ELECTRONIC CHECKBOOK REGISTER

• US 20110071934A1
• Filed: 09/22/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gregory R. Brown, Lorie D. Booker
• Original Assignee: Gregory R. Brown, Lorie D. Booker
• Inventors: Brown, Gregory R., Booker, Lorie D.
• Application Number:
  US12/888,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20110071934A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• 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

Abstract

An electronic checkbook register includes a durable housing having a base and a cover pivotal between open and closed configurations. Traditional checks may be stored in a pocket in the cover. The register includes a processor electrically connected to a keyboard. A display is also provided on which multiple data fields are displayed. Data from a written check or similar transaction may be inputted into respective data fields using the keyboard and a stylus. Spending category buttons are also included and may be pressed to associate respective financial data with a category. All data may be uploaded and synchronized with a remote computer for further processing and record keeping using USB, SD flash memory, or mini-USB components.

Claims

1. An electronic checkbook register comprising:

a processor;

a keyboard in communication with said processor, said keyboard for manually inputting transaction information;

spending category selection buttons in communication with said processor, said spending category selection buttons for selecting a spending category with which to associate a transaction;

an electronic memory in communication with said processor, said electronic memory for electronically storing said information; and

a display screen in communication with said processor, said display screen for displaying content provided by said processor, said content including a ledger of transaction information sorted and displayed in a plurality of data fields,

wherein said processor operable to receive and track transaction information so as to maintain a ledger of transactions, and to provide content to said display screen which includes at least a portion of the information contained in said ledger.

2. The electronic checkbook register of claim 1 further including:

a base portion; and

a cover member, said cover member being pivotally coupled to opposed sides of the base portion adjacent a front edge of the base portion so as to open and close pivotally with respect to the front edge of the base portion.

3. The electronic checkbook register of claim 2 wherein an inside surface of the cover member also includes a pocket for removably holding documents.

4. The electronic checkbook register of claim 2 further including a support stand pivotally coupled to an outer surface of said base portion

5. The electronic checkbook register of claim 1 wherein said keyboard includes a numeric keypad.

6. The electronic checkbook register of claim 1 wherein said keyboard is a virtual keyboard displayed on at least one touch-sensitive screen.

7. The electronic checkbook register of claim 1 wherein said spending category selection buttons are virtual buttons displayed on at least one touch-sensitive screen.

8. The electronic checkbook register of claim 7 wherein said spending categories displayed on said virtual spending category selection buttons may be defined and personalized by a user.

9. The electronic checkbook register of claim 1 further including:

a stylus; and

a stylus receiving portion for receiving and removeably securing said stylus when not in use.

10. The electronic checkbook register of claim 1 further including a scroll bar for scrolling through a list of transactions displayed on the display screen.

11. The electronic checkbook register of claim 1 further including a magnetic card reader for reading information stored on a debit, credit or other card with a magnetic strip.

12. The electronic checkbook register of claim 1 further including:

at least one of a USB port, an Ethernet port, a wireless internet adaptor, a mini-USB port, a memory card reader/writer, and an 802.11b port.

13. The electronic checkbook register of claim 11 wherein said processor is operable to output information via at least one of said USB port, Ethernet port, wireless adaptor, mini-USB port, memory card reader/writer, and 802.11b port for use by a personal computer.

14. The electronic checkbook register of claim 1 wherein said processor is additionally operable to execute applications stored in said memory, and wherein a user selects an application by selecting an icon associated with said application which is displayed on the display screen.

15. The electronic checkbook register of claim 1 wherein said spending categories associated with said spending category selection buttons are static and relate to personal finances.

16. The electronic checkbook register of claim 1 wherein said spending categories associated with said spending category selection buttons are static and relate to business finances.

17. An electronic checkbook register comprising:

a processor;

a keyboard in communication with said processor, said keyboard for manually inputting transaction information;

spending category selection buttons in communication with said processor, said spending category selection buttons for selecting a spending category with which to associate a transaction;

an electronic memory in communication with said processor, said electronic memory for electronically storing said information;

a magnetic card reader in communication with said processor, said magnetic card reader for reading information stored on a debit, credit or other card with a magnetic strip;

at least one input/output port in communication with said processor; and

a display screen in communication with said processor, said display screen for displaying content provided by said processor, said content including a ledger of transaction information sorted and displayed in a plurality of data fields,

wherein said processor operable to receive and track transaction information so as to maintain a ledger of transactions, and to provide content to said display screen which includes at least a portion of the information contained in said ledger.