US6009408A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated processing of travel related expenses
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
•
Filing: 1996-04-01
•
Granted: 1999-12-28
•
Expires: 2016-04-01
Abstract
Abstract A system (10) for facilitating the processing of travel related expenses includes a database (40) which stores a traveler profile (50), a customer profile (52), and a traveler category rule set (56). A controller (36), connected to the database (40), receives travel itinerary information for a traveler associated with a customer (12). The controller (40) determines a specified amount of funds to be allocated to the traveler and transfers the specified amount of funds from an account of the customer (12). In addition, the controller (40) provides at least a portion of the transferred funds to the traveler, for example, through an automatic teller machine network (20). The controller (40) receives a record, for example, via an electronic data interchange interface (24), of any transactions in which the traveler spends the portion of transferred funds, thereby facilitating the processing of travel related expenses.
Inventors
- 👤 Carla C. Buchanan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 12:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q40/00; G06Q40/02; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/02; G06Q10/028; G06Q10/0283
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for facilitating the processing of travel related expenses, comprising the steps of: receiving travel itinerary information for a traveler associated with a customer; retrieving information from a traveler profile, a customer profile, and a category rule set from a database; determining a specified amount of funds to be allocated to the traveler; transferring the specified amount of funds from an account of the customer; providing at least a portion of the transferred funds to the traveler; and receiving a record of any transactions in which the traveler spends the portion of transferred funds, thereby facilitating the processing of travel related expenses.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for facilitating the processing of travel related expenses, comprising the steps of: receiving travel itinerary information for a traveler associated with a customer; retrieving information from a traveler profile, a customer profile, and a category rule set from a database; determining a specified amount of funds to be allocated to the traveler; transferring the specified amount of funds from an account of the customer; providing at least a portion of the transferred funds to the traveler; and receiving a record of any transactions in which the traveler spends the portion of transferred funds, thereby facilitating the processing of travel related expenses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of booking travel arrangements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the step of transferring the specified amount of funds further comprises the step of debiting the customer's account according to the cost of the travel arrangements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of generating traveler information, customer information, and category rule set information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing at least a portion of the transferred funds further comprises the step of providing through an automated teller machine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of identifying a category for the traveler.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving travel itinerary information further comprises the step of receiving information regarding any travel arrangements required by the traveler.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the received record of transactions in a database.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining at least one predicted expense of the traveler.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of reporting an actual expense of the traveler against the predicted expense.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for facilitating the processing of travel related expenses, comprising the steps of: determining at least one predicted expense of a traveler associated with a customer; electronically receiving receipt information from a provider, the receipt information relating to at least one actual expense of the traveler; electronically transmitting the receipt information to the customer, thereby facilitating the processing of travel related expenses; and reporting to the customer the actual expense of the traveler against the predicted expense.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for facilitating the processing of travel related expenses, comprising the steps of: determining at least one predicted expense of a traveler associated with a customer; electronically receiving receipt information from a provider, the receipt information relating to at least one actual expense of the traveler; electronically transmitting the receipt information to the customer, thereby facilitating the processing of travel related expenses; and reporting to the customer the actual expense of the traveler against the predicted expense.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of receiving travel itinerary information for the traveler.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for facilitating the processing of travel related expenses, comprising: a database operable to store traveler profile information, customer profile information, and traveler category rule set information; and a controller connected to the database and operable to: receive travel itinerary information for a traveler associated with a customer; determine a specified amount of funds to be allocated to the traveler; transfer the specified amount of funds from an account of the customer; provide at least a portion of the transferred funds to the traveler; and receive a record of any transactions in which the traveler spends the portion of transferred funds, thereby facilitating the processing of travel related expenses.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for facilitating the processing of travel related expenses, comprising: a database operable to store traveler profile information, customer profile information, and traveler category rule set information; and a controller connected to the database and operable to: receive travel itinerary information for a traveler associated with a customer; determine a specified amount of funds to be allocated to the traveler; transfer the specified amount of funds from an account of the customer; provide at least a portion of the transferred funds to the traveler; and receive a record of any transactions in which the traveler spends the portion of transferred funds, thereby facilitating the processing of travel related expenses.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 13, further comprising an electronic data interchange interface operable to transmit and receive electronic information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 13, further comprising a database management system connected to the database and the controller, the database management system operable to manage the information stored in the database.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 13, further comprising an interactive voice response system operable to provide communications between the traveler and the system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further operable to book travel arrangements according to the received travel itinerary information.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4862357A
Cited
US4837422A
Cited
US5021953A
Cited
US5237499A
Cited
US5666530A
Cited
US5621201A
Cited
US5740427A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-27 | 2003-06-28 | 2003-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-27 | 2007-06-28 | 2007-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-27 | 2011-06-28 | 2011-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |