Patent ID: 8412630
Filing Date: 2013-04-02
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for effecting transfer of a payment amount to a merchant during a transaction between a customer and the merchant, the method comprising: using a computer processor operating computer program code instructions stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium, wherein said computer program code instructions cause said computer processor to: determine a funds shortfall; access a funds sharing network comprising a plurality of users; identify one or more of the users of the funds sharing network; request funds from the identified one or more users; apply funds received from the one or more users to the funds shortfall wherein the one or more users identified from the funds sharing network are not indebted to the customer, and wherein said computer processor is further to: track a customer indebtedness of the customer to the one or more identified users based at least in part on the amount of funds received from the one or more users and applied to the funds shortfall; apply an interest amount to the customer indebtedness based on a period of elapsed time of the customer indebtedness; and communicate one or more messages to at least one of the users of the funds sharing network, the one or more messages comprising information related to the customer indebtedness, thereby motivating the customer to repay the customer indebtedness.