REQUEST MONEY SOCIAL NETWORKING APPLICATIONS

• US 20090119212A1
• Filed: 11/05/2007
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Liu, Deborah Yee-Ky, Lu, Su-I
• Granted Patent: US 8,589,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/384 using social networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

In some example embodiments, a system and method is illustrated as including receiving a funds request that contains an identifier to uniquely identify a first member of a social networking community, the funds request including an amount of funds requested. Further, this method may include receiving a funds authorization from a grantor of funds. Additionally, this method may include transmitting a funds transfer instruction based upon the funds authorization. Moreover, this method may include transferring the amount of funds requested from an account held by the grantor of funds to an account held by the first member of a social networking community.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method comprising:

receiving a funds request that contains an identifier to uniquely identify a first member of a first social networking community, the funds request including an amount of funds requested;

receiving a funds authorization from a second member of a second social networking community;

transmitting a funds transfer instruction based upon the funds authorization; and

transferring the amount of funds requested from an account held by the second member of the second social networking community to an account held by the first member of the first social networking community.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the identifier includes a network handle.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2, further comprising mapping the network handle to an email address.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the funds transfer instruction includes an email identifier.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the funds transfer instruction, based upon the funds authorization, to a payment processor.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 5, further comprising determining whether the first member of the first social networking community has an account with the payment processor.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 5, further comprising determining whether the second member of the second social networking community has an account with the payment processor.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 5, further comprising prompting a user to set up an account with the payment processor, the user including at least one of the second member of the second social networking community, or the first member of the first social networking community.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first member and the second member are members of the same social networking community.

10. A computer system comprising:

a first receiver to receive input to select a network handle generated by a selection device;

a first update engine to update a data store to track a funds request;

a first transmitter to transmit the funds request and the network handle; and

a first display to display the funds request in a Graphical User Interface (GUI).

11. The computer system of claim 10, further comprising:

a second receiver to receive a funds payment confirmation;

a second update engine to update a data store to track a payment made in response to the funds request; and

a second display to display the payment made in the GUI.

12. The computer system of claim 10, further comprising a second receiver to receive the funds request that identifies a first member of a first social networking community.

13. The computer system of claim 10, further comprising:

a second receiver to receive input that selects the funds request as displayed in a second GUI; and

a first generator to generate a funds authorization that identifies a second member of a second social networking community; and

a second transmitter to transmit a funds authorization message.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the second GUI is displayed as part of an instant messaging application.

15. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising a second generator to generate a funds transfer instruction based, in part, upon the funds authorization message.

16. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising a third transmitter to transmit the funds transfer instruction, based upon the funds authorization message, to a payment processor.

17. The computer system of claim 16, further comprising a determination engine to determine whether a first member of the first social networking community has an account with the payment processor based, in part, upon the funds authorization message.

18. The computer system of claim 16, further comprising a determination engine to determine whether the second member of the second social networking community has an account with the payment processor, based, in part, upon the funds authorization message.

19. The computer system of claim 16, further comprising a prompt engine to prompt a user to set up an account with the payment processor, based, in part, upon the funds authorization message, the user including at least one of the second member of the second social networking community and a first member of the first social networking community.

20. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising a third transmitter to transmit a funds transfer instruction based upon the funds authorization message, using at least one of a social networking application and a widget application.

21. In a computer system having a Graphical User Interface (GUI) including a display and a selection device, a method of providing and selecting from a menu on the display, the method comprising:

retrieving a set of network handles, each member of the set associated with a user of a social networking application;

displaying the set of network handles in the display;

receiving a first selection signal indicating a selection of a network handle, from the set of network handles, to which a funds request will be sent; and

displaying a selected network handle in the display.

22. In the computer system having the GUI including the display and the selection device of claim 21, the method further comprising:

retrieving a set of funds requests, each member of the set identifying a first member of a first social networking community and an amount of funds requested;

displaying the set of funds requests as part of the GUI;

receiving a second selection signal indicating a selection of a member of the set of funds requests; and

displaying the member of the set of funds requests as selected.

23. In the computer system having the GUI including the display and the selection device of claim 21, the method further comprising:

retrieving a set of granted funds requests, each member of the set identifying a funds requests that has been granted; and

displaying the members of the set of granted funds requests in the GUI.

24. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a funds request that contains an identifier to uniquely identify a first member of a second social networking community, the funds request including an amount of funds requested;

means for receiving a funds authorization from a second member of the second social networking community;

means for transmitting a funds transfer instruction based upon the funds authorization; and

means for transferring the amount of funds requested from an account held by the second member of the second social networking community to an account held by the first member of the first social networking community.

25. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more machines, cause the one or more machines to perform the following operations:

receiving a funds request that contains an identifier to uniquely identify a first member of the first social networking community, the funds request including an amount of funds requested;

receiving a funds authorization from a second member of the second social networking community;

transmitting a funds transfer instruction based upon the funds authorization; and

transferring the amount of funds requested from an account held by the second member of the second social networking community to an account held by the first member of the first social networking community.