Methods and apparatus for gifting over a data network

• US 9,996,868 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2015
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Horel, Gerald Charles, Minear, Brian, Nguyen, Phil Tien, Patwari, Jaiteerth
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosen, Nicholas D
• Application Number:
  US14/719,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20150254752A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A method for providing a content gift to a gift-receiving terminal is provided. The method includes a gift server communicating with the gift-receiving terminal over a wireless communication link to determine what content is owned by the gift-receiving terminal. The method further includes the gift server generating catalog data including at least one content gift targeted for the gift receiving terminal. Further included in the method is the gift server wirelessly transmitting the catalog data to a gift-giving terminal. Additionally, the method includes the gift server receiving a selection of a content gift from the gift-giving terminal over a wireless communication link. Further included is the gift server facilitating delivery of the selected content gift to the gift-receiving terminal.

Claims

1. A method for providing a content gift to a gift-receiving terminal, the method comprising:

a gift server communicating with the gift-receiving terminal over a wireless communication link to determine content owned by the gift-receiving terminal;

the gift server generating catalog data based on the content owned by the gift-receiving terminal and identifying at least one content gift owned by the gift-receiving terminal;

the gift server wirelessly transmitting the catalog data to a gift-giving terminal;

the gift server receiving a selection of a content gift from the gift-giving terminal over a wireless communication link; and

the gift server facilitating delivery of the selected content gift to the gift-receiving terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the catalog data further comprises including an authentication code in the catalog data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating a cost of the selected content gift with the gift-receiving terminal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein delivery of the selected content gift comprises transmitting the selected content gift to the gift-receiving terminal using a wired communication channel, a wireless communication channel, or a combination thereof.

5. A gift server for use with a gift-receiving terminal to provide a content gift to a gift-receiving terminal, comprising:

a catalog request receiver configured to receive a catalog request from the gift-receiving terminal over a wireless communication link, the catalog request identifying the gift-receiving terminal;

a catalog transmitter configured to communicate with the gift-receiving terminal over the wireless communication link to determine content owned by the gift-receiving terminal and to generate catalog data based on the content owned by the gift-receiving terminal and identifying at least one content gift owned by the gift-receiving terminal, and configured to wirelessly transmit the catalog data to the gift-giving terminal;

a gift request receiver configured to receive a selection of a selected content gift from the gift-giving terminal over the wireless communication link; and

a gift transmitter configured to facilitate delivery of the selected content gift to the gift-receiving terminal.

6. The gift server of claim 5, wherein the catalog data includes an authentication code.

7. The gift server of claim 5, wherein the catalog transmitter is further configured to associate a cost of the selected content gift with the gift-receiving terminal.

8. The gift server of claim 5, wherein the gift transmitter is configured to provide the selected content gift to the gift-receiving terminal using a wired communication channel, a wireless communication channel, or a combination thereof.

9. A method for operating a gift-giving terminal to provide a content gift to a gift-receiving terminal, wherein the gift-giving terminal and the gift-receiving terminal selectively communicate with a gift server, the method comprising:

transmitting a catalog request, including a terminal identifier of the gift-receiving terminal, to the gift server to obtain a catalog that identifies content compatible with the gift-receiving terminal, the gift server communicating with the gift-receiving terminal over a wireless communication link to determine the content that is compatible with the gift-receiving terminal;

receiving the catalog at the gift-giving terminal;

selecting a content gift from the catalog; and

transmitting a gift request for the gift server requesting that the selected content gift be provided to the gift-receiving terminal.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising including security information in the catalog request so that the catalog request can be authenticated.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising requesting that the gift-giving terminal assume costs associated with the selected content gift.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the transmitting the catalog request comprises transmitting the catalog request to the gift server using a wireless network connection or a wired network connection.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the catalog does not include content gifts already owned by the gift-receiving terminal.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a notification message that the selected content gift was not delivered to the gift-receiving terminal because the content is already owned by the gift-receiving terminal.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of the gift-giving terminal and the gift-receiving terminal is a wireless device.

16. An apparatus for use with a gift-giving terminal to provide a content gift to a gift-receiving terminal, wherein the gift-giving terminal and the gift-receiving terminal selectively communicate with a gift server, the apparatus comprising:

a catalog request transmitter that operates to transmit a catalog request, including a terminal identifier of the gift-receiving terminal, to the gift server to obtain a catalog that identifies content compatible with the gift-receiving terminal, the gift server communicating with the gift-receiving terminal over a wireless communication link to determine the content that is compatible with the gift-receiving terminal;

a catalog receiver that operates to receive the catalog at the gift-giving terminal;

a gift selector that operates to select a content gift from the catalog; and

a gift request transmitter that operates to transmit a gift request for the gift server requesting that the selected content gift be provided to the gift-receiving terminal.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the catalog request transmitter further comprises logic to include security information in the catalog request so that the catalog request can be authenticated.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the gift request transmitter further comprises logic to request that the gift-giving terminal assume costs associated with the selected content gift.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the catalog request transmitter comprises logic to transmit the catalog request to the gift server using a wireless network connection or a wired network connection.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the catalog does not include content gifts already owned by the gift-receiving terminal.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the gift request transmitter further comprises logic to receive a notification message that the selected content gift was not delivered to the gift-receiving terminal because the content is already owned by the gift-receiving terminal.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of the gift-giving terminal and the gift-receiving terminal is a wireless device.

23. A gift-giving terminal configured to provide a content gift to a gift-receiving terminal, comprising:

a catalog request transmitter configured to transmit an identifier associated with the gift-receiving terminal to a gift server over a wireless communication link to request catalog data corresponding to the gift-receiving terminal, the gift server communicating with the gift-receiving terminal over the wireless communication link to determine content that is owned by the gift-receiving terminal, wherein the catalog data is generated based on one or more content gifts owned by the gift-receiving terminal;

a catalog receiver configured to receive the catalog data from the gift server over the wireless communication link; and

a gift selector configured to transmit an identifier for a selected content gift from the catalog data over the wireless communication link to facilitate delivery of the selected content gift to the gift-receiving terminal.

24. The gift-giving terminal of claim 23, wherein the catalog receiver is configured to receive the catalog data, the catalog data includes security information to authenticate the catalog data.