Interactive gifting system and method with physical and electronic delivery

• US 8,577,735 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2009
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilopen Products LC
• Original Assignee: Wilopen Products LC
• Inventors: Wilen, Richard, Wilen, Kevin, Kramer, Gordon M.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAH, AMEE A
• Application Number:
  US12/464,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,638 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/26.1, 705/37, 705/39
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/045 Multi-part cards or sheets, i.e. combined with detachably mounted articles
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/285 Gift cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0218 based on score
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics
• 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 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A method and system for gifting using interactive multimedia and a gifting system. The gifting system can include a gift card, a website for redeeming the gift card, a plurality of gift representations corresponding to actual gift items, and means for advertising additional retail products or services to consumers. The gift card can also include a greeting card and a unique card identifier associated with the user. The methods and systems can be used to advertise products to consumers, which can be purchased for personal use or for gifting. The system can be used to direct consumers to a card issuer'"'"'s website. The system can include a customizable avatar to read aloud text converted to an audio speech file that relates to the gift item. The system can also include a game in which points redeemable for gift items are awarded to the website'"'"'s users for answering advertisement-related questions correctly.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a website comprising a graphical user interface accessible by a gift giver via a communications network, wherein the website includes account management features that permit the gift giver to transfer funds to a card issuer, wherein the gift giver defines a gift recipient using the website by providing by submission through the website predetermined identifying information related to the gift recipient;

a form comprising one unitary sheet with detachable components, wherein a printing device is used to print at least one customization onto one or more customizable spaces of the form and wherein the detachable components comprise;

a gift card associable with the gift recipient whose identity is validated via the website prior to releasing the funds transferred to the card issuer for the gift card, the gift card comprising a unique card identifier, wherein the website provides tools to create an electronic version of the gift card for electronic transmission to the gift recipient;

a correspondence piece comprising a greeting card to carry the gift card; and

an envelope into which the gift card and correspondence piece are inserted;

a remote server connected to the communications network that receives information from the website, the remote server comprising a data storage device to store data comprising information relating to the gift giver and the gift recipient;

funds data associated with a fund account stored on the remote server, wherein the funds data relate to the funds transferred by the gift giver to the card issuer; and

means for the gift giver to deliver the gift card to the gift recipient;

wherein the delivery means comprises both physical delivery of the gift card and electronic delivery of the gift card via the communications network, the electronic delivery comprising the steps of;

(a) providing the gift recipient with the gift card comprising the card identifier and an electronic address to access the website by the gift giver;

(b) accessing the website by the gift recipient;

(c) using the website, submitting the card identifier and the information relating to the gift recipient by the gift recipient to validate the identity of the gift recipient;

(d) electing to redeem the gift card by the gift recipient whose identity has been validated by software of the system; and

(e) providing the funds by the card issuer for use by the gift recipient to redeem the gift card;

wherein the gift recipient must be verified using the website prior to redeeming the gift card;

wherein the form and its detachable components comprise paper.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic version of the gift card is embedded in or attached to an e-mail message.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the detachable components of the form are part of the sheet and are separable from one another and from the sheet.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the gift card is insertable into and concealable within a pouch of the envelope when the envelope is configured in an unsealed closed configuration, the gift card and the envelope being detachable from the sheet.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the gift card is removable from a pouch of the envelope so as to be visible when the envelope is configured in an open configuration, the gift card being at least partially connected to the envelope such that the gift card is repositionable by opening the envelope.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the gift card is detachable at a perforation from an affixed portion that is connected to an inner surface of the envelope tongue.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein, once detached, the gift card is insertable into a pouch of the envelope, and wherein the envelope is sealable in a sealed closed configuration for delivery to the recipient.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the gift card is attached by adhesive to an inner surface of a tongue of an envelope.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for delivering comprises inserting the gift card into the envelope with the greeting card for delivery by mail or other suitable delivery methods.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the gifting system further comprises a catalog that is contained within the envelope.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the envelope is manufactured around the gift card and other contents that are enclosed within the envelope.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the envelope comprises a detachable stub.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the detachable stub is connected to a tongue of the envelope at a bottom edge of the tongue.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the form further comprises a gift representation.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the gift representation comprises an image of a gift item that is redeemable by the recipient using the gift card.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic gift card comprises a downloadable file, a web page, a virtual card or an e-mail.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the electric gift card comprises a part of an electronic greeting card that is delivered electronically to the recipient.

18. The system of claim of claim 1, wherein the electronic gift card is printable on a printing device and is redeemable at a retail store location.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic gift card comprises one or more items selected from the group consisting of:

alphanumeric text and other type characters, images, audio data, video data, and any other type of data suitable for inclusion in or attachment to the electronic gift card.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the gift card comprises a retailer-issued issued gift card.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the gift card comprises a manufacturer-issued gift card.