SYSTEM FOR MONITORING RESOURCE ACTIVITY AND ALERT GENERATION

A resource activity monitoring and alert system comprises a network communication interface and a memory device storing a resource activity monitoring and alert application. A processing device is operatively coupled to the memory device that is configured to execute computer-readable program code to: monitor a user resource activity of a user and determine if a condition applies to the user resource activity; and, upon a determination that the condition applies to the monitored user resource activity, to transmit an alert to the user and a secondary alert to a third party where the third party does not have control over the user resource activity of the user.

BACKGROUND

Systems for providing on-line and/or mobile transactions are known where a user may engage in a wide variety of different types of transactions with entity systems with which the user has a relationship, such as financial institution systems. The on-line and/or mobile transactions are typically instituted via applications that are accessed from a user device that is in communication with the systems over a network. The user may also engage in a wide variety of face-to-face or physical transactions with the same entity systems. The physical transactions and on-line/mobile transactions may at least partially include the same types of transactions.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In some embodiments a resource activity monitoring and alert system comprises a network communication interface and a memory device storing a resource activity monitoring and alert application. A processing device is operatively coupled to the memory device, wherein the processing device is configured to execute computer-readable program code to: monitor a user resource activity of a user and determine if a condition applies to the user resource activity; and, upon a determination that the condition applies to the monitored user resource activity, to transmit an alert to the user and a secondary alert to a third party where the third party does not have control over the user resource activity of the user.

The user resource activity may comprise a financial transaction. The resource activity monitoring and alert application may apply logic rules to determine if the condition is met. The logic rules may be predictive. The secondary alert may comprise a secondary alert message sent to a third party device. The secondary alert message may comprise at least one of text, images, and video. The secondary alert message may comprise contact information, the contact information may comprise at least one of a telephone number, e-mail in the form of an active link. The secondary alert message may comprise less information than the alert.

In some embodiments a method for monitoring a resource activity and providing alerts comprises an entity system monitoring a user resource activity of a user related to that entity and determining if a condition applies to the user resource activity; and, upon determining that the condition applies to the monitored user resource activity, transmitting an alert from the entity to the user and a secondary alert to a third party where the third party does not have control over the user resource activity of the user.

Logic rules may be applied to determine if the condition is met. The resource application may comprise an online/mobile banking application and the entity system may comprise a financial institution system. The method may further comprise establishing a first communication channel to a user device and a second communication channel to a third party device. The secondary alert may contain less information than the alert. The secondary alert may comprise a secondary alert message sent to a third party device. The secondary alert message may comprise at least one of text, images, and video and may comprise contact information, the contact information may comprise at least one of a telephone number, e-mail in the form of an active link. The user may grant permission to the entity system to send the secondary alert.

In some embodiments a resource activity monitoring and alert system comprises a network communication interface and a memory device storing a resource activity monitoring and alert application. A processing device is operatively coupled to the memory device and is configured to execute computer-readable program code to: monitor a user resource activity of a user and determine if an alert message is to be to a third party device; and, upon determination that an alert message is to be sent to a third party device, to transmit the alert message to the third party device where the third party device is controlled by a third party that does not have control over the user resource activity of the user. The user resource activity may relate to a financial transaction of a user account. The alert message may comprise at least one of text, images, and video comprising information about the user resource activity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the terms “financial institution” and “financial entity” include any organization that processes financial transactions including, but not limited to, banks, credit unions, savings and loan associations, investment companies, stock brokerages, asset management firms, insurance companies and the like.

FIG. 1provides a block diagram illustrating an environment100for a system for monitoring resource activity and alert generation, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the environment100includes a user110where the user represents a customer having a relationship with at least one but typically more than one financial institution. A user of the system may be a person, but may also be a business or any other entity. In a typical environment a great number of users may access the system of the invention. The environment further includes a third party112where the third party112may comprise any person, business or other entity. The third party112may be a customer having a relationship with the financial institution but the third party is not necessarily a customer of the financial institution and may be defined by its relationship with the user110as will hereinafter be described.

The environment100also may include at least one and in a typical case a plurality of user devices120accessible by the user110and at least one and in a typical case a plurality of third party devices122accessible by the third party112. The user devices and third party devices may comprise any machine, apparatus, system or the like that may be connected to and communicate over network150. The term “network device” is used herein to refer collectively to the user devices110and third party devices112. At least one of the network devices may comprise a computing device for use by the user110and third party112. The computing device may be any device that employs a processor and memory and can perform computing functions, such as a personal computing device300or a mobile device200, that may be connected to or access network150. The network devices120,122may also include a land-line telephone, fax machine or the like. The personal computing devices300may comprise a personal computer such as a desk top computer, lap top computer, tablet or any type of personal computing device that may be connected to a network by landline or wireless access such as wireless local area network (WLAN) such as WiFi based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) 802.11 standards, Bluetooth short-wavelength UHF radio waves in the ISM band from 2.4 to 2.485 GHz or other wireless access technology. As used herein, the mobile devices200may comprise any mobile communication device, such as a cellular telecommunications device (i.e., a cell phone or mobile phone), personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile Internet accessing device, or other mobile device. A mobile device may connect to the network by a cellular telecommunications network or by WiFi, Bluetooth or other access technology. In some embodiments where, for example, the user110and/or third party112is an institution the network devices120,122may comprise servers, access terminals, or the like.

The network devices120,122may be configured to communicate over network150with at least one entity system such as financial institution system400of an entity such as a financial institution. The network150may include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), and/or a global area network (GAN). The network150may provide for wireline, wireless, or a combination of wireline and wireless communication between devices in the network. In one embodiment, the network150includes the Internet151. In one embodiment, the network150may also include a wireless telephone network152.

In general, the user device120is configured to connect with the network150and may be used to log the user110into the financial institution system400of the financial institution. A user110, in order to access the user's account(s), typically uses an online banking application and/or mobile banking application on the financial institution system400and must authenticate with the financial institution system400. For example, logging into the financial institution system400generally requires that the user110authenticate his/her/its identity using a user name, a passcode, a cookie, a biometric identifier, a private key, a token, and/or another authentication mechanism that is provided by or for the user110to the financial institution system400via the user device120. In some embodiments the authentication system may be a tiered system that may require different levels of authentication based on conditions such as, for example, previous activity of the user over the network150. For example, the tiered authentication system may have three levels of authentication—hard, medium and soft. Hard authentication may require that the user input a high level of authentication information such as a combination of password, user identification, answer to challenge questions, biometrics, random key number or the like. A hard authentication may be required when the user logs on from an unrecognized user device or where the user activity is not recognized by the system. A medium authentication level may require only a user identification and password. A medium level of authentication may be required where, for example, the user has already logged-in to the user device120using an authentication procedure for the device such as a thumbprint or password. A soft authentication may require only a user identification such as user name. A soft level of authentication may be used, for example, where the user has already logged-in to the user device120using an authentication procedure for the device such as a thumbprint or password and the user has performed activities on the user device that are recognized as “normal” activity for that user and/or the user device is in a recognized location for that user. Thus, the level of authentication required for accessing the banking application, whether online, mobile or in person, may be adjusted based on conditions, activity, functions or information received about or from the user.

In one embodiment, the invention may provide an application download server such that software applications that support the financial institution system400can be downloaded to the user devices120. In some embodiments of the invention, the application download server is configured to be controlled and managed by one or more third-party data providers (not shown inFIG. 1) over the network150. In other embodiments, the application download server is configured to be controlled and managed over the network150by the same entity or entities that maintains the financial institution system400

FIG. 2provides a block diagram illustrating the mobile devices200ofFIG. 1in more detail, in accordance with embodiments of the invention. In one embodiment of the invention, the mobile device200is a mobile telephone. However, it should be understood that a mobile telephone and the embodiment of the mobile device200shown inFIG. 2are merely illustrative of one type of mobile device200that may benefit from, employ, or otherwise be involved with embodiments of the present invention and, therefore, should not be taken to limit the scope of embodiments of the present invention. Other types of mobile devices200may include portable digital assistants (PDAs), pagers, tablets, mobile televisions, gaming devices, laptop computers, cameras, video recorders, audio/video player, radio, GPS devices, or any combination of the aforementioned.

Some embodiments of the mobile device200include a processor210communicably coupled to such devices as a memory device220, user output devices236, user input devices240, and a network interface260. The mobile device200further includes a power source215, such as a battery, for powering various circuits and other devices that are used to operate the mobile device200. Embodiments of the mobile device200may also include a clock or other timer250configured to determine and, in some cases, communicate actual or relative time to the processor210or one or more other devices. The mobile device200may also include a camera280and a positioning system device275such as a global positioning system (GPS). The processor210, and other processing devices described herein, generally include circuitry for implementing communication and/or logic functions of the associated device. For example, the processor210may include a digital signal processor device, a microprocessor device, and various analog to digital converters, digital to analog converters, and/or other support circuits. Control and signal processing functions of the mobile device200are allocated between these devices according to their respective capabilities. The processor210thus may also include the functionality to encode and interleave messages and data prior to modulation and transmission. The processor210can additionally include an internal data modem. Further, the processor210may include functionality to operate one or more software programs, which may be stored in the memory device220. For example, the processor210may be capable of operating a connectivity program, such as a web browser application222. The web browser application222may then allow the mobile device200to transmit and receive web content, such as, for example, location-based content and/or other web page content, according to a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and/or the like. The memory device220may include other applications such as e-mail app224and SMS app223.

The processor210is configured to use the network interface260to communicate with one or more other devices on the network150. In this regard, the network interface260includes an antenna276operatively coupled to a transmitter274and a receiver272(together a “transceiver”). The processor210is configured to provide signals to and receive signals from the transmitter274and receiver272, respectively. The signals may include signaling information in accordance with the air interface standard of the applicable cellular system of the wireless telephone network152. In this regard, the mobile device200may be configured to operate with one or more air interface standards, communication protocols, modulation types, and access types. By way of illustration, the mobile device200may be configured to operate in accordance with any of a number of first, second, third, and/or fourth-generation communication protocols and/or the like. For example, the mobile device200may be configured to operate in accordance with second-generation (2G) wireless communication protocols IS-136 (time division multiple access (TDMA)), GSM (global system for mobile communication), and/or IS-95 (code division multiple access (CDMA)), or with third-generation (3G) wireless communication protocols, such as Consolidated Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), CDMA2000, wideband CDMA (WCDMA) and/or time division-synchronous CDMA (TD-SCDMA), with fourth-generation (4G) wireless communication protocols, with LTE protocols, with 3GPP protocols and/or the like. The mobile device200may also be configured to operate in accordance with non-cellular communication mechanisms, such as via a wireless local area network (WLAN) or other communication/data networks.

As described above, the mobile device200has a user interface that may be made up of user output devices236and/or user input devices240. The user output devices236may include a display230(e.g., a liquid crystal display or the like) and a speaker232or other audio device, which are operatively coupled to the processor210. The user input devices240, which allow the mobile device200to transmit data, may include any of a number of devices allowing the mobile device200to transmit data, such as a keypad, keyboard, touch-screen, touchpad, microphone, mouse, joystick, other pointer device, button, soft key, and/or other input device(s).

The memory device220is operatively coupled to the processor210. The memory device220can store any of a number of applications which comprise computer-executable instructions/code executed by the processor210to implement the functions of the mobile device200and/or one or more of the process/method steps described herein. The memory device220also includes a mobile banking application221that may be used to allow communication with a system such as the financial institution system400to implement the system of the invention. The use of the mobile banking application221may facilitate access to the system of the invention by providing log-in systems including user authentication systems, account information, system controls or the like. The mobile banking application221also allows communication to the financial institution to allow the user to set up and/or control the system of the invention. The third party112is defined by its relationship with the user110rather than with the financial institution400as will be described. Therefore the mobile device200of the third party112may not include the mobile banking application221because the third party112may not have a relationship with the financial institution400. In some embodiments the third party112may have a relationship with the financial institution400such that the mobile device of the third party112may have a mobile banking application221. In other embodiments the mobile device of the third party112may have a mobile banking application but with a different financial institution.

These applications also typically provide a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display230that allows the user110to communicate with the mobile device200, the financial institution system400and/or other devices or systems. The memory device220can also store any of a number of pieces of information, and data, used by the mobile device200and the applications and devices that make up the mobile device200or are in communication with the mobile device200to implement the functions of the mobile device200and/or the other systems described herein. For example, the memory device220may include such data as user authentication information.

Referring now toFIG. 3, the personal computing device300also includes various features, such as a network communication interface310, a processing device320, a user interface330, and a memory device350. The network communication interface310includes a device that allows the personal computing device300to communicate over the network150. In one embodiment of the invention, a network browsing application355provides for a user to establish network communication with a financial institution system400. The memory device350may include such applications as the conventional web browser application355and/or an on-line banking application356. The on-line banking application356may be used to allow communication with the entity system such as financial institution system400to provide access to the financial institution system providing log-in systems including user authentication systems, account information or the like as previously described with respect toFIG. 2. The on-line banking application356also allows communication to the financial institution system400to allow the user to set up and/or control the system of the invention. Like the mobile device, the personal computing device300of the third party112may not include the on-line banking application356because the third party112may not have a relationship with the financial institution400. In some embodiments the third party112may have a relationship with the financial institution400such that the personal computing device of the third party112may have an on-line mobile banking application356. In other embodiments the personal computing device of the third party112may have a mobile banking application but with a different financial institution. As previously explained, the third party is defined by its relationship with the user110rather than with the financial institution400as will be described.

As used herein, a “processor” or “processing device,” such as the processing device320, processing device420and processor210, generally refers to a device or combination of devices having circuitry used for implementing the communication and/or logic functions of a particular system. For example, a processing device or processor may include a digital signal processor device, a microprocessor device, and various analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, and other support circuits and/or combinations of the foregoing. Control and signal processing functions of the system are allocated between these processing devices according to their respective capabilities. The processing device or processor may further include functionality to operate one or more software programs based on computer-executable program code thereof, which may be stored in memory device. As the phrase is used herein, a processor or processing device may be “configured to” perform a certain function in a variety of ways, including, for example, by having one or more general-purpose circuits perform the function by executing particular computer-executable program code embodied in computer-readable medium, and/or by having one or more application-specific circuits perform the function.

As used herein, a “user interface” generally includes a plurality of user input and output devices and/or software that allow a customer to input commands and data to direct the processing device to execute instructions and to receive communications from the network devices120,122. For example, the user interface330presented inFIG. 3may include a graphical user interface (GUI) or an interface to input computer-executable instructions that direct the processing device320to carry out specific functions and an output to communicate with the user110and/or third party112. The user interface330employs certain user input and user output devices as previously described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2. These input and output devices may include a display, mouse, keyboard, button, touchpad, touch screen, microphone, speaker, LED, light, joystick, switch, buzzer, bell, and/or other user input/output device for communicating with one or more users.

As used herein, a “memory” or “memory device” generally refers to a device or combination of devices that store one or more forms of computer-readable media for storing data and/or computer-executable program code/instructions. Computer-readable media is defined in greater detail below. For example, in one embodiment, the memory devices described herein include any computer memory that provides an actual or virtual space to temporarily or permanently store data and/or commands provided to the processing device when the processing device carries out its functions described herein. As used herein, “memory” or “memory device” includes any computer readable medium (as defined herein below) configured to store data, code, or other information. The memory may include volatile memory, such as volatile Random Access Memory (RAM) including a cache area for the temporary storage of data. The memory may also include non-volatile memory, which can be embedded and/or may be removable. The non-volatile memory can additionally or alternatively include an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or the like.

FIG. 4provides a block diagram illustrating the entity system such as financial institution system400, in greater detail, in accordance with embodiments of the invention. As illustrated inFIG. 4, in one embodiment of the invention, the financial institution system400includes one or more processing devices420operatively coupled to one or more network communication interfaces410and one or more memory devices450. In certain embodiments, the financial institution system400is operated by an entity, such as a financial institution.

It should be understood that the memory device450may include one or more databases or other data structures/repositories. The memory device450also includes computer-executable program code that instructs the processing device420to operate the network communication interface410to perform certain communication functions of the financial institution system400described herein. For example, in one embodiment of the financial institution system400, the memory device450includes, but is not limited to, a network server application470, an authentication application460, a customer account data repository480which includes customer authentication data482and customer account information484, an on-line/mobile banking application490comprising a mobile web server application493, and other computer-executable instructions or other data such as resource applications for executing transactions with the financial institution. The computer-executable program code of the network server application470, the authentication application460, or the on-line/mobile banking application490may instruct the processing device420to perform certain logic, data-processing, and data-storing functions of the financial institution system(s)400described herein, as well as communication functions of the financial institution system(s)400. The mobile banking application490communicates with the user computing devices120to facilitate communication between the user and the financial institution.

In one embodiment, the customer account data repository480includes customer authentication data482and customer account information484. The network server application470, the authentication application460, and the mobile banking application490are configured to invoke or use the customer account information484, the customer authentication data482when authenticating a user to the financial institution system(s)400.

The financial institution system400further includes a resource activity monitoring and alert application500that communicates with the user device120and/or the third party device122as will be described. The resource activity monitoring and alert application500functions to track and monitor the activity related to a user's resources such as the user's financial transaction data with the financial institution including, but not limited to, account information such as balances, payments, withdrawals, deposits, credit/debit card activity, transaction history and other financial activities and transactions, and customer account data. Such resource activities are referred to collectively as “user resource activity.” User resource activity is not necessarily initiated by the user nor is it necessarily initiated from or by a user device120. Rather a user resource activity means any activity related to the user's resources with an entity system such as a financial institution system400that may create a condition that initiates the resource activity monitoring and alert application as described herein. For example, the system may monitor a user's credit card account for suspicious activity that may originate from other than the user or user device, or the system may monitor the account balance of an account of the user to detect an overdraft by the user.

As used herein, a “communication interface” generally includes a modem, server, transceiver, and/or other device for communicating with other devices on a network. The network communication interface410is a communication interface having one or more communication devices configured to communicate with one or more other devices on the network150, such as the mobile device200, and/or the personal computing device300. The processing device420is configured to use the network communication interface410to transmit and/or receive data and/or commands to and/or from the other devices connected to the network150.

The environment may also comprise at least one financial center600,FIG. 1, that is related to and may form part of the financial institution that operates and controls the financial institution system400. The financial center(s)600may be a branch office, an ATM machine or other type of facility that may provide in-person customer service and support for the financial institution. The financial centers600may also include centralized facilities that are accessible by the distributed financial centers. Typically, the financial institution system400comprises a plurality of financial centers that are geographically dispersed to provide services to the financial institution's customers over a wide, and potentially international, geographic area. The financial centers600may include at least portions of the financial institution systems400that allow each financial center600to communicate with other elements of the financial institution system400and the user devices120over network150. Each financial center600may have access to all or a portion of the financial institution system(s)400such that each financial center600can communicate with and access at least portions of the processing device420and memory device450of the financial institution system and in some embodiments the various local systems of the financial centers600may be considered to be part of a distributed financial institution system400. Thus, while the financial centers600may be geographically distributed, the financial centers600may be considered to form part of the financial institution system(s)400as previously described. Each financial center600typically includes local processing devices420and memory devices450and network interface devices410that allow the local system of the financial centers600to communicate over the network150with one another and with centralized systems of the financial institution. The financial centers600may also comprise a local customer account data repository, a local online/mobile banking application, a local resource monitoring and alert application facilitate communication, data management and security among the financial centers.

In a typical relationship the user110is a customer of the financial institution that operates financial institution system400and engages the financial institution for a variety of services and products (e.g. resources). The user may have relationships with more than one financial institution and the relationship between each user and a financial institution may be different where different products and services are provided by the financial institution and/or utilized by the user. In a typical relationship the user110may be able to utilize resource applications such as on-line/mobile banking applications490of the financial institution that can be accessed through user device120to obtain services and products offered by the financial system400and to complete financial transactions with and/or through the financial institution. Moreover, at least some of the services and products that are available through the on-line/mobile banking applications490are also available as physical transactions. There may also exist some services and products that are available only as physical transactions through a financial center600. An exemplary suite of resources may include some or all of, but is not limited to, the following: savings/checking accounts, money transfers, mobile/electronic and/or physical check deposit, person-to-person payments (P2P), account statements (checking, savings, term deposits, loans card, equity/fund, insurance and the like), bill payment, cloud storage, ATM withdrawal, financing, portfolio management, stock quotes, location based services, loyalty related agreements, loans, debit/credit cards and the like. The example resources set forth above are not intended to be limiting or exhaustive of the resources that a user may utilize with a financial entity system.

An embodiment of the resource activity monitoring and alert application500will be described with reference toFIG. 5. In the illustrated embodiment of the system of the invention, user resource activity is monitored and tracked by the resource activity monitoring and alert application500using, at least, data contained in the customer account data repository480(Block701). These data bases maintain records of the resources offered by the financial institution that are utilized by the user as part of the user's relationship with the financial institution and record the user's transactions, transaction history and financial records and other data related to the user. The resource activity monitoring and alert application500tracks and monitors the user resource activity for conditions that trigger the sending of an alert to the user device120. As previously explained, for any user resource activity predetermined conditions may occur that results in the sending of an alert to the user device and/or the third party device.

The resource activity monitoring and alert application500also maintains or accesses the user's alert bundle that designates, based on the user's self-selected customized preferences and/or based on rules of the financial institution system400, particular types, categories or classes of user resource activity and related conditions for which an alert is to be sent to that user (block702). The alert bundle is the set of user resource activities and related conditions for which an alert is to be sent to the user device120for a particular user or for a group of users. The user may request that an alert be sent for one user resource activity and one condition while the rules of the financial institution may require that an alert be sent to the user for a second user resource activity and a second condition. The set of user resource activities and conditions defines the user alert bundle. The resource activity monitoring and alert application500determines if any of the conditions of any of the user resource activities require an alert to be sent to the user based on the user's alert bundle (Block703). In one embodiment, the resource activity monitoring and alert application500compares the monitored user resource activity to predetermined conditions for sending alerts. The resource activity monitoring and alert application500may apply logic rules to determine if an alert should be sent to the user based on the user resource activity and conditions applied to that activity. The logic rules may be set up by the financial institution and retained in memory device450of the financial institution system400. In some embodiments the resource activity monitoring and alert application500may track utilization of all user resource activity. In other embodiments the resource activity monitoring and alert application500may only track a subset of the user resource activity based on the user alert bundle and/or other criteria. The system determines if a user resource activity meets the predetermined conditions as set out in the logic rules for an alert (Block704). If the conditions are not met the system takes no further action and no alert is sent (Block705). If the conditions are met, the full functionality of the resource activity monitoring and alert application500is initiated to transmit an alert message to the user device120(Block706). The user resource activities and the related predetermined conditions for triggering an alert may vary and may be based on any designated user resource activity. For example, the user resource activity may comprise an account balance where the condition is the balance of the account falling below a minimum that may potentially result in an overdraft or penalty. In another exemplary embodiment the user resource activity maybe purchases on a credit or debit card where the related condition is unusual activity on the user account. In another exemplary embodiment the user resource activity maybe purchases on a credit or debit card where the related condition is nearing a credit limit. In another exemplary embodiment the user resource activity may be a direct deposit and the condition may be a missed deposit. In yet another exemplary embodiment the user resource activity may be a loan and the condition may be a late payment. In still another exemplary embodiment the user resource activity may be a loan and the condition may be the dropping the loan balance below a predetermined amount. In yet another exemplary embodiment the user resource activity may be a customer loyalty reward program and the condition may be the accumulation of “points” in the program. These embodiments are made by way of example only and the user resource activity and related conditions may vary from those specifically described herein.

As previously described, in some embodiments logic rules determine the user resource activities and related conditions under which the full functionality of the system of the invention will be initiated to send an alert. In some embodiments the user may at least in part have input in establishing the rules; however, in some embodiments the rules may be established by the financial institution based on data accumulated by the financial institution. For example, the financial institution may track user resource activity for all of the institution's users and transmit an alert message to a particular user device120when a predetermined condition occurs for the user resource activity for that user. In some embodiments the full functionality of the resource activity monitoring and alert application500is initiated based on the personal preferences established by the individual user where the alert bundle is selected by the user from available alerts offered by the institution. Other rules, conditions and combinations of rules and conditions may be used in addition to those described herein.

In some embodiments, the logic rules may be based on predictive models of user resource activity rather than on actual user resource activity. For example, the system may predict the need for certain financial services or products based on known data about the user when compared to aggregated data from the financial institution system users. For example, the system may predict that a user might be in a potential overdraft situation when the balance in an account falls below a certain level and a regularly occurring future payment is coming due. In other examples the system may be able to predict that the user may require a short term loan based cash flow. Numerous other examples may be provided of the use of a predictive model for initiating the system of the invention and the examples provided above are not intended to be limiting.

If the system of the invention determines, based on the logic rules of the system, that the full functionality of the resource activity monitoring and alert application500is to be activated, the resource utilization monitoring and alert application is initiated to communicate with a user device (Block706). Upon initiation of the resource activity monitoring and alert application500, at least one communication channel602between a user device120and the financial institution system400may be established (Block707). The communication channel602delivers the alert message to the appropriate user device120(Block708). The alert message may be in the form of text, images, video or a combination of different forms of content. The resource activity monitoring and alert application500may transmit an alert message such as a text message, e-mail message or other electronic message to the user device120. The alert message may provide tutorials dealing with the subject of the alert, help menus, FAQs, or the like (Block709). In some embodiments the communication channel602may be a voice channel between a financial center600and a user device120. The channel may transmit a voice call such as a recorded message, or a message with an option to speak with a live person.

The alert message may also provide contact information to the user (Block710). The contact information may comprise the telephone number or other contact information for a local financial center600, directions to the nearest, or a user selected, financial center(s) and/or the telephone number, e-mail address or other contact information for a help desk or the like. The contact information may be provided in the form of an active link that may be selected on the user device to connect the user to the local office or help desk. To select the designated financial center600for a particular user the resource activity monitoring and alert application500may use the location information provided by the positioning system device275on user's mobile device200(Block711). For a personal computing device300the contact information may be for the financial center closest to the user's home or work place. In other embodiments the user may manually select a desired financial center.

As described above, the system of the invention provides alerts and other related information directly to the user via a user device110. In some situations, it may be desirable to provide alerts to a third party in addition to or in place of the alert to the user. The resource activity monitoring and alert application500provides a secondary alert where the secondary alert is transmitted to a third party that is not the customer of the financial institution for the user resource activity being monitored. It is contemplated that the secondary alert may be provided to a third party where the third party has a relationship with the user such as a fiduciary, familial, care giver, guardian or other similar relationship but where the third party does not have control over or rights to the accounts, transactions and relationships of the user resource activity being monitored. The user provides alert status to a selected third party or third parties where in some embodiments the user must grant and the third party must accept the third party alert status. While alert status is provided to the third party the third party does not have equal rights or control, or in some embodiments does not have any rights or control, in or over the accounts, transactions and relationships of the user resource activity being monitored. In this manner, while alerts may be provided to the third party, control over the accounts, transactions and relationships of the user resource activity being monitored may be maintained exclusively by the user.

The relationship between the third party and the user and the reasons for providing alert status to a third party may vary depending upon the needs of the user. For example, in some embodiments, the third party may be an adult child or other family member of an elderly user. The elderly user may request that the financial institution system provide the secondary alert to the third party such that the third party may provide some review and/or monitoring of the user's finances without providing control to the third party over the accounts, transactions and relationships of the user with the financial institution. In other embodiments the user may have a disability where third party oversight of alerts is helpful. The third party may be a friend, family member, guardian, institution or the like. In other embodiments the user may be temporarily difficult to reach using the alert system and may require a third party to monitor the user's transactions. For example, the user may be on a military deployment or traveling to remote locations and the third party may be a friend, relative or the like. In other embodiments, the user may be a college student where the user's parents may be given alert status. In other embodiments, the relationship between the user and the third party may be organizational. For example, in a small business the user may be an office manager that has control over the account and the third party may the proprietor that wants to be able to provide oversight over the transactions on the account. In other embodiments the user may be a treasurer of a sports league, community organization, charitable organization or the like and the third parties may be other members of the organization that need to have access to transactions related to the account. The embodiments set forth above are provided by way of example only and are not intended to be limiting or exhaustive. The reasons for providing alert status to a third party and the relationship between the third party and the user may be different than those provided above.

Referring toFIG. 6, as explained above the user opts to grant alert status to a third party. In one embodiment the user may grant alert status to a third party using user device120via mobile banking application221or on-line banking application356(Block801). The user may also grant alert status via a physical transaction at a financial center600. The financial system400authenticates the user as previously described to establish that the user has the authority to grant alert status to a third party such as via user device120(Block802). The resource activity monitoring and alert application500may provide a menu on the user device120to guide the user through the process for granting alert status to a selected third party. The resource activity monitoring and alert application500receives from the user an identification of the third party including the mode(s) of alert such as text message, facsimile, phone call, e-mail or the like and contact information for the third party such as e-mail address, phone number, fax number or the like (Block803). The application also may receive from the user an identification of the alerts that are to be provided to the third party (third party alert bundle) (Block804). The third party alert bundle may be the same as the alert bundle for the user, it may be a subset of the alert bundle for the user or it may be different than the alert bundle for the user. Typically, the alert bundle for the third party is the same as the alert bundle for the user such that the user receives an alert for the user resource activity and condition as the third party. In some embodiments, the third party alert bundle is a subset of the alert bundle for the user such that the third party does not receive alerts for all of the user resource activities and conditions for which the user receives alerts. In other embodiments the third party alerts may be for different user resource activities and conditions that the user alerts. The user may define the alerts by transaction type, class of transaction, account, type of account or the like.

The grant of alert status may be limited by time, specific account, account type, transaction type or other parameter (Block805). In one embodiment, the third party may be notified of the third party alert arrangement as set up by the user (Block806). The third party may accept or decline the alert arrangement (Block807). If the third party accepts the alert arrangement, a verification message may be sent to the user confirming that the third party alert system is active (Block808). The third party alert is then activated (Block809). If the third party does not accept the alert arrangement a decline message may be sent to the user informing the user that the third party has declined the arrangement (Block810). The third party alert system is not active (Block811).

For the third party alert bundle granted to the third party the system monitors the user's accounts, transaction history and relationship with the institution as previously described. When a predetermined condition is met for a monitored user resource activity and that user resource activity and condition are part of the third party alert bundle, a secondary alert may be sent to the third party in addition to the alert sent to the user. Because the third party does not have control over the user accounts and does not typically have rights to authorize activity on the user accounts, the secondary alert provided to the third party is primarily informational. The third party must typically contact the user in order for any action to be taken in response to the alert. In some embodiments the secondary alert provided to the third party may include less or different information than the alert provided to the user. For example, an alert for an overdraft of a checking account provided to the user may include the payee of the check, check number, amount or the like. The secondary alert provided to the third party may include only an identification of the account without any additional details. In this manner the user may control the amount of information provided to the third party and the secondary alert may be used only for notification without providing detailed information. The user may set the amount and types of information provided to the third party when setting up the third party alert.

Once the third party alert is activated (Block712) the resource activity monitoring and alert application500the resource activity monitoring and alert application500determines if any of the conditions of any of the user resource activities require a secondary alert to be sent to the third party based on the user's third party alert bundle (Block713). In one embodiment, the resource activity monitoring and alert application500compares the monitored user resource activity to predetermined conditions for sending secondary alerts. The resource activity monitoring and alert application500may apply logic rules to determine if a secondary alert should be sent to the third party device based on the user resource activity and conditions applied to that activity. The logic rules may be set up by the financial institution and retained in memory device450of the financial institution system400as previously explained. The system determines if a user resource activity meets the predetermined conditions as set out in the logic rules for a secondary alert (Block714). If the conditions are not met the system takes no further action and no secondary alert is sent (Block715). If the system of the invention determines, based on the logic rules of the system, that the full functionality of the resource activity monitoring and alert application500is to be activated, the resource utilization monitoring and alert application is initiated to communicate with a third party device (Block716). At least one second communication channel603between a third party device122and the financial institution system400may be established (Block717). The communication channel602delivers the secondary alert message to the appropriate third party device122(Block718). The secondary alert message may be in the form of text, images, video or a combination of different forms of content. The resource activity monitoring and alert application500may transmit a secondary alert message such as a text message, e-mail message or other electronic message to the third party device122. The secondary alert message may provide tutorials dealing with the subject of the alert, help menus, FAQs, or the like (Block709). In some embodiments the communication channel603may be a voice channel between a financial center600and a third party device122. The channel may transmit a voice call such as a recorded message, or a message with an option to speak with a live person.

The alert message may also provide contact information to the third party device (Block710). The contact information may comprise the telephone number or other contact information for a local financial center600, directions to the nearest, or a user selected, financial center(s) and/or the telephone number, e-mail address or other contact information for a help desk or the like. The contact information may be provided in the form of an active link that may be selected on the third party device to connect the third party to the local office or help desk. To select the designated financial center600for a particular third party the resource activity monitoring and alert application500may use the location information provided by the positioning system device275on third party's mobile device200(Block711). For a personal computing device300the contact information may be for the financial center closest to the third party's home or work place. In other embodiments the third party may manually select a desired financial center.

When a monitored user resource activity and related condition is identified indicating that an alert is to be sent to the user and/or third party, the system determines the type of alert to be sent to each entity. As previously explained the user alert may be sent to a first location such as a user device120. The third party alert is sent to the third party based on the contact information provided by the user when setting up the third party alert system. The third party alert may be sent to a third party device122. The system also determines the content and format of the alert message. The user alert may include additional information not provided in the third party alert. Moreover, the user alert may include functionality not provided in the third party alert. For example the user alert may include a link that may be used to connect the user to a financial center, to the user's on-line/mobile banking application or the like. Because the third party does not have rights and control of the user accounts, the third party alert may not include links to the financial system. In some embodiments, a link may be provided in the third party alert that may be used to connect the third party to the user as directed by the user during set up of the third party alert system. For example, the third party alert may be a text message to a third party mobile device, where the message includes a live link to the user's phone number or e-mail address. In this manner while the third party cannot access or control the user accounts, the third party may be conveniently connected to the user.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the present invention may be embodied as a method (including, for example, a computer-implemented process, a business process, and/or any other process), apparatus (including, for example, a system, machine, device, computer program product, and/or the like), or a combination of the foregoing. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.), or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may generally be referred to herein as a “system.” Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-readable medium having computer-executable program code embodied in the medium. Any suitable transitory or non-transitory computer readable medium may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device. More specific examples of the computer readable medium include, but are not limited to, the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires; a tangible storage medium such as a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), or other optical or magnetic storage device.

The computer-executable program code may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that the code portions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block(s).

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