IP Library Granted Patent US 11,328,252
Granted Patent B1
US 11,328,252 · App. 16/861,084 · Granted May 10, 2022

Automatically generating invoices from contracts in a procurement system

Inventor: Donna Wilczek (San Mateo, CA)
Assignee: COUPA SOFTWARE INCORPORATED
G06Q10/10G06Q10/083G06Q10/107G06Q50/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,328,252
App. No.
16/861,084
Granted
May 10, 2022
Kind
B1
Abstract

An improved procurement system and method are provided. The improved procurement system comprises: a memory having stored therein an account of a first entity, the account associated with a first computer and comprising contract data associated with a first entity and a contract terms included in a contract between the first entity and a second entity, wherein the second entity is not associated with the account; one or more processors; a non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions executable by the one or more processors to perform: generating a Contract Order Document from the contract data associated with the first computer, the Contract Order Document being an electronic document comprising a portion of the contract data and a selectable user interface element that, when selected by a second computer associated with the second entity, generates an instruction to generate a first document; sending, via a network, the Contract Order Document to the second computer; receiving, in response to the Contract Order Document, the instruction from the second computer to generate the first document; obtaining, in response to the instruction and from the account of the first computer, at least a portion of the contract terms included in the contract between the first entity and the second entity; generating the first document using the at least the portion of the contract terms obtained from the account of the first computer; sending, via a network, the first document to the second computer.

Claims (48)

1. A computer-implemented method of generating digital contract documents, comprising:

storing, by a processor, in a memory, an account of a first entity, the account associated with a first computer and comprising contract terms included in a contract between the first entity and a second entity and contract data related to the contract, the second entity not being associated with any account;

generating, by the processor, a Contract Order Document as an electronic document comprising a portion of the contract data and an graphical option that, when selected by a second computer associated with the second entity, generates an instruction to create a first document;

sending the Contract Order Document or first access information for accessing the Contract Order Document to the second computer;

receiving the instruction generated in response to selecting the graphical option from the second computer;

generating, in response to the instruction, the first document using a portion of the contract terms from the account associated with the first computer;

sending the first document or second access information for accessing the first document to the second computer.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the first access information comprising a secure link to the Contract Order Document.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the contract data indicating products, units, payment terms, currency type, performance dates, expected completion dates, payment amounts, a description of goods or services, or information about a type of contract or types of supplier documents that can be generated from the contract.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the first document comprising a time sheet, an invoice, a receipt, or a shipping notification.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving account login information from the first computer;

transmitting, in response to the account login information, a second option for generating the Contract Order Document;

receiving a selection of the second option,

the Contract Order Document being generated in response to the selection.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the Contract Order Document further comprising a second graphical option that, when selected by the second computer associated with the second entity, generates a second instruction to add comments to the contract.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , further comprising:

receiving the second instruction to add comments to the contract;

causing displaying a user interface by the second computer that enables addition of a comment to the contract.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the Contract Order Document further comprising a copy of the contract.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , sending the Contract Order Document comprising transmitting the Contract Order Document via email, social media, or a messaging application.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising incorporating a portion of the instruction in the first document.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 ,

the first document being a form having fillable or editable fields,

the method further comprising receiving from the second computer an updated version of the first document with a filled, edited, added, or deleted field.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , further comprising prefilling one of the fields of the first document with a portion of the instruction.

13. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing instructions which when executed cause one or more processors to perform a method of generating digital contract documents, the method comprising:

storing in a memory, an account of a first entity, the account associated with a first computer and comprising contract terms included in a contract between the first entity and a second entity and contract data related to the contract, the second entity not being associated with any account;

generating a Contract Order Document as an electronic document comprising a portion of the contract data and an graphical option that, when selected by a second computer associated with the second entity, generates an instruction to create a first document;

sending the Contract Order Document or first access information for accessing the Contract Order Document to the second computer;

receiving the instruction generated in response to selecting the graphical option from the second computer;

generating, in response to the instruction, the first document using a portion of the contract terms from the account associated with the first computer;

sending the first document or second access information for accessing the first document to the second computer.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 13 , the method further comprising:

receiving account login information from the first computer;

transmitting, in response to the account login information, a second option for generating the Contract Order Document;

receiving a selection of the second option,

the Contract Order Document being generated in response to the selection.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 13 , the Contract Order Document further comprising a second graphical option that, when selected by the second computer associated with the second entity, generates a second instruction to add comments to the contract.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 15 , the method further comprising:

receiving the second instruction to add comments to the contract;

causing displaying a user interface by the second computer that enables addition of a comment to the contract.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 13 , sending the Contract Order Document comprising transmitting the Contract Order Document via email, social media, or a messaging application.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 13 , the method further comprising incorporating a portion of the instruction in the first document.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 13 ,

the first document being a form having fillable or editable fields,

the method further comprising receiving from the second computer an updated version of the first document with a filled, edited, added, or deleted field.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 19 , the method further comprising prefilling one of the fields of the first document with a portion of the instruction.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2023
From: COUPA SOFTWARE INCORPORATED; YAPTA, INC.
To: SSLP LENDING, LLC
Reel/Frame 062887/0181 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2021
From: WILCZEK, DONNA
To: COUPA SOFTWARE INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 055778/0326 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15589984 · May 8, 2017
Provisional Application 62333746 · May 9, 2016