Electronic gift linking

• US 7,512,552 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2006
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Western Union
• Original Assignee: Western Union
• Inventors: Abelman, Henry M., Karas, Peter M., Thompson, Mark, Cowell, James Everett
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Airapetian; Mila
• Application Number:
  US11/531,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20070011060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/14.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

According to the invention, a method for creating an electronic greeting card that references a gift is disclosed. In one step, a selection of the electronic greeting card is received from a sender of that greeting card. Identification of the gift is received. A code indicative of the gift is created, whereby the code facilitates retrieving information about the gift. The code is embedded in the electronic greeting card.

Claims

1. A method of creating an electronic greeting card incorporating a gift, the method comprising:

generating a first user interface allowing a user to select an electronic greeting card from a plurality of greeting cards, and to customize at least part of the selected electronic greeting card;

generating a second user interface allowing the user to select a gift from a plurality of gift types;

embedding a first link in the customized electronic greeting card to facilitate retrieval of the selected gift, the first link including a code indicative of the selected gift;

electronically transmitting with a computer system first version of the customized electronic greeting card with the embedded link to a receiver identified by the user, the first version comprising a greeting portion and a first personalized portion;

receiving a communication from the receiver in response to the customized electronic gift card with the embedded link; and

electronically transmitting with a computer system a second version of the customized electronic greeting card to the receiver, the second version comprising the greeting portion and a second personalized portion, the second personalized portion including a modification from the first personalized portion responsive to the communication from the receiver.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a fee from a money handler,

wherein the second user interface includes an interface to allow the user to select the money handler from a plurality of money handlers for payment for the selected gift.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein,

the second user interface includes an interface to allow the user to select a future time for the electronically transmitting step.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a third user interface to allow the user to input first identity verification information to be used to verify the identity of the receiver;

embedding a second link in the first version of the customized electronic greeting card to a site allowing the receiver to input second identity information; and

processing the first and the second identity information to validate identity of the receiver.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, the first user interface comprises a link to an electronic greeting card site to allow the user to customize a selected electronic greeting card.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein,

the second user interface comprises links to a plurality of different affiliated gift sites, wherein a first gift type is selectable from a first site of the plurality of different affiliated gift sites, and a second gift type is selectable from a second site of the plurality of different affiliated gift sites.

7. The method of claim 1wherein the first personalized portion and the second personalized portion comprise the customized part of the customized electronic greeting card, and the greeting portion does not comprise the customized part of the electronic greeting card.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of acceptance of the gift from the receiver via the first link,

wherein the second version of the customized electronic greeting card is electronically transmitted via a second link, the second link comprising shipping status information about the accepted gift.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first link comprises a uniform reference locator related to the gift.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user interface and the second user interface each comprise a plurality of interfaces.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the gift types include at least two of:

a credit in a stored value fund, a foreign currency credit in the stored value fund, a prepaid credit or debit card, a prepaid phone card, promotional points, airline mileage credits, a gift certificate for one or more retailers, a printed negotiable instrument, and a tangible gift.

12. A method of creating an electronic greeting card incorporating a gift from among a plurality of gift sites, the method comprising:

generating a first user interface linking a user to an electronic greeting card site to allow the user to customize a selected electronic greeting card;

generating a second user interface providing links to a plurality of different affiliated gift sites, the links allowing the user to select a gift from a gift site of the plurality;

embedding a link in the customized electronic greeting card to facilitate retrieval of information about the selected gift, the link including a code indicative of the selected gift;

electronically transmitting with a computer system a first version of the customized electronic greeting card with the embedded link to a receiver identified by the user the first version comprising a greeting portion and a first personalized portion;

receiving a communication from the receiver in response to the customized electronic gift card with the embedded link; and

electronically transmitting with a computer system a second version of the customized electronic greeting card to the receiver the second version comprising the greeting portion and a second personalized portion the second personalized portion comprising a modification from the first personalized portion responsive to the communication from the receiver.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the code comprises code for one or more of the following:

product information for the selected gift;

retailer information on a seller of the selected gift;

manufacturer information on a producer of the selected gift;

a product review for the selected gift;

a safety rating for the selected gift;

a content rating for the selected gift;

tracking information of a shipper of the selected gift;

warranty information of the selected gift;

product recall information of the selected gift;

frequently asked questions related to the selected gift;

care instructions for the selected gift; and

retrieval of the selected gift.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the code comprises code for retrieval of the selected gift.

15. A method of creating a dynamic electronic greeting card incorporating a gift selected by a user, the method comprising:

embedding a code indicative of a user selected gift in a customized electronic greeting card;

electronically transmitting with a computer system a first version of the customized electronic greeting card with the embedded code to a receiver identified by the user, the first version comprising a greeting portion and a first personalized portion;

receiving a communication from a the receiver in response to the customized electronic gift card with the embedded code; and

electronically transmitting with a computer system a second version of the customized electronic greeting card to the receiver, the second version comprising the greeting portion and a second personalized portion, the second personalized portion including a modification from the first personalized portion responsive to the communication from the receiver.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

electronically transmitting a user interface allowing the user to select a gift from a plurality of gift types.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

generating the user interface comprising links to a plurality of different affiliated gift sites, wherein a first gift type is selectable from a first site of the plurality of different affiliated gift sites, and a second gift type is selectable from a second site of the plurality of different affiliated gift sites.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

electronically transmitting a user interface allowing a user to select an electronic greeting card from a plurality of greeting cards, and to customize a portion of the selected electronic greeting card to produce the customized electronic greeting card.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

embedding a link in the first version of the customized electronic greeting card to facilitate retrieval of information about the selected gift.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

embedding a first link in the first version of the customized electronic greeting card to facilitate retrieval of the gift, the first link comprising the embedded code.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein, the communication is received from the receiver via the first link.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein,

receiving the communication step comprises receiving an indication of acceptance of the gift from the receiver via the first link;

and

electronically transmitting the second version step comprises electronically transmitting the customized electronic greeting card with a second link, the second link comprising a link to shipping status information about the accepted gift.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

electronically transmitting a user interface to allow the user to select a money handler from a plurality of money handlers for payment for the user selected gift; and

receiving a fee from the selected money handler.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

electronically transmitting a user interface to allow the user to select a future time for electronically transmitting the first version of the customized electronic greeting.

25. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

generating a user interface to allow the user to input first identity verification information to be used to verify the identity of the receiver;

embedding, in the first version of the customized electronic greeting card, a link to a site allowing the receiver to input second identity information; and

processing the first and the second identity information to validate identity of the receiver.

26. A system for creating an electronic greeting card incorporating a gift, the system comprising:

a gift site configured to allow a user to select a gift from a plurality of gift types; and

an electronic greeting card site configured to;

generate a first user interface to allow the user to select an electronic greeting card from a plurality of greeting cards and to customize a portion of the selected electronic greeting card;

embed a first link in the customized electronic greeting card to facilitate retrieval of information about the selected gift, the first link including a code indicative of the selected gift;

electronically transmit a first version of the customized electronic greeting card with the embedded link to a receiver identified by the user, the first version comprising a greeting portion and a first personalized portion;

receive a communication from the receiver in response to the customized electronic gift card with the embedded link; and

electronically transmit a second version of the customized electronic greeting card to the receiver, the second version comprising the greeting portion and a second personalized portion, the second personalized portion comprising a modification from the first personalized portion responsive to the communication from the receiver.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein,

the electronic greeting card site is further configured to embed a second link in a second user interface to a plurality of money handlers selectable by the user for payment for the selected gift.

28. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

a plurality of different affiliated gift sites each configured to allow the user to select a gift,

wherein the electronic greeting card site is further configured to embed a link in the customized electronic greeting card to facilitate retrieval of information about a gift selected by the user from a site of the plurality of different affiliated gift sites.