Electronic gift certificate system
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for conveying and redeeming a monetary certificate, the method comprising:
- prompting a user to specify at least a monetary amount of the certificate and a recipient of the certificate;
collecting the monetary amount from the user;
generating a link which includes a URL portion containing a claim code for redeeming the certificate;
transmitting the link by electronic mail to the recipient;
in response to selection of the link, crediting the monetary amount of the certificate to an account of the recipient; and
applying a balance in the account to a subsequent purchase made by the recipient.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic gift certificate system is disclosed which distributes electronic gift certificates in the form of e-mail documents that include hyperlinks for automating the redemption process. When a gift certificate recipient selects such a hyperlink, the recipient'"'"'s computer automatically transmits a claim code to the merchant'"'"'s Web site, and the site responds by automatically crediting the recipient'"'"'s personal account with the gift certificate amount. When the recipient subsequently makes a purchase from the merchant'"'"'s Web site, the recipient'"'"'s account balance is automatically applied to the purchase price.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for conveying and redeeming a monetary certificate, the method comprising:
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prompting a user to specify at least a monetary amount of the certificate and a recipient of the certificate;
collecting the monetary amount from the user;
generating a link which includes a URL portion containing a claim code for redeeming the certificate;
transmitting the link by electronic mail to the recipient;
in response to selection of the link, crediting the monetary amount of the certificate to an account of the recipient; and
applying a balance in the account to a subsequent purchase made by the recipient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer-implemented method for facilitating the redemption of a monetary certificate, the method comprising:
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generating a hyperlink which includes a URL portion containing a claim code for redeeming the certificate;
transmitting the hyperlink by electronic mail to a recipient;
using the claim code included in the hyperlink, as passed in response to selection of the hyperlink, to credit a monetary amount of the certificate to an account of the recipient; and
applying a balance in the account to a subsequent purchase made by the recipient. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification