Method and apparatus for tracking mobile transactions

• US 8,359,239 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Cook, Scott D., Geller, Miriam R., Mathoda, Udaiveer S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gart, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARIKH, HARSHAD R
• Application Number:
  US11/731,517
• Time in Patent Office: 2,125 Days
• Field of Search: 705/19, 705/16
• US Class Current: 705/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

A method to submit transaction data using a mobile device involves obtaining a receipt associated with a financial transaction, transmitting a message, based on the receipt, from the mobile device to a transaction management service, wherein the message comprises a mobile device identifier and transaction data associated with the financial transaction, wherein transaction data associated with financial transaction is stored in a repository based on the mobile device identifier, receiving a form, wherein the form is generated based on transaction data associated with the mobile device identifier, and transmitting and synchronizing transaction data from the repository to a financial management software associated with a user of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for managing tax-related data of a user using a mobile device comprising a processor, the method comprising:

obtaining a first electronic image of a receipt for a financial transaction, wherein the receipt comprises a financial amount corresponding to a tax-related expense of the user;

obtaining a second electronic image of at least one person involved in the financial transaction;

receiving, by the processor of the mobile device and from the user, input identifying a deduction category for the financial amount;

transmitting, using the processor of the mobile device, a message comprising the financial amount, the deduction category, the first electronic image, and the second electronic image to a transaction management service (TMS),

wherein the TMS calculates a tax deduction amount for the deduction category based on the financial amount,

wherein the TMS populates a field on a tax form for reporting the tax-related expense with the tax deduction amount, and

wherein the TMS stores the second electronic image as support information for the financial transaction;

displaying, using the processor of the mobile device and prior to filing the tax form with a taxing authority, the tax form populated with the tax deduction amount on a display screen of the mobile device; and

obtaining, by the processor of the mobile device and from the user, an approval of the tax form populated with the tax deduction amount.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the mobile device, a business reimbursement form comprising a summary of a plurality of tax-related expenses of the user transacted over a pre-defined time period.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, after transmitting the message and by the mobile device, a confirmation of receipt from the TMS.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the deduction category is business expenses.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the tax form lists a plurality of tax deductions related to the deduction category.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the mobile device, a plurality of transaction data including the financial amount.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the message further comprises the plurality of transaction data.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

synchronizing the plurality of transaction data to a financial management software associated with the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the message comprises submitting the message by short message service.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the message comprises submitting the message using a web page.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the message further comprises an activity description.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the message further comprises multimedia data associated with the tax-related expense.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein multimedia data comprises a point of sale identifier.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recording, by the mobile device, an audio file, wherein the message further comprises the audio file.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recording, by the mobile device, a video file, wherein the message further comprises the video file.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subscribing to the TMS using a mobile device identifier and a user identifier.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating an expense reimbursement form based on the message.

18. A computer-readable storage medium storing a plurality of instructions for managing tax-related data of a user of a mobile device, the plurality of instructions comprising functionality to:

obtain a first electronic image of a receipt for a financial transaction, wherein the receipt comprises a financial amount corresponding to a tax-related expense of the user;

obtain a second electronic image of at least one person involved in the financial transaction;

receive, using the mobile device and from the user, input identifying a deduction category for the financial amount;

transmit, using the mobile device, a message comprising the financial amount, the deduction category, the first electronic image, and the second electronic image to a transaction management service (TMS),

wherein the TMS calculates a tax deduction amount for the deduction category based on the financial amount,

wherein the TMS populates a field on a tax form for reporting the tax-related expense with the tax deduction amount, and

wherein the TMS stores the second electronic image as support information for the financial transaction;

display, prior to filing the tax form with a taxing authority, the tax form populated with the tax deduction amount on a display screen of the mobile device; and

obtain, by the mobile device and from the user, an approval of the tax form populated with the tax deduction amount.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the deduction category is business expenses.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the message further comprises an activity description.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the message further comprises an audio file with a description of a financial transaction associated with the tax-related expense.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the message further comprises a video file.

23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the message is transmitted using a short message service.

24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise functionality to:

receive subscriber data associated with the user of the mobile device, wherein subscriber data comprises a mobile device identifier and a personal identifier associated with the user;

receive a taxpayer identifier of the user; and

store subscriber data and the taxpayer identifier in a repository.

25. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein subscriber data is received in a markup language request.

26. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise functionality to:

identify the tax form based on a plurality of transaction data stored in the repository.

27. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise functionality to:

receive, by the mobile device, a business reimbursement form comprising a summary of a plurality of tax-related expenses of the user transacted over a pre-defined time period.

28. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise functionality to:

generate an expense reimbursement form based on the message.

29. A system for submitting tax-related data of a user, comprising:

a mobile device comprising a processor and configured to;

obtain a first electronic image of a receipt for a financial transaction, wherein the receipt comprises a financial amount associated with a tax-related expense of the user;

obtain a second electronic image of at least one person involved in the financial transaction;

receive, from the user, input identifying a deduction category for the financial amount;

display a tax form populated with a tax deduction amount on a display screen of the mobile device; and

obtain, from the user and prior to filing the tax form with a taxing authority, an approval of the tax form populated with the tax deduction amount;

a transaction management service (TMS) configured to;

receive, from the mobile device, a message comprising the financial amount, the deduction category, the first electronic image, and the second electronic image; and

store the second electronic image as support information for the financial transaction;

a tax preparation application configured to;

calculate, after receiving the message, the tax deduction amount for the deduction category based on the financial amount;

populate a field on the tax form for reporting the tax-related expense with the tax deduction amount; and

electronically file a tax return of the user, wherein the tax return is completed using the tax form.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the mobile device is further configured to:

receive a business reimbursement form comprising a summary of a plurality of tax-related expenses of the user transacted over a pre-defined time period.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the tax preparation application comprises the TMS.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the TMS is further configured to generate a form associated with the user, wherein the form is generated based on the message.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the form confirms receipt of the message from the mobile device.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the deduction category is business expenses.

35. The system of claim 29, wherein the TMS is further configured to:

receive subscriber data associated with the user, wherein subscriber data comprises a mobile device identifier and a personal identifier corresponding to the user;

receive a taxpayer identifier of the user; and

store subscriber data and the taxpayer identifier in a repository.

36. The system of claim 29, wherein the message further comprises an activity description.

37. The system of claim 29, wherein the mobile device is further configured to:

record an audio file describing the tax-related expense, wherein the message further comprises the audio file.

38. The system of claim 29, wherein the mobile device is further configured to:

record an video file describing the tax-related expense, wherein the message further comprises the video file.

39. The system of claim 29, wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile device identifier associated with the user.

40. The system of claim 29, wherein the message is transmitted using a short message service.

41. The system of claim 29, wherein the TMS is further configured to:

generate an expense reimbursement form based on the message.