Gift matching method
View Patent ↗A method for electronically transferring an amount of money from an initiator to a receiver is disclosed. The amount is enhanced or matched by a matching party. In one step, transfer information is received from the initiator. The transfer information includes at least two of a third party identifier, a second party identifier and the amount. The transfer information is analyzed. An enhancing amount to transfer from the matching party to the receiver is determined. Money is transferred to the receiver that corresponds to the amount and the enhancing amount.
1. A method for electronically transferring an amount of money from a first party to a third party where the amount is enhanced by a second party, the method comprising steps of:
receiving transfer information from the first party, wherein the transfer information includes a third party identifier, a second party identifier and the amount, wherein the second party associated with the first party is selected from a set of possible second parties in a database;
analyzing the transfer information;
determining an enhancing amount generated from a profile of the second party to transfer from the second party to the third party; and
transferring money corresponding to the amount and the enhancing amount to a stored value fund associated with the third party.
2. The method for electronically transferring the amount money from the first party to the third party where the amount is enhanced by the second party as recited in claim 1 , wherein the transferring money step comprises steps of:
transferring a first amount corresponding to the amount; and
transferring a second amount corresponding to the enhanced amount.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein transferring the second amount comprise automatically transferring the second amount from a second stored value fund, the second stored value fund associated with the second party.
4. The method for electronically transferring the amount money from the first party to the third party where the amount is enhanced by the second party as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a step of producing a gift matching form, whereby the gift matching form is used by the second party.
5. The method for electronically transferring the amount money from the first party to the third party where the amount is enhanced by the second party as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a step of producing a tax receipt for at least one of the first party and the second party.
6. The method for electronically transferring the amount money from the first party to the third party where the amount is enhanced by the second party as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
notifying the first party that transfer of the amount did not clear; and
notifying at least one of the first and second parties that the enhancing amount was not transferred.
7. The method for electronically transferring the amount money from the first party to the third party where the amount is enhanced by the second party as recited in claim 1 , wherein correspondence between the transferred money and a sum of the amount and the enhancing amount varies by a fee.
8. The method for electronically transferring the amount money from the first party to the third party where the amount is enhanced by the second party as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a step of receiving a fee from at least one of the first, second and third parties.
9. The method for electronically transferring the amount money from the first party to the third party where the amount is enhanced by the second party as recited in claim 1 , further comprising steps of:
receiving a future time from the first party; and
transferring the amount at the future time.
10. The method for electronically transferring the amount money from the first party to the third party where the amount is enhanced by the second party as recited in claim 1 , further comprising steps of:
receiving a future time from the second party; and
transferring the enhancing amount at the future time.
11. The method for electronically transferring the amount money from the first party to the third party where the amount is enhanced by the second party as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a step of receiving a delivery address for delivery of the transferred money.
12. The method for electronically transferring the amount money from the first party to the third party where the amount is enhanced by the second party as recited in claim 1 , further comprising steps of:
receiving first identity verification information from the first party that is used to verify an identity of the third party;
receiving second identity verification information from the third party; and
processing the first and second identity information to validate the identity of the third party.
13. The method for electronically transferring the amount money from the first party to the third party where the amount is enhanced by the second party as recited in claim 1 , wherein the transferring money step comprises a step of transferring money from at least one money handler.
14. The method for electronically transferring the amount money from the first party to the third party where the amount is enhanced by the second party as recited in claim 13 , wherein the money handler includes at least one of a bank, a credit card company, a debit card company, a retail location, a stored value fund, a gift certificate issuer, an electronic gift certificate issuer, and a money order issuer.
15. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 1 .
16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving payout instructions from the third party.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the payout instructions comprise instructions to transfer a designated amount of money from the stored value fund to one of a retail location, a prepaid debit card, a prepaid credit card, a bank account, a negotiable instrument, and a gift certificate.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stored value fund associated with the third party includes at least two different currencies of money.
19. A method for electronically transferring money, the method comprising steps of:
receiving transfer information from a first party, wherein the transfer information comprises a third party identifier, a second party identifier and a first amount, wherein the second party associated with the first party is selected from a set of possible second parties in a database;
analyzing the transfer information;
determining a second amount generated from a profile of a second party to transfer from the second party to a third party, wherein the second amount is algorithmically related to the first amount;
checking the second amount;
transferring a third amount corresponding to the first amount to the third party; and
transferring a fourth amount corresponding to the second amount to the third party, based at least in part on results of the checking step, the fourth amount transferred from a stored value fund associated with the second party.
20. The method for electronically transferring money as recited in claim 19 , wherein the checking step comprises a step of automatically determining if the second amount is within a predetermined criteria specified by the second party.
21. The method for electronically transferring money as recited in claim 19 , wherein the checking step comprises a step of seeking assent from the second party that the second amount is correct.
22. The method for electronically transferring money as recited in claim 19 , further comprising a step of generating a matching form.
23. The method for electronically transferring money as recited in claim 22 , further comprising a step of providing the matching form to the second party.
24. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 19 .
25. A method for electronically transferring money, the method comprising steps of:
receiving transfer information from a first party, wherein the transfer information comprises a third party identifier, a second party identifier and a first amount, wherein the second party associated with the first party is selected from a set of possible second parties in a database;
determining a second amount generated from a profile of a second party to transfer from the second party to the third party, wherein the second amount is algorithmically related to the first amount;
checking the second amount against a predetermined criteria;
transferring a third amount corresponding to the first amount to the third party; and
automatically transferring a fourth amount corresponding to the second amount to the third party, based at least in part on results of the checking step.
26. The method for electronically transferring money as recited in claim 25 , wherein the variance between at least one of the first and third amounts and the second and fourth amounts is equal to a fee.
27. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 25 .