Multi-user collaborative transaction management with shared interface

An apparatus for completing a collaborative transaction involving at least a first user device and a second user device in real time, wherein the first user device is remote to the second user device, the apparatus comprising:

• communications hardware corresponding to the first user device, wherein the communications hardware is configured to:
• receive, by a user interface (UI) corresponding to the first user device, a first command to begin a transaction,
• display, by the UI corresponding to the first user device, a UI element depicting a transaction state including at least one modifiable parameter of the transaction,
• receive, by the UI corresponding to the first user device, a second command to begin the collaborative transaction using the UI element,
• transmit, to a collaborative transaction server, the first command, an indication of the UI element, and an indication of a linked account corresponding to the second user device,
• receive, from the collaborative transaction server and in response to transmitting the indication of the linked account, an indication that the linked account corresponding to the second user device is authorized to collaborate,
• display, by the UI and in response to receiving the indication that the linked account corresponding to the second user device is authorized to collaborate, a chat interface and a chat UI element depicting the transaction state, wherein the chat UI element is based on the UI element and sized for display and interaction in the chat interface, wherein the collaborative transaction server generates a chat data structure including:
• (i) an indication of the transaction state, (ii) an indication of the linked accounts, and (iii) a representation of the chat UI element, and wherein the chat UI element is linked to the chat data structure and the transaction state maintained by the collaborative transaction server such that modifications to the transaction state are displayed in real-time, and
• receive, by the UI, a third command to finalize the transaction;
• and
• transaction circuitry corresponding to the first user device, wherein the transaction circuitry is configured to:
• update the modifiable parameter of the transaction state based on the updated chat UI element to produce an updated transaction state including an updated modifiable parameter,
• wherein the communications hardware is further configured to transmit the updated transaction state and the third command to the collaborative transaction server.

A computer program product for completing a collaborative transaction involving at least a first user device and a second user device in real time, wherein the first user device is remote to the second user device, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions that, when executed, cause a system:

• receive, by a user interface (UI) corresponding to the first user device, a first command to begin a transaction;
• display, by the UI corresponding to the first user device, a UI element depicting a transaction state including at least one modifiable parameter of the transaction;
• receive, by the UI corresponding to the first user device, a second command to begin the collaborative transaction using the UI element;
• transmit, to a collaborative transaction server, the first command, an indication of the UI element, and an indication of a linked account corresponding to the second user device;
• receive, from the collaborative transaction server, and in response to transmitting the indication of the linked account, an indication that the linked account corresponding to the second user device is authorized to collaborate;
• display, by the UI corresponding to the first user device and in response to the receiving of the indication that the linked account corresponding to the second user device is authorized to collaborate, a chat interface and a chat UI element depicting the transaction state, wherein the chat UI element is based on the UI element and sized for display and interaction in the chat interface, wherein the collaborative transaction server generates a chat data structure including:
• (i) an indication of the transaction state, (ii) an indication of the linked accounts, and (iii) a representation of the chat UI element, and wherein the chat UI element is linked to the chat data structure and the transaction state maintained by the collaborative transaction server such that modifications to the transaction state are displayed in real-time;
• receive, by the UI corresponding to the first user device, a third command to finalize the transaction;
• update the modifiable parameter of the transaction state based on the updated chat UI element to produce an updated transaction state including an updated modifiable parameter;
• and
• transmit the updated transaction state and the third command to the collaborative transaction server.