# US 2014/0156508 A1 · Splitting A Purchase Among Multiple Parties Using An Electronic Receipt After The Transaction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156508 A1 - Document ID: US20140156508A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/691,646 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - Applicants: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - Inventors: Stuart Argue; Anthony Emile Marcar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156508A1 ## CPC - G06Q 20/326: {Payment applications installed on the mobile devices} - G06Q 20/047: {using payment protocols involving electronic receipts} - G06Q 20/102: {Bill distribution or payments} - G06Q 20/20: Point-of-sale [POS] network systems - G06Q 20/3276: {using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device} - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A method is disclosed for a customer splitting the cost of a purchase with other persons. An electronic receipt may be viewed on a mobile electronic device with electronic receipts software thereon. Using a device configured according to one or more embodiments of the invention, a customer is able to select the receipt for splitting as well as selecting other persons to share the cost of items on the receipt. The customer may allocate item cost among those other persons. Information may be sent to a server or computer system to provide notifications to the other persons. The server may then process the request and transmit receipt information/notifications to the person requested by the customer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for splitting a receipt among multiple persons comprising: receiving an electronic receipt on a mobile electronic device; receiving a selection of an item from the electronic receipt on the mobile electronic device; receiving a selection of a person on the mobile electronic device; associating the person with the item on the mobile electronic device; receiving an allocation of the item cost for the person on the mobile electronic device; and splitting the receipt total among multiple persons according to item cost allocations. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises sending a notification to each of the multiple persons indicating their portion of the receipt cost. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the notification includes a link to view the electronic receipt and the item cost allocations. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the notification includes a link to effect payment for a person's portion of the receipt cost. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method more specifically comprises: receiving a selection of a group of items from the electronic receipt on the mobile electronic device; associating the person with the group of items on the mobile electronic device; and receiving an allocation of the cost of the group of items for the person on the mobile electronic device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises providing a suggestion of persons for splitting items on the receipt. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the suggested persons are persons who have split item costs on the electronic receipt. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the suggested persons are persons who have split item costs previously. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving an allocation of the item cost for the person on the mobile electronic device more specifically comprises receiving a designation to split the item cost equally among persons associated with the item. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving an allocation of the item cost for the person on the mobile electronic device more specifically comprises receiving a designation to allocate a percentage of the item cost to the person. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the step of receiving a designation to allocate a percentage of the item cost more specifically comprises receiving a movement of a slider bar between a minimum and a maximum percentage to allocate a percentage of the item cost to the person. ### Claim 12 A method for splitting a receipt among multiple persons comprising: completing a purchase transaction; transmitting an electronic receipt for the transaction to a mobile electronic device; displaying the electronic receipt on the mobile electronic device; receiving a selection to split the receipt purchase cost among multiple persons on the mobile electronic device; receiving a selection of an item from the electronic receipt on the mobile electronic device; receiving a selection of a person on the mobile electronic device; associating the person with the item on the mobile electronic device; receiving an allocation of the item cost for the person on the mobile electronic device; and splitting the receipt total among multiple persons according to item cost allocations. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises sending a notification to each of the multiple persons indicating their portion of the receipt cost. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the notification is sent via text message to a mobile electronic device associated with the person. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the method more specifically comprises: receiving a selection of a group of items from the electronic receipt on the mobile electronic device; associating the person with the group of items on the mobile electronic device; and receiving an allocation of the cost of the group of items for the person on the mobile electronic device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the method more specifically comprises: receiving a selection of multiple persons on the mobile electronic device; associating the multiple persons with the item on the mobile electronic device; and receiving an allocation of the item cost for each of the multiple persons on the mobile electronic device to allocate the cost of the item between the multiple persons. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the method comprises receiving an allocation to split the cost of the item equally among the multiple persons. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the method comprises receiving individual allocations for each of the multiple persons to split the cost of the item non-equally.