Systems and methods for automatically distributing gifts to recipients on behalf of customers

• US 20070284439A1
• Filed: 08/14/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Capital One Services LLC (Capital One Financial Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Capital One Financial Corporation
• Inventors: Rosenblatt, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 7,559,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing gifts are described. In one exemplary embodiment, the systems and methods may include receiving financial card distribution information from a consumer, wherein the financial card distribution information identifies at least one recipient for a financial card and a predetermined delivery time for providing the financial card to the recipient, storing the financial card distribution information in a database, such that the stored financial card distribution information is associated with the consumer, and preparing a communication to the recipient to provide the financial card to the recipient at the predetermined delivery time.

Claims

1-36. -36. (canceled)

37. A computer-readable medium that stores a set of instructions for causing a computer to display a graphical interface, when executed by a processor, the graphical interface comprising:

a display element indicating a first individual selected by a customer to receive a first gift card;

a display element identifying a delivery status for the first gift card.

38. The computer-readable medium according to claim 37, wherein the delivery status comprises a date and time when the first gift card will be delivered to the first individual.

39. The computer-readable medium according to claim 37, wherein the delivery status comprises an indication that the first gift card has been delivered to the first individual.

40. The computer-readable medium according to claim 39, wherein the indication comprises a date and time when the first gift card was delivered to the first individual.

41. The computer-readable medium according to claim 37, wherein the graphical interface further comprises:

a display element for ordering a second gift card for delivery to the first individual.

42. The computer-readable medium according to claim 37, wherein the graphical interface further comprises:

a display element for canceling the delivery of the first gift card to the first individual.

43. The computer-readable medium according to claim 37, wherein the graphical interface further comprises:

a display element to modify previously provided gift distribution information associated with the first gift card.

44. The computer-readable medium according to claim 37, wherein the graphical interface further comprises:

a display element indicating a second individual selected by the customer to receive a second gift card.

45. The computer-readable medium according to claim 37, wherein the gift card is one of from the group comprising:

a pre-stored value card, a redeemable credit card, a pre-paid charge card, a pre-paid credit card, a financial card associated with a particular merchant, and a financial account.

46. A system for providing information regarding gift cards, comprising:

a computer that receives information associated with first individual intended to receive a first gift card, the first individual selected by a customer of a gift card distribution entity, the information including identification information related to the first individual and a delivery status for the first gift card; and

a display that presents the information.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the delivery status comprises a date and time when the first gift card will be delivered to the first individual.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein the delivery status comprises an indication that the first gift card has been delivered to the first individual.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the indication comprises a date and time when the first gift card was delivered to the first individual.

50. The system of claim 46, wherein the computer is further configured to receive additional information associated with an order by the customer for a second gift card for delivery to the first individual, and the display presents the additional information.

51. The system of claim 46, wherein the display presents a display element that allows, when selected via an input device, the delivery of the first gift card to the first individual to be canceled.

52. The system of claim 46, wherein the display presents a display element that allows, when selected via an input device, the modification of distribution information associated with the first gift card.

53. The system of claim 46, wherein the display presents a display element that identifies a second individual selected by the customer to receive a second gift card.

54. The system of claim 46, wherein the gift card is one of from the group comprising:

a pre-stored value card, a redeemable credit card, a pre-paid charge card, a pre-paid credit card, a financial card associated with a particular merchant, and a financial account.

55. A method for providing information regarding gift cards, comprising:

receiving information associated with a first individual intended to receive a first gift card, the first individual selected by a customer of a gift card distribution entity, the information including identification information related to the first individual and a delivery status for the first gift card; and

displaying the information.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the delivery status comprises a date and time when the first gift card will be delivered to the first individual.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein the delivery status comprises an indication that the first gift card has been delivered to the first individual.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the indication comprises a date and time when the first gift card was delivered to the first individual.

59. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

receiving additional information associated with an order by the customer for a second gift card for delivery to the first individual; and

displaying the additional information.

60. The method of claim 55, further comprising displaying a display element that allows, when selected via an input device, the delivery of the first gift card to the first individual to be canceled.

61. The method of claim 55, further comprising displaying a display element that allows, when selected via an input device, the modification of distribution information associated with the first gift card.

62. The method of claim 55, further comprising displaying a display element that identifies a second individual selected by the customer to receive a second gift card.

63. The method of claim 55, wherein the gift card is one of from the group comprising:

a pre-stored value card, a redeemable credit card, a pre-paid charge card, a pre-paid credit card, a financial card associated with a particular merchant, and a financial account.

64. A method for providing gift cards, comprising:

receiving, from a customer of a gift card distribution entity, delivery information for a gift card for a recipient identified by the customer, wherein the delivery information identifies the recipient for the gift card and a predetermined scheduled repeated delivery time for automatically providing the gift card to the recipient on a repeating schedule;

storing the delivery information in a storage device; and

providing information to the customer on a computer reflecting the delivery information.

65. The method according to claim 64, further comprising providing the gift card to the recipient on the repeating schedule.

66. The method according to claim 64, further comprising notifying the customer when the gift has been delivered.

67. The method according to claim 64, wherein the delivery time indicates when the gift card should be distributed by a gift distribution system.

68. The method according to claim 64, wherein the delivery time indicates when the recipient should receive the gift card.

69. The method according to claim 64, wherein the repeating schedule includes an annually scheduled event.

70. The method according to claim 64, further comprising notifying the recipient that the customer has scheduled delivery of the gift card.

71. A system for providing gift cards, comprising:

a computer for receiving, from a customer of a gift card distribution entity, delivery information for a gift card for a recipient identified by the customer, wherein the delivery information identifies the recipient for the gift card and a predetermined scheduled repeated delivery time for automatically providing the gift card to the recipient on a repeating schedule;

a storage device for storing the delivery information; and

a display for providing information to the customer reflecting the delivery information.

72. The system according to claim 71, further comprising providing the gift card to the recipient on the repeating schedule.

73. The system according to claim 72, further comprising notifying the customer when the gift has been provided to the recipient.

74. The system according to claim 71, wherein the delivery time indicates when the gift card should be distributed by a gift distribution system.

75. The system according to claim 71, wherein the delivery time indicates when the recipient should receive the gift card.

76. The system according to claim 71, wherein the repeating schedule includes an annually scheduled event.

77. The system according to claim 71, further comprising notifying the recipient that the customer has scheduled delivery of the gift card.