Electronic cards systems and methods

• US 7,702,542 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2004
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lions & Bears LLC
• Original Assignee: Lions & Bears LLC
• Inventors: Aslanian, John R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZURITA, JAMES H
• Application Number:
  US10/811,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20040254859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,213 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/37
• US Class Current: 705/14.73
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A system for sending cards and/or gifts to one or more entity using a computer network is provided. The system can include a computer network with at least one client computer and at least one server connected to the network. The at least one client computer can have a user interface with which a user can input an entity-centric event date. The server can receive a signal from said client computer based on the user input of the event date. The server includes a time-from-event module that determines a non-yearly event date after said event date. The client computer displays the non-yearly event date and provides means for a user to purchase cards or gifts for an entity. In most preferred embodiments, the non-yearly event date is a month-from-birth date of the individual. In some preferred embodiments, the electronic cards include combined advertisements contained within the display regions of the electronic cards.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for the electronic distribution of advertisements, said method comprising:

a. generating, by a computer, a shell electronic greeting card including a primary message which a user wishes to convey to at least one recipient;

b. modifying, by a computer, said shell electronic greeting card to generate a modified electronic greeting card which includes an advertisement integrated into said shell electronic greeting card, said advertisement including information regarding at least one consumer product, said advertisement being integrated into the shell electronic greeting card such that when seen the advertisement may be perceived by said at least one recipient as part of said modified electronic greeting card without interfering with said primary message of said electronic greeting card; and

c. electronically transmitting by a computer and via the Internet the modified electronic greeting card to said at least one recipient.

2. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising said shell electronic greeting card providing a primary message related to at least one of the following:

an invitation to an event;

a holiday, a life event, or a general greeting.

3. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising said shell electronic greeting card providing a primary message related to at least one of the following:

Holidays;

Religious Holidays;

Catholic Holidays;

Protestant Holidays;

Jewish Holidays;

Islamic Holidays;

Non-Religious Holidays;

Mother'"'"'s Day;

April Fool'"'"'s Day;

Birthdays;

Family Birthday;

Best Friend Birthday;

Belated Birthday;

Mother Birthday;

Father Birthday;

Sister Birthday;

Daughter Birthday;

Son Birthday;

Husband Birthday;

Wife Birthday;

Grandchild Birthday;

Grandparent Birthday;

Thinking of You;

Missing You;

Congratulations;

Get Well;

Sympathy;

Thank You;

You'"'"'re Welcome.

4. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising providing said primary message within at least one message region within said shell electronic greeting card.

5. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising providing said advertisement within at least one advertisement region within said modified electronic greeting card.

6. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said at least one advertisement region is fixed in relation to said at least one message region.

7. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said at least one advertisement region is mobile in relation to said at least one message region.

8. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising providing said at least one advertisement region containing at least one image related to the consumer product.

9. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising providing said at least one advertisement region containing at least one hyperlink.

10. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein electronically transmitting by a computer and via the Internet further comprises sending said modified electronic greeting cards using email;

text messaging;

or facsimile.

11. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of enabling the user to select said shell electronic greeting card from a list comprised of a plurality of shell electronic greeting cards.

12. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of enabling the user to select said advertisement.

13. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of enabling the compensation of at least one entity in connection with said step of electronically transmitting via the Internet said modified electronic greeting card to said at least one recipient.

14. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said at least one entity is the provider of the computer on which said electronic greeting card is generated.

15. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said at least one entity is a user of the computer on which said electronic greeting card is generated.

16. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said modified electronic greeting card includes an audio portion.

17. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising said advertisement being part of said primary message.

18. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising said advertisement being secondary to said primary message.

19. A system for the electronic distribution of advertisements, comprising:

a computer processing element configured to (1) generate a shell electronic greeting card including a primary message which a user wishes to convey to at least one recipient and (2) modify said shell electronic greeting card to generate a modified electronic greeting card which includes an advertisement integrated into said shell electronic greeting card, said advertisement including information regarding at least one consumer product, said advertisement being integrated into the shell electronic greeting card such that the advertisement when seen may be perceived by said at least one recipient as part of said modified electronic greeting card without interfering with said primary message of said modified electronic greeting card; and

a computer communications element configured to electronically transmit via the Internet the modified electronic greeting card to the at least one recipient.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the primary message relates to at least one of the following:

an invitation to an event;

a holiday, a life event, or a general greeting.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the primary message relates to at least one of the following:

Holidays;

Religious Holidays;

Catholic Holidays;

Protestant Holidays;

Jewish Holidays;

Islamic Holidays;

Non-Religious Holidays;

Mother'"'"'s Day;

April Fool'"'"'s Day;

Birthdays;

Family Birthday;

Best Friend Birthday;

Belated Birthday;

Mother Birthday;

Father Birthday;

Sister Birthday;

Daughter Birthday;

Son Birthday;

Husband Birthday;

Wife Birthday;

Grandchild Birthday;

Grandparent Birthday;

Thinking of You;

Missing You;

Congratulations;

Get Well;

Sympathy;

Thank You;

You'"'"'re Welcome.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to generate the shell electronic greeting card with said primary message located within at least one message region within said shell electronic greeting card.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to generate the shell electronic greeting card with said advertisement located within at least one advertisement region within said modified electronic greeting card.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to generate the shell electronic greeting card with said at least one advertisement region fixed in relation to said at least one message region.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to generate the shell electronic greeting card with said at least one advertisement region being mobile in relation to said at least one message region.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to generate the shell electronic greeting card with said at least one advertisement region containing at least one image related to the consumer product.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to generate the shell electronic greeting card with said at least one advertisement region containing at least one hyperlink.

28. The system of claim 19, wherein said computer communications element is configured to transmit said modified electronic greeting cards using email;

text messaging;

or facsimile.

29. The system of claim 19, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to receive a user selection of said shell electronic greeting card from a plurality of shell electronic greeting cards.

30. The system of claim 19, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to receive a user selected advertisement.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to determine compensation for the provider of the system on which said electronic greeting card is generated.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to determine compensation for a user of the system on which said electronic greeting card is generated.

33. The system of claim 19, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to determine compensation for at least one entity in connection with electronically transmitting via the Internet said modified electronic greeting card to the at least one recipient.

34. The system of claim 19, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to generate said modified electronic greeting card including an audio portion.

35. The system of claim 19, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to generate said modified electronic greeting card having said advertisement being part of said primary message.

36. The system of claim 19, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to generate said modified electronic greeting card having said advertisement being secondary to said primary message.

37. A computer-implemented method for the electronic distribution of advertisements, said method comprising:

a. generating, by a computer, a shell electronic greeting card including a primary message which a user wishes to convey to at least one recipient;

b. modifying, by a computer, said shell electronic greeting card to generate a modified electronic greeting card which include an advertisement integrated into said shell electronic greeting card, said advertisement including information regarding at least one consumer product, said advertisement being integrated into the shell electronic greeting card such that when seen the advertisement may be perceived by said at least one recipient as part of said modified electronic greeting card without interfering with said primary message of said modified electronic greeting card; and

c. electronically transmitting by a computer and via the internet an invitation to view the modified electronic greeting card to said at least one recipient.

38. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 37, further comprising said shell electronic greeting card providing a primary message related to at least one of the following:

an invitation to an event;

a holiday, a life event, or a general greeting.

39. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 38, wherein said at least one entity is the provider of the computer on which said electronic greeting card is generated.

40. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 38, wherein said at least one entity is a user of the computer on which said electronic greeting card is generated.

41. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 38, further comprising said shell electronic greeting card providing a primary message related to at least one of the following:

Holidays;

Religious Holidays;

Catholic Holidays;

Protestant Holidays;

Jewish Holidays;

Islamic Holidays;

Non-Religious Holidays;

Mother'"'"'s Day;

April Fool'"'"'s Day;

Birthdays;

Family Birthday;

Best Friend Birthday;

Belated Birthday;

Mother Birthday;

Father Birthday;

Sister Birthday;

Daughter Birthday;

Son Birthday;

Husband Birthday;

Wife Birthday;

Grandchild Birthday;

Grandparent Birthday;

Thinking of You;

Missing You;

Congratulations;

Get Well;

Sympathy;

Thank You;

You'"'"'re Welcome.

42. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 37, further comprising providing said primary message within at least one message region within said shell electronic greeting card.

43. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 42, further comprising providing said advertisement within at least one advertisement region within said modified electronic greeting card.

44. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 43, wherein said at least one advertisement region is fixed in relation to said at least one message region.

45. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 43, wherein said at least one advertisement region is mobile in relation to said at least one message region.

46. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 43, further comprising providing said at least one advertisement region containing at least one image related to the consumer product.

47. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 43, further comprising providing said at least one advertisement region containing at least one hyperlink.

48. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 37, wherein electronically transmitting via the Internet further comprises sending said invitation using email;

text messaging;

or facsimile.

49. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 37, further comprising the step of enabling the user to select said shell electronic greeting card from a list comprised of a plurality of shell electronic greeting cards.

50. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 37, further comprising the step of enabling the user to select said advertisement.

51. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 37, further comprising the step of enabling the compensation of at least one entity in connection with said step of electronically transmitting via the Internet said invitation to said at least one recipient.

52. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 37, wherein said modified electronic greeting card includes an audio portion.

53. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 37, further comprising said advertisement being part of said primary message.

54. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 37, further comprising said advertisement being secondary to said primary message.

55. A system the electronic distribution of advertisements, comprising:

a computer processing element configured to (1) generate a shell electronic greeting card including a primary message which a user wishes to convey to at least one recipient and (2) modify said shell electronic greeting card to generate a modified electronic greeting card which includes an advertisement integrated into said shell electronic greeting card, said advertisement including information regarding at least one consumer product, said advertisement being integrated into the shell electronic greeting card such that the advertisement when seen may be perceived by said at least one recipient as part of said modified electronic greeting card without interfering with said primary message of said modified electronic greeting card; and

a computer communications element configured to electronically transmit an invitation, via the Internet, to view the modified electronic greeting card to the at least one recipient.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein primary message relates to at least one of the following:

an invitation to an event;

a holiday, a life event, or a general greeting.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein primary message relates to at least one of the following:

Holidays;

Religious Holidays;

Catholic Holidays;

Protestant Holidays;

Jewish Holidays;

Islamic Holidays;

Non-Religious Holidays;

Mother'"'"'s Day;

April Fool'"'"'s Day;

Birthdays;

Family Birthday;

Best Friend Birthday;

Belated Birthday;

Mother Birthday;

Father Birthday;

Sister Birthday;

Daughter Birthday;

Son Birthday;

Husband Birthday;

Wife Birthday;

Grandchild Birthday;

Grandparent Birthday;

Thinking of You;

Missing You;

Congratulations;

Get Well;

Sympathy;

Thank You;

You'"'"'re Welcome.

58. The system of claim 55, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to generate the shell electronic greeting card with said primary message located within at least one message region within said shell electronic greeting card.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to generate the shell electronic greeting card with said advertisement located within at least one advertisement region within said modified electronic greeting card.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to generate the shell electronic greeting card with said at least one advertisement region fixed in relation to said at least one message region.

61. The system of claim 59, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to generate the shell electronic greeting card with said at least one advertisement region being mobile in relation to said at least one message region.

62. The system of claim 59, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to generate the shell electronic greeting card with said at least one advertisement region containing at least one image related to the consumer product.

63. The system of claim 59, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to generate the shell electronic greeting card with said at least one advertisement region containing at least one hyperlink.

64. The system of claim 55, wherein said computer communications element is further configured to transmit said invitation to view the modified electronic greeting card using email;

text messaging;

or facsimile.

65. The system of claim 55, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to receive a user selection of said shell electronic greeting card from a plurality of shell electronic greeting cards.

66. The system of claim 55, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to receive a user selected advertisement.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to determine compensation for the provider of the system on which said electronic greeting card is generated.

68. The system of claim 66, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to determine compensation for a user of the system on which said electronic greeting card is generated.

69. The system of claim 55, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to determine compensation for at least one entity in connection with electronically transmitting via the Internet said modified electronic greeting card to the at least one recipient.

70. The system of claim 55, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to generate the modified electronic greeting card including an audio portion.

71. The system of claim 55, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to generate the modified electronic greeting card having said advertisement being part of said primary message.

72. The system of claim 55, wherein said computer processing element is further configured to generate the modified electronic greeting card having said advertisement being secondary to said primary message.