Social network payment settlement system
US8412630B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 15, 2011 |
| Grant date | Apr 2, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 11, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q50/01
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for effecting transfer of a payment amount to a merchant during a transaction between a customer and the merchant includes determining, using a processing device, a funds shortfall, accessing a funds sharing network comprising a plurality of users, identifying one or more of the users of the funds sharing network, requesting funds from the identified one or more users, and applying funds received from the one or more users to the funds shortfall. In some embodiments, identifying one or more of the users includes determining whether one or more of the users are indebted to the customer, determining levels of connection between two or more of the users and the customer, and developing a hierarchy of users based on the indebted users and the levels of connection.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.