Computing system for sharing networks providing dynamic reserving features and related methods

Abstract

A computing device may operate a virtual share exchange (VSE) module and a billing module. The billing module may be configured to receive recurring electronic deposits from VSE members to fund member sharing accounts, with the recurring electronic deposits including a share portion and a dynamic reserve portion to accumulate reserve funds in the member sharing accounts. The billing module may further calculate an aggregate amount of available reserve funds across the member sharing accounts as funds are electronically transferred for payment sharing of the member healthcare bills, compare the calculated aggregate amount of available reserve funds to a reserve target fund range, and adjust the dynamic reserve portion to change the recurring electronic deposits responsive to the calculated aggregate amount of reserve balance falling outside of the reserve balance target range to bring the aggregate amount of reserve balance funds back into the reserve balance target range.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computing device comprising:
 a memory and a processor configured to cooperate with the memory to operate
 a virtual share exchange (VSE) module configured to
 establish member sharing accounts for respective members of a VSE for sharing payment of member healthcare bills across the member sharing accounts, and 
 electronically transfer funds from the member sharing accounts for payment sharing of the member healthcare bills; and 
 
 a billing module configured to
 receive recurring electronic deposits from the members to fund the member sharing accounts, the recurring electronic deposits including a share portion and a dynamic reserve portion to accumulate reserve funds in the member sharing accounts, 
 calculate an aggregate amount of available reserve funds across the member sharing accounts as funds are electronically transferred for payment sharing of the member healthcare bills, 
 compare the calculated aggregate amount of available reserve funds to a reserve target fund range, and 
 adjust the dynamic reserve portion to change the recurring electronic deposits responsive to the calculated aggregate amount of reserve balance falling outside of the reserve balance target range to bring the aggregate amount of reserve balance funds back into the reserve balance target range. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The computing system of  claim 1  wherein the reserve target fund range comprises a real-time minimum aggregate amount of available reserve funds, and a real-time maximum aggregate amount of available reserve funds. 
     
     
         3 . The computing system of  claim 1  wherein the reserve target fund range comprises a forecasted minimum aggregate amount of available reserve funds, and a forecasted maximum aggregate amount of available reserve funds. 
     
     
         4 . The computing system of  claim 3  wherein the forecasted minimum and maximum aggregate amounts of available reserve funds are based upon at least one a of number of net new members to the VSE, an aggregate amount of new funds per member, and net withdrawals per member, over a time period. 
     
     
         5 . The computing system of  claim 1  wherein the billing module increases the dynamic reserve portion of the electronic deposits by no more than a debit threshold amount for each recurring electronic deposit. 
     
     
         6 . The computing system of  claim 1  wherein the billing module decreases the dynamic reserve portion of the electronic deposits by no more than a credit threshold amount for each recurring electronic deposit. 
     
     
         7 . The computing system of  claim 1  wherein the billing module changes the dynamic reserve portion of the electronic deposits further based upon a cost of living differential associated with respective different geographical locations of the members of the VSE. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 operating a virtual share exchange (VSE) module at a computing device for
 establishing member sharing accounts for respective members of a VSE for sharing payment of member healthcare bills across the member sharing accounts, and 
 electronically transferring funds from the sharing accounts for payment sharing of the member healthcare bills; and 
   operating a billing module at the computing device configured for
 receiving recurring electronic deposits from the members to fund the member sharing accounts, the recurring electronic deposits including a share portion and a dynamic reserve portion to accumulate reserve funds in the member sharing accounts, 
 calculating an aggregate amount of available reserve funds across the member sharing accounts as funds are electronically transferred for payment sharing of the member healthcare bills, 
 comparing the calculated aggregate amount of available reserve funds to a reserve target fund range, and 
 adjusting the dynamic reserve portion to change the recurring electronic deposits responsive to the calculated aggregate amount of reserve balance falling outside of the reserve balance target range to bring the aggregate amount of reserve balance funds back into the reserve balance target range. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the reserve target fund range comprises a real-time minimum aggregate amount of available reserve funds, and a real-time maximum aggregate amount of available reserve funds. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the reserve target fund range comprises a forecasted minimum aggregate amount of available reserve funds, and a forecasted maximum aggregate amount of available reserve funds. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the forecasted minimum and maximum aggregate amounts of available reserve funds are based upon at least one a of number of net new members to the VSE, an aggregate amount of new funds per member, and net withdrawals per member, over a time period. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein adjusting comprises increasing the dynamic reserve portion of the electronic deposits by no more than a debit threshold amount for each recurring electronic deposit. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein adjusting comprises decreasing the dynamic reserve portion of the electronic deposits by no more than a credit threshold amount for each recurring electronic deposit. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein adjusting further comprises adjusting the dynamic reserve portion of the electronic deposits based upon a cost of living differential associated with respective different geographical locations of the members of the VSE. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computing device to perform steps comprising:
 operating a virtual share exchange (VSE) module for
 establishing member sharing accounts for respective members of a VSE for sharing payment of member healthcare bills across the member sharing accounts, and 
 electronically transferring funds from the sharing accounts for payment sharing of the member healthcare bills; and 
   operating a billing module for
 receiving recurring electronic deposits from the members to fund the member sharing accounts, the recurring electronic deposits including a share portion and a dynamic reserve portion to accumulate reserve funds in the member sharing accounts, 
 calculating an aggregate amount of available reserve funds across the member sharing accounts as funds are electronically transferred for payment sharing of the member healthcare bills, 
 comparing the calculated aggregate amount of available reserve funds to a reserve target fund range, and 
 adjusting the dynamic reserve portion to change the recurring electronic deposits responsive to the calculated aggregate amount of reserve balance falling outside of the reserve balance target range to bring the aggregate amount of reserve balance funds back into the reserve balance target range. 
   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15  wherein the reserve target fund range comprises a real-time minimum aggregate amount of available reserve funds, and a real-time maximum aggregate amount of available reserve funds. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15  wherein the reserve target fund range comprises a forecasted minimum aggregate amount of available reserve funds, and a forecasted maximum aggregate amount of available reserve funds. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15  wherein adjusting comprises increasing the dynamic reserve portion of the electronic deposits by no more than a debit threshold amount for each recurring electronic deposit. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15  wherein adjusting comprises decreasing the dynamic reserve portion of the electronic deposits by no more than a credit threshold amount for each recurring electronic deposit. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15  wherein adjusting further comprises adjusting the dynamic reserve portion of the electronic deposits based upon a cost of living differential associated with respective different geographical locations of the members of the VSE.