Method and apparatus for a digital gifting platform

Abstract

An interface displays a connection between a first account for a web application associated with a first user and a second account for the web application, and one or more financial accounts for, or associated with, a second user, and receives a request from the first user to transfer money from a financial account associated with the first user to a selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user in response to a first event exclusively associated with the first user or a second event exclusively associated with the second user. The interface receives a request from the first user to create a visual digital representation of the money to be transferred to the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user. The system then transfers the money accordingly, in response.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A DIGITAL GIFTING PLATFORMCLAIM OF PRIORITY

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 611,715, filed December 18, 2023, entitled “METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AS DIGITAL GIFTING PLATFORM”, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.COPYRIGHT NOTICE

[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] Embodiments of the invention generally relate to the field of a digital gifting platform and to a method and apparatus to contribute money from a financial account of a user of the digital gifting platform to one or more financial accounts for, or associated with, one or more other users of the digital gifting platform.BACKGROUND

[0004] There are numerous challenges associated with making a financial contribution to an individual, such as a child, for example, to assist in financing the child’seducation. For example, most parents or relatives do not open a child investment account such as 529 plan, or qualified tuition program, account. Typically, such accounts are opened only by those who are aware of such accounts and privileged enough to be able to make contributions to such accounts, usually the parents or grandparents of the child. Generally, the contributions do not feel like a gift. In many cases, the child does not know a contribution has been made. Furthermore, it can be cumbersome and difficult to contribute to investment accounts for multiple children given the different methods for doing so based on the particular financial institution or bank and account type for each child’ s investment account.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, and will be more fully understood with reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the figures in which:

[0006] FIGS. 1A and IB depict an instance of a user interface of an application in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0007] FIGS. 2A and 2B depict a web application that can display via a first interface a connection between a first account for a web application associated with a first user and a second account for the web application associated with a second user in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0008] FIG. 3 depicts a web application where each user can associate one or more financial accounts with their account for the web application in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0009] FIG. 4 depicts a web application that can receive via a first interface a transfer request from a first user to transfer an amount of money from a financial account associatedwith the first user to a selected financial account associated with a second user in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0010] FIGS. 5A and 5B depict a web application that can display via a first interface a connection between a first account for the web application associated with a first user and a second account for the web application associated with a second user and one or more financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0011] FIG. 6 depicts at 600 a web application that can receive via a first interface a visual digital representation request from a first user to create a visual digital representation of an amount of money to be transferred from a financial account associated with the first user to a selected financial account associated with a second user in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0012] FIGS. 7A and 7B depict a web application that can receive via a first interface a request from a first user to create a connection between a first account for the web application associated with the first user and a second account for the web application associated with a second user in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0013] FIG. 8 depicts a web application that can receive via the first interface a visual digital representation request from a first user to select or create a visual digital representation of an amount of money to be transferred from a financial account associated with the first user to a selected financial account associated with a second user. For example, the web application can receive input from the first user to select any one of recently used images, suggested images, purchased images, or popular images, as a visual digital representation in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0014] FIG. 9 depicts a web application that can receive via a first interface a wrapper request from a first user to wrap a visual digital representation, thereby creating a wrapped visual digital representation in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0015] FIGS. 10A and 10B depict a web application that can associate a wrapped visual digital representation with a second account for the web application associated with a second user and display via a second interface the wrapped visual digital representation in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0016] FIGS. 11A and 11B depict a web application that can receive via a first interface, and associate with a visual digital representation, content from a first user to a second user in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0017] FIGS. 12A-12C depict a web application that can expose a second instance of an interface of a web application to a second user and display via the second interface a wrapped visual digital representation in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0018] FIG. 13 depicts a web application that can receive via a second interface input from a second user to unwrap a wrapped visual digital representation to expose a visual digital representation and then unwrap the wrapped visual digital representation and display the visual digital representation responsive to the input from the second user in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0019] FIG. 14 depicts a web application that can output via a second interface content associated with a visual digital representation in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0020] FIG. 15 depicts a web application that can export a visual digital representation via one or both of a first interface and a second interface to a destination such as a social media network account, a memory store, a text message thread, an email thread, ora combination thereof, accessible to a first user or a second user in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0021] FIG. 16 depicts a web application that can receive via a first interface a transfer request from a first user to transfer an amount of money from a financial account associated with the first user to a selected one of multiple financial accounts for, or associated with, a second user in response to receipt of a notification of an event exclusively associated with the second user.

[0022] FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the steps or actions that one or more processors in a computing system, when executing an application program, such as a web application, with access to the web, perform in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the steps or actions that one or more processors in a computing system, when executing an application program, such as a web application, with access to the web, perform in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 19 is a flowchart of the steps or actions that one or more processors in a computing system, when executing an application program, such as a web application, with access to the web, perform in accordance with embodiments of the invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Embodiments of the invention generally involve a computing system that implements an interface of an application program, such as a web application, exposes the interface, and displays via the interface a connection between a first account for the web application associated with a first user and a second account for the web application associated with a second user, and one or more financial accounts for, or associated with, a second user. The first interface receives a transfer request from the first user to transfer an amount of money from a financial account associated with the first user to a selected one ofthe financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user in response to either a first event exclusively associated with the first user or a second event exclusively associated with the second user. The first interface receives a request from the first user to create a visual digital representation of the amount of money to be transferred from a financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user. The system then transfers the amount of money from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user, responsive to the transfer request.

[0026] Thus, embodiments of the invention involve, for example, a digital gifting application that makes contributing to a child’s investment account convenient and feel like a gift. Embodiments can be used by parents with child investment accounts that want to allow more people, such as relatives, friends, or entities, such as philanthropic organizations, foundations, private or public companies, or corporate social responsibility organizations, to contribute or donate to these accounts to support their children when they enter adulthood. The digital gifting application makes it easy and intuitive to contribute to multiple children and financial or investment account types held at different financial institutions, while making it feel like a gift to the child and the gift giver.

[0027] Unlike child investment portals and money transfer applications like Venmo, embodiments of the invention are not tied to a single financial institution or account type and make contributions feel like a gift by pairing a financial contribution with a visual digital representation created by the gift giver that may also include digital and social media components, as described hereinbelow.

[0028] According to embodiments of the invention, with reference to the flowchart 1700 shown in FIG. 17, one or more processors in a computing system, for example, an end user computing device such as a desktop, laptop, or smart phone, executes an applicationprogram, such as a web application, a progressive web application, or a mobile computing device application, with access to the world wide web, or simply, the web, via the Internet, a cellular network, a private communications network, or combinations thereof.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the application, e.g., a web application, implements a user interface, or simply, interface. At block 1705, the web application can expose, or display, a first instance of the interface, for example, on a display screen of a first end user’s computing device, such as depicted at 100 in FIGS. 1 A and IB. The first end user, or simply, the first user, can interact with the first instance of the interface, for example, the first user can select or click on the get started button 105 and login at 110 to a first account - the first user’s account - for the web application after entering login credentials, such a username or email address 115 and password 120. As an example, a friend of a child, or a relative of a child, such as an uncle or grandparent, may be the first user that logs in to their account for the web application at the first instance of the interface displayed at 100.

[0030] At block 1710, the web application can display a connection between the first account for the web application associated with the first user and a second account for the web application associated with a second user. For example, in FIG. 2A a connection is displayed between the first account for the web application associated with the first user and a second account for the web application associated with a second user, named Adam in this example, as depicted at 200.

[0031] In one embodiment, the second user may configure one or more accounts for the web application associated with other users, e.g., the second user may be a parent or guardian that configures one or more accounts for the web application associated with their children and link those accounts to their account. In so doing, the one or more accounts for the web application associated with the children essentially become a second account for the web application associated with the second user. Thus, in the example illustrated in FIG. 2B,the second user Charles has configured accounts for the web application associated withPorsha, Buster and Clay, at 210, 215, and 220, respectively. By virtue of the second account for the web application associated with Charles being linked to the separate accounts for the web application associated with Porsha, Buster and Clay, a separate connection exists, and can be displayed, between the first account for the web application associated with the first user and each of the respective accounts for the web application associated with Porsha, Buster and Clay.

[0032] In another embodiment, the second user may be a company or a user that represents a company, in which case, the second user may configure one or more accounts for the web application associated with other users, e.g., the second user may be a boss, supervisor, manager, director, executive, officer, board member, or an agent acting on behalf of the second user, etc., that configures one or more accounts for the web application associated with employees or contractors of the company, and link those accounts to their (the second user’s or the company’s) account. In so doing, the one or more accounts for the web application associated with the employees or contractors essentially become second accounts for the web application associated with the second user. Thus, for example, an executive of the company, or their agent, can configure accounts for the web application associated with one or more employees of, or contractors for, the company. By virtue of the second account for the web application associated with the company being linked to the separate accounts for the web application associated with the one or more employees or contractors, a separate connection exists, and can be displayed, between the first account for the web application associated with the first user and each of the respective accounts for the web application associated with the employees or contractors.

[0033] In both of the above-described embodiments, the first user may be an individual user. However, it is appreciated that just like the second user may be a company ora user that represents a company, likewise, the first user may be a company or a user that represents a company. Thus, the described embodiments contemplate setting up connections between a first private or public entity and a second private or public entity which, in turn, links their account to other accounts, e.g., accounts for children or employees / contractors, as the case may be.

[0034] According to an embodiment, each user can associate one or more of financial accounts with their account for the web application. For example, with reference to FIG. 4, a first user has a first checking account 405 at bank A and a second checking account 410 at bank B 410, both of which are associated with her account for the web application 400. As another example, with reference to FIG. 3, a second user 305 has a 529 investment account 310 established with Bank X, a custodial account 315 established with Bank Y, or an account, a credit card, a debit card, or a gift card account maintained by a third party, such as a retail store, an online store, a mobile app, a digital payments network (e.g., Zelle) or a mobile payment service provider (e.g., Venmo), for or on behalf of the second user, all of which accounts are associated with her account for the web application.

[0035] In yet another example, with reference to FIG. 5B, a second user 505, named Sofia, has a 529 investment account 510, a custodial account 515, and a savings account 520 associated with her account for the web application. Thus, at block 1710, embodiments of the invention can display via the first interface 500, a connection between the first account for the web application associated with the first user and the second account for the web application associated with a second user 505, Sofia in this example, and one or more financial accounts 510, 515 and 520 associated with the second user’s account for the web application.

[0036] At block 1715, the web application can receive via the first interface 500 a transfer request 525 from the first user to transfer a specified amount of money 530 from a financial account associated with the first user (e.g., bank account 405 depicted in FIG. 4 andbank account 605 depicted in FIG. 6) to a selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user (e.g., the selected custodial account 515 depicted in FIG.5B).

[0037] Importantly, this transfer request is received via the first interface of the web application associated with the first user and is performed in response to either a first event exclusively associated with the first user (and thus not the second user), or a second event exclusively associated with the second user (and thus not the first user). For example, with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the first user can select or input at 535, as part of the transfer request, a second event exclusively associated with the second user. For example, the first user can specify that the transfer request is performed in response to the birthday of the second user.

[0038] Recall too, as discussed above, that the second user may configure one or more accounts for the web application for other users, e.g., children, and link those accounts to their account for the web application, whereby the children’s accounts essentially become a second account for the web application associated with the second user. Thus, in the example illustrated in FIG. 5B, the second user Sofia 505 has configured a separate account for the web application for a daughter named Wendy. By virtue of the second account for the web application associated with Sofia being linked to the separate account for the web application for Wendy, a separate connection exists between the first account for the web application associated with the first user and the account for the web application associated with Wendy. Thus, in one embodiment, a transfer request may be performed in response to a second event exclusively associated with a user linked to a second user. For example, with reference to FIG. 5B, the second user Sofia, whose account for the web application is depicted at 505, is linked to an account for the web application associated with Wendy. The first user can select or input, as depicted at 535, as part of the transfer request, a second eventexclusively associated with Wendy as the second user. For example, as depicted at 540, the first user can specify that the transfer request is performed in response to the 15thbirthday of Wendy, since Wendy’s account for the web application is linked to or associated with the account for the web application for the second user, Sofia.

[0039] At block 1720, the web application can receive via the first interface a visual digital representation request from the first user to select or create a visual digital representation of the amount of money to be transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user. A visual digital representation may be as simple as a number or symbol that indicates the amount of money to be transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, a second user.

[0040] Additionally, or alternatively, the web application can receive via the first interface a commemorative visual digital representation request from the first user to create a commemorative digital representation of the amount of money to be transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user in recognition of the second event exclusively associated with the second user. For example, with reference to FIG. 8, the web application receives input from the first user to select a digital coin as a commemorative digital representation in which the visual image of the front of the digital coin may be created or selected from any one of recently used images 805, top suggested images 810, purchased images 815, or popular images 820, as a commemorative digital representation. In either case, the visual image of the front of the digital coin may be created or selected to commemorate or recognize an event associated with the second user as the receiver of the amount of money. For example, the visual image on the front of the digital coin may beassociated with the second user’s birthday, or graduation from an educational program or institution.

[0041] As further described below in connection with the web application interface depicted at 1500 in FIG. 15, metadata associated with the digital coin includes but is not limited to the first user that created the coin, the second user to which the digital coin was transferred, the date the digital coin was transferred to the second user, the original value of the digital coin, that is, the amount of money associated with the digital coin at the time of transfer of the digital coin to the second user, the current value of the digital coin (which may be different that the original value of the digital coin when first deposited or invested), an event or reason attributed to gifting the digital coin to the second user, or a geographic location of the first user.

[0042] At block 1725, the web application can transfer the amount of money from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user, responsive to the transfer request. This is illustrated, for example, in FIG. 5B, where the web application receives user input from the first user as to the amount of money to be transferred, in this case, $250 to one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user, in this case, a custodial account 515 associated with the second user Sofia 505.

[0043] As described above in connection with block 1710 of flowchart 1700, the web application can display via the first interface a connection between the first account for the web application associated with the first user and the second account for the web application associated with the second user and one or more financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user. The flowchart 1800 shown in FIG. 18 outlines the steps to set up such a connection in the web application. At block 1805, the web application provides an interface via which a user can identify other users to invite to establish a connection with the user. Forexample, with reference to FIG. 7 A, a parent of a child might send an invitation as depicted at705 to an account for the web application associated with a grandparent or friend to establish a connection with the parent’ s account for the web application so, for example, the grandparent or friend can contribute or gift an amount of money to a child investment account associated with the parent’s account for the web application. FIG. 7B illustrates, for example, the web application can receive via the first interface a request or invitation from a second user to create the connection between the first account for the web application associated with the first user and the second account for the web application associated with the second user. Alternatively, the web application can initiate via the first interface a request from the first user to create a connection between the first account for the web application associated with the first user and the second account for the web application associated with the second user, as depicted at 715.

[0044] Once a connection is established at block 1810, either by a first user accepting an invitation to establish a connection with a second user, or a second user accepting a connection request from a first user, the web application can display, at block 1815, via the first interface the connection between the first account for the web application associated with the first user and the second account for the web application associated with the second user, and one or more financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user, as described above in connection with block 1710 of flowchart 1700 with reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 5B.

[0045] Recall as discussed above with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B that the first user can select or input at 535, as part of the transfer request, a second event exclusively associated with the second user. For example, the first user can specify that the transfer request is performed in connection with the birthday of the second user. In one embodiment, with reference to FIG. 16, the web application can receive via the first interface a notificationof the second event exclusively associated with the second user. The figure depicts that the web application can receive via the first interface a notification at 1605 for Sofia’s first birthday on May 21, 2023. Thus, the web application can receive via the first interface the transfer request from the first user to transfer the amount of money from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user in response to receipt of the notification of the second event exclusively associated with the second user. The web application can be like a campaign manager creating campaign events based on or associated with the second user. For example, the second user can input via a questionnaire / form / wizard information about themselves: date of birth, religion, school district, date of conception for a pregnant woman, etc., and the web application can create gifting events. For example, if the web application stores information about the second user’s date of birth, the web application can create events for the second user, such as their birthday, or when they are old enough to drive. If the web application stores information regarding the second user’ s religion, the web application can create events like first communion, confirmation, or Christmas. If the web application stores information about the second user’s school district, the web application can find the ISD schedule and add events like: starting date for school, date of end of semester, etc. If the web application stores information about the date of conception, it can create gifting events for the unborn child, for the first trimester, for an overdue baby, etc.

[0046] As discussed above, at block 1720, the web application can receive via the first interface a visual digital representation request from the first user to select or create a visual digital representation of the amount of money to be transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user. Optionally, the web application can also receive via the first interface, and associate with the visual digital representation, content from the first user to thesecond user. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 11 A, a video 1105 and / or a hand-drawn digital message 1110 may be recorded or uploaded by the first user and associated as content with the visual digital representation. The content from the first user is transferred to the second user in conjunction with the transfer of the amount of money from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user, responsive to the transfer request, at block 1725. In addition to a video or written message, it is appreciated other types of content may be shared between the first and second users, such as but not limited to, a gift card, such as a customized gift card that might include a picture, digital media, a .gif, a photo, a .jpeg, a download or copy of a social media post, or combinations thereof. These types of content could be displayed in place of, or in addition to, the hand-drawn digital message located at 1110 in FIG. 11 A. FIGS. 1 IB and 14 depict an example of such content 1120 received by the second user from multiple users including the first user and displayed at a second interface as described more fully below.

[0047] With reference to FIG. 19, given embodiments of the invention generally relate to the field of a digital gifting platform and the described embodiments of the invention involve, for example, a digital gifting application that makes contributing to a child’s investment account convenient and feel like a gift, it is appreciated that the first user of the web application should be able to wrap a contribution, that is, a visual digital representation, to a second user in a way that feels like a gift, and the second user should be able to unwrap the gift in a similar manner. Thus, according to embodiments of the invention the web application can receive via the first interface a wrapper request from the first user to wrap a visual digital representation of money to be transferred from a financial account associated with the account for the web application associated with the first user to a financial account associated with the account for the web application associated with the second user, therebycreating a wrapped visual digital representation. FIG. 9 illustrates various types of wrappers from which the first user can select, such as a default tag 900, a digital scratch-off card 905, a video game that has to be successfully completed by the second user to unwrap the gift, such as the whack-a-mole video game 910, gift wrapping 915, or customizable wrappers such as a puzzle (e.g., jigsaw puzzle 920) that the second user must assemble to unwrap the gift, or a fidget spinner 925 that the second user must successfully spin to unwrap the gift. As can be seen with reference to FIG. 10A, the wrapped visual digital representation, in this case, a visual digital representation wrapped in default tag 900, is associated with a second account 1010 in the web application associated with a second user, named Sofia in this example.

[0048] As discussed above, the web application implements a user interface and exposes, or displays, a first instance of the interface, for example, on a display screen of a first user’ s computing device, so that the first user can interact with the first instance of the interface. Likewise, with reference to the flowchart 1900 shown in FIG. 19, the web application at block 1905 implements a user interface and exposes, or displays, a second instance of the interface, for example, on a display screen of a second user’s computing device, so that the second user can interact with the second instance of the interface (hereinafter “the second interface”). For example, the second user can login to a second account - the second user’s account - for the web application after entering login credentials, such as a username or email address and password. As an example, a parent or grandparent of a child may be the second user that logs in to their account for the web application at the second instance of the interface displayed on the display screen of their computing device.

[0049] Following block 1725 in the flowchart 1700 shown in FIG. 17 and discussed above, once the first user transfers money from their financial account to a financial account associated with the second user, the web application at block 1910 can display via the second interface the wrapped visual digital representation, such as the number puzzle 1210 illustratedin FIG. 12B or the digital scratch card 1215 illustrated in FIG. 12C. At block 1915 the web application can receive input from the second user, in the form of one or more gestures and / or keystrokes, to unwrap the wrapped visual digital representation to expose the visual digital representation. This may be accomplished, for example, by the second interface for the web application receiving input from the second user that solves the number puzzle 1210, that scratches off the opaque covering in digital scratch card 1215 to reveal one or more areas that contain the visual digital representation as concealed information, that is used to unlock a security feature such as a digital combination lock, or requires the second user to read some educational material relating to or demonstrate knowledge of a particular subject, such as the power of compound interest. The web application can then, at block 1920, unwrap the wrapped visual digital representation and display the visual digital representation responsive to the input from the second user, such as illustrated at 1300 in FIG. 13. Thereafter, the second user can view all the unwrapped visual digital representations of monies transferred to their financial account via an interface such as depicted in FIGS. 10B and 12A at 1005, including the visual digital representation 1300 discussed above, as well as other such representations received from the first or other users, including, as an example, visual digital representation 1015. In this way, the second user can view all the digital coins that commemorate or recognize an event associated with the second user as the receiver of multiple amounts of money from multiple other users. For example, the visual images on the front of the digital coins may be associated with the second user’s birthday, or some other event, such as graduation from an educational program or institution. A second user can thus view digital coins in their financial account associated with their account for the web application from different perspectives to see who, when, where, why, etc., a contribution was made to their financial account. For example, with reference to FIG. 15, the second user can view digital coin 1510 and details associated therewith, such as the value of the digitalcoin, the date of creation, to whom the coin was sent, from whom the coin was sent, and the occasion or event on which the coin was sent.

[0050] Regarding the visual images on the front of digital coins, it is appreciated that when a first user is creating a digital coin, the first user can choose what image appears on the front of the coin. The first user may choose from a set of flat images, .gifs or upload their own image. For example, with reference to FIG. 8, the first user could, via an in-app purchase, obtain, i.e., pay for an image 815 that includes, for example, premium fronts, .gifs or images licensed by brands and promoted by the web application platform or the first user may upload their own customized image. In this way, users, companies, and brands can brand the digital coins they provide as gifts, so they function as advertising within a user’s account for the web application.

[0051] At block 1925, the web application can output via the second interface content associated with the visual digital representation, such as a recorded video 1105, a hand-drawn digital message 1110. This content is viewable by the second user via the second interface for the web application as depicted at 1120 in FIGS. 1 IB and 14. Optionally, the web application can output at block 1925 via the second interface the content associated with the visual digital representation of the amount of money transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user as one of 1) a plurality of outputs of content associated with visual digital representations of amounts of money previously transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user, that is, as an accumulation or grouping of content received from the first user; 2) a plurality of outputs of content associated with visual digital representations of amounts of money transferred from financial accounts associated with other users to one of the financial account associated with the second user in response to the second eventexclusively associated with the second user, that is, as an accumulation or grouping of content relating to a particular event, such as a birthday or graduation event for the second user; 3) a plurality of outputs of content associated with visual digital representations of amounts of money transferred from financial accounts associated with one or more users to one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user within a specified time period, that is, as an accumulation or grouping of content received by the second user over a period of time, such as a period of time attending an institution of higher education or a year between successive birthdays of a child, or combinations thereof.

[0052] The amount of money transferred from a first user to a second user can change value over time, depending on the type of financial account associated with the second user in which the amount of money is held. For example, if the financial account is a 529 investment account, the amount of money contributed to the 529 account may increase or decrease over time depending on the investments in which the amount of money is allocated. As such, the web application can modify the visual digital representation of the amount of money transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user according to the change in the current value of the amount of money transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user. Doing so creates a modified visual digital representation of the amount of money. For example, a display of a digital coin or symbol that provides a visual digital representation of the amount of money may grow or shrink in size. For example, to visualize the value of the amount of money increasing, the size of a coin that represents the original amount of money transferred to the second user can grow in size to indicate an increase in the current value of the amount of money, or the size of a coin that represents the original amount of money transferred to the second user can shrink in size to indicate a decrease in the current value ofthe amount of money. Other ways to display changes in value of the amount of money include displaying a graph, such as a spiral graph that shows the value of the original amount of money contributed increasing or decreasing over a series of time intervals, such as a period of months or years. Tn this manner, the second user can watch the current value of the contribution of the amount of money from the first user grow or shrink over time depending on the value of the underlying investments made with the amount of money.

[0053] According to embodiments of the invention, the second interface of the web application can display to the second user the visual representation of the amount of money transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user as an accumulation of amounts of money transferred from financial accounts associated with the first user and / or other users to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user. Thus, for example, a second user can view the amount of money transferred into a single financial account, such as a 529 investment account, from multiple contributions by the same contributor and / or multiple contributors to see the total amount of monies transferred into the financial account. For example, with reference to FIG. 12A, the user Rosie 1005 can view the amount of money transferred to her account from multiple contributors to see the total amount of monies transferred into her financial account.

[0054] With reference to FIG. 15, the web application provides at the interface depicted at 1500 for the first or the second user to input instructions to export at 1505 the visual digital representation 1510 of an amount of money transferred from a financial account associated with the first user to a financial account associated with the second user in a digital media file via a respective one or both of the first interface and the second interface. As illustrated at 1505, the destination for such an export may be a social media network account,a memory store, a text message thread, an email thread, or combinations thereof, accessible to the first user or the second user.

[0055] When exporting or sharing a visual digital representation, e.g., a digital coin, to a destination such as social media according to the above-described embodiment, the web application can create a shareable .gif file that includes the digital coin. A simple version of the .gif file may be a rotating digital coin that shows the selected image on the front and back of the digital coin, and / or content (as defined above) and / or metadata associated with the digital coin on the back of the digital coin.

[0056] In accordance with a particular embodiment of the processes described herein, there is a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereupon that, when executed by a computing device having at least a processor and a memory therein, the instructions cause the processor to perform the processes.

[0057] In accordance with one embodiment, there is a system having at least a processor and a memory therein to execute implementing application code for the processes described herein. Such a system may communicatively interface with and cooperatively execute with the benefit of a hosted computing environment, such as a host organization, a multi-tenant environment, an on-demand service provider, a cloud-based service provider, a client-server environment, etc. Communications may further include communicating with external devices via a network interface over a LAN, WAN, or the public Internet.

[0058] According to an exemplary embodiment, the system executes at a web platform such as web application interface, in which the system includes a memory to store instructions; a set of one or more processors; a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium that provides instructions that, when executed by the set of one or more processors, the instructions stored in the memory are configurable to cause the system to perform operations described herein including: executing instructions via the processor to implementone or more interfaces at the web platform; exposing the interfaces to users of the web platform; and receiving input from the users and transmitting output to the users via the exposed interfaces.

[0059] A computing device, in accordance with one embodiment, maintains a set of instructions for causing the computing device to perform any one or more of the processes discussed herein. In embodiments, the computing device may be connected (e.g., networked) to other computing devices or machines in a Local Area Network (LAN), an intranet, an extranet, or the public Internet. The machines may operate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in a client-server network environment, as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment, or as a server or series of servers within an on-demand service environment. Certain embodiments of the machines may be in the form of a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance, a server, a network router, switch or bridge, computing system, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines (e.g., computers) that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the processes discussed herein.

[0060] An exemplary computer system includes a processor, a main memory (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, dynamic random access memory (DRAM) such as synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) or Rambus DRAM (RDRAM), etc., static memory such as flash memory, static random access memory (SRAM), volatile but high-data rate RAM, etc.), and a secondary memory (e.g., a persistent storage device including hard disk drives and a persistent database and / or a multi-tenant database implementation), which communicate with each other via a bus. Main memory includes application programs for carrying outembodiments of the invention. Main memory is operable in conjunction with processing logic and / or processors to perform the processes discussed herein. A processor represents one or more general-purpose processing devices such as a microprocessor, central processing unit, or the like. The processor may also be one or more special-purpose processing devices such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP), network processor, or the like. The processor is configured to execute the processing logic for performing the operations and functionality discussed herein.

[0061] The computing device may further include a network interface card. The computing device also may include a user interface (such as a video display unit, a liquid crystal display, etc.), an alphanumeric input device (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device (e.g., a mouse), and an audio signal generation device (e.g., an integrated speaker). According to certain embodiments, the user interface may be a web application interface for displaying output at an end user computing device.

[0062] Main or secondary memory may include a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium or a non-transitory computer readable storage medium or a non-transitory machine-accessible storage medium on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software) embodying any one or more of the processes or functions described herein. The software may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the processor during execution thereof by the computing device, with the main memory and the processor also constituting machine-readable storage media. The software may further be transmitted or received over a network.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A computing system, comprising: a set of one or more processors; a memory to store instructions that, when executed by the set of one or more processors, cause the computing system to: implement an interface of a web application; expose a first instance of the interface of the web application to a first user (hereinafter “the first interface”); display via the first interface a connection between a first account for the web application associated with the first user and a second account for the web application associated with a second user, and one or more financial accounts for, or associated with, a second user; receive via the first interface a transfer request from the first user to transfer an amount of money from a financial account associated with the first user to a selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user in response to a first event exclusively associated with the first user or a second event exclusively associated with the second user; receive via the first interface a visual digital representation request from the first user to create a visual digital representation of the amount of money to be transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user; and transfer the amount of money from the financial account associated with the first user to theselected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user, responsive to the transfer request.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the set of one or more processors, cause the computing system further to: receive via the first interface a request from the first user to create the connection between the first account for the web application associated with the first user and the second account for the web application associated with the second user; create the connection between the first account and the second account, responsive to the request; and wherein the instructions to display via the first interface the connection between the first account for the web application associated with the first user and the second account for the web application associated with the second user, and one or more financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user, comprise instructions to display via the first interface the connection between the first account for the web application associated with the first user and the second account for the web application associated with the second user, and one or more financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user, responsive to creation of the connection between the first account and the second account.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the set of one or more processors, cause the computing system further to: receive via the first interface a notification of the second event exclusively associated with the second user; and wherein to receive via the first interface the transfer request from the first user to transfer theamount of money from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user in response to the second event exclusively associated with the second user, comprises to receive via the first interface the transfer request from the first user to transfer the amount of money from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user in response to receipt of the notification of the second event exclusively associated with the second user.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions that, when executed by the set of one or more processors, cause the computing system to receive via the first interface the visual digital representation request from the first user to create the visual digital representation of the amount of money to be transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user comprises instructions that, when executed by the set of one or more processors, cause the computing system to receive via the first interface a commemorative digital representation request from the first user to create a commemorative digital representation of the amount of money to be transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user in recognition of the second event exclusively associated with the second user.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the set of one or more processors, cause the computing system further to receive via the first interface, and associate with the visual digital representation, content from the firstuser to be transferred to the second user in conjunction with the transfer of the amount of money from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user, responsive to the transfer request.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the content is selected from a group of content consisting of: a gift card, digital media, a video, a .gif, a photo, a hand-drawn digital message, a download or copy of a social media post, or a combination thereof.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the set of one or more processors, cause the computing system further to receive via the first interface a wrapper request from the first user to wrap the visual digital representation, thereby creating a wrapped visual digital representation.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the set of one or more processors, cause the computing system further to: expose a second instance of the interface of the web application to the second user (hereinafter “the second interface”); and display via the second interface the wrapped visual digital representation.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the set of one or more processors, cause the computing system further to: receive via the second interface input from the second user to unwrap the wrapped visual digital representation to expose the visual digital representation; andunwrap the wrapped visual digital representation and display the visual digital representation responsive to the input from the second user.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the set of one or more processors, further cause the computing system to: modify the visual digital representation of the amount of money transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user according to change in a current value of the amount of money transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user, thereby creating a modified visual digital representation of the amount of money; and displaying the modified visual digital representation responsive to input from the second user.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the set of one or more processors, cause the computing system further to: expose a second instance of the interface of the web application to the second user (hereinafter “the second interface”); and output via the second interface the content associated with the visual digital representation.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the set of one or more processors, cause the computing system to output via the second interface the content associated with the visual digital representation of the amount of money transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user, comprises instructions that, when executed by the set of one or more processors, cause thecomputing system to output via the second interface the content associated with the visual digital representation of the amount of money transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user: as one of a plurality of outputs of content associated with visual digital representations of amounts of money previously transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user; as one of a plurality of outputs of content associated with visual digital representations of amounts of money transferred from financial accounts associated with other users to one of the financial account associated with the second user in response to the second event exclusively associated with the second user; as one of a plurality of outputs of content associated with visual digital representations of amounts of money transferred from financial accounts associated with one or more users to one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user within a specified time period, or a combination thereof.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions that, when executed by the set of one or more processors, cause the computing system further to: expose a second instance of the interface of the web application to the second user (hereinafter “the second interface”); and display the visual representation of the amount of money transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user as an accumulation of amounts of money transferred from financial accounts associated with the first user and / or other users to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the set of one or more processors, cause the computing system further to export the visual digital representation in a digital media file via one or both of the first interface and the second interface.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the set of one or more processors, cause the computing system further to export the visual digital representation via one or both of the first interface and the second interface comprises instructions that, when executed by the set of one or more processors, cause the computing system to export the visual digital representation via one or both of the first interface and the second interface to a destination selected from group of destinations consisting of: a social media network account, a memory store, a text message thread, an email thread, or a combination thereof, accessible to the first user or the second user.

16. Non-transitory computer readable storage media having instructions stored thereupon that, when executed by a set of one or more processors of a computing system cause the computer system to: implement an interface of a web application; expose a first instance of the interface of the web application to a first user (hereinafter “the first interface”); display via the first interface a connection between a first account for the web application associated with the first user and a second account for the web application associated with a second user, and one or more financial accounts for, or associated with, asecond user; receive via the first interface a transfer request from the first user to transfer an amount of money from a financial account associated with the first user to a selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user in response to a first event exclusively associated with the first user or a second event exclusively associated with the second user; receive via the first interface a visual digital representation request from the first user to create a visual digital representation of the amount of money to be transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user; and transfer the amount of money from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user, responsive to the transfer request.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 16 wherein the instructions that, when executed by the set of one or more processors, cause the computing system to receive via the first interface the visual digital representation request from the first user to create the visual digital representation of the amount of money to be transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user comprises instructions that, when executed by the set of one or more processors, cause the computing system to receive via the first interface a commemorative digital representation request from the first user to create a commemorative digital representation of the amount of money to be transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, orassociated with, the second user in recognition of the second event exclusively associated with the second user.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 16 wherein the instructions that, when executed by the set of one or more processors, cause the computing system further to: receive via the first interface a wrapper request from the first user to wrap the visual digital representation, thereby creating a wrapped visual digital representation; expose a second instance of the interface of the web application to the second user (hereinafter “the second interface”); display via the second interface the wrapped visual digital representation; receive via the second interface input from the second user to unwrap the wrapped visual digital representation to expose the visual digital representation; and unwrap the wrapped visual digital representation and display the visual digital representation responsive to the input from the second user.

19. A computer-implemented method, comprising: implementing an interface of a web application; exposing a first instance of the interface of the web application to a first user (hereinafter “the first interface”); displaying via the first interface a connection between a first account for the web application associated with the first user and a second account for the web application associated with a second user, and one or more financial accounts for, or associated with, a second user; receiving via the first interface a transfer request from the first user to transfer an amount ofmoney from a financial account associated with the first user to a selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user in response to a first event exclusively associated with the first user or a second event exclusively associated with the second user; receiving via the first interface a visual digital representation request from the first user to create a visual digital representation of the amount of money to be transferred from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user; and transferring the amount of money from the financial account associated with the first user to the selected one of the financial accounts for, or associated with, the second user, responsive to the transfer request.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, further comprising: receiving via the first interface a wrapper request from the first user to wrap the visual digital representation, thereby creating a wrapped visual digital representation; exposing a second instance of the interface of the web application to the second user (hereinafter “the second interface”); displaying via the second interface the wrapped visual digital representation; receiving via the second interface input from the second user to unwrap the wrapped visual digital representation to expose the visual digital representation; and unwrapping the wrapped visual digital representation and displaying the visual digital representation responsive to the input from the second user.

Images