Universal ledger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10102571-B2
Application number	US-201715616452-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2017
Priority date	Jan 18, 2011
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for tracking obligations incurred between individuals. The method may include receiving a request from a first party, where the request includes an expense incurred by the first party for the benefit of a second party. The method may also include providing a notice of the request to the second party and receiving an acceptance from the second party to assume an obligation associated with the expense. The method may further include associating the obligation with the second party and associating a benefit with the first party. The obligation and/or benefit may be substantially equal in value to the expense. The method may additionally include interfacing with a social network service to provide the social network service with information about the obligation and/or the benefit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising
receiving, by a computer server of a social network service, a request for a user-to-user direct communication session initiated by a first user via a first client device;
receiving, by the computer server of the social network service, an identification of a second user as an intended recipient in the user-to-user direct communication session;
establishing, by the computer server of the social network service, the user-to-user direct communication session between the first user and the second user, by providing a user interface window for user-to-user communication for the first user via the first client device;
transmitting, by the computer server of the social network service, communication input received from the first user via the first client device, to the identified second user at a second user device;
receiving an indication from the first user or the second user of a request to transfer funds between the first user and the second user; and
in response to receiving the indication from the first user or the second user, providing at least one separate user interface window or sub-window at the first client device or the second client device, to allow the requested funds transfer between the first user and the second user.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request for the user-to-user direct communication session initiated by the first user is received via a first instance of a web browser application executing on the first client device, in response to a user interaction with a social networking website provided to the first client device by the computer server of the social network service, and
wherein providing the user interface window for user-to-user communication for the first user via the first client device is performed within the first instance of the web browser application by the website provided to the first client device by the computer server of the social network service.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request for the user-to-user direct communication session initiated by the first user is received via a first instance of a social networking application executing on the first client device, and
wherein providing the user interface window for user-to-user communication for the first user via the first client device comprises transmitting communication session data from the computer server of the social network service to the first instance of the social networking application executing on the first client device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the user interface window for user-to-user communication for the first user via the first client device comprises initiating an instant messaging software application on the first client device, and initiating a compatible instant messaging software application concurrently on the second client device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the user interface window for user-to-user communication for the first user via the first client device comprises initiating an email application on the first client device.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to receiving the request to transfer funds between the first user and the second user, providing graphical user interface components via the separate user interface window or sub-window to allow a payment option to be selected for providing the amount of funds.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication received from the first user or the second user corresponds to a link selected by the first user at the first client device, to allow the first user to transfer funds to the second user, the method further comprising:
in response to receiving the indication of the link selected by the first user at the first client device, providing another separate user interface window or sub-window at the second client device to allow the second user to accept the requested funds transfer from the first user; and
receiving, from the other separate user interface window or sub-window provided on the second client device, an indication of acceptance from the second user of the request of the first user to transfer funds to the second user,
wherein the requested funds transfer is initiated in response to the indication of acceptance from the second user.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
in response to receiving the indication of acceptance from the second user, providing graphical user interface components via the other separate window or sub-window on the second client device to allow the second user to select a payment option for receiving the amount of funds.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, via the separate user interface window or sub-window, an amount of funds to be transferred;
determining, by the computer server of the social network service, first financial account data associated with the first user;
determining, by the computer server of the social network service, second financial account data associated with the second user; and
providing, by the computer server of the social network service, the first financial account data associated with the first user, the second financial account data associated with the second user, and the amount of funds to be transferred, to one or more financial servers.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more financial servers are implemented within the computer server of the social network service.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the request to transfer funds corresponds to a request by the first user to transfer funds to the second user, and wherein determining the first financial account data associated with the first user comprises receiving first user input via the separate user interface window or sub-window at the first client device, the first user input comprising bank account information or credit card information associated with the first user.

12. A system for initiating funds transfers between individuals associated with a social network service, the system comprising:
a communication interface configured to enable the system to interface with the social network service;
a processor; and
a non-volatile memory medium comprising instructions that direct the processor to:
receive a request for a user-to-user direct communication session via the social network service, the request initiated by a first user via a first client device;
receive an identification of a second user as an intended recipient in the user-to-user direct communication session;
establish the user-to-user direct communication session via the social network service, between the first user and the second user, by providing a user interface window for user-to-user communication for the first user via the first client device;
transmit communication input received from the first user via the first client device, to the identified second user at a second user device;
receive an indication from the first user or the second user, the link of a request to transfer funds between the first user and the second user; and
in response to receiving the indication from the first user or the second user, provide at least one separate user interface window or sub-window at the first client device or the second client device, to allow the requested funds transfer between the first user and the second user.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the request for the user-to-user direct communication session initiated by the first user is received via a first instance of a web browser application executing on the first client device, in response to a user interaction with a social networking

Assignees

• Western Union Co

Inventors

• Demark Michele
• Michelsen Michael
• Scott Diane
• Cochran Chris

Classifications

• G06Q30/0613 Primary

  using intermediate agents · CPC title

• G06Q10/06

  Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling · CPC title

• G06Q20/102

  Bill distribution or payments · CPC title

• G06Q10/40

  Business processes related to social networking or social networking services · CPC title

• G06Q40/03

  Credit; Loans; Processing thereof · CPC title