SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATED GIFT DELIVERY

• US 20080243630A1
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Web Two LLP
• Original Assignee: Web Two LLP
• Inventors: Farney, Bryan
• Granted Patent: US 8,386,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A system and method for automated selective gift delivery whereby a gift-giver is provided the opportunity to register as a user of the system and with respect to each desired recipient of one or more gifts for one or more events, typically recurring, to provide information to the system about the recipient and the events such that the system may select, or cause to be automatically selected, a gift suitable for the recipient and event based upon the parameters provided by the gift-giver, and cause the gift to be automatically delivered to the recipient without further action or intervention by the gift-giver. Alternative modes of the invention provide for the gift-giver to be given the option of sending an alternative gift selected by the system, or caused to be selected by the system, as suitable for the recipient and event. Another additional mode permits the gift-giver to decline to have a gift sent to a recipient for a particular event. Another additional mode permits the gift-giver to select from among the available inventory of gifts suitable for the recipient and event. Another mode of the invention permits the user to have a gift automatically and selectively delivered for a one-time, rather than recurring, event.

Claims

1. A method of providing gift-providing services for a gift event, comprising the acts of:

receiving gift event information from a gift-giver comprising information regarding a plurality of events for which a gift is to be provided, said information sufficient to associate a date with each event;

receiving information regarding the gift recipient, including the delivery information of the gift recipient;

receiving information regarding each gift to be delivered, said information comprising for each said gift event of said plurality of events, a gift type to be delivered, and a gift price range selection for said gift type selection;

receiving information regarding the gift-giver, said information comprising a payment method for the gifts;

in advance of a gift event date, identifying a proposed gift selection to the gift-giver, said gift selection made in accordance with said received gift type selection and gift price range selection, which gift selection will be sent to the gift recipient in the absence of an alternative instruction; and

arranging for delivery of a gift to the gift recipient in accordance with either said proposed gift selection or such an alternative instruction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the act of transmitting another proposed gift selection to the gift recipient proximate the next anniversary of at least one of said gift events.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the gift recipient is of an age at which the age of the recipient is a significant criteria in selection of an appropriate gift, and wherein the information regarding the gift recipient comprises information identifying the age of the recipient, and wherein the proposed gift is selected in reference to said age of the gift recipient;

and wherein said method further comprises the acts of;

identifying a second proposed gift selection to the gift giver in advance of the next anniversary of the gift event, said second proposed gift selected in reference to the age of the gift recipient at the time of said next anniversary of the gift event.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of receiving a selection of a category of gift type to be delivered for each gift event of said plurality of gift events, comprises receiving a selection from a plurality of presented categories.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the plurality of categories comprise a first category of plant items and second category of food items.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the acts of:

electronically forwarding to a third party at least a portion of the gift recipient information and at least a portion of the information regarding at least one gift to be sent for identification of at least one appropriate gift for the gift recipient for the at least one gift event based on said transmitted information;

receiving an electronic communication from said third party identifying said appropriate gift; and

wherein said identified appropriate gift is said selected gift transmitted to the gift recipient.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the act of identifying, in association with the identification of a proposed gift selection, a time by which the gift-giver must respond with an alternative instruction regarding the proposed gift selection.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in association with the identification of the act of identifying the proposed gift selection to the gift-giver, further identifying the gift event and the gift recipient.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in association with the identification of the act of identifying the proposed gift selection to the gift-giver, presenting the gift-giver with an opportunity to give an alternative instruction to send an alternate gift instead of the proposed gift selection.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the information sufficient to associate a date with the event comprises an input by the gift-giver identifying a number of random events for which the gift-giver desires a gift be sent to a recipient.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing at least one alternative gift selection to the gift-giver for at least one gift event, and permitting the gift-giver to select such alternative gift.

12. A method of providing gift-providing services for a recurring event, comprising the acts of:

receiving electronic data communication of gift event information comprising information regarding events for which a gift is to be provided, said information including the date of each event;

identifying the interval of recurrence of the event;

receiving an electronic data communication of information regarding the gift recipient, including the delivery address of the gift recipient;

receiving an electronic data communication of information regarding the gift to be sent, said information comprising for each said gift, a gift type to be delivered, said gift type selected from a plurality of possible gift categories;

receiving electronic data communication of information regarding the gift giver, said information comprising a payment method for the gifts

in advance of the gift event, electronically transmitting a proposed gift selection to the gift giver, said gift selection identifying a date by which the selected gift will be sent to the gift recipient in the absence of an alternative instruction; and

arranging for delivery of a gift to the gift recipient in accordance with either said proposed gift selection or said alternative instruction, and wherein the arranging comprises,

arranging for the gift to be sent by a first vendor if it is a type selected from a first category, and

arranging for the gift to be sent by a second vendor if it is a type selected from a second category.

13. A method of managing sending of gifts for recurring gift events for a client, comprising the acts of:

providing an electronic interface configured to received information from the client;

through said interface, receiving information identifying,

at least one recipient for a recurring gift,

at least one recurring gift event for said gift recipient and the date of said event,

at least one selection criteria for the gift to be sent to said gift recipient, wherein the selection criteria comprises at least one of a gift price range and a gift type selected from a plurality of gift types, and

payment instructions for the gifts;

in advance of the gift event, electronically transmitting to the client a reminder of the gift event and gift recipient including a first gift selection which will be forwarded to the gift recipient proximate the gift event date in the absence of an alternative instruction from the client, said first gift selection made in reference to said at least one selection criteria; and

initiating delivery of a gift selection to the gift recipient proximate the gift event date, the gift selection selected in accordance with said first gift selection or said alternative instruction.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the reminder electronically forwarded to the client comprises an indication of at least a first alternative gift selection.

15. A method of operating a system for managing sending of gifts for recurring events on behalf of a plurality of clients, comprising the acts of:

providing an electronic interface configured to receive information on behalf of the clients, said interface establishing at least selective communication with a network;

through said electronic interface, receiving client registration information, said client identification information sufficient to,

identify the client,

identify a method to communicate with the client electronically, and

establish a payment mechanism for services provided on behalf of the client;

through said electronic interface, receiving gift registration information identifying for at least a portion of said clients,

at least one recipient for a recurring gift,

at least one recurring gift event for said gift recipient and the date of said event, and

at least one selection criteria for the gift to be sent to said gift recipient, said electronic interface facilitating selection of a gift type, from a plurality of gift types;

maintaining a data store of said received client registration information and gift registration information;

periodically accessing said data store to identify gift events within a selected time interval, and identifying at least a first gift event within the selected time;

in response to said identified first gift event, identifying a first gift selection in accordance with at least said first selection criteria;

electronically communicating a reminder of the gift event and an identification of said first gift selection to the client;

providing an interface through which said client may submit an alternative instruction regarding delivery of a gift for said gift event; and

in the absence of receipt of an alternative instruction on behalf of said client, initiating transmittal of said first gift selection to said gift recipient.

16. A system for managing sending of gifts for recurring events on behalf of a plurality of clients, comprising:

a processing system comprising at least one processor, said processing system configured to receive data inputs from at least one user interface, and further operable to store and process data received from said user interface;

a data store operably coupled to said processing system and configured to provide at least one database of information under the control of said processing system;

a first user interface configured to receive client registration information, said client identification information sufficient to identify the client, identify a method to communicate with the client electronically, and to establish a payment mechanism for services provided on behalf of the client, said interface also configured to selectively communicate such client registration electronically to said processing system;

a second user interface configured to receive an electronic data communication of gift registration information including at least one recipient for a recurring gift, at least one recurring gift event for said gift recipient, the date of said gift event, and at least one selection criteria for the gift to be sent to said gift recipient, wherein the at least one selection criteria comprises a gift type of a plurality of offered gift types; and

a machine-readable storage medium in operable communication with said processing system, said storage medium containing a plurality of instructions which when implemented by said at least one processor in said processing system perform operations which comprise,

through first said interface, receiving said client registration information,

through said second interface, receiving said gift registration information,

periodically referencing said database to identify gift events occurring within a selected time and obtaining data indicating a selected proposed gift for said gift recipient,

electronically transmitting to the client a reminder of the gift event and the gift recipient and an identification of the selected proposed gift which will be forwarded to the gift recipient proximate the gift event date in the absence of an alternative instruction from the client, and wherein the proposed gift is selected in reference to said selection criteria, and

in the absence of an alternative instruction from the client, transmitting an electronic notification sufficient to initiate delivery of the selected proposed gift to the gift recipient proximate the gift event date.

17. A method of providing gift-providing services related to a gift event and a gift recipient, comprising the acts of:

receiving gift event information comprising information regarding the event for which a gift is to be provided, said information sufficient to associate a date with the event;

receiving information regarding the gift recipient, including delivery information relevant to the gift recipient;

receiving information regarding the gift to be delivered;

in advance of the gift event date, identifying a proposed gift selection to be sent to the gift recipient in the absence of an alternative instruction; and

arranging for delivery of a gift to the gift recipient in accordance with said proposed gift selection, wherein said proposed gift will be delivered on behalf of a first vendor if it is of a first gift type, and will be delivered on behalf of a second vendor if it is of a second gift type.

18. A method for providing services to a gift-giver related to providing a gift to a recipient for a gift event, comprising:

receiving gift parameter information, said gift parameter information comprising a gift type selected from a plurality of gift types, and a gift price range;

receiving gift delivery information relevant to the intended gift recipient;

receiving information sufficient to identify an event for which a gift is to be sent to the intended gift recipient;

identifying a gift for the intended gift recipient and event using at least some of the gift parameter and event information; and

providing information sufficient to permit delivery of the identified gift to the recipient on or near the associated event without further intervention by the gift-giver.