Financial gadgets

• US 8,346,615 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2009
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yodlee Incorporated (Envestnet Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Yodlee Incorporated (Envestnet Incorporated)
• Inventors: Connors, Eric, Reed, Jordan, Hazlehurst, Peter, Sarkar, Suman
• Primary Examiner(s): HAQ, NAEEM U
• Application Number:
  US12/624,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20100138316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1, 705/26.2, 705/26.25, 705/26.3, 705/26.35, 705/26.4, 705 2641- 2644, 705/26.5, 705 2661- 2664, 705/26.7, 705/26.8, 705/26.81, 705/26.82, 705/26.9, 705/27.1, 705/27.2, 705/35, 715/779
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/57 Certifying or maintaining trusted computer platforms, e.g. secure boots or power-downs, version controls, system software checks, secure updates or assessing vulnerabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• 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

Methods, computer program products, and systems, related to providing financial gadgets to users. In one implementation, a method includes receiving gadgets and receiving a notification that one or more gadgets has been certified. A web page with an interface through which users can select gadgets is generated and provided to a user computer. A user selects a gadget, and the selected gadget is run, including providing the user-specific financial information to the gadget. Content based on the output of the gadget is provided to the user. User-specific financial information can be collected, and modified by the gadget. A notification can be received that a financial institution has authorized one or more of the certified gadgets and the web page can only allow users to select authorized gadgets.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

collecting in a computer system user-specific financial information of a user from a financial institution;

storing the user-specific financial information in the computer system;

receiving in the computer system a plurality of gadgets from a plurality of developers, each gadget associated with one or more developers;

receiving in the computer system a notification that a platform provider has certified one or more of the plurality of gadgets;

after receiving the notification that the platform provider has certified and collecting the user-specific financial information, generating a first web page with the computer system and providing the first web page to a client computer of the user, the first web page including an interface through which the user can select a gadget from the one or more certified gadgets;

receiving in the computer system a notification that the user has selected a gadget;

running the selected gadget on the computer system, including providing the user-specific financial information to the gadget and receiving output from the gadget;

modifying the user-specific financial information in the computer system in response to the output of the gadget or providing content based on the output of the gadget to the user;

receiving in the computer system a notification that the user has requested that a gadget'"'"'s access to the user'"'"'s financial information be revoked; and

revoking the gadget'"'"'s access to the user'"'"'s financial information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing content based on the output of the gadget to the user includes generating a second web page on the computer system using the output of the gadget and providing the second web page to the client computer of the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing content based on the output of the gadget to the user includes sending a text message or an e-mail message to the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving in the computer system an indication that the financial institution has authorized one or more of the certified gadgets; and

wherein the interface allows a user to select a gadget only from the one or more authorized gadgets.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a gadget is purchasing the gadget, the method further comprising:

receiving in the computer system payment information associated with the purchase of the gadget, where payment information includes an amount owed and a payment source; and

receiving a notification in the computer system that an electronic payment equal to the amount owed has been received from the payment source.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the one or more certified gadgets in the computer system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the platform provider determines whether to certify each of the plurality gadgets according to whether the gadget performs its advertised functionality, whether there are any security concerns about the gadget, and whether there are any performance concerns about the gadget.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the financial institution is a financial institution at which the user at which the user has deposited money or from which the user has a line of credit.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the user-specific financial information comprises transaction data for a plurality of transactions, the transaction data including for each transaction a date of the transaction, an identity of a payee and an amount of the payment.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first web page includes an interface through which the user can view a statement including the plurality of transactions.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising, before generating the first web page, receiving login information from the client computer of the user identifying the user.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising, prior to generating the first web page, generating a dashboard including that does not include the gadget, and after receiving the notification that the user has selected the gadget, adding the gadget to the dashboard.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the content based on the output of the gadget is displayed on the dashboard.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising running at least one other gadget on the computer system, including providing the user specific financial information to the at least one other gadget, receiving output from the at least one other gadget, and displaying content based on the output of the at least one other gadget on the dashboard.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the first web page comprises a gadget store.

16. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

collecting in a computer system user-specific financial information of a user from a financial institution;

storing the user-specific financial information in the computer system;

receiving in the computer system a plurality of gadgets from a plurality of developers, each gadget associated with one or more developers;

receiving in the computer system a notification that a platform provider has certified one or more of the plurality of gadgets;

after receiving the notification that the platform provider has certified and collecting the user-specific financial information, generating a first web page with the computer system and providing the first web page to a client computer of the user, the first web page including an interface through which the user can select a gadget from the one or more certified gadgets;

receiving in the computer system a notification that the user has selected a gadget, wherein selecting a gadget is purchasing the gadget;

running the selected gadget on the computer system, including providing the user-specific financial information to the gadget and receiving output from the gadget;

modifying the user-specific financial information in the computer system in response to the output of the gadget or providing content based on the output of the gadget to the user;

receiving in the computer system payment information associated with the purchase of the gadget, where payment information includes an amount owed and a payment source;

receiving a notification in the computer system that an electronic payment equal to the amount owed has been received from the payment source; and

causing electronic payments to be made to the financial institution and the one or more developers associated with the gadget.

17. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving in a computer system a plurality of gadgets from a plurality of developers, each gadget associated with one or more developers;

receiving in the computer system a notification that a platform provider has certified one or more of the plurality of gadgets;

receiving in the computer system a notification that a financial institution has authorized one or more of the certified gadgets;

after receiving the notification that the platform provider has certified and the notification that the financial institution has authorized, generating a first web page with the computer system and providing the first web page to a client computer of a user, the first web page including an interface through which the user can select a gadget from the one or more authorized gadgets;

receiving in the computer system a notification that the user has selected a gadget, wherein selecting the gadget is purchasing the gadget;

running the selected gadget on the computer system and receiving output from the selected gadget;

generating a second web page on the computer system using the output of the selected gadget and providing the second web page to the client computer of the user;

receiving in the computer system payment information associated with the selection of the gadget, where payment information includes an amount owed and a payment source; and

receiving a notification in the computer system that an electronic payment equal to the amount owed has been received from the payment source; and

causing electronic payments to be made to the financial institution and the one or more developers associated with the gadget.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

collecting in a computer system user-specific financial information from the financial institution;

storing the user-specific financial information in the computer system; and

wherein running the selected gadget on the computer system includes;

providing the user-specific financial information to the gadget.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

storing the one or more authorized gadgets in the computer system.

20. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

collecting in a first computer system user-specific financial information from a second computer system of a financial institution;

storing the user-specific financial information in the first computer system;

receiving in the first computer system a plurality of certified gadgets from a platform provider, each gadget written by one or more developers;

receiving in the first computer system a use notification from the platform provider indicating that a user can use a gadget;

after receiving the use notification and collecting the user-specific financial information, running the gadget on the first computer system, including providing the user-specific financial information to the gadget and receiving output from the gadget;

modifying the user-specific financial information in the first computer system in response to the output of the gadget or providing content based on the output of the gadget to the user;

receiving in the first computer system a notification that the user has requested that a gadget'"'"'s access to the user'"'"'s financial information be revoked; and

revoking the gadget'"'"'s access to the user'"'"'s financial information.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the use indication is user-specific and indicates that the user has purchased the gadget.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the use indication indicates that any user can use the gadget.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving in the first computer system an authorization notification that the financial institution has authorized one or more of the plurality of certified gadgets; and

wherein only authorized gadgets are run on the first computer system.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

storing the plurality of certified gadgets in the first computer system.

25. A system comprising:

one or more computers programmed to perform operations comprising

collecting user-specific financial information from a financial institution;

storing the user-specific financial information;

receiving a plurality of gadgets from a plurality of developers, each gadget associated with one or more developers;

receiving a notification that a platform provider has certified one or more of the plurality of gadgets;

after receiving the notification that the platform provider has certified and collecting the user-specific financial information, generating a first web page and providing the first web page to a client computer of a user, the first web page including an interface through which the user can select a gadget from the one or more certified gadgets;

receiving a notification that the user has selected a gadget;

running the selected gadget, including providing the user-specific financial information to the gadget and receiving output from the gadget;

modifying the user-specific financial information in response to the output of the gadget or providing content based on the output of the gadget to the user;

receiving in the computer system a notification that the user has requested that a gadget'"'"'s access to the user'"'"'s financial information be revoked; and

revoking the gadget'"'"'s access to the user'"'"'s financial information.

26. A system comprising:

one or more computers programmed to perform operations comprising

receiving a plurality of gadgets from a plurality of developers, each gadget associated with one or more developers;

receiving a notification that a platform provider has certified one or more of the plurality of gadgets;

receiving a notification that a financial institution has authorized one or more of the certified gadgets;

after receiving the notification that the platform provider has certified and the notification that the financial institution has authorized, generating a first web page and providing the first web page to a client computer of a user, the first web page including an interface through which the user can select a gadget from the one or more authorized gadgets;

receiving a notification that the user has selected a gadget, wherein selecting the gadget is purchasing the gadget;

running the selected gadget and receiving output from the selected gadget; and

generating a second web page using the output of the selected gadget and providing the second web page to the client computer of the user;

receiving in the computer system payment information associated with the selection of the gadget, where payment information includes an amount owed and a payment source; and

receiving a notification in the computer system that an electronic payment equal to the amount owed has been received from the payment source; and

causing electronic payments to be made to the financial institution and the one or more developers associated with the gadget.

27. A system comprising:

one or more computers programmed to perform operations comprising

collecting user-specific financial information from a financial institution;

storing the user-specific financial information;

receiving a plurality of certified gadgets from a platform provider, each gadget written by one or more developers;

receiving a use notification from a platform provider indicating that a user can use a gadget;

after receiving the use notification and collecting the user-specific financial information, running the gadget, including providing the user-specific financial information to the gadget and receiving output from the gadget; and

modifying the user-specific financial information in response to the output of the gadget or providing content based on the output of the gadget to the user;

receiving in the computer system a notification that the user has requested that a gadget'"'"'s access to the user'"'"'s financial information be revoked; and

revoking the gadget'"'"'s access to the user'"'"'s financial information.