SOCIAL NETWORK ENABLED GROUP GIFT CARD
First Claim
1. A method for operating a group gift card system in a social networking system, comprising:
- initiating a group gift card account;
identifying a first potential contributor list from a first social group list of a personalized data set of the group gift card recipient;
transmitting an electronic communication to a first party on the first social group list via an electronic communication pathway;
prompting the first party to make a financial contribution to the group gift card account;
acquiring a second potential contributor list from a second social group list of a personalized data set of the first party;
transmitting an electronic communication to a second party on the second social group list via an electronic communication pathway;
prompting the second party to make a financial contribution to the group gift card account; and
receiving an electronic payment from at least two parties on the social group lists to fund the group gift card account.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method that allows for a group of individuals to easily contribute to the same gift card is disclosed. The gift card can be a traditional physical card or an electronic card. In one embodiment, an account administrator establishes a group enabled gift card account for self-consumption or for a specified gift recipient. The administrator engages potential group gift card contributors through various electronic communication mechanisms who can then add funds to the account. The contribution period may remain open based on criteria supplied by the administrator. Once the account is closed, the collected amount is transferred to a designated gift card and sent to the recipient.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for operating a group gift card system in a social networking system, comprising:
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initiating a group gift card account; identifying a first potential contributor list from a first social group list of a personalized data set of the group gift card recipient; transmitting an electronic communication to a first party on the first social group list via an electronic communication pathway; prompting the first party to make a financial contribution to the group gift card account; acquiring a second potential contributor list from a second social group list of a personalized data set of the first party; transmitting an electronic communication to a second party on the second social group list via an electronic communication pathway; prompting the second party to make a financial contribution to the group gift card account; and receiving an electronic payment from at least two parties on the social group lists to fund the group gift card account. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for contributing to a group gift card, comprising:
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initiating an electronic group gift card account; soliciting potential contributors from a first potential contributor list to financially contribute to the group gift card account; receiving a financial contribution from a first contributor to the group gift card account; soliciting potential contributors from a second potential contributor list to financially contribute to the group gift card; and receiving a financial contribution from a second contributor to the group gift card account. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer readable media having program code stored thereon that causes a computing system to execute instructions for operating a group gift card system in a social networking system by performing the following steps comprising:
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initiating a group gift card account; identifying a first potential contributor list from a first social group list of a personalized data set of the group gift card recipient; transmitting an electronic communication to a first party on the first social group list via an electronic communication pathway; prompting the first party to make a financial contribution to the group gift card account; acquiring a second potential contributor list from a second social group list of a personalized data set of the first party; transmitting an electronic communication to a second party on the second social group list via an electronic communication pathway; prompting the second party to make a financial contribution to the group gift card account; and receiving an electronic payment from at least two parties on the social group lists to fund the group gift card account. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification