Universal ledger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10235704-B2
Application number	US-201314143964-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2013
Priority date	Jan 18, 2011
Publication date	Mar 19, 2019
Grant date	Mar 19, 2019

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 system comprising:
a host computer system configured to:
receive a first message comprising an indication of a first action performed by a first user, the first user being associated with a first social network service and the first action is performed external to the first social network service;
send a second message to a second user, the second message indicating the first action performed by the first user, the second user being associated with a second social network service, wherein the first social network service and second social network service are different social network services;
receive a third message, the third message indicating a second action to be performed by the second user and the second action is to be performed external to the second social network service;
update a universal ledger to associate the second action with the second user, the universal ledger being distinct from the first social network service and the second social network service;
update the universal ledger to associate the first action with the first user;
receive, from a point of sale device within a merchant location, purchase information associated with the second user, the purchase information indicating a third action to be performed by the second user;
update the universal ledger to associate the third action with the second user;
determine, based on the universal ledger, a numerical value associated with one or more actions associated with the second user; and
cause an indication of the numerical value to be visually displayed within a profile associated with the second user and the second social network service, wherein the profile is viewable by one or more members of the second social network service.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the host computer system is further configured to:
send the first social network service a notification of the universal ledger.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the host computer system is further configured to:
receive a fourth message, the fourth message indicating the second action has been performed; and
update the universal ledger to disassociate the second action with the second user.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first action is a payment on behalf of the second user.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the universal ledger is associated with a community pool of funds.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the host computer system is further configured to:
send a notice to the second user that one or more obligations have been outstanding for longer than a certain time.

7. A method comprising:
receiving a first message comprising an indication of an first action performed by a first user, the first user being associated with a first social network service and the first action is performed external to the first social network service;
sending a second message to a second user, the second message indicating the first action performed by the first user, the second user being associated with a second social network service, wherein the first social network service and second social network service are different social network services;
receiving a third message, the third message indicating a second action to be performed by the second user and the second action is to be performed external to the second social network service;
updating a universal ledger to associate the second action with the second user, the universal ledger being distinct from the first social network service and the second social network service;
updating the universal ledger to associate the first action with the first user;
receiving, from a point of sale device within a merchant location, purchase information associated with the second user, the purchase information indicating a third action to be performed by the second user;
updating the universal ledger to associate the third action with the second user;
determining, based on the universal ledger, a numerical value associated with one or more actions associated with the second user; and
causing an indication of the numerical value to be visually displayed within a profile associated with the second user and the second social network service, wherein the profile is viewable by one or more members of the second social network service.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises:
sending the first social network service a notification of the universal ledger.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises:
receiving a fourth message, the fourth message indicating the second action has been performed; and
updating the universal ledger to disassociate the second action with the second user.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first action is a payment on behalf of the second user.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein:
the universal ledger is associated with a community pool of funds.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises:
sending a notice to the second user that one or more obligations have been outstanding for longer than a certain time.

13. A non-transitory machine readable medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:
receive a first message comprising an indication of an first action performed by a first user, the first user being associated with a first social network service and the first action is performed external to the first social network service;
send a second message to a second user, the second message indicating the first action performed by the first user, the second user being associated with a second social network service, wherein the first social network service and second social network service are different social network services;
receive a third message, the third message indicating a second action to be performed by the second user and the second action is to be performed external to the second social network service;
update a universal ledger to associate the second action with the second user, the universal ledger being distinct from the first social network service and the second social network service;
update the universal ledger to associate the first action with the first user;
receive, from a point of sale device within a merchant location, purchase information associated with the second user, the purchase information indicating a third action to be performed by the second user;
update the universal ledger to associate the third action with the second user;
determining, based on the universal ledger, a numerical value associated with one or more actions associated with the second user; and
cause an indication of the numerical value to be visually displayed within a profile associated with the second user and the second social network service, wherein the profile is viewable by one or more members of the second social network service.

14. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions that when executed by the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to:
send the first social network service a notification of the universal ledger.

15. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions that when executed by the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to:
receive a fourth message, the fourth message indicating the second action has been performed; and
update the universal ledger to disassociate the second action with the second user.

16. The non-transitory machine

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