Abstract:
A computer program product, system and method are disclosed for aggregating expenses incurred by members of a group of commonly acquainted parties (the parties comprising individuals, entities, or organizations), and for collecting pro rated funds from each member. The parties are brought into communication by a computerized central managing forum, communicating via a network, which acts as a fiduciary of the parties and uses a uniquely configured data processing device which prompts the interconnected parties to remit pro rated payments of digitized bills stored and made digitally available by the central managing forum to the parties. Members network and generate pictures that are pertinent to products or services that benefit the collective. Merchants analyze personal information of members, and networking activity between members to provide discount offers accordingly. Additional embodiments of the invention include a uniquely configured classified listing service, and notification service for special consumer offers.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. nonprovisional application Ser. No. 13/171,219 and entitled ENTERPRISE SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR AGGREGATING AND PRO RATING EXPENSES ACROSS MEMBERS OF A NETWORKED VIRTUAL COLLECTIVE, which nonprovisional application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to online banking, and more particularly relates to a method, system and computer program product for managing, collecting and distributing expenses incurred by socially networked members of a group from one another, and facilitating efficient commercial transactions between them, including transaction arising from classified ads and discount coupon offers. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Recent developments in the industry of banking and classified advertising include business models such as eBay®, PayPal®, FaceBook®, and Groupon®. Each of the websites managed by these organizations bring networked individuals into contact with another for the purpose of marketing goods and/or services, and/or effectuating financial transactions between them. 
         [0006]    Although developments in the art teach means of billing and collecting debts incurred by consumers in commercial transactions, these developments do not teach efficient means of billing commonly-acquainted, socially networked members of a group for their respective pro rata shares of expenses benefiting the group as a whole, nor do presently existing models teach means of facilitating the reimbursement of expenses fronted by one individual of group from associated third-parties. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, those online business that archive searchable classified ads, and those that market time-limited discount offers, do not provide integrated means of effectuating payment for contracts made between consumers. Rather, these sites redirect consumers to third-party sites which handle the payment transfers, such as PayPal®. 
         [0008]    There exists a need in the industry for a fully integrated model. The present invention discloses means of aggregating bills tendered to members of a group of commonly acquainted parties (the parties comprising individuals, entities, or organizations), then of billing and collecting pro rated funds from each member of the collective. Additional embodiments of the invention include a uniquely configured classified listing service, and notification service for special consumer offers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for an enterprise system, method and computer program product for aggregating and pro rating expenses across members of a networked virtual collective. The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art; and, in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available methods, systems and apparatus, and that overcome many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in the art. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide an enterprise system and computer program product for aggregating and pro rating expenses across members of a networked virtual collective. 
         [0010]    Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention. 
         [0011]    A computer program product, system and method are disclosed for aggregating expenses incurred by members of a group of commonly acquainted parties (the parties comprising individuals, entities, or organizations), and for collecting pro rated funds from each member. The parties are brought into communication by a computerized central managing forum, communicating via a network, which acts as a fiduciary of the parties and uses a uniquely configured data processing device which prompts the interconnected parties to remit pro rated payments of digitized bills stored and made digitally available by the central managing forum to the parties. Members network and generate pictures that are pertinent to products or services that benefit the collective. Merchants analyze personal information of members, and networking activity between members to provide discount offers accordingly. Additional embodiments of the invention include a uniquely configured classified listing service, and notification service for special consumer offers. 
         [0012]    The present invention discloses a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer usable program code executable to perform operations for distributing expenses to a commonly-acquainted collective. The operations of the computer program product comprise: incorporating a plurality of members into a virtual collective by storing voluntarily uploaded personal information for each member in computer readable memory, the personal information comprising one or more of name, email address, phone number, and banking information; receiving a payment request uploaded into computer readable memory from one member of the collective for an expense via a network; generating one or more of a picture that is pertinent to the expense via the wireless network, the pertinent picture uploaded into computer readable memory from one member of the collective for the expense incurred for the benefit of the collective; and dividing the expense pro rata among the members of the collective. 
         [0013]    The operations further comprise prompting electronically via the network each member of the collective to pay a pro rata share of the expense; sending a virtual bill via email to each member of the collective; networking among the members of the collective to review the expense and the pertinent picture; 
         [0014]    The operations further comprise receiving an electronic payment of a pro rata share from each of a plurality of the members of the collective; maintaining a running tally of payment amounts received from members of the collective; notifying each member via the network of the collective of the gross total of collective payments received which are associated with the expense; reminding non-paying members of the user group to pay. 
         [0015]    The operations further comprise analyzing, by a merchant, the voluntarily uploaded personal information for each member, and the networking interactions among the members; and providing a discount offer to the paying members based on the analysis. 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, the operations further comprise remitting all payments received and associated with the expense to the member uploading the payment request. In still further embodiments, the operations further comprise creating a sub-collective comprising a plurality of the members, each of the members of the sub-collective associated with one of: a common commercial venture and a common recreational activity. 
         [0017]    In other embodiments, the operations further comprise maintaining a banking account balance for each member of the collective, the balance exclusively accessible by a member of the collective associated with the balance. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, the network comprises a wireless cellular network, while in other embodiments, each of the members are notified via one of computer terminal and a smart cellular phone. 
         [0019]    In additional embodiments, the operations further comprise receiving a classified ad from a member via an upload, the classified ad comprising one or more of a picture of a tangible good and contact information for the member, the contact information comprising one or more of name, email address, and telephone number; providing a searchable database of all classified ads received by members; and facilitating the transfer of money between the member uploading the classified ad and a purchaser. 
         [0020]    In still further embodiments, the operations further comprise: receiving a discount offer via an upload from a member, the discount offer comprising one or more of an offer to sell a consumer good exclusively to members, the offer comprising a price that is less than a price charged to non-members, the price exclusively available to members; allowing members to purchase the consumer good for the price; and transferring money from a member buying the consumer good to a member responsible for the upload. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, each of the members may be assigned a pay percentage value, the pay percentage value identifying the percentage of the expense for which each respective member is responsible. 
         [0022]    A system to perform operations for distributing expenses to a commonly-acquainted collective is also disclosed, the system comprising: a processor; a data storage means for storing data; an incorporator module configured to incorporate a plurality of members into a virtual collective by storing voluntarily uploaded personal information for each member in computer readable memory, the personal information comprising one or more of name, email address, phone number, and banking information; a receiver module configured to receive a payment request uploaded into computer readable memory from one member of the collective for an expense via a network; and a divider module configured to divide the expense pro rata among the members of the collective. 
         [0023]    The system further comprises a prompter module configured to prompt electronically via the network each member of the collective to pay a pro rata share of the expense; a payer module configured to receive an electronic payment of a pro rata share from each of a plurality of the members of the collective; a maintainer module configured to maintain a running tally of payment amounts received from members of the collective; a notifier module configured to notify each member via the network of the collective of the gross total of collective payments received which are associated with the expense; and a reminder module configured to remind non-paying members of the user group to pay. 
         [0024]    The system may also comprise a remitter module configured to remit all payments received and associated with the expense to the member uploading the payment request. 
         [0025]    The system may additionally comprise a creator module configured to create a sub-collective comprising a plurality of the members, each of the members of the sub-collective associated with one of: a common commercial venture and a common recreational activity. 
         [0026]    The network may comprise a wireless cellular network. Each of the members may be notified via one of computer terminal and a smart cellular phone. 
         [0027]    The system may further comprise: an ad module configured to receive a classified ad from a member via an upload, the classified ad comprising one or more of a picture of a tangible good and contact information for the member, the contact information comprising one or more of name, email address, and telephone number; a provider module configured to provide a searchable database of all classified ads received by members; and a facilitator module configured to facilitate the transfer of money between the member uploading the classified ad and a purchaser. 
         [0028]    The system may further comprise: an offer module configured to receive a discount offer via an upload from a member, the discount offer comprising one or more of an offer to sell a consumer good exclusively to members, the offer comprising a price that is less than a price charged to non-members, the price exclusively available to members; an allower module configured to allow members to purchase the consumer good for the price; and a money module configured to transfer money from a member buying the consumer good to a member responsible for the upload. 
         [0029]    These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]    In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0031]      FIG. 1  is an entity-relationship diagram illustrating one embodiment of a system to perform operations for distributing expenses to commonly-acquainted members of a collective in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  is an entity-relationship diagram illustrating one embodiment of a system to perform operations for distributing expenses to commonly-acquainted members of collective in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating one method for distributing expenses to commonly-acquainted members of a collective in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating components of one embodiment of an apparatus for distributing expenses to commonly-acquainted members of a collective; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  is a layout of browser manipulated by one embodiment of the present invention for distributing expenses to commonly-acquainted members of a collective in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0037]    The described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. The apparatus modules recited in the claims may be configured to impart the recited functionality to the apparatus. 
         [0038]      FIG. 1  is an entity-relationship diagram illustrating one embodiment of a system  100  to perform operations for distributing expenses to commonly-acquainted members of a collective in accordance with the present invention. The entities in the system  100  comprise consumers  102   a - c , merchants  104   a - c , a wireless network  106 , a bill  108 , and a server  110 . 
         [0039]    The server  110  comprises a system or computer program running on one or more data processing devices (DPDs), such as a server, computer workstation, router, mainframe computer, or the like. In various embodiments, the DPD comprises one or more processors. The processor is a computing device well-known to those in the art and may include an application-specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”). 
         [0040]    The server  110 , in the shown embodiment, comprises a database management system (DBMS) or relational database management system (RDBMS), such as Oracle, SQL, FireBird, IBM DB2®, or the like. In the shown embodiment, one or more individuals access or login to an account they have with the server  110 . These individuals upload personal identifying information which they use to create an account with the server  110 , which account membership information is stored in computer readable database memory accessible by server  110 . 
         [0041]    The personal identifying information is stored in a database; and comprises identifying information, such as name, address, email, telephone, IP address information, age, address, gender, banking information, credit rating, email, telephone number, income, and education. 
         [0042]    In the present invention, the server  110  interconnects one or more members  102  and/or merchants  104  through means known to those of skill in the art, including a website accessible over a wireless network  106  such as the Internet. 
         [0043]    The server  110  may, in typical embodiments, be in logical communication with consumers  102  through a networked environment, such as local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN). 
         [0044]    It is an object of the present invention to provide means for consumers  102  to share expenses incurred by a group (i.e. collective) of which they form part, which expenses are incurred by, or benefit, the collective as a whole. For instance, consumers  102  belonging to a family unit vacationing out of town may wish to share expenses across the family unit. Likewise friends vacationing may wish to do the same. Co-owners of a home may wish to split a home payment, and tenants may wish to split a mortgage or lease payment, either pro rata or non-pro rata. In yet another example, members  102  sharing a meal may wish to split the cost of the meal immediately at the table pro rata. 
         [0045]    In essence, members  102  may easily build a safe social payment network  106  to pay and collect money from friends and family in the network  106  in real time and on a mobile platform. The members  102  may communicate readily with each other to split payments, discuss products and services, approve and disapprove transactions, and check on their transaction history. An integrated web browser also allows the members  102  to share links and propose group activities. 
         [0046]    In accordance with the present invention, each of the members  102   a - c  of a collective of commonly-acquainted consumers  102   a - c  may pay only their share of an expense incurred by the collective using the method, system and computer program product recited below. In one embodiment, the computer program product (which comprises a computer readable medium having computer usable program code that is executable) performs operations for distributing expenses to a commonly-acquainted collective. The operations of the computer program product comprise, in some embodiments, incorporating a plurality of members  102   a - c  into a virtual collective by storing voluntarily uploaded personal information for each member  102  in computer readable memory, the personal information comprising one or more of name, email address, phone number, and banking information. 
         [0047]    Consumers  102  become “incorporated” after registering with the server  110  and provided personal identifying information thereto, including one or more of name, email address, banking routing number, bank account number, IP address, and the like. 
         [0048]    In the shown embodiments, once a consumer  102  has been incorporated by the server  110 , the consumer  102  may be prompted to join of collective. Consumers  102  may search for collectives by name, or start a new collective and invite acquaintances by name to join. These acquaintances may comprise personal and professional acquaintances with whom the consumer  102  maintains personal and/or professional relationships. The consumer  102  is thus first incorporated, then joined into a collective, before being able to share expenses incurred by the collective. 
         [0049]    The consumers  102  may also be in communication with each other through the wireless network  106 . Through the network  106 , the consumers  102  may discuss, review, and share information pertinent to expenses incurred by a group (i.e. collective) of which they form part, which expenses are incurred by, or benefit, the collective as a whole. 
         [0050]    Incorporated consumers  102  (i.e. members) are brought into social contact with one another. These incorporated consumers  102  can chat with one another using means known to those of skill in the art. These consumers  102  can message one another using email via means known to those of skill in the art, and these members  102   a  can notify other members  102   b  of their collective of special offers  112  on tangible consumer goods for sale, and/or their willingness to pay expenses about to be incurred by the collective via the actions of one or members  102   b  of the collective. 
         [0051]    The consumers  102  communicate in the wireless network  106  using data processing devices (DPDs), which, in the preferred embodiment, comprise smart phones including iPhone, Android, Palm Pilots®, and the like. These DPDs may even comprise digital cameras or laptops, etc. 
         [0052]    Consumers  102 , in some embodiments, may upload, or transfer, discount offers  112  and/or classified ads and/or money transfer orders to the server  110 . The consumers  102  may make these uploading, or transfer these instructions, using means known to those of skill in the art, including variations of the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP), Post Office Protocol (POP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), or other protocols. 
         [0053]    Consumers  102 , in some embodiments, may generate one or more of a picture  114  that is pertinent to the expense incurred by the group. The picture  114  may be shared on the network  106 . Those skilled in the art, will recognize that visualization of as products and services shared by the group of consumers  102   a - c , through the use of pictures  114  may help facilitate payment, as consumers  102  are visually reminded of the collective benefit. The pictures  14  may also be posted on the network  106  for other members  102   b - c  to view and comment on. 
         [0054]    For example, without limitation, a member  102  may generate pictures  114  of a meal at a restaurant that is shared amongst the members  102  of the collective. The pictures  114  may include, without limitation, the members present at the meal, the food, the restaurant, and the bill. The means of generating the picture  114  may include, without limitation, a camera photo, a smartphone phot, a video, and a social network image capture. 
         [0055]    In various embodiments, before incurring an expense for the collective, members  102  may upload a price and description of an expense about to be incurred. The consumers  102  may also upload the one or more picture  114  to help visualize what they are potentially paying for. In some embodiments, these consumers  102  also upload an estimated date, or durations of time, upon which the expense will be incurred. 
         [0056]    In various embodiments, the members  102  of the collective then indicate their willingness to pay a share of this expense by pressing a virtual button on a smart phone or other DPD in communication with the server  110 . In various embodiments, members  102  who do not indicate either a willingness to accept responsibility for the expense, or do not accept responsibility for the expense, are deemed by the server  110  to have consented or non-consented to the expense in accordance with either setting configured by an administrator or default settings saved in computer readable memory. In some embodiments, those members  102  who do not consent may not receive special benefits, as described below. 
         [0057]    In various embodiments, the consumer  102  is prompted whenever an expense is uploaded a member of that consumer&#39;s  102  collective to pay a pro rata share. In other embodiments, each consumer  102  in the collective is exclusively assigned by the creator of the collective a pay percentage value, which comprises a value identifying the percentage of each expense for which each respective consumer  102  is responsible. 
         [0058]    The server  110  may divide up a bill uploaded for payment by the collective into smaller bills which are tendered to each member  102  of the collective. These smaller bills may consist of payment amounts determined in accordance with each consumer&#39;s  102  pay percentage value, or may consist of a pro rated expense based on the number of consumers  102  in the collective. 
         [0059]      FIG. 2  is an entity-relationship diagram illustrating one embodiment of a system  200  to perform operations for distributing expenses to commonly-acquainted members of collective in accordance with the present invention. The system  200  comprises merchants  102   a - c , phones  204   a - c , an offer  210   a , a payment  212   a , a payments  212   b , a payment  212   c , and computer readable storage  220  comprising computer readable database records  208 . 
         [0060]    In the shown embodiment, merchants  104   a - b , using DPDs, are in logical communication via a network with the server  110  and consumers  102   a - c . Merchants  104  may likewise be incorporated by the server  110 . The merchants  104  may comprise any individual, company or organization attempting to retail, sale, or market goods or services to consumers  102 . 
         [0061]    These consumers communicate with the server  110 , in the shown embodiment, using smart cellular phones  204   a - c . Using these phone  204   a - c , the consumers  102   a - c  remit payments  212   a - c  to the server  110 . In the shown embodiment, the server than remits, or reimburses, these payments  212   a - c , to consumer  102   b , who, in this embodiment, paid an original bill  108  for the collective. 
         [0062]    Likewise, consumers  102  and merchants  104  may remit offers  112  to the server  110 . These offers  112  may comprise offers on new or used goods, which are offered with exclusively to the members of the collective, or to all incorporated consumers  102 . 
         [0063]    Merchants  104  may desire to perform marketing functions directed towards the consumers  102  to determine eligibility for the offers  112 . In some embodiments, merchants  104  may analyze the voluntarily uploaded personal information for each member  102 , and the networking interactions among the members. The analysis may include any marketing research known in the art. The analysis enables merchant  104  to better understand buying and sharing patterns of consumer  102 . 
         [0064]    For example, the merchant  104  may recognize that consumers  102  who use Snapchat™ as their chief networking communication are younger than consumers  102  who use primarily Facebook™. The types and quantities of products and services used by each consumer  102  may also be parsed for information. Using this data, the merchant  104  provides discount offers  112 , accordingly. Thus, merchant  104  provides offers  112  to consumers, at least partially based on the marketing analysis of consumers  102  and networking by consumers  102 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating one method  300  for distributing expenses to commonly-acquainted members of a collective in accordance with the present invention. The method  300  enables members  102  of a collective to share payment for a product or service that benefited the collective. The payments  212  are automated and may be pro rata to facilitate the method  300 . The members  102  may also share and discuss the product, service, and payment  212  thereof through a wireless network  106 , such as the Internet. The networking may include chats, one or more pictures  114 , blogs, reviews, and testimonials. Merchants may also benefit, as the networking is used to analyzer the members  102 , i.e., potential consumers, and provide a benefit accordingly. 
         [0066]    The method  300  begins with a Step  302  when individuals are incorporated as members into the virtual collective. Consumers  102  become “incorporated” after registering with the server  110  and provided personal identifying information thereto, including one or more of name, email address, banking routing number, bank account number, IP address, and the like. 
         [0067]    In Step  304 , the method  300  enables receiving a payment request and a description of an expense via a wireless network, the payment request uploaded into computer readable memory from one member  102  of the collective for the expense incurred for the benefit of the collective. In one embodiment, bills  108  (i.e. payment requests), are received uploaded into computer readable memory from one member  102  of the collective for an expense via a network. The expense is for a product or service that benefits the collective. 
         [0068]    In some embodiments, a Step  306  may include generating one or more of a picture  114  that is pertinent to the expense via the wireless network, the pertinent picture  114  uploaded into computer readable memory from one member  102  for access by the collective. The picture  114  may be generated by a camera in a communication device, such as a smart phone. The picture  114  can be shared on the network  106  and used to remind members  102   b - c  about the product or service that was shared. Additionally, reviews, comments, and comparisons are facilitated with the pictures  114 . 
         [0069]    In a Step  308 , expenses are divided pro rata among the members of the collective. The server  110  may divide up a bill uploaded for payment by the collective into smaller bills which are tendered to each member  102  of the collective. These smaller bills may consist of payment amounts determined in accordance with each consumer&#39;s  102  pay percentage value, or may consist of a pro rated expense based on the number of consumers  102  in the collective. 
         [0070]    Step  310  involves prompting each member  102  electronically via the network  106  each member  102  of the collective to pay a pro rata share of the expense. The reminders may include emails, phone calls, texts, and reminders form other members  102  on the network  106 . 
         [0071]    A Step  312  comprises sending a virtual bill  108  to each member  102 . The bill  108  may be sent via email, mail, text, or automated bank withdrawal means. 
         [0072]    In some embodiments, a Step  314  may include networking among the members  102   a - c  of the collective to review both the expense and the pertinent picture  114 . Through the network  106 , members  102  are brought into social contact with one another. The networking is key to maintaining a social responsibility between members  102  of the collective to better understand the products and services, and then make the required payments. For example, on the network  106 , members  102   a - c  may share information, discuss the product or service, schedule get-togethers, and remind each other to make payments. 
         [0073]    Furthermore, on the network  106 , members  102  can chat with one another using means known to those of skill in the art. Members  102  can message one another using email via means known to those of skill in the art, and these members  102  can notify other members of their collective of special offers on tangible consumer goods for sale, and/or their willingness to pay expenses about to be incurred by the collective via the actions of one or members  102  of the collective. 
         [0074]    A Step  316  includes receiving, by the server  110 , an electronic payment of a pro rata share from each of a plurality of the members of the collective. Each consumer  102  in the collective is exclusively assigned by the creator of the collective a pay percentage value, which comprises a value identifying the percentage of each expense for which each respective consumer  102  is responsible. 
         [0075]    The aforementioned Step  316  is performed simultaneously with a Step  318  of maintaining a running tally of payment amounts received from members of the collective. The server  110  calculates and assigns the payment amounts received, accordingly. 
         [0076]    A Step  320  further includes the server  110  notifying each member  102  via the network  106  of the collective of the gross total of collective payments received which are associated with the expense. 
         [0077]    A Step  322  may include reminding non-paying members  102  of the user group to pay. The reminders may include emails, phone calls, texts, and even friendly pokes from other members  102  on the network. In this manner, nonpaying members  102  may be encouraged to participate in their fiduciary obligations. 
         [0078]    In various embodiments, the server  110  maintains virtual bank accounts exclusively associated with each member of the collective. These bank accounts contain a balance of virtual dollars, each virtual dollar exclusively corresponding to an actual dollar in a real bank account maintained by an administrator of the server  110 . In one possible embodiment, members  102  can see each other&#39;s bank accounts. However, in other embodiments, members  102  can only access their own bank account. 
         [0079]    A Step  324  comprises analyzing, by merchants  104   a - c , the voluntarily uploaded personal information for each member  102   a - c , and the networking interactions among the members  102   a - c . Merchant  104  may desire to perform marketing functions directed towards the consumers  102  to determine eligibility for the offers  112 . 
         [0080]    In some embodiments, merchants  104  may analyze the voluntarily uploaded personal information for each consumer  102 , and the networking interactions among the consumers  102 . The analysis may include any marketing research known in the art. The analysis enables merchant  104  to better understand buying and sharing patterns of consumer  102 . 
         [0081]    A final Step  326  includes providing a discount offer  112  to the paying members  102  based on the analysis. Merchant  104  provides offers  112  to consumers  102 , at least partially based on the marketing analysis of consumers  102  and networking efforts by consumers  102 . In one embodiment, merchant  104  may be constrained to providing offers only to paying members. 
         [0082]      FIG. 4  is a layout of a browser window  414  on a communication device  400  manipulated by one embodiment of the present invention for distributing expenses to commonly-acquainted members of a collective in accordance with the present invention. The communication device  400  may include a smart phone, as viewed by member  102  of the collective. In one embodiment, the system  100 ,  200  may be downloadable on the communication device  400  as a software application. 
         [0083]    Through the browser window  414 , member  102  is provided access to most of the features offered by the system, including networking, payments, and reception of offers. 
         [0084]    A payment portion  402  enables member  102  to make a payment for the collective product or service. The payment portion  402  may include a calculator or access to the server, to determine the correct share of payment for the member  102 . The payment portion  402  may operatively connect to the bank account of the member for accessing the funds. 
         [0085]    The account balance and transaction history in the bank account may also be accessible form the payment portion  402 . Additional functional availability from the payment portion  402  may include, without limitation, viewing dates of transactions, uploading a bill  108 , viewing transaction history, and itemizing transactions, i.e., food, travel, utilities, etc. A password may be required to access the payment portion  402 . 
         [0086]    A collect portion  404  enables a member  102   a  to collect payment from other members  102   b  for services or products exchanged. Members  102  can message one another using email via means known to those of skill in the art, and these members  102   a  can notify other members  102   b  of their collective of special offers on tangible consumer goods for sale, and/or their willingness to pay expenses about to be incurred by the collective via the actions of one or members  102   b  of the collective. The collect portion  404  enables payment between members  102   a - b.    
         [0087]    A split portion  406  enables the members  102  to split the payment for the product or service. Server  110  calculates and deducts for member bank accounts accordingly. In one embodiment, the split pro rata amount may be adjustable by members, as desired. The account balance and transaction history in the bank account may also be accessible form the split portion  406 . 
         [0088]    A message portion  408  enables members  102  to message each other before, during, and after payment is remitted. The messaging may also be efficacious for better understanding the product or service. Messaging through the message portion  408  forms a part of the cumulative networking capacities of the system  100 ,  200 . 
         [0089]    An image portion  410  enables consumers  102  to generate one or more of a picture  114  that is pertinent to the expense incurred by the group. The picture  114  may be generate don a camera on the communication device  400 . The picture  114  may be shared on the network  106  for other members  102   b - c  to view. Those skilled in the art, will recognize that visualization of products and services shared by the group of members  102   a - c  through the use of pictures  114  may help facilitate payment, as consumers  102  are reminded of the collective benefit. 
         [0090]    A web portion  412  connects members to the wireless network  106 , such as the Internet. Members  102  may access popular social networks to further discuss and share the product, services, and subsequent payments thereof. 
         [0091]    The system  100 ,  200  may also itemize each of the aforementioned functions in chronological sequence. For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , a message sent by another member  102   b  displays. The message is followed by notification by the server  110  that payment was successfully received. The next function may include a request from another member  102  to join the network  106 . Yet another function can be a notification that a payment was directed for a specific product or service. In one embodiment, the logo for the corresponding portion displays adjacent to the function. 
         [0092]      FIG. 5  is a layout of a browser window  510  on a communication device  500  displaying a personalized view for a member  102 . The personalized view requires the member  102  to log in, and can only be viewed by the respective member  102 . The personalized view is effective for selectively networking and checking details on the bank account, such as account balance and recent transactions. 
         [0093]    The personalized view may include a member identification portion  502  that provides information about the member  102 . The information may include an image, a name, and membership history. A friend portion  504  is also available. The friend portion  504  comprises a list of other members  102   b  in the collective. The friend portion  504  may include the name and image of the member  102   b . The friend portion  504  can be accessed to directly message a specific member  102   b  on any number of matters. 
         [0094]    A bank account portion  506  displays the amount of funds in the bank account of the member  102 . A transaction portion  508  itemizes and archives each payment or collection transacted with a specific member  102   b . The account balance and transaction history in the bank account may also be accessible form the bank account portion  506 . Additional functional availability from the payment portion  402  may include, without limitation, viewing dates of transactions, uploading a bill  108 , viewing transaction history, and itemizing transactions, i.e., food, travel, utilities, etc. A password may be required to access the payment portion  402 . In this manner, member  102  can better organize funds in the bank account, and better understand which members are paying, and which are nonpaying. 
         [0095]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating components of one embodiment of an apparatus  600  for distributing expenses to commonly-acquainted members of a collective. The apparatus  600  comprises processor  602 , a computer readable storage  220 , webserver  606 , an incorporator module  610 , a receiver module  612 , a divider module  616 , a prompter module  616 , a payer module  618 , a maintainer module  620 , a notifier module  622 , a reminder module  626 , a creator module  618 , an ad module  620 , a provider module  622 , a facilitator module  626 , an offer module  626 , an allower module  628 , a money module  630  an accounter module  632 , an imager module  604 , a networker module  638 , an analyzer module  640 , a merchant offer module  642 , money  324   a , money  634   b , a discount offer  124 , and personal information  636 . 
         [0096]      FIG. 6  may equally as well show a system embodiment of the present invention. Each of the modules, or components, of apparatus  600  may also comprise modules of a corresponding system  100 ,  200 . The modules substantially perform the functions ascribed to method  300  steps disclosed hereinabove and below. 
         [0097]    An incorporator module  610  is configured to incorporate a plurality of members  102   a - c  into a virtual collective by storing voluntarily uploaded personal information for each member  102  in computer readable memory, the personal information comprising one or more of name, email address, phone number, and banking information. When consumers  102  are incorporated by the system or apparatus  600 , they upload personal information  636  to the server  110 . 
         [0098]    A receiver module  612  is configured to receive a payment request uploaded into computer readable memory from one member of the collective for an expense via a network. 
         [0099]    An imager module  604  is configured to generate one or more of a picture that is pertinent to the expense via the wireless network, the pertinent picture uploaded into computer readable memory from one member of the collective for the expense incurred for the benefit of the collective. 
         [0100]    A divider module  614  is configured to divide the expense pro rata among the members of the collective. 
         [0101]    A prompter module  616  configured to prompt electronically via the network each member of the collective to pay a pro rata share of the expense. 
         [0102]    A payer module  618  is configured to receive an electronic payment of a pro rata share from each of a plurality of the members of the collective. 
         [0103]    A networker module  638  configured to enable networking among the members  102  of the collective to review the expense and the pertinent one or more of the pictures  114 . 
         [0104]    A maintainer module  620  is configured to maintain a running tally of payment amounts received from members  102  of the collective. 
         [0105]    A notifier module  622  is configured to notify each member  102  via the network of the collective of the gross total of collective payments  212   a  received which are associated with the expense. 
         [0106]    A reminder module  624  is configured to remind non-paying members of the user group to pay. 
         [0107]    An analyzer module  640  is configured to analyze, by a merchant, the voluntarily uploaded personal information for each member, and the networking interactions among the members. 
         [0108]    A merchant offer module  642  is configured to provide a discount offer  112  to the paying members  102  based on the analysis. In the shown embodiment, discount offers  112  are uploaded into the system  100 ,  200  or apparatus  600 . Money  634   a , or instructions to route money, are also uploaded by members of the collective into the apparatus  600 , while aggregated money payments  634   b  may be sent from the system or apparatus  600  to members  102  of the collective who have paid for goods. 
         [0109]    A creator  618  is module configured to create a sub-collective comprising a plurality of the members, each of the members of the sub-collective associated with one of: a common commercial venture and a common recreational activity. 
         [0110]    An ad module  620  is configured to receive a classified ad from a member via an upload, the classified ad comprising one or more of a picture of a tangible good and contact information for the member, the contact information comprising one or more of name, email address, and telephone number. 
         [0111]    A provider module  622  is configured to provide a searchable database of all classified ads received by members. 
         [0112]    A facilitator module  624  is configured to facilitate the transfer of money between the member uploading the classified ad and a purchaser. 
         [0113]    An offer module  626  is configured to receive a discount offer via an upload from a member, the discount offer comprising one or more of an offer to sell a consumer good exclusively to members, the offer comprising a price that is less than a price charged to non-members, the price exclusively available to members. 
         [0114]    An allower module  628  is configured to allow members to purchase the consumer good for the price. 
         [0115]    A money module  630  is configured to transfer money from a member  102   a  buying the consumer good to a member  102   b  responsible for the upload. 
         [0116]    An accounter module  632  is configured to account for the money from a member  102  buying the consumer good to a member  102   b  responsible for the upload. 
         [0117]    The functions of the systems shown in the present invention correspond generally to other systems, methods, apparatii and computer program products outlined in the present invention, and further illustrates the availability of different allocations of functionality amongst modules that implement an embodiment of the invention. To the extent that hardware, software, and firmware implementations are deemed partially or fully interchangeable at the time in question (now or hereafter) by one of skill in the art, they may be utilized in embodying the invention even though the specific implementation examples discussed here are different. 
         [0118]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.