Electronic gift linking

• US 7,895,085 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2009
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Western Union
• Original Assignee: Western Union
• Inventors: Abelman, Henry M., Karas, Peter M., Thompson, Mark, Cowell, James Everett
• Primary Examiner(s): Airapetian; Mila
• Application Number:
  US12/359,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20090182648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 401/240.1
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• 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 electronic greeting card that references a gift, the greeting card comprising:

a greeting portion of the greeting card, wherein the greeting portion is primarily designed by someone other than a sender of the greeting card, wherein;

the gift is separately provided to a receiver of the greeting card; and

a code that provides information for the gift, wherein;

at least some information for the gift is unique to the gift, and

the code is adapted to be used by both the receiver to retrieve and display the electronic greeting card, and a payment enabler of a money transfer system working in concert with a first web site which received the selection of the greeting card by the sender to reference the electronic gift chosen by the sender; and

a customized portion that changes with status of the gift.

2. The greeting card that references the gift as recited in claim 1, further comprising a customized portion that is personalized by the sender of the greeting card.

3. The greeting card that references the gift as recited in claim 1, wherein the information is received from a second web site away from a first web site that produced the greeting card.

4. The greeting card that references the gift as recited in claim 1, wherein the information is at least partially customized for the gift.

5. The greeting card that references the gift as recited in claim 1, wherein the information relates to at least one of:

tracking delivery of the gift;

rerouting delivery of the gift;

researching the gift;

returning the gift;

substituting the gift for another;

accepting the gift;

refusing the gift;

selling the gift; and

repairing the gift.

6. A method for generating an electronic greeting card that references a gift, the method comprising:

generating a greeting portion of the greeting card, wherein the greeting portion is primarily designed by someone other than a sender of the greeting card;

separately providing the gift to a receiver of the greeting card;

providing a code that provides information for the gift, wherein at least some information for the gift is unique to the gift;

using the code by the receiver to retrieve and display the electronic greeting card;

using the code by a payment enabler of a money transfer system working in concert with a first web site which received the selection of the greeting card by the sender to reference the electronic gift chosen by the sender; and

providing a customized portion of the greeting card that changes with status of the gift.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for generating an electronic greeting card that references a gift, the non-transitory computer-readable medium have sets of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

generate a greeting portion of the greeting card, wherein the greeting portion is primarily designed by someone other than a sender of the greeting card;

separately provide the gift to a receiver of the greeting card;

provide a code that provides information for the gift, wherein at least some information for the gift is unique to the gift;

use the code by the receiver to retrieve and display the electronic greeting card;

use the code by a payment enabler of a money transfer system working in concert with a first web site which received the selection of the greeting card by the sender to reference the electronic gift chosen by the sender; and

provide a customized portion of the greeting card that changes with status of the gift.