Method for managing buyer transactions and settlements using communication network between computers, and method for relaying information following buyer consumption trends to the buyer

A server configured for operation in a system that includes the server, a supplier system, a buyer system, a first finance system, and a second finance system, wherein the supplier system is used by a supplier, the buyer system is used by a buyer, the first finance system manages a bank account of the buyer, the second finance system manages a bank account of the supplier, and the supplier system, the buyer system, the first finance system, the second finance system, and the server are connected to and communicate via a communication network, the server comprising:

• circuitry configured to receive an electronic invoice from the supplier system via the communication network,
• wherein the electronic invoice relates to a transaction between the supplier and the buyer,
• wherein the electronic invoice includes a unique identification code,
• wherein the unique identification code identifies the electronic invoice from a plurality of electronic invoices issued to the buyer by the supplier, and
• wherein the unique identification code is generated by the supplier system;
• circuitry configured to register the electronic invoice in a database;
• circuitry configured to transmit information that defines a Graphical User Interface (GUI) screen to the buyer system via the communication network,
• wherein the GUI screen is configured to show contents of the electronic invoice registered in the database and to allow the buyer to approve the contents of the electronic invoice;
• circuitry configured to create, in response to an approval of the electronic invoice performed by the buyer using the GUI screen, a transfer request message, wherein the transfer request message includes the unique identification code included in the electronic invoice;
• and
• circuitry configured to transmit the transfer request message to the first finance system via the communication network, such that, following reception of the transfer request message at the first finance system:
• the first finance system and the second finance system are configured, using the unique identification code, to perform a deposit of the amount of the electronic invoice from the bank account of the buyer into the bank account of the supplier;
• the second finance system is configured, using the unique identification code, to send an electronic deposit/withdrawal statement to the server or the supplier system,
• wherein the electronic deposit/withdrawal statement describes that the deposit from the bank account of the buyer into the bank account of the supplier has been made,
• wherein the electronic deposit/withdrawal statement includes the unique identification code;
• and
• at least one of the supplier system and the server is configured to settle the electronic invoice using the unique identification code.

A server configured for operation in a system that includes the server, a supplier system, a buyer system, a first finance system, and a second finance system, wherein

• the supplier system is used by a supplier,
• the buyer system is used by a buyer,
• the first finance system manages a bank account of the buyer,
• the second finance system manages a bank account of the supplier, and
• the supplier system, the buyer system, the first finance system, the second finance system, and the server are connected to and communicate via a communication network,
• wherein the server comprises:
• a network interface configured to receive an electronic invoice from the supplier system via the communication network,
• wherein the electronic invoice relates to a transaction between the supplier and the buyer,
• wherein the electronic invoice includes a unique identification code,
• wherein the unique identification code identifies the electronic invoice from a plurality of electronic invoices issued to the buyer by the supplier, and
• wherein the unique identification code is generated by the supplier system;
• and
• a processor configured to register the electronic invoice in a database;
• wherein the network interface is further configured to transmit information that defines a Graphical User Interface (GUI) screen to the buyer system via the communication network,
• wherein the GUI screen is for showing contents of the electronic invoice registered in the database and for allowing the buyer to approve the contents of the electronic invoice;
• wherein the processor is further configured to create, in response to an approval of the electronic invoice performed by the buyer using the GUI screen, a transfer request message,
• wherein the transfer request message includes the unique identification code included in the electronic invoice;
• and
• wherein the network interface is further configured to transmit the transfer request message to the first finance system via the communication network, such that, following reception of the transfer request message at the first finance system:
• the first finance system and the second finance system are configured, using the unique identification code, to perform a deposit of the amount of the electronic invoice from the bank account of the buyer into the bank account of the supplier;
• the second finance system is configured, using the unique identification code, to send an electronic deposit/withdrawal statement to the server or the supplier system,
• wherein the electronic deposit/withdrawal statement describes that the deposit from the bank account of the buyer into the bank account of the supplier has been made, and
• wherein the electronic deposit/withdrawal statement includes the unique identification code;
• and
• at least one of the supplier system and the server is configured to settle the electronic invoice using the unique identification code.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor in a server, cause the server to perform a method for processing an electronic invoice,

• wherein the server is configured for operation in a system that includes the server, a supplier system, a buyer system, a first finance system, and a second finance system, wherein
• the supplier system is used by a supplier,
• the buyer system is used by a buyer,
• the first finance system manages a bank account of the buyer,
• the second finance system manages a bank account of the supplier, and
• the supplier system, the buyer system, the first finance system, the second finance system, and the server are connected to and communicate via a communication network, and
• wherein the method comprises:
• receiving, at the server, the electronic invoice from the supplier system via the communication network,
• wherein the electronic invoice relates to a transaction between the supplier and the buyer,
• wherein the electronic invoice includes a unique identification code,
• wherein the unique identification code identifies the electronic invoice from a plurality of electronic invoices issued to the buyer by the supplier, and
• wherein the unique identification code is generated by the supplier system;
• registering, at the server, the electronic invoice in a database;
• transmitting, from the server, information that defines a Graphical User Interface (GUI) screen to the buyer system via the communication network,
• wherein the GUI screen is for showing contents of the electronic invoice registered in the database and for allowing the buyer to approve the contents of the electronic invoice;
• generating, at the server, a transfer request message in response to an approval of the electronic invoice performed by the buyer using the GUI screen,
• wherein the transfer request message includes the unique identification code included in the electronic invoice;
• and
• transmitting, from the server, the transfer request message to the first finance system via the communication network, such that, following reception of the transfer request message at the first finance system:
• the first finance system and the second finance system are configured, using the unique identification code, to perform a deposit of the amount of the electronic invoice from the bank account of the buyer into the bank account of the supplier;
• the second finance system is configured, using the unique identification code, to send an electronic deposit/withdrawal statement to the server or the supplier system,
• wherein the electronic deposit/withdrawal statement describes that the deposit from the bank account of the buyer into the bank account of the supplier has been made,
• wherein the electronic deposit/withdrawal statement includes the unique identification code;
• and
• at least one of the supplier system and the server is configured to settle the electronic invoice using the unique identification code.