GB2301684A - Budget reminder calculator - Google Patents

Abstract

A budget reminder calculator conveniently carried in a wallet or handbag, including a memory for storing an expenditure budget value and an alert value. The user sets the budget value to a desired level of expenditure for a given period of time, and the alert value at a suitable threshold for warning that the budget is depleted to a given value. The user enters each item of expenditure made and the calculator automatically maintains a cumulative sum, or budget amount remaining, providing audible or visual warning of both reaching the alert value and reaching the budget value. Financial expenditure via a number of media such as cash, cheque, credit and debit card is thereby readily monitored, and impending overspend alerted to the user. The calculator may also provide a currency exchange facility of benefit to maintain a budget where expenditure may be in a number of different currencies, for example when travelling on business or holiday.

Description

BUDGET REMINDER CALCULATOR The present invention relates to electronic calculators, and in particular to an electronic calculator incorporating a financial budget monitoring and reminder system.

Many people have difficulties in maintaining control of their expenditure and in keeping track of the total amount of money spent within a given period of time. Normally, in order to ensure that one does not spend more than a predetermined amount of money within a given period of, for example, one week or one month, it is necessary to continually make a note of the various items of expenditure made during that period, and add up all items to obtain a result. This is particularly problematical and time-consuming when the expenditure takes various forms, ie. with different media: for example by cash, cheque, debit card or credit card. In such cases, separate totals of each form of payment would need to be monitored from different statements or receipts and a total calculated.

This sort of activity is tedious and it is easy to forget certain items, particularly since it is not always easy to make a note of expenditure at the time, particularly when shopping in a busy environment or when paying for bus or taxi fares and the like.

For these reasons, it is not easy to maintain a cumulative total of expenditure to date at all times, and thus it is likely that any intended limit on expenditure could be exceeded before one calculates a current total.

Lack of visibility of an accurate current total at all times also means that it is difficult to moderate one's spending when a predetermined budget is close to being exceeded.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device enabling a person to maintain an accurate cumulative total of expenditure within a given period; to provide an early warning in good time before a predetermined budget value is exceeded; and to provide a second warning when the budget has been exhausted or exceeded.

Preferably, such a device should be sufficiently small that it can be readily carried by the user at all times in order to conveniently enable entry of expenditure details at any time when money is spent.

Preferably, the device will include a visual or audible alarm system to provide the warnings of budget exhaustion and the early warning of impending budget exhaustion.

Preferably, the device will include a currency conversion facility.

This will be of particular utility to, for example, business travellers or holiday-makers who may spend money in different currencies whilst travelling, while at the same time needing to maintain a continuous monitor on their overall expenditure, either for personal or business reasons.

According to the present invention there is provided a budget reminder calculator comprising: means for setting a predetermined budget value; means for successively entering expenditure item values to set against the budget value; means for calculating and storing a cumulative sum of all expenditure item values entered; and means for providing an audible or visual warning when said cumulative sum reaches or passes the budget value.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an enlarged plan view of a calculator incorporating a budget reminder device according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic circuit diagram of one embodiment of the present invention; and Figures 3 to 9 show flowcharts illustrating the various functions of a calculator according to the present invention.

With reference to figure 1 there is shown a calculator 10 which is preferably of similar dimensions to a credit or debit card in order that it may conveniently be carried in a wallet, purse or handbag. A presently preferred size to meet these requirements is in the region of 8.5cm by 5.5cm by 3mm.

The calculator includes a multifunction display panel 12 for displaying numeric and symbolic data, and a keypad 14 for data entry by the user. The calculator also preferably includes a piezo-electric transducer (not shown) or other audible warning device as well known in the art.

Figure 2 shows a schematic wiring diagram of the calculator of figure 1 showing the multifunction display panel 12, keypad 14 and piezoelectric transducer 16 in the preferred configuration.

Throughout this description, the keypad buttons will be referenced by the legend in figures 1 and 2.

The calculator operates in a number of modes -- budget mode, calculator mode, alarm clock mode and real time mode - which will be described separately hereinafter.

With reference to figure 3, after insertion of a battery (step 301) into the calculator 10, hereinafter referred to as the device, it performs power-on reset functions and actuates all display segments and the alarm transducer (step 302). The device then switches to normal time display 303.

From normal time display 303, any of the functions auto-power off 304, budget mode 305, calculator mode 306, time setting mode 307 or alarm setting mode 308 may be entered. Auto-power off function 304 is automatically entered after 4 minutes without a key press. From this mode, the device may be re-activated to time display by pressing CLK/CAL (step 309) or to budget mode by pressing B (step 310).

To enter budget mode from the time display 303, the budget mode button B is pressed. With reference to figure 4, on entry to budget mode, the display panel 12 indicates that the device is in budget mode, and a selected currency is displayed (step 401). The selected currency may be changed by pressing CUR to cycle through the various currencies available (step 402).

A budget value corresponding to a desired amount of expenditure is entered by pressing the appropriate numeric digits followed by BUD (step 403). The budget value is then displayed and stored in memory (step 404). The budget value may be changed if desired (steps 405-407) or another function selected by pressing an appropriate key (step 408). For example, if a weekly budget of $200 is desired, the keys 200 BUD would be entered.

An alert value, corresponding to a desired amount of expenditure after which a warning will be given, is entered by pressing the appropriate numeric digits followed by ALERT (step 410). The alert value is then displayed and stored in memory (step 411). The alert value may be changed if desired (steps 412-414) or another function selected by pressing an appropriate key (step 415). For example, if an alert is required when $150 of the weekly $200 budget has been used, the alert value will be entered as $50 (ie. the amount that will be remaining in the budget).

The alert value should therefore be less than the budget value for a device which is operating in a "count down" configuration.

Once a budget value and an alert value have been set, normal operation of the budget mode is shown in figure 5. When the user spends some money, the budget calculation function 501 is used to enter the value of the expenditure (step 502). It will be understood that the expenditure value could be used either to reduce the budget value previously set, ie.

thereby maintaining a cumulative (reducing) budget, or "net value", or alternatively, a separate memory location could be used to maintain a net value from a starting value equal to the preset budget value. For the purposes of the present description, it will be assumed that a single memory location is used to initially set the budget value, and this memory location is thereafter used to store the decreasing net value until reset with a new budget value.

In the preferred embodiment, expenditure is entered as a positive amount to decrease the net value, and any adjustment of the net value upward is entered as a negative amount. It will be understood, however, that a reverse implementation could be used.

After each budget calculation, the device checks to see that the net value is still above zero (step 503). If it is not, then the budget has been used up and the device actuates an audible warning (step 504).

Alternatively, or in addition, the device may use a visual warning indication, such as an appropriate display segment or illumination.

If the test in step 503 is negative, the device checks to see if the net value is stilt above the alert value (step 505). If not, the device actuates an audible warning (step 506) which is preferably different to the warning used for the budget warning. Alternatively, or in addition, the device may use a visual warning indication, such as an appropriate display segment or illumination.

After each budget calculation, the device displays the remaining net value (step 507) and awaits a further entry or actuation of a different function. It will be understood that the net value and alert value are maintained by the device even when in the power-off mode.

The exchange rate function is used by pressing CUR until the source currency is displayed (eg. US$), entering a numeric value, and then pressing CUR until the target currency is displayed (eg. Y), at which time the device will calculate and display the converted amount of source currency in the target currency.

To check the exchange rates programmed into the device (steps 511,512), the currency key is pressed to obtain the source currency, the number "1" is entered, and the procedure given above is followed to obtain the target currency rate (steps 513-516).

To set currency rates (step 601), the CUR key is pressed for 2 seconds or more (step 602) and the first source currency is indicated ($) and the first target currency (Y) is indicated by flashing display segment (step 603). The number of Y to the $ is then entered (steps 604,606) or the entry is skipped (step 605). Further currency exchange rates are entered in analogous manner by steps 607 to 611. It will be understood that the device may have any range of currencies available.

A budget calculation may be effected upon a converted currency by first converting the amount and then entering it as a net value adjustment (step 502). In a still further embodiment, the device may be preprogrammed to set the budget in a base currency (eg. $), and any amount being entered in a budget calculation in a different currency be automatically converted prior to recalculation of the net value.

Use of the calculator mode (figure 7) is effected by pressing CLKICAL once from the time display 303 or twice from the budget mode (steps 309,303). Calculator operation steps 701 to 706 are typical of those well known in the art and are not further described here.

Time setting mode 307 is actuated by pressing SET for three seconds (step 801) and thereafter following steps 802 to 806 in a manner typical of those well known in the art and therefore not further described here.

In an alternative embodiment, the device may incorporate a budget period counter. A budget period may be set at, for example one week, after which period the budget may be automatically reset, or other warning given.

Alarm setting mode 308 is actuated by pressing ALARM/ON/OFF (step 901) and thereafter following steps 902 to 907 in a manner typical of those well known in the art and therefore not further described here.

It will be understood that the device may be configured to operate in a "count up to budget value" mode instead of a count down mode as described, with appropriate changes to the modus operandi of the device.

It will also be understood that the device may include means to accommodate a plurality of separate budget values, alert values and cumulative sum (net value) stores to allow the user to decide which of a number of budgets each item of expenditure should be set against.

Claims (10)

1. A budget reminder calculator comprising: means for setting a predetermined budget value; means for successively entering expenditure item values to set against the budget value; means for calculating and storing a cumulative sum of all expenditure item values entered; and means for providing an audible or visual warning when said cumulative sum reaches or passes the predetermined budget value.

2. A calculator according to claim 1 further including: means for setting a predetermined warning value at a value different from the budget value; means for providing an audible or visual warning when said cumulative sum reaches or passes the warning level.

3. A calculator according to claim 1 or claim 2 further including: means for displaying the cumulative sum of all expenditure items.

4. A calculator according to claim 1 or claim 2 including: means for entering the budget value as a positive amount into the cumulative sum store; wherein said means for calculating and storing comprises means for reducing the value in said cumulative sum store commensurately with the value of an entered expenditure item; and wherein said means for providing a warning provides said warning when the value in the cumulative sum store is reduced to zero.

5. A calculator according to claim 4 further including: means for displaying the contents of the cumulative sum store.

6. A calculator according to any preceding claim wherein the means for entering an expenditure item value includes means to convert the expenditure item value into a base currency in which the budget value is set prior to calculating said cumulative sum.

7. A calculator according to any preceding claim further including: a real time clock.

8. A calculator according to claim 7 further comprising: means for setting a predetermined budgeting period; a visual or audible alarm for indicating the end of the predetermined budgeting period.

9. A calculator according to any preceding claim including: means for setting a plurality of budget values; said means for entering an expenditure item value further including means for indicating which budget value said expenditure item value is to be set against; said means for calculating and storing further including means to calculate a plurality of cumulative sums of all expenditure item values against each respective budget value; and said means for providing an audible or visual warning including means for identifying the budget value for which the respective cumulative sum has reached or passed the budget value.

9. A calculator according to any preceding claim disposed within a casing of the approximate dimensions of 8.5cm by 5.5cm by 3mm to enable it to be carried within a wallet.

10. A budget reminder calculator substantially as described herein and with reference to figures 1 to 6.