Currency system to reward constructive behavior
A system is described for teaching users financial management using an online currency management system, including enabling an administrator to set up a financial account through a network. This step further includes assigning specific tasks for completion by one or more users, setting rules related to the management of play currency, and designating rewards that are earned by the one or more users through completion of the specific tasks. The system further includes providing a web-based interface for the one or more users to access and manage their own user account containing the play currency, and enabling the administrator to fund, with real currency, the purchase of the rewards by the one or more users with play currency.
1. A method for teaching users financial management using an online currency management system, the method being carried out by a computer having a rules engine and system memory, the method comprising:
enabling, with the rules engine, an administrator to set up, through an administrator, web-based interface of the computer, a financial account comprising:
assigning specific tasks comprising chores for completion by one or more users;
setting rules related to the management of a play currency designed to provide financial management education in an economy of trade that employs the play currency and that rewards constructive behavior; and
designating rewards that are earned by the one or more users through completion of the specific tasks, wherein the rewards comprise products and services of interest according to the ages of the one or more users;
providing a user, web-based interface of the computer for the one or more users to access and manage a user account containing the play currency, comprising:
enabling a user to indicate when a task is completed to initiate payment of play currency into the user account; and
enabling a user to trade tasks and chores with other users; and
enabling the administrator to fund through the administrator interface, with real currency, the purchase of the rewards by the one or more users with play currency.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein enabling the administrator to set up a financial account comprises enabling the administrator to:
set a quantity of play currency associated with each specific task;
associate a value in terms of play currency with each reward; and
inform the one or more users, in terms of play currency, the quantity associated with each task and the value associated with each reward.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the administrator comprises a parent or guardian, and the one or more users comprise children.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing a web-based user interface comprises enabling a user to check his or her balance of play currency, and to directly purchase pre-approved awards from an online retailer.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
enabling the administrator and the one or more users to transfer the play currency to the administrator and the one or more users; and
enabling the administrator to approve or disapprove the transfer of play currency by a user.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein setting rules related to the management of play currency comprises enabling the administrator to accept play currency in exchange for a user not having to execute a chore, or in exchange for another privilege.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein setting rules related to the management of play currency comprises enabling a user to auction tasks among a plurality chosen from the group consisting of an administrator and other users, the method further comprising:
enabling at least one of the administrator and the other users to bid on the tasks, wherein a highest bidder is transferred the task for completion.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein setting rules related to the management of play currency comprises:
enabling the administrator to pre-authorize the purchase of the rewards by the one or more users from at least one online retailer; and
enabling the one or more users to directly purchase the pre-authorized awards from the online retailer.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein setting rules related to the management of play currency comprises:
setting an interest rate at which the play currency grows in user accounts; and
setting an interest rate compounding period.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein setting rules related to the management of play currency comprises:
enabling the one or more users to trade the specific tasks with each other; and
enabling the administrator to approve or disapprove a trade of the specific tasks.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein setting rules related to the management of play currency comprises enabling the administrator to extend a credit line to the one or more users to aid in purchasing the rewards, the method further comprising:
setting an interest rate attached to amounts credited to the one or more users; and
setting an interest rate compounding period for the credit line.
12. A method for teaching users financial management using an online currency management system, the method being carried out by a computer having a rules engine and system memory, the method comprising:
enabling, with the rules engine, an administrator to set up, through an administrator, web-based interface of the computer, a financial account comprising:
assigning specific tasks comprising chores for completion by one or more users;
setting rules related to the management of a play currency designed to provide financial management education in an economy of trade that employs the play currency and that rewards constructive behavior, wherein setting rules further comprises:
enabling a user to auction tasks among a plurality chosen from the group consisting of an administrator and other users;
enabling at least one of the administrator and the other users to bid on the tasks, wherein a highest bidder is transferred the task for completion; and
designating rewards that are earned by the one or more users through completion of the specific tasks, wherein the rewards comprise products and services of interest according to the ages of the one or more users;
providing a user, web-based interface of the computer for the one or more users to access and manage a user account containing the play currency; and
enabling the administrator to fund through the administrator interface, with real currency, the purchase of the rewards by the one or more users with play currency.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein enabling the administrator to set up a financial account comprises enabling the administrator to:
set a quantity of play currency associated with each specific task;
associate a value in terms of play currency with each reward; and
inform the one or more users, in terms of play currency, the quantity associated with each task and the value associated with each reward.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the administrator comprises a parent or guardian, and the one or more users comprise children.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein providing a web-based user interface comprises enabling a user to check his or her balance of play currency, and to directly purchase pre-approved awards from an online retailer.
16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
enabling the administrator and the one or more users to transfer the play currency to the administrator and the one or more users; and
enabling the administrator to approve or disapprove the transfer of play currency by a user.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein setting rules related to the management of play currency comprises enabling the administrator to accept play currency in exchange for a user not having to execute a chore, or in exchange for another privilege.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein setting rules related to the management of play currency comprises enabling a user to auction tasks among a plurality chosen from the group consisting of an administrator and other users, the method further comprising:
enabling at least one of the administrator and the other users to bid on the tasks, wherein a highest bidder is transferred the task for completion.
19. The method of claim 12 , wherein setting rules related to the management of play currency comprises:
enabling the administrator to pre-authorize the purchase of the rewards by the one or more users from at least one online retailer; and
enabling the one or more users to directly purchase the pre-authorized awards from the online retailer.
20. A computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions for teaching users financial management using an online currency management system, the set of instructions executable by a computer having a processor and memory, the set of instructions comprising:
instructions to direct the processor to enable an administrator to set up, through an administrator, web-based interface of the computer, a financial account comprising:
assigning specific tasks comprising chores for completion by one or more users;
setting rules related to the management of a play currency designed to provide financial management education in an economy of trade that employs the play currency and that rewards constructive behavior; and
designating rewards that are earned by the one or more users through completion of the specific tasks, wherein the rewards comprise products and services of interest according to the ages of the one or more users;
instructions to direct the processor to enable the administrator, through the administrator interface, to extend a credit line to the one or more users to aid in purchasing the rewards;
instructions to direct the processor to set an interest rate attached to amounts credited to the one or more users, and to set an interest rate compounding period for the credit line in response to an input from the administrator submitting the interest rate and interest rate compounding period;
instructions to direct the processor to provide a user, web-based interface of the computer for the one or more users to access and manage a user account containing the play currency; and
instructions to direct the processor to enable the administrator to fund through the administrator interface, with real currency, the purchase of the rewards by the one or more users with play currency.
21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20 , wherein the instructions to enable the administrator to set up a financial account comprises:
instructions to direct the processor to set a quantity of play currency associated with each specific task responsive to an input from the administrator setting the quantity of play currency;
instructions to direct the processor to associate a value in terms of play currency with each reward; and
instructions to direct the processor to inform the one or more users, in terms of play currency, the quantity associated with each task and the value associated with each reward.
22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20 , further comprising:
instructions to direct the processor to enable the administrator and the one or more users to transfer the play currency to the administrator and the one or more users; and
instructions to direct the processor to enable the administrator to approve or disapprove the transfer of play currency by a user.
23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20 , wherein setting rules related to the management of play currency comprises enabling the administrator to accept play currency in exchange for a user not having to execute a chore, or in exchange for another privilege.
24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20 , wherein setting rules related to the management of play currency comprises:
setting an interest rate at which the play currency grows in user accounts; and
setting an interest rate compounding period for the currency in the user accounts.
25. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20 , wherein setting rules related to the management of play currency comprises:
enabling the one or more users to trade the specific tasks with each other; and
enabling the administrator to approve or disapprove a trade of the specific tasks.