Special Occasion Reminder and Gift Giving System

• US 20090171739A1
• Filed: 12/24/2008
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stephens, Lauren, De, Sruba
• Application Number:
  US12/343,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20090171739A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method for on-line shopping for special occasions includes the steps of providing a link to a network accessible website, receiving and storing data from a user identifying at least one recipient, wherein the data includes at least one special occasion date, sending a notification to the user prior to the special occasion date, wherein the notification reminds the user of the special occasion date, offering a plurality of gifts for on line ordering via the website, receiving and storing an order for a gift in advance of the special occasion date and sending the gift to the recipient a predetermined number of days prior to the special occasion.

Claims

1. A method for on-line shopping for special occasions comprising the steps of:

providing a link to a network accessible website;

receiving and storing data from a user identifying at least one recipient, said data including at least one special occasion date;

sending a notification to said user prior to said special occasion date, said notification reminding said user of said special occasion date;

offering a plurality of gifts;

receiving and storing an order for a gift in advance of said special occasion date; and

sending said gift to said recipient a predetermined number of days prior to said special occasion.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving and storing a personal message from said user; and

sending said personal message together with said gift.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein data identifying a plurality of recipients is received and stored.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of sending a notification to said user prior to sending said gift to said recipient, said notification alerting said user that a gift is about to be sent.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying a list of recipients to said user via said website.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving and storing an annual purchase designation from said user regarding said gift order; and

sending a gift annually to said recipient a predetermined number of days prior to said special occasion.

7. A computer system for on-line shopping for special occasions comprising:

a processor accessible via a computer network;

a memory coupled to said processor for storing data;

a network interface coupled to said processor to allow network access to said data;

program logic configured to receive and store recipient data from a user, said recipient data identifying at least one recipient and at least one special occasion date;

program logic configured to send an electronic notification reminder to said user prior to said special occasion date, said electronic notification reminder reminding said user of said special occasion date;

program logic configured to offer a plurality of gifts for on line ordering by said user;

program logic configured to receive and store a gift order in advance of said special occasion date; and

program logic configured to send a gift to said recipient a predetermined number of days prior to said special occasion.

8. A computer system as defined in claim 7, further comprising:

program logic configured to receive and store a personal message from said user; and

program logic configured to send said personal message together with said gift.

9. A computer system as defined in claim 7, wherein recipient data identifying a plurality of recipients is received and stored.

10. A computer system as defined in claim 7, further comprising program logic configured to send an electronic notification to said user prior to sending said gift to said recipient, said electronic notification alerting said user that a gift is about to be sent.

11. A computer system as defined in claim 7, further comprising program logic configured to display a list of recipients to said user via said website.

12. A computer system as defined in claim 7, further comprising:

program logic configured to receive and store an annual purchase designation from said user regarding said gift order; and

program logic configured to send a gift annually to said recipient a predetermined number of days prior to said special occasion.

13. A computer program product for use with a computer network having a computer usable medium having program code embodied thereon, the program code comprising:

program code for storing data;

program code for allowing network access to said data;

program code for receiving and storing recipient data from a user, said recipient data identifying at least one recipient and at least one special occasion date;

program code for sending an electronic notification reminder to said user prior to said special occasion date, said electronic notification reminder reminding said user of said special occasion date;

program code for offering a plurality of gifts for on line ordering by said user;

program code for receiving and storing a gift order in advance of said special occasion date; and

program code for sending a gift to said recipient a predetermined number of days prior to said special occasion.

14. A computer program product as defined in claim 13, further comprising:

program code for receiving and storing a personal message from said user; and

program code for sending said personal message together with said gift.

15. A computer program product as defined in claim 13, wherein recipient data identifying a plurality of recipients is received and stored.

16. A computer program product as defined in claim 13, further comprising program code for sending an electronic notification to said user prior to sending said gift to said recipient, said electronic notification alerting said user that a gift is about to be sent.

17. A computer program product as defined in claim 13, further comprising program code for displaying a list of recipients to said user via said website.

18. A computer program product as defined in claim 13, further comprising:

program code for receiving and storing an annual purchase designation from said user regarding said gift order; and

program code for sending a gift annually to said recipient a predetermined number of days prior to said special occasion.