WO2013120133A1 - A system and method for allowing a plurality of users to store information - Google Patents

A system and method for allowing a plurality of users to store information Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2013120133A1
WO2013120133A1 PCT/AU2013/000123 AU2013000123W WO2013120133A1 WO 2013120133 A1 WO2013120133 A1 WO 2013120133A1 AU 2013000123 W AU2013000123 W AU 2013000123W WO 2013120133 A1 WO2013120133 A1 WO 2013120133A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
verticals
user
vertical
users
data
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU2013/000123
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Peter Gerard MCCARTHY
Original Assignee
Myprosperity Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2012900532A external-priority patent/AU2012900532A0/en
Application filed by Myprosperity Pty Ltd filed Critical Myprosperity Pty Ltd
Priority to AU2013220927A priority Critical patent/AU2013220927A1/en
Publication of WO2013120133A1 publication Critical patent/WO2013120133A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q50/00—Systems or methods specially adapted for specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
    • G06Q50/01—Social networking
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q40/00—Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a system and method for allowing a plurality of users to store information.
  • Embodiments of the invention have been particularly developed for facilitating users manage their respective financial affairs and will be described hereinafter with particular reference to that application. However it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to such a field of use, and is applicable in broader contexts.
  • a system for allowing a plurality of users to store financial information including:
  • a database for storing data records for the users
  • GUI graphical user interface
  • a web server that is responsive to the users entering the financial information for accessing the database to update one or more of the data records.
  • the financial information is indicative of one or more properties of an asset item, a liability item, an income item, and an expense item and the system includes a processor that is responsive to the data records for: obtaining external data about at least one of the items; and accessing the database to update one or more of the data records.
  • each of the verticals in the set of verticals has a collapsed state and an expanded state for preventing and allowing entry of the financial information into the vertical.
  • the remainder of the verticals in the set of verticals are in the collapsed state.
  • each vertical includes a header field and one or more data fields; and the instantiation of each GUI allows the respective user to nominate selectively the header fields to change the state of the corresponding vertical.
  • the user terminal is responsive to the software instructions such that, when one of the verticals in the set of verticals is in the expanded state and the header of a second of the verticals is nominated by the user, the states of both the first and the second of the verticals are changed.
  • the state of the second of the verticals is changed prior to the change to the state of the first one of the verticals.
  • each vertical in the expanded stale, reveals one or more of: the data fields in that vertical;
  • changing the state of a given vertical to the collapsed state results in any vertical nested in the given vertical that is in the expanded state to also change to the collapsed state.
  • the menu includes a second set of verticals wherein each vertical in the second set has only an expanded configuration.
  • the second set of verticals includes a header vertical that, in use, is rendered above the first set of verticals.
  • the second set of verticals includes a footer vertical that, in use, is rendered below the first set of verticals.
  • At least one of the verticals in the second set of verticals includes a field that is selectively refreshed.
  • At least one of the verticals in the second set of verticals includes a static field.
  • the menu defines the GUI.
  • the instantiation is limited to the GUI. [0027] In an embodiment the instantiation includes the GUI and one or more other component.
  • the respective software instructions include content for the instantiation of the GUI.
  • the respective software instructions include structure for the instantiation of the GUI.
  • terminals are responsive to local software instructions for providing either or both of structure and content for the instantiation of the GUI.
  • a remote client terminal for allowing a user to update data records in a central database that is accessible via a web interface, the terminal including:
  • a memory module for containing local software instructions
  • GUI graphical user interfaces
  • a communications interface that is responsive to the processor and the financial information for communicating with the web interface to selectively update one or more of the data records.
  • a network for allowing a plurality of users to store financial information on a database the network connecting:
  • GUI graphical user interface
  • a web server that is responsive to the financial information for accessing the database to update one or more of the data records.
  • a system for allowing a plurality of users to store and retrieve financial information including: a database for storing data records for the users that is indicative of at least financial information for those users; and
  • GUI graphical user interface
  • the users are able to enter financial information into the respective first sets of verticals
  • the system includes a web server that is responsive to the users entering the financial information for accessing the database to update one or more of the data records.
  • a remote client terminal for allowing a user to retrieve financial information derived from data records in a central database that is accessible via a web interface, the terminal including:
  • a memory module for containing local software instructions
  • GUI graphical user interfaces
  • the processor is responsive to the user entering financial information into the verticals in the first set for sending a request to the web interface for one or more of the data records to be updated.
  • a system for allowing a plurality of users to store information including:
  • a database for storing data records for the users
  • GUI graphical user interface
  • a seventh aspect of the invention there is provided a method for allowing a plurality of users to store financial information, the method including the steps of:
  • GUI graphical user interface
  • a method for allowing a user to update data records in a central database that is accessible via a web server including:
  • GUI graphical user interfaces
  • a ninth aspect of the invention there is provided a method for operating a network for allowing a plurality of users to store financial information on a database, the method including the step of connecting:
  • GUI graphical user interface
  • a web server that is responsive to the financial information for accessing the database to update one or more of the data records.
  • GUI graphical user interface
  • a method for allowing a user to retrieve financial information derived from data records in a central database that is accessible via a web interface including the steps of:
  • GUI graphical user interfaces
  • a method for allowing a plurality of users to store information including the steps of:
  • GUI graphical user interface
  • a computer system configured to perform a method according to any one of seventh to twelfth aspects described above.
  • a computer program configured to perform a method according to any one of seventh to twelfth aspects described above.
  • a non-transitive carrier medium carrying computer executable code that, when executed on a processor, causes the processor tq perform a method according to any one of seventh to twelfth aspects described above.
  • a system for allowing a plurality of users to store respective financial information including: an interface provided by a first party, the interface being accessible by a plurality of remote client terminals operated by the users and a plurality of remote client terminals operated by respective second parties, wherein the interface allows: each second party to enter by the remote terminals respective unique identifiers, and
  • each user via the user terminals, to enter into a user account for that user: financial information; and user rules associated with that user;
  • a database for storing identification data indicative of the identifiers, first data indicative of the financial information and second data indicative of the user rules
  • a processor that is selectively responsive to the identification data and the second data for allowing one or more of the second parties, via the remote terminals, to access at least some of the first data in the user account of the users.
  • the processor is responsive to the second data for selectively allowing the second parties, via respective remote client terminals, to enter at least some of the first data into the user account of one or more of the users.
  • the processor is responsive to the first data and the second data for a given user for generating third data indicative of one or more financial goals for that user.
  • the processor is responsive to the first data and the third data for a given user for generating a measure for that user of the progress toward the one or more financial goals for the user.
  • the measure is a number.
  • the number falls within a predetermined range.
  • the predetermined range is from 0 to 100.
  • the processor is responsive to the measure for generating one or more alerts for the corresponding user.
  • the processor is responsive to the third data for generating one or more alerts for the corresponding user.
  • the one or more alerts suggest respective actions to the corresponding user.
  • the processor is responsive to the first data and the second data for generating a financial report.
  • the financial report is indicative of a current financial position for the corresponding user.
  • the financial report is indicative of a future estimated financial position for the corresponding user.
  • the financial report is stored in the database and is available for later access by the corresponding user.
  • the user rules include one or more user commands and the processor is responsive to the user entering that or the user commands for immediately executing the respective user command.
  • the user command initiates the generation of the financial report.
  • the financial report is selected from a set of available financial reports.
  • one or more of the user rules execute according to a predefined schedule.
  • the predefined schedule is periodic.
  • one or more of the user rules when executing, one or more of the user rules generates the financial report.
  • a fourteenth aspect of the invention there is provided a system for allowing a plurality of users to store respective financial information, the system including: an interface provided by a first party, the interface being accessible by a plurality of remote client terminals operated by the users, wherein the interface allows each user, via one of the user terminals, to enter into a user account: financial information; and user rules associated with that user;
  • a database for storing first data indicative of the financial information and second data indicative of the user rules
  • a processor that is selectively responsive to the first data and the second data for generating third data indicative of at least one financial goal for the respective users, wherein the third data is stored in the database and able to be accessed by the users via respective client terminals.
  • the at least one financial goal is unique to a corresponding user.
  • the processor is responsive to the first data and the third data for a given user for generating a measure for that user of the progress toward the at least one financial goal for the user.
  • the measure is selected at least in part from one of a finite number of grades.
  • the measure is selected from one of three grades.
  • the three grades are red, amber and green.
  • the measure includes a number.
  • the number is expressed as a percentage.
  • the number falls within a predetermined range
  • the predetermined range is from 0 to 100.
  • the processor is responsive to the measure for generating one or more alerts for the corresponding user.
  • the processor is responsive to the third data for generating one or more alerts for the corresponding user.
  • the one or more alerts suggest respective actions to the corresponding user.
  • the processor is responsive to the first data and the second data for generating a financial report.
  • the financial report is indicative of a current financial position for the corresponding user.
  • the financial report is indicative of a future estimated financial position for the corresponding user.
  • the financial report is stored in the database and is available for later access by the corresponding user.
  • the user rules include one or more user commands and the processor is responsive to the user entering that or the user commands for immediately executing the respective user command.
  • one or more of the user rules execute according to a predefined' schedule.
  • the predefined schedule is periodic.
  • a system for allowing a plurality of users having respective user accounts to store financial information including:
  • a web interface for receiving requests from remote client terminals operated by the users for delivering respective code to the terminals for instantiation as a graphical user interface having an accordion navigation menu with a plurality of verticals;
  • a web server that is responsive to both the entry of information by a given user into one or more of the verticals and the corresponding user account for storing in a database first data indicative of the information.
  • the first data is indicative of financial information.
  • one of the verticals allows users to enter user rules for the respective user accounts and the web server is responsive to both the entry of the user rules by a given user into the one vertical and the corresponding user account for storing in the database second data indicative of the user rules.
  • the web service includes a processor that is selectively responsive to the first data and the second data for generating third data indicative of at least one financial goal for the respective users, wherein the third data is stored in the database and able to be accessed by the users via respective client terminals.
  • a system for allowing a plurality of users to store respective financial information including: an interface provided by a first party that is accessible by a plurality of remote client terminals operated by the users, wherein the interface allows each user, via one of the user terminals, to enter into a user account for the user financial information related to one or more of each of the following item types: an asset item; a liability item; an income item; and an expense item;
  • a database for storing first data indicative of the financial information and executable code for at least one financial calculator each having at least one field with the item type;
  • a processor that is responsive to one of the users initiating the calculator via the corresponding client terminal for populating the at least one field of the calculator.
  • a seventeenth aspect of the invention there is provided a method for allowing a plurality of users to store respective financial information, the method including the steps of:
  • a first party providing an interface that is accessible by a plurality of remote client terminals operated by the users and a plurality of remote client terminals operated by respective second parties, wherein the interface allows:
  • each second party to enter by the remote terminals respective unique identifiers
  • each user via the user terminals, to enter into a user account for that user: financial information; and user rules associated with that user;
  • a first party providing an interface that is accessible by a plurality of remote client terminals operated by the users, wherein the Interface allows each user, via one of the user terminals, to enter into a user account: financial information; and user rules associated with that user; storing in a database first data indicative of the financial information and second data indicative of the user rules; and
  • a method for allowing a plurality of users having respective user accounts to store financial information including the steps of:
  • a twentieth aspect of the invention there is provided a method for allowing a plurality of users to store respective financial information, the method including the steps of:
  • a first party providing an interface that is accessible by a plurality of remote client terminals operated by the users, wherein the interface allows each user, via one of the user terminals, to enter into a user account for the user financial information related to one or more of each of the following item types: an asset item; a liability item; an income item; and an expense item;
  • a system for allowing a plurality of users to store respective financial information including: an interface provided by a first party, the interface being accessible by a plurality of remote client terminals operated by the users, wherein the interface allows each user, via one of the user terminals, to enter into a user account: financial information about a plurality of types of financial items having respective financial values;
  • a database for storing first data indicative of the financial information and value data indicative of the financial values
  • a processor that is responsive to the first data for selectively obtaining external information and for updating the value data.
  • the processor is responsive to the first data for updating all the value data.
  • the processor is responsive to the first data for periodically updating the value data.
  • the processor is responsive to the first data for regularly updating the value data.
  • a twenty second aspect of the invention there is provided a method for allowing a plurality of users to store respective financial information, the method including the steps of:
  • a first party providing an interface that is accessible by a plurality of remote client terminals operated by the users, wherein the interface allows each user, via one of the user terminals, to enter into a user account: financial information about a plurality of types of financial items having respective financial values;
  • any one of the terms “comprising”, “comprised of or “which comprises” is an open term that means including at least the elements/features that follow, but not excluding others.
  • the term “comprising”, when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limitative to the means or elements or steps listed thereafter.
  • the scope of the expression a device comprising A and B should not be limited to devices consisting only of elements A and B.
  • Any one of the terms including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.
  • Figure 1 schematically illustrates a system according to an embodiment of the invention for allowing a plurality of users to store respective financial information
  • Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of records held within the database of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the relationships between parties involved in the system of Figure 1;
  • Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the use case diagram for an unregistered user accessing the website provided by the server of Figure 1 ;
  • Figures 5, 6 and 7 are schematic representations of respective parts of the use case diagram for a member accessing the website provided by the server of Figure ;
  • Figure 8 illustrates a snapshot of the GUI rendered on the display of one of the client terminals of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 9 illustrates a snapshot of the GUI of Figure 8 rendered on the display of one of the client terminals and showing a nested set of verticals
  • Figure 10 illustrates a snapshot of the GUI of Figure 9 rendered on the display of one of the client terminals and showing a nested set of verticals within the nested set of verticals of Figure 9.
  • Described herein are systems and methods for allowing a plurality of users to store respective information, and in particular to store financial information.
  • System 1 for allowing a plurality of users, that shall be referred to herein as members 2, to store respective financial information.
  • System 1 includes a web interface 3 provided by a first party that is illustrated as an administrator 4.
  • the interface 3 is accessible by a plurality of remote client terminals 5, 6 and 7, that are operated by respective members 2, and a plurality of remote client terminals 8, 9 and 10, that are operated by respective second parties in the form of member guests 11.
  • Interface 3 allows each member guest 11 to enter by the remote terminals 8, 9 and 10 respective unique identifiers.
  • Interface 3 also allows each member 2, via terminals 5, 6 and 7, to enter into a user account 15 (as best shown in Figure 2) for that member 2: financial information; and user rules associated with that member.
  • a database 16 stores identification data 17 indicative of the identifiers, first data 18 indicative of the financial information and second data 19 indicative of the user rules.
  • a processor 21 is selectively responsive to the identification data 17 and the second data 19 for allowing one or more of the member guests 11 , via the remote terminals 8, 9 and 10, to access at least some of the first data 18 in the user accounts 15 of members 2.
  • administrator 4 provides the required software instructions that, when executed, allows the operation of interface 3. However, to operate, administrator 4 makes use of an internet service provider and/or a telecommunications network operator to make interface 3 available and accessible to users 2. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments administrator 4 is also one or more of the internet service provider and the network operator.
  • system 1 Whilst three members 2 and three member guests 11 are illustrated, this is only indicative. It will be appreciated that system 1 is able to accommodate different numbers of members and member guests, from a small number to a very large number. Moreover, the number of members is typically different from and greater than the number of member guests.
  • the members are individuals, however, those individuals are able to have a user account in their respective capacities as individuals, or in their capacities as an officer, employee or other representative of a corporation, a trustee or other legal entity having one or more of assets, liabilities, income and expenses.
  • the first data in a given user account is able to be for a number of entities.
  • an individual in addition to having one more of of assets, liabilities, income and expenses in his or her name, is also able to be a trustee of a family trust having different ones of those four items.
  • the items for both entities are able to be included within the first data for a given user account, and yet with the relevant entity specified.
  • Administrator 4 is typically a corporation, but is able to be another form of legal entity such as an unincorporated body, an individual, a trust, or otherwise.
  • a web server 25 provides the web interface 3.
  • This web interface is accessed by the relevant parties (members 2 and member guests 11) by way of the exemplary client terminals 5 to 10.
  • members 2 and member guests access interface 3 over the Internet by way of client terminals 5 to 10, which in various embodiments include the likes of personal computers, PDAs, smartphones, tablet computers, internet televisions, cellular telephones, gaming consoles, and other Internet enabled devices.
  • Server 25 includes processor 21 coupled to a memory module 26 and a communications interface 27, such as an Internet connection, modem, Ethernet port, wireless network card, serial port, or the like.
  • a communications interface 27 such as an Internet connection, modem, Ethernet port, wireless network card, serial port, or the like.
  • distributed resources are used.
  • server 25 includes a plurality of distributed servers having respective storage, processing and communications resources.
  • Memory module 26 includes software instructions 28, which are executable on processor 21.
  • Server 25 is coupled to database 16.
  • the database leverages memory module 26.
  • web interface 3 includes a website.
  • the term "website” should be read broadly to cover substantially any source of information accessible over the Internet or another communications network (such as WAN, LAN or WLAN) via a browser application running on a client terminal.
  • a website is a source of information made available by a server and accessible over the Internet by a web-browser application running on a client terminal.
  • the web-browser application downloads code, such as HTML code, from the server. This code is executable through the web-browser on the client terminal for providing a graphical and often interactive representation of the website on the client terminal.
  • a user of the client terminal is able to navigate between and throughout various web pages provided by the website, and access various functionalities that are provided.
  • client terminals 5 to 10 maintain software instructions for a computer program product that essentially provides access to a portal via which a framework is accessed (for instance via an iPhone app or the like).
  • each terminal 5 to 10 includes a processor 31 coupled to a memory module 32 and a communications interface 33, such as an internet connection, modem, Ethernet port, serial port, or the like.
  • Memory module 32 includes software instructions 34, which are executable on processor 31. These software instructions allow each terminal 5. to 10 to execute a software application, such as a proprietary application or web browser application and thereby render on-screen a user interface and allow communication with server 25. This user interface allows for the creation, viewing and administration of profiles, access to the internal communications interface, and various other functionalities.
  • Members 2 initially define the respective user accounts which have user names and passwords as the main form of security.
  • Server 25 undertakes other authentication, validation and security checks to provide further levels of certainly to members and other users about the reliability and security of system 1.
  • each member 2 is able to request from interface 15, via terminals 5, 6 and 7, a login page.
  • the corresponding terminal is served with code from server 25, via web interface 15, that, once instantiated by a browser resident on the client terminal, provides a graphical user interface (GUI) having an accordion navigation menu with a plurality of verticals. That is, the GUI includes a header with the branding of administrator, a footer with legal and other contact information, and in between an accordion structure only.
  • GUI graphical user interface
  • the accordion structure spans the width of the browser and has seven verticals labelled "MyProflle”, “MyDocuments”, “MyAssets”, “MyLiabilities”, “Mylncome”, “MyExpenses” and “MyAction Items”.
  • MyProflle MyDocuments
  • MyAssets MyLiabilities
  • Mylncome MyExpenses
  • MyAction Items Upon expanding a vertical to reveal its contents (which initially will be empty fields with suggestions) the member is able to enter into the available fields one or more items of the item types available. Once a field is populated by the member, a further field for another item of the same type is made available. In this way, the member is able to progressively enter details of all his, her and/or an associated entity's assets, liabilities, income, and expenses.
  • each of the above verticals each include a plurality of vertical sections that are hierarchically nested with the verticals. That is, a vertical section is a child of a parent vertical. Moreover, the hierarchy also includes vertical item lists that are children to a vertical section parent. The verticals, vertical sections, and vertical item lists are all configured to allow for the accordion navigation style.
  • Web server 25 is responsive to the entry of information by the member into one or more of the "MyAssets", “MyLiabilities”, “ ylncome” and “MyExpenses” verticals (that is, entry within the vertical directly, or in a vertical section or vertical item list within a vertical) and the corresponding user account for storing in database 16 first data 18 indicative of the information entered. It will be appreciated that many of the details for the user account are included in the MyProfile vertical for ease of access and update by the member concerned.
  • the MyActions vertical allows members to enter user rules for the respective user accounts, and the web server is responsive to both the entry of the user rules by a given user into the MyActions vertical and the corresponding user account for storing in database 16 second data 19 indicative of the user rules.
  • Each member is free to enter as much of as little information as desired. Moreover, the entered information, whilst stored in notionally a common database 16, is stored in a specific user account and, by default, is only accessible by the respective member 2. However, as mentioned above, processor 21 is selectively responsive to the identification data 17 and the second data 19 for allowing one or more of the member guests 11 , via the remote terminals 8, 9 and 10, to access at least some of the first data 18 in the user accounts 15 of members 2. That is, the members are able to enter or otherwise define user rules that are stored as the second data 19 in database 16. These rules are able to be configured to specify that another party, such as member guest 1 1 , is allowed read access to selected, or all, the financial information recorded against the user account by the member.
  • financial wants will typically be unique to the member and will be based upon defining a desired financial outcome at a predetermined point in the future. For example, a given member is able to define a future financial want as "To retire from employment in twenty years from today with an investment income of at least $100,000 per annum”. Another member, for example, is able to define a future financial want such as "To have zero debt within twelve years.” Another example is for a member to define a future financial want such as "Accumulate $ 00,000 within fifteen years to pay for my child's college education.”
  • Processor 21 is responsive to the first data 18 - that is, the financial data that the member has entered - and the second data 19 - that is, the future financial want - for a given member for generating third data 40 indicative of one or more financial goals for that member.
  • the third data will include suggested means for achieving the wants within the specified timeframe based upon the existing financial information. Accordingly, the more comprehensive that information, the more accurate and focussed the suggested means is able to be.
  • the goals include placing periodic payments into one or more asset classes including shares, cash, fixed interest, properly and foreign assets. In other embodiments, the goals are more detailed and recommend specific financial, products or product providers.
  • the member As the member over time works to implement the goals suggested, that member is able to enter further financial information into database 16 via terminal 5, 6, or 7. In other instances, for example, with shares or other assets that are regularly re-valued, the information will be obtained from a data service arranged by administrator 4. In any event, the member is able to initiate the generation of a measure for that member of the progress toward the one or more financial goals.
  • the measure is a number expressed as a percentage performance for the interim period to date. In other embodiments, the measure falls within a range - for example, it being expressed as a percentage. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, given the benefit of the teaching herein, that other forms of measure are also applicable instead of or in addition to that described above.
  • the measure is selected at least in part from one of a finite number of grades. More particularly, the measure is selected from one of three grades, being red, amber and green.
  • processor 21 is responsive to the measure being below a predetermined level or of a predetermined grade for generating one or more alerts for the corresponding member.
  • This alert is able to be a means for bringing the over or under performance to the attention of the member.
  • the alert also includes a revised suggestion for meeting the goal.
  • the members are also able, by way of the user rules, to initiate the generation of one or more financial reports that are selected from the available reports. That is, processor 21 is responsive to the first data and the second data for generating such a financial report. A number of such financial reports are indicative of a current financial position for the corresponding member. However, other reports are indicative of a future estimated financial position for the corresponding member. In any event, the generated reports 41 are stored in database 16 in the relevant user accounts and are available for later access by the corresponding member.
  • the user rules include two types of rules, those that are executed immediately by processor 21 (or at least quickly queued for execution) so that upon initiation by a member the result of the rule is available quickly. These types of rules are referred to as user commands.
  • a further type of user rule is one that is scheduled for execution at a predetermined time, or contingent upon another action or event occurring. Accordingly all types of user rules are able to initiate the generation of a financial report, although the timing of that generation will be different for the different types of user rules.
  • Database 6 also stores executable code for a plurality of financial calculators 42 each having at least one field with an item type selected from the following item types: an asset item; a liability item; an income item; and an expense item.
  • Processor 21 is responsive to one of the members 2 initiating the calculator via the corresponding client terminal 5, 6 or 7, for populating the at least one field of the calculator from the corresponding first data. Accordingly, when a member wishes to explore options for refinancing, alternative investments, or other such arrangements, the relevant fields of the calculator is prepopulated where that data is available within the first data. It will be appreciated lhat the member is able to manually adjust the prepopulated fields, if required.
  • the embodiments also include a method for allowing members 2 to store respective financial information.
  • the method including the step of the administrator 4 providing an interface 3 that is accessible by: remote client terminals 5, 6 and 7 that are operated by the members; and remote client terminals 8, 9 and 10 that are operated by respective member guests 1 1.
  • the interface allows each member guest 1 1 to enter by the remote terminals 8, 9 and 10 respective unique identifiers and each member, via the user terminals 5, 6 and 7, to enter into user accounts 15 for that member: financial information; and user rules associated with that member.
  • the method also includes the step of storing in database 16 identification data 17 indicative of the identifiers, first data 18 indicative of the financial information and second data 19 indicative of the user rules.
  • Processor 21 is selectively responsive to the identification data 17 and the second data 19 for allowing one or more of the member guests 11 , via the remote terminals 8, 9 and 0, to access at least some of the first data 18 in the user account 15 of the members.
  • the embodiments also include a method for allowing members 2 to store and retrieve respective financial information including the step of being responsive to the first data 18 and the second data 19 for generating third data 40 indicative of at least one financial goal for the respective members.
  • Third data 40 is stored in database 16 and able to be accessed - that is, retrieved - by the associated member 2 via respective client terminal 5, 6 or 7.
  • the embodiments also include a method for allowing the members having respective user accounts 15 to store financial information.
  • the method including the step receiving with interface 3 requests from remote client terminals 5, 6 and 7 operated by the members and delivering respective code - that is, software instructions - to those terminals for instantiation as a graphical user interface having an accordion navigation menu with a plurality of verticals.
  • Server 25 is responsive to both: the entry of financial information by a given member into one or more of the verticals; and the corresponding user account, for storing in database 16 first data 18. That is, the first data is updated to include revised data or additional data.
  • the embodiments also include a method for allowing members 2 to store respective financial information, including the step of allowing each member, via one of the user terminals 5, 6 or 7, to enter into the user account 15 financial information related to one or more of each of the following item types: an asset item; a liability item; an income item; and an expense item.
  • First data 18, indicative of the financial information is stored in database 16 together with executable code 41 for at least one financial calculator each having at least one field with the item type.
  • Processor 21 is responsive to one of the members initiating one of the available calculators, via the corresponding client terminal 5, 6 or 7, for populating at least one field of the calculator.
  • FIG. 3 where there is illustrated exemplarily the relationships between different parties involved with system 1.
  • reference is made to an unregistered user (which is labelled in the Figure as a "user").
  • users For, at a broad level, all visitors to the website initially served by server 25 are referred to as users until identified otherwise.
  • This class of user is able to fully utilise, in this embodiment for no charge, a number of functionalities.
  • time limits are placed upon the free availability of some or all such functionalities.
  • the functionalities remain freely available while such time as the user is prepared to accept via email or telephone (or other medium) marketing material.
  • Members are able to be businesses, groups of individuals (for example, a family) or individuals.
  • Members are also able to manage and improve their net worth (that is, build their balance sheet), current wealth, current finances, and plan lifelong financial plans and goals. [00140] Members are also permitted in this embodiment to perform any of the tasks performed by users. However, members are not permitted to view or perform any of the tasks performed by JV partner members which are set out in more detail below.
  • a further grade of user is referred to as a "member guest”.
  • a member guest is a business, individual or other entity that has been invited by a member.
  • a member guest is able to be a designated group of individuals that has been authorised for access by the member and/or to perform activities on behalf of the member.
  • various degrees in access privileges, privacy and visibility are able to be set by the member, for full or partial access and to ensure preferred associations can appear invisible to others (with the exception of the website administrator 4).
  • a member is able to invite other members to become guest members by either searching the existing website database or by sending auto generated branded email invitations to any user.
  • a further type of user is a JVP user, which would typically be a JVP client of administrator 4.
  • the JVP client will often have been invited to login and utilise the website by the administrator, and will have been supplied with marketing information containing details for accessing its website account.
  • JVP users receive access details to a pre-generated website account, already populated with their personal financial JVP details.
  • JVP member are users that have been invited and which have engaged the website, realised the membership potential, and that has completed the remaining registration and setup process. It will be appreciated that JVP members gain special functionalities and considerations, such as email marketing, and JV-centric promotions and products, in addition to the standard member product.
  • JVP members are businesses, groups of individuals (e.g. a family) and individuals. Additionally, JVP members have access to any of the functionalities that are available to members.
  • a JV partner is a business or institution that is considering partnering or licensing the website such that their clients and/or members are provided with the platform for delivering a more holistic approach to financial management and benefits that compliments their business.
  • a further category of user is a JV partner staff, which is allocated to an individual so that he or she will have the access required to: deliver email marketing to a selected audience; and/or administer content using the website CMS, API and/or web service.
  • a JV partner staff will be able to mine website data to better address member needs, product improvements and establish new solutions.
  • a product provider is a commercial client that offers financial benefits in the form of competitive products and discounted services to all members and JV partner members.
  • Product providers are typically businesses with a desire to target the website audience and which complies with the websites business requirements, specifications and conditions. Integration with the business of a product provider is able to achieved via an API, web service or customised development, as specified by the administrators and/or developers (E.g. Feeds, widgets, components, etc.).
  • Product providers are also provided access to any of the functionalities performed by users and members.
  • a content provider is typically a business that can provide suitable website information and media assets that compliment all members and users. These content providers deliver and/or administer content using the website CMS, API and / or web service, and are responsible for the administration and delivery of suitable website information and media assets within the website.
  • a content provider is granted only limited access to the website Content Management System (CMS), but is able to gain access to all the functionalities available to users and members.
  • CMS Content Management System
  • the administrator 4 is a generic term for the entity that is responsible for the operator of system 1. However, in terms of personnel, an administrator is a specific term that refers to a website staff member that manages the daily operation of the business and website. Administrators have access to all functionalities open to users, members and providers. The administrator will also require the ability to manage many other tasks covering: administration; customer relations; ongoing strategy; reporting; etc.
  • An accountant is a website staff member that is responsible for managing the websites ongoing financial details.
  • the accountant or accountants will require the ability to manage payments to product providers, content providers, payments from members, and account reconciliation.
  • Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate use case diagrams for the website hosted by server 25 for all users, including members 2 and member guests 11.
  • the Figures provide detail for unregistered users and members. The portions shown in broken lines are omitted from more streamlined embodiments. To assist the reader better appreciate the Figures, the following description is provided.
  • OOP Section is the child of a vertical parent.
  • a section is 2nd in Section the hierarchy to a vertical and contains information architecture, user (Section) content, application features, and tools which share a similar nature and subject focus. For example, “My Assets” and “My Liabilities” are sections within the vertical “My Wealth” and both are able to be reviewed within a third section (refer to vertical review).
  • a section is a 00 child o a vertical parent.
  • Vertical Item Refers to the display of multiple section items that are in their closed List accordion state. Each row displays an item list in its closed state, and
  • the item list is vertically stacked, and designed to represent a "Balance Sheet” metaphor.
  • the item list expands and contracts, similar to an accordion style, thus optimising the available computer screen real-estate.
  • a list item is a single closed item within a sections item list. It displays Item very high-level information and status details relative to the item.
  • a list item is a 00 child of a vertical section parent.
  • Section A category is predefined sub-set type relative to the specific section
  • Category application. For example, personal income, family benefits and
  • a section category is an 00 child of a vertical section parent.
  • Section Sub A sub category is a predefined sub-set of a category type
  • ATO benefit payments, child support and social security payments are all sub categories of the category “Family benefits” within the section “My Income” within the vertical “My Cashflow”.
  • a section sub category is an OO child of a section category who is a parent. Unlike the previous 00 hierarchical items, the sub category is only used within sections, when required.
  • Section Item An item displays a majority of the user's data and tools relative to the (Item) set type and specific 00 path.
  • the 00 path is what identifies and relates this item to the specific section and vertical.
  • a summary displays the identity and current status of the item.
  • the item includes a number of TABs, which helps separate and contain like-kind user data and specific tool sets relative to the section.
  • Some of the features include: receipt input, notes, industry data feeds, item details, document storage, and a variety of planning action tools, such as To- do's, goals, calculators & reviews.
  • Item Short A short view is the masthead for the item. It displays a summary of
  • the short view contains a user defined image, identity and status details of the item, the user owner and also a set of indicators that assist in the communication of the items progress.
  • Item Details Refers to any items extended input and display details and/or
  • TAB & Tools functions in conjunction with the above short view. They are always (TAB Item) displayed as TAB"s and usually the same set of TABS are shared across a section or vertical.
  • a TAB view can contain editable forms, saved forms, generic information, further tools (TAB accordion), note recording, receipt recording, document storage and action plan functionality.
  • the TAB item labelled "Details" is set as the default TAB view when first expanding any section item from a closed state.
  • TAB item is an 00 child of a section item parent.
  • Item Indicator Indicators display changes in a user contribution, data and
  • Indicator performance. These are displayed with visual cues to enhance the user experience (UX) and communication of the user's current situation. Indicators are usually positioned far right of the short view within a section item. Indicators can also appear as the "Review Date" and at the top level of each vertical within the very first accordion row.
  • the current indicators include: vertical indicator which displays review status, short view indicators which display: the rate of change since the last update; and the current number of items added within all sections.
  • Modal Dialog Dialogs are used throughout the site to display initial input forms and (Dialog) when editing or assigning documents and notes to Records and
  • a Modal Dialog is when the remaining area of the browser window is treated (darker or lighter) so that the dialog in focus is easier to experience.
  • Wizard Wizards are used throughout the website to assist users with complex tasks, that require multiple steps for an outcome, and when a variety of input requirements are necessary without the need for vertical scrolling.
  • the wizard model is intentionally optimised to display a consistent template throughout the website. This assists users by keeping the input and setup experience as simple and as ( ess intimidating as possible.
  • Actions An action is usually performed within the "Actions” TAB item located within a section item. Actions also take place within the "My Planner” vertical. An action allows users to perform planning and to schedule oriented tasks. For example, the setup or review of a "To-Do item", “Goal item” or “Review Reminder” within any "Section Item” is Use Case Description
  • ft is a (Image) small image that identifies the member or entity ichnographically.
  • the website hosted by server 25 uses avatars to visually display each section item throughout the website, in the form of a thumbnail sized image. Users can add their own or select from a preset library.
  • Alias A fabricated name for use and/or display within an online space, and allows for a user's true identity to remain anonymous.
  • User Strictly a website browser for browsing the hosted website, or an identified machine running the browser. Typically taken to relate to an individual with the username and password provided.
  • Entity Is a third party product or service that requires membership rights
  • Entities are usually self-supported financial entities with unique legal rights.
  • An entity within the website of the embodiment described above holds similar rights to a member. For example, a company, trust or superannuation fund are able to be registered as an entity.
  • Group A group constitutes all existing members, entities and guest accounts Account that revolve around the "Group Owner" or the original account creator.
  • a group can be a family, a de-facto couple, business partners, even a single user with multiple entities.
  • a group can be flagged to filter website data were ownership is spread across all members and/or entities throughout the website, or when reference is required to everybody associated with your account.
  • the group "Jones Family” includes “John Jones” (father), “Jane Jones” (mother), “Jill Jones” (daughter), “Jack Jones” (son), “Jones Trust” (entity), “Jones Super Fund” (entity), and "Accountant XYZ” (guest member).
  • Group Owner A member who setup the original primary account.
  • a group owner has additional account rights & privileges that effect the group account.
  • a guest account is used when a group or member within an existing Guest group requires a third party user to obtain access to their financial information with restricted visiting rights, access privileges or conditions.
  • a member can specify the guest access privileges requirements & rights.
  • an email template is provided to allow the member to make an initial communication with the proposed member guest.
  • the guest clicks on link and is required to complete three step signup.
  • the guest is now an official member as well, no different to other members with the exception of having an extra tab within "My Group - My Connections".
  • the guest member can click on a listed member that had originally invited the guest and the web view shifts into the source members perspective and relative the access privileges and rights that were specified.
  • My Profile My Profile is a vertical within the website which has a specific focus on (Profile) member, entity and the member group website accounts and personal requirements that the remaining areas of the website application require to function holistically and yield greater performance, accuracy function in the most optimal manner.
  • Profile focus on
  • My Tax View and enter documents and notes related to the generation and management of tax reporting requirements for each financial year.
  • the collected documents then form an archive of past tax data.
  • Cashflow This consists of two major categories, income and expenses. Within each, users can enter data within several common categories, entering notes, documents, To-do items, and setting up data feeds. The end result is a balance sheet list of income vs. Expenses resulting in a net cashflow view.
  • My Planner This is the scheduling manager of the website. It allows the user to (Planner) plan their future financial goals and set related reminders for the
  • My Calendar Shows an overview of the reminders and goals for your current plans in a calendar form.
  • Goals Shows a complete list of all open goals, and reminders that have been assigned to you. Goals may be linked to items throughout the site.
  • Calculators best determine what best suits your current situation. Such calculators include, for example, superannuation and savings. Calculations can be easily saved as goals for future reference.
  • System 1 is applicable for use by members from a wide variety of socioeconomic and age groups and is available for partial use or full use by any given member. For example, if a member simply wished to track his or her expenses, the use of system 1 could be limited to that. However, where a member makes use of substantially all the functionality, that too is possible and highly advantageous. It is also possible for a user to start with a minimalist use and gain value from system 1. That is, a given user does not have to have entered all the available financial information for that individual before benefit can be obtained in terms of updating, retrieval, use of calculators, and availability of offers etc.
  • system 1 is configured to meet the needs of the individuals, wherever those individuals happen to be in terms of financial organisation and planning sophistication.
  • each of the members is provided with one or more measure about that member's progress toward one or more financial goals. These goals are able to be at least in part explicitly defined by the individual members. Where the member does not define such goals, system 1 imputes such a goal from the state of the data records for the member and other indicators or the behaviour of the member.
  • Product partners are generally businesses with appropriate products and services that they wish to sell on the website served by server 25.
  • the user interface (Ul) being delivered in the accordion format, provides both compact spatial presentation of selective data and a simplicity and ease of use. Moreover, it allows the main buttons to be large and logically placed with easy to absorb iconography, whilst the other menus offer all of the other navigation options with easy to use drop down menus that are manoeuvrable.
  • the website hosted by server 25 is designed and developed with full scalability in mind to best ensure system 1 will be future proof whilst also allowing for any further expansion both within the GUI and architecturally.
  • the website GUI has been developed utilising HTML, and Microsoft .NET technologies.
  • CMS Content Management System
  • the remaining browsers and OS platforms are also explicitly accommodated for browsing compliancy.
  • System 1 is also configured for use with Microsoft Windows powered mobile devices.
  • Mobile browsers are also accommodated by avoiding technologies such as flash and excessive graphic elements to ensure that users viewing the site on a smart mobile device such as an iPhone or a device using the Android operating system may still experience the site without major impairment. Some minor functionality and appearance differences are required, as would be known to those skilled in the art.
  • Microsoft ASP .NET (Version 4.0) application server is at the time of writing an industry standard platform for delivery of real world Web applications.
  • ASP .NET has been used in the creation and maintenance of all dynamic content of the embodiment and, in addition, to support useful features such as sending email straight from the website.
  • Microsoft's SQL (2008 R2) (Structured Query Language) Server will be used as the storage platform for the site's data structure and dynamic content.
  • MS SQL is, at the time of writing, an industry standard database-serving platform that provides a dynamic website with powerful storage, retrieval and searching capabilities.
  • a robust database engine such as MS SQL is used to support a large number of users and/or store a large amount of information and still remain responsive enough not to detract from the user's experience.
  • Web server 25 is a Microsoft IIS Version 7.0 web server for the application to function in Microsoft .NET.
  • GUI 50 has an accordion navigation menu 51 having a generally rectangular boundary 52 and a first set 53 of five verticals 54, 54, 55, 57 and 58.
  • GUI 50 All the structure and content of GUI 50 (including the first set 53 of verticals) is disposed within boundary 52, where that structure and content is progressively revealed in accordance with the specific detail of the user's records, and upon selection by the user. Accordingly, the initial presentation of GUI 50, where all the verticals 54 to 58 are in a collapsed state as shown - is extremely compactly presented and relatively generic. This allows GUI 50 to be easily instantiated on a wide range of internet enabled devices including smartphones and other portable internet enabled devices. Moreover, as there is no initial need to present substantive content, the volume of data needed at the initiation of GUI 50 is quite low. Moreover, in some embodiments the structural information to construct GUI 50 is held locally on the remote terminal to decrease the time taken to instantiate the GUI.
  • GUI 50 is constructed from software instructions written in the HTML language and which are downloaded from web server 25 to the remote terminal upon request.
  • GUI 50 is constructed as an application framework that is held locally on the device, and which may be proprietary software of another party.
  • GUI 50 includes, in addition to the first set of verticals, a fixed vertical 60 that is displayed above set 53 and which has an array of four subcomponents 61 , 62, 63 and 64 which are displayed side by side.
  • the remote terminal makes a request to server 25 to obtain any general information, help information, advertising information, and any summary financial information that is displayed in the sub-components of vertical 60.
  • subcomponent 62 provides an indication of the user's network by providing an updated summary of: the value of the total assets indicated within the user's records in the database; the value of the total loans or other liabilities indicated within the user's records in the database; and an indication of the difference between these.
  • each of verticals 54 to 58 are available for the respective user to enter financial information. This will be described in more detail below.
  • financial information is entered by the user, it is communicated to web server 25 (via interface 3) so that one or more of the data records are able to be updated.
  • the communication with server 25 occurs once the financial information is entered into the remote terminal.
  • the newly entered financial information is cached on the remote terminal and later use to update the records on the central database.
  • Each of the verticals in the first set 53 includes a horizontally displayed title bar that includes on the left hand side a major heading that is indicative of the financial information relevant to the vertical, and on the right hand side a more specific indication of that financial information.
  • the title bar for verticals 54, 55, 56, 57 and 58 include the headings "mywealth”, “mycashflow”, “myprotection”, “myplanner” and “myprofile” respectively. Whilst the structure of these verticals is available and is instantiated, the content associated with those verticals is not yet accessed and was not part of the software instructions that were provided by server 25 to the remote terminal.
  • the user wishes to view the available financial information already contained within a given vertical, or to enter additional financial information into a vertical, the user activates the vertical. This is typically done by clicking on the associated header bar so that the vertical moves from the collapse state to an expanded state. For example, if the user wishes to view the stored financial information about his or her assets and liabilities, the cursor is moved over the header bar entitled "mywealth" and a left mouse click is performed. This results in the accordion menu progressing from the configuration shown in the screens ot of Figure 8 - where all the verticals in the first set are in the collapsed state - to the configuration shown in the screenshot of Figure 9 - where vertical 54 has progressed to the expanded state.
  • vertical 54 is shown in the expanded state to allow the user to enter financial information.
  • vertical 54 reveals the financial information that is already in the central database for this user and which is relevant to the items contained within the vertical. This financial information is retrieved from the database upon activation of vertical 54. That is, the financial information will only be sought if the user indicates that there is a desire to activate the vertical Otherwise the already stored information will not be requested. (As mentioned above, in other embodiments some or all of the already stored information is held locally at the remote terminal).
  • the order of the progression of the first vertical and the second vertical between the states is other than stated above.
  • the toggling of the verticals overlaps or occurs simultaneously.
  • the toggling of the state of the second vertical occurs prior to the toggling of the state of the first vertical.
  • the five line items illustrated in vertical 54 collective comprise a second set of verticals within vertical 54.
  • This second set of verticals is arranged as a nested accordion menu within vertical 54, with each vertical in the second set being movable between a collapsed state, as shown, to an extended state. A maximum of one of the verticals in the second set is in the extended state at any given time.
  • vertical 54 is a parent vertical, and the five verticals within the second set are child verticals having vertical 54 as their parent.
  • virtual button 66 typically by clicking a cursor on that button
  • the remote terminal requests the further relevant financial information from web server 25.
  • the further financial information in the third set of verticals includes:
  • the third set of verticals is a child to the second set of verticals.
  • the user is able to ascertain further information about the individual shareholding by clicking a further button (for example, a button 67 for the ASX shares) that is displayed on the right hand side of the relevant heading bar.
  • a further button for example, a button 67 for the ASX shares
  • This will result in a further request being sent to web server 25, and the return of further financial information including the date, time and share price for any transactions involving ASX:
  • This can include both purchase and sale transactions, agent's commissions and/or fees, and other information such as dividend payment dates and amounts. In this embodiment this is final level to which detail is available.
  • additional nested verticals are provided.
  • web server 25 will communicate to the remote terminal financial information in the form of the most recently available pricing from a third party database.
  • web server 25 will communicate to the remote terminal financial information in the form of third party data about characteristics of the property including an image, recent sales prices, owner details and other the information.
  • the newly entered financial information is also able to be an indication of the disposal of an asset or the settlement of a liability.
  • Other third party databases that are accessed by system 1 include: a payroll database for the user; utility providers; financial institutions, including banks, credit unions, leasing companies, mortgage providers, professional fund managers, funds management platforms, credit card providers and the like; insurance providers, legal advisors, and others.
  • GUI 50 allows the relevant user to easily and progressively build toward having a comprehensive store of financial information. Even with minimal use - that is, without having to have all the details of all the user's assets, liabilities, expenses and income stored within the records on the central database - the user is able to gain considerable advantage in keeping an overview of the matters, and being able to access the detail as and when required. Moreover, with only a small amount of effort over time the user is able to incrementally gain a greater understanding of his or her financial position and, hence, be better disposed to make better financial decisions. This aspect of the embodiments is further enhanced with the availability of a goal setting functionality and the provision of a financial health score. This is described in more detail in the cross reference PCT application referred to above.
  • the implementation of the accordion menu has been found to facilitate use of the GUI by user with both a low and a high level of computer skills. For at any given time there is a relatively small amount of content displayed to the user, making it easier to understand the content and to quickly put it in context due to the nested arrangement of the accordion menu. This advantage is further enhanced through the providing the user with the ability to directly enter new financial information into a vertical that has been selected and which has revealed already the existing content (that is, financial information) relevant to that vertical. This provides for less errors in entry of the new financial information, for the user has and is being provided with immediate context.
  • the use of the accordion menu for both display and entry of financial information provides for an improved user experience. It also has the advantage of staggering the requirement to dejiver the financial information between server 25 and the remote devices. For any given movement of the financial information will typically be small, although happening frequently for those user who navigate the accordion menu extensively. It has been found that user more often than not access the GUI to either check one or two pieces of the existing financial information, or to enter in specific new financial information. Far less often will a user wish to spend time to navigate most of the accordion menu.
  • the financial information is indicative of one or more properties of the item to which it is referring.
  • item types available, including an asset item, a liability item, an income item, and an expense item.
  • items such as documents (wills, insurance policies, legal advice) which are displayed in vertical 56.
  • Further item types include goals and planning items, which are displayed within vertical 57.
  • calculators that are available to be pre-populated based upon the financial information stored within the database. According, when a calculator is selected and actuated by the user, there is no need to transmit all the required financial information but, rather, typically only the results (and in some instances a supporting summary). This further reduces high instantaneous bandwidth requirements when communicating the financial information between the remote terminal and server 25.
  • each vertical is included within one set, and each vertical is able to be a parent to a child set of verticals. That is, the child set is nested within the parent and is not revealed until the parent vertical is toggled to the expanded state.
  • Each vertical includes a header field (having a header bar and text) and one or more data fields for displaying, once revealed, financial information that is obtained from or at least synchronised with, the data records stored in database 16. It will be appreciated that the user nominates selectively the header fields to change the state of the corresponding vertical.
  • the states of both the verticals toggles. Moreover, if a child vertical is in the expanded state and the state of the parent vertical is toggled to the collapsed state, the child vertical also toggles to the collapsed state.
  • the GUI is configured to remember the last state of each child vertical when the parent vertical for those child verticals was last toggled to the collapsed state. This allows the child verticals to be returned to that last state when the parent vertical is next toggled to the expanded state.
  • GUI 50 includes an accordion menu having a set of verticals in which each vertical in the set has only an expanded state.
  • the set includes only a single vertical, vertical 60.
  • a further set of verticals having a single fixed vertical in the form of vertical 70 that include hypertext links to security information, terms and conditions for the use of GUI 50 and system 1 , privacy information t and the like. If those links are selected, the relevant Information is requested from server 25 and instantiated in a separate window or frame so that GUI 50 remains available once the separate window or frame is dismissed,
  • the information in vertical 70 is static - in that the data fields display fixed information.
  • the information is expandable by the user and will change over time.
  • a further type of information is contained within vertical 60, and in particular in component 62.
  • the financial information in the relevant field is selectively updated. For example, that information is updated upon instantiation, and periodically during use of GUI 50, or after a timeout during use of GUI 50. In other embodiments other update conditions or schedules are used.
  • GUI 50 is defined in totality by the accordion menu.
  • the GUI includes components outside the accordion menu, although this is not preferential more mobile remote terminals. Accordingly, in some embodiments where use is made of such external components, system 1 is responsive to the characteristics of the remote terminal in determining whether or not such components should be included within the software instructions that are provided to that terminal.
  • the embodiments of the invention use the accordion structure to take advantage of the increased processing power available not only typically desktop computers, but also on mobile devices such as smart phones.
  • This structure provides for a compact and consistent display of the relevant information and allows for ease of input of new financial information by the users. That is, if a user makes a new share purchase, or incurs a new expense, it is very easy to have the corresponding financial information entered into the relevant field of the relevant vertical at the time, or later. This is particularly suitable to mobile devices, both in terms of the compact nature of the GUI, and the ability to easily enter the new financial information.
  • the bandwidth requirements are also being managed by only having the already stored financial information for the user supplied to the remote terminal should the user activate the relevant vertical (or sub- vertical) in which that information is contained.
  • the remote terminals cache a portion of the financial information and synchronise periodically (or during non-peak times) to decrease the time taken to retrieve the required financial information.
  • the software instructions resident at the remote terminal are responsive to the user's behaviours for storing locally (and synchronising that with the central database) the financial information most used or accessed by the user.
  • This retrieval of the updated share prices also includes, in some embodiments, a preliminary assessment of whether or not there is also required a synchronisation of the locally held data with that held in the central database.
  • System 1 is also configured to facilitate the storage of documents, as has been mentioned above.
  • a new document is submitted by the user for storage by activating vertical 56 and selecting the ADD button (not shown).
  • This ADD button is visually rendered identically to button 70, although in vertical 56.
  • the document is able to be of any common format, including PDF, JPEG, MS Word, Bitmap, or other formats.
  • the user is able to categorise the document into one of a number of standard categories, and also to include a title and, optionally, an additional descriptor. This document will be communicated to server 25 and processed for storage within database 16.
  • the processing includes being responsive to one or more characteristics of the document itself (either the form of the document or the content of the document) and the user supplied title and optional descriptor for automatically linking the document with one or more of the entries made in vertical 56 or any other vertical.
  • the document being a dividend statement from one of the companies in which the user holds shares and which is provided in PDF format.
  • server 25 or other server
  • server 25 will identify the document as a dividend statement will automatically create a link between the document and the asset record that defines the relevant shareholding. Accordingly, when later the user activates vertical 54 and then button 66, and then button 67, there will be a link provided to allow the user to retrieve the document. It will be appreciated that the user is also able to retrieve the document via vertical 56.
  • system 1 has been provided access to the user's online bank statements
  • the system is also responsive to line items in the statements for automatically matching payments of invoices and adjusting the relevant assets and liability items.
  • This function also allows "to do" items to be provided to the user if it is determined that an invoice to be paid or a payment to be received is beyond its terms. For example, if a dividend statement has not been received within the normal period - and in particular if it is understood from a third party data feed that a dividend has been paid - then a "to do" item is set for the user to obtain the dividend statement. Moreover, if a dividend statement has been stored and the relevant dividend payment has not timely appeared, that too will result in a "to do” item being generated for the user.
  • Another example of the automatic linking of documents is to encourage the entry of new items that are to be linked to the document. Take the case of the user purchasing a new television and then entering the warranty document into vertical 56. System 1 will allow the storage of that document and will set a prompt ⁇ that is, set a "to do" item - for the user to enter an asset item for the television. Once the user does that, this asset item will be automatically linked to the document. The asset item will be placed in the "Contents" vertical that is nested within vertical 54. This, in turn, will be linked to the contents insurance document that is stored within database 16.
  • the user when the user is provided with a "to do" item to review and renew the contents insurance, the user will be provided with a clear summary of the estimated value of the contents (in terms of the purchase value, the estimated replacement value and the estimated market value). This will be contrasted with the value of the present insurance cover to quickly place the user in a position to make a better financial decision about the insurance.
  • the automatic linking of documents is not limited to the linking of documents to asset items. It is equally applicable to expense items, income items, liability items and action items (that is, "to do" items).
  • the processing of the documents to create automatic linking to items makes use of one or more machine based implementations of text based analysis, optical character recognition, heuristic analysis, semantic analysis, statistical analysis, and others.
  • a system is used to facilitate the storage and retrieval of information.
  • This information includes any information including or instead of financial information.
  • the use of the accordion menu of the invention is also applicable more generally to online interfaces such as that offered by social networking sites, career management sites, membership sites (frequent flyer programs, gym programs, and the like), not-for-profit organisations in which the users are volunteers, amongst others.
  • the accordion menu offers ease of use for the user in terms of selective viewing of already stored information, and ease of storing additional information. This facilitates more engagement between the user and the system and for the most recent information to be entered by the user. That, in turn, also offers considerable advantages to the organisations of which the users are members. For those organisations are able to more actively keep up-to-date with the progress of members and, if appropriate, disseminate ideas and themes more quickly to other members.
  • a client centric holistic financial platform that is member driven. That is, the member is able to enter as little or as much financial information as is desired, and to define the user rules, as desired.
  • the goals, as defined, are specific to the member and do not need to be product driven.
  • Documents can be stored and linked to any Asset, Liability, Income, Expense or Action item.
  • Actions can be linked to any asset, liability, income or expense item.
  • Running the GUI on the remote terminal with a bias to frequently transferring small amounts of financial information with the central data base is opposed to the more common approach of less regularly transferring large amounts of financial information. That is, the embodiments make better use of the available bandwidth by avoiding large data transfers at any given time.
  • web server 25 is optimised for dealing with many small queries of database 16 that are able to be easily queued and executed. For each query is relatively straightforward and based upon the existing context and structure of the accordion menu. Large, complex, and time consuming queries are not required due to the architecture used.
  • system 1 allows a given member to progressively accumulate financial information within the user account that allows for analysis of that information. More significantly, it allows the member to define a specific goal or goals or personal index that is able to be calculated as regularly as required to provide feedback specific to that member about the progress that has been made. This index, in this embodiment, is referred to as the My Prosperity IndexTM of MPITM and is calculated, as required by the member, for that member. Accordingly, system 1 supports many of these indices to accommodate the requirements for each and every member.
  • System 1 also allows multiple data feeds to be obtained for different verticals, or multiple data feeds for a single vertical. This allows the first information to be updated with more current values, notwithstanding that this financial information covers a diverse range of asset types or classes and expenses.
  • data feeds are obtained from share markets to update share values, house price aggregators to update house or other real estate asset values, utilities to update expense values, an employer to update salary values, and so on. This provides the members with a single source of substantially current information at a single site.
  • the data feeds are typically obtained from third party providers and used to update the records in database 16 and, from there, be communicated to the relevant remote terminal.
  • the trigger for such a communication is typically a pull trigger in the form of the activation of the relevant vertical by the user of the remote terminal.
  • use is made exclusively or selectively of push communications. For example, if an asset indicated by the records in database 16 is piece of residential real estate and the feed from a third party database indicates that real estate has been transacted, system 1 is responsive to that to update the relevant records and communicate the update to the associated remote terminal together with an alert to the user. In some embodiments the users are able to configure system 1 to receive specific push alerts.
  • the use of the accordion menu system also reduces the bandwidth requirements of handling what can be large amounts of financial information. That is, the financial information is obtained and served to the relevant remote client terminal only when the relevant vertical is activated. Accordingly, the need for mass communication of data is reduced. Moreover, in those embodiments where advertising is provided, that advertising need only be delivered when the relevant vertical is opened, and not when the page is loading. For those advertisers that wish to only advertise in a given vertical and not any vertical, the accordion menu used in system 1 also provides additional targeting capabilities.
  • a remote client terminal for storing or retrieving financial information
  • it need not be the user who is operating that terminal.
  • it could also be a party authorised by the user, or who is assisting the user operate the terminal.
  • processor may refer to any device or portion of a device that processes electronic data, e.g., from registers and/or memory to transform that electronic data into other electronic data that, e.g., may be stored in registers and/or memory.
  • a "computer” or a “computing machine” or a “computing platform” may include one or more processors.
  • the methodologies described herein are, in one embodiment, performable by one or more processors that accept computer-readable (also called machine-readable) code containing a set of instructions that when executed by one or more of the processors carry out at least one of the methods described herein.
  • Any processor capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken are included.
  • a typical processing system that includes one or more processors.
  • Each processor may include one or more of a CPU, a graphics processing unit, and a programmable DSP unit.
  • the processing system further may include a memory subsystem including main RAM and/or a static RAM, and/or ROM.
  • a bus subsystem may be included for communicating between the components.
  • the processing system further may be a distributed processing system with processors coupled by a network and could be a virtual processing system or a cloud based processing system. If the processing system requires a display, such a display may be included, e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT) display. If manual data entry is required, the processing system also includes an input device such as one or more of an alphanumeric input unit such as a keyboard, a pointing control device such as a mouse, and so forth.
  • the term memory unit as used herein, if clear from the context and unless explicitly stated otherwise, also encompasses a storage system such as a disk drive unit.
  • the processing system in some configurations may include a sound output device, and a network interface device.
  • the memory subsystem thus includes a computer-readable carrier medium that carries computer-readable code (e.g., software) including a set of instructions to cause performing, when executed by one or more processors, one of more of the methods described herein.
  • computer-readable code e.g., software
  • the software may reside in the hard disk, hard drive, memory stick, flash memory card or like device, or may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the RAM and/or within the processor during execution thereof by the computer system.
  • the memory and the, processor also constitute computer-readable carrier medium carrying computer- readable code.
  • a computer-readable carrier medium may form, or be included in a computer program product.
  • the one or more processors operate as a standalone device or may be connected, e.g., networked to other processor(s), in a networked deployment, the one or more processors may operate in the capacity of a server or a user machine in server-user network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer or distributed network environment.
  • the one or more processors may form a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a smart phone or other mobile computing platform, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine.
  • PC personal computer
  • PDA Personal Digital Assistant
  • each of the methods described herein is in the form of a computer-readable carrier medium carrying a set of instructions, e.g., a computer program that is for execution on one or more processors, e.g., one or more processors that are part of web server arrangement.
  • a computer-readable carrier medium carrying computer readable code including a set of instructions that when executed on one or more processors cause the processor or processors to implement a method.
  • aspects of the present invention may take the form of a method, an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects.
  • the present invention may take the form of carrier medium (e.g., a computer program product on a computer-readable storage medium) carrying computer-readable program code embodied in the medium.
  • the software may further be transmitted or received over a network via a network interface device.
  • the carrier medium is shown in an exemplary embodiment to be a single medium, the term “carrier medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions.
  • the term “carrier medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by one or more of the processors and that cause the one or more processors to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present invention.
  • a carrier medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media.
  • Non-volatile media includes, for example, optical, magnetic disks, magneto-optical disks, flash drives, and the like. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory. Transmission media includes coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a bus subsystem. Transmission media also may also take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio wave and infrared data communications.
  • carrier medium shall accordingly be taken to included, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, a computer product embodied in optical and magnetic media; a medium bearing a propagated signal detectable by at least one processor of one or more processors and representing a set of instructions that, when executed, implement a method; and a transmission medium in a network bearing a propagated signal detectable by at least one processor of the one or more processors and representing the set of instructions.
  • Coupled when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limited to direct connections only.
  • the terms “coupled” and “connected,” along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other.
  • the scope of the expression a device A coupled to a device B should not be limited to devices or systems wherein an output of device A is directly connected to an input of device B. It means that there exists a path between an output of A and an input of B which may be a path including other devices or means.
  • Coupled may mean that two or more elements are either in direct physical or electrical contact, or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but yet still co-operate or interact with each other.

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Abstract

A system (1) is provided for allowing members (2) to store respective financial information. System (1) includes a web interface (3) provided by an administrator (4). The interface (3) is accessible by: remote client terminals (5, 6 and 7), that are operated by respective members (2); and remote client terminals (8, 9 and 10), that are operated by respective member guests (11). Interface 3 allows each member guest (11) to enter by the remote terminals (8, 9 and 10) respective unique identifiers. Interface (3) also allows each member (2), via terminals (5, 6 and 7), to enter into a user account (15) for that member (2): financial information; and user rules associated with that member. A database (16) stores identification data (17) indicative of the identifiers, first data (18) indicative of the financial information and second data (19) indicative of the user rules. A processor (21) is selectively responsive to the identification data (17) and the second data (19) for allowing one or more of the member guests (11), via the remote terminals (8, 9 and 10), to access at least some of the first data (18) in the user accounts (15) of members (2).

Description

A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ALLOWING A PLURALITY OF USERS TO STORE INFORMATION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a system and method for allowing a plurality of users to store information.
[0002] Embodiments of the invention have been particularly developed for facilitating users manage their respective financial affairs and will be described hereinafter with particular reference to that application. However it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to such a field of use, and is applicable in broader contexts.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Any discussion of the background art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
[0004] In seeking to better develop financial plans and to implement such plans it is common for individuals and organisations to engage financial planners or other professional advisors to investigate and/or ascertain the relevant past circumstances and work closely with the individual or representatives of the organisation to understanding that future goals are to be targeted.
[0005] One of the major obstacles to this planning is gathering all the required historical financial information and documentation and then attempting to analyse those to arrive at a coherent practical plan. Particularly for individuals it is not unusual for very little documentation to be available, which compromises the quality of any plan developed.
[0006] Often the financial planner or other professional will, after having assisted with the development of the plan not have much contact with the individual or organisation for a year or two, when the need will arise for a review of progress or a review of the plan in light of new circumstances. It is also not unusual for the individual or organisation to still not have good financial documentation to allow an accurate assess of the present financial position or how that came about.
[0007] In response to this some individuals have developed tailored spread sheets or relatively simple databases for tracking transactions and value changes. However, these are time consuming to construct, and often labour intensive to accurately maintain. In addition, there have been developed a number of specialist software packages. Whilst being more complex, these are typically expensive and more suited to use in a larger organisation.
[0008] To assist individuals manage expenses there have been developed a number of software applications such as mobile applications for running on smartphones. These mobile applications tend to be quite simple due to the available screen size and the perceived processing capabilities of such smartphones. Accordingly, the efficacy of such applications is relatively limited and the reporting capabilities typically minimalist.
[0009] There is a need in the art for improved systems and methods for allowing a plurality of users to store respective financial information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.
[001 1] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a system for allowing a plurality of users to store financial information, the system including:
a database for storing data records for the users;
a web interface for receiving requests from remote client terminals operated by the users for delivering respective software instructions to the terminals for instantiation as a graphical user interface (GUI) having an accordion navigation menu, wherein the menu provides a first set of verticals into which the respective user is able to enter financial information; and
a web server that is responsive to the users entering the financial information for accessing the database to update one or more of the data records.
[0012] In an embodiment the financial information is indicative of one or more properties of an asset item, a liability item, an income item, and an expense item and the system includes a processor that is responsive to the data records for: obtaining external data about at least one of the items; and accessing the database to update one or more of the data records.
[0013] In an embodiment each of the verticals in the set of verticals has a collapsed state and an expanded state for preventing and allowing entry of the financial information into the vertical. [0014] in an embodiment, when one of the verticals in the set of verticals is in the expanded state, the remainder of the verticals in the set of verticals are in the collapsed state.
[0015] In an embodiment: each vertical includes a header field and one or more data fields; and the instantiation of each GUI allows the respective user to nominate selectively the header fields to change the state of the corresponding vertical.
[0016] In an embodiment the user terminal is responsive to the software instructions such that, when one of the verticals in the set of verticals is in the expanded state and the header of a second of the verticals is nominated by the user, the states of both the first and the second of the verticals are changed.
[0017] In an embodiment the state of the second of the verticals is changed prior to the change to the state of the first one of the verticals.
[0018] In an embodiment each vertical, in the expanded stale, reveals one or more of: the data fields in that vertical;
one or more nested verticals; and
one or more nested sets of verticals.
[0019] In an embodiment changing the state of a given vertical to the collapsed state results in any vertical nested in the given vertical that is in the expanded state to also change to the collapsed state.
[0020] In an embodiment the menu includes a second set of verticals wherein each vertical in the second set has only an expanded configuration.
[0021] In an embodiment the second set of verticals includes a header vertical that, in use, is rendered above the first set of verticals.
[0022] In an embodiment the second set of verticals includes a footer vertical that, in use, is rendered below the first set of verticals.
[0023] In an embodiment at least one of the verticals in the second set of verticals includes a field that is selectively refreshed.
[0024] In an embodiment at least one of the verticals in the second set of verticals includes a static field.
[0025] In an embodiment the menu defines the GUI.
[0026] In an embodiment the instantiation is limited to the GUI. [0027] In an embodiment the instantiation includes the GUI and one or more other component.
[0028] In an embodiment the respective software instructions include content for the instantiation of the GUI.
[0029] In an embodiment the respective software instructions include structure for the instantiation of the GUI.
[0030] (n an embodiment the terminals are responsive to local software instructions for providing either or both of structure and content for the instantiation of the GUI.
[0031] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a remote client terminal for allowing a user to update data records in a central database that is accessible via a web interface, the terminal including:
a memory module for containing local software instructions;
a processor for accessing the memory and executing the local software instructions to provide a graphical user interfaces (GUI) having an accordion navigation menu, wherein the menu provides a set of verticals into which the user is able to enter financial information; and
a communications interface that is responsive to the processor and the financial information for communicating with the web interface to selectively update one or more of the data records.
[0032] According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a network for allowing a plurality of users to store financial information on a database, the network connecting:
a plurality of remote client terminals operated by respective users, the terminals executing respective software instructions for instantiating a graphical user interface (GUI) having an accordion navigation menu, wherein the menu provides a first set of verticals into which the respective user is able to enter financial information; and
a web server that is responsive to the financial information for accessing the database to update one or more of the data records.
[0033] According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a system for allowing a plurality of users to store and retrieve financial information, the system including: a database for storing data records for the users that is indicative of at least financial information for those users; and
a web interface for receiving requests from remote client terminals operated by the users for delivering respective software instructions to the terminals for instantiation as a graphical user interface (GUI) having an accordion navigation menu, wherein each menu provides a first set of verticals and each remote terminals is responsive to the selection by the user of a vertical in the respective first sets for requesting from the web interface financial information that is derived from one or more of the records for the user.
*
[0034] In an embodiment the users are able to enter financial information into the respective first sets of verticals, and the system includes a web server that is responsive to the users entering the financial information for accessing the database to update one or more of the data records.
[0035] According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a remote client terminal for allowing a user to retrieve financial information derived from data records in a central database that is accessible via a web interface, the terminal including:
a memory module for containing local software instructions; and
a processor for accessing the memory and executing the local software instructions to provide a graphical user interfaces (GUI) having an accordion navigation menu, wherein the menu provides a first set of verticals and the processor is responsive to the selection by the user of a vertical in the first set for requesting from the web interface financial information that is derived from one or more of the records for the user.
[0036] In an embodiment the processor is responsive to the user entering financial information into the verticals in the first set for sending a request to the web interface for one or more of the data records to be updated.
[0037] According to a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided a system for allowing a plurality of users to store information, the system including:
a database for storing data records for the users;
a web interface for receiving requests from remote client terminals operated by the users for delivering respective software instructions to the terminals for instantiation as a graphical user interface (GUI) having an accordion navigation menu, wherein the menu provides a first set of verticals info which the respective user is able to enter information; and a web server that is responsive to the users entering the financial information for accessing the database to update one or more of the data records.
[0038] According to a seventh aspect of the invention there is provided a method for allowing a plurality of users to store financial information, the method including the steps of:
storing data records for the users;
receiving requests from remote client terminals operated by the users for delivering respective software instructions to the terminals for instantiation as a graphical user interface (GUI) having an accordion navigation menu, wherein the menu provides a first set of verticals into which the respective user is able to enter financial information; and
being responsive to the users entering the financial information for updating one or more of the data records.
[0039] According to an eighth aspect of the invention there is , provided a method for allowing a user to update data records in a central database that is accessible via a web server, the method including:
providing a memory module for containing local software instructions;
providing a processor for accessing the memory and executing the local software instructions to provide a graphical user interfaces (GUI) having an accordion navigation menu, wherein the menu provides a set of verticals into which the user is able to enter financial information; and
being responsive to the processor for communicating with the web server to selectively access the records in the database and, in response to the processor and the financial information, update one or more of the data records.
[0040] According to a ninth aspect of the invention there is provided a method for operating a network for allowing a plurality of users to store financial information on a database, the method including the step of connecting:
a plurality of remote client terminals operated by respective users, the terminals executing respective software instructions for instantiating a graphical user interface (GUI) having an accordion navigation menu, wherein the menu provides a first set of verticals into which the respective user is able to enter financial information; and
a web server that is responsive to the financial information for accessing the database to update one or more of the data records. [0041] According to a tenth aspect of the invention there is provided a method for allowing a plurality of users to store and retrieve financial information, the method including the steps of:
storing data records for the users that is indicative of at least financial information for those users; and
receiving requests from remote client terminals operated by the users for delivering respective software instructions to the terminals for instantiation as a .graphical user interface (GUI) having an accordion navigation menu, wherein each menu provides a first set of verticals and each remote terminals is responsive to the selection by the user of a vertical in the respective first sets for requesting financial information that is derived from one or more of the records for the user.
[0042] According to an eleventh aspect of the invention there is provided a method for allowing a user to retrieve financial information derived from data records in a central database that is accessible via a web interface, the method including the steps of:
providing a memory module for containing local software instructions; and providing a processor for accessing the memory and executing the local software instructions to provide a graphical user interfaces (GUI) having an accordion navigation menu, wherein the menu provides a first set of verticals and the processor is responsive to the selection by the user of a vertical in the first set for requesting from the web interface financial information that is derived from one or more of the records for the user.
[0043] According to a twelfth aspect of the invention there is provided a method for allowing a plurality of users to store information, the method including the steps of:
providing a database for storing data records for the users;
receiving requests from remote client terminals operated by the users with a web interface and delivering respective software instructions to the terminals for instantiation as a graphical user interface (GUI) having an accordion navigation menu, wherein the menu provides a first set of verticals into which the respective user is able to enter information; and
being responsive to the users entering the financial information for accessing the database to update one or more of the data records.
[0044] A computer system configured to perform a method according to any one of seventh to twelfth aspects described above. [0045] A computer program configured to perform a method according to any one of seventh to twelfth aspects described above.
[0046] A non-transitive carrier medium carrying computer executable code that, when executed on a processor, causes the processor tq perform a method according to any one of seventh to twelfth aspects described above.
[0047] According to a thirteenth aspect of the invention there is provided a system for allowing a plurality of users to store respective financial information, the system including: an interface provided by a first party, the interface being accessible by a plurality of remote client terminals operated by the users and a plurality of remote client terminals operated by respective second parties, wherein the interface allows: each second party to enter by the remote terminals respective unique identifiers, and
each user, via the user terminals, to enter into a user account for that user: financial information; and user rules associated with that user;
a database for storing identification data indicative of the identifiers, first data indicative of the financial information and second data indicative of the user rules; and
a processor that is selectively responsive to the identification data and the second data for allowing one or more of the second parties, via the remote terminals, to access at least some of the first data in the user account of the users.
[0048] In an embodiment the processor is responsive to the second data for selectively allowing the second parties, via respective remote client terminals, to enter at least some of the first data into the user account of one or more of the users.
[0049] In an embodiment the processor is responsive to the first data and the second data for a given user for generating third data indicative of one or more financial goals for that user.
[0050] In an embodiment the processor is responsive to the first data and the third data for a given user for generating a measure for that user of the progress toward the one or more financial goals for the user.
[0051] In an embodiment the measure is a number.
[0052] In an embodiment the number falls within a predetermined range.
[0053] In an embodiment the predetermined range is from 0 to 100. [0054J In an embodiment the processor is responsive to the measure for generating one or more alerts for the corresponding user.
[0055] In an embodiment the processor is responsive to the third data for generating one or more alerts for the corresponding user.
[0056] In an embodiment the one or more alerts suggest respective actions to the corresponding user.
[0057] In an embodiment the processor is responsive to the first data and the second data for generating a financial report.
[0058] In an embodiment the financial report is indicative of a current financial position for the corresponding user.
[0059] In an embodiment the financial report is indicative of a future estimated financial position for the corresponding user.
[0060] In an embodiment the financial report is stored in the database and is available for later access by the corresponding user.
[0061] In an embodiment the user rules include one or more user commands and the processor is responsive to the user entering that or the user commands for immediately executing the respective user command.
[0062] In an embodiment the user command initiates the generation of the financial report.
[0063] In an embodiment the financial report is selected from a set of available financial reports.
[0064] In an embodiment one or more of the user rules execute according to a predefined schedule.
[0065] In an embodiment the predefined schedule is periodic.
[0066] In an embodiment, when executing, one or more of the user rules generates the financial report.
[0067] According to a fourteenth aspect of the invention there is provided a system for allowing a plurality of users to store respective financial information, the system including: an interface provided by a first party, the interface being accessible by a plurality of remote client terminals operated by the users, wherein the interface allows each user, via one of the user terminals, to enter into a user account: financial information; and user rules associated with that user;
a database for storing first data indicative of the financial information and second data indicative of the user rules; and
a processor that is selectively responsive to the first data and the second data for generating third data indicative of at least one financial goal for the respective users, wherein the third data is stored in the database and able to be accessed by the users via respective client terminals.
[0068] In an embodiment the at least one financial goal is unique to a corresponding user.
[0069] In an embodiment the processor is responsive to the first data and the third data for a given user for generating a measure for that user of the progress toward the at least one financial goal for the user.
[0070] In an embodiment the measure is selected at least in part from one of a finite number of grades.
[0071] In an embodiment the measure is selected from one of three grades.
[0072] In an embodiment the three grades are red, amber and green.
[0073] In an embodiment the measure includes a number.
[0074] In an embodiment the number is expressed as a percentage.
[0075] In an embodiment the number falls within a predetermined range,
[0076] In an embodiment the predetermined range is from 0 to 100.
[0077] In an embodiment the processor is responsive to the measure for generating one or more alerts for the corresponding user.
[0078] In an embodiment the processor is responsive to the third data for generating one or more alerts for the corresponding user.
[0079] In an embodiment the one or more alerts suggest respective actions to the corresponding user.
[0080] In an embodiment the processor is responsive to the first data and the second data for generating a financial report.
[0081] In an embodiment the financial report is indicative of a current financial position for the corresponding user. [0082] In an embodiment the financial report is indicative of a future estimated financial position for the corresponding user.
[0083] In an embodiment the financial report is stored in the database and is available for later access by the corresponding user.
[0084] In an embodiment the user rules include one or more user commands and the processor is responsive to the user entering that or the user commands for immediately executing the respective user command.
[0085] I an embodiment one or more of the user rules execute according to a predefined' schedule.
[0086] In an embodiment the predefined schedule is periodic.
[0087] According to a fifteenth aspect of the invention there is provided a system for allowing a plurality of users having respective user accounts to store financial information, the system including:
a web interface for receiving requests from remote client terminals operated by the users for delivering respective code to the terminals for instantiation as a graphical user interface having an accordion navigation menu with a plurality of verticals; and
a web server that is responsive to both the entry of information by a given user into one or more of the verticals and the corresponding user account for storing in a database first data indicative of the information.
[0088] In an embodiment the first data is indicative of financial information.
[0089] In an embodiment one of the verticals allows users to enter user rules for the respective user accounts and the web server is responsive to both the entry of the user rules by a given user into the one vertical and the corresponding user account for storing in the database second data indicative of the user rules.
[0090] In an embodiment the web service includes a processor that is selectively responsive to the first data and the second data for generating third data indicative of at least one financial goal for the respective users, wherein the third data is stored in the database and able to be accessed by the users via respective client terminals.
[0091] According to a sixteenth aspect of the invention there is provided a system for allowing a plurality of users to store respective financial information, the system including: an interface provided by a first party that is accessible by a plurality of remote client terminals operated by the users, wherein the interface allows each user, via one of the user terminals, to enter into a user account for the user financial information related to one or more of each of the following item types: an asset item; a liability item; an income item; and an expense item;
a database for storing first data indicative of the financial information and executable code for at least one financial calculator each having at least one field with the item type; and
a processor that is responsive to one of the users initiating the calculator via the corresponding client terminal for populating the at least one field of the calculator.
[0092] According to a seventeenth aspect of the invention there is provided a method for allowing a plurality of users to store respective financial information, the method including the steps of:
a first party providing an interface that is accessible by a plurality of remote client terminals operated by the users and a plurality of remote client terminals operated by respective second parties, wherein the interface allows:
each second party to enter by the remote terminals respective unique identifiers, and
each user, via the user terminals, to enter into a user account for that user: financial information; and user rules associated with that user;
storing in a database identification data indicative of the identifiers, first data indicative of the financial information and second data indicative of the user rules; and
providing a processor that is selectively responsive to the identification data and the second data for allowing one or more of the second parties, via the remote terminals, to access at least some of the first data in the user account of the users.
[0093] According to an eighteenth aspect of the invention there is provided a method for allowing a plurality of users to store respective financial information, the method including the steps of:
a first party providing an interface that is accessible by a plurality of remote client terminals operated by the users, wherein the Interface allows each user, via one of the user terminals, to enter into a user account: financial information; and user rules associated with that user; storing in a database first data indicative of the financial information and second data indicative of the user rules; and
providing a processor that is selectively responsive to the first data and the second data for generating third data indicative of at least one financial goal for the respective users, wherein the third data is stored in the database and able to be accessed by the users via respective client terminals.
[0094] According to a nineteenth aspect of the invention there is provided a method for allowing a plurality of users having respective user accounts to store financial information, the method including the steps of:
receiving with a web interface requests from remote client terminals operated by the users and delivering respective code to the terminals for instantiation as a graphical user interface having an accordion navigation menu with a plurality of verticals; and
providing a web server that is responsive to both the entry of information by a given user into one or more of the verticals and the corresponding user account for storing in a database first data indicative of the information.
[0095] According to a twentieth aspect of the invention there is provided a method for allowing a plurality of users to store respective financial information, the method including the steps of:
a first party providing an interface that is accessible by a plurality of remote client terminals operated by the users, wherein the interface allows each user, via one of the user terminals, to enter into a user account for the user financial information related to one or more of each of the following item types: an asset item; a liability item; an income item; and an expense item;
storing in a database first data indicative of the financial information and executable code for at least one financial calculator each having at least one field with the item type; and
providing a processor that is responsive to one of the users initiating the calculator via the corresponding client terminal for populating the at least one field of the calculator.
[0096] According to a twenty first aspect of the invention there is provided a system for allowing a plurality of users to store respective financial information, the system including: an interface provided by a first party, the interface being accessible by a plurality of remote client terminals operated by the users, wherein the interface allows each user, via one of the user terminals, to enter into a user account: financial information about a plurality of types of financial items having respective financial values;
a database for storing first data indicative of the financial information and value data indicative of the financial values; and
a processor that is responsive to the first data for selectively obtaining external information and for updating the value data.
[0097] In an embodiment the processor is responsive to the first data for updating all the value data.
[0098] In an embodiment the processor is responsive to the first data for periodically updating the value data.
[0099] In an embodiment the processor is responsive to the first data for regularly updating the value data.
[00100] According to a twenty second aspect of the invention there is provided a method for allowing a plurality of users to store respective financial information, the method including the steps of:
a first party providing an interface that is accessible by a plurality of remote client terminals operated by the users, wherein the interface allows each user, via one of the user terminals, to enter into a user account: financial information about a plurality of types of financial items having respective financial values;
storing in a database first data indicative of the financial information and value data indicative of the financial values; and
providing a processor that is responsive to the first data for selectively obtaining external information and for updating the value data.
[00101] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment", "some embodiments" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment", "in some embodiments" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments. [00102] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives "first", "second", "third", etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or priority, or in any other manner.
[00103] In the claims below and the description herein, any one of the terms "comprising", "comprised of or "which comprises" is an open term that means including at least the elements/features that follow, but not excluding others. Thus, the term "comprising", when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limitative to the means or elements or steps listed thereafter. For example, the scope of the expression a device comprising A and B should not be limited to devices consisting only of elements A and B. Any one of the terms including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[00104] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 schematically illustrates a system according to an embodiment of the invention for allowing a plurality of users to store respective financial information;
Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of records held within the database of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the relationships between parties involved in the system of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the use case diagram for an unregistered user accessing the website provided by the server of Figure 1 ;
Figures 5, 6 and 7 are schematic representations of respective parts of the use case diagram for a member accessing the website provided by the server of Figure ;
Figure 8 illustrates a snapshot of the GUI rendered on the display of one of the client terminals of Figure 1 ; and
Figure 9 illustrates a snapshot of the GUI of Figure 8 rendered on the display of one of the client terminals and showing a nested set of verticals; and Figure 10 illustrates a snapshot of the GUI of Figure 9 rendered on the display of one of the client terminals and showing a nested set of verticals within the nested set of verticals of Figure 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00105] Described herein are systems and methods for allowing a plurality of users to store respective information, and in particular to store financial information.
[00106] Referring to Figure 1 there is provided a system 1 for allowing a plurality of users, that shall be referred to herein as members 2, to store respective financial information. System 1 includes a web interface 3 provided by a first party that is illustrated as an administrator 4. The interface 3 is accessible by a plurality of remote client terminals 5, 6 and 7, that are operated by respective members 2, and a plurality of remote client terminals 8, 9 and 10, that are operated by respective second parties in the form of member guests 11. Interface 3 allows each member guest 11 to enter by the remote terminals 8, 9 and 10 respective unique identifiers. Interface 3 also allows each member 2, via terminals 5, 6 and 7, to enter into a user account 15 (as best shown in Figure 2) for that member 2: financial information; and user rules associated with that member. A database 16 stores identification data 17 indicative of the identifiers, first data 18 indicative of the financial information and second data 19 indicative of the user rules. A processor 21 is selectively responsive to the identification data 17 and the second data 19 for allowing one or more of the member guests 11 , via the remote terminals 8, 9 and 10, to access at least some of the first data 18 in the user accounts 15 of members 2.
[00107] In this embodiment administrator 4 provides the required software instructions that, when executed, allows the operation of interface 3. However, to operate, administrator 4 makes use of an internet service provider and/or a telecommunications network operator to make interface 3 available and accessible to users 2. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments administrator 4 is also one or more of the internet service provider and the network operator.
[00108] Whilst three members 2 and three member guests 11 are illustrated, this is only indicative. It will be appreciated that system 1 is able to accommodate different numbers of members and member guests, from a small number to a very large number. Moreover, the number of members is typically different from and greater than the number of member guests.
[00109] The members are individuals, however, those individuals are able to have a user account in their respective capacities as individuals, or in their capacities as an officer, employee or other representative of a corporation, a trustee or other legal entity having one or more of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Moreover, the first data in a given user account is able to be for a number of entities. For example, an individual, in addition to having one more of of assets, liabilities, income and expenses in his or her name, is also able to be a trustee of a family trust having different ones of those four items. The items for both entities (and if required additional related entities) are able to be included within the first data for a given user account, and yet with the relevant entity specified.
[00110] Administrator 4 is typically a corporation, but is able to be another form of legal entity such as an unincorporated body, an individual, a trust, or otherwise.
[00111] In some embodiments, methods and functionalities considered herein are implemented by way of a web server 25, as illustrated in Figure 1. In overview, the web server 25 provides the web interface 3. This web interface is accessed by the relevant parties (members 2 and member guests 11) by way of the exemplary client terminals 5 to 10. In overview, members 2 and member guests access interface 3 over the Internet by way of client terminals 5 to 10, which in various embodiments include the likes of personal computers, PDAs, smartphones, tablet computers, internet televisions, cellular telephones, gaming consoles, and other Internet enabled devices.
[001 12] Server 25 includes processor 21 coupled to a memory module 26 and a communications interface 27, such as an Internet connection, modem, Ethernet port, wireless network card, serial port, or the like. In other embodiments distributed resources are used. For example, in one embodiment server 25 includes a plurality of distributed servers having respective storage, processing and communications resources. Memory module 26 includes software instructions 28, which are executable on processor 21.
[00113] Server 25 is coupled to database 16. In further embodiments the database leverages memory module 26.
[00114] In some embodiments web interface 3 includes a website. The term "website" should be read broadly to cover substantially any source of information accessible over the Internet or another communications network (such as WAN, LAN or WLAN) via a browser application running on a client terminal. In some embodiments, a website is a source of information made available by a server and accessible over the Internet by a web-browser application running on a client terminal. The web-browser application downloads code, such as HTML code, from the server. This code is executable through the web-browser on the client terminal for providing a graphical and often interactive representation of the website on the client terminal. By way of the web-browser application, a user of the client terminal is able to navigate between and throughout various web pages provided by the website, and access various functionalities that are provided.
[00115] Although some embodiments make use of a website/browser-based implementation, in other embodiments proprietary software methods are implemented as an alternative. For example, in such embodiments client terminals 5 to 10 maintain software instructions for a computer program product that essentially provides access to a portal via which a framework is accessed (for instance via an iPhone app or the like).
[00116] In general terms, each terminal 5 to 10 includes a processor 31 coupled to a memory module 32 and a communications interface 33, such as an internet connection, modem, Ethernet port, serial port, or the like. Memory module 32 includes software instructions 34, which are executable on processor 31. These software instructions allow each terminal 5. to 10 to execute a software application, such as a proprietary application or web browser application and thereby render on-screen a user interface and allow communication with server 25. This user interface allows for the creation, viewing and administration of profiles, access to the internal communications interface, and various other functionalities.
[00117] Members 2 initially define the respective user accounts which have user names and passwords as the main form of security. Server 25 undertakes other authentication, validation and security checks to provide further levels of certainly to members and other users about the reliability and security of system 1.
[00 18] Once the user account is created, each member 2 is able to request from interface 15, via terminals 5, 6 and 7, a login page. Upon entering the relevant user name and password, the corresponding terminal is served with code from server 25, via web interface 15, that, once instantiated by a browser resident on the client terminal, provides a graphical user interface (GUI) having an accordion navigation menu with a plurality of verticals. That is, the GUI includes a header with the branding of administrator, a footer with legal and other contact information, and in between an accordion structure only. In this embodiment the accordion structure spans the width of the browser and has seven verticals labelled "MyProflle", "MyDocuments", "MyAssets", "MyLiabilities", "Mylncome", "MyExpenses" and "MyAction Items". Upon expanding a vertical to reveal its contents (which initially will be empty fields with suggestions) the member is able to enter into the available fields one or more items of the item types available. Once a field is populated by the member, a further field for another item of the same type is made available. In this way, the member is able to progressively enter details of all his, her and/or an associated entity's assets, liabilities, income, and expenses.
[001 9] In other embodiments a different number of verticals are used.
[00120] It will be appreciated that each of the above verticals each include a plurality of vertical sections that are hierarchically nested with the verticals. That is, a vertical section is a child of a parent vertical. Moreover, the hierarchy also includes vertical item lists that are children to a vertical section parent. The verticals, vertical sections, and vertical item lists are all configured to allow for the accordion navigation style.
[00121] Web server 25 is responsive to the entry of information by the member into one or more of the "MyAssets", "MyLiabilities", " ylncome" and "MyExpenses" verticals (that is, entry within the vertical directly, or in a vertical section or vertical item list within a vertical) and the corresponding user account for storing in database 16 first data 18 indicative of the information entered. It will be appreciated that many of the details for the user account are included in the MyProfile vertical for ease of access and update by the member concerned.
[00122] The MyActions vertical allows members to enter user rules for the respective user accounts, and the web server is responsive to both the entry of the user rules by a given user into the MyActions vertical and the corresponding user account for storing in database 16 second data 19 indicative of the user rules.
[00123] Each member is free to enter as much of as little information as desired. Moreover, the entered information, whilst stored in notionally a common database 16, is stored in a specific user account and, by default, is only accessible by the respective member 2. However, as mentioned above, processor 21 is selectively responsive to the identification data 17 and the second data 19 for allowing one or more of the member guests 11 , via the remote terminals 8, 9 and 10, to access at least some of the first data 18 in the user accounts 15 of members 2. That is, the members are able to enter or otherwise define user rules that are stored as the second data 19 in database 16. These rules are able to be configured to specify that another party, such as member guest 1 1 , is allowed read access to selected, or all, the financial information recorded against the user account by the member. This facilities interaction with member guests 11 that are financial planners, accountants, family members, taxation authorities, auditors and otherwise. It will be appreciated that the member is able to grant different levels of read access tb different member guests, should more than one gain access. It will also be appreciated that the second data is able to define write access to one or more fields of the financial information. For example, a member is able to grant such access to his or her accountant so that finalised taxation returns are able to be stored in the MyDocuments vertical.
[00124] Once the member has entered financial information that member is able to initiate the defining of "financial wants". These financial wants will typically be unique to the member and will be based upon defining a desired financial outcome at a predetermined point in the future. For example, a given member is able to define a future financial want as "To retire from employment in twenty years from today with an investment income of at least $100,000 per annum". Another member, for example, is able to define a future financial want such as "To have zero debt within twelve years." Another example is for a member to define a future financial want such as "Accumulate $ 00,000 within fifteen years to pay for my child's college education."
[00125] These future financial wants are entered by the user and stored in database 16 as one form of user rules and, hence, are part of the second data 19. Processor 21 is responsive to the first data 18 - that is, the financial data that the member has entered - and the second data 19 - that is, the future financial want - for a given member for generating third data 40 indicative of one or more financial goals for that member. The third data will include suggested means for achieving the wants within the specified timeframe based upon the existing financial information. Accordingly, the more comprehensive that information, the more accurate and focussed the suggested means is able to be. In some embodiments the goals include placing periodic payments into one or more asset classes including shares, cash, fixed interest, properly and foreign assets. In other embodiments, the goals are more detailed and recommend specific financial, products or product providers.
[00126] As the member over time works to implement the goals suggested, that member is able to enter further financial information into database 16 via terminal 5, 6, or 7. In other instances, for example, with shares or other assets that are regularly re-valued, the information will be obtained from a data service arranged by administrator 4. In any event, the member is able to initiate the generation of a measure for that member of the progress toward the one or more financial goals. Preferentially, the measure is a number expressed as a percentage performance for the interim period to date. In other embodiments, the measure falls within a range - for example, it being expressed as a percentage. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, given the benefit of the teaching herein, that other forms of measure are also applicable instead of or in addition to that described above. For example, in some embodiments, the measure is selected at least in part from one of a finite number of grades. More particularly, the measure is selected from one of three grades, being red, amber and green.
[00127] In any event, processor 21 is responsive to the measure being below a predetermined level or of a predetermined grade for generating one or more alerts for the corresponding member. This alert is able to be a means for bringing the over or under performance to the attention of the member. However, in some embodiments, particularly in cases a considerable underperformance, the alert also includes a revised suggestion for meeting the goal.
[00128] The members are also able, by way of the user rules, to initiate the generation of one or more financial reports that are selected from the available reports. That is, processor 21 is responsive to the first data and the second data for generating such a financial report. A number of such financial reports are indicative of a current financial position for the corresponding member. However, other reports are indicative of a future estimated financial position for the corresponding member. In any event, the generated reports 41 are stored in database 16 in the relevant user accounts and are available for later access by the corresponding member.
[00129] It will be appreciated that the user rules include two types of rules, those that are executed immediately by processor 21 (or at least quickly queued for execution) so that upon initiation by a member the result of the rule is available quickly. These types of rules are referred to as user commands. A further type of user rule is one that is scheduled for execution at a predetermined time, or contingent upon another action or event occurring. Accordingly all types of user rules are able to initiate the generation of a financial report, although the timing of that generation will be different for the different types of user rules.
[00130] Database 6 also stores executable code for a plurality of financial calculators 42 each having at least one field with an item type selected from the following item types: an asset item; a liability item; an income item; and an expense item. Processor 21 is responsive to one of the members 2 initiating the calculator via the corresponding client terminal 5, 6 or 7, for populating the at least one field of the calculator from the corresponding first data. Accordingly, when a member wishes to explore options for refinancing, alternative investments, or other such arrangements, the relevant fields of the calculator is prepopulated where that data is available within the first data. It will be appreciated lhat the member is able to manually adjust the prepopulated fields, if required. [00131] The embodiments also include a method for allowing members 2 to store respective financial information. The method including the step of the administrator 4 providing an interface 3 that is accessible by: remote client terminals 5, 6 and 7 that are operated by the members; and remote client terminals 8, 9 and 10 that are operated by respective member guests 1 1. The interface allows each member guest 1 1 to enter by the remote terminals 8, 9 and 10 respective unique identifiers and each member, via the user terminals 5, 6 and 7, to enter into user accounts 15 for that member: financial information; and user rules associated with that member. The method also includes the step of storing in database 16 identification data 17 indicative of the identifiers, first data 18 indicative of the financial information and second data 19 indicative of the user rules. Processor 21 is selectively responsive to the identification data 17 and the second data 19 for allowing one or more of the member guests 11 , via the remote terminals 8, 9 and 0, to access at least some of the first data 18 in the user account 15 of the members.
[00132] The embodiments also include a method for allowing members 2 to store and retrieve respective financial information including the step of being responsive to the first data 18 and the second data 19 for generating third data 40 indicative of at least one financial goal for the respective members. Third data 40 is stored in database 16 and able to be accessed - that is, retrieved - by the associated member 2 via respective client terminal 5, 6 or 7.
[00133] The embodiments also include a method for allowing the members having respective user accounts 15 to store financial information. The method including the step receiving with interface 3 requests from remote client terminals 5, 6 and 7 operated by the members and delivering respective code - that is, software instructions - to those terminals for instantiation as a graphical user interface having an accordion navigation menu with a plurality of verticals. Server 25 is responsive to both: the entry of financial information by a given member into one or more of the verticals; and the corresponding user account, for storing in database 16 first data 18. That is, the first data is updated to include revised data or additional data.
[00134] The embodiments also include a method for allowing members 2 to store respective financial information, including the step of allowing each member, via one of the user terminals 5, 6 or 7, to enter into the user account 15 financial information related to one or more of each of the following item types: an asset item; a liability item; an income item; and an expense item. First data 18, indicative of the financial information, is stored in database 16 together with executable code 41 for at least one financial calculator each having at least one field with the item type. Processor 21 is responsive to one of the members initiating one of the available calculators, via the corresponding client terminal 5, 6 or 7, for populating at least one field of the calculator.
[00135] Reference is now made to Figure 3 where there is illustrated exemplarily the relationships between different parties involved with system 1. In this Figure, reference is made to an unregistered user (which is labelled in the Figure as a "user"). For, at a broad level, all visitors to the website initially served by server 25 are referred to as users until identified otherwise. There will be a number of those users who are public domain visitors who are interested in discovering a pro-active, non-intimidating, yet innovative website (such as www.myprosperity.com.au) that is designed to empower such a user with a high if not total ability to control, sustain and improve all current and future aspects of their personal financial life, wealth and direction, that is reliable, relevant and specific to their financial reality, personality and lifelong objectives. This class of user is able to fully utilise, in this embodiment for no charge, a number of functionalities. In other embodiments, time limits are placed upon the free availability of some or all such functionalities. In further embodiments, the functionalities remain freely available while such time as the user is prepared to accept via email or telephone (or other medium) marketing material.
[00136] Those public users who find the platform secure and with potential, and would like to participate, are able to remotely access server 25 to receive sign up and subscription pages. Once completed, and the relevant account set up, these public users become members (also referred to as registered users). That is, a member is a public user that has registered and/or subscribed to the website (from which the relevant webpages are accessed) and created a user account that will allow greater access to the tools and services available on the website hosted by server 25.
[00137] Members are able to be businesses, groups of individuals (for example, a family) or individuals.
[00138] Members get full access to the verticals such as "Net Worth Balance Sheet", "Wealth Check" and "Life Map" which are separate but interlinked product suites and systems. This includes all tools and functions, DIY systems and automated product systems provided by integrated product providers.
[00139] Members are also able to manage and improve their net worth (that is, build their balance sheet), current wealth, current finances, and plan lifelong financial plans and goals. [00140] Members are also permitted in this embodiment to perform any of the tasks performed by users. However, members are not permitted to view or perform any of the tasks performed by JV partner members which are set out in more detail below.
[00141] A further grade of user is referred to as a "member guest". A member guest is a business, individual or other entity that has been invited by a member. A member guest is able to be a designated group of individuals that has been authorised for access by the member and/or to perform activities on behalf of the member. To that end, various degrees in access privileges, privacy and visibility, are able to be set by the member, for full or partial access and to ensure preferred associations can appear invisible to others (with the exception of the website administrator 4).
[00142] A member is able to invite other members to become guest members by either searching the existing website database or by sending auto generated branded email invitations to any user.
[00143] A further type of user is a JVP user, which would typically be a JVP client of administrator 4. The JVP client will often have been invited to login and utilise the website by the administrator, and will have been supplied with marketing information containing details for accessing its website account.
[00144] In some embodiments, JVP users receive access details to a pre-generated website account, already populated with their personal financial JVP details.
[00145] JVP member are users that have been invited and which have engaged the website, realised the membership potential, and that has completed the remaining registration and setup process. It will be appreciated that JVP members gain special functionalities and considerations, such as email marketing, and JV-centric promotions and products, in addition to the standard member product.
[00146] JVP members are businesses, groups of individuals (e.g. a family) and individuals. Additionally, JVP members have access to any of the functionalities that are available to members.
[00147] A JV partner is a business or institution that is considering partnering or licensing the website such that their clients and/or members are provided with the platform for delivering a more holistic approach to financial management and benefits that compliments their business. [00148] A further category of user is a JV partner staff, which is allocated to an individual so that he or she will have the access required to: deliver email marketing to a selected audience; and/or administer content using the website CMS, API and/or web service.
[00149] In this embodiment, a JV partner staff will be able to mine website data to better address member needs, product improvements and establish new solutions.
[00150] A product provider is a commercial client that offers financial benefits in the form of competitive products and discounted services to all members and JV partner members. Product providers are typically businesses with a desire to target the website audience and which complies with the websites business requirements, specifications and conditions. Integration with the business of a product provider is able to achieved via an API, web service or customised development, as specified by the administrators and/or developers (E.g. Feeds, widgets, components, etc.).
[00151] Product providers are also provided access to any of the functionalities performed by users and members.
[00152] A content provider is typically a business that can provide suitable website information and media assets that compliment all members and users. These content providers deliver and/or administer content using the website CMS, API and / or web service, and are responsible for the administration and delivery of suitable website information and media assets within the website.
[00153] A content provider is granted only limited access to the website Content Management System (CMS), but is able to gain access to all the functionalities available to users and members.
[00154] The administrator 4 is a generic term for the entity that is responsible for the operator of system 1. However, in terms of personnel, an administrator is a specific term that refers to a website staff member that manages the daily operation of the business and website. Administrators have access to all functionalities open to users, members and providers. The administrator will also require the ability to manage many other tasks covering: administration; customer relations; ongoing strategy; reporting; etc.
[00155] An accountant is a website staff member that is responsible for managing the websites ongoing financial details. The accountant (or accountants) will require the ability to manage payments to product providers, content providers, payments from members, and account reconciliation. [00156] Reference is now made to Figures 5, 6 and 7 which illustrate use case diagrams for the website hosted by server 25 for all users, including members 2 and member guests 11. The Figures provide detail for unregistered users and members. The portions shown in broken lines are omitted from more streamlined embodiments. To assist the reader better appreciate the Figures, the following description is provided.
Use Case Description
Vertical A specific area of the website that is positioned at the highest level, and contains information architecture, user content, application features, and tools which share a similar nature and subject focus. For example, "My Assets" and "My Liabilities" are two examples of sections within the vertical "My Wealth"
Note: OOP Section is the child of a vertical parent.
Vertical There are usually two or three sections per vertical. A section is 2nd in Section the hierarchy to a vertical and contains information architecture, user (Section) content, application features, and tools which share a similar nature and subject focus. For example, "My Assets" and "My Liabilities" are sections within the vertical "My Wealth" and both are able to be reviewed within a third section (refer to vertical review).
Note: A section is a 00 child o a vertical parent.
Vertical Item Refers to the display of multiple section items that are in their closed List accordion state. Each row displays an item list in its closed state, and
(Item List) these are referred to as list items. The item list is vertically stacked, and designed to represent a "Balance Sheet" metaphor. The item list expands and contracts, similar to an accordion style, thus optimising the available computer screen real-estate.
Vertical List A list item is a single closed item within a sections item list. It displays Item very high-level information and status details relative to the item.
(List Item) When expanded, a list item transforms into a section item, with
detailed information and a variety of tools.
Note: a list item is a 00 child of a vertical section parent.
Section A category is predefined sub-set type relative to the specific section
Category and allows the application to manage user data across the entire
(Category) application. For example, personal income, family benefits and
superannuation are ail categories of the section "My Income" within the vertical "My Cash flow".
Note: a section category is an 00 child of a vertical section parent.
Section Sub A sub category is a predefined sub-set of a category type, and
Category similarly is displayed to users as a set of presets. They are also
(Sub relative to the specific section and allow the application to manage
Category) user data across the entire application. From a Ul perspective this
layer is hidden and can be set from within the users "Details" TAB. For example, ATO benefit payments, child support and social security payments are all sub categories of the category "Family benefits" within the section "My Income" within the vertical "My Cashflow".
Note: a section sub category is an OO child of a section category who is a parent. Unlike the previous 00 hierarchical items, the sub category is only used within sections, when required. Use Case Description
Section Item An item displays a majority of the user's data and tools relative to the (Item) set type and specific 00 path. The 00 path is what identifies and relates this item to the specific section and vertical. A summary displays the identity and current status of the item. The item includes a number of TABs, which helps separate and contain like-kind user data and specific tool sets relative to the section. Some of the features include: receipt input, notes, industry data feeds, item details, document storage, and a variety of planning action tools, such as To- do's, goals, calculators & reviews.
Item Short A short view is the masthead for the item. It displays a summary of
View that particular section item so that the user does not have to reveal
(Short) further details if not required. The short view contains a user defined image, identity and status details of the item, the user owner and also a set of indicators that assist in the communication of the items progress.
Item Details Refers to any items extended input and display details and/or
& Tools functions in conjunction with the above short view. They are always (TAB Item) displayed as TAB"s and usually the same set of TABS are shared across a section or vertical. A TAB view can contain editable forms, saved forms, generic information, further tools (TAB accordion), note recording, receipt recording, document storage and action plan functionality. The TAB item labelled "Details" is set as the default TAB view when first expanding any section item from a closed state.
Note: a TAB item is an 00 child of a section item parent.
Item Indicator Indicators display changes in a user contribution, data and
(Indicator) performance. These are displayed with visual cues to enhance the user experience (UX) and communication of the user's current situation. Indicators are usually positioned far right of the short view within a section item. Indicators can also appear as the "Review Date" and at the top level of each vertical within the very first accordion row. For example, the current indicators include: vertical indicator which displays review status, short view indicators which display: the rate of change since the last update; and the current number of items added within all sections.
Modal Dialog Dialogs are used throughout the site to display initial input forms and (Dialog) when editing or assigning documents and notes to Records and
Details TAB items. A Modal Dialog is when the remaining area of the browser window is treated (darker or lighter) so that the dialog in focus is easier to experience.
Wizard Wizards are used throughout the website to assist users with complex tasks, that require multiple steps for an outcome, and when a variety of input requirements are necessary without the need for vertical scrolling. The wizard model is intentionally optimised to display a consistent template throughout the website. This assists users by keeping the input and setup experience as simple and as (ess intimidating as possible.
Action An action is usually performed within the "Actions" TAB item located within a section item. Actions also take place within the "My Planner" vertical. An action allows users to perform planning and to schedule oriented tasks. For example, the setup or review of a "To-Do item", "Goal item" or "Review Reminder" within any "Section Item" is Use Case Description
classified as an action.
Avatar Usually accompanies an alias (see next entry in this table), ft is a (Image) small image that identifies the member or entity ichnographically. In addition, the website hosted by server 25 uses avatars to visually display each section item throughout the website, in the form of a thumbnail sized image. Users can add their own or select from a preset library.
Alias A fabricated name for use and/or display within an online space, and allows for a user's true identity to remain anonymous.
User Strictly: a website browser for browsing the hosted website, or an identified machine running the browser. Typically taken to relate to an individual with the username and password provided.
Member A registered website browser that has successfully created a user account.
Entity Is a third party product or service that requires membership rights
(similar to a human member). Entities are usually self-supported financial entities with unique legal rights. An entity within the website of the embodiment described above holds similar rights to a member. For example, a company, trust or superannuation fund are able to be registered as an entity.
Group A group constitutes all existing members, entities and guest accounts Account that revolve around the "Group Owner" or the original account creator.
A group can be a family, a de-facto couple, business partners, even a single user with multiple entities. A group can be flagged to filter website data were ownership is spread across all members and/or entities throughout the website, or when reference is required to everybody associated with your account. For example, the group "Jones Family" includes "John Jones" (father), "Jane Jones" (mother), "Jill Jones" (daughter), "Jack Jones" (son), "Jones Trust" (entity), "Jones Super Fund" (entity), and "Accountant XYZ" (guest member).
Group Owner A member who setup the original primary account. A group owner has additional account rights & privileges that effect the group account.
Member A guest account is used when a group or member within an existing Guest group requires a third party user to obtain access to their financial information with restricted visiting rights, access privileges or conditions. A member can specify the guest access privileges requirements & rights. For example, an email template is provided to allow the member to make an initial communication with the proposed member guest. The guest clicks on link and is required to complete three step signup. The guest is now an official member as well, no different to other members with the exception of having an extra tab within "My Group - My Connections". The guest member can click on a listed member that had originally invited the guest and the web view shifts into the source members perspective and relative the access privileges and rights that were specified.
Venture Commercial business or partner interested in licensing "My Prosperity" Partner as an added value service to their existing client base.
(VP) Use Case Description
My Profile My Profile is a vertical within the website which has a specific focus on (Profile) member, entity and the member group website accounts and personal requirements that the remaining areas of the website application require to function holistically and yield greater performance, accuracy function in the most optimal manner. Group, account, entity and personal details, as well as sections that personal and sections which offer practical tools outside of the "My Prosperity" cashflow, wealth, protection and planning tools.
My Details View the member's account, personal and private details.
My View and enter current employment details, and access past history.
Employment Notes and documents relating to your employment can be uploaded and attached. There is also a resume builder that allows for the easy construction of a resume from the collected data about the
employment history.
My Education View and enter current education details, and access past history.
Notes and documents relating to your education can be uploaded and attached.
My Contacts View and enter contact details for fellow members, guests, and
external contacts.
My View / send messages to fellow members or staff.
Messages
My Tax View and enter documents and notes related to the generation and management of tax reporting requirements for each financial year. The collected documents then form an archive of past tax data.
My View and enter any financial documents. All documents entered
Documents throughout the site can be rapidly accessed.
My News View industry related user targeted news feeds.
My Profile View a summary of all entered member and entity profiles information. Review Allows for the setting of member privileges.
My Cashflow View and enter data regarding your incoming and outgoing cashflow. (Cashflow) This consists of two major categories, income and expenses. Within each, users can enter data within several common categories, entering notes, documents, To-do items, and setting up data feeds. The end result is a balance sheet list of income vs. Expenses resulting in a net cashflow view.
My Wealth View and enter data regarding your assets and liabilities. Within each (Wealth) top-level category (assets and liabilities), users can add valuations, notes, documents, to-do items and set up data feeds. The end result is a balance sheet list of assets vs. liabilities showing net worth.
My Protection View and enter details regarding insurance and protection products. (Protection) Allows for ease of update and maintenance of insurance values. My
Wills and My Legal Documents allow the collection and storage of any other investment or lifestyle arrangements.
My Planner This is the scheduling manager of the website. It allows the user to (Planner) plan their future financial goals and set related reminders for the
progress tracking of their goals. The addition of intuitive wizards aids the user in calculating the best strategy to achieve your desired Use Case Description
scenario.
My Calendar Shows an overview of the reminders and goals for your current plans in a calendar form.
My ToDo's Shows an overview of the most current and urgent to dos, goals and reminders at a glance.
My Goals Shows a complete list of all open goals, and reminders that have been assigned to you. Goals may be linked to items throughout the site.
My Allows the exploration and generation of various financial scenarios to
Calculators best determine what best suits your current situation. Such calculators include, for example, superannuation and savings. Calculations can be easily saved as goals for future reference.
My Reports Allows the viewing and generation of any report for any part of the
site, including cashflow, wealth, and other reports.
[00157] System 1 is applicable for use by members from a wide variety of socioeconomic and age groups and is available for partial use or full use by any given member. For example, if a member simply wished to track his or her expenses, the use of system 1 could be limited to that. However, where a member makes use of substantially all the functionality, that too is possible and highly advantageous. It is also possible for a user to start with a minimalist use and gain value from system 1. That is, a given user does not have to have entered all the available financial information for that individual before benefit can be obtained in terms of updating, retrieval, use of calculators, and availability of offers etc. This allows members to use system 1 at a level with which they are comfortable and capable, and then to vary that use with time as familiarity with system 1 grows and the benefits become more apparent. That is, system 1 is configured to meet the needs of the individuals, wherever those individuals happen to be in terms of financial organisation and planning sophistication. Moreover, each of the members is provided with one or more measure about that member's progress toward one or more financial goals. These goals are able to be at least in part explicitly defined by the individual members. Where the member does not define such goals, system 1 imputes such a goal from the state of the data records for the member and other indicators or the behaviour of the member. This provides a mechanism for educating and encouraging the members over time to be more cognisant of his or her financial circumstance and the need for ongoing vigilance and diligence in progressing toward sensible financial goals. More detail about this functionality is provided in a co-pending PCT application filed on 14 February 2013 in the name of the same applicant as the present application, and the disclosure in that copending application is incorporated herein in its entirety by way of cross reference. [00158] Given the above, the characteristics of members and users of system 1 include:
• Inexperienced individuals just starting to care about their financial wellbeing and who require assistance.
• Families attempting to better their current financial situation and look to the future.
• Career driven professionals looking for new opportunities to gain income.
• Financial savvy entrepreneurs, wanting to optimise their wealth and better administer the flows of information.
• Individuals approaching retirement.
• Retirees wanting to preserve their finances for as long as possible and experience their objectives.
• Small and medium enterprises requiring a cost-effective, secure, backed- up and flexible record keeping system.
[00159] Product partners are generally businesses with appropriate products and services that they wish to sell on the website served by server 25.
[00160] The user interface (Ul), being delivered in the accordion format, provides both compact spatial presentation of selective data and a simplicity and ease of use. Moreover, it allows the main buttons to be large and logically placed with easy to absorb iconography, whilst the other menus offer all of the other navigation options with easy to use drop down menus that are manoeuvrable.
[00161] The website hosted by server 25 is designed and developed with full scalability in mind to best ensure system 1 will be future proof whilst also allowing for any further expansion both within the GUI and architecturally. The website GUI has been developed utilising HTML, and Microsoft .NET technologies.
[00162] There are two core GUI environments within the website, the public front end GUI, and the secure administrative portal, which will also act as a high-end Content Management System (CMS) GUI.
[00163] Technologically and visually the website application and interface have been designed so that the internet display and functionality is compatible for most available browsers. For example, the earlier versions of system 1 were designed for specific compatability with Microsoft Internet Explorer browsers and Mozilla (Firefox) browsers operating on Microsoft OS platforms, as long as the user views the site using IE version 7, 8 and 9 (approximately 45% of the online browser market at that time). However, system 1 is also suitable for use with recent versions of most browsers, including IE 10, the latest version of Safari, Firefox or Chrome. In some embodiments this is thought sufficient for the above browsers cover 95% of the internet browsing market. However, in further embodiments, the remaining browsers and OS platforms (such as Apple's OS X and Safari) are also explicitly accommodated for browsing compliancy. System 1 is also configured for use with Microsoft Windows powered mobile devices. Mobile browsers are also accommodated by avoiding technologies such as flash and excessive graphic elements to ensure that users viewing the site on a smart mobile device such as an iPhone or a device using the Android operating system may still experience the site without major impairment. Some minor functionality and appearance differences are required, as would be known to those skilled in the art.
[00164] The above mentioned browsers are also required for CSS. This is due to the required DHTML (Dynamic Hyper Text Mark-up Language) and JavaScript technology, which is different between browsers and versions.
[00165] Current market statistics state that majority of web users globally have the technology to successfully operate screen resolutions of at least 1024 x 768 pixels and with at least 16 bit colour (thousands of colours), which allows greater viewing area and better quality of content display. The website of the embodiment has been built with scalability in mind and for successful full screen viewing of any larger resolution ratios (that is, 1024 x 768 and above). Using the accordion layout, compression techniques, scripting technology and efficient naming conventions, the file and page sizes are kept down to minimum levels, allowing quick and efficient download speed.
[00166] Microsoft ASP .NET (Version 4.0) application server is at the time of writing an industry standard platform for delivery of real world Web applications. ASP .NET has been used in the creation and maintenance of all dynamic content of the embodiment and, in addition, to support useful features such as sending email straight from the website.
[00167] Microsoft's SQL (2008 R2) (Structured Query Language) Server will be used as the storage platform for the site's data structure and dynamic content. MS SQL is, at the time of writing, an industry standard database-serving platform that provides a dynamic website with powerful storage, retrieval and searching capabilities. A robust database engine such as MS SQL is used to support a large number of users and/or store a large amount of information and still remain responsive enough not to detract from the user's experience. [00168] Web server 25 is a Microsoft IIS Version 7.0 web server for the application to function in Microsoft .NET.
[00169] Reference will now be made to Figure 1 and Figure 8, where the latter illustrates a snapshot of the GUI 50 rendered on the display of one of the client terminals. As shown shown in Figure 1 , system 1 includes database 16 for storing data records for the users, and web interface 3 for receiving requests from the remote client terminals operated by the users for delivering respective software instructions to the terminals for instantiation as GUI 50. Returning to Figure 8, GUI 50 has an accordion navigation menu 51 having a generally rectangular boundary 52 and a first set 53 of five verticals 54, 54, 55, 57 and 58. All the structure and content of GUI 50 (including the first set 53 of verticals) is disposed within boundary 52, where that structure and content is progressively revealed in accordance with the specific detail of the user's records, and upon selection by the user. Accordingly, the initial presentation of GUI 50, where all the verticals 54 to 58 are in a collapsed state as shown - is extremely compactly presented and relatively generic. This allows GUI 50 to be easily instantiated on a wide range of internet enabled devices including smartphones and other portable internet enabled devices. Moreover, as there is no initial need to present substantive content, the volume of data needed at the initiation of GUI 50 is quite low. Moreover, in some embodiments the structural information to construct GUI 50 is held locally on the remote terminal to decrease the time taken to instantiate the GUI.
[00170] For remote terminals such as personal computers or laptop computers, GUI 50 is constructed from software instructions written in the HTML language and which are downloaded from web server 25 to the remote terminal upon request. For remote terminals such as mobile devices GUI 50 is constructed as an application framework that is held locally on the device, and which may be proprietary software of another party.
[00 71] In this embodiment GUI 50 includes, in addition to the first set of verticals, a fixed vertical 60 that is displayed above set 53 and which has an array of four subcomponents 61 , 62, 63 and 64 which are displayed side by side. Before instantiating GUI 50, the remote terminal makes a request to server 25 to obtain any general information, help information, advertising information, and any summary financial information that is displayed in the sub-components of vertical 60. In particular, subcomponent 62 provides an indication of the user's network by providing an updated summary of: the value of the total assets indicated within the user's records in the database; the value of the total loans or other liabilities indicated within the user's records in the database; and an indication of the difference between these. In the Figure the first two are shown as the fields titled "Own" (with a populated value of $100,966) and "Owe" (with a populated value of $30,000). The difference between these is more prominently rendered in larger text (and is populated with the value "$70,966). All the titles and values are colour coded to indicate the nature of the value.
[00172] It will be appreciated that each of verticals 54 to 58 are available for the respective user to enter financial information. This will be described in more detail below. For the time being it will be noted that once such financial information is entered by the user, it is communicated to web server 25 (via interface 3) so that one or more of the data records are able to be updated. In this embodiment the communication with server 25 occurs once the financial information is entered into the remote terminal. In other embodiments, the newly entered financial information is cached on the remote terminal and later use to update the records on the central database.
[00173] Each of the verticals in the first set 53 includes a horizontally displayed title bar that includes on the left hand side a major heading that is indicative of the financial information relevant to the vertical, and on the right hand side a more specific indication of that financial information. In this embodiment, the title bar for verticals 54, 55, 56, 57 and 58 include the headings "mywealth", "mycashflow", "myprotection", "myplanner" and "myprofile" respectively. Whilst the structure of these verticals is available and is instantiated, the content associated with those verticals is not yet accessed and was not part of the software instructions that were provided by server 25 to the remote terminal.
[00174] When initially instantiated, and as shown in Figure 8, all the title bars are substantially identical in dimensions, and are rendered with fill of the same colour and with headings of the same text.
[00175] If the user wishes to view the available financial information already contained within a given vertical, or to enter additional financial information into a vertical, the user activates the vertical. This is typically done by clicking on the associated header bar so that the vertical moves from the collapse state to an expanded state. For example, if the user wishes to view the stored financial information about his or her assets and liabilities, the cursor is moved over the header bar entitled "mywealth" and a left mouse click is performed. This results in the accordion menu progressing from the configuration shown in the screens ot of Figure 8 - where all the verticals in the first set are in the collapsed state - to the configuration shown in the screenshot of Figure 9 - where vertical 54 has progressed to the expanded state. [00176] It will be appreciated that different user terminals will have different input devices for allowing the respective user to activate a given vertical. Examples of such input devices include, whether real or virtual: a keyboard, a mouse, a track-pad, a touch screen, or other equivalents.
[00177] In Figure 9, vertical 54 is shown in the expanded state to allow the user to enter financial information. However, before turning to that, it will be noted that in the expanded state vertical 54 reveals the financial information that is already in the central database for this user and which is relevant to the items contained within the vertical. This financial information is retrieved from the database upon activation of vertical 54. That is, the financial information will only be sought if the user indicates that there is a desire to activate the vertical Otherwise the already stored information will not be requested. (As mentioned above, in other embodiments some or all of the already stored information is held locally at the remote terminal).
[00178] Only one of the verticals in the first set 53 is in the expanded state at any given time. When a vertical is in the expanded state the header bar is rendered with a fill of a distinct colour to the colour of the header bars for the other verticals in the first set.
[00179] If, when a first of the verticals is in the extended state, the user clicks on a header bar for a second of the verticals, the first vertical will initially move to the collapsed state and then the second of the verticals will progress to the expanded state. This will conceal any content- or structure that is within the first of the verticals, and reveal the structure and content within the second of the verticals.
[00180] In other embodiments, the order of the progression of the first vertical and the second vertical between the states is other than stated above. For example, in one embodiment the toggling of the verticals overlaps or occurs simultaneously. In other embodiments, the toggling of the state of the second vertical occurs prior to the toggling of the state of the first vertical.
[00181] Referring specifically to Figure s, the five line items illustrated in vertical 54 collective comprise a second set of verticals within vertical 54. This second set of verticals is arranged as a nested accordion menu within vertical 54, with each vertical in the second set being movable between a collapsed state, as shown, to an extended state. A maximum of one of the verticals in the second set is in the extended state at any given time. In short, vertical 54 is a parent vertical, and the five verticals within the second set are child verticals having vertical 54 as their parent. [00182] Should the user wish to obtain further details about, say, the listed shares, the user selects virtual button 66 (typically by clicking a cursor on that button) to progress this vertical to the expanded state, as shown in Figure 10. In response, the remote terminal requests the further relevant financial information from web server 25. Once that financial information has been received it is revealed to the user in the form of a third set of vertical nested within the second set of verticals. In this embodiment the further financial information in the third set of verticals includes:
• The code used to identify each holding of shares by the relevant stock exchange.
• The present price (or delayed price) of those shares as obtained from a third party database.
• The quantity of each share holding, the relative percentage movement of the share price since the last opening of trade of the relevant exchange colour coded for an increase or decrease.
• An up/down indicator.
• A dollar amount showing the dollar value of the individual share holdings.
[00183] In other embodiments additional or other financial information is provided.
[00184] It will be appreciated that the third set of verticals is a child to the second set of verticals.
[00185] The user is able to ascertain further information about the individual shareholding by clicking a further button (for example, a button 67 for the ASX shares) that is displayed on the right hand side of the relevant heading bar. This will result in a further request being sent to web server 25, and the return of further financial information including the date, time and share price for any transactions involving ASX: This can include both purchase and sale transactions, agent's commissions and/or fees, and other information such as dividend payment dates and amounts. In this embodiment this is final level to which detail is available. However, in other embodiments additional nested verticals are provided.
[00186] Referring back to Figure 9, if the user wishes to add financial information into vertical 54 that occurs by the user clicking on a virtual button 70. In response, a new record is formed within vertical 54 in which the user specifies a type - asset or liability - a descriptor - for example, listed shares, collectables, contents etc - a quantity and/or a monetary value. Once the required fields are completed (and the fields are often different for different types) the user clicks on a virtual button marked OK (not shown). In response, the remote terminal conveys the newly entered financial information to web server 25 which, in turn, updates database 16 such the data records for the user are updated to reflect all the available financial information including the earlier available financial information and the newly entered financial information. Where the newly entered financial information relates to a listed share, for example, web server 25 will communicate to the remote terminal financial information in the form of the most recently available pricing from a third party database. Where the newly entered financial data is a residential property, web server 25 will communicate to the remote terminal financial information in the form of third party data about characteristics of the property including an image, recent sales prices, owner details and other the information.
[00187] It will be appreciated that the newly entered financial information is also able to be an indication of the disposal of an asset or the settlement of a liability.
[00188] Other third party databases that are accessed by system 1 include: a payroll database for the user; utility providers; financial institutions, including banks, credit unions, leasing companies, mortgage providers, professional fund managers, funds management platforms, credit card providers and the like; insurance providers, legal advisors, and others.
[00189] GUI 50 allows the relevant user to easily and progressively build toward having a comprehensive store of financial information. Even with minimal use - that is, without having to have all the details of all the user's assets, liabilities, expenses and income stored within the records on the central database - the user is able to gain considerable advantage in keeping an overview of the matters, and being able to access the detail as and when required. Moreover, with only a small amount of effort over time the user is able to incrementally gain a greater understanding of his or her financial position and, hence, be better disposed to make better financial decisions. This aspect of the embodiments is further enhanced with the availability of a goal setting functionality and the provision of a financial health score. This is described in more detail in the cross reference PCT application referred to above.
[00190] The implementation of the accordion menu has been found to facilitate use of the GUI by user with both a low and a high level of computer skills. For at any given time there is a relatively small amount of content displayed to the user, making it easier to understand the content and to quickly put it in context due to the nested arrangement of the accordion menu. This advantage is further enhanced through the providing the user with the ability to directly enter new financial information into a vertical that has been selected and which has revealed already the existing content (that is, financial information) relevant to that vertical. This provides for less errors in entry of the new financial information, for the user has and is being provided with immediate context.
[00191] Accordingly, the use of the accordion menu for both display and entry of financial information provides for an improved user experience. It also has the advantage of staggering the requirement to dejiver the financial information between server 25 and the remote devices. For any given movement of the financial information will typically be small, although happening frequently for those user who navigate the accordion menu extensively. It has been found that user more often than not access the GUI to either check one or two pieces of the existing financial information, or to enter in specific new financial information. Far less often will a user wish to spend time to navigate most of the accordion menu.
[00192] The financial information is indicative of one or more properties of the item to which it is referring. In this embodiment there are many different item types available, including an asset item, a liability item, an income item, and an expense item. There are also other available items, such as documents (wills, insurance policies, legal advice) which are displayed in vertical 56. Further item types include goals and planning items, which are displayed within vertical 57. Within this vertical there are also calculators that are available to be pre-populated based upon the financial information stored within the database. According, when a calculator is selected and actuated by the user, there is no need to transmit all the required financial information but, rather, typically only the results (and in some instances a supporting summary). This further reduces high instantaneous bandwidth requirements when communicating the financial information between the remote terminal and server 25.
[00193] The operation of the verticals to toggle between states has been described above. In broad terms, each vertical is included within one set, and each vertical is able to be a parent to a child set of verticals. That is, the child set is nested within the parent and is not revealed until the parent vertical is toggled to the expanded state. Each vertical includes a header field (having a header bar and text) and one or more data fields for displaying, once revealed, financial information that is obtained from or at least synchronised with, the data records stored in database 16. It will be appreciated that the user nominates selectively the header fields to change the state of the corresponding vertical. If the nominated vertical is in the collapsed state and there is another vertical in the same set already in the expanded state, then the states of both the verticals toggles. Moreover, if a child vertical is in the expanded state and the state of the parent vertical is toggled to the collapsed state, the child vertical also toggles to the collapsed state. In some embodiments the GUI is configured to remember the last state of each child vertical when the parent vertical for those child verticals was last toggled to the collapsed state. This allows the child verticals to be returned to that last state when the parent vertical is next toggled to the expanded state.
[00194J In the expanded state, the relevant vertical reveals one or more of:
• The data fields in that vertical;
• One or more nested verticals; and
• One or more nested sets of verticals.
[00195] GUI 50 includes an accordion menu having a set of verticals in which each vertical in the set has only an expanded state. In the present embodiment the set includes only a single vertical, vertical 60. Also included is a further set of verticals having a single fixed vertical in the form of vertical 70 that include hypertext links to security information, terms and conditions for the use of GUI 50 and system 1 , privacy informationt and the like. If those links are selected, the relevant Information is requested from server 25 and instantiated in a separate window or frame so that GUI 50 remains available once the separate window or frame is dismissed,
[00196] The information in vertical 70 is static - in that the data fields display fixed information. For verticals 53, the information is expandable by the user and will change over time. A further type of information is contained within vertical 60, and in particular in component 62. In this case, the financial information in the relevant field is selectively updated. For example, that information is updated upon instantiation, and periodically during use of GUI 50, or after a timeout during use of GUI 50. In other embodiments other update conditions or schedules are used.
[00197] To maintain a compact display, GUI 50 is defined in totality by the accordion menu. In other embodiments the GUI includes components outside the accordion menu, although this is not preferential more mobile remote terminals. Accordingly, in some embodiments where use is made of such external components, system 1 is responsive to the characteristics of the remote terminal in determining whether or not such components should be included within the software instructions that are provided to that terminal.
[00198] The embodiments of the invention use the accordion structure to take advantage of the increased processing power available not only typically desktop computers, but also on mobile devices such as smart phones. This structure provides for a compact and consistent display of the relevant information and allows for ease of input of new financial information by the users. That is, if a user makes a new share purchase, or incurs a new expense, it is very easy to have the corresponding financial information entered into the relevant field of the relevant vertical at the time, or later. This is particularly suitable to mobile devices, both in terms of the compact nature of the GUI, and the ability to easily enter the new financial information.
[00199] While the embodiments are making use of a "thick client" to gain the benefits of the accordion structure, it will also be appreciated that the bandwidth requirements are also being managed by only having the already stored financial information for the user supplied to the remote terminal should the user activate the relevant vertical (or sub- vertical) in which that information is contained. In some embodiments the remote terminals cache a portion of the financial information and synchronise periodically (or during non-peak times) to decrease the time taken to retrieve the required financial information. For example, in some embodiments the software instructions resident at the remote terminal are responsive to the user's behaviours for storing locally (and synchronising that with the central database) the financial information most used or accessed by the user. So if a user regularly views the value of his or her share portfolio, then the relevant financial information is retained on the remote terminal, and only the updated share prices (which is also financial Information) needs to be sent to the remote terminal upon the relevant vertical being actuated by the user to move from the collapsed state to the expanded state. This retrieval of the updated share prices also includes, in some embodiments, a preliminary assessment of whether or not there is also required a synchronisation of the locally held data with that held in the central database.
[00200] System 1 is also configured to facilitate the storage of documents, as has been mentioned above. A new document is submitted by the user for storage by activating vertical 56 and selecting the ADD button (not shown). This ADD button is visually rendered identically to button 70, although in vertical 56. The document is able to be of any common format, including PDF, JPEG, MS Word, Bitmap, or other formats. The user is able to categorise the document into one of a number of standard categories, and also to include a title and, optionally, an additional descriptor. This document will be communicated to server 25 and processed for storage within database 16. The processing includes being responsive to one or more characteristics of the document itself (either the form of the document or the content of the document) and the user supplied title and optional descriptor for automatically linking the document with one or more of the entries made in vertical 56 or any other vertical. Take the example of the document being a dividend statement from one of the companies in which the user holds shares and which is provided in PDF format. The processing of this document by server 25 (or other server) will identify the document as a dividend statement will automatically create a link between the document and the asset record that defines the relevant shareholding. Accordingly, when later the user activates vertical 54 and then button 66, and then button 67, there will be a link provided to allow the user to retrieve the document. It will be appreciated that the user is also able to retrieve the document via vertical 56.
[00201] Other examples of automated linking of documents includes:
• Linking an insurance policy to the asset or income items being insured.
• Linking a utility bill to the property it relates to.
• Linking a receipt to an action item concerning the preparation of a tax return.
[00202] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, now having the benefit of the teaching herein, that many other links are able to be made. It will also be appreciated that a single document is able to be linked to multiple items.
[00203] In those embodiments where system 1 has been provided access to the user's online bank statements, the system is also responsive to line items in the statements for automatically matching payments of invoices and adjusting the relevant assets and liability items. This function also allows "to do" items to be provided to the user if it is determined that an invoice to be paid or a payment to be received is beyond its terms. For example, if a dividend statement has not been received within the normal period - and in particular if it is understood from a third party data feed that a dividend has been paid - then a "to do" item is set for the user to obtain the dividend statement. Moreover, if a dividend statement has been stored and the relevant dividend payment has not timely appeared, that too will result in a "to do" item being generated for the user.
[00204] Another example of the automatic linking of documents is to encourage the entry of new items that are to be linked to the document. Take the case of the user purchasing a new television and then entering the warranty document into vertical 56. System 1 will allow the storage of that document and will set a prompt ~ that is, set a "to do" item - for the user to enter an asset item for the television. Once the user does that, this asset item will be automatically linked to the document. The asset item will be placed in the "Contents" vertical that is nested within vertical 54. This, in turn, will be linked to the contents insurance document that is stored within database 16. Accordingly, when the user is provided with a "to do" item to review and renew the contents insurance, the user will be provided with a clear summary of the estimated value of the contents (in terms of the purchase value, the estimated replacement value and the estimated market value). This will be contrasted with the value of the present insurance cover to quickly place the user in a position to make a better financial decision about the insurance.
[00205] The automatic linking of documents is not limited to the linking of documents to asset items. It is equally applicable to expense items, income items, liability items and action items (that is, "to do" items).
[00206] The processing of the documents to create automatic linking to items makes use of one or more machine based implementations of text based analysis, optical character recognition, heuristic analysis, semantic analysis, statistical analysis, and others.
[00207] Although the embodiments described above have focussed on financial information, a system according to an embodiment of the invention is used to facilitate the storage and retrieval of information. This information includes any information including or instead of financial information. For example, the use of the accordion menu of the invention is also applicable more generally to online interfaces such as that offered by social networking sites, career management sites, membership sites (frequent flyer programs, gym programs, and the like), not-for-profit organisations in which the users are volunteers, amongst others. For the accordion menu offers ease of use for the user in terms of selective viewing of already stored information, and ease of storing additional information. This facilitates more engagement between the user and the system and for the most recent information to be entered by the user. That, in turn, also offers considerable advantages to the organisations of which the users are members. For those organisations are able to more actively keep up-to-date with the progress of members and, if appropriate, disseminate ideas and themes more quickly to other members.
[00208] Advantages of the embodiments include:
• A client centric holistic financial platform that is member driven. That is, the member is able to enter as little or as much financial information as is desired, and to define the user rules, as desired. The goals, as defined, are specific to the member and do not need to be product driven.
• Documents can be stored and linked to any Asset, Liability, Income, Expense or Action item.
• Actions can be linked to any asset, liability, income or expense item.
• Accordion navigation is provided over the entire application. Intuitive integration with external product/service driven data feeds that are linked to multiple verticals. That is, the data feeds provide updated financial information for multiple asset types, multiple expense types, and multiple income types.
Allows the inclusion of a variety of practical everyday calculators that are able to be prepopulated.
Easily designed to include visual indicators providing instant feedback to members of his or her or its current financial health.
Allows for ease of operation, even by users having a low IT sophistication, as the accordion structure provides clear context for the already stored financial information and for the entry of new financial information.
The ability for the user to enter financial information directly into a vertical of an accordion menu.
The ability to display stored financial information directly to a user from a vertical of an accordion menu.
Managing the transfer of financial information more on a "as needs basis" rather than on a "there is a chance it may be needed" basis.
Running the GUI on the remote terminal with a bias to frequently transferring small amounts of financial information with the central data base. This is opposed to the more common approach of less regularly transferring large amounts of financial information. That is, the embodiments make better use of the available bandwidth by avoiding large data transfers at any given time.
Maintaining the content within a single structure, where the structure and content are progressively revealed without having to reload the structure. That is, there is no need to reload a page, simply to gain the content (and any additional structure information) to allow the next level of detail about the financial information to be displayed to the user.
The above factors allow for scalability of system 1 to many hundreds of thousands or millions of users by configuring to avoid large single transfers of financial information. In turn, web server 25 is optimised for dealing with many small queries of database 16 that are able to be easily queued and executed. For each query is relatively straightforward and based upon the existing context and structure of the accordion menu. Large, complex, and time consuming queries are not required due to the architecture used.
• An uncluttered user experience through the use of a small number of verticals in the first set, the nesting of verticals at a number of levels, the use of colour change of the header bar to indicate the state of the verticals, summary information being included in one of the fixed verticals, and the pre-population of calculators, amongst others.
[00209] It will be appreciated that system 1 allows a given member to progressively accumulate financial information within the user account that allows for analysis of that information. More significantly, it allows the member to define a specific goal or goals or personal index that is able to be calculated as regularly as required to provide feedback specific to that member about the progress that has been made. This index, in this embodiment, is referred to as the My Prosperity Index™ of MPI™ and is calculated, as required by the member, for that member. Accordingly, system 1 supports many of these indices to accommodate the requirements for each and every member.
[00210] System 1 also allows multiple data feeds to be obtained for different verticals, or multiple data feeds for a single vertical. This allows the first information to be updated with more current values, notwithstanding that this financial information covers a diverse range of asset types or classes and expenses. For example, data feeds are obtained from share markets to update share values, house price aggregators to update house or other real estate asset values, utilities to update expense values, an employer to update salary values, and so on. This provides the members with a single source of substantially current information at a single site. The data feeds are typically obtained from third party providers and used to update the records in database 16 and, from there, be communicated to the relevant remote terminal. The trigger for such a communication is typically a pull trigger in the form of the activation of the relevant vertical by the user of the remote terminal. In other embodiments use is made exclusively or selectively of push communications. For example, if an asset indicated by the records in database 16 is piece of residential real estate and the feed from a third party database indicates that real estate has been transacted, system 1 is responsive to that to update the relevant records and communicate the update to the associated remote terminal together with an alert to the user. In some embodiments the users are able to configure system 1 to receive specific push alerts.
[00211] The use of the accordion menu system also reduces the bandwidth requirements of handling what can be large amounts of financial information. That is, the financial information is obtained and served to the relevant remote client terminal only when the relevant vertical is activated. Accordingly, the need for mass communication of data is reduced. Moreover, in those embodiments where advertising is provided, that advertising need only be delivered when the relevant vertical is opened, and not when the page is loading. For those advertisers that wish to only advertise in a given vertical and not any vertical, the accordion menu used in system 1 also provides additional targeting capabilities.
Conclusions and Interpretation
[00212] It will be appreciated that the disclosure above provides various significant systems and methods for allowing a plurality of users to store and retrieve respective financial information.
[00213] Where reference is made to a user operating a remote client terminal (or the like) for storing or retrieving financial information, it will be appreciated that it need not be the user who is operating that terminal. For example, it could also be a party authorised by the user, or who is assisting the user operate the terminal.
[00214] Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specification discussions utilizing terms such as "processing," "computing," "calculating," "determining", analyzing" or the like, refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform data represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities into other data similarly represented as physical quantities.
[00215] In a similar manner, the term "processor" may refer to any device or portion of a device that processes electronic data, e.g., from registers and/or memory to transform that electronic data into other electronic data that, e.g., may be stored in registers and/or memory. A "computer" or a "computing machine" or a "computing platform" may include one or more processors.
[00216] The methodologies described herein are, in one embodiment, performable by one or more processors that accept computer-readable (also called machine-readable) code containing a set of instructions that when executed by one or more of the processors carry out at least one of the methods described herein. Any processor capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken are included. Thus, one example is a typical processing system that includes one or more processors. Each processor may include one or more of a CPU, a graphics processing unit, and a programmable DSP unit. The processing system further may include a memory subsystem including main RAM and/or a static RAM, and/or ROM. A bus subsystem may be included for communicating between the components. The processing system further may be a distributed processing system with processors coupled by a network and could be a virtual processing system or a cloud based processing system. If the processing system requires a display, such a display may be included, e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT) display. If manual data entry is required, the processing system also includes an input device such as one or more of an alphanumeric input unit such as a keyboard, a pointing control device such as a mouse, and so forth. The term memory unit as used herein, if clear from the context and unless explicitly stated otherwise, also encompasses a storage system such as a disk drive unit. The processing system in some configurations may include a sound output device, and a network interface device. The memory subsystem thus includes a computer-readable carrier medium that carries computer-readable code (e.g., software) including a set of instructions to cause performing, when executed by one or more processors, one of more of the methods described herein. Note that when the method includes several elements, e.g., several steps, no ordering of such elements is implied, unless specifically stated. The software may reside in the hard disk, hard drive, memory stick, flash memory card or like device, or may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the RAM and/or within the processor during execution thereof by the computer system. Thus, the memory and the, processor also constitute computer-readable carrier medium carrying computer- readable code.
[00217] Furthermore, a computer-readable carrier medium may form, or be included in a computer program product.
[00218] In alternative embodiments, the one or more processors operate as a standalone device or may be connected, e.g., networked to other processor(s), in a networked deployment, the one or more processors may operate in the capacity of a server or a user machine in server-user network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer or distributed network environment. The one or more processors may form a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a smart phone or other mobile computing platform, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine.
[00219] Note that while diagrams only show a single processor and a single memory that carries the computer-readable code, those in the art will understand that many of the components described above are included, but not explicitly shown or described in order not to obscure the inventive aspect. For example, while only a single machine is illustrated, the term "machine" shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.
[00220] Thus, one embodiment of each of the methods described herein is in the form of a computer-readable carrier medium carrying a set of instructions, e.g., a computer program that is for execution on one or more processors, e.g., one or more processors that are part of web server arrangement. Thus, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, embodiments of the present invention may be embodied as a method, an apparatus such as a special purpose apparatus, an apparatus such as a data processing system, or a computer-readable carrier medium, e.g., a computer program product. The computer-readable carrier medium carries computer readable code including a set of instructions that when executed on one or more processors cause the processor or processors to implement a method. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a method, an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of carrier medium (e.g., a computer program product on a computer-readable storage medium) carrying computer-readable program code embodied in the medium.
[00221] The software may further be transmitted or received over a network via a network interface device. While the carrier medium is shown in an exemplary embodiment to be a single medium, the term "carrier medium" should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term "carrier medium" shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by one or more of the processors and that cause the one or more processors to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present invention. A carrier medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media includes, for example, optical, magnetic disks, magneto-optical disks, flash drives, and the like. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory. Transmission media includes coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a bus subsystem. Transmission media also may also take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio wave and infrared data communications. For example, the term "carrier medium" shall accordingly be taken to included, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, a computer product embodied in optical and magnetic media; a medium bearing a propagated signal detectable by at least one processor of one or more processors and representing a set of instructions that, when executed, implement a method; and a transmission medium in a network bearing a propagated signal detectable by at least one processor of the one or more processors and representing the set of instructions.
[00222] It will be understood that the steps of methods discussed are performed in one embodiment by an appropriate processor (or processors) of a processing (i.e., computer) system executing instructions (computer-readable code) stored in storage. It will also be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular implementation or programming technique and that the invention may be implemented using any appropriate techniques for implementing the functionality described herein. The invention is not limited to any particular programming language or operating system.
[00223] It should be appreciated that in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof, for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.
[00224] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.
[00225] Furthermore, some of the embodiments are described herein as a method or combination of elements of a method that can be implemented by a processor of a computer system or by other means of carrying out the function- Thus, a processor with the necessary instructions for carrying out such a method or element of a method forms a means for carrying out the method or element of a method. Furthermore, an element described herein of an apparatus embodiment is an example of a means for carrying out the function performed by the element for the purpose of carrying out the invention. [00226J In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.
[00227] Similarly, it is to be noticed that the term coupled, when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limited to direct connections only. The terms "coupled" and "connected," along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Thus, the scope of the expression a device A coupled to a device B should not be limited to devices or systems wherein an output of device A is directly connected to an input of device B. It means that there exists a path between an output of A and an input of B which may be a path including other devices or means. "Coupled" may mean that two or more elements are either in direct physical or electrical contact, or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but yet still co-operate or interact with each other.
[00228] Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as falling within the scope of the invention. For example, any formujas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. A system for allowing a plurality of users to store financial information, the system including:
a database for storing data records for the users;
a web interface for receiving requests from remote client terminals operated by the users for delivering respective software instructions to the terminals for instantiation as a graphical user interface (GUI) having an accordion navigation menu, wherein the menu provides a first set of verticals into which the respective user is able to enter financial information; and
a web server that is responsive to the users entering the financial information for accessing the database to update one or more of the data records.
2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the financial information is indicative of one or more properties. of an asset item, a liability item, an income item, and an expense item and the system includes a processor that is responsive to the data records for: obtaining external data about at least one of the items; and accessing the database to update one or more of the data records.
3. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each of the verticals in the set of verticals has a collapsed state and an expanded state for preventing and allowing entry of the financial information into the vertical.
4. A system according to claim 3 wherein, when one of the verticals in the set of verticals is in the expanded state, the remainder of the verticals in the set of verticals are in the collapsed state.
5. A system according to claim 3 wherein: each vertical includes a header field and one or more data fields; and the instantiation of each GUI allows the respective user to nominate selectively the header fields to change the state of the corresponding vertical.
6. A system according to claim 5 wherein the user terminal is responsive to the software instructions such that, when one of the verticals in the set of verticals is in the expanded state and the header of a second of the verticals is nominated by the user, the states of both the first and the second of the verticals are changed.
7. A system according to claim 6 wherein the state of the second of the verticals is changed prior to the change to the state of the first one of the verticals.
8. A system according to claim 5 wherein each vertical, in the expanded state, reveals one or more of: a) the data fields in that vertical;
b) one or more nested verticals; and
c) one or more nested sets of verticals.
9. A system according to claim 8 wherein changing the state of a given vertical to the collapsed state results in any vertical nested in the given vertical that is in the expanded state to also change to the collapsed state.
10. A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the menu includes a second set of verticals wherein each vertical in the second set has only an expanded configuration.
11. A system according to claim 10 wherein the second set of verticals includes a header vertical that, in use, is rendered above the first set of verticals.
12. A system according to claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the second set of verticals includes a footer vertical that, in use, is rendered below the first set of verticals.
13. A system according to any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein at least one of the verticals in the second set of verticals includes a field that is selectively refreshed.
14. A system according to any one of claims 10 to 13 wherein at least one of the verticals in the second set of verticals includes a static field.
15. A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the menu defines the GUI.
16. A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the instantiation is limited to the GUI.
17. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the instantiation includes the GUI and one or more other component.
18. A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the respective software instructions include content for the instantiation of the GUI.
19. A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the respective software instructions include structure for the instantiation of the GUI.
20. A system for allowing a plurality of users to store information, the system including:
a database for storing data records for the users;
a web interface for receiving requests from remote client terminals operated by the users for delivering respective software instructions to the terminals for instantiation as a graphical user interface (GUI) having an accordion navigation menu, wherein the menu provides a first set of verticals into which the respective user is able to enter information; and
a web server that is responsive to the users entering the financial information for accessing the database to update one or more of the data records.
PCT/AU2013/000123 2012-02-14 2013-02-14 A system and method for allowing a plurality of users to store information WO2013120133A1 (en)

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