Patent Application
20140214640
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to transferring assets and more particularly to parental transfers of digital assets to dependents.
2. Introduction
With the growth of the popularity of consumer electronics, many consumers prefer to consolidate items of commerce into digital forms. However, current systems for making payments are insufficiently suited for integration with a digital experience using modern consumer electronic devices. Additionally, existing systems for transferring transactional instruments between users are lacking with respect digital integration, adoption, and convenience.
As electronic device usage grows among children, parents have a harder job of managing what their children have access to on those devices. Digital wallet applications allow users to manage their own tickets, passes and gift cards with one single interface. However, known methods of transferring those digital assets to children are lacking.
Additionally, there are many scenarios where a parent may want to send his kids to a movie or to shop at a particular store. However, simply providing children with cash and trusting they will use it as agreed upon is not always a good option. For example, the child might lose the money, have the money stolen from them, use the money for some other purpose that the parents do not approve of, etc. Consequently, there is a need for systems, computer-readable media, and methods for transferring digital assets to dependents and monitoring the dependent's activity with respect to the digital assets.
Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or can be learned by practice of the herein disclosed principles. The features and advantages of the disclosure can be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or can be learned by the practice of the principles set forth herein.
Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for transferring assets and monitoring spending activity of dependents.
Some embodiments of the present technology involve a digital wallet processing engine receiving a request from a parent to enable a Parent Mode and link the parent's digital wallet account with a dependent's digital wallet account in a network-based storage platform and to transfer assets to the dependent's account, monitor the dependent's account, and otherwise manage the dependent's account. The request can be forwarded to the dependent and upon receiving consent from the dependent, the digital wallet processing engine can link the dependent's account with the parent's account.
In some embodiments of the present technology, linking the dependent's account with the parent's account in the network-based storage platform involve creating a shared workspace in the network-based storage platform accessible by parent and the dependent. The parent can then transfer digital cards and digital assets to the shared workspace and the dependent can access the transferred assets while the parent maintains control.
In some embodiments, the parent is given a management interface accessible through the parent's digital wallet account or a media distribution platform client application. The interface can include tools for managing the dependent's digital wallet account. Some embodiments of the present technology involve updating the interface in real time to reflect changes in the dependent's digital wallet account to allow the parent to track the dependent's activity.
Some embodiments involve pushing notifications from the network-based storage platform to an electronic device of the parent and pushing notifications relating to the request from the network-based storage platform to an electronic device of the dependent.
In order to describe the manner in which the above recited and other advantages and features of the disclosure can be obtained, a more particular description of the principles briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the principles herein are described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Various embodiments of the disclosure are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
The disclosure addresses the need in the art for more sophisticated systems, methods, and computer-readable media for transferring assets and monitoring spending activity of dependents. In order to ensure that children use assets for their intended purpose, the present technology involves transferring digital cards and digital assets to dependent devices. Such transfers can include tickets to a specific movie, a gift card for a particular store, a gift card with restrictions placed on its use, daily digital asset allowances, etc.
Some embodiments of the present technology involve a digital wallet application for transferring assets from one digital card to another digital card. One example of a digital wallet application is PASSBOOK, available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.
The wallet configuration can include a vertical stack of digital cards with only a small part of the digital card being visible. In some embodiments, the visible portion of the digital cards 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124 provides information about the card. For example, in the wallet configuration, the visible part of digital card 110 displays information relating to a retail store that the digital card 110 is issued from. In another example, in the wallet configuration, the visible part of digital card 120 displays the name of an airline and information about an upcoming flight.
The digital cards 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124 can be interactive such that hovering over a card with an input method such as a mouse cursor or a single finger placement on a touch screen causes the computing device 104 to display a thumbnail view of a detailed card interface Likewise, selecting a digital card with a mouse click or single finger tap on a touch screen causes the computing device 104 to display a full detailed card interface 140.
In some embodiments of the disclosure, a detailed card interface 140 provides additional information about the digital card, the account associated with the digital card, or both. Additionally, the detailed card interface 140 can display an optical code 145 for effecting a financial transaction. Also, a detailed card interface 140′ can display an optical code 145′ used to provide entrance in a gatekeeping application. As discussed below, a digital card interface can include an interface for transferring assets.
In some embodiments, one or more of the digital cards 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124 can provide notifications through the computing device 104 relating to an event. For example, according to
A digital wallet application can provide great convenience to users by centralizing all of a user's retail card accounts, travel accounts, loyalty program accounts, etc. such that the user can open a single application to access any of his/her accounts by tapping on a card. Also, digital cards can replace the need to carry cash or credit cards when a user has merchant-specific prepaid digital cards. Additionally, some embodiments of the disclosure also involve systems, methods, and computer readable media for providing digital wallet applications the ability to transfer assets from an account associated with digital card to another, transfer assets between a first client device and another client device, or both transfer between accounts and transfer between devices.
Some examples of assets include cash, credit, reward points, airline frequent flyer points, coupons, loyalty points, promotions, gatekeeper passes, etc. Although some specific examples of assets are disclosed explicitly herein, those with ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure will readily understand that any type of transferrable asset can benefit from the disclosure.
Some embodiments of the disclosure involve a system configured to facilitate various types of asset transfers and configured to monitor and manage asset transfers between a plurality of client devices.
The system 200 discussed herein allows a user to enable a “Parent Mode” in a digital wallet application which allows a user to transfer assets to another user while maintaining auditing capability and while maintaining a managing role in controlling how the assets are used by the receiving user. Oftentimes, the transferor is a parent and the transferee is a dependent child; however, those with ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure will readily appreciate that the novel features of the present technology can be extended to a wide variety of asset transfer scenarios between any types of users. Accordingly, while the terms parent, dependent, and child are sometimes used to describe a transferor-transferee relationship, they are used to be illustrative only and not to imply that other parties cannot benefit from the present technology.
The system 200 of
The digital wallet platform 260 includes a digital wallet engine 230 comprising one or more processing modules for executing digital wallet applications and processes. For example, the digital wallet engine 230 can be configured to display digital cards on a client device and receive input from a user of the client device as discussed in
The digital wallet platform 260 also includes an account database 250 configured to store user account information and user financial account information for a plurality of users. For example, in some embodiments of the present technology, the account database 250 stores a user's account name that is used in a media distribution platform, such as ITUNES, available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Likewise, the account database 250 can store user financial account information associated with the media distribution platform, such as the user's credit card number or banking account information. Likewise, as will be explained in more detail below, the digital wallet platform can also be tied to a network-based storage platform 290, such as ICLOUD, available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.
The digital wallet platform 260 also includes a parent mode module 240 configured to facilitate asset transfers between digital wallet accounts and financial accounts, and configured to manage and track asset transfers using the digital wallet applications on the parent device 210 and the collection 280 of dependent devices.
A user can enable Parent Mode to transfer assets and manage transferred assets in a number of ways. For example, a user can enable Parent Mode through a digital wallet application settings menu or through a media distribution platform client application.
The GUI 350 illustrated in
Additionally, as explained above, some embodiments of the present technology involve asset transfers between user accounts tied to a media distribution platform. According to
Next, a request is sent to a dependent's device 430. In some cases, the request appears upon the dependent signing into a media distribution platform client interface or a digital wallet application. In some embodiments, the request is sent as a notification, as explained in more detail below. In some embodiments, the request involves asking for consent to be listed as a dependent, consent to be linked with a parent account, and consent to have an account monitored and managed. In some embodiments, the request involves conditional options such that the dependent can provide consent to the parent to be listed as a dependent and for the parent to perform some monitoring options, but not others—for example.
Next, the dependent sends request approval or conditional approval 440 and the dependent account is linked with the parent account and controls are provided to the parent 450. Linking a parent account with a dependent's account allows the parent to control the dependent's account 460 by overseeing activity and manage a dependent's digital assets in a digital wallet application.
In some embodiments of the present technology, the link between the parent and the dependent is memorialized in the account database 250 of the digital wallet platform 260. Consequently, in some embodiments, the dependent's consent to allow the parent to manage their digital cards cannot be withdrawn after receiving the transferred digital assets. Saving the link between parent and dependent also avoids having to ask for consent each time the parent wants to interact with a dependent's digital wallet.
As explained above with respect to GUI 350, in some embodiments, the link between accounts is made in a settings menu of a network-based storage platform client application. In these embodiments, the link memorialized in the digital wallet platform also links network-based storage platform accounts. For example, linking a parent's ITUNES account with a child's account also links their ICLOUD accounts. Indeed, linking network-based storage platform accounts can also create a shared network-based platform workspace enabling multi-party access to the same digital cards and digital assets.
Various types of transfers can be made using the digital wallet platform 260. For example, a parent can transfer a digital card preloaded with assets to a dependent if the dependent does not already have that digital card. Additionally, a parent can also transfer supplemental assets to a digital card already associated with the dependent's device.
Next, the digital card is delivered to the parent device 530 by the movie ticket re-seller, the parent selects to have the assets delivered to a digital wallet application on a dependent's device 540, and the digital card is transferred 545. As explained above, in some embodiments of the present technology, the transfer of the digital card between the parent and dependent is performed in a network-based storage platform, such as ICLOUD. Using a cloud-based storage solution allows the digital card to be redeemed by the dependent device and easily monitored and managed by the parent device. Indeed, the method 500 involves both the parent entering parent mode 560 and tracking/managing the assets 580 and the dependent using the assets 550. In some embodiments, a notification is sent 570 to the parent device upon the dependent's use of the assets informing the parent that the assets have been redeemed.
According to some embodiments of the present technology, a parent can monitor and manage digital cards and assets that have previously been transferred to a dependent or that the dependent otherwise obtained in a digital card platform.
The method 600 also involves a parent purchasing additional assets to bolster the balance of a dependent's digital card 630. In some embodiments of the present technology, a media distribution platform can be used to purchase additional assets and the assets can be delivered via a network-based storage platform tied to the media distribution platform. For example, in some embodiments, an ITUNES account can be used to purchase additional assets and the assets can be delivered via an ICLOUD account tied to the ITUNES account. Accordingly, the method 600 involves the parent requesting the use of media distribution platform to complete a purchase for additional assets 640, the media distribution platform requesting authentication 650, processing a purchase 660, delivering a notification regarding the purchase 665, and transferring the newly-purchased assets to the dependent device via a network-based storage platform 670.
As explained above, some embodiments of the present technology involve turning on a Parent Mode through a digital wallet application settings interface in a settings menu of a network-based storage platform.
In some embodiments, selecting an individual card 734 in a digital wallet interface 733 causes the device to display a parent management interface 735 for a particular digital card 734 in the digital wallet interface 733. The parent management interface 735 can display a button 740 for adding value to the card, a button 745 for removing assets or removing the entire card, a button 760 for viewing card activity, and a button 750 for placing restrictions on the card. Viewing card activity can include viewing when, where, and how much of a card balance is being used by the dependent. In some embodiments, a map of card activity can be displayed. Examples of restrictions monetary amount restrictions, temporal restrictions, content rating restrictions, geographical restrictions, etc.
In addition to managing digital cards and digital assets for dependents, some embodiments of the present technology involve notifying a parent or a child about events relating to digital card transfers and other activities. As explained above, the digital wallet platform can create a link between user accounts and between network-based storage platform accounts. Consequently, when an event occurs that affects a digital card saved in a network-based storage platform, the instance of that event can be easily recognized by any account linked to the digital card. As such, the present technology allows notifications to be easily directed to relevant parties.
With reference to
The system bus 1010 may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. A basic input/output (BIOS) stored in ROM 1040 or the like, may provide the basic routine that helps to transfer information between elements within the computing device 1000, such as during start-up. The computing device 1000 further includes storage devices 1060 such as a hard disk drive, a magnetic disk drive, an optical disk drive, tape drive or the like. The storage device 1060 can include software modules 1062, 1064, 1066 for controlling the processor 1020. Other hardware or software modules are contemplated. The storage device 1060 is connected to the system bus 1010 by a drive interface. The drives and the associated computer readable storage media provide nonvolatile storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computing device 1000. In one aspect, a hardware module that performs a particular function includes the software component stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium in connection with the necessary hardware components, such as the processor 1020, bus 1010, display 1070, and so forth, to carry out the function. The basic components are known to those of skill in the art and appropriate variations are contemplated depending on the type of device, such as whether the device 1000 is a small, handheld computing device, a desktop computer, or a computer server.
Although the exemplary embodiment described herein employs the hard disk 1060, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of computer readable media which can store data that are accessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, cartridges, random access memories (RAMs) 1050, read only memory (ROM) 1040, a cable or wireless signal containing a bit stream and the like, may also be used in the exemplary operating environment. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media expressly exclude media such as energy, carrier signals, electromagnetic waves, and signals per se.
To enable user interaction with the computing device 1000, an input device 1090 represents any number of input mechanisms, such as a microphone for speech, a touch-sensitive screen for gesture or graphical input, keyboard, mouse, motion input, speech and so forth. An output device 1070 can also be one or more of a number of output mechanisms known to those of skill in the art. In some instances, multimodal systems enable a user to provide multiple types of input to communicate with the computing device 1000. The communications interface 1080 generally governs and manages the user input and system output. There is no restriction on operating on any particular hardware arrangement and therefore the basic features here may easily be substituted for improved hardware or firmware arrangements as they are developed.
For clarity of explanation, the illustrative system embodiment is presented as including individual functional blocks including functional blocks labeled as a “processor” or processor 1020. The functions these blocks represent may be provided through the use of either shared or dedicated hardware, including, but not limited to, hardware capable of executing software and hardware, such as a processor 1020, that is purpose-built to operate as an equivalent to software executing on a general purpose processor. For example the functions of one or more processors presented in
The logical operations of the various embodiments are implemented as: (1) a sequence of computer implemented steps, operations, or procedures running on a programmable circuit within a general use computer, (2) a sequence of computer implemented steps, operations, or procedures running on a specific-use programmable circuit; and/or (3) interconnected machine modules or program engines within the programmable circuits. The system 1000 shown in
Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure may also include tangible and/or non-transitory computer-readable storage media for carrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such non-transitory computer-readable storage media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer, including the functional design of any special purpose processor as discussed above. By way of example, and not limitation, such non-transitory computer-readable media can include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions, data structures, or processor chip design. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or combination thereof) to a computer, the computer properly views the connection as a computer-readable medium. Thus, any such connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of the computer-readable media.
Computer-executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions. Computer-executable instructions also include program modules that are executed by computers in stand-alone or network environments. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, data structures, objects, and the functions inherent in the design of special-purpose processors, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Computer-executable instructions, associated data structures, and program modules represent examples of the program code means for executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executable instructions or associated data structures represents examples of corresponding acts for implementing the functions described in such steps.
Those of skill in the art will appreciate that other embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in network computing environments with many types of computer system configurations, including personal computers, hand-held devices, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Embodiments may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by local and remote processing devices that are linked (either by hardwired links, wireless links, or by a combination thereof) through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.
The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made to the principles described herein without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
