Multi-merchant gift registry

• US 20050038712A1
• Filed: 09/15/2003
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: William J. Veeneman
• Original Assignee: William J. Veeneman
• Inventors: Veeneman, William J.
• Application Number:
  US10/662,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20050038712A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/40 for devices for accepting orders, advertisements, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader

Abstract

A multi-merchant gift registry utilizes a portable hand held scanner having a wireless communication link. Items are scanned with the scanner and this data is transmitted to a remote terminal or a point of sale system that correlates the scanned data with a product identification. This product identification is then transmitted back to the scanner, where it is displayed. The registrant can then choose the product and enter a quantity. This information is again transmitted via a wireless link and the gift registry is updated.

Claims

1. A method of conveying gift registration information to a gift buyer, the method comprising:

indicating gift items for purchase;

indicating a plurality of entities where the gift items may be purchased;

associating each gift item with an entity where the gift item may be purchased; and

providing a machine readable code associated with a registrant.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable code is a bar code.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein indicating the plurality of entities includes showing a name associated with an entity.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the name is shown in logo form.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an image.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the image is of a gift item.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising indicating a purchase price associated with a gift item.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a reduced price associated with a gift item.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising indicating a gift registration'"'"'s location.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a gift item is indicated by providing parameters that can be used to guide a purchase by the gift buyer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a gift item is indicated by providing preferred alternatives from which the gift buyer may purchase.

12. An apparatus for conveying information to a gift buyer regarding a gift item recorded in a gift registration system as being intended for a registrant, the apparatus comprising:

a first location adapted to convey information regarding the gift item;

a second location adapted to convey where the gift item may be obtained by the gift buyer; and

a machine-readable code associated with a registrant.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first location contains a description of the gift item.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first location contains parameters that can be used to guide a purchase by the gift buyer.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first location contains preferred alternatives from which the gift buyer may purchase.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first location contains a price for the gift item.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the machine-readable code is bar code.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising an image of a consumer product.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the image is associated with the gift item.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first location contains a description of where the gift item may be purchased.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the description of where the gift item may be purchased includes a store'"'"'s name in logo form.

22. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a third location adapted to convey information describing a registration system'"'"'s location.

23. A method of recording a gift item into a gift registration system, the method comprising:

providing a machine-readable form;

recording on the machine-readable form information regarding the gift item;

recording on the machine-readable form information regarding a registrant; and

associating the machine-readable form with a location where the gift item may be obtained.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising reading the information recorded on the machine-readable form with a character recognition system.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the information regarding the gift item includes a price associated with the gift item.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the information regarding the gift item includes a quantity associated with the gift item.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the information regarding the gift item includes a product description associated with the gift item.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the information regarding the gift item includes an identification code associated with the gift item.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the information regarding the registrant includes an identification number associated with the registrant.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the information regarding the registrant includes a name associated with the registrant.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein associating the machine-readable form with the location where the gift may be obtained includes providing a machine-readable code on the form.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the machine-readable code is a bar code.

33. An apparatus for recording a gift item into a gift registration system, wherein the gift item is available at a merchant location and intended for a registrant, the apparatus comprising:

a first location adapted to receive, in a machine-readable format, information regarding the gift item;

a second location adapted to receive, in a machine-readable format, information regarding the registrant; and

a machine-readable code associated with the merchant location.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the information regarding the gift item includes a description of the gift item.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the description contains parameters that can be used to guide a purchase by the gift buyer.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the description contains preferred alternatives from which the gift buyer may purchase.

37. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the information regarding the gift item includes a price associated with the gift item.

38. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the information regarding the gift item includes a quantity associated with the gift item.

39. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the information regarding the registrant includes an identification code associated with the registrant.

40. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the information regarding the registrant includes a name associated with the registrant.

41. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the machine-readable code is bar code.

42. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the information regarding the gift item and the information regarding the registrant is readable via a character recognition system.

43. A card adapted for use with a gift registration system used by a registrant, the card comprising a machine-readable code associated with the registrant.

44. The card of claim 43, wherein the machine-readable code is a bar code.

45. The card of claim 43, wherein the machine-readable code is a magnetic strip.

46. The card of claim 43, wherein the machine-readable code is an imbedded memory chip.

47. The card of claim 43, further comprising a textual code associated with the registrant.

48. A method of providing gift item purchasing information used in a gift registration system, the method comprising:

associating a list with a registrant, the list including at least one gift item; and

providing a card including a machine-readable code associated with a registrant.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising reading the machine-readable code with a card reader associated with the gift registration system.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the card reader is located at a gift registration system kiosk.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein card reader is located at an ATM.

52. The method of claim 48, further comprising displaying the list on a screen.

53. The method of claim 48, further comprising printing the list on a medium.

54. The method of claim 48, further comprising associating a stored value with the card.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising allocating the stored value to at least one of the gift items.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising presenting the card to a cashier during a purchase of at least one of the at least one gift item, reducing the stored value by the amount of the purchase, and crediting a store with the amount of the purchase.

57. A method of providing a list identifying at least one gift for purchase, the method comprising:

associating a list with a registrant, the list including at least one gift item;

providing at least one stored value card associated with a registrant;

providing a card reader with a capability of associating additional monies with the stored value card.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the card reader is an ATM.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the card reader is at a kiosk.

60. The method of claim 57, wherein the list is associated with the card.

61. The method of claim 57, wherein the stored value card is a smart card and the monies are electronically stored on the card.

62. The method of claim 57, wherein the stored value card is associated with an account database where the monies are electronically stored.

63. A method of providing a list identifying at least one gift for purchase, the method comprising:

associating a list with a registrant, the list including at least one gift item;

printing the list on an ATM machine.

64. A gift registry system, comprising:

at least one ATM associated with a subset of a chain of standalone stores, wherein the standalone stores are in multiple locations, wherein the ATM includes a printer that may be used to print a list identifying gifts selected by a registrant.

65. The system of claim 64, further comprising software allowing a registrant to identify gifts for inclusion on a list in a multiple standalone stores.

66. The system of claim 65, further comprising a scanner for use to select gifts to be placed on a list identifying gifts for purchase.

67. The system of claim 66, further comprising a printer for printing a list identifying at least one gift.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein the printer part of an ATM.

69. The system of claim 67, wherein the kiosk is an ATM.

70. A method for selecting gifts for inclusion on a gift list, comprising:

providing a registrant with access to a scanner;

receiving information relating to at least one product for inclusion on the gift list from the scanner;

enabling the registrant to select gifts from multiple stores for inclusion on the gift list; and

associating the gift list with the registrant.

71. The method of claim 70 further comprising the act of printing a list identifying each selected gift with a store, wherein the printed list identifies a selected gift from at least two different stores.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the act of printing is performed on an ATM.

73. The method of claim 71, wherein the act of selecting gifts from multiple stores consists of selecting gifts from one or more stores located in a mall.

74. The method of claim 71, wherein the act of selecting gifts from multiple stores includes selecting gifts from one or more stores in a mall.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the act of selecting gifts from multiple stores includes selecting gifts from standalone stores.