Method and system for universal gift registry
First Claim
1. A method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising:
- receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient;
storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, said gift registry computer system;
providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to said gift registry computer, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of purchase prices for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option;
receiving at said gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for monetary contributions toward a purchase price of a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas;
combining the commitments for monetary contributions and updating the display;
automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift'"'"'s purchase price; and
attempting to satisfy the purchase request,wherein the commitment of each giver that commits to make a monetary contribution is for any giver-desired portion of the uncommitted balance of the selected gift'"'"'s purchase price.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A gift system and method enable gift givers to, among other things, each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient. This system and method may, for example, be implemented by providing an on-line display of gift ideas to the gift givers. This on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of purchase prices for one or more of the gift ideas having the partial purchase option. When the monetary contribution from the gift givers exceed the purchase price of the gift, a purchase request is generated.
303 Citations
55 Claims
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1. A method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising:
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receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, said gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to said gift registry computer, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of purchase prices for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at said gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for monetary contributions toward a purchase price of a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments for monetary contributions and updating the display; automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift'"'"'s purchase price; and attempting to satisfy the purchase request, wherein the commitment of each giver that commits to make a monetary contribution is for any giver-desired portion of the uncommitted balance of the selected gift'"'"'s purchase price. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising:
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receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, said gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to said gift registry computer, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of purchase prices for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at said gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for monetary contributions toward a purchase price of a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments for monetary contributions; automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift'"'"'s purchase price; and attempting to satisfy the purchase request, wherein the commitment of each giver that commits to make a monetary contribution is for any giver-desired portion of the uncommitted balance of the selected gift'"'"'s purchase price, and wherein attempting to satisfy the purchase request comprises; sending an offer to purchase the selected gift to a plurality of vendors; receiving an acceptance of the offer from one of the vendors; and requesting that the accepting vendor send the selected gift to the gift recipient.
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12. A method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising:
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receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, said gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to said gift registry computer, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of purchase prices for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at said gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for monetary contributions toward a purchase price of a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas;
combining the commitments for monetary contributions;automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift'"'"'s purchase price; and attempting to satisfy the purchase request, wherein the commitment of each giver that commits to make a monetary contribution is for any giver-desired portion of the uncommitted balance of the selected gift'"'"'s purchase price, and wherein attempting to satisfy the purchase request comprises; adding the purchase request for the selected gift to a gift list of gifts to be purchased; aggregating purchase requests for identical gifts into a single purchase order; sending an offer to purchase the gifts in the purchase order to a plurality of vendors; receiving an acceptance of the offer from one of the vendors; and requesting that the accepting vendor send the gifts in the purchase order to the appropriate gift recipients.
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13. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising:
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receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, said gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to said gift registry computer, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of purchase prices for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at said gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for monetary contributions toward a purchase price of a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments for monetary contributions; automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift'"'"'s purchase price; and attempting to satisfy the purchase request, wherein the commitment of each giver that commits to make a monetary contribution is for any giver-desired portion of the uncommitted balance of the selected gift'"'"'s purchase price.
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14. A centralized gift registry computer system programmed to perform a method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising:
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receiving at said centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, said gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to said gift registry computer, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of purchase prices for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at said gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for monetary contributions toward a purchase price of a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments for monetary contributions; automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift'"'"'s purchase price; and attempting to satisfy the purchase request, wherein the commitment of each giver that commits to make a monetary contribution is for any giver-desired portion of the uncommitted balance of the selected gift'"'"'s purchase price.
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15. A gift registry computer system configured to enable a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the computer system comprising:
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a communications circuit for connecting to a communications network; a processor; and a memory containing instructions executable by said processor to perform the steps of; receiving gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient via said communications network; storing the gift ideas in said memory or in another memory accessible to said gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied via said communications network, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of purchase prices for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving, via said communications network, commitments from the gift givers for monetary contributions toward a purchase price of a gift having the purchase option selected from the display of gift ideas; combining the commitments for monetary contributions; automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift'"'"'s purchase price; and attempting to satisfy the purchase request, wherein the commitment of each giver that commits to make a monetary contribution is for any giver-desired portion of the uncommitted balance of the selected gift'"'"'s purchase price. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each contribute part of a total gift amount specified for a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising:
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receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, at least one of the received gift ideas specifying a substitute gift; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, the gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to the gift registry computer system, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of total gift amounts for one or more gifts having a partial purchase option; receiving at the gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for parts of the total gift amount specified for a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments from the gift givers; and automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the total gift amount specified for the gift, wherein the commitment of each giver for part of the total gift amount is directly specified by the gift giver as an amount of currency. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A storage medium having processor-executable instructions for performing a method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each contribute part of a total gift amount specified for a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising:
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receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, at least one of the received gift ideas specifying a substitute gift; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, the gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to the gift registry computer system, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of total gift amounts for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at the gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for parts of the total gift amount specified for a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments from the gift givers; and automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the total gift amount specified for the gift, wherein the commitment of each giver for part of the total gift amount is directly specified by the gift giver as an amount of currency.
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24. A computer system programmed to perform a method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each contribute part of a total gift amount specified for a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising:
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receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, at least one of the received gift ideas specifying a substitute gift; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, the gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to the gift registry computer system, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of total gift amounts for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at the gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for parts of the total gift amount specified for a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments from the gift givers; and automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the total gift amount specified for the gift, wherein the commitment of each giver for part of the total gift amount is directly specified by the gift giver as an amount of currency.
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25. A method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each contribute part of a total gift amount specified for a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising:
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receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, wherein each gift idea has a specified total gift amount; storing the gift ideas and total gift amounts in a storage medium which is part of, or accessible to, the gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and total gift amounts and in response to requests supplied to the gift registry computer system, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of the specified total gift amounts for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at the gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for parts of the total gift amount specified for a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments from the gift givers; and automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the total gift amount specified for the selected gift, wherein each giver is able to commit for part of the total gift amount specified for the selected gift even if the only gift amount specified by the gift idea for the selected gift is the total gift amount. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A storage medium having processor-executable instructions for performing a method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each contribute part of a total gift amount specified for a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising:
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receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, wherein each gift idea has a specified total gift amount; storing the gift ideas and total gift amounts in a storage medium which is part of, or accessible to, the gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and total gift amounts and in response to requests supplied to the gift registry computer system, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of the specified total gift amounts for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at the gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for parts of the total gift amount specified for a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments from the gift givers; and automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the total gift amount specified for the selected gift, wherein each giver is able to commit for part of the total gift amount specified for the selected gift even if the only gift amount specified by the gift idea for the selected gift is the total gift amount.
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32. A computer programmed to perform a method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each contribute part of a total gift amount specified for a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising:
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receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, wherein each gift idea has a specified total gift amount; storing the gift ideas and total gift amounts in a storage medium which is part of, or accessible to, the gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and total gift amounts and in response to requests supplied to the gift registry computer system, an on-line display of the gift idea, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of the specified total gift amounts for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at the gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for parts of the total gift amount specified for a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments from the gift givers; and automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the total gift amount specified for the selected gift, wherein each giver is able to commit for part of the total gift amount specified for the selected gift even if the only gift amount specified by the gift idea for the selected gift is the total gift amount.
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33. A gift registry computer system configured to enable a plurality of gift givers to each contribute part of a total gift amount specified for a gift for a gift recipient, the computer system comprising:
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a communication circuit for connecting to a communications network; a processor; and a storage medium containing instructions executable by the processor to perform the steps of; receiving gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, at least one of the received gift ideas specifying a substitute gift; storing the gift ideas in a storage medium which is accessible to the processor; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied over the communications network, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of total gift amounts for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving commitments from the gift givers for parts of the total gift amount specified for a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments from the gift givers; and automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the total gift amount specified for the gift, wherein the commitment of each giver for part of the total gift amount is directly specified by the gift giver as an amount of currency. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A gift registry computer system configured to enable a plurality of gift givers to each contribute part of a total gift amount specified for a gift for a gift recipient, the computer system comprising:
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a communication circuit for connecting to a communications network; a processor; and a storage medium containing instructions executable by the processor to perform the steps of; receiving gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, wherein each gift idea has a specified total gift amount; storing the gift ideas and total gift amounts in a storage medium which is accessible to the processor; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and total gift amounts and in response to requests supplied over the communications network, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of the specified total gift amounts for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving commitments from the gift givers for parts of the total gift amount specified for a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments from the gift givers and updating the display; and automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the total gift amount specified for the selected gift, wherein each giver is able to commit for part of the total gift amount specified for a selected gift even if the only gift amount specified by the gift idea for the selected gift is the total gift amount. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A centralized gift registry computer system programmed to perform a method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising:
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receiving at said centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, each gift idea specifying gift parameters including one or more of a recipient-specified purchase price, a recipient-specified vendor and a recipient-specified substitute gift; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, said gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to said gift registry computer, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of the purchase prices for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at said gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for monetary contributions toward the purchase price of a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments for monetary contributions; automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift'"'"'s purchase price; and attempting to satisfy the purchase request, wherein the amount of the monetary contribution of each commitment toward the uncommitted balance of the selected gift'"'"'s purchase price is directly specified as an amount of currency which is not constrained by the gift parameters specified by the gift recipient for the selected gift. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising:
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receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, each gift idea specifying gift parameters including one or more of a recipient-specified purchase price, a recipient-specified vendor and a recipient-specified substitute gift; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, said gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to said gift registry computer, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of the purchase prices for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at said gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for monetary contributions toward the purchase price of a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments for monetary contributions; automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift'"'"'s purchase price; and attempting to satisfy the purchase request, wherein the amount of the monetary contribution of each commitment toward the uncommitted balance of the selected gift'"'"'s purchase price is directly specified as an amount of currency which is not constrained by the gift parameters specified by the gift recipient for the selected gift. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A centralized gift registry computer system programmed to perform a method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising:
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receiving at said centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, each gift idea specifying gift parameters including one or more of a recipient-specified purchase price, a recipient-specified vendor and a recipient-specified substitute gift; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, said gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to said gift registry computer, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of the purchase prices for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at said gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for monetary contributions toward the purchase price of a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments for monetary contributions; automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift'"'"'s purchase price; and attempting to satisfy the purchase request, wherein the recipient-specified substitute gift is substituted for the selected gift if the purchase request for the selected gift cannot be satisfied.
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55. A method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising:
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receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, each gift idea specifying gift parameters including one or more of a recipient-specified purchase price, a recipient-specified vendor and a recipient-specified substitute gift; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, said gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to said gift registry computer, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of the purchase prices of one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at said gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for monetary contributions toward the purchase price of a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments for monetary contributions; automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift'"'"'s purchase price; and attempting to satisfy the purchase request, wherein the recipient-specified substitute gift is substituted for the selected gift if the purchase request for the selected gift cannot be satisfied.
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Specification