SYSTEM ENVIRONMENT FOR USER-SPECIFIC PROGRAM AGGREGATION AND NON-COLLOCATED THIRD PARTY SYSTEM EXTRACTION AND DEPLOYMENT

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for building an assistance program aggregation network. The invention generates and builds an assistance program aggregation network comprising a multitude of assistance programs and related program information compiled into a single resource. In this way, the program aggregation system may generate user-specific profiles in order to match eligible users to applicable assistance programs. Furthermore, with the authorization of the user, the system may assist the user in automatically populating and submitting applications related to assistance programs allowing for convenient and efficient program enrollment.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/333,723, entitled “SYSTEM FOR OPTIMIZING RESOURCE USAGE”, filed May 9, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Assistance programs are able to provide eligible users with support such as financial and medical aid. While websites for applying to these programs exist, there is a need for a centralized system for aggregating assistance program information and applications in order to provide a convenient and efficient method for searching and applying for multiple applicable programs.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments, nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

Embodiments of the present invention address these and/or other needs by providing an innovative system, method, and computer program product for an assistance program aggregation network allowing users to receive a simple, streamlined interface for enrolling in beneficial programs which may provide the user with financial, medical, and/or other forms of aid.

In some embodiments, the invention generates and builds an assistance program aggregation network comprising a multitude of assistance programs and related program information compiled into a single resource. In this way, the program aggregation system may generate user-specific profiles in order to match eligible users to applicable assistance programs. Furthermore, with the authorization of the user, the system may assist the user in automatically populating and submitting applications related to assistance programs allowing for convenient and efficient program enrollment.

Embodiments of the invention related to systems, methods, and computer program products for building an assistance program aggregation network, the system comprising: a memory device with computer-readable program code stored thereon; a communication device; a processing device operatively coupled to the memory device and the communication device, wherein the processing device is configured to execute the computer-readable program code to: generate a communicable linkage with one or more assistance organizations; extract information and requirements related to one or more assistance programs from the one or more assistance organizations; receive authorization from a user for user entry into the assistance program aggregation network, wherein the aggregation network comprises one or more assistance programs categorized according to location of the programs and type of assistance provided; generate a user-specific profile containing collected user information; based on the user-specific profile and the program requirements, match the user to one or more assistance programs; based on matching the user to the one or more assistance programs, trigger generation of a program report, wherein the program report contains the one or more assistance programs matched to the user; transmit the program report to a user device allowing the user to enroll in one or more assistance programs presented in the program report; and transmit a confirmation of assistance program enrollment to the user device.

In some embodiments, transmitting the program report to the user device allowing the user to enroll in one or more assistance programs presented in the program report further comprises: receiving a selection of one or more assistance programs from the program report by the user on the user device; receiving user authorization for automatic population of assistance program applications; based on the selection of one or more assistance programs and user-specific profile, electronically populating and submitting one or more selected assistance program applications; and transmitting the confirmation of assistance program enrollment to the user device.

In some embodiments, transmitting the program report the user device further comprises merging one or more assistance program applications into a single, customized application, wherein user input of repeated information is reduced to a single entry.

In some embodiments, transmitting the program report to the user device further comprises transforming an assistance program application to a format specifically designed to be legibly accommodated on the user device.

In some embodiments, the program aggregation network is maintained by a financial institution associated with the user, wherein the financial institution automatically populates at least a portion of user-specific profile by extracting user information from an account associated with the user at the financial institution.

In some embodiments, extracting information and requirements related to one or more assistance programs further comprises using a web crawler to scan websites associated with the one or more assistance organizations and convert extracted information into a format that can be stored and searched within a centralized database.

In some embodiments, extracting information and requirements related to one or more assistance programs further comprises using optical character recognition to transform images into a text format that can be stored and searched within a centralized database.

In some embodiments, generating the user-specific profile further comprises establishing a communicable linkage with one or more third party systems to extract additional information, wherein the one or more third party systems comprise third party financial institutions and medical institutions.

The features, functions, and advantages that have been discussed may be achieved independently in various embodiments of the present invention or may be combined with yet other embodiments, further details of which can be seen with reference to the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described embodiments of the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 provides an assistance program aggregation system environment, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 provides a high level process flow for generating and building an assistance program aggregation network, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 provides a high level process flow for generating a user-specific profile, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 provides a high level process flow for automatically populating and submitting program applications, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention improves upon the process of searching for and enrolling in applicable assistance programs provided by multiple organizations by extracting and aggregating information into a single, centralized resource which has the ability to automatically match users with applicable programs of which the user may not have been aware and, even further, automatically enroll the user in the programs. Matches may be performed in substantially real-time by utilizing the storage of aggregated data in a centralized database which reduces the processing time required by the system to retrieve stored information and match programs to users. Additionally, the invention can transform extracted data into a format which is searchable by the system. Furthermore, the system may transform information presented to the user to solve problems rooted in computer technology such as the need to appropriately scale presented information to improve legibility depending on the size of the user device.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all, embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to elements throughout. Where possible, any terms expressed in the singular form herein are meant to also include the plural form and vice versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Also, as used herein, the term “a” and/or “an” shall mean “one or more,” even though the phrase “one or more” is also used herein.

Furthermore, as used herein the term “user device” may refer to any device that employs a processor and memory and can perform computing functions, such as a personal computer or a mobile device, wherein a mobile device is any mobile communication device, such as a cellular telecommunications device (i.e., a cell phone or mobile phone), personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile Internet accessing device, or other mobile device. Other types of mobile devices may include portable digital assistants (PDAs), pagers, wearable devices, mobile televisions, gaming devices, laptop computers, cameras, video recorders, audio/video player, radio, GPS devices, or any combination of the aforementioned.

As used herein the term “assistance organization” may refer to any third party provider of assistance programs such as for financial aid, medical aid, disability aid, and/or other forms of aid. In some embodiments, an assistance program may also refer to a discount, coupon, or the like.

Referring to FIG. 1, the figure illustrates an assistance program aggregation system environment 100, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. The environment 100 includes a user device 111 associated or used with authorization of a user 110 (e.g., a mobile application user, and the like), a program aggregation system 140, one or more assistance organization systems 160, and a financial institution system 180.

The systems and devices communicate with one another over the network 130 and perform one or more of the various steps and/or methods according to embodiments of the disclosure discussed herein. The network 130 may include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), and/or a global area network (GAN). The network 130 may provide for wireline, wireless, or a combination of wireline and wireless communication between devices in the network. In one embodiment, the network 130 includes the Internet.

The user device 111, the assistance organization system 160, the financial institution system 180 and the program aggregation system 140 each includes a computer system, server, multiple computer systems and/or servers or the like. The program aggregation system 140, in the embodiments shown has a communication device 142 communicably coupled with a processing device 144, which is also communicably coupled with a memory device 146. The processing device 144 is configured to control the communication device 142 such that the program aggregation system 140 communicates across the network 130 with one or more other systems. The processing device 144 is also configured to access the memory device 146 in order to read the computer readable instructions 148, which in some embodiments includes a program aggregation application 150. The program aggregation application 150 allows for the program aggregation system 140 to communicate to the various other systems and devices within the environment 100. The functions of the program aggregation network application 150 are further described in detail below. The memory device 146 also includes a datastore 154 or database for storing pieces of data that can be accessed by the processing device 144.

As used herein, a “processing device,” generally refers to a device or combination of devices having circuitry used for implementing the communication and/or logic functions of a particular system. For example, a processing device may include a digital signal processor device, a microprocessor device, and various analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, and other support circuits and/or combinations of the foregoing. Control and signal processing functions of the system are allocated between these processing devices according to their respective capabilities. The processing device 114, 144, 164, or 184 may further include functionality to operate one or more software programs based on computer-executable program code thereof, which may be stored in a memory. As the phrase is used herein, a processing device 114, 144, 164, or 184 may be “configured to” perform a certain function in a variety of ways, including, for example, by having one or more general-purpose circuits perform the function by executing particular computer-executable program code embodied in computer-readable medium, and/or by having one or more application-specific circuits perform the function.

Furthermore, as used herein, a “memory device” generally refers to a device or combination of devices that store one or more forms of computer-readable media and/or computer-executable program code/instructions. Computer-readable media is defined in greater detail below. For example, in one embodiment, the memory device 146 includes any computer memory that provides an actual or virtual space to temporarily or permanently store data and/or commands provided to the processing device 144 when it carries out its functions described herein.

The user device 111 includes a communication device 112 communicably coupled with a processing device 114, which is also communicably coupled with a memory device 116. In some embodiments, the communication device 112 may also comprise a GPS transceiver capable of determining a geographic location associated with the user device 111. The processing device 114 is configured to control the communication device 112 such that the user device 111 communicates across the network 130 with one or more other systems. The processing device 114 is also configured to access the memory device 116 in order to read the computer readable instructions 118, which in some embodiments includes a user application 120. The user application 120 allows for communication of the user device 111 with the other systems and devices within the environment 100 such as the program aggregation system 140, assistance organization system 160, and financial institution system 180. The user application 120 allows the user 111 to receive information transmitted as well as input information requested by the program aggregation system 140 and communicate with third parties such as the assistance organization systems 160. The memory device 116 also includes a datastore 122 or database for storing pieces of data that can be accessed by the processing device 114.

The assistance organization system 160 includes a communication device 162 communicably coupled with a processing device 164, which is also communicably coupled with a memory device 166. The processing device 164 is configured to control the communication device 162 such that the assistance organization system 160 communicates across the network 130 with one or more other systems. The processing device 164 is also configured to access the memory device 166 in order to read the computer readable instructions 168, which in some embodiments includes an assistance organization application 170. The assistance organization application 170 allows for communication with the other systems and devices within the environment 100 such as the user device 111, the program aggregation system 140, and the financial institution system 180 in order to coordinate enrolling users into assistance programs and providing aid. The memory device 166 also includes a datastore 172 or database for storing pieces of data that can be accessed by the processing device 164.

The financial institution system 180 includes a communication device 182 communicably coupled with a processing device 184, which is also communicably coupled with a memory device 186. The processing device 184 is configured to control the communication device 182 such that the financial institution system 180 communicates across the network 130 with one or more other systems. The processing device 184 is also configured to access the memory device 186 in order to read the computer readable instructions 188, which in some embodiments includes a financial institution application 190. The financial institution application 190 allows for communication with the other systems and devices within the environment 100 such as the user device 111, the program aggregation system 140, and the assistance organization system 160 in order to coordinate enrolling users into assistance programs by receiving requested information from users and providing authorized information to third parties such as the assistance organization system 160. The memory device 186 also includes a datastore 192 or database for storing pieces of data that can be accessed by the processing device 184.

The user application 120, the program aggregation application 150, the assistance organization application 170, and the financial institution application 190 are for instructing the processing devices 114, 144, 164, and 184 respectively to perform various steps of the methods discussed herein, and/or other steps and/or similar steps. In various embodiments, one or more of the user application 120, the program aggregation application 150, the assistance organization application 170, and the financial institution application 190 are included in the computer readable instructions stored in a memory device of one or more systems or devices other than the assistance organization system 160, the program aggregation system 140, the user device 111, and the financial institution system 180. For example, in some embodiments, the user application 120 is stored and configured for being accessed by a processing device of the financial institution system 180 connected to the network 130. In various embodiments, the user application 120, the program aggregation application 150, the assistance organization application 170, and the financial institution application 190 are stored and executed by different systems/devices. In some embodiments, the user application 120, the program aggregation application 150, the assistance organization application 170, and the financial institution application 190 stored and executed by different systems may be similar and may be configured to communicate with one another. In some embodiments, the user application 120, the program aggregation application 150, the assistance organization application 170, and the financial institution application 190 may be considered to be working together as a singular application despite being stored and executed on different systems.

In various embodiments, one of the systems discussed above, such as the program aggregation system 140, is more than one system and the various components of the system are not collocated, and in various embodiments, there are multiple components performing the functions indicated herein as a single device. For example, in one embodiment, multiple processing devices perform the functions of the processing device 144 of the program aggregation system 140 described herein.

In various embodiments, the program aggregation system 140, the assistance organization system 160, the financial institution system 180 and the user device 111 and/or other systems may perform all or part of a one or more method steps discussed above and/or other method steps in association with the method steps discussed above. Furthermore, some or all the systems/devices discussed here, in association with other systems or without association with other systems, in association with steps being performed manually or without steps being performed manually, may perform one or more of the steps of one or more of the method discussed herein, or other methods, processes or steps discussed herein or not discussed herein.

In some embodiments, the invention builds a program aggregation application 150. The application compiles user data, such as information about the user, the user's geographic location, income level, medical information, disability information, and/or the like. Typically, in some embodiments of the invention, the user is a low-income and/or disabled individual that requires financial, medical, and/or other forms of aid.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 and described throughout much of this specification, the program aggregation application 150 may extract information from assistance organization systems, match assistance programs with users, and automatically populate and submit assistance program applications on behalf of the user.

In some embodiments of the invention, the program aggregation application 150 may generate a communicable linkage with one or more assistance organizations. The communicable linkage is established over the network to allow the system to extract and retrieve information from the assistance organization systems. In some embodiments, the communicable linkage is used by the application to transmit information back to the assistance organization systems such as completed program applications. In other embodiments, the application may use the communicable linkage with the assistance organizations to transmit and receive communications or other information to and from a user.

In some embodiments, the program aggregation application 150 extracts program information and requirements from the assistance organizations using the established communicable linkage. In this way, the application is able to extract, aggregate, and store information related to various assistance programs offered by an assortment of organizations and provide a centralized database to benefit the application process of the user by creating a single, comprehensive database in which to search for assistance programs. In some embodiments, the application extracts information related to the assistance programs such as assistance offered by the program, program eligibility restrictions, enrollment applications, application deadlines, program guidelines and the like.

In some embodiments, the program aggregation application 150 receives authorization from a user for entry of the user into the assistance program aggregation network. In some embodiments, by authorizing entry into the network, the user agrees to disclose personal information and/or private account information with the system in order to more accurately match the user with one or more assistance programs. In some embodiments, the assistance program aggregation network comprises the collection of the one or more assistance programs compiled by the application in the previous step.

In some embodiments, the program aggregation application 150 generates a user-specific profile associated with the user, wherein after receiving authorization from the user for entry in the assistance program network the application collects user-identifying information associated with the user. In some embodiments, user-identifying information comprises a name, address, age, and the like. In some embodiments, the application may prompt the user to provide information by transmitting a control signal to the user device causing the user device to display a graphical user interface which requests information and provides fields for the user to input the requested information. In some embodiments, the application may collect financial information such as an income level, a history of past transactions, a credit report and the like. In some embodiments, the application may collect medical and/or disability information associated with the user.

In some embodiments, the application may determine a geographic location associated with the user. In some embodiments, the application may prompt the user to provide an associated geographic location. In other embodiments, the geographic location of the user may be determined from information extracted from personal information, accounts, records, and/or the like associated with the user. In some embodiments, the application may retrieve location data from a user device associated with the user that includes a GPS.

In some embodiments, the program aggregation application 150 extracts additional user-identifying information from third party systems. In some embodiments, the third party systems may include financial institutions, doctors' offices, or other entities associated with the user that possess identifying-information requested by the application for more accurately matching the user with assistance programs. In some embodiments, the application generates a communicable linkage with the third party systems over the network in order to receive requested information associated with the user. In some embodiments, the user must authorize the application to extract information associated with the user from the third party systems securely.

In some embodiments, the program aggregation application 150 generates a user-specific profile associated with a user. In some embodiments of the invention, the application compiles the collected data and information into a user profile. In some embodiments, the application stores the user profile in the program aggregation system 140. In other embodiments, the application stores the user profile in the user device 111. In some embodiments, the user profile is stored within the user application 120 on the user device 111.

In some embodiments, the program aggregation application 150 matches the user to one or more assistance program. In some embodiments, the application at least partially matches a user with one or more assistance programs based on the information contained within the user-specific profile. In some embodiments, the application at least partially matches a user with one or more assistance programs based on the eligibility requirements of the program, wherein the user meets the eligibility requirements of the program.

In some embodiments, based on matching the user to one or more assistance programs, the application is triggered to generate a program report and transmit the program report to the user device. In some embodiments of the invention, the program report is comprised of the assistance programs that have been matched to the user by the system. In some embodiments, the application may additionally provide a timetable for enrollment deadlines associated with one or more matched assistance programs, wherein one or more of the matched assistance programs is time sensitive and/or requires additional steps for enrollment at a later time.

In some embodiments, the program aggregation application 150 allows the user to enroll in one or more assistance programs. In some embodiments, an application for enrolling in each of the matched assistance programs may be transmitted to the user device for the user to populate before being submitted by the user. In some embodiments the system transforms the applications into a format that is suited for the user device of the user requesting the application.

In some embodiments, the program aggregation application 150 transmits a confirmation of program enrollment to the user.

FIG. 2 illustrates a high level process flow for generating and building an assistance program aggregation network 200, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. As illustrated in block 202, the process 200 is initiated by generating communicable linkage with one or more assistance organizations. The communicable linkage is established over the network to allow the system to extract and retrieve information from the assistance organization systems. In some embodiments, the communicable linkage is used by the system to transmit information back to the assistance organization systems such as completed program applications. In other embodiments, the system may use the communicable linkage with the assistance organizations to transmit and receive communications or other information to and from a user.

In some embodiments, the assistance organization may be any entity, group, association that provides assistance and/or assistance programs to the users. The assistance and/or assistance programs offered may provide financial assistance, medical assistance, caregiver assistance, disability assistance, and the like to users. In some embodiments, the assistance organization may be a charity or foundation. In other embodiments, the assistance organization may be a government agency. In yet other embodiments, the organization may be a financial institution.

As illustrated in block 204 of FIG. 2, the system extracts program information and requirements from the assistance organizations using the established communicable linkage. In this way, the system is able to extract, aggregate, and store information related to various assistance programs offered by an assortment of organizations and provide a centralized database to benefit the application process of the user by creating a single, comprehensive database in which to search for assistance programs. In some embodiments, the system extracts information related to the assistance programs such as assistance offered by the program, program eligibility restrictions, enrollment applications, application deadlines, program guidelines and the like.

In some embodiments of the invention, the system further comprises a web crawler configured to extract information related to assistance programs by scanning assistance organization websites and automatically retrieving pertinent program information. In some embodiments, the web crawler may convert or transform information from an organization's web site into a format that may be stored and searched in a centralized database in the system such as in a table. In some embodiments the system may employ optical character recognition to transform images of assistance organization web sites into a text format that may be identified and processed by the system for storing and subsequent use. In some embodiments, the system may employ optical character recognition to scan and transform physical documents containing assistance program information into an electronic format that may be stored within a database.

As illustrated in block 206 of FIG. 2, the system receives authorization from a user for entry of the user into the assistance program aggregation network. In some embodiments, by authorizing entry into the network, the user agrees to disclose personal information and/or private account information with the system in order to more accurately match the user with one or more assistance programs. For example, during authorization, the user may be prompted by the system to provide authorization or access to financial accounts or medical records associated with the user. In some embodiments, the assistance program aggregation network comprises the collection of the one or more assistance programs compiled by the system in the previous step.

As illustrated in block 208, the system generates a user-specific profile associated with the user. The process of generating a user-specific profile 300 is further illustrated in FIG. 3, wherein after receiving authorization from the user for entry in the assistance program network in block 302, the system collects user-identifying information associated with the user. In some embodiments, user-identifying information comprises a name, address, age, and the like.

In some embodiments, the system may prompt the user to provide information by transmitting a control signal to the user device causing the user device to display a graphical user interface which requests information and provides fields for the user to input the requested information.

In some embodiments, the assistance program aggregation network may be maintained by an entity with which the user is already associated allowing the system to at least partially automatically populate the user-specific profile with user-identifying information. For example, the aggregation network may be maintained by a financial institution at which the user holds an account, wherein information contained within the account could be extracted to populate portions of the user-specific profile. In other embodiments, the aggregation network is not maintained by an entity associated with the user.

In some embodiments, the system may collect financial information such as an income level, a history of past transactions, a credit report and the like. In some embodiments, the system may collect medical and/or disability information associated with the user.

In some embodiments, the system may collect location data associated with the user. In some embodiments, the system may determine a geographic location associated with the user. In some embodiments, the system may prompt the user to provide an associated geographic location. In other embodiments, the geographic location of the user may be determined from information extracted from personal information, accounts, records, and/or the like associated with the user. In some embodiments, the system may retrieve location data from a user device associated with the user that includes a GPS.

As illustrated in block 306 of FIG. 3, the system extracts additional user-identifying information from third party systems. In some embodiments, the third party systems may include financial institutions, doctors' offices, or other entities associated with the user that possess identifying-information requested by the system for more accurately matching the user with assistance programs. In some embodiments, the system generates a communicable linkage with the third party systems over the network in order to receive requested information associated with the user. In some embodiments, the user must authorize the system to extract information associated with the user from the third party systems securely. In some embodiments, the third party may be an individual or second user associated with the user such as a spouse, family member, or the like. In some embodiments, the second user may be jointly applying for enrollment in the assistance program with the user.

In some embodiments, the user may specify another individual to be associated with the user, wherein the other individual may receive updates and be informed in the enrollment of user in the one or more assistance programs. For example, the other individual may be a family member, spouse, trusted individual, legal counsel, or the like. In some embodiments, the other individual may have the authorization of the user to be involved in the enrollment of the user in one or more assistance programs, wherein the individual is able to make decisions and take actions regarding the user's enrollment in the assistance programs.

As illustrated in block 308, the system generates a user-specific profile associated with a user. In some embodiments of the invention, the system compiles the collected data and information into a user profile. In some embodiments, the system stores the user profile in the program aggregation system 140. In other embodiments, the system stores the user profile in the user device 111. In some embodiments, the user profile is stored within the user application 120 on the user device 111.

Referring now back to FIG. 2, after the user profile has been generated, the process for generating and building the assistance program aggregation network 200 continues by next matching the user to one or more assistance programs as illustrated in block 210. In some embodiments, the system at least partially matches a user with one or more assistance programs based on the information contained within the user-specific profile. In some embodiments, the system at least partially matches a user with one or more assistance programs based on the eligibility requirements of the program, wherein the user meets the eligibility requirements of the program. For example, an assistance program may have an eligibility requirement stipulating that the user be below a predetermined income level in order for the user to qualify for enrollment in the program.

In some embodiments, assistance program information may be stored within the system wherein two or more assistance programs are associated with one another and determined eligibility or enrollment in a first program may prequalify the user for a second program. In this way, matching a user with a first assistance program may automatically trigger a match or enrollment to a second assistance program.

In some embodiments, the user may indicate a desire to be matched with or an intent to enroll in a specific assistance program. In this way, the user indicates his or her intentions to the system via the user device. Based on the user-specific profile, the system may determine that the user is eligible for the assistance program and match the user with the program. In another embodiment, the system may determine that the user in ineligible and does not match the user with the program.

As illustrated in block 212 of FIG. 2, based on matching the user to one or more assistance programs, the system is triggered to generate a program report and transmit the program report to the user device. In some embodiments of the invention, the program report is comprised of the assistance programs that have been matched to the user by the system. In some embodiments, the system may additionally provide a timetable for enrollment deadlines associated with one or more matched assistance programs, wherein one or more of the matched assistance programs is time sensitive and/or requires additional steps for enrollment at a later time.

As illustrated in block 214, the system allows the user to enroll in one or more assistance programs. In some embodiments, an application for enrolling in each of the matched assistance programs may be transmitted to the user device for the user to populate before being submitted by the user. In some embodiments the system transforms the applications into a format that is suited for the user device of the user requesting the application. For example, the user may be applying for enrollment on a mobile phone, however the application may be a letter-sized page designed to be viewed on desktop computer or laptop. In this instance, the system may transform the application to a mobile-friendly format wherein the application may be easily viewed on the mobile phone and yet retain all information of the original application.

In some embodiments, multiple assistance programs that have been matched to the user may be transformed and merged by the system into a single, customized application wherein the user is presented with a unified set of fields that eliminates the need for the user to input repeated information. For example, multiple application may require the user to input his or her name, date of birth, social security number, and/or the like. In this instance, the system would combine the repeated fields and only present the user with a field that is required by one or more applications one time. In some embodiments, once the user populates the fields of the single, customized application, the system extracts the information input by the user to populate one or more applications for one or more match assistance programs and submits the application.

In some embodiments, the system may offer the user legal counsel before submission of enrollment applications to the one or more assistance programs. In some embodiment, the system may establish a communicable linkage between the user and legal counsel for the user to receive legal advice on enrollment in the programs and ask any questions the user might have regarding enrollment in the program.

As illustrated in block 216, transmits a confirmation of program enrollment to the user. In some embodiments, the system stores the enrollment confirmation and any information that may identify the user within the assistance program such as a customer number or the like. In this way, the system may act as a file manager for the user, wherein the user may access the system to view information related to the enrolled program such as identification numbers, correspondence, documentation, and the like.

In some embodiments, the system may continuously monitor in real-time the status of the user within one or more assistance programs after user enrollment, wherein the status of the user involves the eligibility of the user for continued enrollment in the one or more assistance programs. In some embodiments, the system may identify life events associated with the user that may change the status of the user's eligibility for enrollment in one or more assistance programs such as a change in income level, a change in marital status, having an additional child, a change of residence, or similar events. In some embodiments, the system may automatically identify user life events by monitoring financial accounts and transaction history of the user. In some embodiments, the system may identify life events from a social media account associated with the user. In other embodiments, the system may be notified by the user of life events associated with the user.

In some embodiments, determining a change in the eligibility status of a user in an assistance program may trigger the system to transmit a notification to the user to make the user aware of the status change. In some embodiments, the system may recommend and match additional or alternative assistance programs to the user upon determining a change in eligibility status of the user.

In some embodiments of the invention, the system may provide an assistance program calculator to receive hypothetical changes from the user and calculate the financial and/or other beneficial effects of enrolling in an assistance program before completing enrollment. In some embodiments, the assistance program calculator allows the user to determine a total change in assistance from enrolling in a new program and/or ending enrollment in a program. For example, a user may use the assistance program calculator when considering to move to a new city and wanting to determine the change of benefits provided by assistance programs offered in the new city compared to those offered by the assistance program in the current city.

Referring now to FIG. 4, which illustrates a process flow for automatically populating and submitting program applications 400, after first generating the program report and transmitting the program report to the user device as illustrated in block 402, the system receives a selection from the user of one or more assistance programs for enrollment form the user device as illustrated in block 404. Subsequently, as illustrated in block 406, the system receives authorization from the user to automatically populate the assistance program applications associated with the assistance programs selected by the user form the program report.

As illustrated in block 408, the system electronically populates and submits the program applications associated with the assistance programs selected by the user. In some embodiments, the user does not select one or more assistance programs from the program report, and instead, the system automatically populates and submits the assistance program applications associated with the programs for which the user was deemed eligible.

As illustrated in block 410, the system transmits confirmation of program enrollment to the user.

In some embodiments of the invention one or more of the systems described herein may be combined with each other, or otherwise perform the functions of the other systems described herein. In other embodiments of the invention one or more of the applications described herein may be combined with each other, or otherwise perform the functions of the other applications described herein. Furthermore, the applications may be any type of application, such as an application stored on a desktop, server, or other device, a mobile application stored on a mobile device, a cloud application, or other like application. As such, the applications described herein, or portions of the applications described herein may be stored and operated on any of the systems or devices described herein. For example, a portion of one or more applications may be stored on the user device, or may be included as a portion of financial institution applications, such as an online banking application, in order to achieve embodiments of the inventions described herein.

It should be understood, that the systems and devices described in FIG. 1, or other devices not specifically described herein, may be configured to establish a communication link with each other in order to accomplish the steps of the processes described herein. The link may be an internal link within the same entity (e.g., within the same financial institution or device provider) or a link with the other systems of entities (e.g., social networking systems, third-party systems, or the like). In some embodiments, the systems may be configured for monitoring the applications and devices that the system(s) utilize as data sources. The information received from monitoring may be provided via wireless network path portions through the Internet. When the systems or devices are not monitoring a source or are not being monitoring, the information need not be transmitted from the source through the Internet to the destination, although it could be. The sources of information may be made continuously available, however, continuously available does not necessarily mean that the sources actually continuously generates data, but that a source is continuously available to generate and send data real-time (e.g., instantaneously and/or within a few seconds, or the like) of receiving a request for it. In any case, the sources may be continuously available to receive and/or generate information, in some cases in digitized data in Internet Protocol (IP) packet format. In response to continuously monitoring the real-time data feeds from the various systems or devices, the system may be configured to provide target information to the user and/or allow the user to make changes to or control the applications and/or devices.

Moreover, it should be understood that the process flows described herein include transforming the information sent and/or received from the applications of the different systems (e.g., internally or externally) and/or the devices from one or more data formats into a data format associated with an application for display to the user on the user device. There are many ways in which information is converted within the system environment. This may be seamless, as in the case of upgrading to a newer version of a computer program. Alternatively, the conversion may require processing by the use of a special conversion program, or it may involve a complex process of going through intermediary stages, or involving complex “exporting” and “importing” procedures, which may converting to and from a tab-delimited or comma-separated text file. In some cases, a program may recognize several data file formats at the data input stage and then is also capable of storing the output data in a number of different formats. Such a program may be used to convert a file format. If the source format or target format is not recognized, then at times a third program may be available which permits the conversion to an intermediate format, which can then be reformatted.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the present invention may be embodied as a method (including, for example, a computer-implemented process, a business process, and/or any other process), apparatus (including, for example, a system, machine, device, computer program product, and/or the like), or a combination of the foregoing. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.), or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may generally be referred to herein as a “system.” Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-readable medium having computer-executable program code embodied in the medium.

Any suitable transitory or non-transitory computer readable medium may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device. More specific examples of the computer readable medium include, but are not limited to, the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires; a tangible storage medium such as a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), or other optical or magnetic storage device.

In the context of this document, a computer readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The computer usable program code may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to the Internet, wireline, optical fiber cable, radio frequency (RF) signals, or other mediums.

Computer-executable program code for carrying out operations of embodiments of the present invention may be written in an object oriented, scripted or unscripted programming language such as Java, Perl, Smalltalk, C++, or the like. However, the computer program code for carrying out operations of embodiments of the present invention may also be written in conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages.

Embodiments of the present invention are described above with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and/or combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer-executable program code portions. These computer-executable program code portions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a particular machine, such that the code portions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create mechanisms for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer-executable program code portions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the code portions stored in the computer readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction mechanisms which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block(s).

The computer-executable program code may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that the code portions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block(s). Alternatively, computer program implemented steps or acts may be combined with operator or human implemented steps or acts in order to carry out an embodiment of the invention.

Embodiments of the present invention are described above with reference to flowcharts and/or block diagrams. It will be understood that steps of the processes described herein may be performed in orders different than those illustrated in the flowcharts. In other words, the processes represented by the blocks of a flowchart may, in some embodiments, be in performed in an order other that the order illustrated, may be combined or divided, or may be performed simultaneously. It will also be understood that the blocks of the block diagrams illustrated, in some embodiments, merely conceptual delineations between systems and one or more of the systems illustrated by a block in the block diagrams may be combined or share hardware and/or software with another one or more of the systems illustrated by a block in the block diagrams. Likewise, a device, system, apparatus, and/or the like may be made up of one or more devices, systems, apparatuses, and/or the like. For example, where a processor is illustrated or described herein, the processor may be made up of a plurality of microprocessors or other processing devices which may or may not be coupled to one another. Likewise, where a memory is illustrated or described herein, the memory may be made up of a plurality of memory devices which may or may not be coupled to one another.

While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of, and not restrictive on, the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other changes, combinations, omissions, modifications and substitutions, in addition to those set forth in the above paragraphs, are possible. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just described embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

To supplement the present disclosure, this application further incorporates entirely by reference the following commonly assigned patent applications:

	U.S. patent application
Docket Number	Ser. No.	Title	Filed On
7299US1.014033.2856	To be assigned	SYSTEM FOR TRIGGERING OF	Concurrently
		LIVING OPTION RESOURCE	herewith
		ALLOCATION
7300US1.014033.2849	To be assigned	GEOGRAPHIC SELECTION	Concurrently
		SYSTEM BASED ON RESOURCE	herewith
		ALLOCATION AND
		DISTRIBUTION
7301US1.014033.2857	To be assigned	SYSTEM FOR A GEOGRAPHIC	Concurrently
		LOCATION BASED SHARING	herewith
		REQUEST NETWORK
7302US1.014033.2858	To be assigned	WEARABLE DEVICE FOR REAL-	Concurrently
		TIME MONITORING OF	herewith
		PARAMETERS AND
		TRIGGERING ACTIONS

Claims

1. A system for building an assistance program aggregation network, the system comprising:

a memory device with computer-readable program code stored thereon;

a communication device;

a processing device operatively coupled to the memory device and the communication device, wherein the processing device is configured to execute the computer-readable program code to: generate a communicable linkage with one or more assistance organizations; extract information and requirements related to one or more assistance programs from the one or more assistance organizations; receive authorization from a user for user entry into the assistance program aggregation network, wherein the aggregation network comprises one or more assistance programs categorized according to location of the programs and type of assistance provided; generate a user-specific profile containing collected user information; based on the user-specific profile and the program requirements, match the user to one or more assistance programs; based on matching the user to the one or more assistance programs, trigger generation of a program report, wherein the program report contains the one or more assistance programs matched to the user; transmit the program report to a user device allowing the user to enroll in one or more assistance programs presented in the program report; and transmit a confirmation of assistance program enrollment to the user device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein transmitting the program report to the user device allowing the user to enroll in one or more assistance programs presented in the program report further comprises:

receiving a selection of one or more assistance programs from the program report by the user on the user device;

receiving user authorization for automatic population of assistance program applications;

based on the selection of one or more assistance programs and user-specific profile, electronically populating and submitting one or more selected assistance program applications; and

transmitting the confirmation of assistance program enrollment to the user device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein transmitting the program report the user device further comprises merging one or more assistance program applications into a single, customized application, wherein user input of repeated information is reduced to a single entry.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein transmitting the program report to the user device further comprises transforming an assistance program application to a format specifically designed to be legibly accommodated on the user device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the program aggregation network is maintained by a financial institution associated with the user, wherein the financial institution automatically populates at least a portion of user-specific profile by extracting user information from an account associated with the user at the financial institution.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein extracting information and requirements related to one or more assistance programs further comprises using a web crawler to scan websites associated with the one or more assistance organizations and convert extracted information into a format that can be stored and searched within a centralized database.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein extracting information and requirements related to one or more assistance programs further comprises using optical character recognition to transform images into a text format that can be stored and searched within a centralized database.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein generating the user-specific profile further comprises establishing a communicable linkage with one or more third party systems to extract additional information, wherein the one or more third party systems comprise third party financial institutions and medical institutions.

9. A computer program product for building an assistance program aggregation network, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable medium having computer-readable program code portions embodied therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion configured for generating a communicable linkage with one or more assistance organizations;

an executable portion configured for extracting information and requirements related to one or more assistance programs from the one or more assistance organizations;

an executable portion configured for receiving authorization from a user for user entry into the assistance program aggregation network, wherein the aggregation network comprises one or more assistance programs categorized according to location of the programs and type of assistance provided;

an executable portion configured for generating a user-specific profile containing collected user information;

an executable portion configured for, based on the user-specific profile and the program requirements, matching the user to one or more assistance programs;

an executable portion configured for, based on matching the user to the one or more assistance programs, triggering generation of a program report, wherein the program report contains the one or more assistance programs matched to the user;

an executable portion configured for transmitting the program report to a user device allowing the user to enroll in one or more assistance programs presented in the program report; and

an executable portion configured for transmitting a confirmation of assistance program enrollment to the user device.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein transmitting the program report to the user device allowing the user to enroll in one or more assistance programs presented in the program report further comprises:

receiving a selection of one or more assistance programs from the program report by the user on the user device;

receiving user authorization for automatic population of assistance program applications;

based on the selection of one or more assistance programs and user-specific profile, electronically populating and submitting one or more selected assistance program applications; and

transmitting the confirmation of assistance program enrollment to the user device.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein transmitting the program report the user device further comprises merging one or more assistance program applications into a single, customized application, wherein user input of repeated information is reduced to a single entry.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein transmitting the program report to the user device further comprises transforming an assistance program application to a format specifically designed to be legibly accommodated on the user device.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the program aggregation network is maintained by a financial institution associated with the user, wherein the financial institution automatically populates at least a portion of user-specific profile by extracting user information from an account associated with the user at the financial institution.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein extracting information and requirements related to one or more assistance programs further comprises using a web crawler to scan websites associated with the one or more assistance organizations and convert extracted information into a format that can be stored and searched within a centralized database.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein extracting information and requirements related to one or more assistance programs further comprises using optical character recognition to transform images into a text format that can be stored and searched within a centralized database.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein generating the user-specific profile further comprises establishing a communicable linkage with one or more third party systems to extract additional information, wherein the one or more third party systems comprise third party financial institutions and medical institutions.

17. A computer-implemented method for building an assistance program aggregation network, the method comprising:

generating a communicable linkage with one or more assistance organizations;

extracting information and requirements related to one or more assistance programs from the one or more assistance organizations;

receiving authorization from a user for user entry into the assistance program aggregation network, wherein the aggregation network comprises one or more assistance programs categorized according to location of the programs and type of assistance provided;

generating a user-specific profile containing collected user information;

based on the user-specific profile and the program requirements, matching the user to one or more assistance programs;

based on matching the user to the one or more assistance programs, triggering generation of a program report, wherein the program report contains the one or more assistance programs matched to the user;

transmitting the program report to a user device allowing the user to enroll in one or more assistance programs presented in the program report; and

transmitting a confirmation of assistance program enrollment to the user device.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein transmitting the program report to the user device allowing the user to enroll in one or more assistance programs presented in the program report further comprises:

receiving a selection of one or more assistance programs from the program report by the user on the user device;

receiving user authorization for automatic population of assistance program applications;

based on the selection of one or more assistance programs and user-specific profile, electronically populating and submitting one or more selected assistance program applications; and

transmitting the confirmation of assistance program enrollment to the user device.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein transmitting the program report the user device further comprises merging one or more assistance program applications into a single, customized application, wherein user input of repeated information is reduced to a single entry.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein transmitting the program report to the user device further comprises transforming an assistance program application to a format specifically designed to be legibly accommodated on the user device.