rule: one-to-one
bank selection: X

FIG. 15 illustrates JUNE. Using BANK X and credit from overpayment (Apr service), customer 03 partially pays for May service. Customer 03 pays less than required.

lists: EIL/ECL, MIL/MCL, BL
entry invoice amount (in EIL) :
entry credit amount (in ECL):
modified invoice amount (in MIL):
modified credit amount (in MCL):
business rule: one-to-one
Bank selection: X

FIG. 16 illustrates JULY. Still using credit from overpayment (Apr service), customer 03 completely pays the residual for May service and partially pays for Jun service. Customer 03 pays less than required.

lists: EIL/ECL, MIL/MCL
entry invoice amount (in EIL):
entry credit amount (in ECL):
modified invoice amount (in MIL):
modified credit amount (in MCL):
(unchanged, i.e. using the credit completely)
business rule: one-to-one

FIGS. 17-23 illustrate execution of method 500 in AUGUST.
FIG. 17 illustrates a list selector, for example, register cards with tab for invoice items, credit items, or payment overviews. The user is invited to select any list (cf. step 530 receiving list selection) for example:

OPEN INVOICES (cf. FIG. 18)
PAID INVOICES (cf. FIG. 19)
USED CREDITS (cf. FIG. 20)
OPEN CREDITS (cf. FIG. 21)
PAYMENTS PER ITEM (cf. FIG. 22)
PAYMENTS PER PAY DATE (cf. FIG. 23)

Information needed to provide the lists are forwarded in page 300 (step sending page) from computer 901 to computer 902. As in step 540, the lists are displayed as follows.
FIG. 18 illustrates OIL (open invoice list) listing invoice items for that payment by customer 03 is outstanding ("My Open Bills"):

E^RI(Jun)₈ (payment for Jun as residual E^OI(Jun)₇-MI(Jun)₇).

FIG. 18 illustrates PIL (paid invoice list) listing invoice items for that customer 03 has already paid. For services Jan to May:

MI(Jan)₃ + MI(Jan)₄
MI(Feb)₃ + MI(Feb)₄
MI(Mar)₄ + MI(Mar)₅
MI(Apr)₅ - credit
MI(May)₆ + MI(May)₇

The amount for unpaid service Jun is not illustrated.
FIG. 20 illustrates used CL (credit list) listing credit items that customer 03 has acquired and used. In the example, credit was calculated as:

Credit usage was distributed to:

FIG. 21 illustrates open credits, i.e. credits that are still available. In the example, all credit was used. Convenient is the indication of

the origin of the credit (e.g., overpayment for a certain service),
C (credit amount), and
possible usage (conveniently also in combination with a graphical assignment as in FIGS. 8-9).

FIG. 22 illustrates an overview about payments made between MARCH and JULY. Columns indicate

service by provider 01 (e.g., Jan to Jun),
pay status (Yes = I completely paid),
pay date (e.g., months MARCH to JULY),
BANK as payment instrument (X, Y and also CREDIT),
amount that was paid (i.e., MI)

Convenient is an indication of credit generation (Apr in MAY) and credit spending (May/Jun in JUNE/JULY). Optionally, sorting schemes are provided so that the user can, for example, sort the overview according to pay date (e.g., ascending from MARCH), BANK, amounts (e.g., starting with the largest) or the like.
FIG. 23 illustrates an overview about payments organized according to pay date from MARCH to JULY. In other words, the figure informs about transactions 600 that have followed method 400.
Based on substantially the same data as for FIG. 22, the figures indicates also optionally indicates items, bank, amount per item, and sum amounts.
Persons of skill in the art can introduce various modifications to FIGS. 18-23. From the great variety of modifications, only some can be named here, for example:

splitting into partial amounts (e.g., PIL in FIG. 18, separately display MI(Jan)₃ and MI(Jan)₄);
indicating transaction dates (e.g., writing MARCH and APRIL);
introducing warnings to unpaid items;
having a list of residual invoice and credit items;
calculating credit amounts during selection so that the user sees potential benefits;
calculating P in computer 902 in parallel to computer 901 to inform the user;
displaying due dates, calendar dates by that provider 01 expects completion of transaction 600;
displaying available dates, calendar dates from that provider 01 provides credit in the future;
simulating bank statements, for example, listing the transactions, e.g., from BANK X (MARCH, MAY) and BANK Y (APRIL);
searching items according to predefined criteria, such as status (e.g., transaction completed/"processed"), payment instrument (e.g., BANK X or Y), time period (e.g., last 12 months).

For such extra functionality, persons of skill in the art can add action control buttons or other browser control means.
It is an advantage that commercially available browser can be used in computer 902; in other words, extra software on computer 902 is not required.

References

Σ: sum
(m,n): invoice-to-credit assignment
: Euro
01: provider
02: account institution
03: customer
10x: computer program product
200, 300: page
210, 310: first portion
220, 320: second portion
250: response
400, 4xx: method for preparing
500, 5xx: method for processing
600: transaction
601: customer account (C/A)
602: provider account (P/A)
900: provider computer
901: account computer
902: customer computer
952: screen
9xx: computer components
B, X, Y: bank
C, n, N: credit, index and number
E: entry
I, m, M: invoice, index, number
L: list
M: modified
O, R: open, residual
P, q, Q: payment, index and number

Claims

A method (500) for processing data from an electronic financial transaction (600) with invoice items (I) and credit items (C), the method comprising: by a first computer (901), providing (510) a page (300) with a plurality of representations of monetary amounts relating to the invoice items and credit items and with instructions, sending (520) the page (300) to a second computer (902); by the second computer (902), interpreting the instructions by a browser for receiving (530) a list selection from a user, and - according to the selection - displaying (540) a list with invoice items and credit items.
The method (500) of claim 1, wherein the list selection is selected from the group of: open invoices, paid invoices, used credits, open credits, payments per item, and payments per pay date.
The method (500) of claim 1, wherein providing (510) the page comprises to add representations of monetary amounts of invoice items and credit items obtained from a response (250) being sent prior to performing the financial transaction (600) from the second computer (902) to the first computer (901).
The method (500) of claim 3, wherein providing (510) the page comprises to add representations of any of the following amounts: entry invoice amount (EI), modified invoice amount (MI), entry credit amount (EC), modified credit amount (MC), payment amount (P).
The method (500) of claim 4, wherein providing (510) the page comprises to distinguish representations of amounts into open amounts (O) and residual amounts (R).
The method (500) of claim 1, wherein providing (510) the page (300) comprises to provide a page in markup language.
The method (500) of claim 1, wherein sending (520) the page (300) comprises to sent the page via a network that operates according to an internet protocol.
The method (500) of claim 1, wherein displaying (540) the list comprises to calculate sum amounts according to predefined rules from the representations in the page (300).
The method (500) of claim 1, wherein displaying (540) further comprises any from the group of: splitting amounts into partial amounts; indicating transaction dates; introducing warnings to unpaid items; listing residual invoice and credit items; calculating credit amounts during selection so that the user sees potential benefits; calculating payment amount in the first computer in parallel to the second computer to inform the user; displaying due dates; displaying available dates; simulating bank statements; and searching items according to predefined criteria.
Computer program product (100) with program code means for causing a processor to perform all the steps of the method of any of claims 1-9.
Computer system (999) with processor means to execute the method according to any of claims 1-9.