Systems, methods and computer readable code for visualizing and managing digital cash

• US 20070168266A1
• Filed: 01/18/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Digicash
• Original Assignee: Digicash
• Inventors: Questembert, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US11/333,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20070168266A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/06 Private payment circuits, e.g. involving electronic currency used among participants of a common payment scheme
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/00 Complete banking systems; Coded card-freed arrangements adapted for dispensing or receiving monies or the like and posting such transactions to existing accounts, e.g. automatic teller machines data processing equipment for bank accounting G06Q40/02

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer readable code for handling (for example, visualizing and/or managing) digital cash are provided. According to some embodiments, digital cash bundles are each represented as graphical icons associated a visual indication of at least one digital cash attribute of the respective digital cash bundle. Exemplary digital cash attributes include but are not limited to an earliest valid redeeming time, a multi-redeeming parameter, an acceptance condition parameter, a password protection status, and a currency parameter. Methods systems and computer-readable code for generating, redeeming and/or dispensing digital cash are disclosed. Methods of doing business involving digital cash are provided. Methods and systems for facilitating the installation of software on a user machine in accordance with operations involving digital cash are disclosed. Methods for simulating drag-and-drop notification icons from the taskbar of a Microsoft Windows system are provided.

Claims

1. A system for visualizing digital cash on a computer, the system comprising:

a) a digital cash status engine for determining at least one cash attribute of a digital cash bundle; and

b) a digital cash management interface operative to represent said digital cash bundle as a graphical icon associated with a visual indication of at least one said determined digital cash attribute.

2. ) The system of claim 1 wherein said cash visual interface is operative to display an additional said visual indication associated with at least one said cash status attribute upon detecting a user engagement with said graphical icon.

3. ) The system of claim 2 wherein at least one said visual indication is provided as text.

4. ) The system of claim 1 wherein said digital cash management interface includes drag-and-drop functionality, and drag-and-drop manipulation of said graphical icons is operative to effect cash bundle manipulation operations.

5. ) The system of claim 4 wherein subjecting a said graphical icon to a drag-and-drop operation is operative to effect a corresponding drag-and-drop operation to a digital cash file associated with said subjected graphical icon.

6. ) The system of claim 1 further comprising:

c) a digital cash bundle combining engine for generating a cash bundle from a plurality of existing said digital cash bundles.

7. ) The system of claim 6 wherein upon detecting by said digital cash management interface of an engagement of a first said graphical icon representing a first said digital cash bundle with a second said graphical icon representing a second said digital cash bundle, said digital cash combining engine is operative to generate a combined said cash bundle from said first and second said cash bundles.

8. ) The system of claim 6 wherein said combining is a silent combining.

9. ) The system of claim 8 wherein upon said detecting of said engagement, said digital cash management interface presents a cash combining interface, and said generation of said combined cash bundle by said digital cash bundle combining engine is performed in accordance with parameters received through said cash combining interface.

10. ) The system of claim 1 wherein at least one said digital cash attribute is a parameter indicative of an earliest valid redeeming time of said digital cash bundle.

11. ) The system of claim 1 wherein at least one said digital cash attribute is a multi-redeeming parameter of said digital cash bundle.

12. ) The system of claim 1 wherein at least one said digital cash attribute is an acceptance condition parameter attached to said digital cash bundle.

13. ) The system of claim 1 wherein at least one said digital cash attribute is a password protection status of said digital cash parameter.

14. ) The system of claim 1 wherein at least one said digital cash attribute is a currency parameter of said digital cash bundle.

15. ) The system of claim 1 wherein at least one said digital cash attribute is selected from the group consisting of

a) a parameter indicative of a creation time of said digital cash bundle,

b) a parameter indicative of an expiration time of said digital cash bundle,

c) a destination parameter,

d) a parameter indicative of the ability of the present user to redeem said digital cash bundle,

e) a cancellation status parameter of said digital cash bundle,

f) a notification of redeeming status of said digital cash bundle,

g) a modifiability status of said digital cash bundle,

h) an online redeeming status of said digital cash bundle, and

i) an informative message status of said digital cash bundle.

16. ) The system of claim 1 wherein said digital cash management interface is further operative to effect at least one modification of at least one said digital cash attribute of said digital cash bundle.

17. ) The system of claim 1 further comprising:

c) a digital cash redeeming engine operative to handling redeeming of a digital cash bundle upon, and upon detecting by said digital cash management interface of a user engagement to a said graphical icon, said redeeming engine effects a redeeming operation for an associated digital cash bundle.

18. ) The system of claim 17 wherein said digital cash bundle is a repeat bundle, and said redeeming engine is only operative to redeem said repeat bundle if a sum of one and number of previous redeeming does not exceed a maximum number of redeeming associated with said repeat bundle.

19. ) The system of claim 17 wherein if a given said digital cash bundle is a deferred cash bundle, said digital cash redeeming engine is only operative to redeem said deferred cash bundle if an earliest redeeming time has arrived or passed.

20. ) The system of claim 17 further comprising:

c) a notification engine adapted to send a notification message upon said redeeming.

21. ) The system of claim 20 wherein said notification message includes at least one of an identity of a redeemer and a time of redeeming.

22. ) The system of claim 20 wherein said notification message is sent to a source of said redeemed cash bundle.

23. ) The system of claim 17 further comprising:

c) a condition acceptance engine for determining if an acceptance condition for redeeming said digital cash bundle is met,

wherein if said condition acceptance engine determines that a given said digital cash bundle is associated with an acceptance condition, said redeeming engine is operative to redeem said cash bundle associated with said acceptance condition only upon determination by said condition acceptance engine that said acceptance condition is met.

24. ) The system of claim 23 further comprising:

c) an acceptance condition presentation interface for presenting said acceptance condition.

25. ) The system of claim 17 further comprising:

c) a password engine for determining a validity status of a submitted password,

wherein if digital cash status engine determines that a given said digital cash bundle is password-protected, said redeeming engine is operative to redeem said protected cash bundle only upon determination by said password engine of a valid password.

26. ) The system of claim 25 further comprising:

d) a password interface associated with said password engine, said password interface being operative to communicate a received user password to said password engine,

wherein said password interface is activatable upon detection by said cash management interface of a user engagement with a said graphical icon.

27. ) The system of claim 1 further comprising:

c) a cash bundle generation engine operative to generate a said digital cash bundle,

wherein upon said generation of said digital cash bundle, said cash management interface is operative to display a said graphical icon representing said generated digital cash bundle.

28. ) The system of claim 27 further comprising:

d) a cash bundle generation interface,

wherein said cash bundle generation engine operates in accordance with directives received through said cash bundle generation interface, said cash bundle generation interface being activatable in accordance with a detected drag-and-drop operation.

29. ) The system of claim 27 wherein said cash bundle generation engine is operative to generate a digital cash bundle in accordance with predetermined values provided in said digital cash template.

30. ) The system of claim 29 wherein said generation of said digital cash bundle is performed upon detection of a dragging and a dropping of a template graphical icon associated with said provided digital cash template.

31. ) The system of claim 1 wherein said management interface is operative to display a graphically modified cash graphical icon which is modified in accordance with said at least one cash status attribute.

32. ) The system of claim 1 wherein said graphically modified cash graphical icon includes a primary icon combined with at least one secondary icon, and said visualization interface is operative to select said at least one secondary icon is selected in accordance with at least one said digital cash attribute.

33. ) The system of claim 1 wherein said associated visual indication is determined in accordance with at least one environmental factor of said digital cash bundle.

34. ) The system of claim 33 wherein said environmental factor is a current time.

35. ) The system of claim 33 wherein said environmental factor is selected from the group consisting of an identity of the logged in user and a location of said digital cash bundle.

36. ) The system of claim 33 wherein said environmental factor is a financial institution environmental factor.

37. ) The system of claim 1 wherein said digital cash management interface is operative to produce a menu upon detecting a user engagement with a said graphical icon, said menu containing at least one item operative to effect a cash bundle manipulation operation to a digital cash bundle associated with said engaged icon.

38. ) The system of claim 1 further comprising:

c) a digital cash bundle splitting engine for generating from said digital cash bundle a plurality of distinct derivative digital cash bundles.

39. ) The system of claim 38 wherein said cash splitting engine is activatable upon engaging said graphical icon within said cash visual interface.

40. ) The system of claim 1 wherein said digital cash bundle and said graphical icon are associated with a digital cash file.

41. ) The system of claim 1 further comprising:

c) a search engine for searching locating digital cash bundles in accordance with a plurality of values provided for respective digital cash attributes.

42. ) The system of claim 1 wherein said cash visualization interface is operative to interact with at least one separate desktop application to embed said graphical icon within said separate desktop application.

43. ) The system of claim 42 where said embedding is carried out by a user drag-and-drop operation.

44. ) The system of claim 1 wherein upon detecting a user designation of a desktop application as a drag-and-drop target for said graphical icon, and in accordance with a detection that said designated desktop application accepts drag-and-drop input text, said cash management interface is operative to transmit a textual representation of said associated digital cash bundle to said designated desktop application.

45. ) A method of visualizing digital cash on a computer, the method comprising:

a) determining at least one cash attribute of a digital cash bundle; and

b) representing said digital cash bundle as a graphical icon associated with a visual indication of at least one said determined digital cash attribute.

46. ) A computer readable medium comprising program instructions, wherein when executed the program instructions are operable to:

a) determine at least one cash attribute of a digital cash bundle; and

b) represent said digital cash bundle as a graphical icon associated with a visual indication of at least one said determined digital cash attribute.

47. ) A method of simulating a drag-and-drop operation of a Microsoft Windows notification icon from the taskbar into a region outside of the taskbar the method comprising:

a) detecting a user engagement with the notification icon in a manner indicative of initiating a drag-and-drop operation;

b) upon said detecting, creating a temporary proxy window whose initial location is proximate to said notification icon;

c) transferring the focus to said created proxy window and establishing said created proxy window as the drag source; and

d) allowing the user to complete the drag-and-drop operation with said proxy window.

48. ) The method of claim 47 wherein an icon derived from said notification icon is embedded in said proxy window in order to further the impression that it is the said notification icon that is being dragged.

49. ) A digital cash generation system for creating customized digital cash, the system comprising:

a) a digital cash generator for generating digital cash; and

b) a data extractor for deriving an identifier of a payee target from a software application distinct from said digital cash generator,

wherein said digital cash generator is operative to generate said digital cash in accordance with said derived identity of said payee.

50. ) A digital cash generation system for creating customized digital cash, the system comprising:

a) a digital cash generator for generating digital cash customized in accordance with a digital cash account identifier; and

b) a customized data manager for associating said digital cash account identifiers with identifiers under a software application distinct from said digital cash generator,

wherein upon receiving a request to generate digital cash for a payee having an identifier under said software application, said digital cash generator is operative to customize generated digital cash using a digital cash account identifier previously associated with said identifier under said software application.

51. ) A method of facilitating the installation of software on a user machine, the method comprising:

a) associating a digital cash bundle file with code or with a reference to code operative to install an application on the user machine in accordance with a detecting of a user engagement of said digital cash bundle file; and

b) storing said digital cash bundle in volatile or non-volatile memory.

52. ) The method of claim 51 wherein said code is operative to prevent repeated installation of said application.

53. ) The method of claim 52 wherein said code is operative to modify said digital cash bundle to prevent said repeated installation.

54. ) The method of claim 52 wherein said code is operative to configure a file type association data structure of the operating system such that future engagements by the user of digital cash bundles associated with said installation code or said reference are operative to bypass said installation code.

55. ) A system for redeeming digital cash on a computer, the system comprising:

a) a digital cash status engine for determining at least one cash access attribute of digital cash payment; and

b) a digital cash access granting engine for redeeming only upon detecting a user acceptance of an embedded acceptance condition associated with said digital cash payment.

56. ) The system of claim 55 further comprising:

c) a notification engine operative to send a notification upon user acceptance of said acceptance condition.

57. ) The system of claim 56 wherein said notification engine is operative to send or make available a piece of legally admissible evidence of said user acceptance.

58. ) The system of claim 57 wherein said legally admissible evidence includes a digitally signed communication.

59. ) A method of doing business, the method comprising:

a) providing a digital cash file having an embedded specified earliest redeeming time; and

b) upon handling a redeeming request, redeeming said digital cash file only if said redeeming time constraint is satisfied.

60. ) The method of claim 59 wherein a digital cash account is debited at a time selected from the group consisting of a time of successful redeeming, said specified redeeming time, and a time of said issuing.

61. ) The method of claim 60 wherein said digital cash file is designated with a status selected from the group consisting of cancelable and non-cancellable.

62. ) A method of doing business, the method comprising:

a) specifying a redeeming parameter describing a number of times a digital cash payment may be redeemed; and

b) associating said redeeming parameter with said digital cash payment.

63. ) The method of claim 62 wherein a user-specific number of times a digital cash payment may be redeemed for any given user is also specified, and said user-specific number of times is associated with said digital cash payment.

64. ) A method of redeeming digital cash:

a) handling a redeeming request for a repeat digital cash payment that is redeemable a number of times equal to a first number; and

b) authorizing redeeming of said repeat digital cash payment only if a number of previous successful redeemings is less than one less than said first number.

65. ) The method of claim 64 wherein said redeeming request is associated with an identity of a potential redeemer, said digital cash payment is redeemable for said potential redeemer a number of times equal to a second number, and said digital cash payment is authorized for said redeeming only if a number of previous successful redeemings for said potential redeemer is less than one less than said second number.

66. ) A method of doing business, the method comprising:

a) offering an item or service for sale over the Internet; and

b) receiving over the Internet one or more digital cash bundle files as payment for said item or service.

67. ) The method of claim 66 wherein said step of offering includes embedding within a web page a visual element with associated code, said visual element representing said item or service offered for sale and said associated code is operative to accept said digital cash bundle file as payment for said item or service upon user engagement with said web element.

68. ) The method of claim 67 wherein said embedded associated code is operative to accept said digital cash bundle file upon detecting a user drag-and-drop operation of said digital cash bundle file onto a region associated with said visual web element.

69. ) The method of claim 67 wherein said associated code is operative to accept a plurality of said digital cash bundle files, and to indicate when an accrued amount of digital cash from said plurality is equal to or exceeds a payment due for said item or service.

70. ) The method of claim 67 wherein if excess digital cash is received for said item or service, said associated code is operative to provide one or more digital cash files whose value is determined by a received excess payment.

71. ) A method dispensing digital cash bundles, the method comprising:

a) embedding within a web page a visual indication of a presence of digital cash; and

b) embedding within said web page at least one web element operative to supply a digital cash bundle file upon detecting a user engagement of a location associated with said visual indication of said presence of said digital cash.

72. ) The method of claim 71 wherein said web element is selected from the group consisting a digital cash bundle file, computer-readable code for providing a digital cash bundle file, and a reference to said computer-readable code.

73. ) A method of encouraging web traffic, the method comprising:

a) making a web page available a plurality of times; and

b) for at least one of said plurality of times, making said web page available with an embedded digital cash bundle.

74. ) The method of claim 73 wherein said web page is made available with said digital cash bundle only a fraction of the time, and a determination about whether or not to embed said digital cash bundle is made in accordance at least in part with an identity of a user.

75. ) A method of doing business, the method comprising:

a) providing restricted digital cash redeemable only by a pre-defined entity; and

b) making said restricted digital cash available to one or more individuals, each said individual being distinct from a redeeming party.

76. ) The method of claim 75 wherein said restricted digital cash voucher is provided as a digital cash file accessible to an operating system desktop.

77. ) The method of claim 75 further comprising:

c) effecting a transaction where an entity authorized to redeem said distributed restricted digital cash receives said distributed restricted digital cash in exchange for goods or services.

78. ) A method of doing business, the method comprising:

a) providing digital cash having an embedded informative message, said digital cash redeemable concomitant with a viewing of said embedded informative message; and

b) storing said digital cash bundle file in volatile or non-volatile memory.

79. ) The method of claim 78 wherein said embedded informative message includes an advertising message.

80. ) The method of claim 78 wherein said digital cash is redeemable only after viewing of at least a portion of said embedded informative message.

81. ) The method of claim 78 wherein at least a portion of said embedded informative message is presented after cash redeeming.

82. ) The method of claim 78 wherein said embedded informative message includes at least one of a graphical message and a multi-media message.

83. ) A method of doing business, the method comprising:

a) providing a password-protected digital cash payment; and

b) authorizing access to said digital cash payment only after a providing of a valid password.

84. ) The method of claim 83 wherein said digital cash payment is provided as a digital cash file.

85. ) The method of claim 83 wherein said digital cash payment is represented as a graphical icon, and said password is requested upon a user engagement to said graphical icon.

86. ) A method of doing business, the method comprising:

a) generating digital cash having an embedded redeeming acceptance condition; and

b) storing said digital cash bundle file in volatile or non-volatile memory

87. ) The method of claim 86 wherein said redeeming acceptance condition of said generated digital cash includes formal legal text, and said generating of said digital cash includes generating said formal legal text on the basis of one or more predetermined templates.

88. ) The method of claim 86 wherein said digital cash includes embedded instructions to send a notification upon user acceptance of said acceptance condition.

89. ) The method of claim 88 wherein said digital cash includes embedded instructions to send or make available a piece of legally admissible evidence of said user acceptance.

90. ) The method of claim 89 wherein said legally admissible evidence includes a digitally signed communication.

91. ) The method of claim 86 wherein said digital cash payment is distributed as a digital cash bundle file.

92. ) A method of doing business, the method comprising:

a) providing a digital cash payment associated with instructions which are operative upon redeeming to execute of software code distinct from said redeeming code; and

b) storing said digital cash payment in volatile or non-volatile memory.

93. ) The method of claim 92 wherein said instructions are instructions embedded within said digital cash payment.

94. ) The method of claim 92 wherein said instructions are external to said digital cash payment.

95. ) The method of claim 92 wherein said instructions are operative to execute installation code operative to install an application on a user machine.

96. ) The method of claim 92 wherein said digital cash payment is distributed as a digital cash bundle file.

97. ) A method of facilitating a transaction wherein a buyer purchases an item from a vendor using digital cash payment, the method comprising:

a) receiving an indication that the item has been sent from the vendor for delivery to the buyer;

b) receiving a key for redeeming the digital cash payment; and

c) in accordance with a successful validation of said key, authorizing the providing of the item to the buyer.

98. ) The system of claim 97, further comprising:

c) in accordance with said successful validation of the key, authorizing the sending of said key to at least one of the vendor.

99. ) The system of claim 97, further comprising:

c) in accordance with said successful validation of said key, effecting a crediting of an account of said vendor with an amount derived from a value of said digital cash payment.

100. ) The method of claim 97 wherein said digital cash payment is a digital cash bundle file.

101. ) A system for handling a plurality of application items of a software application, the system comprising:

a) registration code for registering with the software application; and

b) an application item handler for handling application items of the software application, said application handler adapted to handle said application items in accordance with determinations of whether or not given application items are associated with digital cash.

102. ) The system of claim 101 provided at least in part as a plug-in for the software application.