Method and system for network-based allowance control

Abstract

Methods and systems for network-based allowance control are disclosed. A user creates an allowance in association with a recipient account such that funds are available in the recipient account for use by a recipient for the purchase of goods over a network (e.g., Internet). Specifically, by creating an allowance, a user initiates a periodic (recurring) transfer (i.e., credit) of an amount of money (i.e., funds) to the recipient account. This money may then be used by the recipient for the purchase of goods over the network. The recipient account may be related to a parent account as a sub-account, enabling the user of the parent account to monitor purchases made by the recipient, as well as limit the items that can be purchased by the recipient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for transferring an amount of money to a recipient account associated with a recipient, the amount of money being available for use by the recipient for purchase of goods over a network, said method comprising:
 receiving an allowance request from a user indicating a request to set up an allowance for a recipient, the allowance representing an amount of money being made available by the user to the recipient for purchase of one or more items over the network; and   receiving an allowance increment or selection of an allowance increment, the allowance increment indicating an amount of money to be transferred to the recipient account on a periodic basis,   wherein the user is a first individual and the recipient is a second individual,   wherein the user is a parent and the recipient is a child of the recipient, and   wherein the user account is a parent account and the recipient account is a sub-account of the parent account,   wherein the recipient can view information associated with the sub-account, but cannot view information associated with the parent account, and   wherein the information is a purchase history.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a set of text to be provided in a message to the recipient indicating that an allowance has been set up for the recipient.   
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending a confirmation message to the user indicating that the allowance has been set up for the recipient.   
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 3 , the confirmation message indicating that the allowance is being transferred to the recipient account in one or more allowance increments on a periodic basis. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting a message to the user indicating that the allowance increment has been transferred to the recipient account.   
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , the message being received on a periodic basis by the user when the allowance increment is transferred to the recipient account. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the allowance request is initiated via an allowance hypertext link. 
     
     
         8 . A method for transferring an amount of money to a recipient account associated with a recipient, the amount of money being available for use by the recipient for purchase of goods over a network, said method comprising:
 receiving an allowance request from a user indicating a request to set up an allowance for a recipient, the allowance representing an amount of money being made available by the user to the recipient for purchase of one or more items over the network; and   receiving an allowance increment or selection of an allowance increment, the allowance increment indicating an amount of money to be transferred to the recipient account on a periodic basis,   wherein the user is a first individual and the recipient is a second individual,   wherein the user is a parent and the recipient is a child of the recipient, and   wherein the user account is a parent account and the recipient account is a sub-account of the parent account,   wherein the items that can be purchased by the recipient using the allowance are limited by the user.   
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the allowance can be used to purchase one or more items from a subset of items available for purchase via a web site. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the items are media items. 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the media items include albums and songs. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the media items available for purchase by the recipient exclude albums and songs that include explicit lyrics or have a parental advisory associated therewith. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the user can view a purchase history of each sub-account associated with the parent account. 
     
     
         14 . A method for transferring an amount of money to a recipient account associated with a recipient, the amount of money being available for use by the recipient for purchase of goods over a network, said method comprising:
 receiving an allowance request from a user indicating a request to set up an allowance for a recipient, the allowance representing an amount of money being made available by the user to the recipient for purchase of one or more items over the network;   receiving an allowance increment or selection of an allowance increment, the allowance increment indicating an amount of money to be transferred to the recipient account on a periodic basis,   wherein the allowance can be used to purchase one or more items available for purchase via a web site.   
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the items are media items. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the media items include albums and songs. 
     
     
         17 . A method for transferring an amount of money to a recipient account associated with a recipient, the amount of money being available for use by the recipient for purchase of goods over a network, said method comprising:
 receiving an allowance request from a user indicating a request to set up an allowance for a recipient, the allowance representing an amount of money being made available by the user to the recipient for purchase of one or more items over the network;   receiving an allowance increment or selection of an allowance increment, the allowance increment indicating an amount of money to be transferred to the recipient account on a periodic basis;   subsequently receiving a request to update the allowance for the recipient; and   transmitting a message to the user indicating that the user can update the allowance for the recipient.   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the message to the user indicates that the user needs to log in to update the allowance for the recipient. 
     
     
         19 . A method for transferring an amount of money to a recipient account associated with a recipient, the amount of money being available for use by the recipient for purchase of goods over a network, said method comprising:
 transmitting an allowance message to the recipient, the allowance message indicating that an allowance is being made available by a user in a recipient account associated with the recipient, the allowance representing an amount of money being made available to the recipient for purchase of one or more items over the network, the allowance being transferred to the recipient account in one or more allowance increments, each of the allowance increments being an increment of money to be transferred on a periodic basis; and   receiving a request to purchase one or more items over the network using the allowance established in the recipient account.   
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising:
 transmitting a message to the user indicating that the user can update the gift allowance for the recipient.   
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the message to the user indicates that the user needs to log in to update the allowance for the recipient. 
     
     
         22 . A graphical user interface for use in facilitating the transfer of money to a recipient account associated with a recipient, the money being available for use by the recipient for purchase of goods over a network, comprising:
 a recipient identifier field identifying a recipient of an allowance or identifying the recipient account, the allowance representing an amount of money being made available by a user for use by the recipient for purchase of one or more items over the network; and   an allowance field enabling input or selection of an allowance increment, the allowance increment indicating an amount of money to be transferred to the recipient account on a periodic basis.   
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the recipient identifier field is adapted for receiving a recipient username or recipient name. 
     
     
         24 . A system adapted for implementing two or more related accounts, each of the related accounts being capable of performing one or more transactions via a web site over the Internet, the system comprising:
 a parent account; and   one or more sub-accounts;   wherein a user associated with the parent account has authority to view a transaction history of each of the sub-accounts and authority to limit transactions that can be performed by each of the sub-accounts;   wherein a user associated with each of the sub-accounts can view information associated with the corresponding sub-account, but cannot view information associated with the parent account.   
     
     
         25 . A method for transferring a gift of money to a recipient account associated with a recipient, the gift of money having an gift amount being available for use by the recipient for purchase of goods over a network, said method comprising:
 transmitting an allowance message to the recipient, the allowance message indicating that a gift of money is being made available by a user in a recipient account associated with the recipient, the gift allowance representing the gift amount being made available to the recipient for purchase of one or more items over the network, the gift allowance being transferred to the recipient account in one or more allowance increments, each of the allowance increments being an increment of money to be transferred on a periodic basis; and   receiving a request to purchase one or more items over the network using the gift amount established in the recipient account.