Tracking method and apparatus

Claim 2

A computer implemented method for tracking transactions with a computer including a processor for executing code, input/output devices for transfer of data, a display for displaying data and a memory for storing account data for a plurality of accounts, each account having a plurality of fields for the account data, comprising: storing each of a plurality of transaction images in association with an account store for an account, each account store associated with at least one entry sequence defining a sequence of inputs to a subset of fields of the account, displaying the plurality of transaction images on said display, receiving a user input selecting one of said images by an input to an input/output device, and executing an entry sequence for the account store associated with the selected transaction image for entry of transaction data into the subset of fields defined by the entry sequence.

Claim 3

The tracking method of claim 1 further comprising: displaying said subset of fields for entry of transaction data in response to said execution of the entry sequence, receiving transaction data for said subset of fields, storing said transaction data in the account store associated with the selected transaction image.

Claim 4

The tracking method of claim 1 wherein said transaction images are representations of transaction instruments and displaying comprises displaying the transaction images in a visual representation of a wallet.

Claim 5

The tracking method of claim 1 wherein each transaction image is associated with a single entry sequence.

Claim 6

The tracking method of claim 1 wherein each transaction image is associated with a single account store.

Claim 7

The tracking method of claim 1 wherein each transaction image is associated with a subset of selected ones of the fields for an account, each account having a plurality of said subset.

Claim 8

The tracking method of claim 1 wherein said executing of an entry sequence includes automatically entering transaction data into one or more of said subsets of fields.

Claim 9

The tracking method of claim 1 wherein said computer includes an activation routine and said displaying a plurality of transaction images on said display is executed directly in response to said activation routine without need for user input.

Claim 10

The tracking method of claim 1 wherein said computer forms part of a computer system including a plurality of external devices for providing transaction data to said computer.

Claim 11

The tracking method of claim 9 wherein one of said external devices is a terminal providing transaction data and said step of receiving transaction data receives transaction data directly from said terminal.

Claim 12

The tracking method of claim 10 wherein said terminal provides merchant identification as part of said transaction data.

Claim 13

The tracking method of claim 10 wherein said terminal provides standard industry codes as part of said transaction data.

Claim 14

The tracking method of claim 1 wherein said transaction image is an image of a credit card.

Claim 15

The tracking method of claim 1 wherein said transaction image is an image of an ATM card.

Claim 16

The tracking method of claim 1 wherein said transaction image is an image of a debit card.

Claim 17

The tracking method of claim 1 wherein said transaction image is an image of cash.

Claim 18

The tracking method of claim 1 wherein said executing of the entry sequence includes automatically sequencing through said subset of fields and returning to said transaction image display for selection of another transaction image.

Claim 19

The tracking method of claim 1 wherein said transaction images are visual representations of categories and displaying comprises displaying the transaction images in a visual representation of a wallet.

Claim 20

The tracking method of claim 1 wherein said transaction images are visual representations of financial accounts and displaying comprises displaying the transaction images in a visual representation of a wallet.

Claim 21

A tracking apparatus including a computer having a processor for executing code, input/output devices for transfer of data, a display for displaying data and a memory for storing account data for a plurality of accounts, each account having a plurality of fields for the account data, the apparatus comprising: means for storing each of a plurality of transaction images in association with an account store, each account store associated with at least one entry sequence defining a sequence of inputs to a subset of fields of the account, means for displaying the plurality of transaction images on said display, means for receiving a user input selecting one of said images by an input to an input/output device, and means for executing an entry sequence for the account store associated with the selected transaction image for entry of transaction data into the subset of fields defined by the entry sequence.

Claim 22

A tracking apparatus including a computer having a processor for executing code, input/output devices for transfer of data, a display for displaying data and a memory for storing account data for a plurality of accounts, each account having a plurality of fields for the account data, the apparatus comprising: means for storing each of a plurality of transaction images in association with an account store, each account store associated with at least one entry sequence defining a sequence of inputs to a subset of fields of the account, means for displaying the plurality of transaction images on said display, means for receiving a user input selecting one of said images by an input to an input/output device, and means for executing an entry sequence for the account store associated with the selected transaction image for entry of transaction data into the subset of fields defined by the entry sequence.

Claim 23

The tracking apparatus of claim 20, further comprising: means for displaying said subset of fields for entry of transaction data in response to said execution of the entry sequence, means for receiving transaction data for said subset of fields, means for storing said transaction data in the account store associated with the selected transaction image.

Claim 24

The tracking apparatus of claim 20 wherein said transaction images are representations of transaction instruments and the means for displaying comprises means for displaying the transaction images in a visual representation of a wallet.

Claim 25

The tracking apparatus of claim 20 wherein each transaction image is associated with a single entry sequence.

Claim 26

The tracking apparatus of claim 20 wherein each transaction image is associated with a single account store.

Claim 27

The tracking apparatus of claim 20 wherein each transaction image is associated with a subset of selected ones of the fields for an account, each account having a plurality of said subsets.

Claim 28

The tracking apparatus of claim 20 wherein said means for executing of an entry sequence automatically sequences through said subset of fields.

Claim 29

The tracking apparatus of claim 20 wherein said means for executing of an entry sequence automatically enters transaction data into one or more of said subset of fields.

Claim 30

The tracking apparatus of claim 20 wherein said computer includes an activation routine and said means for displaying a plurality of transaction images on said display is executed directly in response to said activation routine without need for user input.

Claim 31

The tracking apparatus of claim 20 wherein said computer forms part of a computer system including a plurality of external devices for providing transaction data to said computer.

Claim 32

The tracking apparatus of claim 29 wherein one of said external devices is a terminal providing transaction data and said step of receiving transaction data receives transaction data directly from said terminal.

Claim 33

The tracking apparatus of claim 30 wherein said terminal provides merchant identification as part of said transaction data.

Claim 34

The tracking apparatus of claim 30 wherein said terminal provides standard industry codes as part of said transaction data.

Claim 35

The tracking apparatus of claim 29 wherein one of said external devices is a terminal providing transaction data and said receiving transaction data step receives transaction data directly from the terminal.

Claim 36

The tracking apparatus of claim 29 wherein one of said external devices is a host computer providing transaction data and said receiving transaction data step receives transaction data directly from the host computer.

Claim 37

The tracking apparatus of claim 29 wherein one of said external devices is connected to said computer through a wireless connection.

Claim 38

The tracking apparatus of claim 29 wherein one of said external devices is connected to said computer through a telephone connection.

Claim 39

The tracking apparatus of claim 20 wherein said transaction image is an image of a credit card.

Claim 40

The tracking apparatus of claim 20 wherein said transaction image is an image of an ATM card.

Claim 41

The tracking apparatus of claim 20 wherein said transaction image is an image of a debit card.

Claim 42

The tracking apparatus of claim 20 wherein said transaction image is an image of cash.

Claim 43

The tracking apparatus of claim 20 wherein said means for executing of an entry sequence automatically sequences through said subset of fields and returns to said transaction image display for selection of another transaction image.

Claim 44

The tracking apparatus of claim 20 wherein said transaction images visual representations of categories and displaying comprises displaying the transaction images in a visual representation of a wallet.

Claim 45

The tracking apparatus of claim 20 wherein said transaction images are visual representations of financial accounts and displaying comprises displaying the transaction images in a visual representation of a wallet.

Claim 46

In an apparatus including a processor for executing a computer program, input/output devices for transfer of data, a display for displaying data, a computer readable memory for storing account data for a plurality of accounts, each account having a plurality of fields for the account data, the computer readable memory further storing a computer program that controls the processor to perform the operations of: storing each of a plurality of transaction images in association with an account store, each account store associated with at least one entry sequence defining a sequence of inputs to a subset of the fields of the account, displaying the plurality of transaction images on said display, receiving a user input selecting one of said images by an input to an input/output device, and, executing the entry sequence for the account store associated with the selected transaction image for entry of transaction data into the subset of fields defined by the entry sequence.

Claim 47

In an apparatus including a processor for executing a computer program, input/output devices for transfer of data, a display for displaying data, a computer readable memory for storing account data for a plurality of accounts, each account having a plurality of fields for the account data, the computer readable memory further storing a computer program that controls the processor to perform the operations of: storing each of a plurality of transaction images in association with an account store, each account store associated with at least one entry sequence defining a sequence of inputs to a subset of the fields of the account, displaying the plurality of transaction images on said display, receiving a user input selecting one of said images by an input to an input/output device, and, executing the entry sequence for the account store associated with the selected transaction image for entry of transaction data into the subset of fields defined by the entry sequence.

Claim 48

The computer readable memory of claim 44, wherein the computer program further controls the processor to perform the operations of: displaying the subset of fields for entry of transaction data in response to said execution of the entry sequence, receiving transaction data for the subset of fields, storing said transaction data in the account store associated with the selected transaction image.

Claim 49

The computer readable memory of claim 44, wherein said transaction images are representations of transaction instruments and the processor displays the transaction images in a visual representation of a wallet.

Claim 50

A computer readable memory for use with an apparatus including a processor, an input device for receiving data, and a display device for displaying data and images, the computer readable memory adapted to store account data for a plurality of accounts, each account having a plurality of fields for the account data, the computer readable memory further storing: a plurality of transaction images, each transaction image associatable with an account store for an account, and adapted to be displayed on the display device; an image display function, executable by the processor, that displays the plurality of transaction images on the display device; a plurality of transaction entry sequences, each transaction entry sequence associated with a subset of fields of an account to define a sequence of inputs into the subset of fields, each transaction entry sequence adapted to cause the processor to display the subset of fields of an account on the display device; a transaction image selector, executable by the processor, that selects a transaction image in response to a selection thereof received by the input device, and initiates the transaction entry sequence for the account associated with the selected transaction image; a data entry function, executable by the processor, that receives transaction data input into a subset of fields displayed by a transaction entry sequence; and, a data store function, executable by the processor, that stores received transaction data into an account store associated with the selected transaction image.

Claim 51

A computer readable memory for use with an apparatus including a processor, an input device for receiving data, and a display device for displaying data and images, the computer readable memory adapted to store account data for a plurality of accounts, each account having a plurality of fields for the account data, the computer readable memory further storing: a plurality of transaction images, each transaction image associatable with an account store for an account, and adapted to be displayed on the display device; an image display function, executable by the processor, that displays the plurality of transaction images on the display device; a plurality of transaction entry sequences, each transaction entry sequence associated with a subset of fields of an account to define a sequence of inputs into the subset of fields, each transaction entry sequence adapted to cause the processor to display the subset of fields of an account on the display device; a transaction image selector, executable by the processor, that selects a transaction image in response to a selection thereof received by the input device, and initiates the transaction entry sequence for the account associated with the selected transaction image; a data entry function, executable by the processor, that receives transaction data input into a subset of fields displayed by a transaction entry sequence; and, a data store function, executable by the processor, that stores received transaction data into an account store associated with the selected transaction image.