System and Method for Interactive Virtual Banking

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a computer-implemented interactive virtual banking system and method for connecting a user environment with a banking environment for facilitating banking transactions. The system may include a computer memory storing a plurality of banking application programs and an interactive virtual environment generator for generating an interactive virtual banking environment, the environment including visual and audio components. The system may additionally include a user input sensing mechanism for accepting and interpreting user voice input received in the interactive virtual banking environment and computer processing components for accessing the stored banking application programs and executing the stored banking programs within the generated interactive virtual banking environment enabling the user to perform banking tasks through voice input to the interactive virtual banking environment.

1 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A computer-implemented interactive virtual banking system for connecting a user environment, including an account holder computing system, with a banking environment for facilitating banking transactions, the system comprising:
 a computer memory disposed within the interactive virtual banking system and storing a plurality of programs including banking application programs;   an interactive virtual environment generator for generating an interactive virtual banking environment, the interactive virtual banking environment including visual and audio components depicting a rendering of a bank branch;   a user input sensing system for accepting and interpreting user input received in the interactive virtual banking environment generated by the interactive virtual environment generator; and   computer processing components for accessing the stored programs including the banking application programs and executing the stored programs to perform steps including;
 providing customization options allowing the user to enter input to select customized features of a bank branch within the generated interactive virtual banking environment; 
 providing a rendering of multiple portals for the customized bank branch within the generated interactive virtual banking environment, the multiple portals each associated with different services, at least one portal providing a real time interactive transaction option; 
 sensing user input through the user input sensing mechanism, the user input requesting entry into the portal providing the real time interactive transaction option; 
 responsive to the user input, selecting and retrieving an application from the computer memory; and 
 providing the interactive application, over the Internet to the account holder computing system, for allowing the user to receive the real time interactive transaction service associated with the selected portal in the customized interactive virtual banking environment. 
   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the portals include renderings of a teller window, a loan officer, and a sales office. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the selected portal provides the real time interactive transaction option through video chat. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the multiple portals is a partner portal providing access to an interactive merchant service available from a merchant partner of the bank branch. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the customization options enable customization of a user avatar within the interactive virtual banking environment. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the user input sensing system accepts tactile input and voice input and senses the motion of the user within the interactive virtual banking environment. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 28 , further comprising a notification engine for providing banking alerts to the user within the interactive virtual banking environment. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the interactive virtual banking environment comprises audio cues presented by at least one virtual teller within the home bank branch and provides multiple transaction options accessible through visual and audio input from the user. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the rendering is a three dimensional holographic rendering projected from a device to a surface area. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the virtual environment generator generates a default bank branch in the interactive virtual banking environment when the user does not customize the bank branch, the default bank branch comprising a home bank branch. 
     
     
         38 . A computer-implemented interactive virtual banking method for connecting a user environment, including an account holder computing system, with a banking environment for facilitating banking transactions, the method comprising:
 storing a plurality of programs including banking application programs in a computer memory;   generating an interactive virtual banking environment using a virtual environment generator, the interactive virtual banking environment including visual and audio components and a rendering of a bank branch selected by the user;   sensing user input into the interactive virtual banking environment using a user input sensing system for accepting and interpreting user input received in the interactive virtual banking environment generated by the interactive virtual environment generator; and   accessing the stored programs including banking application programs and executing the stored programs using a computer processor to perform steps including;
 providing customization options allowing the user to enter input to select customized features of a bank branch within the generated interactive virtual banking environment; 
 providing a rendering of multiple portals for the customized bank branch within the generated interactive virtual banking environment, the multiple portals each associated with different services, at least one portal providing a real time interactive transaction option; 
 sensing user input through the user input sensing mechanism, the user input requesting entry into one of the multiple portals; 
 responsive to the user input, selecting and retrieving an application from the computer memory; and 
 providing the interactive application over the Internet to the account holder computing system, for allowing the user to receive the real time interactive service associated with the selected portal in the customized interactive virtual banking environment. 
   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the portals include renderings of a teller window, a loan officer, and a sales office. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the selected portal provides the real time transaction option through video chat. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein at least one of the multiple portals is a partner portal providing access to a merchant service available from a merchant partner of the bank branch. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the customization options enable customization of a user avatar within the interactive virtual banking environment. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising accepting tactile input, voice input, and motion input from the user within the interactive virtual banking environment. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising providing, from a notification engine, banking alerts to the user within the interactive virtual banking environment. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the interactive virtual environment comprises audio cues presented by at least one virtual teller within the home bank branch and provides multiple transaction options available accessible through visual and audio input from the user. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the rendering is a three dimensional holographic rendering projected from a device to a surface area. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising generating a default bank branch in the interactive virtual banking environment when the user does not customize the bank branch, the default bank branch comprising a home bank branch.