Method and system for custom gift basket assembly

• US 7,729,952 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Just Because Baskets, LLC
• Original Assignee: Just Because Baskets, LLC
• Inventors: Kulesza, Janelle, Kulesza, Shaun
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Jeffrey A
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, MATTHEW E
• Application Number:
  US11/832,503
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 708/26, 708/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization

Abstract

Structure and functionality, including web-related (client and/or server side) structure and functionality are provided for use in custom basket design, assembly, evaluation and delivery. Orders from a website, an inbound call center, a sales representative or other source are placed in a non-processed order bin (102). In the case of the website orders, senders are assisted in custom basket assembly and shipping costs are calculated on a basket-specific basis. Specialists at an item pick station (104) select orders from the bin (102) and retrieve items to be assembled into a basket from inventory, as well as the basket vessel itself. The items are then placed into a production queue (106) where they are accessed by specialists at basket build stations (108). The basket is assembled at the basket build station (108), and a digital photograph of the completed basket it taken. The basket then passes to a shrink-wrap station (110) where a custom card may be associated with the basket, and the basket is otherwise prepared for shipping at the ship/store station (112). In this manner, custom baskets can be efficiently assembled and delivered to recipients.

Claims

1. A method for use in constructing a custom gift basket, comprising the steps of:

establishing a web-based tool for receiving inputs defining a desired gift basket;

storing, in a computer, dimensions for a plurality of products and plurality of basket vessels;

first receiving from a sender, via said web-based tool, first input information identifying one or more products, from said plurality of products, for inclusion in said gift basket;

second receiving from said sender, via said web-based tool, second input information identifying a basket vessel, from said plurality of basket vessels, for inclusion in said gift basket;

making a determination, using a computer processor, whether said collective set of dimensions for said one or more products fall below a minimum threshold value when compared to said dimensions of said basket vessel;

providing a too few items notice, via said web-based tool, when said collective set of dimensions for said one or more products fall below said minimum threshold value;

third receiving, via said web-based tool, uploaded graphical information from said sender;

using said uploaded graphical information to create a card for association with said gift basket;

upon construction of said gift basket, obtaining an image of said constructed gift basket and said card; and

transmitting to said sender electronic access to said image of said constructed gift basket and said card.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising making a second determination whether said collective set of dimensions for said one or more products exceed a maximum threshold value when compared to said dimensions of said basket vessel.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising making a second determination whether said one or more products comprise an aggregated quantity which exceeds a minimum number of products threshold.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3, providing a too many items notice, via said web-based tool, when said collective set of dimensions for said one or more products exceed said maximum threshold value.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of, in response to said too few items notice, receiving a modification with respect to at least one of said one or more products and said basket vessel.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

based on said first and second input information, assessing stored information concerning at least one of a size, one or more dimensions, a weight, a cost, and specialized packing requirements for one or more of said one or more products; and

executing logic for determining a shipping cost based on said first input information, said second input information, and said stored information.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6, wherein said step of first receiving comprises receiving an input identifying a product requiring cold packing and said step of executing said logic for determining said shipping cost comprises accessing information regarding shipping prices for cold pack products.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of third receiving comprises uploading a picture from said sender'"'"'s computer in a supported format.

9. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of third receiving comprises uploading a logo from said sender'"'"'s computer in a supported format.

10. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting comprises emailing said image to said sender.

11. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting comprises associating said image of said constructed gift basket with a file of said sender and providing access to said file via a public network.

12. A method for use in constructing a custom gift basket, comprising the steps of:

storing, in a computer, dimensions for a plurality of products and plurality of basket vessels;

first receiving first input information identifying a basket vessel, from said plurality of basket vessels, for inclusion in said gift basket;

second receiving second input information identifying one or more products, from said plurality of products, for inclusion in said basket vessel;

making a first determination, using a computer processor, whether said collective set of dimensions for said one or more products fall below a minimum threshold value when compared to said dimensions of said basket vessel;

transmitting a too few items notice, via said web-based tool, when said collective set of dimensions for said one or more products fall below said minimum threshold value;

making a second determination, using a computer processor, whether said collective set of dimensions for said one or more products exceed a maximum threshold value when compared to said dimensions of said basket vessel;

transmitting a too many items notice, via said web-based tool, when said collective set of dimensions for said one or more products exceed said maximum threshold value;

accessing stored information concerning said dimensions, a volume, or a weight for said basket vessel and one or more of said products;

third receiving information regarding a desired method of shipping for said gift basket; and

based on said stored information and said desired method of shipping, determining a cumulative shipping cost for said gift basket as constructed and packaged for shipping.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising the step of fourth receiving uploaded graphical information from said sender.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said step of fourth receiving comprises uploading a picture from said sender'"'"'s computer in a supported format.

15. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said step of fourth receiving comprises uploading a logo from said sender'"'"'s computer in a supported format.

16. A method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising the step of using said uploaded graphical information to create a card for association with said gift basket.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16, further comprising the step of obtaining, upon construction of said gift basket, an image of said constructed gift basket and said card.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17, further comprising the step of providing to said sender electronic access to said image of said constructed gift basket and said card.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18, wherein said step of providing comprises emailing said image to said sender.

20. A method as set forth in claim 18, wherein said step of providing comprises providing access to a file of said image of said constructed gift basket to said sender via a public network.

21. A method as set forth in claim 12, wherein said step of first receiving comprises receiving an input identifying a product requiring cold packing and said step of determining said cumulative shipping cost comprises accessing stored information regarding shipping prices for cold pack products.

22. An apparatus for use in constructing a custom gift basket, comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium comprising;

dimensions for a plurality of products and a plurality of basket vessels;

information concerning specialized packing requirements;

an input module that receives first and second input information from a sender, via a public network, wherein said first input information identifies a basket vessel for inclusion in said gift basket and said second input information identifies one or more products, from said plurality of products, for inclusion in said basket vessel;

a computer processor configured to;

receive said first and second input information;

make a first determination whether said collective set of dimensions for said one or more products fall below a minimum threshold value when compared to said dimensions of said basket vessel;

make a first determination whether said collective set of dimensions for said one or more products exceed a maximum threshold value when compared to said dimensions of said basket vessel;

transmit a too few items notice when said collective set of dimensions for said one or more products fall below said minimum threshold value;

transmit a too many items notice when said collective set of dimensions for said one or more products exceed said maximum threshold value;

determine a cumulative shipping cost for said gift basket as constructed and packaged for shipping using said dimensions for said basket vessel and said one or more products.

23. An apparatus as set forth in claim 22, wherein said input module is further operative for receiving uploaded graphical information from said sender.

24. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said graphical information comprises a picture from said sender'"'"'s computer in a supported format.

25. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said graphical information comprises a logo from said sender'"'"'s computer in a supported format.

26. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said computer processor is further operative to create a card for association with said gift basket, and wherein said card includes said uploaded graphical information.

27. An apparatus as set forth in claim 26, wherein said input module is further operative, upon construction of said gift basket, to receive an image of said constructed gift basket and said card.

28. An apparatus as set forth in claim 27, wherein said computer processor is further operative for providing to said sender electronic access to said image of said constructed gift basket and said card.

29. An apparatus as set forth in claim 28, wherein said electronic access comprises an email containing said image.

30. An apparatus as set forth in claim 28, wherein said electronic access comprises access to a file containing said image via a public network.

31. An apparatus as set forth in claim 22, wherein said computer processor is further operative to make a determination regarding whether or not to cold pack said gift basket for purposes of shipping, and wherein said cumulative shipping cost is based, at least in part, on said determination.