Selective inclusion of stored value cards in mailings
First Claim
1. A method of including a gift card in a mailing to a customer, comprising:
- at a host computer system, receiving a request to include gift cards in mailings to each member of a group comprising one or more customers, wherein the group includes the customer;
preparing the mailing, wherein the mailing includes the gift card and wherein the gift card is inactive;
sending the mailing to the customer;
at a host computer system, receiving a request from the customer to activate the gift card, wherein the request includes an identifier of the gift card and payment for an amount of value to be assigned to the gift card;
thereafter, at the host computer, settling a transaction involving the gift card and a recipient of the gift card, wherein the recipient and the customer are different.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of including a gift card in a mailing to a customer includes receiving a request to include gift cards in mailings to each member of a group comprising one or more customers. The group includes the customer. The method also includes preparing the mailing. The mailing includes the gift card and the gift card is inactive. The method further includes sending the mailing to the customer and receiving a request from the customer to activate the gift card. The request includes an identifier of the gift card and payment for an amount of value to be assigned to the gift card. The method further includes settling a transaction involving the gift card and a recipient of the gift card. The recipient and the customer are different.
152 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of including a gift card in a mailing to a customer, comprising:
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at a host computer system, receiving a request to include gift cards in mailings to each member of a group comprising one or more customers, wherein the group includes the customer;
preparing the mailing, wherein the mailing includes the gift card and wherein the gift card is inactive;
sending the mailing to the customer;
at a host computer system, receiving a request from the customer to activate the gift card, wherein the request includes an identifier of the gift card and payment for an amount of value to be assigned to the gift card;
thereafter, at the host computer, settling a transaction involving the gift card and a recipient of the gift card, wherein the recipient and the customer are different. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of including a stored value card in a mailing to a customer, comprising:
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at a host computer system, receiving a request to include stored value cards in mailings to each member of a group comprising one or more customers, wherein the group includes the customer;
preparing the mailing, wherein the mailing includes the stored value card and wherein the stored value card is inactive;
sending the mailing to the customer; and
at the host computer system, receiving a request from the customer to activate the card, wherein the request includes an identifier of the card and payment for an amount of monetary value to be assigned to the card. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of including a gift card in a mailing to a customer, comprising:
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at a host computer system, receiving a request from the customer to include an inactive gift card in the mailing;
preparing the mailing, wherein the mailing includes the gift card and wherein the gift card is inactive;
sending the mailing to the customer;
at a host computer system, receiving a request from the customer to activate the gift card, wherein the request includes an identifier of the gift card and payment for an amount of monetary value to be assigned to the gift card. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing a method of including a stored value card in a mailing to a customer, the method comprising:
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receiving a request to include stored value cards in mailings to each member of a group comprising one or more customers, wherein the group includes the customer;
preparing the mailing, wherein the mailing includes the stored value card and wherein the stored value card is inactive;
sending the mailing to the customer; and
receiving a request from the customer to activate the card, wherein the request includes an identifier of the card and payment for an amount of monetary value to be assigned to the card. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of including a stored value card in a mailing to a customer, comprising:
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a step for receiving a request to include stored value cards in mailings to each member of a group comprising one or more customers, wherein the group includes the customer;
a step for preparing the mailing, wherein the mailing includes the stored value card and wherein the stored value card is inactive;
a step for sending the mailing to the customer; and
a step for receiving a request from the customer to activate the card, wherein the request includes an identifier of the card and payment for an amount of monetary value to be assigned to the card. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A system for including a stored value card in a mailing to a customer, comprising:
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mail processing equipment;
a processor configured to control the mail processing equipment; and
software that programs the processor to;
receive a request to include stored value cards in mailings to each member of a group comprising one or more customers, wherein the group includes the customer;
send control signals to the mail processing equipment to prepare the mailing, wherein the mailing includes the stored value card and wherein the stored value card is inactive; and
receive a request from the customer to activate the card, wherein the request includes an identifier of the card and payment for an amount of monetary value to be assigned to the card. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for including a stored value card in a mailing to a customer, comprising:
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means for receiving a request to include stored value cards in mailings to each member of a group comprising one or more customers, wherein the group includes the customer;
means for preparing the mailing, wherein the mailing includes the stored value card and wherein the stored value card is inactive;
means for sending the mailing to the customer; and
means for receiving a request from the customer to activate the card, wherein the request includes an identifier of the card and payment for an amount of monetary value to be assigned to the card. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification