Request money social networking applications

• US 8,589,266 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2007
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalinowski, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/935,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20090119212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,206 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/35, 705/38
• US Class Current: 705/35
• 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, at least one identifier to uniquely identify a second member from which funds are requested, and an amount of funds requested, the funds request being generated based on information including the amount of funds requested and the identifier of the second member that is received via a payment user interface of a social networking page of the first member provided by the first social networking community;

receiving a funds authorization from the second member of a second social networking community, the funds authorization being generated based on information received via a social networking page of the second member provided by the second social networking community;

transmitting, using one or more processors, 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 comprises a network handle, the method further comprising mapping the network handle to an email address.

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

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

5. The computer implemented method of claim 4, further comprising determining whether the first member of the first social networking community has an account with the payment processor.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 4, further comprising determining whether the second member of the second social networking community has an account with the payment processor.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 4, 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.

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

9. A computer system comprising:

a first receiver to receive input selecting a network handle generated by a selection device, the network handle being used in lieu of an e-mail address, the input including the network handle and a payment amount being received via a payment user interface of a social networking page of the user, the user being a member of a social networking community providing the social networking page;

a first update engine to update a data store to track a funds request involving the selected network handle;

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

a first display to display the funds request on the social networking page of the user using a Graphical User Interface (GUI).

10. The computer system of claim 9, 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.

11. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising a second receiver to receive the funds request that identifies a first member of a first social networking community.

12. The computer system of claim 9, 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.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the second GUI is displayed as part of an instant messaging application.

14. The computer system of claim 12, further comprising a second generator to generate a funds transfer instruction based, in part, upon the funds authorization message.

15. The computer system of claim 14, further comprising a third transmitter to transmit the funds transfer instruction, based upon the funds authorization message, to a payment processor.

16. The computer system of claim 15, 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.

17. The computer system of claim 15, 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.

18. The computer system of claim 15, 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.

19. The computer system of claim 12, 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.

20. 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 having an existing social networking relationship with a user of a social networking application, the set of network handles being used in lieu of e-mail addresses;

displaying the set of network handles in the display of a social networking page of the user provided by a social networking site associated with the social networking application;

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

generating the funds request using the selected network handle and an indicated payment amount received via a payment user interface of the social networking page.

21. In the computer system having the GUI including the display and the selection device of claim 20, 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.

22. In the computer system having the GUI including the display and the selection device of claim 20, 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.

23. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a funds request that contains an identifier to uniquely identify a first member of a social networking community, an identifier of at least one second member from which funds are requested, and an amount of funds requested, the funds request being generated based on information including the amount of funds requested and the identifier of the second member that is received via a payment user interface of a social networking page of the first member provided by the social networking community;

means for receiving a funds authorization from the second member of the social networking community, the funds authorization being generated based on information received via a social networking page of the second member provided by the 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.

24. A machine-readable hardware device comprising machine-executable instructions, which when implemented by one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving a funds request that contains an identifier to uniquely identify a first member of the first social networking community, an identifier of at least one second member from which funds are requested, and an amount of funds requested, the funds request being generated based on information including the amount of funds requested and the identifier of the second member that is received via a payment user interface of a social networking page of the first member provided by the first social networking community;

receiving a funds authorization from the second member of a second social networking community, the funds authorization being generated based on information received via a social networking page of the second member provided by 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.