U.S. patent application number 13/773663 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-18 for electronic commerce rule-based multi-selection gifting.
This patent application is currently assigned to SHOP MA, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is SHOP MA, INC.. Invention is credited to Michael George Smith.
Application Number | 20130185171 13/773663 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40408941 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130185171 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smith; Michael George |
July 18, 2013 |
ELECTRONIC COMMERCE RULE-BASED MULTI-SELECTION GIFTING
Abstract
A computer processing-based method for multi-selection gifting,
including identifying a multi-selection gift, by a client computer,
the multi-selection gift including a plurality of items of
merchandise, and a selection rule allowing a gift recipient to
select up to a specified total number of items of merchandise in
the multi-selection gift, the specified total number being greater
than one, and interactively guiding the gift recipient in selecting
items of merchandise of the multi-selection gift in accordance with
the selection rule, by the client computer.
Inventors: |
Smith; Michael George;
(Monterey, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SHOP MA, INC.; |
Miami |
FL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
SHOP MA, INC.
Miami
FL
|
Family ID: |
40408941 |
Appl. No.: |
13/773663 |
Filed: |
February 22, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12813511 |
Jun 11, 2010 |
8392286 |
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13773663 |
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11897215 |
Aug 28, 2007 |
7761344 |
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12813511 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/26.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/04 20130101;
G06Q 30/0605 20130101; G06Q 30/0643 20130101; G06Q 30/0633
20130101; G06Q 30/02 20130101; G06Q 30/0603 20130101; G06Q 30/0601
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/26.8 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/06 20120101
G06Q030/06 |
Claims
1.-59. (canceled)
60. A computer processing-based method for multi-selection gifting,
comprising: identifying a multi-selection gift, by a client
computer, the multi-selection gift comprising a plurality of items
of merchandise, and a selection rule allowing a gift recipient to
select up to a specified total number of items of merchandise in
the multi-selection gift, the specified total number being greater
than one; and interactively guiding the gift recipient in selecting
items of merchandise of the multi-selection gift in accordance with
the selection rule, by the client computer.
61. The method of claim 60 wherein the selection rule allows the
gift recipient to select more than one of the same item of
merchandise.
62. The method of claim 60 wherein the multi-selection gift
specifies one or more quantities of respective one or more items of
merchandise.
63. The method of claim 60 wherein said interactively guiding
comprises notifying the gift recipient when the gift recipient's
selection of items of merchandise violates the selection rule.
64. The method of claim 63 wherein said interactively guiding the
gift recipient comprises allowing the gift recipient to select more
items of merchandise than allowed by the selection rule, if the
gift recipient agrees to pay for the excess items.
65. The method of claim 60 wherein the multi-selection gift has a
redemption status, indicating whether or not the gift recipient has
redeemed the multi-selection gift.
66. The method of claim 60 wherein at least two items of
merchandise are grouped together as a gift grouping, and wherein
the selection rule allows selection of a gift grouping as a single
item of merchandise.
67. A system for multi-selection gifting, comprising: a memory for
storing a multi-selection gift, the multi-selection gift comprising
a plurality of items of merchandise, and a selection rule allowing
a gift recipient to select up to a specified total number of items
of merchandise in the multi-selection gift, the specified total
number being greater than one; and a user interface for
interactively guiding the gift recipient in selecting items of
merchandise of the multi-selection gift in accordance with the one
selection rule.
68. The system of claim 67 wherein the selection rule allows the
gift recipient to select more than one of the same item of
merchandise.
69. The system of claim 67 wherein the multi-selection gift
specifies one or more quantities of respective one or more items of
merchandise.
70. The system of claim 67 wherein said user interface notifies the
gift recipient when the gift recipient's selection of items of
merchandise violates the selection rule.
71. The system of claim 70 wherein said user interface allows the
gift recipient to select more items of merchandise than allowed by
the selection rule, if the gift recipient agrees to pay for the
excess items.
72. The system of claim 67 wherein said memory stores a redemption
status of the multi-selection gift, indicating whether or not the
gift recipient has redeemed the multi-selection gift.
73. The system of claim 67 wherein said user interface groups
together at least two items of merchandise as a gift grouping, and
wherein the selection rule allows selection of a gift grouping as a
single item of merchandise.
74. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing
program code for causing a computing device: to identify a
multi-selection gift, the multi-selection gift comprising a
plurality of items of merchandise, and a selection rule allowing
the gift recipient to select up to a specified total number of
items of merchandise in the multi-selection gift, the specified
total number being greater than one; to interactively guide a gift
recipient in selecting items of merchandise of the multi-selection
gift in accordance with the at least one selection rule.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to electronic on-line
commerce.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] E-commerce technology enables consumers to purchase items of
merchandise on-line, from web sites that act as virtual stores.
Pioneers of e-commerce include Amazon.com, Inc. of Seattle, Wash.,
eBay Inc. of San Jose, Calif., and Shop.com of Monterey, Calif.
E-commerce technology combines on-line catalogue ingest, browsing
and search, inventory management, purchase and payment
transactions, automated payment processing, and other components
within a comprehensive e-commerce server.
[0003] The growth of the Internet as a medium for consumer
marketing has led to terrific growth of product and service
offerings. One direction of this growth has been in the expansion
from single vendor e-commerce sites that act as virtual stores, to
multi-vendor e-commerce sites that act as virtual shopping malls.
The virtual shopping mall provides a single integrated web site
where consumers can purchase goods and services from a wide
diversity of merchants. Multi-vendor e-commerce web sites are able
to incorporate features of single vendor sites, and have the
potential of offering features beyond those offered on single
vendor sites.
[0004] A growing feature of single vendor and multi-vendor web
sites, which has proven to be a substantial source of revenue, is
the commerce of gift giving. The expansion of web sites from single
vendor to multi-vendor provides opportunities for extending
traditional models of gift giving that have not yet been realized.
In addition, traditional e-commerce gifts are limited to unilateral
actions taken by a gift giver that do not necessarily take into
consideration tastes, preferences or physical characteristics of a
gift recipient.
[0005] There is thus a need for designs and implementations of
gift-giving technologies, which allow gift recipients to have
flexibility in selecting items that are meaningful, useful and
enjoyable to them, while still adhering to constraints, such as
cost, prescribed by the gift giver.
SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION
[0006] The present invention concerns e-commerce, and more
specifically to single vendor and multi-vendor on-line shopping
malls. Aspects of the present invention provide systems and methods
for single vendor and multi-vendor gift giving, which enable a gift
giver to generate a custom gift, including a plurality of items of
merchandise from a plurality of merchants, and which enable a gift
recipient to select one or more of the gift items in accordance
with rules prescribed by the gift giver.
[0007] The present invention enables a gift giver to designate a
plurality of items of merchandise, in the form of goods and
services from multiple merchant catalogues, from which a gift
recipient may choose one or more goods and services. The gift giver
may prescribe constraints on the items that the gift recipient may
select, such as a limit on the total number of items that recipient
may select, or a limit on the total cost of the items that the
recipient may select. Together, the plurality of designated items
of merchandise and the prescribed constraints define a
"multi-selection gift".
[0008] The present invention guides the gift recipient in selecting
his gift items, so that the recipient's selections are in
compliance with the gift giver's constraints. The present invention
also guides the gift recipient in selecting applicable options
associated with the gift items he selects, such as size, color, and
monogramming. The present invention enables the on-line shopping
mall system to issue appropriate purchase orders to the various
merchants in accordance with the items that the recipient selects,
and to issue an appropriate invoice to the gift giver.
[0009] An advantage provided by the present invention is that the
gift giver is not billed for purchase of his gift until the gift is
redeemed by the gift recipient. In distinction, prior art gifting
technologies bill the gift giver at the time of purchase of his
gift, which has several drawbacks. One such drawback is that in
many instances gifts are not redeemed, or are only partially
redeemed, and yet the gift giver was billed in full. In some cases
mechanisms exist for gift givers to request refunds for un-redeemed
or partially-redeemed gifts, but this requires effort on the part
of the gift giver, which in turn is a disincentive for purchasing
gifts. For example, a gift giver purchases a $300 gift certificate
for a gift recipient, and is billed $300 at the time of purchase.
However, the gift recipient only redeems $250 worth of gifts. The
$50 balance is held in a gift recipient account for applications
towards future purchases, but may never be used by the gift
recipient, or may be used reluctantly by the gift recipient for
purchases he never intended to make. Using the present invention,
the gift recipient would be billed only $250, at the time the gift
recipient redeems the certificate.
[0010] The present invention includes a database for storing
multi-selection gifts, a gift generator web tool for enabling a
gift giver to generate a custom multi-selection gift, a
notification mechanism for notifying a gift recipient of his
multi-selection gift and for providing him with an identifier of
the gift, and a gift redeemer web tool for enabling the gift
recipient to redeem his multi-selection gift in accordance with the
constraints set by the gift giver.
[0011] There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention a method for multi-selection gifting,
including maintaining a merchandise database including records for
merchandise for a plurality of merchants, each record including a
stock keeping unit (SKU) for an item of merchandise, a description
of the item, a price of the item, and the merchant for the item,
maintaining a gift database including records for multi-selection
gifts, each record including at least one gift recipient, a
plurality of SKU's for items of merchandise, and at least one
selection rule for selecting at least one of the items of
merchandise, interactively enabling a gift giver to generate a
multi-selection gift for a gift recipient, interactively guiding
the gift recipient to select at least one of the items of
merchandise in the multi-selection gift in accordance with the
gift's at least one selection rule, aggregating the at least one
item selected by the gift recipient according to merchant, issuing
purchase orders to each merchant in accordance with the aggregated
selected items corresponding to such merchant, and billing the gift
giver according to the at least one item of merchandise selected by
the gift recipient.
[0012] There is additionally provided in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention a system for multi-selection
gifting, including a memory for storing a merchandise database
including records for merchandise for a plurality of merchants,
each record including a stock keeping unit (SKU) for an item of
merchandise, a description of the item, a price of the item, and
the merchant for the item, and a gift database including records
for multi-selection gifts, each record including at least one gift
recipient, a plurality of SKU's for items of merchandise, and at
least one selection rule for selecting at least one of the items of
merchandise, a gift generator for enabling a gift giver to generate
a multi-selection gift for a gift recipient, a gift redeemer for
enabling the gift recipient to select at least one of the items of
merchandise in the multi-selection gift in accordance with the
gift's at least one selection rule, a purchase order manager for
aggregating the at least one item selected by the gift recipient
according to merchant, and for issuing purchase orders to each
merchant in accordance with the aggregated selected items
corresponding to such merchant, and an invoice manager for billing
the gift giver according to the at least one item of merchandise
selected by the gift recipient.
[0013] There is moreover provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention a computer-readable storage medium storing
program code for causing a computing device to maintain a
merchandise database including records for merchandise for a
plurality of merchants, each record including a stock keeping unit
(SKU) for an item of merchandise, a description of the item, a
price of the item, and the merchant for the item, to maintain a
gift database including records for multi-selection gifts, each
record including at least one gift recipient, a plurality of SKU's
for items of merchandise, and at least one selection rule for
selecting at least one of the items of merchandise, to
interactively enable a gift giver to generate a multi-selection
gift for a gift recipient, to interactively guide the gift
recipient to select at least one of the items of merchandise in the
multi-selection gift in accordance with the gift's at least one
selection rule, to aggregate the at least one item selected by the
gift recipient according to merchant, to issue purchase orders to
each merchant in accordance with the aggregated selected items
corresponding to such merchant, and to bill the gift giver
according to the at least one item of merchandise selected by the
gift recipient.
[0014] There is further provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention a method for multi-selection gifting,
including identifying a multi-selection gift, the multi-selection
gift including at least one gift recipient, a plurality of gift
choices, each gift choice being either an individual item of
merchandise or a group of items of merchandise, and a designated
maximum number of gift choices that may be selected, and
interactively guiding the gift recipient in selecting one or more
of the plurality of gift choices, including maintaining a selection
counter that informs that gift recipient as to whether the gift
recipient's selection of gift choices have reached the designated
maximum number, and ensuring that the gift recipient's selection of
gift choices does not exceed the designated maximum number of gift
choices.
[0015] There is yet further provided in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention a method for multi-selection
gifting, including identifying a multi-selection gift, the
multi-selection gift including at least one gift recipient, a
plurality of gift choices, each gift choice being either an
individual item of merchandise or a group of items of merchandise,
and a designated maximum cost of gift choices that may be selected,
and interactively guiding the gift recipient in selecting one or
more of the plurality of gift choices, including maintaining a
selection counter that informs that gift recipient as to whether
the cost of the gift recipient's selection of gift choices has
reached the designated maximum cost, and ensuring that the gift
recipient's selection of gift choices does not exceed the
designated maximum cost of gift choices.
[0016] There is additionally provided in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention a system for multi-selection
gifting, including a memory for storing a multi-selection gift, the
multi-selection gift including at least one gift recipient, a
plurality of gift choices, each gift choice being either an
individual item of merchandise or a group of items of merchandise,
and a designated maximum number of gift choices that may be
selected, and a user interface for interactively guiding the gift
recipient in selecting one or more of the plurality of gift
choices, by maintaining a selection counter that informs that gift
recipient as to whether the gift recipient's selection of gift
choices have reached the designated maximum number, and by ensuring
that the gift recipient's selection of gift choices does not exceed
the designated maximum number of gift choices.
[0017] There is moreover provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention a system for multi-selection gifting,
including a memory for storing a multi-selection gift, the
multi-selection gift including at least one gift recipient, a
plurality of gift choices, each gift choice being either an
individual item of merchandise or a group of items of merchandise,
and a designated maximum cost of gift choices that may be selected,
and a user interface for interactively guiding the gift recipient
in selecting one or more of the plurality of gift choices, by
maintaining a selection counter that informs that gift recipient as
to whether the cost of the gift recipient's selection of gift
choices has reached the designated maximum cost, and by ensuring
that the gift recipient's selection of gift choices does not exceed
the designated maximum cost of gift choices.
[0018] There is further provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention a computer-readable storage medium storing
program code for causing a computing device to identify a
multi-selection gift, the multi-selection gift including at least
one gift recipient, a plurality of gift choices, each gift choice
being either an individual item of merchandise or a group of items
of merchandise, and a designated maximum number of gift choices
that may be selected, and to interactively guide the gift recipient
in selecting one or more of the plurality of gift choices, by
maintaining a selection counter that informs that gift recipient as
to whether the gift recipient's selection of gift choices have
reached the designated maximum number, and ensuring that the gift
recipient's selection of gift choices does not exceed the
designated maximum number of gift choices.
[0019] There is yet further provided in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention a computer-readable storage
medium storing program code for causing a computing device to
identify a multi-selection gift, the multi-selection gift including
at least one gift recipient, a plurality of gift choices, each gift
choice being either an individual item of merchandise or a group of
items of merchandise, and a designated maximum cost of gift choices
that may be selected, and to interactively guide the gift recipient
in selecting one or more of the plurality of gift choices, by
maintaining a selection counter that informs that gift recipient as
to whether the cost of the gift recipient's selection of gift
choices has reached the designated maximum cost, and ensuring that
the gift recipient's selection of gift choices does not exceed the
designated maximum cost of gift choices.
[0020] There is additionally provided in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention a method for multi-selection
gifting, including identifying a multi-selection gift, the
multi-selection gift including a gift recipient, a plurality of
gift choices, each gift choice being either an individual item of
merchandise or a group of items of merchandise, and a designated
maximum cost of gift choices that may be selected, and
interactively guiding the gift recipient in selecting one or more
of the plurality of gift choices without exceeding the designated
maximum cost, including un-grouping a group of items in a gift
choice into a plurality of individual items, and re-grouping a
plurality of items into a group, if the plurality of items were
originally part of the same group in the multi-selection gift.
[0021] There is moreover provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention a system for multi-selection gifting,
including a memory for storing a multi-selection gift, the
multi-selection gift including a gift recipient, a plurality of
gift choices, each gift choice being either an individual item of
merchandise or a group of items of merchandise, and a designated
maximum cost of gift choices that may be selected, and a user
interface for interactively guiding the gift recipient in selecting
one or more of the plurality of gift choices without exceeding the
designated maximum cost, by un-grouping a group of items in a gift
choice into a plurality of individual items, and by re-grouping a
plurality of items into a group, if the plurality of items were
originally part of the same group in the multi-selection gift.
[0022] There is further provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention a computer-readable storage medium storing
program code for causing a computing device to identify a
multi-selection gift, the multi-selection gift including a gift
recipient, a plurality of gift choices, each gift choice being
either an individual item of merchandise or a group of items of
merchandise, and a designated maximum cost of gift choices that may
be selected, and to interactively guiding the gift recipient in
selecting one or more of the plurality of gift choices without
exceeding the designated maximum cost, by un-grouping a group of
items in a gift choice into a plurality of individual items, and by
re-grouping a plurality of items into a group, if the plurality of
items were originally part of the same group in the multi-selection
gift.
[0023] There is yet further provided in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention a method for multi-selection
gifting, including identifying a multi-selection gift, the
multi-selection gift including a gift giver, a gift recipient, a
plurality of items of merchandise, and at least one selection rule
for selecting at least one of the items of merchandise,
interactively guiding the gift recipient in selecting at least one
item of merchandise in accordance with the at least one selection
rule, and billing the gift giver subsequent to the interactively
guiding, according to the at least one item of merchandise selected
by the gift recipient.
[0024] There is additionally provided in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention a system for multi-selection
gifting, including a memory for storing a multi-selection gift, the
multi-selection gift including a gift giver, a gift recipient, a
plurality of items of merchandise, and at least one selection rule
for selecting at least one of the items of merchandise, a user
interface for interactively guiding the gift recipient in selecting
at least one item of merchandise in accordance with the at least
one selection rule, and an invoice manager for billing the gift
giver according to the at least one item of merchandise selected by
the gift recipient.
[0025] There is moreover provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention a computer-readable storage medium storing
program code for causing a computing device to identify a
multi-selection gift, the multi-selection gift including a gift
giver, a gift recipient, a plurality of items of merchandise, and
at least one selection rule for selecting at least one of the items
of merchandise, to interactively guide the gift recipient in
selecting at least one item of merchandise in accordance with the
at least one selection rule, and to bill the gift giver according
to the at least one item of merchandise selected by the gift
recipient.
[0026] There is further provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention a method for multi-selection gifting,
including presenting a gift recipient with a set C={c.sub.1,
c.sub.2, . . . , c.sub.n} of gift choices, n>1, together with at
least one constraint of the form f(S).ltoreq.x, where f is a
real-valued function of subsets SC, and interactively guiding the
recipient in selecting a subset SC that satisfies that at least one
constraint, wherein the at least one function f is monotonically
increasing in the sense that f(S.sub.1).ltoreq.f(S.sub.2) whenever
S.sub.1S.sub.2.
[0027] There is yet further provided in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention a system for multi-selection
gifting, including a memory for storing a set C={c.sub.1, c.sub.2,
. . . , c.sub.n} of gift choices, n>1, together with at least
one constraint of the form f(S).ltoreq.x, where f is a real-valued
function of subsets SC; and a user interface for interactively
guiding a gift recipient in selecting a subset SC that satisfies
that at least one constraint, wherein the at least one function f
is monotonically increasing in the sense that
f(S.sub.1).ltoreq.f(S.sub.2) whenever S.sub.1S.sub.2.
[0028] There is additionally provided in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention a computer-readable storage
medium storing program code for causing a computing device to
present a gift recipient with a set C=(c.sub.1, c.sub.2, . . . ,
c.sub.n) of gift choices, n >1, together with at least one
constraint of the form f(S).ltoreq.x, where f is a real-valued
function of subsets SC; and to interactively guide the recipient in
selecting a subset SC that satisfies that at least one constraint,
wherein the at least one function f is monotonically increasing in
the sense that f(S.sub.1).ltoreq.f(S.sub.2) whenever
S.sub.1S.sub.2.
[0029] There is moreover provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention a method for gifting, including
interactively enabling a gift giver to generate an electronic gift
for a gift recipient, interactively guiding the gift recipient to
redeem the gift in one of several ways of redemption, and billing
the gift giver according to the gift recipient's way of redemption
of the gift, after the interactively guiding.
[0030] There is further provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention a system for gifting, including a gift
generator for enabling a gift giver to generate an electronic gift
for a gift recipient, a gift redeemer for enabling the gift
recipient to redeem the gift in one of several ways of redemption,
and an invoice manager for billing the gift giver according to the
gift recipient's way of redemption of the gift.
[0031] There is yet further provided in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention a computer-readable storage
medium storing program code for causing a computing device to
interactively enable an electronic gift giver to generate a gift
for a gift recipient, to interactively guide the gift recipient to
redeem the gift in one of several ways of redemption, and to bill
the gift giver according to the gift recipient's way of redemption
of the gift.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] The present invention will be more fully understood and
appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the drawings in which:
[0033] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a user interface for generating
a multi-selection gift, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0034] FIGS. 2A and 2B are illustrations of user interfaces for
redeeming a multi-selection gift, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a user interface for specifying
product options for a multi-selection gift, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of an e-commerce system
that supports multi-selection gifting, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 5 is a simplified block diagram of various components
of the e-commerce system illustrated in FIG. 4, in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 6 is a simplified flowchart of an overall method for
multi-selection gifting, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0039] FIG. 7 is a simplified flowchart of a method for selecting a
list of gift items to be included in a multi-selection gift, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 8 is a simplified illustration of a multi-selection
gift, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0041] FIG. 9 is a simplified flowchart of a method for generating
gift redemption options for a multi-selection gift, in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0042] FIG. 10 is a simplified flowchart of a method for redeeming
a simple gift, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0043] FIG. 11 is a simplified flowchart of a method for redeeming
a multi-item gift, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0044] FIG. 12 is a simplified flowchart of a method for redeeming
an N-item gift, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0045] FIG. 13 is a simplified flowchart of a method for redeeming
a cost limited gift, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0046] FIG. 14 is a simplified flowchart of a method for redeeming
a zero-balance cost-limited gift, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention; and
[0047] FIG. 15 is a simplified block diagram of a sample
server-client architecture for implementing multi-selection gifts,
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0048] Aspects of the present invention concern inter alia a
multi-selection gift, which provides the gift recipient with a list
of gift choices to select and rules governing the permitted
selections. Each gift choice may be either a single product or
service, or a group of multiple products or services. The rules
governing the permitted selection may designate a constraint such
as the maximum number of gift choices that may be selected, or the
maximum cost of gift choices that may be selected, or a gaming
constraint such as a winning selection set or selection order, or
such other constraint. The gift recipient thus has flexibility in
selecting his gift choices, subject to constraints set by the gift
giver.
[0049] Aspects of the present invention concern inter alia methods
and systems for guiding a gift giver in generating a
multi-selection gifts, and methods and systems for guiding a gift
recipient in redeeming his multi-selection gift.
[0050] In this regard, reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is an
illustration of a user interface for generating a multi-selection
gift, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Shown in FIG. 1 is a web page 100 displaying a multi-selection gift
having a list of four gift choices, as follows. [0051] 1. The first
gift choice 110 is a group of two items; namely, a sport coat 111
and matching pants 112. [0052] 2. The second gift choice 120 is a
dress shirt. [0053] 3. The third gift choice 130 is a sport shirt.
[0054] 4. The fourth gift choice 140 is a $100 gift certificate. It
is noted that each of the items in the four gift choices is
manufactured by a different merchant, as indicated in the item
descriptions in FIG. 1. As shown near the top of web page 100, the
gift giver has added a constraint 150 that the recipient may select
up to two of the four gift choices. Alternatively, the gift giver
may add a constraint 160 that the total cost of the gifts selected
by the recipient does not exceed a designated amount, such as
$300.
[0055] Items may be grouped together into a single gift choice, as
in gift choice 110 by checking the desired items and clicking on
control 171. Grouped items may be ungrouped by clicking on control
172. Thus it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
groups may be flexibly generated at will. In addition, groups may
be nested as groups and sub-groups.
[0056] A gift giver may include multiple quantities of an item in a
multi-selection gift, as indicated by boxes 180. In turn, the gift
recipient may select multiple units of the item, from one item up
to the quantity set by the gift giver.
[0057] Messages, such as message 185, may be added to the
multi-selection gift. Additional features of the user interface
illustrated in FIG. 1 are described hereinbelow.
[0058] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a
multi-selection gift may be sent to multiple gift recipients. The
multiple recipients may be separately addressed, or may be part of
a list. Such list may be inter alia an e-mail list, or an
organization, or a list of people with the same birthdays or
close-together birthdays.
[0059] Reference is now made to FIGS. 2A and 2B, which are
illustrations of user interfaces for redeeming a multi-selection
gift, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2A corresponds to the multi-selection gift illustrated in FIG.
1, with a constraint of selecting two of the four gift choices.
FIG. 2B corresponds to a similar multi-selection gift, with a
constraint on total cost of the gift choice selections.
[0060] Shown in FIG. 2A is a web page 200 displaying a
multi-selection gift that was sent from Mom to Michael on the
occasion of a starting a new job. The multi-selection gift includes
the four gift choices shown in FIG. 1. Each gift choice may be
selected by clicking on a select box 250 corresponding to the gift
choice, and a selected gift choice may be un-selected by clicking
again on its select box 250. By default, initially none of the gift
choices are selected. As shown in FIG. 2A, the gift recipient has
currently made one gift selection; namely, gift group 110 with the
sport coat 111 and the pants 112.
[0061] The multi-selection gift in FIG. 2A has a constraint on the
number of gift choices that may be selected by the gift recipient,
corresponding to constraint 150 from FIG. 1. A counter 251 shows
the number of remaining selections. As shown in FIG. 2A, counter
251 indicates that currently one selection remains. Counter 251 is
used to guide the gift recipient in making gift selections that are
within the constraint set by the gift giver.
[0062] The multi-selection gift includes a message 270 from the
gift giver.
[0063] Items 111 and 112 that are grouped into a single gift choice
may be un-grouped by clicking on an un-group box 280. The recipient
has the ability to re-group items, but he can only do so if the
items being re-grouped where originally grouped together. Thus the
recipient can re-group all of an original group of items or a
subset thereof, but cannot generate new groupings.
[0064] Shown in FIG. 2B is a similar web page 200 displaying a
multi-selection gift that was sent from Mom to Michael on the
occasion of buying a new home. The multi-selection gift includes
four gift choices, as follows: [0065] 1. The first gift choice 210
is a coffee maker. [0066] 2. The second gift choice 220 is a group
of two items; namely, a comforter 221 and a duvet 222. [0067] 3.
The third gift choice 230 is an auto-generated gift certificate.
[0068] 4. The fourth gift choice 240 is a food processor. Each gift
choice may be selected by clicking on a select box 250
corresponding to the gift choice, and a selected gift choice may be
un-selected by clicking again on its select box 250. By default,
initially none of the gift choices are selected. As shown in FIG.
2B, the gift recipient has currently selected gift choices 210 and
230.
[0069] The multi-selection gift in FIG. 2B has a constraint on the
total cost of the gift choices that may be selected, as set by the
gift giver using a constraint such as constraint 160 from FIG. 1.
Gift certificate 230 is automatically generated in the amount of
the unused balance. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2B, after selecting gift
choice 210, the unused balance of the multi-selection gift of
$97.95 is converted into gift certificate 230.
[0070] A counter 261 shows the balance remaining with the gift
recipient's current selections. Since the gift recipient has
selected gift certificate 230 as a gift choice selection, any
remaining balance is automatically converted into gift certificate
230, and thus counter 261 indicates that currently the balance
remaining is $0.00. Had the gift recipient not selected gift
certificate 230, then counter 261 would indicate a balance
remaining of $97.95. Counter 261 is used to guide the gift
recipient in making gift selections that are within the total cost
constraint.
[0071] The multi-selection gift includes a message 270 from the
gift giver. Items 221 and 222 that are grouped into a single gift
choice may be un-grouped by clicking on an un-group box 280. The
recipient has the ability to re-group items, but he can only do so
if the items being re-grouped where originally grouped together.
Thus the recipient can re-group all of an original group of items
or a subset thereof, but cannot generate new groupings.
[0072] In alternative embodiments of the present invention,
redemption of a multi-selection gift may be randomly or
conditionally tied to a contest, a multi-selection gift may be more
than one-time limited redeemable or more than one-time unlimited
redeemable, or a multi-selection gift may be demo-only and not
redeemable.
[0073] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which is an illustration of
a user interface for specifying product options for a
multi-selection gift, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention. FIG. 3 corresponds to the multi-selection gift
in FIGS. 1 and 2A. Shown in FIG. 3 is a web page 300 enabling a
gift recipient to specify product options for gift choices he has
selected. As seen in FIG. 3, a gift recipient has selected two gift
choices; namely gift choices 110 and 130 from FIG. 1. This is
consistent with the gift giver's constraint 150 of selecting up to
two gift choices. Gift choice 110 is a grouped choice including
coat 111 and pants 112, and gift choice 130 is a sport shirt. The
selected coat 111, pants 112 and shirt 1.30 have respective product
options 311, 312 and 330 associated therewith, as indicated in FIG.
3. The product options specify color and size dimensions. The gift
recipient is able to specify the options he desired using drop-down
menus 340.
[0074] Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which is a simplified block
diagram of an e-commerce system that supports multi-selection
gifting, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Shown in FIG. 4 is an e-commerce server computer 400, which
interacts with a plurality of merchant computers 410, at least one
gift giver computer 420, and at least one gift recipient computer
430. E-commerce server computer 400 enables merchants 410 to
publish and showcase their catalogues of merchandise on a single
integrated web site, which functions as a virtual shopping mall.
Users browsing the web site are able to purchase one or more items
of merchandise from any of merchants 410. Users interact with the
web site via a user interface 440, and merchants interact with the
web site via a merchant interface 450.
[0075] E-commerce server computer 400 is represented as a single
computer in FIG. 4 for the sake of clarity. However, e-commerce
server computer 400 may be embodied in a single computer, or
distributed as multiple computers communicating with one another.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, for example, e-commerce server
computer 400 includes multiple application servers, administration
servers, search servers and load balancers.
[0076] Generally, users of e-commerce server computer 400 subscribe
to the system by providing basic user information including inter
alia name, physical address, e-mail address, billing information,
shipping information, and personal information that may be used for
authenticating the subscriber.
[0077] A merchandise database 460 stores records for each item of
merchandise published by any of merchants 410. Each record includes
(i) a stock keeping unit (SKU) for the item of merchandise, (ii) a
description of the item, (iii) a description of product options for
the item, (iv) a price of the item with and without the product
options, (v) shipping information for the item including shipping
cost, and (vi) the merchant who provides the item. The SKU
functions as a unique identifier for the item of merchandise. The
description generally includes a thumbnail image of the item and a
text description.
[0078] Merchants 410 may also be providers of services and,
accordingly, the items of merchandise published by such merchants
are in the nature of services.
[0079] User interface 440 enables users to browse merchandise
database 460, search for desired items and services, and purchase
desired items and services on-line. Merchant interface 450 enables
merchants to continually add new items of merchandise to
merchandise database 460, remove old items of merchandise, and
modify existing items of merchandise.
[0080] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,
users may create and purchase multi-selection gifts for other
users. A multi-selection gift has a set of items or services from
one or more merchants, from which the gift recipient may select one
or more of the items of services as his gift. Specifically, a
multi-selection gift includes (i) a gift recipient, (ii) a
plurality of merchandise items SKUs, and (iii) at least one rule
constraining the gift recipient's selections. Examples of gift
selection rules are inter alia as follows. [0081] Allow the
recipient to select all items from the multi-selection gift. [0082]
Allow the recipient to select only one item from the
multi-selection gift. [0083] Allow the recipient to select up to a
specified limit of items from the multi-selection gift. [0084]
Allow the recipient to select items from the multi-selection gift
up to a specified total cost. [0085] Define groupings of the items,
each group including at least one of the items from the
multi-selection gift, and allow the recipient to select one of the
groups. [0086] Logical AND/OR combinations of two or more of the
above selection rules.
[0087] Multi-selection gifts are stored in an e-gift database 470.
An e-gift generator 480 enables gift giver 420 to generate a
multi-selection gift. For example, e-gift generator 470 may employ
a user Interface such as that shown in FIG. 1 to enable gift giver
420 to generate his multi-selection gift. When gift giver 420
generates the gift, an e-gift support service 485 notifies gift
recipient 430 and provides him with an identifier for the gift. The
identifier for the gift is used to locate the record for the gift
within e-gift database 470.
[0088] Gift recipient 430 may or may not be a subscriber to
e-commerce server computer 400. In one embodiment of the present
invention, gift recipient 430 may be required to subscribe in order
to redeem his multi-selection gift. In another embodiment of the
present invention, gift recipient 430 may be enabled to redeem his
gift without subscribing to the system.
[0089] E-gift support service 485 enables gift recipient 430 to
redeem his gift. Gift recipient 430 presents his gift identifier to
e-gift redeemer 490. E-gift support service 485 may authenticate
gift recipient 430 based on subscriber information provided by
e-gift recipient 430 at the time of subscription to e-commerce
server 400, or by one or more criteria specified by gift giver
420.
[0090] In accordance with the present invention, an e-gift redeemer
490 interactively guides gift recipient 430 in choosing items from
his multi-selection gift in compliance with the rules set by gift
giver 420. For example, e-gift redeemer 490 may employ a user
interface such as that shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B to guide gift
recipient 430 in making his gift selections. In accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention, user interface 440 displays
the gift items with "Select" controls 250 that the recipient can
independently select or un-select. If gift giver 420 has indicated
that gift recipient 430 may select all of the gift items, then all
of the "Select" controls are auto-selected by default. Gift
recipient 430 may then un-select items that he does not want.
[0091] If gift giver 420 has indicated that gift recipient 430 may
select up to a prescribed number of items, then all of the "Select"
controls are un-selected by default. User interface 440 displays a
counter 251 so that gift recipient may easily see how many
selections he has made, or how many permitted selections
remain.
[0092] If gift giver 420 has Indicated that gift recipient 430 may
select items up to a prescribed cost, then all of the "Select"
controls are un-selected by default. User interface 440 displays a
counter 261 with a running unspent balance, or alternatively a
running total of current cost. In one embodiment of the present
invention, gift giver 420 may designate that any unspent amount
below the prescribed cost be automatically converted into a
multi-vendor gift certificate. In another embodiment of the present
invention, gift recipient 430 has an option of covering the
additional cost that the total cost of his selected items exceeds
the prescribed cost by gift giver 420.
[0093] If gift giver 420 has grouped together items of the
multi-selection group into prescribed groupings, then user
interface 440 displays the items grouped together as a single
selection, such as selection 110 in FIG. 2A and selection 220 in
FIG. 2B.
[0094] After gift recipient 430 has made his selection of items
from the multi-selection gift in compliance with the gift's rules,
and confirmed his selections, a transaction manager 495 aggregates
the selected gifts according to merchant. Transaction manager 495
issues purchase orders to merchants 410 according to the aggregated
selected gifts. Transaction manager 495 also issues an invoice for
all of the selected gifts to gift giver 420. The selected gifts are
then shipped to gift recipient 430, and the multi-selection gift is
marked as "redeemed" in e-gift database 470.
[0095] Reference is now made to FIG. 5, which is a simplified block
diagram of various components of the e-commerce system illustrated
in FIG. 4, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. Shown in FIG. 5 are sub-components of e-gift generator
480, e-gift support service 485, e-gift redeemer 490, and
transaction manager 495.
[0096] E-gift generator 480 includes a search engine 505 for
searching merchandise database 460 to locate desired items of
merchandise or desired services. E-gift generator 480 further
includes a gift basket manager 510 for collecting the gift choices
that the gift giver includes in his multi-selection gift. Gift
basket manager 510 manages presentation of the gift choices,
including a display order for the choices, an optional background,
and optional multimedia including music, images and video. E-gift
generator 480 further includes a gift options manager 515 for
generating redemption options; i.e., gift rules. E-gift generator
further includes a checkout manager 520 for providing tools that
enable the gift giver to specify the gift recipient(s), timing and
method of delivery, and personalized greetings and messages.
Finally, e-gift generator 480 includes an order manager 525 for
managing financial details of the gift giver's purchase. Order
manager 525 also obtains merchant coupons and rebate information,
for possible use when the multi-selection gift is redeemed.
[0097] E-gift support service 485 includes tools for ensuing gift
integrity, including inventory checking and gift expiration date.
E-gift support service 485 includes a notifications manager 530 for
notifying the gift recipient that a multi-selection gift has been
sent to him by the gift giver, for notifying the gift giver that
the gift has been redeemed or rejected, for alerting the gift giver
that the recipient has not yet redeemed his gift after a certain
period of time, for enabling the recipient to send a message back
to the gift giver, and for alerting the sender and the recipient if
any of the gift choices are lost due to product unavailability.
E-gift support service 485 also includes an inventory manager 535
for managing the Inventory adjustments associated with the
multi-selection gift. E-gift support service 485 also includes an
e-gift manager 540 for providing tools that enable the gift giver
to manage a sent multi-selection gift, including inter alia
re-addressing the gift, modifying the contents of the gift,
modifying the redemption rules of the gift, cancelling the gift,
re-issuing the gift, and cloning the gift.
[0098] E-gift redeemer 490 includes a gift basket manager 545 for
presenting the gift giver's gift to the recipient, and for
collecting the gift selections made by the recipient. Gift basket
manager 545 manages presentation of the gift choices, including a
display order for the choices, an optional display indicating how
the recipient's current selections compare with constraints defined
by the gift giver, an optional background, and optional multimedia
including music, images and video. E-gift redeemer 490 also
includes a gift options manager 550 for presenting and specifying
product options, as applicable, associated with the recipient's
selected items, such as size, color, and monogramming, as shown in
FIG. 3. E-gift redeemer 490 includes a checkout manager 555 for
obtaining deliver information including at least one physical
address, for optionally obtaining payment information from the gift
recipient to cover any overcharge, and for managing the database
transaction associated with the gift recipient's redemption of his
multi-selection gift.
[0099] Transaction manager 495 includes an invoice manager 560 for
invoicing the gift giver based upon the gift recipient's gift
selections, and an order tracker 565 for tracking the gifts ordered
by the gift recipient.
[0100] Reference is now made to FIG. 6, which is a simplified
flowchart of an overall method for multi-selection gifting, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The method
of FIG. 6 is performed by an e-commerce system, such as e-commerce
computer server 400 of FIG. 4. At step 605 the e-commerce system
receives selections from a gift giver for generating a
multi-selection gift, intended for a designated gift recipient.
Step 605 is described in detail below with reference to FIG. 7. At
step 610 the e-commerce system receives from the gift giver (i)
gift redemption options, also referred to as gift rules, (ii)
payment information, and (iii) notification information.
Notification information includes inter alia recipient addressing,
notification date, gift message, and gift presentation options such
as background, video clips and sound clips. Specifying gift
redemption options at step 610 is described in detail below with
reference to FIG. 9. At step 615, information describing the
generated multi-selection gift is stored within a gift database,
such as e-gift database 470 of FIG. 4. At step 620 the e-commerce
system notifies the gift recipient of his multi-selection gift, and
sends him an identifier that he may present for redemption of his
gift. The gift identifier is used to locate the information for the
multi-selection gift within the gift database. Notification may be
inter alia by way of a link sent in an e-mail or in a text message,
where the link includes an identifier.
[0101] At step 625 the system receives the gift identifier from the
gift recipient, who wishes to redeem his gift, authenticates the
gift recipient, determines that the gift is still redeemable, and
locates the multi-selection gift information within the gift
database. At step 630 the system interactively guides the gift
recipient in selecting one or more items of merchandise from the
items in the multi-selection gift, in accordance with the rules of
the gift as prescribed by the gift giver. Step 630 is described in
detail below with reference to FIGS. 10-14.
[0102] At step 635 the gift recipient specifies product options, as
applicable, for the gifts he selected at step 630. Product options
may include inter alia size, color and monogramming, as shown in
FIG. 3. At step 640 the system aggregates the items selected by the
gift recipient according to merchant. At step 645 the system
generates purchase orders with the gift giver's payment methods and
any applicable coupons and discount codes provided by the gift
giver. It is noted that the gift giver's payment method may vary
from item to item if more than one gift choice is redeemed,
depending upon the merchant's requirements. The system then issues
the purchase orders to the merchants. At step 650 the system issues
an invoice to the gift giver for all of the selected items. At step
655 the selected items are shipped to the gift recipient. The
multi-selection gift is then marked as "redeemed" in the gift
database.
[0103] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the
invoice is issued to the gift giver at step 650, after the gift
recipient has made his gift choice selections to redeem his
multi-selection gift. As such, the gift giver is not billed until
the recipient redeems his gift. As mentioned hereinabove, prior art
gifting technologies, in distinction to the present invention, bill
the gift giver at the time of purchase of his gift.
[0104] Reference is now made to FIG. 7, which is a simplified
flowchart of a method for selecting a list of gift choices to be
included in a multi-selection gift, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart of FIG. 7
corresponds to step 605 from FIG. 6. The flowchart of FIG. 7 is
preferably implemented by a user interface, such as the user
interface illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0105] At step 705 the gift giver finds an item or an item
collection to include in his multi-selection gift. In accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention, the gift giver is
assisted in locating appropriate gift items by search engines,
guided navigation, historical and demographic data, shopping
assistants, and other such tools. In addition, pre-built lists of
gifts are presented to the gift giver for possible use. Such
pre-built lists may be generated by merchants, other customers, by
operators of e-commerce system 400, and by free-lance gift
creators. Items from pre-built lists may be selectively excluded by
the gift giver from the multi-selection gift.
[0106] At step 710 the gift giver adds the item or item collection
to the gift list for his multi-selection gift. At step 715 the gift
giver decides whether or not to group the items in the
multi-selection gift into one or more groups. Referring to FIG. 1,
grouping is accomplished by using group and un-group controls 171
and 172, respectively.
[0107] If the gift giver decides to group items, then at step 720
the gift giver generates the groups. Each group can have 1 to N
items, where N is the total number of items in the gift list. Any
item in the gift list can be a member of one or more groups. The
gift list may have both grouped and ungrouped selections. The
default for a multi-selection gift is for the items to be
un-grouped. The gift giver may specify whether or not the gift
recipient can break apart, or "un-group" a group selection when he
redeems his multi-selection gift. Referring again to FIG. 1, a
control 190 may be set by the gift giver to enable the gift
recipient to break apart a group of items.
[0108] In this regard, reference is now made to FIG. 8, which is a
simplified illustration of a multi-selection gift 800, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Gift 800
includes a gift list, each member of the gift list being a single
item or a group of items. The multi-selection gift 800 of FIG. 8
includes un-grouped individual product/service items 810 and
grouped product/service items 820. The multi-service gift shown in
FIG. 1 has such un-grouped and grouped gift choices. For example,
grouped items may include a matching jacket and pants, and
un-grouped items may include a variety of shirts and ties. The
items in a group may be from different merchants. Moreover, groups
can be nested as groups and sub-groups.
[0109] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the
multi-selection gift illustrated in FIG. 8 is exemplary, and is not
meant to imply any specific limitations or storage configurations
or presentation methods.
[0110] Reference is now made to FIG. 9, which is a simplified
flowchart of a method for generating gift redemption options for a
multi-selection gift, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention. The flowchart of FIG. 9 corresponds to step 610
from FIG. 6. At step 905 a determination is made whether the gift
list for the multi-selection gift, as generated via the flowchart
of FIG. 7, has only a single choice. A single choice may be either
a single un-grouped item, or a single group of items. If so, then
processing proceeds to step A for post-processing, as described
hereinbelow, and then to step 910 where the gift is sent as a
simple gift. Redemption of a simple gift is described below with
reference to FIG. 10.
[0111] If the multi-selection gift has more than a single choice,
as determined at step 905, then the gift giver decides at step 915
whether or not the gift recipient can select all choices in the
gift list. If so, processing proceeds to step A for
post-processing, and then to step 920 where the gift is sent as a
multi-item gift. Redemption of a multi-item gift is described below
with reference to FIG. 11.
[0112] If the gift giver decides at step 915 that the gift
recipient cannot select all choices, then the gift giver decides at
step 925 whether the gift recipient is to be limited to selecting a
maximum number, N>1, of choices in the gift list. Referring back
to FIG. 1, the gift giver has designated a maximum of N=2
selections. If the gift giver does not want to permit more than one
selection, then at step 930 the parameter N, corresponding to the
number of choices that the gift recipient may make, is set to N=1.
Processing then proceeds to step A for post-processing, and then to
step 935 where the gift is sent as an N-limited gift (with N=1 in
this case). Redemption of an N-limited gift is described below with
reference to FIG. 12.
[0113] If the gift giver decides at step 925 that the recipient may
select up to N>1 choices in the gift list, then at step 940 the
gift giver decides whether to set a limit on the total cost of the
items selected. Referring back to FIG. 1, the gift giver may
designate a maximum total cost, such as $300. In accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention, a maximum total cost figure is
auto-suggested to the gift giver based on the items currently
included in the multi-selection gift. If the gift giver does not
want to limit the total cost, then at step 945 the parameter N
above is set to the limit designated by the gift giver. Processing
then proceeds to step A for post-processing, and then to step 935
where the gift is sent as an N-limited gift. Redemption of an
N-limited gift is described below with reference to FIG. 12.
[0114] If the gift giver decides at step 940 to set a limit on the
total cost of the items selected, than at step 950 the gift giver
designates a cost limit. At step 955 the parameter N above is set
to the total number of choices in the gift list. At step 960 the
gift giver decides whether or not the balance of the
multi-selection gift may be converted to a gift certificate.
Referring back to FIG. 1, the gift giver may click on a control 141
in order to have the unused balance of the gift amount converted
into a gift certificate for the gift recipient. If the gift giver
does not want to have the unused balance converted into a gift
certificate, then processing proceeds to step A for
post-processing, and at step 965 the gift is sent to the recipient
as a cost-limited gift. Redemption of cost-limited gifts is
described below with reference to FIG. 13.
[0115] Finally, if the gift giver decides at step 960 that the
balance of the multi-selection gift may be converted to a gift
certificate, then at step 970 the gift is sent as a zero-balance
cost-limited gift. Redemption of zero-balance cost-limited gifts is
described below with reference to FIG. 14.
[0116] Post-processing step A includes three sub-steps, as follows.
At step 975 the gift giver provides delivery information, including
timing and method of delivery, for one or more gift recipients. The
gift giver may choose from a variety of delivery media, including
inter alia a physical gift card, e-mail delivery and text message
delivery. At step 980 the gift giver optionally adds gift
presentation features such as image background, video clips and
sound clips. The gift giver also optionally adds one or more
personalized greetings and messages to his gift. At step 985 the
gift giver provides his payment information, to pay for the
multi-selection gift when it is redeemed.
[0117] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the
decision sequence Illustrated in FIG. 9 is exemplary, and is not
intended to imply a fixed decision sequence. Moreover, not all
decisions in FIG. 9 and their related processes need be
implemented, and additional decisions and related processes may be
used instead of or in addition to those illustrated in FIG. 9.
[0118] Reference is now made to FIG. 10, which is a simplified
flowchart of a method for redeeming a simple multi-selection gift,
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The
flowchart of FIG. 10 corresponds to one case of step 630 from FIG.
6. At step 905 the simple gift is displayed to the gift recipient.
The one choice of the simple gift is selected by default. At step
1010 a determination is made whether the simple gift is a group of
items. If not, no further selections are required on the part of
the gift recipient, and the gift is redeemed by proceeding to step
635 of FIG. 6. If the simple gift is a group of items, as
determined at step 1010, then a determination is made at step 1015
whether the recipient is able to un-group the items; i.e., whether
the gift giver has given the gift recipient the option of
un-grouping the items. The ability to un-group items is generally
indicated by an un-group control, such as control 280 shown in
FIGS. 2A and 2B.
[0119] If the recipient does not have the option of un-group the
grouped items, then no further selections are required on the part
of the gift recipient, and the gift is redeemed by proceeding to
step 635 of FIG. 6.
[0120] If the recipient is able to un-group the items, as
determined at step 1015, then a determination is made at step 1020
whether the recipient wishes to do so.
[0121] If so, then the items in the group are un-grouped, the gift
then becomes a multi-item gift, and processing proceeds to step
630B of FIG. 6, for redemption of a multi-item gift. If not, then
no further selections are required on the part of the gift
recipient, and the gift is redeemed by proceeding to step 635 of
FIG. 6.
[0122] Reference is now made to FIG. 11, which is a simplified
flowchart of a method for redeeming a multi-item gift, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The
flowchart of FIG. 11 corresponds to one case of step 630 from FIG.
6. At step 1105 the multi-item gift is displayed to the gift
recipient. By default, all items in the gift are selected.
[0123] The recipient is interactively guided in making his gift
selections. At step 1110 the gift recipient reviews the next choice
in the gift list. At step 1115 a determination is made whether the
choice being reviewed is part of a group of items.
[0124] If not, then at step 1120 the recipient decides whether to
leave the gift choice selected, or else un-select it. At step 1125
a determination is made whether or not there are more gift choices
to review. If so, processing returns to step 1110. If not,
processing advances to step 635 of FIG. 6.
[0125] If the gift choice being reviewed by the gift recipient is
part of a group of items, as determined at step 1115, then a
further determination is made at step 1130 whether or not the
recipient may un-group the items grouped together; i.e., whether or
not the gift giver has enabled the gift recipient to un-group the
items.
[0126] If not, the method moves to step 1120 as above. If so, the
gift recipient decides at step 1135 whether or not he wishes to
un-group the group of items. Generally, the gift recipient
un-groups a group of items by clicking on an un-group control, such
as control 280 in FIGS. 2A and 2B.
[0127] If not, the method moves to step 1120 as above. If so, the
items in the group are un-grouped, and marked by default as
selected. The method then returns to step 1110, for sequentially
reviewing the now un-grouped items.
[0128] Reference is now made to FIG. 12, which is a simplified
flowchart of a method for redeeming an N-limited multi-selection
gift, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
The flowchart of FIG. 12 corresponds to one case of step 630 from
FIG. 6. At step 1205 an N-limited gift is displayed to the gift
recipient. By default, none of the items in the gift are selected.
Referring back to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the four selection boxes
corresponding to the four gift choices are initially all
un-selected.
[0129] The recipient is interactively guided in making his gift
selections. At step 1210 the gift recipient reviews the next choice
in the gift list. At step 1215 a determination is made whether or
not the gift choice being reviewed is part of a group of items. If
not, then at step 1220 the recipient decides whether or not to
select the gift choice. The recipient selects a gift choice by
clicking in the corresponding select box, such as select boxes 250
of FIGS. 2A and 2B. At step 1225 a selection counter, such as
counter 251 of FIG. 2A, is updated to reflect the number of gifts
the recipient has already selected. The selection counter may be a
running total of the number of gifts that the recipient has
selected thus far, or a running balance of the number of selections
remaining, or both.
[0130] At step 1230 a determination is made whether or not the
designated limit on the number of selections has been reached. If
so, at step 1235 the recipient is informed of such, and advised
that he has the option of selecting additional items if he agrees
to cover the additional cost beyond the designated gift limit. At
step 1240 a determination is made whether or not the recipient has
finished reviewing all of the gift choices.
[0131] If not, then the method returns to step 1210 to process the
next gift choice. If so, then processing continues at step 635 of
FIG. 6. If the limit on the number of selections made thus far has
not been reached, as determined at step 1230, then the method
advances directly from step 1230 to step 1240.
[0132] If the gift giver has included multiple quantities of items
in a multi-selection gift, such as by entering quantities greater
than one in boxes 180 of FIG. 1, then the gift recipient may select
one or more units of such items, up to the quantities set by the
gift giver. In one embodiment of the present invention, each unit
of an item selected counts as one selection. In another embodiment
of the present invention, selecting as many units as allowed by the
gift giver counts as a single selection.
[0133] If the gift choice currently being reviewed by the gift
recipient is part of a group of items, as determined at step 1215,
then at step 1245 a further determination is made whether or not
the items of the group may be un-grouped; i.e., whether or not the
gift giver has enabled the gift recipient to un-group the
items.
[0134] If not, then the method moves to step 1220 as above. If so,
then at step 1250 the recipient decides whether or not to un-group
the group if items.
[0135] If not, then the method moves to step 1220 as above. If so,
then at step 1255 the items of the group are un-grouped as
individual items and marked as un-selected. In one embodiment of
the present invention, if the gift giver un-groups a grouped gift
choice, then subsequent selections of any number of those items, up
to the full set of items belonging to the original group still
counts as only one gift choice. In an alternative embodiment of the
present invention, such subsequent selections count as separate
gift choices. The method then returns to step 1210, to sequentially
process the now un-grouped items.
[0136] When the recipient agrees to cover the additional cost of
his gift selections, above the limit designated by the gift giver,
then the selection counter used at step 1225 may indicate the
amount of cost that the recipient has to cover if he wishes to
proceed with his current selections.
[0137] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, step
1235 may also provide an option for having the gift giver arrange
to cover the additional cost. Specifically, a request to the gift
giver is sent via e-gift support service 485, with release of the
gift order delayed until approval is given by the gift giver via
e-gift support service 485. If the gift giver denies the request,
the gift order is cancelled and the gift recipient is given another
opportunity to redeem his gift.
[0138] Reference is now made to FIG. 13, which is a simplified
flowchart of a method for redeeming a cost limited gift, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The
flowchart of FIG. 13 corresponds to one case of step 630 from FIG.
6. At step 1305 the cost-limited gift is displayed to the gift
recipient. By default, none of the gift choices are selected.
[0139] The recipient is interactively guided in making his gift
selections. At step 1310 the recipient reviews the next gift choice
from the gift list generated by the gift giver in the flowchart of
FIG. 7. At step 1315 a determination is made whether or not the
current gift choice being reviewed is part of a group of items. If
not, then at step 1320 the gift recipient decides whether or not to
select the current gift choice. At step 1325 a cost counter is
updated, based on the recipient's selections thus far. The cost
counter may be a running total cost for the currently selected
goods, or a running balance of the amount left for spending such as
counter 261 of FIG. 2B. At step 1330 a determination is made
whether or not the designated cost limit has been reached.
[0140] If so, at step 1335 the recipient is informed of such, and
advised that he has the option of selecting additional items if he
agrees to cover the additional cost beyond the designated gift
limit. At step 1340 a determination is made whether or not the
recipient has finished reviewing the gift choices.
[0141] If so, then processing proceeds to step 635 of FIG. 6. If
not, then processing returns to step 1310 to review the next gift
choice. If it is determined at step 1330 that the designated cost
limit has not been reached, then processing advances directly from
step 1330 to step 1340.
[0142] If it is determined at step 1315 that the current gift
choice being reviewed by the recipient is part of a group of items,
then a further determination is made at step 1345 whether or not
the recipient has the ability to un-group the items; i.e., whether
or not the gift giver has enabled the recipient to un-group.
[0143] If not, then the method proceeds to step 1320 as above. If
so, then the recipient decides at step 1350 whether or not he
wishes to un-group the group of items.
[0144] If not, then the method proceeds to step 1320 as above. If
so, then the items of the group are un-grouped at step 1355, and
each individual item is marked as un-selected. The method then
returns to step 1310, where the now un-grouped items are
sequentially reviewed.
[0145] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the
cost counter used at step 1325 to ensure that the gift recipient
does not go over the gift limit may be implemented so as to hide
the cost of the gift items. In this alternative embodiment, the
cost counter only indicates the overage by which the total cost of
the recipient's current selections exceeds the limit designated by
the gift giver. When the recipient agrees to cover the additional
cost of his gift selections, then the indicated overage is also the
amount of cost that the recipient has to cover if he wishes to
proceed with his current selections.
[0146] As indicated above with reference to FIG. 12, in another
alternative embodiment of the present invention, step 1335 may also
provide an option for having the gift giver arrange to cover the
additional cost.
[0147] Reference is now made to FIG. 14, which is a simplified
flowchart of a method for redeeming a zero-balance cost-limited
gift, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
The flowchart of FIG. 14 corresponds to one case of step 630 from
FIG. 6. At step 1405 zero-balance cost-limited gift is displayed to
the recipient. By default, none of the gift choices are selected,
and an auto-generated gift certificate is generated. The amount of
the auto-generated gift certificate may be left empty, or filled in
dynamically with the current balance, which initially is the entire
cost limit.
[0148] The method interactively guides the recipient in making his
selections. At step 1410 the next choice in the gift list is
reviewed by the recipient for possible selection. At step 1415 a
determination is made whether or not the choice currently being
reviewed is part of a group of items.
[0149] If not, then at step 1420 the recipient decides whether or
not to select the gift choice. At step 1425 a cost counter is
updated to reflect the cost of the gift selections the recipient
has made thus far. The cost counter may be a running total of the
cost of the gift selections made, or a running balance of the
remaining amount left to be spent. At step 1430 a determination is
made whether or not the cost limit designated by the gift giver has
been reached.
[0150] If so, at step 1435 the recipient is informed of such, and
advised that he has the option of selecting additional items if he
agrees to cover the additional cost beyond the designated gift
limit. At step 1440 the gift certificate for converting the balance
is set to an amount of $0, reflecting that no balance is left. The
method then advances to step 1450 where a determination is made
whether or not the gift recipient has finished reviewing the gift
choices.
[0151] If so, then processing proceeds to step 635 of FIG. 6. If
not, then the method returns to step 1410 where the next gift
choice is reviewed. If it is determined at step 1430 that the cost
limit has not been reached, then at step 1445 the unused balance is
applied to the gift certificate. The gift certificate is marked as
selected. As the recipient continues to select gift choices the
amount of the gift certificate is changed to reflect the unused
balance. If the recipient un-selects all of the gift choices, then
the amount of the gift certificate may be left empty, or may
reflect the entire limit set by the gift giver.
[0152] If the gift giver has Included multiple quantities of items
in a multi-selection gift, such as by entering quantities greater
than one in boxes 180 of FIG. 1, then the gift recipient may select
one or more units of such items, up to the quantities set by the
gift giver. By selecting fewer units than the quantities set by the
gift giver, the unused balance, and hence the gift certificate, is
higher.
[0153] If it is determined at step 1415 that the current gift
choice being reviewed is part of a group of items, then at step
1455 a further determination is made whether or not the gift
recipient is able to un-group the group items; i.e., whether or not
the gift giver has enabled the gift recipient to un-group.
[0154] If not, then the method proceeds to step 1420 as above. If
so, then at step 1460 the recipient decides whether or not he
wishes to un-group the group of items.
[0155] If not, then the method proceeds to step 1420 as above. If
so, than at step 1465 the items of the group are un-grouped, and
the method proceeds to step 1410 where the now un-grouped items may
be reviewed in sequence.
[0156] As mentioned above with respect to FIG. 13, in an
alternative embodiment of the present invention, the cost counter
used at step 1425 to ensure that the gift recipient does not go
over the gift limit may be implemented so as to hide the cost of
the gift items. In this alternative embodiment, the cost counter
only indicates the overage by which the total cost of the
recipient's current selections exceeds the limit designated by the
gift giver. When the recipient agrees to cover the additional cost
of his gift selections, then the indicated overage is also the
amount of cost that the recipient has to cover if he wishes to
proceed with his current selections.
[0157] In another alternative embodiment of the present invention,
step 1435 may also provide an option for having the gift giver
arrange to cover the additional cost.
[0158] FIGS. 11-14 described hereinabove correspond to methods of
gift redemption for different types of multi-selection gifts. These
methods enable the gift recipient to sequentially review the list
of gift choices in his multi-selection gift, and select some or all
of the choices, while remaining within the constraints set by the
gift giver. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
although the methods of FIGS. 11-14 advance through the list of
gift choices sequentially, the gift recipient may go back and
un-select gift choice selections that he made earlier. Thus, if the
gift recipient finds that his desired selections exceed the limits
set by the gift giver, the recipient may un-select previously made
selections in order to be able to add new selections. Similarly, if
the gift recipient finds that a gift choice he sees at a later
stage in the review sequence is a desirable substitute for a gift
choice he selected earlier, the recipient may undo his earlier
selection. Thus, although the methods of FIGS. 11-14 guide the gift
recipient through his gift choices in a sequential fashion, this
does not limit the gift recipient from making selections out of
order and from changing previously made selections.
[0159] The recipient has the ability to un-group items that were
grouped together by the gift giver. The recipient also has limited
ability to re-group items, but he can only do so if the items being
re-grouped where originally grouped together by the gift giver.
Thus the recipient can re-group all of an original group of items
or a subset thereof, but cannot generate new groupings.
[0160] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the
systems and methods of the present invention may be implemented
within a variety of server-client network architectures. In this
regard, reference is now made to FIG. 15, which is a simplified
block diagram of a sample server-client architecture for
implementing multi-selection gifts, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention. On the server side, the
architecture in FIG. 15 includes application servers 1511-1514
managed by load balancers 1520, administration servers 1530, search
servers 1540, and three databases. The databases include a
transaction database for recording purchase and payment information
1551, including the data from e-gift database 470, a product
database 1552 for storing product catalogue information, including
the data from merchandise database 460 in FIG. 4, and a tracking
database 1553 for tracking customer orders. Application server 1511
manages transaction database 1551, application server 1512 manages
product database 1552, application server 1513 manages tracking
database 1553, and application server 1554 manages search servers
1540. All of these server components are subsumed in e-commerce
server computer 400.
[0161] On the client side, the architecture in FIG. 15 includes
merchant client computers 1560, including computers 410 from FIG.
4, gift giver client computers 1570, including computer 420, and
gift recipient client computers 1580, including computer 430.
Merchant client computers 1560 have two-way connections with
administration servers 1530. Gift giver client computers 1570 have
two-way connections with administration servers 1520 and with load
balancers 1520. Gift recipient client computers 1580 have one-way
connections with administration servers 1520 and two-way
connections with load balancers 1520.
[0162] In reading the above description, persons skilled in the art
will realize that there are many apparent variations that can be
applied to the methods and systems described. In a very general
setting, the multi-selection gift of the present invention
corresponds to a set of gift choices C={c.sub.1, c.sub.2, . . . ,
c.sub.n}, n>1, and the rules set by the gift giver correspond to
at least one constraint of the form f(S).ltoreq.x, where f is a
real-valued function of subsets SC. To constrain the maximum number
of gift choices that may be selected, the function f(S) is defined
as the number of gift choices in S. To constrain the total cost of
the gift choices that may be selected, the function f(S) is defined
as the total cost of the gift choices in S. In these cases, the
function f is of the form f(S)=.SIGMA.(g(c): c.epsilon.S) for a
real-valued function g of choices c.epsilon.C. If g(c)=1 for all
c.epsilon.C, then f(S) is the number of choices in S. If g(c)=the
price of choice c, then f(S) is the total cost of the gift choices
in S.
[0163] The function f(S) is flexible, and may be defined so as to
take into consideration price discounts when combinations of items
are purchased from the same merchant, delivery expenses and taxes.
In general, the only assumption that can be made about f(S) is that
f is monotone increasing in the sense that
f(S.sub.1).ltoreq.f(S.sub.2) whenever S.sub.1 is a subset of
S.sub.2, S.sub.1S.sub.2.
[0164] Monotonicity enables a sequential selection algorithm, such
as the algorithms of FIGS. 11-14 which sequentially process gift
choices, to find subsets SC that satisfy the at least one
constraint prescribed by the gift giver. Specifically, starting
with the empty set S=O, corresponding to all gift choices being
un-selected, the subset S is expanded by sequentially adding
additional gift choices c.epsilon.C to S one at a time, while
counters are maintained of the constraint values f(S) for the
current subset S. As long as the constraint values f(S) remain
within the designated constraints, x, elements c.epsilon.C may be
added to S.
[0165] From the above general setting it will be appreciated by
those skilled in the art that the present invention has widespread
application to many diverse environments where a user has to select
from among a list of choices, and where his selections are subject
to prescribed constraints.
[0166] In the foregoing specification, the invention has been
described and illustrated with reference to specific exemplary
embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that the specific
exemplary embodiments are not intended to be limiting, and various
modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without
departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set
forth in the appended claims. Accordingly, the specification and
drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a
restrictive sense.
* * * * *