Methods and systems for electronically accepting and exchanging an online gift

• US 6,321,211 B1
• Filed: 07/06/1999
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Richfx Incorporated
• Inventors: Dodd, William K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E.
• Application Number:
  US09/348,198
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/16, 705/26, 705/27, 705/35, 705/36, 705/55, 705/60, 705/37, 709/232, 709/246, 235/381, 235/371, 235/375, 235/379, 235/408, 700/231
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide the ability for an online gift recipient to accept or exchange an online gift prior to shipping the gift to the recipient. A gift giver accesses a gift server over a network (such as the Internet) using conventional browser software on a user node of the network. While online with the gift server node (e.g. the gift server'"'"'s website), the gift giver selects an online gift for the recipient from a variety of gifts supplied from one or more gift vendors. Information on the gift selection is sent to an gift queue on the gift server node while the recipient is notified of the gift, typically via an electronic mail message. In response to the notification, the recipient connects online to the gift server node, reads the gift selection information from the gift queue and determines whether to accept or exchange the gift. If the gift is to be exchanged, an electronic gift certificate is generated and another gift may be selected or different kinds of actual gift certificates may be selected as a replacement gift before an order for the initial gift is placed or the initial gift is shipped to the recipient.

Claims

1. A method for electronically exchanging an online gift prior to shipping the online gift from a vendor of the online gift, comprising the steps of:

generating a notification related to the online gift, the notification identifying a recipient for the online gift;

retrieving order information related to the online gift;

displaying the order information to the recipient;

determining whether the recipient wants to exchange the online gift for a replacement gift;

if the recipient selects to exchange the online gift for the replacement gift, selecting the replacement gift from a plurality of alternative gift items; and

placing an electronic order for the replacement gift prior to physically receiving the online gift.

2. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for electronically exchanging an online gift prior to shipping the online gift from a vendor of the online gift, which when executed, the instructions comprising the steps of:

generating a notification related to the online gift, the notification identifying a recipient for the online gift;

retrieving order information related to the online gift;

displaying the order information to the recipient;

determining whether the recipient wants to exchange the online gift for a replacement gift;

if the recipient selects to exchange the online gift for the replacement gift, selecting the replacement gift from a plurality of alternative gift items; and

placing an electronic order for the replacement gift prior to physically receiving the online gift.

3. A computer system within a networked environment for electronically exchanging an online gift prior to shipping the online gift from a vendor of the online gift, comprising:

a memory storage device for maintaining a description of a plurality of gift items including the online gift and a replacement gift and a plurality of alternative gift items; and

a processor coupled to the memory storage device, the processor being operative to

reading the description of the gift items from the memory storage device,

generate a notification related to the online gift, the notification identifying a recipient for the online gift,

retrieve order information related to the online gift,

display the order information to the recipient,

determine whether the recipient wants to exchange the online gift for a replacement gift,

if the recipient wants to exchange the online gift for the replacement gift, select the replacement gift from the description of the alternative gift items, and

place an electronic order to a vendor node in the networked environment for the replacement gift prior to physically receiving the online gift.

4. A method for electronically exchanging a first product for a second product prior to physically receiving the first product, comprising the steps of:

retrieving information related to the first product;

generating a notification related to the first product, the notification identifying a recipient of the first product;

displaying the information to the recipient for the first product; and

determining whether the recipient wants to exchange the first product prior to physically receiving the first product, wherein the recipient of the first product is not a purchaser of the first product.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of selecting the second product as an alternative to the first product if the recipient selects to exchange the first product.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of placing an order for the second product prior to physically receiving the first product.

7. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of generating notification related to the first product, the notification identifying a recipient for the first product.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the selecting step further comprises selecting the first product with at least one different option as the second product.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one different option is a shipping option.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one different option is a product option.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the first product is associated with the first vendor and the second product is associated with a second vendor.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the second product is an actual gift certificate.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second product is a plurality of actual gift certificates from at least one of a plurality of vendors.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of selecting an amount for each of the actual gift certificates.

15. The method of claim 4, wherein the second product is an electronic gift certificate acceptable as a method of payment with any of a plurality of vendors.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second product further comprises a replacement item and the electronic gift certificate representing a difference in value between the first product and the replacement item.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of storing the electronic gift certificate for use in a later online session.

18. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for electronically exchanging a first product for a second product prior to physically receiving the first product, which when executed the instructions comprising the steps of:

notifying a recipient that the first product is intended for the recipient;

retrieving information related to the first product, the information including at least one product option and at least one shipping option;

displaying the information to the recipient;

determining whether the recipient wants to accept the first product prior to physically receiving the first product; and

receiving recipient input selecting the second product as an alternative to the first product if the recipient does not want to accept the first product.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 further comprising the step of fulfilling an order for the second product prior to physically receiving the first product if the recipient does not want to accept the first product.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the receiving step further comprises receiving the recipient input selecting the first product with a different product option as the second product.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the receiving step further comprises receiving the recipient input selecting the first product with a different shipping option as the second product.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the first product is associated with a first vendor and the second product is associated with a second vendor.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the second product is an actual gift certificate.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the second product is a plurality of actual gift certificates from at least one of a plurality of vendors.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 further comprising the step of selecting an amount for each of the actual gift certificates.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the second product is an electronic gift certificate acceptable as a method of payment with any of a plurality of vendors.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the second product further comprises a replacement item and the electronic gift certificate representing a difference in value between the first product and the replacement item.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 further comprising the step of storing the electronic gift certificate for use in a later online session.

29. A system within a networked environment for electronically exchanging a first product for a second product prior to shipping the first product, comprising:

a memory storage device for maintaining a description of a plurality of products including the first product and the second product;

a processor coupled to the memory storage device;

a display device coupled to the processor; and

the processor being operative to

generate a notification related to the first product, the notification identifying a recipient for the first product with contact information,

retrieve product information from the description of the products maintained in the memory storage device, the product information being related to the first product,

cause the display device to display the product information, and

receive input from the recipient indicating the recipient wants to exchange the first product prior to physically receiving the first product.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the processor is further operative to retrieve data related to the second product from the description in the memory storage device, cause the display device to display the data, and receive input from the recipient indicating the recipient wants to exchange the first product for the second product.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the processor is further operative to send a message to a vendor node in the networked environment, the message being associated with an order for the second product.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the second product is the first product with a different shipping option.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the second product is the first product with a different product option.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the second product is an actual gift certificate.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the second product is a plurality of actual gift certificates from at least one of a plurality of vendors.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the processor is further operative to receive input from the recipient, the input designating an amount for each of the actual gift certificates.

37. The system of claim 29, wherein the second product is an electronic gift certificate acceptable as a method of payment with any of a plurality of vendors.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the second product further comprises a replacement item and the electronic gift certificate representing a difference in value between the first product and the replacement item.

39. The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of storing the electronic gift certificate for use in a later online session.

40. The system of claim 29, wherein the contact information comprises an electronic mail address associated with the recipient.