Methods systems and articles of manufacture for generating and displaying video related to financial application

Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for generating a video such that when another person views the video, the other person can view non-private information but not private information of the person who generated the video. A first interview screen is generated by a financial application and displayed to a first person or user of a financial application. The screen includes private data related to the first person such as a name, address and social security number of the first user or a relative of the first user, which may be entered by the first person or on behalf of the first person. A video of the interview screen is generated and may be transmitted over a network to a second person who may also utilize a financial application. The video is displayed to the second person, but the second person cannot view the private data related to the first person due to blurring or masking of the private data.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to videos and financial applications such as tax preparation applications for preparing electronic tax returns. Financial applications such as personal finance applications, accounting applications and tax preparation applications have become very popular and allow people to manage personal and/or business finances. For example, users of tax preparation applications such as a taxpayer or a tax professional can prepare and electronically file a tax return using a computer. Certain tax preparation applications present a list of tax-related questions and data entry fields to the user as a series of interview screens or finable forms in response to which the appropriate data or answers is entered if they are known. Interview screens and questions may involve non-private information such as a person's occupation and private or sensitive information such as a name (or portion thereof), an address, a social security number, and a date of birth of the person or someone in the person's family. Other interview screens and questions may relate to private or sensitive financial information such as wages, retirement plan contributions, and federal taxes that were paid or withheld as provided in Form-W2. A completed electronic tax return is formatted as necessary and electronically filed with a tax authority such as the Internal Revenue Service, a state tax authority or other tax collecting entity.

While finance applications such as tax preparation applications have greatly simplified finance management and preparation of tax returns, such applications can be improved. For example, a person who uses a tax preparation application may have a question or comment regarding a particular finance or tax issue or how to complete an interview screen or form that is presented to the user. One option is for the person to submit an e-mail or typed message to an on-line community or group or a technical support person. A member of the on-line community or technical support person may respond to the message with an e-mail or typed response addressing the question or comment.

One example of such interaction involves TurboTax®. TurboTax® is a registered trademark of Intuit, Inc. During preparation of the electronic tax return, a user of TurboTax® may present a question to members of Live Community, which is an on-line forum or community that allows TurboTax® users to submit questions and answers to other users, share TurboTax® information with other users, and review questions and answers submitted by other TurboTax® users. For example, as shownFIG. 1A, after a user launches and signs into Live Community, the user is presented with a screen, window or interface100that allows the user to type a question or comment into a data entry field102. After completing the question or comment, the user presses “Ask The Community”104to submit the text to Live Community. Other members of Live Community can review the question or comment and reply thereto with their own typed or text responses.

The question or comment may also be included in a topic list for other users to review. For example,FIG. 1Billustrates a screen or interface110of Live Community that includes a window or section112for a question or comment and a window or section114for an answer or response thereto. The screen110also includes a list116of topics of questions, comments and answers that can be searched or reviewed by members or users of Live Community.

Typed or e-mail communications may be suitable in certain situations, but there are times when a comment, question or answer is best communicated visually to other members of Live Community or other on-line forums such as YouTube®. YouTube® is a registered trademark of Google, Inc. For this purpose, a person can record a video of the interview screen that is the subject of the question or answer and post the video to the on-line video community. Other members of that video community can view posted video and respond thereto with their own text or video reply.

While video may provide for more effective audio and/or video communication, use of video, particularly in the context of financial applications such as tax preparation applications, presents a number of issues. For example, the video may include an interview screen or a portion of a tax return and that includes private or sensitive information when such information should not be or is ordinarily not disclosed to other people. For example, the video may include one or more of a name, an address, a phone number and a social security number of the person preparing the electronic tax return or someone in his or her family. Consequently, users of tax preparation applications and other financial applications that involve interview screens including private or sensitive information are understandably apprehensive about posting videos including their private or sensitive information to on-line video communities. Thus, video may not be used for this purpose in order to protect the user's privacy and guard against identity theft. Otherwise, someone posting a video with private or sensitive information takes the risk that another person who views the video and the private information therein will not improperly utilize or steal the private information. These restrictions and significant shortcomings and risks, therefore, limit the use of video to communicate comments, questions and answers involving private or sensitive information, thereby reducing the content and effectiveness of using video in the context of financial applications.

SUMMARY

One embodiment is directed to a method for processing a video related to a financial application. The method comprises displaying to a first person a first screen generated by a first financial application, the first screen comprising first data. The method further comprises generating a first video of the first screen such that a portion of the first data displayed on the first screen cannot be viewed by a second person when the first video is displayed to the second person.

A further embodiment is directed to an article of manufacture. The article of manufacture comprises a computer program carrier readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for processing a video related to a financial application. The method steps comprise displaying to a first person a first screen generated by a first financial application, the first screen comprising first data, and generating a first video of the first screen such that a portion of the first data displayed on the first screen cannot be viewed by a second person when the first video is displayed to the second person.

Another embodiment is directed to a system for processing a video related to a financial application. The system comprises a first computer and a second computer. The first computer comprises a first display and a first processor for executing a first financial application. The second computer is operably coupled to the first computer by a network and comprises a second display and a second processor. The first financial application is executable or operable to display to a first person utilizing the first computer a first screen comprising first data and to generate a first video of the first screen. The first video is generated such that a portion of the first data displayed on the first screen cannot be viewed by a second person utilizing the second computer when the first video is displayed to the second person.

In one or more embodiments, private or sensitive portions of the data are blurred or masked such that they cannot be viewed by another person when a video is displayed to the other person. This can be done during or after generation of the video. Private or sensitive data that may be blurred, masked, excluded or hidden in some other manner includes, but is not limited to, private financial data and private personal or personal identification data such as a name, an address, a phone number, a social security number and a date of birth.

In one or more embodiments, a financial application that is utilized with or that includes embodiments is a personal finance application, an accounting application or a tax preparation application. With a tax preparation application, for example, a portion of the data that is generated during preparation of an electronic tax return is not to be displayed to another person.

Certain embodiments are implemented on a computer, and other embodiments may involve transmitting the video to another user on a network. In certain embodiments, the first video is transmitted from the first computer utilized by the first person over a network to a second computer utilized by the second person. The first video is displayed to the second person, but not the private portions of data that were blurred or excluded from the first video. Blurring or masking of data may be done while a video is generated, or after the video is generated and transmitted to, e.g., an intermediate server, but before the video is displayed to another person such as a user of a second financial application such as a second personal finance application, a second accounting application or a second tax preparation application.

A second person, such as a user of a second financial application, may view the first video (having masked or blurred portions) prepared by the first person and respond to the first person. A response may be by text or e-mail. The response may also be a video. For example, a second user may view a second screen having second data generated by the second financial application. A second video of the second screen, e.g., a video generated in response to the first video), is generated such that a portion of the second data displayed on the second screen cannot be viewed by the first person when the second video is displayed to the first person. Blurring or masking of the second video can be performed during or after the second video is generated. The second video may be transmitted from a second computer utilized by the second person over the network to the first computer utilized by the first person and displayed to the first person.

In certain embodiments, the first video comprises one or more frames, each of which includes one or more fields for the first data. The first financial application is operable to tag one or more fields within one or more frames to indicate a portion of first data that is not to be viewed by the second person. Fields to be blurred or masked can be identified based at least in part upon a location of the tagged field within a frame. Fields to be blurred or masked can also be identified based at least in part upon an identifying attribute such as an outline, a pattern, a color, a brightness or other visual or identifying attribute of the field or portion or border thereof. In certain embodiments involving an identifying attribute and an on-line version of a financial application, a server that is operably coupled to a first computer comprises a second video processing element that is operable to mark a tagged field with an identifying attribute that is displayed on the first computer. The first video processing element on the first computer is operable to detect the identifying attribute to identify the tagged field and blur or mask the identified tagged field such that the portion of the first data is excluded from the first video and cannot be viewed by the second person.

Thus, with embodiments, a person who utilizes a financial application can generate videos while preventing private information from being displayed to other people who may or may not utilize a financial application. In this manner, more content rich video questions and answers can be transmitted while protecting private information in order to maintain privacy and reduce misappropriation of such information and identity theft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments are directed to utilizing video as a medium for questions, answers and remarks that are submitted during use of a financial application such as a personal finance application, an accounting application and a tax preparation application. Embodiments allow a person to generate and submit a video to an on-line community or other forum in order to more effectively explain a question, an answer or a comment while preventing other members of the on-line community or forum, who may or may not be users of a financial application, from viewing the person's private or sensitive information. Embodiments provide a smart video generation device that is aware of private or sensitive information presented within an interview screen generated by a financial application such that a video of the interview screen can be used to communicate questions, answers or remarks while simultaneously hiding, blurring or masking private information within the video such that only non-private information can be viewed by others. Thus, embodiments allow for a more content rich medium to be utilized to effectively allow a person who uses a financial application to communicate questions and comments to third parties or other members of an on-line or video community or forum while preventing such other users from viewing private or sensitive information of the person in order to protect the person's privacy and guard against identity theft.

Embodiments for generating videos can be implemented using desktop and/or on-line versions of a financial application. In certain embodiments, e.g., with desktop application, fields are internally tagged or identified using software to indicate that they have private information. When these fields are to be displayed, the locations of the tags or tagged fields within a frame are provided to a video processing element, which applies a selective blur or masking element or algorithm to the content of the fields at these locations during or after generation of a video such that the private data is excluded from the video.

In certain other embodiments, e.g., with desktop and on-line versions of a financial application, generating a video and blurring or masking of private data is performed by utilizing an identifying attribute, which is detected to identify a field for private data that is blurred or masked. For example, a video processing element on a server that hosts an on-line version of a financial application includes a video processing element that tags fields for private data. The video processing element also associates an identifying attribute to the tagged fields, e.g., by outlining a tagged field. A video processing or capture element on a computer of a user of the financial application detects the identifying attribute, and a blur or masking element or algorithm is applied to the fields associated with the identifying attribute. The video having the masked or blurred private data may then be viewed by others while the user's private data is masked or blurred and not visible to others. Embodiments are described in further detail with reference toFIGS. 2-18.

Referring toFIG. 2, one embodiment is directed to a method200for generating a video related to a financial application that excludes private information such that when the video is displayed, non-private data or information is displayed. However, personal identification information (PII) or private, confidential or sensitive data or information (generally referred to as “private” data or “private” information) is not displayed since it is excluded, not visible, hidden or blurred. The method200comprises displaying to a person or a user of a financial application an interview screen or form generated by the financial application at stage205. Data that is displayed to the person may include both non-private and private data. At stage210, a video of the interview screen is generated or recorded. With embodiments, certain portions of the video are masked or blurred during or after the video is generated such that private data related to the person is excluded from the video. At stage215, in certain embodiments involving a network, the video is transmitted over the network to another person. The other person may be a member of an on-line community or forum (who does not utilize a financial application), a member of a technical support team for the financial application or a second user of a second financial application, which may be the same as the first financial application. For ease of explanation, reference is made to a second person or user, but it should be understood that the video can be transmitted to various other people who may or may not utilize a financial application. Further, it should be understood that stage215is not necessary if the video is not transmitted over a network. At stage220, the video is displayed to the second person who views the non-private video data, but not the private data related to the first person since portions of the video corresponding to the private data were masked or blurred or made unreadable as a result of application of embodiments.

Further aspects of embodiments are described with reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, which illustrate a method300and a system400constructed according to certain embodiments for generating and displaying a video such that private portions of the video are excluded and not visible as a result or blurring or masking the private portions. At stage305, a first financial application412on a first computer410is launched or executed by a first person or user of a financial application411(generally referred to as first person411). According to one embodiment, the first financial application412is a personal finance application, one example of which is Quicken®. Quicken® is a registered trademark of Intuit Inc. According to another embodiment, the first financial application412is an accounting application, one example of which is QuickBooks®. QuickBooks® is also a registered trademark of Intuit Inc. According to another embodiment, the first financial application412is a tax preparation application, examples of which include TurboTax®, ProSeries® and Lacerte®, which are known consumer and professional tax preparation applications available from Intuit Inc., H&R Block TaxCut, available from H&R Block, Inc., Kansas City, Mo., and TaxACT®, available from 2ndStory Software, Inc. TurboTax®, ProSeries® and Lacerte® are registered trademarks of Intuit Inc., and TaxACT® is a registered trademark of 2ndStory Software, Inc. For ease of explanation, reference is made to a first tax preparation application, such as TurboTax®, as the first financial application412, but embodiments may be included within, utilized with, or adapted for use with, other financial applications412including, but not limited to, personal finance, accounting and tax preparation applications identified above.

As generally illustrated inFIG. 4, at stage310, one or more interview screens, pages or forms416(generally referred to as a first interview screen416) generated by the first tax preparation application412are displayed on a monitor418of the first computer410. At stage315, data417related to the first person411is entered into the interview screen416. The first person411may enter data417related to himself or herself (e.g., when using TurboTax®), or an accountant may enter data417related to the first person411(e.g., when using ProSeries®) on behalf of the first person411. In both cases, data417that is entered is related to the first person411and may include non-private data417npand/or private data417p. Further, data417related to the first person411, whether entered by the first person411or by his or her accountant, may involve the first person411and/or another person whose information is required in the electronic tax return such as a relative or a dependent of the first person411or another person included within the tax return414of the first person411. Such data is generally referred to as data417related to the first person411.

The data417may be defined or classified as non-private data417npor private data417pdepending on the first tax preparation application412utilized and/or preferences of the first person411. For example, the first tax preparation application412may be programmed to identify or tag certain data417or fields for data417as private417por non-private417np. The first person411may also select which types of data417should be classified as private417pand non-private417np.

According to one embodiment, private data417pis generally be considered to be personal or financial data that is normally maintained as secret or that is subject to minimal public disclosure (if any) in order to protect against misappropriation of such private data, e.g., to prevent identity theft. According to one embodiment, private data417prelated to the first person411includes private or sensitive personal information that uniquely identifies the first person411. Examples of private data417pinclude the first person's411name (or portion thereof, e.g., a last name), phone number, address, and social security number. Private data417related to the first person411may also include these types of private data of another person, relative or dependent that is included within the electronic tax return414of the first person411such as a child, a spouse, or other relative or dependent.

Private data417pmay also be defined as or include Personally Identifiable Information (PII), examples of which include of data417pfor which there are restrictions or laws against disclosure, e.g., as specified by certain accounting and tax codes and regulations such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Title 26 of the United States Code, e.g., Section 7126, which forbids disclosure of taxpayer data.

According to another embodiment, private data417prelated to the first person411includes private or sensitive financial data such as wages and investment income of the first person411or someone related to the first person411. Examples of non-private or less sensitive information may include whether the first person411is male or female, married, single or divorced, legally blind, in the military, etc. It should be understood that whether data417related to the first person411is classified as private417por non-private417npmay vary depending on the tax preparation application412utilized and preferences of the first person411.

In one embodiment, a tax preparation application412may be programmed to define certain types of data417as private. In another embodiment, the first person411may indicate that certain types of data417are private. The first person411may also indicate a privacy level of data, e.g., on a scale of 1-10, and data417that is ranked about a certain number, e.g., 5, is classified as private data417p. For example, a first person411may indicate that a social security number has a privacy ranking of 10 and is classified as private417p, whereas an occupation field has a lower ranking, e.g., 3, and is classified as non-private. For ease of explanation, reference is made to private data417pgenerally.

At stage320, a first video421of the first interview screen416is generated. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 4and with further reference toFIG. 5, the first video421is generated by execution of a video processing, capture or generation tool or element502(generally referred to as video capture element502) on the first computer410. In the illustrated embodiment, the video capture element502is a component of the tax preparation application412, but it may also be a separate program. The first video421that is generated using the video capture element502may also be stored in various locations on the first computer410or associated media or memory. Thus,FIG. 5is intended to generally illustrate that the first video421is generated by the video capture element502, which is a part of or associated with the tax preparation application412.

According to one embodiment, the first video421is a video of a static interview screen416. According to another embodiment, the first video421is a video of two or more interview screens416. According to a further embodiment, the first video421is a video of a dynamic or active interview screen, form or screen shot416in which the first person411shows how changes are made to the interview screen416, e.g., by entering or deleting data, checking or unchecking boxes and/or moving a cursor or pointer to navigate the interview screen416. According to a further embodiment, the first video421is a video of multiple dynamic or active interview screens416in which the first person411shows how changes are made to the interview screen416, e.g., by entering or deleting data, checking or unchecking boxes and/or moving a mouse to navigate between different screens, pages or windows. For example, the first video411may show the interview screen416, the first person411manipulating data and/or a cursor or pointer while verbally expressing a question or comment, and then advancing to the next interview screen416at which time the first person411can continue to verbally express the question or comment in conjunction with the interview screen416that is currently displayed. Thus, it should be understood that the first video421may include different numbers and types of interview screens416, some, none or all of which may include verbal remarks by the first person411, and some, none or all of which may include other action initiated by the first person411.

At stage325, private information417pof or related to the first person411is blurred, masked, hidden or covered during or after generation of the first video421such that it is excluded from the first video421. AlthoughFIG. 3shows blurring or masking of private data417as occurring after the first video421is generated, blurring or masking of private data417pmay also be performed in real time during generation of the first video421.

For this purpose, referring toFIG. 5, an engine504of the first tax preparation application412, e.g., the engine504a TurboTax® tax preparation application, accesses, stores or receives data506related to pre-determined locations, shapes and/or dimensions of fields510a-d(generally510) of data417a-d(generally417) that are internally marked, tagged, labeled or otherwise identified as private417p. According to one embodiment, private data417por associated fields510for private data417pare tagged or marked using software, e.g., with a flag such as a binary flag, which indicates whether data417is private417por non-private417np. Multiple flags may also be utilized. The first person411may also select which data417or fields510should be tagged as private417por provide input (e.g., by ranking data) for this purpose. For ease of explanation, reference is made generally to tagging or marking data or a field as private417p.FIG. 5illustrates software tags511within the engine504, but tags511may also be stored in memory or within another element of the tax preparation application412.

According to one embodiment, the engine504is a part of the TurboTax® tax preparation application412that, for example, defines tax forms and the relationships among tax forms. The engine504may also describe how each screen416should be laid out on the display418and how the screen416should appear when printed. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 5, the interview screen416includes four fields510a-d(generally510). Certain fields510hand510dare tagged511b,511d(generally511) as having respective private data417p(which is shown as being blurred or masked inFIG. 5). While these software tags511are not actually displayed on the monitor418(since they are internal software tags511within the engine504of the first tax preparation application412), they are shown inFIG. 5to generally illustrate that certain fields510are marked511to indicate that the field is for private data417p. One or more other fields510aand510care not tagged in this manner, or are tagged using software to indicate that the fields510a,510care for non-private data417np. The non-private data417npis visible and generally illustrated inFIG. 5as “ABC” and “123”. Data506related to the locations, shapes and/or dimensions of tagged private data fields510band510dis provided to the video capture element502via the engine504. The video capture element502generates the first video421and applies a blur or mask element or algorithm508to the tagged private data fields510band510dduring or after generation of the first video421, i.e., within the locations of the first video421identified by the private field data506related to the tagged private data fields510band510d.

FIG. 6provides a more detailed example in which system components illustrated inFIG. 5are applied to an interview screen416that includes the following fields: non-private first name510a, private last name510b, non-private date of birth510c, private social security number fields510d-f, non-private occupation field510g, private telephone number fields510hj, private address field510k, private state field510l, private zip code field510m, non-private marital status field510nand non-private military field510o. Similar to the fields illustrated inFIG. 5, private data fields510b,510d-f,510h-jand510l-mare tagged511a,511d-f,511h-jand511l-mby software as having respective private data417p, whereas other fields510a,510c,510g,510n-oare not so tagged or are tagged as having respective non-private data417np. As described above, the software tags511are not actually displayed on the monitor418(since they are internal software tags511within the engine504), but are shown inFIG. 6to generally illustrate that certain fields510are tagged511to indicate that the field is for private data417p.

Data506related to the location, shape and/or dimensions of the private data fields510b,510d-f,510h-jand510l-mis provided to the video capture element502. The video capture element502generates the first video421and applies a blur or mask element or algorithm508to the tagged private data fields511a,511d-f,511h-jand511l-mduring or after generation of the first video421, i.e., within the locations of the first video421identified by the private field data506related to the tagged private data fields511a,511d-f,511h-jand511l-m.

As shown inFIG. 6, data or information may be represented as one or multiple elements, e.g., one or multiple words or strings of alpha-numeric characters. For example, a name, a social security number and a telephone number are illustrated as having multiple fields510for different segments or terms, e.g., for first and last name, or for different groups of numbers. In other embodiments, such groups of terms or numbers may be defined to be a single field510, e.g., similar to the date of birth field510cillustrated inFIG. 6. Thus, it should be understood that information may be included within one or multiple fields510depending on the field510structure that is employed, andFIGS. 5 and 6are provided as general examples of how embodiments may be implemented.

According to one embodiment, with reference toFIGS. 6-8, data506of the location, shape and/or dimensions of a tagged511private data field510containing private or sensitive information417prelative to the screen416or other fields510within a frame of a video421are known. The blur or masking element508is applied to these tagged511fields.FIGS. 7-8illustrate one example involving private social security number fields510d-f(as shown inFIG. 6) and how the location, shape and/or size (width and height) of these private data fields510d-fand other fields510for private data417pwithin the screen416or frame can be determined, e.g., relative to other content and/or relative to reference point within an x-y coordinate system. Such embodiments may be useful when private data fields510appear at the same location within an interview screen416or frame, or are the same shape, size and location within the interview screen416or frame relative to other fields or content that is displayed.

For this purpose, field location, shape and/or dimension data506may identify one or more or all of the corner or boundary points702of each marked field510, the height or y coordinates of each marked field510, and the width or x coordinates of each marked field510. The tax preparation application engine504provides the field data506to the video capture element502, which generates or records the first video421and applies the blur or mask algorithm508to one or more pixels or segments704of the marked private data fields510defined by the boundaries or dimensions determined by the data506. In other words, a video includes a plurality of frames (still video images), which have one or more fields510. One or more fields510having private data417pare blurred or masked based on the location506of these fields510within a frame or screen. In this manner, the first video421generated by the video capture element502contains non-private data417npbut not private data417pthat is blurred or masked508according to embodiments.

In certain embodiments, referring again toFIGS. 3-4, at stage330, the first person411selects an on-line community or technical support forum (generally referred to as on-line community and illustrated as server430) to which the first video421is submitted over a network440aat stage335. The network440aand other networks discussed herein may be various suitable networks including, for example, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a wireless network, and other suitable networks. For ease of explanation, reference is made to a network generally, but various networks may be utilized, and other networks discussed herein may be the same or different type of network.

FIG. 4illustrates an embodiment in which the first video421transmitted from the first computer410to the server430that is shared with other people who may or may not utilize a financial application.FIG. 4illustrates one embodiment in which a second user or member451utilizes a second computer450and a second tax preparation application452for preparing a second electronic tax return454. However, embodiments may involve, two, three, four and other numbers of on-line community members, and the illustrated embodiment involving two users411,451is provided for purposes of illustration and ease of explanation.

According to one embodiment, the on-line community or server430is a community associated with the tax preparation such as TurboTax®, e.g., Live Community that is configured to allow the first person411to generate and transmit a video421rather than only text or written communication. Embodiments may also involve other types of on-line video communities and video sharing forums such as YouTube®.

At stage340, the first video421is accessed or downloaded from the video or community server430by the second person451who uses the second computer450via a network440b. The first video421is displayed on a second display458and viewed by the second person451. As discussed above, the first video421is displayed to the second person451, but the private data417prelated to the first person411is blurred or masked as a result of application of the blur or mask element508. Thus, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 9, the second person451is able to view the first video421having only the non-private information417npof the first person411, but not the private information417psince the private information417pis masked or blurred.

AlthoughFIG. 4illustrates an embodiment involving a second person451who utilizes a second financial application452, in other embodiments, the second person451using the second computer450does not utilize a second financial application452. Instead, the second person451may view the first video421using a web browser that executes on the second computer450and/or a video program such as YouTube®. Thus,FIG. 4is provided to illustrate one example of how embodiments may be implemented.

After viewing the first video421, the second user451may respond to the first person411with a typed or e-mail response. In an alternative embodiment, referring toFIGS. 10-12, the second person451may generate his or her own video422(referred to as a “second video”422) of one or more interview screens, pages or forms456(generally referred to as a second interview screen456) generated by the second tax preparation application452, and send the second video422to the first person411. The second interview screen456may include non-private data457npand private data457p(generally data457) related to the second person451. Data457of or related to the second person451may be the same types of data as described above with reference to the first person411. According to one embodiment, system and method embodiments described with reference toFIGS. 3-9for generating the first video421and blurring or making private information417prelated to the first person411are applied to generate the second video422. In this manner, private information457pof the second person451is also blurred or masked such that the private information457pis excluded from the second video422. Blurring or masking of the private information457can be performed during or after generating of the second video422. In this manner, with embodiments, each person411,451can view a video421,422generated by the other, but neither person411,451can view private data417p,457pof the other person since the respective private data417p,457pof the respective persons411,451is masked or blurred according to embodiments.

Thus, referring toFIG. 10and with further reference toFIGS. 11 and 12, one embodiment of a method1000for generating and submitting a second video422to the first person411in response to the first video421presented by the first person411comprises launching or executing a second tax preparation application452on a second computer450at stage1005, and generating one or more interview screens or forms456that are displayed on a second monitor458of the second computer450at stage1010. At stage1015, the second interview screen45is populated, e.g., by the second person451entering data457into the second interview screen456. The data457may be non-private data457npand/or private data457p. At stage1020, the second video422of one or more second interview screens456is generated, and a blur or mask element or algorithm (as described with reference toFIGS. 3-9utilizing software tags) is applied to private data fields457pof the second video422at stage325, which may be during or after generation of the second video422.

The second video422illustrated inFIG. 11may be generated by execution of a second video processing, capture or generation element (as described with reference toFIGS. 3-9and shown inFIG. 5), which may be a component of the second tax preparation application452and may be stored in various locations on the second computer410or associated media or memory. Thus,FIG. 11is intended to generally illustrate that the second video422is generated, and the video capture element502, the engine504, private field data506, blur or masking element508and tags511described with reference to the first video421may be utilized to generate the second video422and to mask, hide or blur private information457pof the second person451to exclude this private information457pfrom the second video422. Therefore, descriptions of the components illustrated inFIG. 5are not repeated.

At stage1030, the second person451selects an on-line community or technical support forum (generally referred to as on-line community and illustrated as server430) to which the second video422is submitted over a network440bat stage1035. At stage1040, the second video422is accessed or downloaded from the video or community server430to the first computer410via a network440a. As generally illustrated inFIG. 12, the second video422is displayed to the first person411while masking, blurring, hiding or covering the private data457prelated to the second person451. Thus, with embodiments, the first person411may generate a first video421, which can be transmitted to and viewed by the second person451while hiding, blurring or masking private data417pof or related to the first person411, and the second person451may generate a second video422, which can be transmitted to and viewed by the first person411while hiding, blurring or masking private data457pof or related to the second person451. Embodiments may also be applied to other numbers of users.

FIGS. 13A-Gillustrate screen shots and user interfaces that may be used to implement embodiments using Live Community (TurboTax®) that is configured for video and/or typed communications rather than only typed communication (as shown inFIGS. 1A-B). In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 13A, the interface or window1300includes a data entry field102that allows a first person411to type a question or comment, which may be transmitted to the community430by pressing “Ask the Community”104as described with reference toFIGS. 1A-B. Other members or users of Live Community430may reply to the question with their own text response. With embodiments, the first person411can also generate a first video421by selecting “Record your question”1302. As discussed above, embodiments can be implemented such that the private data417pof the first person411is excluded from the first video421by masking or blurring508the private data417psuch that the private data417pcannot be viewed by other persons or users of a financial application.

Referring toFIG. 13B, in the illustrated example, the first person411is preparing a first electronic tax return414on a first computer410by completing questions and navigating one or more interview screens416. In this example, the first person411has a question or comment regarding the first interview screen416illustrated inFIG. 13Band launches the Live Community interface or window1300. The first person411may move the cursor1304to “Record Your Question”1302to generate a video121with the question or comment.

Upon selecting “Record Your Question”1302, the video capture element502(FIGS. 4-6) is executed to generate the first video421of one or more interview screens416(FIG. 13C). Another interface, window or icon (not illustrated inFIG. 13C) may be used to terminate generation of the first video421. As discussed above with reference toFIGS. 2-9, the engine504of the first tax preparation application412accesses or receives field location, shape and/or dimension data506such that the first video521that is generated blurs or masks previously identified or tagged511private data fields510.

Referring toFIG. 13D, having generated the first video421, the first person411is presented with an interface or screen1320that allows the first person411to select a video forum or community430to which the first video421will be posted. In the illustrated embodiment, the first person411may select Live Community1321, Technical Support1322(e.g., TurboTax® or Intuit Technical support) or YouTube®1323. Other video forums or communities may also be utilized, but these three video options are provided as illustrative examples of how embodiments may be implemented. In the illustrated embodiment, the first person411has selected Live Community1321, and the first video421that was generated is posted to Live Community or server430by pressing “Submit”1324. Other users or members of Live Community430may then access or download and view the first video421.

For example, referring toFIG. 13E, a second or other user451may download or access the first video421generated by a first person411(screen name “k716” inFIG. 13E) by pressing “play”1330. Upon viewing the first video421, the second person451can respond to the first person411by typing or e-mailing an answer and pressing “submit an answer”1332and/or generating his or her video (second video422) by pressing “Video Response”1334.

By pressing “Video Response”1334, the second user451generates a second video422utilizing video capture, engine, field data and blur/mask elements as described above. In the illustrated embodiment, the second video422includes two interview screens1340and1350and accompanying verbal remarks by the second user451to address the question presented in the first video421generated by the first person411. More particularly, as shown inFIGS. 13F-G, fields1341b,1341d,1341f,1341nand1341qand fields1351cand1351fhaving private data457prelated to the second user451are masked or blurred, whereas other data fields1341a,1341c,1341e,1341g-m,1341o,1341pand1341rand1351a-b, and1351d-eare defined or selected as non-private457npand not blurred or masked. The second video422is submitted to the community server430, and when the second video422is downloaded or accessed and played by the first person411, the first person411will only be able to see the non-private data457npin fields1341a,1341c,1341e,1341g-m,1341o,1341pand1341rand1351a-b, and1351d-eand not private data45′7pin fields1341b,1341d,1341f,1341nand1341qand fields1351cand1351f.

Referring again toFIGS. 4 and 11, when the first and second electronic tax returns414,454are completed, they can be electronically filed with a tax authority470, such as the Internal Revenue service, a state tax authority, or other tax collecting entity. The first and second computers410,450are operably coupled to an electronic filing system or server460by respective networks440c,440d. The electronic filing system or server460serves as a “clearing house” for an electronic tax return414,454that is ready to be transmitted via network440eto the tax authority470and to process acknowledgements and other data received from the tax authority470and to route related information back to the tax preparer. One example of an electronic filing server460as shown inFIGS. 4 and 11is a server of Intuit Inc., e.g., a server of the Intuit Electronic Filing Center. Other examples of electronic filing servers460include electronic filing servers utilized by TaxCut and TaxACT® tax return preparation applications.

While certain embodiments are described with reference to tax preparation applications that execute on a desktop computer, other embodiments may involve an on-line version of a tax preparation application or other financial application. For example, with reference toFIG. 14, in a system1400constructed according to another embodiment, the first person411who uses the first computer410that generates the first video211may do so by accessing an on-line tax preparation application1414on a website1412. The website1412is hosted by a server1410and accessible through a network440futilizing a web browser1420on the first computer410. The server1410is also operably coupled to the electronic filing server460via a network440g. Examples of web browsers1420that may be utilized for this purpose include Internet Explorer®, Netscape Navigator®, Firefox® and Safari® browsers. Internet Explorer® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation, Netscape Navigator® is a registered trademark of Netscape Communications Corporation, Firefox® is a registered trademark of Mozilla Foundation, and Safari® is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc.

With further reference toFIG. 15, a method1500for generating a video that excludes private data417pof a person using an on-line financial application1414such that another person or user cannot view the private data involves blurring or masking private data417pby physically marking, e.g., outlining, tagged field(s)510for private data417pusing a pre-determined color or other visible or identifying attribute. These attributes or visual differences are used to visually identify or detect the private data fields that should be blurred or masked, and then a first video421having private data417pexcluded by blurring or masking the outlined fields is sent to a community server430. Thus, certain video processing elements apply an outline or other attribute to tagged private data fields, whereas other video processing or capture elements generate a video by blurring or masking the outlined fields.

More particularly, at stage1505, video processing elements1416of the first tax preparation application1414on the server1410are operable or executable to change the way certain fields510for private data417will be displayed by physically marking or outlining data fields510tagged for private data417p. The tagged private data fields may be identified or outlined with a pre-determined color, pattern, brightness, or other identifying attribute, e.g., by changing pixels of the outline or border of a tagged field510. According to one embodiment, the video processing element1416is operable to outline a boundary or outer section of a private data field510in red to visually indicate that the tagged field510is for private data417p.

At stage1510, the first person411utilizing the first computer410launches the web browser1420on the first computer410. At stage1515, the first person411accesses the on-line first tax preparation application1414residing on the website1412hosted by the server1410and that is used to prepare a first electronic tax return414. At stage1520, web pages of interview screens416are displayed418to the first person411. The web pages that are displayed include the tagged fields510that are outlined in red as a result of application of video processing elements1416on the server1410to indicate that these fields510are for private data417p.

At stage1525, the first person411populates the fields of the interview screen416with data417that may include private data417pand non-private data417np. At stage1530, video processing components1417of the browser1420on the first computer410are operable or executable to detect the red outline or other identifying attribute generated by the video processing element1416and displayed to the first person411. At stage1535, the video processing or capture element1417is operable or executable to generate the first video421, and during or after generation of the first video421, at stage1540, a blur or mask (e.g., as shown inFIG. 5), is applied to the fields510outlined in red to blur or mask the private data417pwithin these outlined fields510. Thus, rather than blurring or masking private data fields based on their locations within a screen or frame, other embodiments detect an outline or other visual attribute to determine which fields should be blurred or masked.

In certain embodiments, at stage1545, the first video421is transmitted from the first computer410to the video community server430via network440a. If necessary, the video community server430may also include video processing components1419to selectively blur or mask data within the red outlined fields510of the video421generated by the video processing element1417on the first computer410. Blurring or masking of the red outlined fields510may be done by the first computer410, the server430, or by another server operably coupled between the first computer410and the second computer450, e.g., another server between the first computer410and the video community server430and the second computer450. At stage1550, a second person or a second user421of a second tax preparation application452can access and view the first video421. For this purpose, the first video421can be viewed by the second person451using a known web browser and/or other video program on the second computer450. In an alternative embodiment, the tax preparation application452may include its own video playing software1457.

At stage1555, the second person451can respond to the first video421generated by the first person411. According to one embodiment, stage1555involves the second person451submitting a typed or e-mail message to the first person411, e.g., using a data entry box102as shown inFIG. 1A. This type of response can be made by a second person451that does not utilize a second financial application452or a second person451that uses a second financial application452(as shown inFIG. 14). According to another embodiment, stage1555involves the second person451generating a second video422using video processing or capture elements1457of a second tax preparation application452and submitting a video response to the first person411, e.g., as described above with reference toFIGS. 10-12. In this embodiment, the second interview screen456may include non-private data457npand private data457p(generally data457) related to the second person451, and video processing elements1457are utilized to generate a second video422in which portions having private data45′7pare excluded from the second video422by blurring or masking the private data457. In this manner, each person411,451can view a video421,422generated by the other, but neither person411,451can view private data417p,457pof the other person since the private data417p,457pof the users411,451is masked or blurred according to embodiments.

Methods that are the same as or similar to those methods described above with reference toFIGS. 2-15may also be utilized in the system1600illustrated inFIG. 16, in which the second person451who uses the second computer410, rather than the first person411who uses the first computer410, accesses a second tax preparation application1614on a website1612. The tax preparation application1614is accessed through a network440iutilizing the web browser1620on the second computer450. The tax preparation application1614or another element on the server1610has video processing components1616that are operable to outline fields for private data457p. The outlined fields are detected or identified by a video processing or generation element1516, which blurs or masks private data457pwithin the outlined fields. The server1610is also in communication with an electronic filing server460via network440j. Methods that are the same as or similar to those method described above with reference toFIGS. 2-15may also be utilized in the system1700illustrated inFIG. 17, in which both the first person411and the second person451who utilize on-line versions of their respective tax preparation applications.

A typical computing device1800in which embodiments may be implemented or that may be included in embodiments (e.g., as computers or servers410,430,450) includes a memory1810, program instructions1812, a processor or controller1820, a network or communications interface1830, and connections or interconnect1840between such components. For example, the memory1810may be or include one or more of cache, RAM, ROM, SRAM, DRAM, RDRAM, EEPROM and other types of memory. A tax preparation application and a tax return may be stored in the memory1810of a computer410,450, and the tax preparation application can be executed by a processor unit1820. The processor unit1820may be or include multiple processors, a single threaded processor, a multi-threaded processor, a multi-core processor, or other type of processor. Depending on the particular system component (e.g., whether the component is a computer or a hand held mobile communications device), the interconnect1840may include a system bus, LDT, PCI, ISA, or other types of buses, and the communications or network interface may, for example, be an Ethernet interface, a Frame Relay interface, or other interface. The network interface1830may be configured to enable a system component to communicate with other system components across a network. Accordingly, the system configuration provided inFIG. 18is provided for ease of explanation and illustration to generally illustrate system components that may be utilized in various embodiments.

Method embodiments may also be embodied in, or readable from, a computer-readable medium or carrier, e.g., one or more of the fixed and/or removable data storage data devices and/or data communications devices connected to a computer. Carriers may be, for example, magnetic storage medium, optical storage medium and magnetooptical storage medium. Examples of carriers include, but are not limited to, a floppy diskette, a memory stick or a flash drive, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-ROM, DVD-R, and DVD-RW. The processor1820performs steps or executes program instructions1812within memory1810and/or embodied on the carrier to implement method embodiments.

Although particular embodiments have been shown and described, it should be understood that the above discussion is not intended to limit the scope of these embodiments. While embodiments and variations of the many aspects of the invention have been disclosed and described herein, such disclosure is provided for purposes of explanation and illustration only. Thus, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

For example, although embodiments are described with reference to an electronic tax return, embodiments may be applicable to blur or mask private data in other financial applications including personal finance and accounting applications. Further, embodiments may be applicable to blur or mask private data in databases such as certain government databases, student loan databases, on-line banking, and other applications that may utilize video as a communication medium.

It should also be understood that the various networks and associated communications interfaces described in the specification may be the same or different and may be, for example, a LAN, a WAN, a wireless and/or a cellular network.

Further, although certain embodiments involving outlining or marking a field for private data using a video processing element are described with reference to on-line tax preparation application and a server, these embodiments may also be utilized with desktop tax preparation applications. Thus, in certain embodiments, internal software tags are utilized with both desktop and on-line versions of financial applications, and in certain embodiments, video processing elements may mark a field with an identifying attribute (such as an outline, color, etc.), which is used to detect the fields that should be blurred or masked.

Moreover, it should be understood that embodiments can be applied to selectively blur or mask various types of private and non-private data, and that types of data that are classified or defined as private data can be programmed into a financial application or selected by a user of the financial application.

Accordingly, embodiments are intended to exemplify alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that may fall within the scope of the claims.