Computerized system and method of navigating data with tree structure visualization using segmented access rights

Abstract

A computer system and method is disclosed for financial management and estate planning. The system provides data aggregation for both financial and non-financial assets to create a “virtual vault” from which the owner can view all information about his/her portfolio. In some embodiments, the system provides a tree visualization of the portfolio, which allows a structured organization that provides both a high level view and the ability to drill down to an in-depth analysis. In some cases, the system provides segmented permissions in which restricted access could be granted based on module and/or asset in the tree visualization.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a storage device; and   at least one processor coupled to the storage device, wherein the storage device stores financial portfolio data representing financial and non-financial assets of an owner, node structure data representing a relationship of the assets in a hierarchical tree structure, user access rights data representing a portion of the financial portfolio data to which respective users have access, and a program for controlling the at least one processor, and wherein the at least one processor, being operative with the program, is configured to:
 display a visual representation of the financial portfolio data in a hierarchical tree arrangement based on the node structure data within a graphical user interface on a computer screen, wherein the hierarchical tree arrangement comprises a plurality of nodes including a root node and a plurality of descendant nodes of the root node, wherein the root node represents substantially the entire portfolio of the owner as identified in the financial portfolio data and the plurality of descendant nodes represent respective portions of the portfolio; 
   monitor for selection of a node of the plurality of nodes;   in response to selection of a node, automatically determine which of the descendant nodes of the selected node to hide based on the user access rights data associated with a current user; and   automatically expand the selected node to: (1) identify on the graphical user interface one or more descendant nodes of the selected node to which the current user has access based on the user access rights data and those nodes to which the current user has access, generate a value flag associated with those nodes that identifies an aggregate monetary value of descendant nodes for each respective node, and (2) hide on the graphical user interface one or more of the descendant nodes of the selected node based on the user access rights data so that the visual representation of the financial portfolio data hides any nodes to which the current user does not have access.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of descendant nodes represent a plurality of asset types, including both financial and non-financial assets. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of asset types represented by the descendant nodes include one or more of an investment structure, financial asset, alternative investment, collection, insurance, memberships, motor vehicle, or real estate in which the owner has a full or partial ownership interest. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein a descendant node representing an investment structure identifies a personal investment, trust investment, or corporate investment in which the owner has a full or partial ownership interest. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein a descendant node representing a financial asset identifies one or more of a bank account, a loan receivable or a loan payable in which the owner has a full or partial ownership interest. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein a descendant node representing an alternative investment identifies one or more of a capital participation investment, private equity investment, a venture capital investment, or a private funds investment in which the owner has a full or partial ownership interest. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein a descendant node representing a collection identifies one or more of an antique, jewelry, photography, watch, book, painting, sculpture, or wine in which the owner has a full or partial ownership interest. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein a descendant node representing insurance identifies one or more of a life insurance policy or an insurance policy concerning an investment in which the owner has a full or partial ownership interest. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the descendant node representing motor vehicles identifies one or more of an airplane, helicopter, watercraft, automobile, motorcycle, or yacht in which the owner has a full or partial ownership interest. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein a descendant node representing real estate identifies one or more of commercial real estate, industrial real estate, land or residential real estate in which the owner has a full or partial ownership interest. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, responsive to renewed selection of the selected node, the at least one processor is configured to collapse the selected node to hide one or more descendant nodes of the selected node. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to generate a count flag associated with one or more nodes that identifies an aggregate count of descendant nodes for each respective node. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to generate a user interface from which additional nodes representing a portion of the financial portfolio of the owner can be added. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the user interface includes an area with a plurality of node types representing a plurality of asset types for insertion into the hierarchical tree arrangement. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to add a new node to the hierarchical tree arrangement based on moving a node from the area with node types onto an existing node in the hierarchical tree arrangement. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to assign the new node as a child of the existing node and store this relationship between the new node and the existing node in the node structure data. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to prompt for input of data regarding the new node and store this data in the financial portfolio data. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to prompt for uploading of one or more documents regarding the new node and store these one or more documents in the financial portfolio data. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to prompt for a search query, search the financial portfolio data for the search query and generate a visual representation of the financial portfolio data that includes the search query in a hierarchical tree arrangement based on the node structure data in which only nodes associated with the search query are identified. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, responsive to selection of a node, the at least one processor is configured to provide additional information concerning the selected node, including one or more of textual information, graphic information, or documents regarding the asset represented by the selected node. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A computer-implemented method for dynamically hiding restricted data in a hierarchical tree structure displayed in a graphical user interface, comprising:
 storing financial portfolio data representing financial and non-financial assets of an owner;   storing node structure data representing a relationship of the assets in a hierarchical tree structure;   storing user access rights data representing a portion of the financial portfolio data to which respective users have access;   displaying a visual representation of the financial portfolio data in a hierarchical tree arrangement based on the node structure data within a graphical user interface on a computer screen, wherein the hierarchical tree arrangement comprises a plurality of nodes including a root node and a plurality of descendent nodes of the root node, wherein the root node represents substantially the entire portfolio of the owner based on the financial portfolio data and the one or descendent nodes represent respective portions of the portfolio;   monitoring for selection of a node of the plurality of nodes;   in response to selection of a node, automatically determining, by a processor, which of the descendant nodes of the selected node to hide based on the user access rights data associated with a current user; and   automatically expanding the selected node, by the processor, to: (1) identify on the graphical user interface one or more descendant nodes of the selected node to which the current user has access based on the user access rights data, and (2) hide on the graphical user interface one or more of the descendant nodes of the selected node based on the user access rights data so that the visual representation of the financial portfolio data hides any nodes to which the current user does not have access.   
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising collapsing the selected node to hide one or more descendant nodes of the selected node upon renewed selection of the selected node. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising generating a count flag that identifies an aggregate count of descendant nodes of one or more nodes. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising generating a value flag that identifies an aggregate monetary value of descendant nodes of one or more nodes. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising adding a new node by moving a new node onto an existing node in the hierarchical tree arrangement, wherein the new node is assigned as a child node of the existing node. 
     
     
         30 . A tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform a method comprising:
 storing financial portfolio data representing financial and non-financial assets of an owner;   storing node structure data representing a relationship of the assets in a hierarchical tree structure;   storing user access rights data representing a portion of the financial portfolio data to which respective users have access;   displaying a visual representation of the financial portfolio data in a hierarchical tree arrangement based on the node structure data within a graphical user interface on a computer screen, wherein the hierarchical tree arrangement comprises a plurality of nodes including a root node and a plurality of descendent nodes of the root node, wherein the root node represents substantially the entire portfolio of the owner based on the financial portfolio data and the plurality of descendent nodes represent respective portions of the portfolio;   monitoring for selection of a node of the plurality of nodes;   in response to selection of a node, automatically determining, by a processor, which of the descendant nodes of the selected node to hide based on the user access rights data associated with a current user; and   automatically expanding the selected node, by the processor, to: (1) identify on the graphical user interface one or more descendant nodes of the selected node to which the current user has access based on the user access rights data, and (2) hide on the graphical user interface one or more of the descendant nodes of the selected node based on the user access rights data so that the visual representation of the financial portfolio data hides any nodes to which the current user does not have access.