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    1982$ PCT TRACKING AND MANAGING GROUP EXPENDITURES ASTRac Oi' Tim Di$Cgsc tiiUR A trop inclucdirg plurality of users is establishd. A transaction cCo'lrd is maintained for the group that includes a pinraity of pay meant transactions, Each of the plurality of payment transactions involves at least one user of the group. Additional ly, a balance is maintained thant indicates an amount owed by a first user of the gmup to a second uscr of the group based on one or more of the plurality of payment transactions. When a settling event occurs, the balance is settled by ritiating a transfer of funds between the first user and the second user.
    公开号:AU2013201844A1
    申请号:U2013201844
    申请日:2013-03-19
    公开日:2013-10-17
    发明作者:Narelle Cozens；Michael Depasquale；Travis Harrison Kroll Green；Boris Mizhen；Avery Pennarun；Peter Schmitt
    申请人:Google LLC；
    IPC主号:G06Q20-00
    专利说明:
    1982$ PCT TRACKING AND MANAGING GROUP EXPENDITURES BihcmnouNn 01 TNE INVENTION L YO OF'THY. INVNTION 100011 This invention pertains in general to payment transactions, and more spcifically to tracking and managin g pa' yments by nenlbers of a group. i noonir~ ogd TiLATvrn A RTy 100021 Oftentimes, people engage in aetiviies as a group For example, a group of friends may gy on vacation together, plan an event tgh or go to dinner. When the gmup incurs a bill, typically one of the group members wilpay the bill out of conventence and expects to be paid back by the other grop numbers However. some group ncobers mriay not pay back theinenure share of the bill or may brget and not pi hak teirshae T ONIbs is unfair ibm theQ iru mnen'iber ta idhebill. 'Thus there is aineed in the art fOr an Offieient way to trackrop expsnttures anid settle balances between crotip members. BRIE SuMMv R IYTF rIsNVENTIoN [00031 Method computer pro}gramproduets, and coIputer systerns are described for tracking payment transaction of group users, Ebodiments of the method comprise estabshisng a group including plurdty of users. A transacton record is maintain ed for the group that mclutdes ap1lurality of payment transactions. Each of the plurality of payment trans':tionsnvolves at least one user of the group. Additionaly, a balance is maintained that indicates an amount owed by a first user of the group to a second user of the group based on one or more of the plurality of payment transaction. When a se-lng event occurs, the balance is setIled by initiating a transfer of funds between the first user and the second user. [00041 Emhodiments of be computer program product have a non-transitory computer readable stone medium having computer excitable instruction The computer cecutable instructions compose it group mnodule that is configured to establishs a group inldinag plurality of users~ A trackitg muoduie is n figured to mi nti a t. ransac tion record for the group that includes au uality of payment transactions Each of the plurality of payment transactions involves at least one user of the grop Further, a balance module is conjured to maintain a balance that indicates an amImmt owed by a first user of the group to a second user of the group based on one or more of the p1u reality of' payment transactions, A setdement module is 19825 PCT configuredd to settle the balance by initiating a transfer of funds between the first user and the second user When a settling event occurs. [00051 Embodiments of the computer system comprise a computer processor anid a computer-readable storage mediun storing computer program module configured to execute on the computer processor Tie computer program modules comprise a group module that is configured to establish a group includng plurality of users. A tracking modue is configurd to maintain a transaction record for the group that includes a plurality of payment transactions Each of the plurait of payment transactions involves at least one user ofthe group, Further a balance nodule is contigured to maintain a balance that indicates an amount owed by a first user of the group to a second user of the group based on one or more of the pl uraiity of payment transaction A settlement module is configuredto seule the balance by imtiau a transfer of funds between the first user and the second user when a settling event occurs BRair DESCRIFTbNNO THE DuRA WxNG [00061 PK i is a highulevel block diagram of a computing environment according to one embod iment. [00071 FIG 2 is a highievel block diagram ilustratng a functionaliew of a typical computer system for use as one of the entitiesillustrated in the environment of FIG. acordin to one ermbodment. [00081 1G. 3 is a highmievel bhock diagram lustrating modules within a transaction system according to one embodiment. [00091 FIG, 4 is a table illustrating balances of users of a group according to One embodiment [00101 FG 5 is a flow chart illustrating the operations of the transaction system according to one embodiment. [0011] The figures depict an embodiment for purposes of illustration only, One skilled in the art will readily recognize frOM the following descrptionthat alterhatve embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may bem e-iployed wihout departing from the riples desNbed herein DhirETlIDSCRVUO3N tOvavEWw [00121 FIG 1 is a high-level block diagram of a computing environment 100 2 1982$ PCT according to one enbodimrnent. 710 I illustrates a transaction systeni 02. three iser devices 104, and three inaneial systems 106connected'a anetwrk 108 Although the illustrated environment 100 only includes a selec number of each entity other mbodimenmts can include onre or less of each aeg.more user devices 104 and Financial systems 106), [0013] FIG I uses like reference nmerals to idetify like elements. A letter after a reference Inmeral, such as 0!A, indicates that the tex refers specifically to the element having that particular reference numeral A reference umeral in the text without a following letter such as O"104 referts to any or all ofte elements in the figures bearing that reference numeral (e.g. "104" in the text refers to reference aimerals "1 04A "q 04B an dor "1 04C" in the figures) 10014) The trnsaction system 102 tracks expenditures for groups and allows the set tlenent of balancies between group nemltbers. The transaction system 102 allows users to create groups to track the expenditures of users of the groups, The transaction system 102 maintains foi each group a transaction record that includes payment transactions of users of' the group. When a user ot a group makes a payments (e.g to pay a restaurant hil the transaction system 102 allows the payment transaction to be added to the transaction record of the group is an expenditure., [00151 in one embodiment. transaction system 102 maintains balances for users of a group(egamounts users owe each other) based on the payment transactions included in the transaction record of the group The ahmanes of the users can be settled by transferring funds between financial institution accounts of the users, The transaction system 102 manages the settling of the balances by communicattu with the appropriate financial systems 106 to initiate the tnsfers. The settlement of balances muay occur, tor example periodicaly (e.g., end of every month) or upon request by a user, [00161 A user device 104 is an electronic device used by a user to conmnunicate with the entities connected to the network 108. In one embodiment, the user dcv ees 104 of the em'ronment 100 include mobile computing devices, such as mobile phones. tablet computers, notebook computers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) Ink one embodhncnt. the user devices 104 of the enviroment 100 include computig devicesconnected to the network 108 via cable connections, such as desktop personal computers: [0017 A user can use a device 104 to make a payment to a person or an entMy. 3 1982$ PCT A noble user device 104 may include an application that allows a user to make ronic paymentN In one embodimentauser devce 104 conmunicates wth a checkout terminal (e g. a mobile payment reader)to make a payment; i one mbodiMent, a user device 104 comunicates with a payment system via the network 108 to Make a payment. A payment may be made. fmr example, using a credit card or a transfer of funnds between accounts. 100181 In one embodiment, when a user makes a payment using a user device 104, the user device 104 transmits a message to the transaction system 102 indicating that a payment was made by the user In one embodirnent the message includes information associated with the payment such as, when the payment was made, the recipient of the payment, ard the amount of the payment. 10019] Through a device 104 a user can communctle with the transaction system 102 to create new groups and invite users to join groups. The user cai also communicate with the transactoii system 102 to view the payment transactions of a grop request to add a payment transaction to the transaction record of a group and to settle balances with useTs of a group, [00201 The finial systems 106 represent the electrorue systems oF financial institutions that provide financial services. A financial institution may be, Ir example, a bank or an issuer of a credit card, Users create accounts with the financial insttutions. One type of account that a user may have with a financial d istution is an account in which the user may withdraw or deposit funds in the account (eg, a savings or checking account), Another type of financial institution account that a user may have is a revolving account in which the user is gran ted a ine of credit from whieh the user can borrow money for paying another entity (e.g, a credit card &ccounto. j0021} In one embodiment, the financial systerns 106 provide the transaction system 102 with information on payments users have made using their accounts with he fin ancia i institution of the systems 106, In one embodiment payment transaction mitormation is provided by a financial system 106 to the transaction system 1,02 upon request. For example, the transaction systern 102 may periodically request from a financial system 106 payment transaction information of kin account of a user [O2 In one embodiment, wen a financial system 106 receives a request for payment transaction information of an account ot a user, the financial system 1 06 determines whether the user has authorized the transaction system 102 to receive 4 1982$ PCT account formation. If the user has authorized the transaction system 102 to receive account intinatiofthe finai system 106 provides tie requested information to the transaction system 102. [00231 In one embodiment, instead of the information having to be requested. one or more of the financial systems 106 automatically provide payment transaction informal nll to the transaction.system 0. i one embodiment, the payment transaction information of user accounts is periodically provided by the financial systems .106 to the transaction system 102., In one embodimentransactio iornation is attonatically provided by a financial system 106 when a transaction occurs. [00241 In one embodiment the financed systems 106 process requests to transfer funds between accotins. In one embodimnent, the requests are miad by users trough the transaction system 102 ornitiated by transaction system 102. ione embodiment, a request by a user to transfer funds between accounts includes infermaion on the account the funds are being transferred from (the transfrring account) the account the funds ae being transferred to (the receiving account) and the amount being transferred. [0025] When a financial system 106 receives a request to transfer funds, the .f..nanciai system 106 verifies that the requester is authorized to access the transferring account and the transferrtng accoua has sufficent funds available to completethe trans fer, if the requester is authored and the account has sufficient fund the financial system 106 completes the transfer from the transferrinag account to the receiving account The financial systet106 may have to commtnieate with another inancil system 106 to complete the transfer if the two accounts are not with the same financial institution. [00261 The network 108 represents the commmication p athways between the transaction system 102 the user devices 104, and the financial systems 106, i one embodiment, thenetwork 108 is the Internet and uses standad commmntations technologies and/or protocols. Thus, the network. 108 can incide links using techlnologies such as Ethernet, 802.1 , orldwde interoperabiity for ricrowave access (WiMAXh 30. Long Term Evolution (LTEdigital subscriber line (DSL) asynchronous transfer mode(ATM. infin ifBand, PC Express Advanced Switehing etc, Sinilarly, the networking protocols used on the network 108 can inchide m-ultiprotocol label swi thing (MPtS) the transmission control protocolanternet 1982$ PCT protocol (TCP/IP) the User Datagrarn Protocol (UDP), the hypertext transport protocol OTTPe the simple rnai transfer protocol (SMTPv the fie transfer protocol tHP ete, In another embodiment the entities can use custom and/or dedicated data comnmuniaions technologies instead of, or in addition to, the ones described above, U. SvsTEM ARtCnrrvTUR [0027] FIG. 2 is a highnvet block diagram illustraing a functional view of a typical computer system 200 for use as one ofthe entities illustrated in the environment 100 of I1&.1 according to an embodiment. Illustrated are at least one processor 202 coupled to a chipeset 204, Also coupled to the chipset 204 are a memory 206, a storage device 208, a keyboard 210, a graphics adapted 212. a pointing device 214. and a network adapter 21 A display 218 is coupled to the graphics adapterr 2:2. adInoe embodiment, the functionally of the ehipset 204 is provided by a memory controller hub 220 and an 1/FO controller hb 222. another embodiment the memory 206 is coupled directly to the processor 202 instead of the chipset 204 [00281 'he storage device 208 is a non transitory compuerreadable storage rnediurm. such as a hard drive, compact disk read-iOl memory (CD-ROM, DVI)D, or a soid-state memory device. The memory 206 holds instructions and data used by the processor 202. The pointing device 214 may be a mouse, track ball or other type of pointing device, and is used in ecombiaon with the keyboard 210 to input data into te computer system 200 The graphics adapter21 2 displays images and other information on the display 21 8 The network adapter 2 16 couples the computer system 200 to the network 108, Some embodiments of the computer system 200 have different and/or other components than those shown in FIG. 2 [00291 The computer 200 is adapted to execute computer program modules for providing the limntionalitv described herein As used herein, the term module" to refers to computer program tnstrution and other logic for providing a specified functionally A module can he implemented in hardware, firarereandtor software, A module is typicaiy stored on the storage device 208 loaded imto the memory 206, and executed by the processor 202 [00301 A module can include one or more presses, and/or be provided by only pat of a process. Embodiments of the entities described hercitat include other and/or different nodules than the ones desdcibed here. In addition the ftuctionadity attributed to the modules can be performed by other or different modes in other embodintents Moreover tis description occasiomaly omits the term rmoduie fR 6 1982$ PCT purposes of cari ty and con venience [0031 The typesof computer systems 200 used by the entities of FIG. I can vary depending upon the enbodirnent and the processittg power used by the entity For examle, use dvevie 104 that is a mobie phone typical ly has Iimited processing power a smal display a a pitig device 214. Theransaction systemm 102 and financial systems 106, in ontrat ma comprise multiple blade servers working together to provide the functionality deserted herein [00321 IG 3 is a highelevel block diagram illustrating nodules within the transacton system 102 according to one embodiment Those of skill in the art will recognize that other embodiments can have different and/or other modules than the ones deci e t and that the funeticmalii mcan be distributed among the modules in a different arianne [00,31 An authentication module 302 athenticates users ofl the transaction system 102. In one embodument the authentication nodule 3(2 maintains in a user storae312 authenticatin information for each user that has signed up (£.e registered) to use the servi -es provided by the transaction system 102. I one emabodiment, theauthentication informaion includes a user identifier and a password. [0034] In one embodiment, vhen a user attempts to comnnicate with the transaction systen 102 if the user is not logged into thesystem 102, the authentication module 302 presents a logi page to the0ser via he device 104 of the user. In the login pagea user that has p previously signed upwith the systern 102 can enter their respective auhenticaton inforrnaion, When the authentication infbnation is entered,the authentication module 302 verifies whether information is valid. If the information is valid he user is logged into the transaction system 102. In another embodiment the user is autmaticaly logged into t system 102 -by We device 104, 100351 Ine emnbodtneit if a user is communicatn with ther inmsaoi system 102 and has net previously signed up with the tmansacnon system 102dhe auth.enticat ion module 302 presents the u.sewith option of si gnin ne p to use the. services of the systin 102 If the user rexuests to sign up, the user goes through a sign up prfcssf i the ' in up process the userprovides authentication n frnati that user wis s to use to login as well as personal information (e g., name, e-mail address, pione nmn)ber [0036] In One embodiment ' the sign up process the user provides account 1982$ PCT information of at least one finncial iustiution account of the user fron which funds can .be withdrawn or deposited (eg g to settle a balance) lin one embodiment the user provides account information of one or more financial institution accounts that the user wishes the transaction system 102 to track for payments made ustng the account, 100371 The account in formation provided by the user for afnanncial institution account may include one or more of the following: the name of the financial institution, a routing transit number of the institution 4 a type of the account; an account number, a credit card number, and information needed to access the account (e~g. login in formation of the user for a websic ofdhe nancial institulion). In one embodiment, as part of the sign up process, whe the user provides account information of a financial institution account the user also provides authorization to a.cces the account and/orinitiat fdnansfrs fromthe account The intormatton received by theauthentication modnie 302 duringthe sign up process is stored in the user storage 3 1 2 1903S A group module 304 allowregisteed users to create and join groups A group is made up of a number of users of the system 102 that wish to track certain expenditures together. A group may be created to track, for example the expenditures of users taking a trip together, the expenditures of usersivuig together. the expenditures of users at an event or in putting together an event. 100391 When a registered user reCquests to create a new group, the group module 304 creates the new groip n a group storage 314, The group store 314 incldes information on each group created by the group module 304 and information on which users are part of each group. If' the user requests to invit seec users of the system 102 to join the group. the group module 304 transmits a message to each selected user inviting the user to join the group. I one embodiment, the transmitted message is a digital message such as an e-mail, a Short Message Service (SMS) message, or a Mtimeda Messaging Service (MMS) message If an invited user accepts the invitation to jon the gtoup the group nodtle 304 updates the group storage 314 to indicate that the user ia member of the group. [00401 In one embodiment, a registered user can request to invite a non ccgi.stered user (ie. user that has not signed up to use the transacin system 102) to join a group in one embodiment, t transaction system 102 is integrated with a social networking system and a registered user can request to invite a user of a. social network For example, a registered user can invite hi s'her social networug friend to 8 1982$ PCT jOinl a groupfn one etbodirnent if a ion-registered user accepts an invitation to join a grotp, the user has to sign up with the system 102 i order to he able oi join the group [0041) In one embodiment. at the request of a user the group modile 304 may create a new goup in the group storage 314 by copyig an existig group from another systems or example, if the user is a member of a socal network group with a social networking system. the same group can be created by the group module 304 in the group storage 314 Similarly another system (cg a social neStorkingsystem) can ceate a gnup by copying a group fro the groupstora-ge 314, [00421 in one embodiment hen a group is heated n the group storage 14 the grup module 304 also creates a transactIon record for the group in a transaction record orange 316. The transaction record storage 316 includes the transaction records ofgroups as well aN bances associated withe transactions records. The transaction record is created to track expenditures of users of the group, [00431 in one embodiment each group has at least one admiistrator. The user that requested the creation of a group is by default an administrator of the group. An adnnistratr of a group has certain privileges that othersersothe group (i~e.non admid'strators) do not have. The administator has the privileges for purposes of managing the group. The privieges of an administrator may include being able to, for example, in vita users to join the group, remove users roi the group, delete the group. approve the add ton of payment transactions to the transaction record ofthe grott and remove payment transactions from theransacdon recorcL [00441 In one embodiment a group administrator can add additional administrators to the group. When the gioup nodule 304 receives a request from an adnini-strator of a group to add a user as an additional administrator, the group mod ule 304 updates the group storage 314 to indicate that the user is an administrator of the group. [00451 A tracking module 306 tracks paymenttnsactions ot users of the system 102 A payment transaction is a transaction here a peton provides a payment to another person or entity. A payrnen nma be made, ior example, to a merchant in exchange for a good or a service. A payment may also be made as a donation. 00461 In one embodiment, when a user of system 102 makes a payment using a user device 104 e g, a mobile payment , the tracking module 306 receives a 9 1982$ PCT notification fron the device 104 with information of the payrnen transaction The payment it ormation included in the notifici mayinclude, for example, the atnlout of the payment, the reci ver of the payment the time, the date and location infoation (eg, location tracked by the device 104). in one cibodiment, the tracking module 306 automatically adds that payment transaction to a transaction record of a group to which the user belongs if the transaction satisfies criteria by the user fir the g~op established byteue.o group. Pot example. a user may provide as criteria for agrouqthat payment transactions that occur between certain dates at certain locations or within a radius of a location should be added to the group. [0047 In another embodiment, when the notificaton is received, the trackg module 306 transmis a message to the user device 104 inquiring as to whether tie user would like to add the payment transaction as an expenditure ol one of the groups to which the Iuser belongs. in one nbodi.ent if the user requests to add the paymesnt tnsactionto a gioupehe tracking module 36 automatically adds the payment transaction to the rnsmaction record of the group in the transaction record storage 316, In another mbod nt, if the user requests to add the parent transaction to a group the tracking modue 306 transit to the user device 104 a form with muliple fields The fonn is Or the user to provide details of the payment transaction, [0048} In one etnbodiment, the lort requests ntormauon on which users of the group the transaction should be allocated to and an amount of allocationto eacai ser, By a portion of transaction being located to a user it means that the user is responsible for part of the transaction. The amount of alocaton to a user may be. for example, a percentage of the payment or a monetary amount. [00491 As an example, assume that a group s created to track ind manage the expendiures of four friends (Friends 1-4) while on vacation in Miami While on vacation.one of the dasonly three of the fiends (Friends 1-3) go eat lunch at a restaurant because Friend 4 is not hungry at the time. The bill for hnch is $60 and Friend 1 pays the bill using a mobie payment service available on his device 104, Friend I addsthe Wich as an expenditure of the group. When the form is presented to friend I for the lunch, Friend 1 indicates that the lench should be located to Friends 1-3. The lunch is not allocated to Friend 4 because Friend 4 did not participate in the lunch. Further, Friend provides the following amounts of allocation in the form: Friend 1 $2 JFriend 2 $1 and Friend 3 $19. In this example, the amount of 10 1982$ PCT allocation for each friend is based on what each friend ordered dur-ig lunch. [0050] Other ieanntio that Iiay bce rquested by the forn- for the payment transaction may include the amountf .the payment, the ent ity to whnom the payment was made (ag. name of a merchant), date of the paymet a short description of the paycnt ransactior and the user of the group that made the payment. in one embodiment, some of the fields are automaticaly filed by the tracking module 306 based on information received from the device 104 of the user, When the form is completed and submitted by the user, the tracking module 306 updates the transaction record storage 316 to add the payment transaction to the transaction record of the group along with the information provided in the fbrm I005^1 hone embodiment prior to adding a payment transaction to a transaction record of a group. an admistrator of the group has to approve the addinon of the transaction. In one embodiment. when a paynient transaction is added to a transaction record of a group, users of the group are notified of the addition For example, the the groups well as other peoplemay be notifia a social networking system g the addition of the transaction cartbe shared in a social network feed). In one embodiment, when a payment transaction is added to a transaction record of a group. a user of the group can object to the transaction. A user may object, for examipleobecause the paym-ent transaction was not an expenditure of te group or was allocated to Ie wong users Ifauser objects, the tracking module notties an administrator ofhe group of the section. The administrator determines whether to maintain, adjust. or remove the paynut transacti on ffthe administrator requests to aust or remove the payment transaction, the tracking module 306 updates the transacion record according to the instructions provided by the admin istrator, [00521 I one embodiment fbr each user of the system 102 that has provided information of a financial irstitutioi account that the user would liked tracked the tracking module 306 periodiealy obtans payment transaction itfrom the financialsystrn 106 of the account. The information obtained is regarding recent payments made using the account ie_ payments made sinedie previous time information was obtained by the tracking module 306), in one embodiment, the tracking -odule 306 obtains the payment transactions information usig access mbformation provided by the user to the system 10. The access information maybe, or example, a login identifier and password of he user fbr the financial system 106, I I 1982$ PCT 10033 For each payment tansaction obtained from the financial sysn 106, the tracking module 306 determine whether the payment transaction has already been added to a group to which theaser belongs, in one embodimemtif a payment transaction has not been added to a group and the transaction satisfies the criteria established by the user fo a group, the tracking module 306 automatically adds that payment transaction to the group. In another embodiment. if at least one of the payments transactions has not been added to a group, the tracking moduse306 transmits a message to the user, The message inquires fronthe user if he/she would like to add ay of the payment traunsactions not previously added as an expenditure of one of the groups to which the user belongs user requests to add a payment tranisaction to a group, the tracking module 306 adds the transaction as described Wove, [00541 In one embodiennt, a user of the system 102 can manually initiate the addition of a payment transactIon to a group, A user may manually initiate the addition of a transaction, forexample, if the user iakes a payment with cash. When the tracking modtie 306 recciys oirn a dvice 104 of a user a request to manualy add a payment transaction. Thetracking module 3(6 transmits to the device 104 a form sinitar to the form described above. When the form is completed and submitted by the user tie tracking module 306 adds the transaction to a transaction record of a gnup idcntined by the user. 100551 The balmae modue 308 updates the balances of groups. in one embodiment, for each transaction record in the transaction record storage . a total balance is maintained. In one emnbodjimen t.the total balance of a group transaction record is a sunmation of die payment amounts of the payment transactionsincluded in the ransaction record of the group (Le, the motint spent by users of the group), 100561 When the tracking module 306 adds a payment transaction to a tnsaction record of a groip, the balance mode 308 relieves from the transaction eNord stooge 316 the total balance of the transaction recorcL The tracking module 306 identfies a paymentamount of the transaction. and determines a new value for the total balance by summing the payment amount with the current valuc of the total bdance. The balance module 308 updates the total balmree int the ttansaetton record storage 316 w ith the detemned new value [0057] In one embodiment. for each user of a group, the balance module 308 maintains individual balances tader the transaction record of the group. Each 12 19825 PCT individual balance indicates an anount that the user is owed or owes another user of the group based on the transaetios included in the transaction record of the group, FIG 4 inchides a table 400( that illustrates, as an example, the individual balances of three users (Users A-C) that arc part of a group, Each coumn of the table 400 includes the ridividual balances of one of the users. For exarnplec column 402 includes the individual bahmnes of User A. in this exaifl ser B owes User A $130 and User C is owed $20 by User A. Columns 404 and 406 resneetively include the individual balances of User B3 and User C. [OOSS in one embodiren t when the tracoking rnodulc 306 adds a Payment transaction to a transaction record of a group, the balance module 30. identifies to which users die transaction has beealkcated. The balance module 30$ updates the individual balances of the identifed users in the storage 316 based on which user made the payrnent of the transaction and the amounts allocated to the identified users for the transaction. [0059] or example continuing wtth the exarnple of IG. 4, assume that Users A~C have drinks at a bar and User 3 pays a bill of $45 for the dinks. User £3 adds the paymernt transaction ats an expenditure of the grottp and allocates $1 5 of the transaction to User A. $20 to User Bs $10 to User C In this example. the. balance module 308 would update the. individual balances of Users AC to indicate tlat User B now owes $115 to User A (Si30~$1.54 and User C owes $10 to User B ($0$O0). 100601 The seteren module 31 0 provides access to irmornation stored in the transaction record storage 3.16 and allows users to settle their balances, In one emabodimnenr, when a user requests through a device 104 the transaction record of a group to which the user belongs, the setlcieit ioduiel 3 10 retrieves the transaction record from the transaction record storage 316 and transitts the record to the device 104 for display to the user. n one embodiment, the statement module 310 additionally transmits the total balance of he transaction record, In one embodi meant when a ser of a group requests, the individual balance of one or nore users within the grotip the settlement module310 retrieves the requested balances tron the record storage 316 and transmtsthe balances to the device 104 of the iser [0061j In one embodiment, the settlement module 310 automatically settles the individual balances of users within a group when a selling event occurs. eI embodiment, the setting event is set by a user of the goup (e g.an administrator of the group) setting event may be. for example, a certain date being reached (e.g. 13 1982$ PCT the first or last of the rnonth a user of the group (eg. an administrator) requesting the setting, or the total balance of the group transaion record reaching a set amount [0062] To settl the individual balances of users within a gron, the settlement mod ule 310 identifies each individual balance where a user of the aroup debtor) owes another group user (debtce) money hor each idenified balance, the settlement module 310 retrieves from the user storage 312 account information of a financial institution account provided by the debtor for settling balances, Additonaly, the settlement module 3 10 rerieves account information of an account provided be the debtee for settling balancesT he settlement Iodule 3 10 uses the retrieved account information to communicate with the appropriate one or more nancial systems 106 to transfer the amount of the balance from the account of the debtor to the account of the debate [0063j hI one embodiment, instead of the individual balances of usersithin a group being automaticaly settled at once when a settlement event occurs, each user controls when heirrespective individual balances are settled in one embodiment, at any time a user can request frorA the settlement module 310 to transfer tunds to the accott ot another user to settle a balance. When the settlement modle 3.10 reeves such a request the settlement mod (le 3,10 communicates with th.e appropriate one or more financial systems to complete the tnsfer 11L PROcEss 100641 F0 5 is a flow chart 500 distracting the operations of the transaction system 102 according to one embodiment. Those of skill in the art wil recognize that other embodiments can erforn the steps of FIG, 5 in different orders, Moreover, other enibodiments can include different and/or additional steps than the ones described here, [00651 Assume for purposes of this example that a user of the transaction system 102 hasrequested the creation of a group to track the ependiturres of multiple users. Based on the request the trasaction system 102 creates 502 a group that includes the multiple users, The trnsaction system 102 creates 504 a transaction record For the group. [00661 The transaction system 102 updates 506 the transaction record to include payment transactions. Each transaction added to the record involves at least one user of theiroup A user is involved in a transaction if the user is at least partilly response for the transaction (eg. an amount of the transaction has been allocated to 14 1982$ PCT the user), The transaction system 102 determines 508 balances for the users of the group based on the payment transactions included in the transaction record In one embodiment . a balance describes an amount a ser of the group is owed or owes another user, The transaction system 102 settles 510 the balances of the users, in one embodimen, the balances arc settled when a settlement event occurs, [00671 Some portions of above description present the features of the present invention in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on information. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing ars to most effectively convey the substance of their Work to others skild in the ai These operationswhile described fuetionaly or logically, are understood to be implented by compuir prograns Purthermore. it has also proven conveient at times to refer to these arrangements of operations as modules or by unctioma names, without ilss of generality. [00681 Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent fron the above discussion. it is appireeiated tha throughout the description, discussions utilizing terms such as processingn or corpuipn" or "ealculatingor "determininy" or "displaying" or the like, refer to the action and processes of a cornpter system, or similar electronic conpung devde, that manipulates and transforms data represented as hysica (lectronic quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices. 100691 Certain aspects of the present invention include process steps and instructions described herein in the form of an algorithm. It should be noted that the process steps and instructions of the present invention could be embodied in software firmware or hardware, and when embodied in soft ware could be downloaded to reside on and be operated from differnt platforms used by real time network operating systems, [00701 The disclose of the present invention is intended to be illustrative. but not limiting of the ftll scope of the invention which is set forth in the following claims.
    权利要求:
    Claims (6)
    [1] 2. Th method of clai, fther comprising: updating the transaetion record to incude an additional paym ient transacdon made bya paying user of he'grup and the payment transaction allocated to a set of us of the group; and updating a plurality of balances, each of the phur dity of balance updated to account for ai amount Owed by a user of the set to the paying user based on the addition payment transaction
    [2] 3. The method of laih 1, wherein for each user of the group, a plurality of balance are mantined each balance UindiCatmng an amount the user is owed by or owes to another user of the group according to the transaction record 4 The mthod of caim I further composing mainaiing a total balance based on an amount of each of the plurality' ot payment eansationa Th ethod of clam LI fTrther composing receiving fom action of an additional payment transaction involving t a user of thegroup; and responsive to the additional payment transaction satisfying set entem Wi automaticalvupdatig the transaction record to include the additional payment transaction.
    [3] 6. The method of clain 1, further composing: receivieg ingtormation of an additional payment transaction made by a user of thre gtoup 16 1982$ PCT iquiring frorn the user whether to add the additional paymen transaction to the transaction record: and updating the transaction record to include the additional paymeti transaction based on a response received indticaing to add the additional payment transaction. The method of clim 6,wherein e information of the additional payment transaction is received from a user device responsive to the user completing the additional payment transaction via the user device.
    [4] 8. The method of chan wherein the additional payment transaction is completed using an account of the user and information of the additional payment transaction is recervedfront an electronic system of a financial institution with which the user has the account 9 The method of clahn 1, further comprising: receiving from a user device a request to manually add an additional pay ment tran section; tranrsmitting a torm to the user deee requesting information regarding the additional I payment t'ansactton: and responsive to receiving from usiner device the form with requested informationupdating the transaction record to include the additional payment transaction. 1.0. The method of claim I. wherein the settling event is at leas one of the owing: a date being reached a user of the group requesting settlement and a total bxlanc reaching a set amomt. 1 L A computer program product having a nontransitory coniputer readable storage medi m having Comn puter executable instructions for tracking payment transactions of a group of users the computer executable instructions Compi ng: a group module configured to estabHsh a group including a plurality of users; a tracking module configured to maintain a transaction record for the group including a pluraty of payment transactions each ofthe plurality of payment transactions invoking at least one user of the group; 17 1982$ PCT a balance module configured to maintain a bdance indicating an amount owed by a first user of the group to a second userofthe group based on one or nore of the plurality f payment transactions; and a settlenent iodule configured to settle the balance by iisating a transfer of flids between the first user and the second user resporisive to a setierment event, 12 The computer program product of claim 1 further comprisin g: the tracking module further configured t: update the fransacton record to include an additional p Iatnent transaction made by a paying user of the group and the payment transaction allocated to a set of users of the group; and the balance module huther conguted to update a plurality of balances, each of the phratity of balances updated to account for an amount owed by a user of the set to the paying user nased on the additional payment tran sacion, 1. The computer program product of clain 11,wherein for each user of the group. a plurality of balaces are maintained, each balance indicatingan amoun the user is owed by or owes to another user of the group according to the transaction record. 4 the computer pfogrn product of' C l 1 wherein the ki itng module is further configured to: receive information of an additional payment transaction involving a user cit he group; and responsive to the addaitonal payment transaction satisfying set criteria automatically update the transaction record to include the additionally transaction. 15 The computer program product of clain 11 wherein the tracking module is furtherconfiured to: recede information of an additional payment transaction made by a user of the group inquire fromt the user whether to add the additional paymeni transaction to the transaction record; and 18 1982$ PCT update the transaction record to include the add itioral paYtent transaction based on a response received indicating to add the additional paymtct transaction, 16, A corniputer system for tracking payvien transacdions of a groip of users. the system conprisin g: a computer processor; and a nonmransitory compumr-readable storage medium. sting computer program modules configured to execute on the cornputer processor the computer program nodules comprising: a group mode confi ed to estabsh a group including a plurality of users a tracking module configured to maintain a transacioi record fr the group iniluding a pluralty of payment transactions. each of the pluradity of payment transactions invoing at least one user of the group; a balance module confgured to maintain a baancindicating an amount owed by a irst user of the group to a second user of the group based on one or more of the plurality of payment transactions; and a settlement modie contiiured to settle the balance by initiatng a transfer of funds between the fbst user and the second user responsive to a settenent event. 17, The system of claim 16, Futher comprising. the tracking module further configured to update the transaction record to include an additional paynient transaction made by a paying user of the group and the payment transaction allocated to a set of users of the goup; and the balanLe module further configured to update a plurality of balmes. each of the plural ity of balances updated to account for an amount owed by a user of the set to the paying use based oni the additional payment transaction. 19 1982$ PCT
    [5] 18. The system of claim 16, wherein fr each user of de group, a plurality of balaces are maintained, each balance indicating an amount the user is owed by or owes to another user of the group according to the transaction record. l9. The system of claim 16 wherein the tracking module is further COifigured to; receive information of an addtonal payment transaction involving a user of the group; and responsive to the additional payments tansacnoon satisfy ng set cri teria. autonaneallyv update the transaction record to include the additional payment transaction
    [6] 20. The system of claim 16, wherein the tracking module is further conf ired to. receive information of an additional payment transaction made by a user of the group; inquire form the user whether to add the additional payment transactions to the transaction record; and update e t transactionrecord to include the additional payment transaction based on a response received indicatng to add the additional payment transaction., 20
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    法律状态:
    2015-06-11| FGA| Letters patent sealed or granted (standard patent)|
    2017-12-07| HB| Alteration of name in register|Owner name: GOOGLE LLC Free format text: FORMER NAME(S): GOOGLE, INC. |
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