System and method for converting gifts

• US 7,831,439 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bryar, Colin M., Bezos, Jeffrey P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes; John W
• Assistant Examiner(s): NELSON, FREDA ANN
• Application Number:
  US11/370,772
• Time in Patent Office: 1,707 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/14, 705 26- 27, 705/37, 705/1.1, 235/472.02, 235/381
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A computer-implemented data processing system comprises a user interface and gift conversion logic. The user interface is configured to permit users to order products using a network service, such as a website. The gift conversion logic is in communication with the user interface and permits the users to specify gift conversion rules. For each user that specifies gift conversion rules, the gift conversion rules define a manner in which gifts purchased for the user by other users may be converted.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented data processing system comprising:

a memory that stores gift conversion rules; and

a processor in communication with the memory that;

generates a user interface configured to permit a gift sender to order a product as a gift for a gift recipient via a network service; and

executes gift conversion logic that permits the gift recipient to specify the gift conversion rules, wherein the gift conversion rules specified by the gift recipient define a manner in which gifts purchased for the gift recipient may be automatically converted, wherein at least one gift conversion rule identifies the gift sender who has ordered a product as a gift for the gift recipient, such that whether the gift is converted is determined based at least in part on the identity of the gift sender specified in the at least one gift conversion rule.

2. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one other gift conversion rule is based on a product, such that whether a gift is converted is determined based on the product selected as the gift.

3. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one other gift conversion rule is based on a product category, such that whether a gift is converted is determined based on a product category of the product selected as the gift.

4. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one other gift conversion rule is based on a product feature, such that whether a gift is converted is determined based on a product feature of the product selected as the gift.

5. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one other gift conversion rule is based on monetary value, such that whether a gift is converted is determined based on the monetary value of the product selected as the gift.

6. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one other gift conversion rule is based on aggregate monetary value, such that whether a gift is converted is determined based on the aggregate monetary value of a plurality of products selected as gifts.

7. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one other gift conversion rule is based on quantity, such that whether a gift is converted is determined based on the quantity of products selected as gifts.

8. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one other gift conversion rule is based on timing of the gift, such that whether a gift is converted is determined based on the timing of the gift.

9. A system as defined in claim 1, further comprising recommendation logic in communication with the gift conversion logic, the recommendation logic configured to generate a product recommendation for a gift for the gift recipient.

10. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein at least one other gift conversion rule is based on the strength of the product recommendation generated by the recommendation logic, such that whether a gift is converted is determined based on the strength of the product recommendation.

11. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one other gift conversion rule defines a type of gift conversion.

12. A system as defined in claim 11, wherein the type of gift conversion is a conversion of a gift into a gift certificate.

13. A system as defined in claim 11, wherein the type of gift conversion is a conversion of a gift into a different gift.

14. A system as defined in claim 13, wherein the at least one gift conversion rule permits the different gift to be selected from a wish list of the gift recipient.

15. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein the at least one other gift conversion rule permits the different gift to be automatically selected from the wish list.

16. A system as defined in claim 15, wherein the at least one gift conversion rule permits the different gift to be automatically selected from the wish list based on a comparison of a monetary value of the gift with monetary values of different items on the wish list.

17. A system as defined in claim 16, wherein the different gift that is selected is the item on the wish list having a monetary value closest to the monetary value of the gift.

18. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein payment is obtained for a difference between the monetary value of the different gift and the monetary value of the gift.

19. A system as defined in claim 16, wherein the different gift that is selected is the item on the wish list having a monetary value closest to but not exceeding the monetary value of the gift.

20. A system as defined in claim 16, wherein at least one other gift conversion rule permits the different gift to be automatically selected from the wish list based on a comparison of when different items were added to the wish list.

21. A system as defined in claim 20, wherein the different gift that is selected is the most recently added item on the wish list.

22. A system as defined in claim 20, wherein the different gift that is selected is the item on the wish list that has been on the wish list the longest.

23. A system as defined in claim 15, wherein at least one other gift conversion rule permits the different gift to be automatically selected from the wish list based on a ranking of different items in the wish list.

24. A system as defined in claim 23, wherein the ranking is a ranking specified by the gift recipient.

25. A system as defined in claim 24, wherein the ranking is a ranking specified automatically based on past shopping activity of the gift recipient.

26. A system as defined in claim 11, wherein the type of gift conversion is a conversion of a gift into a gift for a third party.

27. A system as defined in claim 26, wherein the third party is a charity.

28. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one other gift conversion rule defines a type of messaging to the gift recipient.

29. A system as defined in claim 28, wherein the type of messaging to the gift recipient is a notification to the gift recipient of a potential gift conversion that includes a link to a product detail page for the gift.

30. A system as defined in claim 28, wherein the type of messaging to the gift recipient is a notification to the gift recipient of a potential gift conversion that includes product information for the gift.

31. A system as defined in claim 28, wherein the type of messaging is a notification to a third party of a potential gift conversion.

32. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one other gift conversion rule requires the gift recipient to approve a gift conversion.

33. A system as defined in claim 32, wherein the at least one gift conversion rule requires the gift recipient to explicitly approve the gift conversion.

34. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one other gift conversion rule assumes that the gift recipient approves the gift conversion based on gift recipient inaction after receiving notification of the gift conversion.

35. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one other gift conversion rule specifies that approval of the gift recipient need not be obtained.

36. A system as defined in claim 3, wherein the gift is apparel, and wherein converting the gift comprises converting the apparel from a first size to a second size.

37. A system as defined in claim 36, wherein the second size is specified by the gift recipient in one or more of the gift conversion rules.

38. A system as defined in claim 3, wherein the gift is a gift configured for use with a first hardware platform, and wherein converting the gift comprises converting the gift to a gift configured for use with a second hardware platform.

39. A system as defined in claim 38, wherein the second hardware platform is specified by the gift recipient in one or more of the gift conversion rules.

40. A system as defined in claim 3, wherein the gift is a gift having a first media format, and wherein converting the gift comprises converting the gift from the first media format to a second media format.

41. A system as defined in claim 40, wherein the second media format is specified by the gift recipient in one or more of the gift conversion rules.

42. A system as defined in claim 3, wherein the gift is a gift configured for use with devices having a first operating system, and wherein converting the gift comprises converting the gift to a gift configured for use with devices having a second operating system.

43. A system as defined in claim 42, wherein the second operating system is specified by the gift recipient in the gift conversion rules.

44. In a non-transitory computer readable medium associated with a computing system, a graphical user interface generated on the computing system by the contents of the non-transitory computer readable medium, the graphical user interface comprising:

a plurality of displays caused to be displayed by the computing system that receive information from a gift recipient to configure gift conversion rules, the gift, conversion rules defining a manner in which a gift selected for the recipient by a gift sender using a network commerce service may be automatically converted, wherein at least one of the gift conversion rules identifies potential gift senders, such that whether a gift selected by a gift sender for the gift recipient using a network commerce service is automatically converted is determined based at least in part on whether the gift sender is one of the potential gift senders identified in the at least one gift conversion rule.

45. A graphical user interface as defined in claim 44, wherein the plurality of displays include one or more displays that provide a set of rules configured by the gift recipient.

46. A graphical user interface as defined in claim 44, wherein the plurality of displays include one or more displays that include:

(i) product information for a product available to be ordered through the network commerce service, and (ii) a user-selectable option permitting the gift recipient to configure a rule relating to the product by selecting the option.

47. A graphical user interface as defined in claim 46, wherein the user-selectable option is displayed separately from the product information.

48. A graphical user interface as defined in claim 46, wherein the one or more displays include multiple user-selectable options permitting the gift recipient to configure different types of rules relating to the product by selecting different ones of the options.

49. A graphical user interface as defined in claim 44, wherein the plurality of displays include one or more displays that permit the gift recipient to configure one or more other gift conversion rules by product category, such that whether a gift is converted is determined based on a product category of the product selected as the gift.

50. A graphical user interface as defined in claim 44, wherein the plurality of displays include one or more displays that permit the gift recipient to configure one or more other gift conversion rules based on a strength of a product recommendation, such that whether a gift is converted is determined based on the strength of the product recommendation.

51. A graphical user interface as defined in claim 44, wherein the plurality of displays include one or more displays that permit the gift recipient to configure one or more other gift conversion rules based on a product, such that whether a gift is converted is determined based on the product selected as the gift.

52. A graphical user interface as defined in claim 44, wherein the plurality of displays include one or more displays that permit the gift recipient to configure one or more other gift conversion rules based on monetary value, such that whether a gift is converted is determined based on the monetary value of the product selected as the gift.

53. A graphical user interface as defined in claim 44, wherein the plurality of displays include one or more displays that permit the gift recipient to configure one or more other gift conversion rules based on aggregate monetary value, such that whether a gift is converted is determined based on the aggregate monetary value of a plurality of products selected as gifts.

54. A graphical user interface as defined in claim 44, wherein the plurality of displays include one or more displays that permit the gift recipient to configure one or more other gift conversion rules based on quantity, such that whether a gift is converted is determined based on the quantity of products selected as gifts.

55. A graphical user interface as defined in claim 44, wherein the plurality of displays include one or more displays that permit the gift recipient to configure one or more other gift conversion rules based on timing of the gift, such that whether a gift is converted is determined based on the timing of the gift.

56. A computer-implemented method comprising:

under control of one or more configured computer systems,

receiving a gift purchase from a gift sender, the gift sender being a user of a network commerce service, the gift purchase being a purchase of a gift for a gift recipient;

accessing gift conversion rules, the gift conversion rules having been configured for the gift recipient, at least one of the gift conversion rules identifying potential gift senders; and

determining that the gift should be automatically converted when the gift sender from whom the gift purchase is received is one of the potential gift senders identified in the at least one gift conversion rule.

57. A method as defined in claim 56, further comprising generating a recommendation for the gift, the recommendation being generated based on at least one of past purchases of the gift recipient, past browsing activity of the gift recipient, past purchases made by users that are perceived to have similar interests as the gift recipient, and past browsing activity of users that are perceived to have similar interests as the gift recipient.

58. A method as defined in claim 57, wherein whether the gift should be converted is determined based on the recommendation.

59. A method as defined in claim 56, further comprising converting the gift into a different gift, the different gift being automatically selected from a wish list of the gift recipient.

60. A method as defined in claim 59, wherein the different gift is selected from the wish list based on a comparison of a monetary value of the gift with monetary values of different items on the wish list.

61. A method as defined in claim 59, wherein the different gift is selected from the wish list based on a comparison of when different items were added to the wish list.

62. A method as defined in claim 56, further comprising determining that approval of the gift recipient is not required to perform the gift conversion, and wherein whether approval of the gift recipient is required is configurable by the gift recipient in at least one gift conversion rule.

63. A method as defined in claim 56, further comprising converting the gift into a gift for a third party.

64. A method as defined in claim 56, wherein the gift conversion rules are configured for a group of users, the group of users including the recipient.

65. A method as defined in claim 64, wherein the group of users live at a common residence.

66. A method as defined in claim 56, wherein the gift is a product.

67. A method as defined in claim 66, wherein the product is a good.

68. A method as defined in claim 66, wherein the product is a service.

69. A method as defined in claim 66, wherein the product is a subscription.

70. A method as defined in claim 56, wherein the gift conversion rules include at least one other rule that causes gifts to the gift recipient to be converted regardless of a product purchased as the gift, and regardless of timing of the gift.

71. A method as defined in claim 56, wherein the gift conversion rules are recipient gift conversion rules, and wherein the method further comprises accessing sender gift conversion rules.

72. A method as defined in claim 71, wherein the sender gift conversion rules specify circumstances in which a gift conversion should not be permitted to occur, and wherein determining whether the gift should be converted is performed based on a joint outcome of the recipient gift conversion rules and the sender gift conversion rules.