Systems and methods for automated gift delivery

• US 8,386,338 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Web Two LLP
• Original Assignee: Web Two LLP
• Inventors: Farney, Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US11/693,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20080243630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,161 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705 26- 27, 705 261- 272
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A system and method for automated selective gift delivery whereby a gift-giver is provided the opportunity to register as a user of the system and with respect to each desired recipient of one or more gifts for one or more events, typically recurring, to provide information to the system about the recipient and the events such that the system may select, or cause to be automatically selected, a gift suitable for the recipient and event based upon the parameters provided by the gift-giver, and cause the gift to be automatically delivered to the recipient without further action or intervention by the gift-giver. Alternative modes of the invention provide for various additional or alternative actions, including providing for: the sending of alternate gifts, which may be pre-selected or selected by the user; for declining to send a gift; and for sending non-recurring gifts.

Claims

1. A method of providing gift-providing services for a recurring event, comprising the acts of:

receiving electronic data communication of gift event information at a computer, the information comprising information regarding events for which a gift is to be provided, said information including a date of each event;

identifying the interval of recurrence of the event;

receiving an electronic data communication of information regarding the gift recipient, including the delivery address of the gift recipient;

receiving at a computer an electronic data communication of information regarding the gift to be sent, said information comprising for each said gift, a gift type to be delivered, said gift type selected from a plurality of possible gift categories;

receiving electronic data communication of information regarding the gift giver, said information comprising a payment method for the gifts;

in advance of the gift event, electronically transmitting a proposed gift selection to the gift giver, said gift selection identifying a date by which the selected gift will be sent to the gift recipient in the absence of any further instruction from the gift-giver; and

in the absence of any further instruction from the gift-giver, arranging for delivery of a gift to the gift recipient in accordance with said proposed gift selection, wherein the arranging comprises sending an electronic communication to a selected gift vendor of a plurality of gift vendors, the selected gift vendor being a vendor of the proposed gift selection, the communication instructing for the proposed gift to be sent by the selected gift vendor to a service provider for delivery to the gift recipient; and

receiving, by the service provider, the proposed gift and sending the received proposed gift to the gift recipient.

2. A method of managing sending of gifts by a gift provider for recurring gift events for a client, comprising the acts of:

providing an electronic interface configured to received information from the client;

through said interface, receiving information at a computer, the information identifying,

at least one recipient for a recurring gift,

at least one recurring gift event for said gift recipient and the date of said event,

at least one selection criteria for the gift to be sent to said gift recipient, wherein the selection criteria comprises at least one of a gift price range and a gift type selected from a plurality of gift types, and

payment instructions for the gifts;

in advance of the gift event, using a computer to electronically transmit to the client a reminder of the gift event and gift recipient including a first gift selection which will be forwarded to the gift recipient proximate the gift event date in the absence of any further instruction from the client, said first gift selection made in reference to said at least one selection criteria; and

in the absence of any further instruction from the client, initiating delivery of the first gift selection to the gill recipient proximate the gift event date, wherein initiating delivery of the first gift selection comprises the gift provider sending an electronic communication to a vendor of the first gift selection, in response to which the gift vendor forwards the first gift selection to the gift provider for forwarding to the gift recipient.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the reminder electronically forwarded to the client comprises an indication of at least a first alternative gift selection.

4. A method of operating a system for managing sending of gifts for recurring events by a gift provider on behalf of a plurality of clients, comprising the acts of:

providing an electronic interface configured to receive information on behalf of the clients, said interface establishing at least selective communication with a network;

through said electronic interface, receiving client registration information at a computer, said client registration information sufficient to,

identify the client,

identify a method to communicate with the client electronically, and

establish a payment mechanism for services provided on behalf of the client;

through said electronic interface, receiving gift registration information at a computer, the gift registration information identifying, for at least a portion of said clients,

at least one recipient for a recurring gift,

at least one recurring gift event for said gift recipient and the date of said event,

and

at least one selection criteria for the gift to be sent to said gift recipient, said electronic interface facilitating selection of a gift type, from a plurality of gift types;

maintaining a computer-readable data store of said received client registration information and gift registration information;

periodically accessing said computer-readable data store to identify gift events within a selected time interval, and identifying at least a first gift event within the selected time;

in response to said identified first gift event, identifying a first gift selection in accordance with said at least one selection criteria;

electronically communicating a reminder of the gift event and an identification of said first gift selection to the client;

providing an interface through which said client may submit a further instruction regarding delivery of a gift for said gift event;

in the absence of receipt of any further instruction on behalf of said client, sending an electronic communication to a vendor of the first gift to initiate transmittal of said first gift selection to a system operator for sending to said gift recipient; and

receiving, by the service operator, the proposed gift and sending the gift to said gift recipient.