AU2017276346A1 - Systems and methods for generating a data file and operating a case management system - Google Patents

Abstract

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING A DATA FILES AND OPERATING A CASE MANAGEMENT Described herein systems and methods for generating data files and/or for operating a case management system. Embodiments of the invention have been particularly developed for modifying operation of existing case management system (for example a case management system including accounting software package) to integrate with services provided by a foreign exchange agent. As context, a foreign currency invoice is issued to a service provider. This invoice relates to a client matter of the service provider. The present embodiments are directed towards methodologies/technologies for enabling the service provider to engage a foreign exchange agent to manage issues associated with foreign currency fluctuations, and integrate such an approach with an existing case management system. (FIG. 1) Invoice generation procedure 102 Invoice receipt/exchange rate management procedure 103 4Case management system update procedure Invoice settlement procedure

Description

invention have been particularly developed for modifying operation of existing case management system (for example a case management system including accounting software package) to integrate with services provided by a foreign exchange agent. As context, a foreign currency invoice is issued to a service provider. This invoice relates to a client matter of the service provider. The present embodiments are directed towards methodologies/technologies for enabling the service provider to engage a foreign exchange agent to manage issues associated with foreign currency fluctuations, and integrate such an approach with an existing case management system.

(FIG. 1)

1/8

2017276346 15 Dec 2017

101

102

103

104

FIG. 1

100 ί

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING A DATA

FILE AND OPERATING A CASE MANAGEMENT

SYSTEM

2017276346 15 Dec 2017

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to systems and methods for generating data files and/or for operating a case management system. Embodiments of the invention have been particularly developed for modifying operation of existing case management system (for example a case management system including accounting software package) to integrate with services provided by a foreign exchange agent. While some embodiments will be described herein with particular reference to that application, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to such a field of use, and is applicable in broader contexts.

BACKGROUND [0002] Any discussion of the background art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

[0003] It is common for a service provider to procure services from a foreign supplier in the course of servicing a local client. In such situations, the foreign supplier issues a foreign currency invoice (“foreign” by reference to the local currency of the service provider) to the service provider, who is responsible for payment of that invoice. The service provider seeks to obtain payment from the local client to cover the cost of paying the foreign supplier’s invoice. For example, in the context of patent attorney firms, a local firm engages a foreign firm to assist a local client in obtaining patent protection in a foreign jurisdiction. The foreign firm invoices the local firm for services, and the local firm issues an invoice to the local client for the local firm’s services plus a disbursement corresponding to the foreign firm’s invoice. This general practice requires the management of both Accounts Payable (AP) entries and Work in Progress (WIP) entries. Various case management systems have been developed to assist, such as Inprotech by CPA Global.

2017276346 15 Dec 2017 [0004] Complications arise in the sense that foreign currency exchange rates fluctuate, and there is a delay between the issuance and payment of invoices. Importantly, there are delays between the service provider issuing a local currency invoice to the local client, the payment of that invoice by the local client, and the payment of the foreign invoice. Managing these complications is by no means trivial, particularly in the context of integration with a complex case management system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

[0006] One embodiment provides a computer implemented method generating a data file, the method including:

[0007] (a)receiving data indicative of a foreign currency invoice, wherein the invoice is issued to a service provider and relates to a client matter of the service provider;

[0008] (b)determining a local-currency fixed payment amount that is payable by the service provider to a foreign exchange agent at a future date in consideration for settlement of the foreign currency invoice, wherein the foreign exchange agent is responsible for making a foreign currency payment in settlement of the foreign currency invoice;

[0009] (c)identifying, in computer memory, data indicative of a set of rules associated with the service provider;

[0010] (d)processing the fixed payment local-currency amount on the basis of the identified set of rules thereby to calculate a client charge in relation to the client matter, wherein the client charge has a client charge value derived from the local-currency fixed payment amount;

[0011] (e)executing a data file generation process on the basis of the identified set of rules thereby to generate a data file, wherein the data file includes data indicative of the local-currency fixed payment amount, client charge value, and one or more additional data values thereby to enable updating of a case management system operated by the service provider to create, in respect of the foreign currency invoice:

2017276346 15 Dec 2017 [0012] (i)an accounts payable entry for paying the local-currency fixed payment amount; and [0013] (ii)a Work In Progress (WIP) entry against the client matter for the client charge value.

[0014] One embodiment provides a method for operating a case management system, in respect of a foreign currency invoice issued to a service provider, wherein the invoice relates to a client matter of the service provider, and wherein data indicative of the foreign currency invoice has been provided by the service provider to a foreign exchange agent responsible for making a foreign currency payment in settlement of the foreign currency invoice, the method including:

[0015] receiving from the foreign exchange agent data indicative of a local-currency fixed payment amount, being a fixed amount payable by the service provider to the foreign exchange agent at a future date in consideration for settlement of the foreign currency invoice;

[0016] on the basis of the local-currency fixed payment amount, defining a client charge in relation to the client matter, wherein the client charge has a client charge value derived from the local-currency fixed payment amount;

[0017] entering data indicative of the local-currency fixed payment amount and client charge into a case management system, thereby to create:

[0018] (i)an accounts payable entry for paying the local-currency fixed payment amount; and [0019] (ii)a Work In Progress (WIP) entry against the client matter for the client charge value.

[0020] One embodiment provides a method for defining a set of rules for use in a data file generation process, the method including the steps of:

[0021] (a)determining a set of data values required to update a case management system thereby to create:

[0022] (i)an accounts payable entry; and

2017276346 15 Dec 2017 [0023] (ii)a Work In Progress (WIP) entry against a client matter for a client charge value.

[0024] (b)defining the set of rules such that the data file generation process generates a file having all of the determined data values.

[0025] One embodiment provides a method for foreign currency invoice management, in respect of a foreign currency invoice issued to a service provider, wherein the invoice relates to a client matter of the service provider, and wherein data indicative of the foreign currency invoice has been provided by the service provider to a foreign exchange agent responsible for making a foreign currency payment in settlement of the foreign currency invoice, the method including:

[0026] receiving from the foreign exchange agent data indicative of a local-currency fixed payment amount, being a fixed amount payable by the service provider to the foreign exchange agent at a future date in consideration for settlement of the foreign currency invoice;

[0027] on the basis of the local-currency fixed payment amount, defining a client charge in relation to the client matter, wherein the client charge has a client charge value derived from the local-currency fixed payment amount;

[0028] entering data indicative of the local-currency fixed payment amount and client charge into a case management system, thereby to create:

[0029] (i)an accounts payable entry for paying the local-currency fixed payment amount; and [0030] (ii)a WIP entry against the client matter for the client charge value.

[0031] One embodiment provides a computer program product for performing a method as described herein.

[0032] One embodiment provides a non-transitive carrier medium for carrying computer executable code that, when executed on a processor, causes the processor to perform a method as described herein.

[0033] One embodiment provides a system configured for performing a method as described herein.

2017276346 15 Dec 2017 [0034] One embodiment provides a computer implemented method generating a data fde, the method including:

[0035] (a)receiving data indicative of a foreign currency invoice, wherein the invoice is issued to a service provider and relates to a client matter of the service provider;

[0036] (b)determining a local-currency fixed payment amount that is payable by the service provider to a foreign exchange agent at a future date in consideration for settlement of the foreign currency invoice, wherein the foreign exchange agent is responsible for making a foreign currency payment in settlement of the foreign currency invoice;

[0037] (c)identifying, in computer memory, data indicative of a set of rules associated with the service provider;

[0038] (d)executing a data file generation process on the basis of the identified set of rules thereby to generate a data file, wherein the data file includes data indicative of the local-currency fixed payment amount, and one or more additional data values thereby to enable updating of a case management system operated by the service provider to create, in respect of the foreign currency invoice:

[0039] (i)an accounts payable entry for paying the local-currency fixed payment amount; and [0040] (ii)a Work In Progress (WIP) entry against the client matter for a the client charge value derived from the local-currency fixed payment amount.

[0041] Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “some embodiments” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in some embodiments” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

2017276346 15 Dec 2017 [0042] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives first, second, third, etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

[0043] In the claims below and the description herein, any one of the terms comprising, comprised of or which comprises is an open term that means including at least the elements/features that follow, but not excluding others. Thus, the term comprising, when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limitative to the means or elements or steps listed thereafter. For example, the scope of the expression a device comprising A and B should not be limited to devices consisting only of elements A and B. Any one of the terms including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0044] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0045] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a method according to one embodiment.

[0046] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a method according to one embodiment.

[0047] FIG. 3A schematically illustrates a method according to one embodiment.

[0048] FIG. 3B schematically illustrates a method according to one embodiment.

[0049] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a method according to one embodiment.

[0050] FIG. 5A schematically illustrates prior art party-party relationships.

[0051] FIG. 5B schematically illustrates party-party according to one embodiment relationships.

[0052] FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a system according to one embodiment.

2017276346 15 Dec 2017

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0053] Described herein systems and methods for generating data files and/or for operating a case management system. Embodiments of the invention have been particularly developed for modifying operation of existing case management system (for example a case management system including accounting software package) to integrate with services provided by a foreign exchange agent. As context, a foreign currency invoice is issued to a service provider. This invoice relates to a client matter of the service provider. The present embodiments are directed towards methodologies/technologies for enabling the service provider to engage a foreign exchange agent to manage issues associated with foreign currency fluctuations, and integrate such an approach with an existing case management system.

OVERVIEW [0054] FIG. 1 illustrates a method 100 according to one embodiment. Method 100 provides a general overview of an approach for managing foreign currency invoices. Embodiments of the present technology include aspects of this general methodology, along with hardware/software configured to implement aspects of this general methodology. Method 100 includes an invoice generation phase 101, receipt/exchange rate management phase 102, system update phase 103, and invoice settlement procedure 104. Various exemplary aspects of method 100 are detailed in FIG. 2, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and FIG. 4.

[0055] FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B provide context to the parties involved in method 100, with FIG. 5A showing a conventional arrangement (in absence of method 100) and FIG. 5B showing arrangements based on an exemplary implementation of method 100. The parties are a supplier 500, service provider 501, client 502, and foreign exchange agent 503 (noting that agent 503 is not present in the conventional arrangement of FIG. 5A).

[0056] FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a service provider system according to one embodiment. This system includes one or more computer processors coupled to one or more memory modules. The memory module/modules carry computer executable code (also referred to as software instructions) executable via the one or more processors,

2017276346 15 Dec 2017 thereby to cause the performance of various computer implementable methods described herein.

GENERAL METHODOLOGY [0057] Referring initially to FIG. 1, method 100 commences with phase 101, which represents an invoice generation procedure. Phase 101 is performed by a supplier 500, who raises an invoice in a desired supplier currency (for example the supplier’s local currency). This is referred to as a “foreign” currency for the present purposes. The debtor for the invoice raised at phase 100 is a service provider 501. That is, service provider 501 is ultimately responsible for payment of the invoice. The relevant invoice relates to a client matter of the service provider. Accordingly, service provider 501 will seek payment from a client 502 associated with that client matter thereby to cover the costs of paying the invoice of supplier 500.

[0058] As additional context, referring to FIG. 5A, a conventional approach is for supplier 500 to issue an invoice in foreign currency to service provider 501. Service provider 501 is ultimately responsible for paying that invoice in foreign currency. Service provider 501 issues a local currency invoice to client 502, this invoice including a component intended to cover the cost of making the foreign currency payment to supplier 500. The client settles the local currency invoice with a local currency payment. It will be appreciated that the component of the local currency invoice intended to cover the cost of making the foreign currency payment to supplier 500 remains constant, whereas , due to currency fluctuations over time, the actual cost of making the foreign currency payment to supplier 500 varies over time.

[0059] Method 100 is, at least in some embodiments, implemented based on the relationships shown in FIG. 5B, which include a further party in the form of a foreign exchange agent 503. Foreign exchange agent 503 provides a foreign currency payment service which includes: (i) making a foreign currency payment in settlement of the supplier’s invoice; and (ii) assisting service provider 501 manage complications associated with exchange rate fluctuations.

[0060] Phase 102 includes an invoice receipt/exchange rate management procedure.

This includes interactions between service provider 501 and foreign exchange agent

503. This is discussed in additional detail further below. At a general level, the core

2017276346 15 Dec 2017 concept is that service provider 502 provides to agent 503 data indicative of the foreign currency invoice, and in response agent 503 provides to service provider 501 data indicative of a local-currency fixed payment amount. This local-currency fixed payment amount is fixed amount payable by service provider 501 to foreign exchange agent 503 at a future date in consideration for settlement of the foreign currency invoice.

[0061] Phase 103 includes a case management system update procedure. This is in some embodiments an automated process conducted using software modules operable in a computer system of service provider 501. This is discussed in additional detail further below.

[0062] Method 100 concludes with an invoice settlement procedure at phase 104. In the present embodiment phase 104 includes the making of a foreign currency payment by agent 503 to supplier 500 on behalf of service provider 501.

EXCHANGE RATE MANAGEMENT PROCEDURE [0063] As noted above, phase 102 includes an exchange rate management procedure. One embodiment of phase 102 is illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0064] Block 201 represents a process whereby an invoice is received by service provider 501 (being a foreign currency invoice from supplier 500 relating to a client matter of client 502). Block 202 represents a process including providing to agent 503 data indicative of the invoice. At a minimum, this data includes the foreign currency total of the invoice. The data may also include details such as a service provider reference (for example a reference number indicative of the relevant client matter), a date at which the invoice is to be paid, and so on. In some cases this process included providing a copy of the invoice to agent 503.

[0065] Block 203 represents a process performed by agent 503 including determining a local-currency fixed payment amount. The local-currency fixed payment amount is a fixed amount (in the local currency of the service provider) payable by service provider 501 to foreign exchange agent 503 at a future date in consideration for settlement of the foreign currency invoice. The manner by which the local-currency fixed payment amount is defined varies between implementations, based on internal policies of agent 503. At a broad level, agent 503 is able to use data indicative of exchange rate ίο

2017276346 15 Dec 2017 fluctuations and other inputs thereby to make a prediction of how exchange rates will vary over a given period. The agent then makes a risk determination so as to provide a fixed amount, and in doing so take on risks associated with currency fluctuations between the date on which the fixed amount is set and the date on which the invoice is finally paid. It will be appreciated that agent 503 has potential to make a currency gain or loss.

[0066] Block 204 represents a process performed by agent 503 including providing to service provider 501 data indicative of the local-currency fixed payment amount. The manner by which this data is provided (and hence received by service provider 501) varies between embodiments, as discussed further below.

[0067] At a general level, phase 102 may include engaging a foreign exchange agent (such as Travelex or the like) to provide fixed local currency prices for future payment of foreign currency invoices. For example, consider a foreign invoice for US$X issued to an Australian service provider. The foreign exchange agent agrees at a date A to a fixed price of AU$Y to be paid by the service provider in consideration for payment by the agent of the US$X invoice by date B. In doing so, the foreign exchange agent provides payment predictability of cost to the service provider.

CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PROCEDURE [0068] Upon receipt of data indicative of the local-currency fixed payment amount, phase 103 includes a procedure for updating a case management system. In some embodiments the case management system is an Intellectual Property (IP) case management system, such as Inprotech (by CPA Global). Examples of phase 103 are provided by FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B. These methods are optionally computer implemented on the basis of software instructions executed on one or more processors of a computer system.

[0069] Referring initially to FIG. 3, block 301 represents a process including receiving data indicative of a local-currency fixed payment amount. This data may be provided in substantially any form, including manual input, receipt of an electronic file, and so on. The local-currency fixed payment amount may include, or be associated with, other items of data. For example, in some embodiments these include the likes of a date on which agent 503 proposes to finalize the invoice payment (for example by

2017276346 15 Dec 2017 making a foreign currency transfer), an internal reference to allow service provider 501 to identify the client matter to which the amount is attributable (and the relevant client 502), and so on. In any case, the local-currency fixed payment amount is received in a computer system, which triggers a process represented by block 302.

[0070] The process of block 302 includes defining a client charge in relation to the client matter. This client charge has a client charge value derived from the localcurrency fixed payment amount. The relationship between the client charge value and the local-currency fixed payment amount varies between embodiments. In one embodiment the client charge value equals the local-currency fixed payment amount. In other embodiments the client charge value is greater than the local-currency fixed payment amount. For instance, the client charge value in some embodiments includes the local-currency fixed payment amount plus one or more supplements, such as a handling margin (optionally percentage based) and/or a transaction fee (optionally corresponding to a charge, in some cases being a flat charge, levied by the foreign exchange agent to the service provider).

[0071] Once the client charge value is determined, a case management system of service provider 501 is updated. That is, data indicative of the local-currency fixed payment amount and client charge is entered into a case management system, thereby to create:

(i) An accounts payable entry for paying the local-currency fixed payment amount. That is, the case management system conventionally includes an accounts payable module that polices for payments that are to be made by the service provider to third parties. An accounts payable entry allows the case management system to police for payment of the local-currency fixed payment amount to agent 503. In some cases this accounts payable entry is used to monitor an opportunity to prevent agent 503 from finalizing payment to supplier 500. For example, this may be relevant where the supplier 500’s invoice is in dispute, or where supplier 500 owes monies to service provider 501. See block 303.

2017276346 15 Dec 2017 (ii) A WIP entry against the client matter for the client charge value. This WIP entry facilitates invoicing of the client charge to client 502 (in local currency). See block 304.

[0072] In the present embodiment the case management system includes an interface for allowing the entry of data indicative of foreign currency invoices (which optionally automatically converts a foreign amount to a local amount based on a stored exchange rate value). However, the processes of blocks 303 and 304 are performed by means other than that interface. That is, the method of FIG. 3A (and method of FIG. 3B) circumvents the conventional approach for entering supplier invoices into the case management system. In the present embodiment entering data indicative of the localcurrency fixed payment amount and client charge into the case management system includes directly accessing a database utilized by the case management system thereby to update one or more tables (for example one or more tables otherwise affected by the interface conventionally used to enter foreign currency invoices). This “backdoor” access to the case management system database enables the creation of an accounts payable entry and WIP entry for a common supplier invoice, but with value relationships that are determined other than on the basis of an exchange rate known to the case management system.

[0073] The tables that need to be updated in the database of the case management system clearly vary between embodiments. However, a person skilled in the art would recognize how to identify such tables when designing a practical implementation. For example, one approach is to use the conventional interface, and monitor modifications made by the case management system to the database on the basis of the utilization of that interface. In any event, operation of phase 103 effectively tricks the case management system into believing that the conventional interface had been used, even through the accounts payable and WIP entries made have values that would not have been possible using the conventional interface.

[0074] In the example of FIG. 3B, the the data received from the foreign exchange agent includes a report data file indicative of a plurality of local-currency fixed payment amounts, each being associated with a respective client matter. For example, this may be an XML file received by email, or downloaded from a web-based interface made available by agent 503. Such a file is received at 301a, and analyzed at 301b.

2017276346 15 Dec 2017 [0075] In the present example the file includes details of all outstanding foreign currency payments being handled by agent 503 for service provider 501. Accordingly, 301b includes processing the received report data file thereby to identify one or more new local-currency fixed payment amounts (being “new” in the sense that accounts payable and WIP entries have not already been created on the basis of a previously received report data file). Following this, step 302’ includes defining client charges for each of the new local-currency fixed payment amounts. These are entered into the case management system at 303’ and 304’.

FINALIZATION OF INVOICE SETTLEMENT [0076] As noted, method 100 concludes with an invoice settlement procedure at phase 104. In the present embodiment phase 104 includes the making of a foreign currency payment by agent 503 to supplier 500 on behalf of service provider 501.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 4, on embodiment of phase 104 includes, at block 401, policing for an accounts payable payment and, at 402, subject to a review of payment factors, selectively approving the payment. The payment factors may include the likes of the supplier’s debtor status with the service provided (for example where there is a mutual service supply relationship in place), and an invoice query status. In terms of selective approval, in some embodiments service provider 501 provides to foreign exchange agent 503 an instruction to release funds in settlement of the invoice. In other embodiments the agent operates on the basis of a default decision to release the funds on a specified date, and hence approval is inherent in absence of an instruction to refrain from releasing funds.

[0078] Assuming approval (explicit or inferred) occurs, block 403 includes agent 503 transferring funds (in foreign currency) to supplier 500 thereby to settle the invoice in question. Service provider 501 provides a local currency payment corresponding to the local-currency fixed payment amount to agent 503 at block 404.

[0079] Although invoice settlement has been described on an invoice-by-invoice basis, it will be appreciated that in some embodiments payments are batched or the like in the interests of efficiency.

2017276346 15 Dec 2017

EXEMPLARY SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE [0080] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary software architecture for implementing phase 103. At a general level, foreign exchange agent 503 operates a foreign exchange agent system 600, which communicates with a service provider system 601. Each of these systems may, in practice, be defined by one or more computer systems.

[0081] Service provider system 601 operates a case management system 602. Case management system 602 provides a WIP module 603, accounts payable module 604, and various other modules 605 (for example time recordal, billing, diary management, case data, and so on). Case management system 602 operates in conjunction with a database 606, which in the present embodiment is a SQL database. Database 606 may include a plurality of distributed databases.

[0082] A report data file 607 is transmitted from system 600 to system 601. The receipt of this report data file is recognized by a software-based monitoring module 608, which in some embodiments operates thereby to allow automated identification of a received report data file. For instance, module 608 in some embodiments monitors a storage location thereby to identify the presence of a new report data file and automatically trigger phase 103. In other embodiments it is necessary to inform module 608 of the presence (or anticipate presence) of report data file 607.

[0083] Module 608 communicates with a report processing module 609 thereby to allow automated definition of the or each client charge based on data within a given report 607. Module 609 instructs a database access module 610 to directly access database 606 (i.e. without using case management system 602) to make automated entries of data indicative of the or each new local-currency fixed payment amount and the or each defined client charge.

[0084] Noting the example of FIG. 6, it will be appreciated that various methodologies described herein are, in some embodiment, performable by one or more processors that accept computer-readable (also called machine-readable) code containing a set of instructions that when executed by one or more of the processors carry out at least one of the methods described herein. Any processor capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken are included. Thus, one example is a typical processing system that includes one or more processors.

2017276346 15 Dec 2017

Each processor may include one or more of a CPU, a graphics processing unit, and a programmable DSP unit. The processing system further may include a memory subsystem including main RAM and/or a static RAM, and/or ROM. A bus subsystem may be included for communicating between the components. The processing system further may be a distributed processing system with processors coupled by a network. If the processing system requires a display, such a display may be included, e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT) display. If manual data entry is required, the processing system also includes an input device such as one or more of an alphanumeric input unit such as a keyboard, a pointing control device such as a mouse, and so forth. The term memory unit as used herein, if clear from the context and unless explicitly stated otherwise, also encompasses a storage system such as a disk drive unit. The processing system in some configurations may include a sound output device, and a network interface device. The memory subsystem thus includes a computer-readable carrier medium that carries computer-readable code (e.g., software) including a set of instructions to cause performing, when executed by one or more processors, one of more of the methods described herein. Note that when the method includes several elements, e.g., several steps, no ordering of such elements is implied, unless specifically stated. The software may reside in the hard disk, or may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the RAM and/or within the processor during execution thereof by the computer system. Thus, the memory and the processor also constitute computer-readable carrier medium carrying computer-readable code.

[0085] Furthermore, a computer-readable carrier medium may form, or be included in a computer program product.

[0086] In alternative embodiments, the one or more processors operate as a standalone device or may be connected, e.g., networked to other processor(s), in a networked deployment, the one or more processors may operate in the capacity of a server or a user machine in server-user network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-topeer or distributed network environment. The one or more processors may form a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine.

2017276346 15 Dec 2017 [0087] Thus, one embodiment of each of the methods described herein is in the form of a computer-readable carrier medium carrying a set of instructions, e.g., a computer program that is for execution on one or more processors, e.g., one or more processors that are part of web server arrangement. Thus, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, embodiments of the present invention may be embodied as a method, an apparatus such as a special purpose apparatus, an apparatus such as a data processing system, or a computer-readable carrier medium, e.g., a computer program product. The computer-readable carrier medium carries computer readable code including a set of instructions that when executed on one or more processors cause the processor or processors to implement a method. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a method, an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of carrier medium (e.g., a computer program product on a computer-readable storage medium) carrying computer-readable program code embodied in the medium.

[0088] The software may further be transmitted or received over a network via a network interface device. While the carrier medium is shown in an exemplary embodiment to be a single medium, the term carrier medium should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term carrier medium shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by one or more of the processors and that cause the one or more processors to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present invention. A carrier medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media includes, for example, optical, magnetic disks, and magneto-optical disks. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory. Transmission media includes coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a bus subsystem. Transmission media also may also take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio wave and infrared data communications. For example, the term carrier medium shall accordingly be taken to included, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, a computer product embodied in optical and magnetic media; a medium bearing a propagated signal detectable by at least one

2017276346 15 Dec 2017 processor of one or more processors and representing a set of instructions that, when executed, implement a method; and a transmission medium in a network bearing a propagated signal detectable by at least one processor of the one or more processors and representing the set of instructions.

[0089] It will be understood that the steps of methods discussed are performed in one embodiment by an appropriate processor (or processors) of a processing (i.e., computer) system executing instructions (computer-readable code) stored in storage. It will also be understood that the invention and embodiments thereof are not limited to any particular implementation or programming technique and that the invention may be implemented using any appropriate techniques for implementing the functionality described herein. The invention is not limited to any particular programming language or operating system.

DATA FILE GENERATION [0090] The description above is predominately focused on the process of updating a case management system. Other embodiments are directed to processes for generating data files thereby to facilitate the updating of such a case management system. Such processes are in some embodiments performed by a foreign exchange agent.

[0091] One embodiment provides a method for defining a set of rules for use in a data file generation process. This method includes determining a set of data values required to update a case management system thereby to create an accounts payable entry and a WIP entry, as discussed above. The method additionally includes defining the set of rules such that the data file generation process generates a file having all of the determined data values. For example, in the case of a new WIP entry, that might necessitate populating a number of data fields with respective values, potentially across a number of tables). Defining the rules includes determining those data filed that require population, and determining how to identify appropriate values with which to populate those fields. For example, there may be a field for maintaining a client matter identification number or the like. It will be appreciated that such a set of rules will be dependent on matters such as the nature of the case management system, and the implementation particulars of the case management system (which may vary between service providers even where the same case management platform is used).

2017276346 15 Dec 2017 [0092] Sets of rules for one or more service providers are maintained in a repository in computer memory, thereby to enable the generation of data files appropriate for each service provider. One embodiment provides a computer implemented method for generating such a data file. The method includes receiving data indicative of a foreign currency invoice (again being an invoice that is issued to a service provider and relates to a client matter of the service provider). The method then includes determining a local-currency fixed payment amount that is payable by the service provider to a foreign exchange agent at a future date in consideration for settlement of the foreign currency invoice, wherein the foreign exchange agent is responsible for making a foreign currency payment in settlement of the foreign currency invoice.

[0093] The method additionally includes, identifying, in computer memory, data indicative of a set of rules (defined as outlined above) associated with the service provider to which the invoice in question is issued. These rules are used such that the data file is tailored to that specific service provider. In some embodiments, the rules are used to processing the fixed payment local-currency amount thereby to calculate a client charge in relation to the client matter. For example, in a simple scenario, the rules define a formula for calculating the client charge having a client charge value from the local-currency fixed payment amount (for example by applying a percentage multiplier or the like). The rules are additionally used in the context of executing a data file generation process. In this manner, the generated data file includes data indicative of the local-currency fixed payment amount, client charge value, and one or more additional data values thereby to enable updating of a case management system operated by the service provider to create, in respect of the foreign currency invoice, an accounts payable entry for paying the local-currency fixed payment amount; and a WIP entry against the client matter for the client charge value.

[0094] As noted above, the one or more additional data values include data values requiring entry into the case management system thereby to effect creation of the accounts payable entry and the WIP entry (for example a value indicative of the client matter).

[0095] In some cases the method includes receiving data indicative of a plurality of foreign currency invoices (for example in a batch file), the invoices being issued to common service provider and relating to a plurality of client matters of the service provider. In

2017276346 15 Dec 2017 such cases the method includes determining local-currency fixed payment amounts and client charges for each invoice.

[0096] A method according to claim 6 including performing steps (b) and (d) for each of the plurality of invoices, and the generated data file includes, for each invoice, the local-currency fixed payment amount, client charge value, and one or more additional data values corresponding to thereby to enable updating of a case management system operated by the service provider to create, for each invoice, a respective accounts payable entry and WIP entry.

CONCLUSIONS AND INTERPRETATION [0097] It will be appreciated that the disclosure above provides various significant systems and methods for managing foreign currency invoices.

[0098] Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specification discussions utilizing terms such as processing, computing, calculating, “determining”, analyzing” or the like, refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform data represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities into other data similarly represented as physical quantities.

[0099] In a similar manner, the term processor may refer to any device or portion of a device that processes electronic data, e.g., from registers and/or memory to transform that electronic data into other electronic data that, e.g., may be stored in registers and/or memory. A “computer” or a “computing machine” or a computing platform may include one or more processors.

[00100] It should be appreciated that in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, FIG., or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into

2017276346 15 Dec 2017 this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

[00101] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

[00102] Furthermore, some of the embodiments are described herein as a method or combination of elements of a method that can be implemented by a processor of a computer system or by other means of carrying out the function. Thus, a processor with the necessary instructions for carrying out such a method or element of a method forms a means for carrying out the method or element of a method. Furthermore, an element described herein of an apparatus embodiment is an example of a means for carrying out the function performed by the element for the purpose of carrying out the invention.

[00103] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

[00104] Similarly, it is to be noticed that the term coupled, when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limited to direct connections only. The terms coupled and connected, along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Thus, the scope of the expression a device A coupled to a device B should not be limited to devices or systems wherein an output of device A is directly connected to an input of device B. It means that there exists a path between an output of A and an input of B which may be a path including other devices or means. Coupled may mean that two or more elements are either in direct physical or electrical contact, or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but yet still co-operate or interact with each other.

2017276346 15 Dec 2017 [00105] Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as falling within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.

2017276346 15 Dec 2017

Claims (29)

1. THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

   1. A computer implemented method generating a data file, the method including:

   (a) receiving data indicative of a foreign currency invoice, wherein the invoice is issued to a service provider and relates to a client matter of the service provider;

   (b) determining a local-currency fixed payment amount that is payable by the service provider to a foreign exchange agent at a future date in consideration for settlement of the foreign currency invoice, wherein the foreign exchange agent is responsible for making a foreign currency payment in settlement of the foreign currency invoice;

   (c) identifying, in computer memory, data indicative of a set of rules associated with the service provider;

   (d) processing the fixed payment local-currency amount on the basis of the identified set of rules thereby to calculate a client charge in relation to the client matter, wherein the client charge has a client charge value derived from the localcurrency fixed payment amount;

   (e) executing a data file generation process on the basis of the identified set of rules thereby to generate a data file, wherein the data file includes data indicative of the local-currency fixed payment amount, client charge value, and one or more additional data values thereby to enable updating of a case management system operated by the service provider to create, in respect of the foreign currency invoice:

   (i) an accounts payable entry for paying the local-currency fixed payment amount; and (ii) a Work In Progress (WIP) entry against the client matter for the client charge value.
2. 2. A computer implemented method according to claim 1 wherein the one or more additional data values include a value indicative of the client matter.

   2017276346 15 Dec 2017
3. 3. A computer implemented method according to claim 1 wherein the one or more additional data values include data values requiring entry into the case management system thereby to effect creation of the accounts payable entry and the WIP entry.
4. 4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the case management system includes an interface for allowing the entry of data indicative of foreign currency invoices, and wherein enabling updating of the case management system at (e) includes enabling updating of the case management system by means other than that interface.
5. 5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the step of entering data indicative of the localcurrency fixed payment amount and client charge into the case management system includes directly accessing a database utilised by the case management system thereby to update one or more tables, and wherein the generated data file includes data values necessary to complete updating of those tables.
6. 6. A method according to claim 1 wherein (a) includes receiving data indicative of a plurality of foreign currency invoices, wherein the invoices are issued to common service provider and relate to a plurality of client matters of the service provider;
7. 7. A method according to claim 6 including performing steps (b) and (d) for each of the plurality of invoices.
8. 8. A method according to claim 7 wherein step (e) includes generating a data file including, for each invoice, the local-currency fixed payment amount, client charge value, and the one or more additional data values corresponding to thereby to enable updating of a case management system operated by the service provider to create, for each invoice, a respective accounts payable entry and WIP entry.
9. 9. A method for operating a case management system, in respect of a foreign currency invoice issued to a service provider, wherein the invoice relates to a client matter of the service provider, and wherein data indicative of the foreign currency invoice has been provided by the service provider to a foreign exchange agent responsible for making a foreign currency payment in settlement of the foreign currency invoice, the method including:

   2017276346 15 Dec 2017 receiving from the foreign exchange agent data indicative of a local-currency fixed payment amount, being a fixed amount payable by the service provider to the foreign exchange agent at a fixture date in consideration for settlement of the foreign currency invoice;

   on the basis of the local-currency fixed payment amount, defining a client charge in relation to the client matter, wherein the client charge has a client charge value derived from the local-currency fixed payment amount;

   entering data indicative of the local-currency fixed payment amount and client charge into a case management system, thereby to create:

   (i) an accounts payable entry for paying the local-currency fixed payment amount; and (ii) a Work In Progress (WIP) entry against the client matter for the client charge value.
10. 10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the data received from the foreign exchange agent is indicative of the client matter.
11. 11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the data received from the foreign exchange agent includes a report data file indicative of a plurality of local-currency fixed payment amounts, each being associated with a respective client matter.
12. 12. A method according to claim 11 including a steps of identifying a received report data file;

    processing the received report data file thereby to identify one or more new localcurrency fixed payment amounts;

    defining client charges for each of the new local-currency fixed payment amounts, and entering data indicative of the new local-currency fixed payment amounts and defined client charges into the case management system.
13. 13. A method according to claim 12 including operating a software-based monitoring module thereby to allow automated identification of a received report data file.

    2017276346 15 Dec 2017
14. 14. A method according to claim 12 or claim 13 including operating a software-based module thereby to allow automated definition of the or each client charge, and automated entry of data indicative of the or each new local-currency fixed payment amount and the or each defined client charge into the case management system.
15. 15. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the case management system includes an interface for allowing the entry of data indicative of foreign currency invoices, and wherein the step of entering data indicative of the local-currency fixed payment amount and client charge into the case management system is performed by means other than that interface.
16. 16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the step of entering data indicative of the local-currency fixed payment amount and client charge into the case management system includes directly accessing a database utilised by the case management system thereby to update one or more tables.
17. 17. A method according to claim 16 wherein updating the one or more tables include tables otherwise affected by the interface.
18. 18. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the local-currency fixed payment amount is associated with a fixture payment date at which the local-currency fixed payment amount is to be paid by the service provider to the foreign exchange agent.
19. 19. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the client charge value includes the local-currency fixed payment amount plus one or more supplements.
20. 20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the one or more supplements include a handling margin.
21. 21. A method according to claim 19 wherein the one or more supplements include a transaction fee.
22. 22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the transaction fee corresponds to a charge levied by the foreign exchange agent to the service provider.
23. 23. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the case management system is an Intellectual Property (IP) case management system.

    2017276346 15 Dec 2017
24. 24. A method according any preceding claim including the service provider sending to the foreign exchange agent an instruction to release funds in settlement of the invoice.
25. 25. A method for defining a set of rules for use in a data file generation process, the method including the steps of:

    (a) determining a set of data values required to update a case management system thereby to create:

    (i) an accounts payable entry; and (ii) a Work In Progress (WIP) entry against a client matter for a client charge value.

    (b) defining the set of rules such that the data file generation process generates a file having all of the determined data values.
26. 26. A computer implemented method generating a data file, the method including:

    (a) receiving data indicative of a foreign currency invoice, wherein the invoice is issued to a service provider and relates to a client matter of the service provider;

    (b) determining a local-currency fixed payment amount that is payable by the service provider to a foreign exchange agent at a future date in consideration for settlement of the foreign currency invoice, wherein the foreign exchange agent is responsible for making a foreign currency payment in settlement of the foreign currency invoice;

    (c) identifying, in computer memory, data indicative of a set of rules associated with the service provider;

    (d) executing a data file generation process on the basis of the identified set of rules thereby to generate a data file, wherein the data file includes data indicative of the local-currency fixed payment amount, and one or more additional data values thereby to enable updating of a case management system operated by the service provider to create, in respect of the foreign currency invoice:

    (iii) an accounts payable entry for paying the local-currency fixed payment amount; and

    2017276346 15 Dec 2017 (iv) a Work In Progress (WIP) entry against the client matter for a the client charge value derived from the local-currency fixed payment amount.
27. 27. A computer system configured to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 26.
28. 28. A non-transitive carrier medium carrying computer executable code that, when executed on a processor, causes the processor to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 26.
29. 29. A method, system or carrier medium substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or examples.

    1/8

    2017276346 15 Dec 2017

    101

    102

    103

    104

    FIG. 1

    100

    2/8

    2017276346 15 Dec 2017

    201

    202

    203

    204

    FIG. 2

    102

    3/8

    2017276346 15 Dec 2017

    FIG. 3A

    304

    4/8

    2017276346 15 Dec 2017

    304'

    5/8

    2017276346 15 Dec 2017

    104

    403

    FIG

    404

    6/8

    2017276346 15 Dec 2017

    Local

    Currency

    Invoice

    I

    I

    I «

    I • Local • Currency I Payment

    FIG. 5A (Prior Art)

    7/8

    500

    2017276346 15 Dec 2017

    Foreign

    Currency

    Invoice

    I

    I

    I

    I

    I

    I t

    «

    Supplier

    Foreign Currency Payment %

    502

    Details of Foreign \

    Currency Invoice \

    Instructions to release payment

    FIG. 5

    503

    8/8

    2017276346 15 Dec 2017

    FIG. 6