U.S. patent application number 16/562846 was filed with the patent office on 2019-12-26 for personalized webpage gifting system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Gift Card Impressions LLC. Invention is credited to Karl Joseph Geisler, Brett R. Glass, Nicole E. Glass, Dominique Michelle Pierron O'Hara, Elizabeth Ann Trimble.
Application Number | 20190392508 16/562846 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49671470 |
Filed Date | 2019-12-26 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190392508 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Glass; Brett R. ; et
al. |
December 26, 2019 |
PERSONALIZED WEBPAGE GIFTING SYSTEM
Abstract
A personalized webpage gifting system is provided that includes
a server that generates a graphical user interface (GUI) on a
computing device for receiving recipient information associated
with a recipient and one or more participants from a host. Using
this information, the server creates a personal uniform resource
locator (URL) based upon at least a portion of the recipient
information, and generates a personalized webpage addressed by said
personal uniform resource locator, the personalized webpage
comprising personalized content for the recipient received from the
host and the one or more participants.
Inventors: |
Glass; Brett R.; (Kansas
City, MO) ; Glass; Nicole E.; (Kansas City, MO)
; Geisler; Karl Joseph; (Kansas City, MO) ;
Pierron O'Hara; Dominique Michelle; (Kansas City, MO)
; Trimble; Elizabeth Ann; (Overland Park, KS) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Gift Card Impressions LLC |
Kansas City |
MO |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49671470 |
Appl. No.: |
16/562846 |
Filed: |
September 6, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13964895 |
Aug 12, 2013 |
10430865 |
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16562846 |
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13753453 |
Jan 29, 2013 |
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13964895 |
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61737731 |
Dec 14, 2012 |
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61592320 |
Jan 30, 2012 |
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61698410 |
Sep 7, 2012 |
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61737729 |
Dec 14, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/06 20130101;
G06Q 30/0641 20130101; G06Q 20/12 20130101; G06Q 20/387 20130101;
G06Q 50/01 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/06 20060101
G06Q030/06 |
Claims
1. A personalized gifting system comprising: a server in
communication with a computing device and comprising at least one
processor; and an application stored in at least one memory and
executable by the at least one processor of the server for
generating a graphical user interface (GUI) on the computing device
to: receive, from the GUI, recipient information associated with a
recipient from a user of the computing device; receive, from the
GUI, at least one user-supplied audio, video, textual, and
photographic content from the user; receive, from the GUI, a
monetary amount to be associated with a gift card from the user;
and transmit the at least one user-supplied audio, video, textual,
and photographic content and the gift card to the recipient.
2. The personalized gifting system of claim 1, wherein the gift
card comprises an electronic gift card (e-gift Card), the
application further executable to electronically transmit the
e-gift card and the at least one user-supplied audio, video,
textual, and photographic content to the recipient.
3. The personalized gifting system of claim 2, wherein the
application is further executable to transmit the e-gift card and
the at least one user-supplied audio, video, textual, and
photographic content as an element of a personalized webpage that
is personalized according to the recipient.
4. The personalized gifting system of claim 1, wherein the
application is further executable to transmit at least a portion of
the at least one user-supplied audio, video, textual, and
photographic content to the recipient prior to transmitting the at
least one gift card to the recipient, the portion of the at least
one user-supplied audio, video, textual, and photographic content
comprising teaser information associated with the gift card to be
transmitted to the recipient.
5. The personalized gifting system of claim 1, wherein the memory
stores a plurality of video templates, the application further
executable to: receive, from the GUI, selection of at least one
video template from the user; combine the at least one
user-supplied audio, video, textual, and photographic content with
the selected video template; and transmit the combined at least one
user-supplied audio, video, textual, and photographic content and
the selected video template to the recipient.
6. A personalized gifting method comprising the steps of:
generating, a graphical user interface (GUI) for receiving
recipient information associated with a recipient and one or more
participants from a host; receiving, from the GUI, the recipient
information associated with the recipient from a user of the
computing device; receiving, from the GUI, at least one of a
user-supplied audio, video, textual, and photographic content;
receiving, from the GUI, information associated with a merchant of
a gift card and a monetary amount to be associated with the gift
card from the user; and facilitating transmit of the at least one
user-supplied audio, video, textual, and photographic content and
the gift card to the recipient.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of
electronically transmitting the gift card and the at least one
user-supplied audio, video, textual, and photographic content to
the recipient, wherein the gift card comprises an electronic gift
card (e-gift card).
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of
electronically transmitting the e-gift card and the user-supplied
content using at least one of an email message or a short messaging
service (SMS) message.
9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of
transmitting the e-gift card and the at least one user-supplied
audio, video, textual, and photographic content as an element of a
personalized webpage that is personalized according to the
recipient.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the GUI is configured for
receiving, from the user, one or more administrative operations
associated with the personalized webpage.
11. The method of claim 6, wherein the gift card is a physical gift
card.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of
facilitating generation of a gift card holder; and facilitating the
transmission of the physical gift card and the gift card holder to
the recipient.
13. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of
transmitting at least a portion of the at least one user-supplied
audio, video, textual, and photographic content to the recipient
prior to transmitting the gift card to the recipient, the portion
of the at least one user-supplied audio, video, textual, and
photographic content comprising teaser information associated with
the gift card to be transmitted to the recipient.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the portion of the at least one
user-supplied audio, video, textual, and photographic content is
electronically transmitted using at least one of an email message
or a short messaging service (SMS) message.
15. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:
receiving, from the GUI, selection of at least one video template
from the user; combining the at least one user-supplied audio,
video, textual, and photographic content with the selected video
template; and transmitting the combined at least one user-supplied
audio, video, textual, and photographic content and the selected
video template to the recipient.
16. The method of claim 6, wherein the user-supplied content is
received by interfacing with one or more peripheral devices of the
computing device.
17. A personalized gifting method comprising the steps of:
generating a graphical user interface (GUI) for receiving recipient
information associated with a recipient and one or more
participants from a host; receiving, from the GUI, the recipient
information associated with the recipient from a user of the
computing device; receiving, from the GUI, at least one of a
user-supplied audio, video, textual, and photographic content from
a plurality of users; compositing the received at least one
user-supplied audio, video, textual, and photographic content into
a single sequential message; receiving, from the GUI, information
associated with a merchant of a gift card and a monetary amount to
be associated with the gift card from the user; and transmitting
the sequential message and the gift card to the recipient.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein one of the plurality of users
is the host and a rest of the plurality of users are participant
users, and wherein the GUI is configured for receiving, from the
host, one or more administrative operations associated with a
personalized webpage that is personalized according to the
recipient.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the gift card is an e-gift
card, and further comprising transmitting the e-gift card and the
sequential message as an element of the personalized webpage.
20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:
receiving, from the GUI, selection of at least one video template
from the user; combining the sequential message with the selected
video template; and transmitting the combined sequential message
and the selected video template to the recipient.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/964,895, filed Aug. 12, 2013; which is a
continuation-in-part U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/753,453,
filed Jan. 29, 2013; which claims the benefit of the U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 61/592,320, filed Jan. 30, 2012;
U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/698,410, filed Sep. 7,
2012; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/737,729, filed
Dec. 14, 2012; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
61/737,731, filed Dec. 14, 2012, the disclosures of which are
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to computing systems, and
more particularly, to a personalized gifting system that includes a
webpage personalized for a recipient and a technique for supplying
user-supplied content to be transmitted to the recipient along with
a gift card.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Transaction cards, stored value cards, or gift cards, as
they are commonly called based upon their intended use, have become
popular gifts. Gift cards typically comprise a stored value card
whereby a certain cash equivalent value is encoded upon a magnetic
strip applied to the surface of the card. This stored value may be
determined by the vendor prior to packaging and display for sale or
may be selected at the point of sale by the purchaser and loaded by
the cashier using a magnetic card reader/writer. As an alternative
to a magnetic strip, a transaction card may use a bar code to link
the card to an account by which the associated value is stored in a
computer database. Gift cards are typically provided with a generic
and impersonal design, typically identifying the associated
merchant for which the card may be used to purchase merchandise,
and therefore are not personalized in view of the intended
recipient. Gift card holders may be used to augment the gift of a
transaction card by providing a surface for displaying decorations,
images, or messages.
[0004] Gift cards are often presented for sale on display racks in
stores, each card or packet of cards being hung upon a display
stand peg. It is also known to provide a selection of gift cards
for purchase online through a commercial webpage. Such webpages may
allow an online purchaser to select among gift cards offered by a
plurality of vendors, make selections as to monetary value, and
direct transmittal of the selected gift card or cards to the
address of an intended recipient.
SUMMARY
[0005] According to one aspect, a personalized webpage gifting
system is provided that includes a server that generates a
graphical user interface (GUI) on a computing device for receiving
recipient information associated with a recipient and one or more
participants from a host. Using this information, the server
creates a personal uniform resource locator (URL) based upon at
least a portion of the recipient information, and generates a
personalized webpage addressed by said personal uniform resource
locator, the personalized webpage comprising personalized content
for the recipient received from the host and the one or more
participants.
[0006] According to another aspect, a method includes generating a
graphical user interface (GUI) for receiving recipient information
associated with a recipient and one or more participants from a
host. Using this information, the method creates a personal uniform
resource locator (URL) based upon at least a portion of the
recipient information, and generates a personalized webpage
addressed by said personal uniform resource locator, the
personalized webpage comprising personalized content for the
recipient received from the host and the one or more
participants.
[0007] According to yet another aspect, software instructions
executable on a computing system generate a graphical user
interface (GUI) for receiving recipient information associated with
a recipient and one or more participants from a host. Using this
information, the code creates a personal uniform resource locator
(URL) based upon at least a portion of the recipient information,
and generates a personalized webpage addressed by said personal
uniform resource locator, the personalized webpage comprising
personalized content for the recipient received from the host and
the one or more participants.
[0008] According to yet another aspect, a personalized gifting
system includes a server that generates a GUI on a computing device
to receive recipient information associated with a recipient, at
least one of user-supplied audio and/or video content, and
information associated with a merchant of a gift card and a
monetary amount to be associated with the gift card from a user of
the computing device. From this information, the server transmits
at least one of user-supplied audio or video content and the gift
card to the recipient.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a computing system that
includes an example personalized webpage hosting system according
to an aspect of the present disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 1B depicts an embodiment of an example computing device
according to one aspect of the personalized webpage hosting
system.
[0011] FIG. 1C depicts an embodiment of an example data source
according to an aspect of the personalized webpage hosting
system.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a computing system that
includes an example personalized webpage hosting application
according to an aspect of the personalized webpage hosting
system.
[0013] FIG. 3A is a flowchart depicting an example process for
creating a personalized webpage and associated personalized uniform
resource locator (URL) according to an aspect of the gift card
ordering system.
[0014] FIG. 3B is a flowchart depicting an example process of a
PURL management webpage that is generated by the application
according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 3C is a flowchart depicting an example process of a
personalized webpage that is generated by the application according
to the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 3D is a flowchart depicting an example process for
displaying the personalized webpage to the recipient by the
application according to the teachings of the present
disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 4 is an example occasion selection screen displayed by
the personalized webpage hosting system according to an aspect of
the present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 5 is an example gift recipient screen displayed by the
personalized webpage hosting system according to the teachings of
the present disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 6 is an example host information entry screen displayed
by the personalized webpage hosting system according to the
teachings of the present disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 7 an example design selections screen displayed by the
personalized webpage hosting system according to the teachings of
the present disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 8 is an example gift card selection criteria screen
displayed by the personalized webpage hosting system according to
the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 9 is an example occasion detail criteria screen
displayed by the personalized webpage hosting system according to
the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0023] FIG. 10 is an example gift card holder selection types
screen displayed by the personalized webpage hosting system
according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0024] FIG. 11 is an example group video selection criteria screen
displayed by the personalized webpage hosting system according to
the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0025] FIG. 12 is an example gift selection screen for displaying
the personalized webpage to the recipient by the personalized
webpage hosting system according to the teachings of the present
disclosure.
[0026] FIG. 13 is an example gift card customization screen for
displaying the personalized webpage to the recipient by the
personalized webpage hosting system according to the teachings of
the present disclosure.
[0027] FIG. 14 illustrates an example splash screen that is
generated by the personalized webpage hosting system according to
the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0028] FIG. 15 illustrates an example drop-down list of the splash
screen that is generated by the personalized webpage hosting system
according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0029] FIG. 16 illustrates an example detailed occasion screen that
is generated by the personalized webpage hosting system according
to the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0030] FIG. 17 illustrates another example detailed occasion screen
that is generated by the personalized webpage hosting system
according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0031] FIG. 18 illustrates an example details entry screen that is
generated by the personalized webpage hosting system according to
the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0032] FIG. 19 illustrates an example gift card selection screen
that is generated by the personalized webpage hosting system
according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0033] FIG. 20 illustrates an example gift card customization
screen that is generated by the personalized webpage hosting system
according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0034] FIG. 21 illustrates an example group video entry screen that
is generated by the personalized webpage hosting system according
to the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0035] FIG. 22 illustrates an example reveal video creation screen
that is generated by the personalized webpage hosting system
according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0036] FIG. 23 illustrates an example reveal customization screen
that is generated by the personalized webpage hosting system
according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0037] FIG. 24 illustrates an example invitation screen that is
generated by the personalized webpage hosting system according to
the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0038] FIG. 25 illustrates an example guest invitation screen that
is generated by the personalized webpage hosting system according
to the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0039] FIG. 26 illustrates an example home page screen that is
generated by the personalized webpage hosting system according to
the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0040] FIG. 27 illustrates an example gift card selection screen
that is generated by the personalized webpage hosting system
according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0041] FIG. 28 illustrates an example initial splash screen that is
generated by the personalized webpage hosting system according to
the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0042] FIG. 29 illustrates an example recipient home page screen
that is generated by the personalized webpage hosting system
according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0043] FIG. 30A illustrates an example recipient gifting screen
that is generated by the personalized webpage hosting system
according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0044] FIG. 30B illustrates example monikers that are displayed on
the recipient gifting screen according to the teachings of the
present disclosure.
[0045] FIG. 30C illustrates an example merchant offer screen that
is generated by the personalized webpage hosting system according
to the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0046] FIG. 30D illustrates example expanded monikers that are
generated on the merchant offer that is generated by the
personalized webpage hosting system according to the teachings of
the present disclosure.
[0047] FIG. 31 illustrates an example thank you screen that is
generated by the personalized webpage hosting system according to
the teachings of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0048] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which
may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural
and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted
as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a
representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to
variously employ the present invention in virtually any
appropriately detailed structure.
[0049] A system according to the present invention includes a
purchase interface of a system webpage for receiving initial
purchase and personalization information from a purchaser. The
purchase interface is typically a webpage created using HTML (e.g.
HTML5), XML, XHTML, PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor),
JAVASCRIPT.TM., JAVA.TM. and/or equivalent programming languages or
scripts as generally known in the field of art. A user (i.e.
purchaser or organizer) may arrive at the purchase interface via a
link (e.g. html link) provided on a third party webpage, such as a
third party webpage offering gift cards or other goods or services,
or the user may arrive at the purchase interface by directly
accessing a system webpage. Certain embodiments or components of
the purchase interface may be accessible via a browser, mobile
Internet application, or other Internet-accessible software on a
personal computer, smart phone, tablet device, electronic game
device or other electronic device used for Internet access.
[0050] The purchase interface allows the purchaser to select among
several themes or occasions such as birthday, anniversary, wedding,
congratulations, thank you, back to school, new baby, bridal,
graduation, house warming, and including seasonal themes or
occasions such as Christmas, Hanukah, Valentine's Day, Easter,
Mother's Day, Father's Day, Boss's or Administrative Assistant Day.
Selection of a theme or occasion will influence or determine the
options offered to the purchaser by the system during the
transaction.
[0051] The purchaser is prompted to enter information identifying
the purchaser and information identifying the recipient. Such
information may include name, address, telephone number and email
address. If the purchaser uses a device including GPS to access the
system, such as mobile telephone, GPS data may be provided by the
device to the system as a means of providing purchaser location.
Further information entered for the gift recipient may include
gender, age, interests, etc. Providing interests to the system may
include the purchaser entering or selecting among vendors typically
frequented or preferred by the gift recipient. The purchaser is
then prompted to select one or more gift cards or other gifting
means, select or enter monetary amounts, and provide
personalization content, such as photographs or other images, sound
or video files, or one or more messages to the recipient.
[0052] The purchaser may be presented with a choice to either
create a closed celebration or gifting presentation, whereby all
selections are determined during the purchase process, or to create
an open gifting presentation, whereby the purchaser serves as a
celebration organizer, and third parties, and in some embodiments
the recipient, may provide subsequent additional content and
selections.
[0053] The system may provide personalization choices to the
purchaser such as whether to deliver a selected gift card or cards
to the recipient via a gift card holder selected among pre-designed
holders offered for selection, via a holder customized to include
purchaser provided text, images, or sound, or via a video gift card
holder customized by inclusion of a selected or purchaser-provided
video. The video gift card holder can store multiple videos
provided by system users which may then be played sequentially. The
PURL system allows users to load multiple videos limited in total
length only by the storage capacity of the video gift card holder.
The system also allows each participant to view storage capacity
(presented in video run time) remaining on the video gift card
holder. The system will prevent video messages that go beyond that
capacity from being uploaded. In certain embodiments of the system,
the system assigns a set time limit per participant and will not
accept video messages from a participant that exceed that time
limit. The system will also allow participants to view video
messages uploaded by all participants, typically as a draft
compiled video that includes all uploaded content to that
point.
[0054] An email notification message is generated by the system to
the gift recipient and includes a link to a personalized webpage
identified by a PURL. The personalized webpage and PURL are both
created by the system in response to selections and information
provided by the purchaser. Typically, the PURL will incorporate
some portion of the recipient's name or other personal identifier.
In certain instances the identifier may relate to the name of a
company or organization. The personalized webpage may include
information provided by the purchaser such as the recipient's name,
images, messages to the recipient, and information regarding
gifting. Means may be provided for the recipient to add information
to the webpage such as a wish list or a message to third parties
that view or interact with the webpage. Means may also be provided
for third parties, such as friends, relatives, or coworkers to add
information for presentation on the webpage or other use by the
system, such as details of an event (e.g. birthday party), messages
to the recipient, or photos or video clips of an event. Information
generated by the system or provided by the system provider may also
be presented on the webpage such as information identifying gifting
opportunities for a party interacting with the webpage. Information
provided by a gift card vendor, or affiliates of the system
provider or gift card vendor, may also be provided. For example,
offers and advertisements generated by or on behalf of the gift
card vendor or affiliate may be displayed.
[0055] In order to invite third parties to contribute to the
content of the personalized webpage and/or to make gift purchase
selections, a link incorporating the PURL associated with the
webpage may be sent to third parties via email, text message,
social media or similar means. The third party invitation to
participate may include graphics and text designed to encourage
participation and build excitement. The invitation may be sent well
in advance of an alert to the recipient, so that third parties may
make contributions and selections to the webpage, as well as gift
purchases, prior to presentation of the webpage to the recipient.
Alternatively, the recipient may be alerted shortly after creation
of the personalized webpage and PURL so that the recipient may also
influence content and selections, such as by providing a wish list
or other information useful for participants to make gift purchase
decisions.
[0056] The names of parties who are invited by the organizer to
participate in the group gifting occasion, event or celebration,
i.e. to become participants, will be listed publicly on the PURL
page. Those who have contributed a gift will be noted visually to
represent their participation. Information received about
participant participation from the PURL invitation page will be
stored in a relational database (e.g. Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL or
other operable databases) and presented for viewing by all
invitees. PHP or other operable means is used to collect data from
the PURL invitation page and transfer data to the relational
database for storage. Data indicating which invitees have
participated or have not yet participated may be used to send
reminders or notifications (such as reminders for the group gift
cut-off date to those who have not yet responded). A participant
may recommend another party by adding that party's name and/or
email address to a system form for receipt by the system. The
recommendation, including any information provided by the
recommending participant, is provided by the system to the
organizer so that the recommended party may be accepted or rejected
by the organizer for acceptance as a participant. Such acceptance
or rejection is indicated by the organizer to the system via user
interface on a personalized webpage accessible to the organizer The
organizer may accept or reject a recommended party for
participation by activating an element (e.g. check box, radio
button or other known type of selection element) on the webpage. If
a recommended party is accepted, a record corresponding to the
party, such a record typically including an email address, is added
to the database record for participants. In certain embodiments, a
notification may be provided by email or other means to the
organizer when a participant recommends another party for
participation.
[0057] In order to alert the recipient to the personalized webpage,
and to provide a link incorporating the PURL associated with the
webpage, the system may generate an email, text message, social
media message or similar means of communication to the gift
recipient. Alternatively, or in conjunction with the recipient
alert message, a teaser video may be created using content provided
and selected by the purchaser with a link to the teaser video
provided in the message. In one embodiment, the teaser video may be
generated from user-supplied content (e.g., textual, audio,
photographic, and/or video content) that is transmitted at any
suitable time, such as prior to receipt of the PURL by the
recipient.
[0058] A celebration video is a video file which may be provided on
the personalized (PURL-addressed) webpage to extend the celebration
for the recipient by communicating a particular sentiment,
occasion, or gift card brand experience to the recipient. The
celebration video is typically personalized by uploading the
recipient's photo to a system central server. Text content can be
added to certain customizable text fields such as the recipient's
name and the occasion or sentiment. Upon uploading personalized
content, the video is then rendered or composited to include the
personalized content. The recipient is able to share the
celebration video via social media channels by sharing the unique
video URL with their social networks (e.g. FACEBOOK.TM.,
TWITTER.TM., PINTEREST.TM., INSTAGRAM.TM., YOUTUBE.TM., and
GOOGLE.TM.).
[0059] To select and enable generation of a celebration video, the
purchaser (typically the organizer) selects a celebration video
type from among several prerecorded videos (video templates) that
may be viewed on or from a system interface. The organizer uploads
a photograph of the recipient (and if provided as an option, a
photograph of the organizer as well), enters the recipient's name
in a text box, selects an appropriate occasion or sentiment from
among several provided by the system, and enters the recipient's
email address. In some embodiments, additional text fields may be
provided to receive additional user text and additional photo or
other image uploads may be accepted. The photograph and text are
rendered into the selected video based on pre-defined fields within
the video thereby creating an augmented reality experience for the
recipient. The user is provided with an option to preview the video
and make changes to the user information. When the user is
satisfied with the video it is saved to a central server, i.e. a
system video server. Upon completing the transaction via a
payment/checkout procedure, the customized video message is added
to the personalized webpage (the personalized webpage) where it can
be viewed by other participants and ultimately by the recipient
when they receive the personalized webpage.
[0060] As a further alternative that may be used in conjunction
with any of the above means of notification, a third party
invitation to participate, and/or an alert to the recipient, may be
conveyed via social media such as a post to one or more
FACEBOOK.TM. TWITTER.TM., PINTEREST.TM., YOUTUBE.TM., GOOGLE.TM. or
other comparable accounts. System communications with social media
networks may be made via network APIs and JavaScript SDKs, for
example, using the Facebook SDK to invoke various APIs. It should
be appreciated that communications between the system and social
media networks make occur by any operable means. In addition to a
link to the personalized webpage, these posts may provide
additional information related to the recipient and event and
provide a means for coordinating activities related to the
event.
[0061] As an alternative to email or text messages to convey links,
QR codes may be provided on gift cards, gift card holders, inserts,
backer panels, correspondence, or other physical items conveyed to
the gift recipient. These QR codes may be used as an alternative
machine-readable method to encode and convey links or other
information relative to the system.
[0062] A method in accordance with the present invention includes
the steps of the gifting system providing a home page explaining
the celebration or event to a party who serves as an initial
purchaser and, in certain embodiments, an event or celebration
organizer The system interface provides a menu or other selection
means for the organizer to select among predetermined occasions.
Depending on the occasion type selected, the system interface may
provide means for selecting among predetermined themes or designs
as well. The system interface comprises a computer program that
runs on a computing device such as a personal computer (e.g.
desktop, laptop, notebook), server, mobile devices such as a
tablet, mobile phone, IPOD.TM. IPAD.TM. and similar devices capable
of presenting a user interface and networking to other computing
devices.
[0063] The system interface receives details from the organizer
such as the host or organizer's name, telephone number and e-mail
address, the guest or recipient's name and e-mail address, an event
title, and event date, and a cut-off date for participation. The
system interface provides one or more menus or other selection
means by which the organizer may specify recipient preferences as
to shopping, dining, travel, or other purchase categories. The
organizer selects whether or not to add a gift card to the purchase
and, if so, whether the gift card will be a group gift card
(receiving monetary contributions from multiple participants) or an
individual gift card (paid by one party, typically the organizer).
The organizer selects a gift card vendor, provides an amount,
provides a cutoff date for contributing amounts to the gift card by
other participants, and selects whether the gift card is to be a
physical gift card for delivery to the recipient via mail or
delivery service or an electronic gift card (also referred to an
e-gift card or electronic gift card). An electronic gift card is
typically embodied as an electronic message that includes a code to
a stored value or other redeemable value. An electronic gift card
may be send to a recipient by electronic message.
[0064] If the organizer selects a physical gift card, the system
interface provides means for selecting and/or customizing a gift
card holder. The purchaser may be presented with various design
options for gift card holders which may be segregated among
categories. If a user selects a category (e.g. color, design type,
theme or occasion, pre-written message), then designs from that
category will be presented for further selection. Typically,
thumbnail images of designs are first presented for viewing on a
system interface but may be selected by the purchaser to activate
presentation of an enlarged view of the selected design.
[0065] Whether an electronic gift card or physical gift card is
selected, the system provides an option for the selection and
customization of a video. If a physical gift card (as opposed to an
electronic gift card) has been selected and will be delivered to a
gift recipient, the video comprises a celebration video to be
provided for viewing by the recipient to enhance the recipient's
gifting experience and celebration. If an electronic gift card is
selected for delivery, a celebration video may be provided for
viewing on the personalized webpage. The celebration video may be
selected, or a custom video may be created by the organizer (or by
the organizer and by the participants as a group video) on the
system. If a group video is selected, the organizer would make that
designation, optionally determine a length of a video message that
each participant would be able to contribute, and each
participating participant would have the ability to record a brief
video message to be compiled with all other individual video
messages and presented to the recipient on the personalized webpage
as one sequential video. The celebration video functionality is
provided and intended to make the gift recipient feel special upon
viewing the gift or gifts at the personalized webpage and to serve
as another way to extend the celebration of the special
occasion.
[0066] The organizer provides an email address to be used by the
system to send a link to the PURL which may be followed by the
recipient to access the personalized webpage. The video, whether a
teaser video or celebration video, will be viewable on the
personalized webpage upon delivery of the PURL link to the
recipient. The video is created from a video template selected by
the organizer from among several video templates provided by the
system. Content provided by the organizer, such as images and text,
are inserted by the system into predetermined fields in the video
template. The template and customized content is then rendered to
produce the final video for viewing by the recipient and others. A
teaser video may be sent prior to the cut-off date for
participation to enhance the anticipation of the recipient.
[0067] In certain embodiments, the user uploads a photo or other
image via an interface such as a Flash based player interface. The
user may upload image files in any system-supported format such as
JPG, TIFF, PNG, and BMP formats. The user may also select to choose
a file from a social media network, which the system typically
facilitates through a connecting API. The uploaded image is stored
on the Content Delivery Network server. The image can be positioned
by drag and drop, as well as fine-tuned controls for moving left,
right, up, down, zoom in, zoom out, and rotating the image in 90
degree increments. The final, positioned image is then placed in a
template-based Flash video file. This video file has predetermined
placement areas that are marked and tracked within the video file.
Uploaded content elements (e.g. text, images) are mapped on the
placement areas in the video file. Once images and text are
uploaded and mapped to the placement areas, the user can view a
preview of the video through the video player. (Video players are
typically generated using means such as Flash or HTML5.) The video
is then composited and saved as a new video file (e.g. Flash video
file) that is set for streaming from the Video Management System,
specifically from the content delivery network (e.g. Rackspace or
Akamai CDN). The Video Management System typically includes the
entire video processing system, from the Flash components to the
CDN. The video may be composited using any operable means, which
may include a system specific custom compositing engine based on
Adobe's Open Source Media Framework Template Flash video files. An
email is sent to the recipient with a link to follow to view the
final composited video file. The video may be viewed using any
operable means, including a system specific, custom video player
based on Adobe's Open Source Media Framework. The system may
utilize a server such as a Rackspace Content Delivery Network
server for storing the uploaded user images and a video server for
storage of the template video files and streaming of the final
composited video files. Additionally, via SWF to MP4 Conversion
Tools, the video file is typically encoded into an MP4 format for
optional playback on mobile devices. In certain embodiments, HTML5
is used along with or instead of Flash to play audio and video
within webpages and, for example, to construct and play videos
provided by the system.
[0068] Additional customization options are available if an
organizer or participant selects to give an electronic gift card in
addition to creation of a celebration video. Certain embodiments of
the system provide options for a participant to take any of the
following actions through interaction with the system:
[0069] 1. Record a personal video message to announce the delivery
of the gift. A video message is provided to the system either by
recording via appropriate hardware and software on a computerized
device (e.g. personal computer, laptop, tablet, mobile phone, smart
phone, or other computerized device) operable for recording and
electronically transferring video to the system, and/or by
uploading a video already existing on a computerized device. This
video message is typically combined with the video messages of
other multiple participants that contribute to produce a video
compilation that results in a teaser video or celebration video.
Using video compilation tools, such as Flash or JavaScript in the
prior art, and/or custom technologies, individual video clips are
compiled or merged together to create one common video file. A
known video file format includes SWF. Upon compilation of the
video, it is stored to a file for consumer consumption, typically
to a common, known format such as MP4. The video file is stored on
a system server, such as a Content Delivery Network server, for
playback to the recipient, organizer, participants, or other
viewers. Participants may preview video recorded to-date, i.e.
video recorded by prior participants thus far, as well as provide
additional video content.
[0070] 2. Record a personal audio message to announce the delivery
of the gift. This audio message can be recorded via the microphone
on the user's computer or via a toll free telephone number.
Recorded audio is stored on a system server in any operable format
and may be incorporated into video, sent to the recipient via
electronic message, provided for listening via a link or audio
player on the personalized webpage, or stored on an audio chip
housed in a gift card holder.
[0071] 3. Select to deliver the gift card to the recipient with a
reveal animation video. Reveal animation videos are brief (for
example, approximately 10 second) prerecorded animations that
reveal what gift card is being given. The participant sending the
gift card may select from a library of reveal animations, however,
if no selection is made a standard, pre-selected animation may be
used to announce the gift card being given.
[0072] Video messages may be presented to the gift recipient for
viewing on a personalized webpage, as a video file attached to an
electronic message such as email or text message, as a video file
accessible through social media, or stored for viewing in a video
playback device such as a video greeting card or video gift card
holder. Notice of the video message to the gift recipient may be
provided via electronic message, social media sites, or by arrival
and viewing upon the video playback device. Reveal animation videos
may be stored in a similar manner, presented in a similar manner
and notice of reveal animation videos may be made in a similar
manner as described above for teaser videos.
[0073] Audio messages may be presented to the gift recipient for
listening on a personalized webpage, as an audio file attached to
an electronic message such as email or text message, as an audio
file accessible through social media, or stored for listening in an
audio playback device such as an audio greeting card or audio gift
card holder. Notice of the audio message to the gift recipient may
be provided via electronic message, social media sites, or by
arrival and viewing upon the audio playback device. In certain
embodiments, the recorded audio is stored for playback on a Content
Delivery Network server (e.g. Rackspace CDN) to enable access to
the audio message online for listening.
[0074] The system interface receives payment information from the
organizer such as credit card or other electronic payment
information, typically utilizing a payment gateway API (e.g.
PayPal.RTM. or Authorize.Net.RTM.) as well as billing and shipping
addresses.
[0075] The system interface provides means for the organizer to
invite other parties to participate in the celebration or event.
Invitations may be sent via e-mail address or more generally by
posts to social media sites. Based upon content uploaded or
otherwise provided by the organizer, the system creates an
invitation page displaying the recipient's name, images and text,
and means for participants to make purchases and provide additional
content. A celebration video, which may be selected by the
organizer from pre-produced videos or may be created from a video
template using participant content, may also be displayed upon the
invitation page. Participants may suggest additional (prospective)
participants to be invited by the organizer. The names and email
addresses of the suggested participants (invitees) will be sent by
the system in an email message to the organizer, alerting the
organizer of these suggestions. The organizer may then log into the
system to view these suggestions and deploy an invitation through
the system to those suggested invitees they wish to invite.
[0076] Content provided by participants (participants include the
organizer) may include messages entered as text, photographs or
other images, and video or audio files. Content limits per
participant may be preset by the system or may be determined and
set by the organizer Overall content limits, such as available
video or audio file storage (whether calculated in time or bytes)
are set by the system and generally determined by physical
limitations of audio or video file circuit memory.
[0077] Content provided by participants, such as photos, may be
uploaded from a participant personal computer or mobile device
(IPOD.TM., IPAD.TM., mobile phone or similar devices) or may be
obtained from social media cites referenced by participants, such
as a participant FACEBOOK.TM. or TWITTER.TM. account/page, or photo
sharing site, such as FLICKR.TM. or INSTAGRAM.TM.. Video content is
typically provided via file upload.
[0078] The system interface provides means, such as menus or lists,
for participants to select and add a new gift card to the gifts to
be provided to the gift recipient under the celebration. Gift card
choices presented to the participants may be determined at least
partially by information provided by the organizer such as
recipient's favorite shopping, dining, and travel venues or
providers.
[0079] The system may include selection criteria, such as the
following, that is used by the system to construct a user profile
that is used to select or generate special offers or to provide
suggested gift card types or vendors to participants. Such criteria
may be associated with the gift recipient and may include event
type, age, gender, and geographical location.
Example 1
Event=Birthday
Age=14
Gender=Male
Interests=Gaming
Geographical Location=Chicago, Ill.
Coupon Offer=Electronic Arts Coupon for Gaming
Example 2
Event=Baby Shower
Age=25
Gender=Female
Geographical Location=Minneapolis, Minn.
Coupon Offer=Enfamil Coupon for Formula
Example 3
Event=House Closing
Age=26
Gender=Male
Geographical Location=Austin, Tex.
Coupon Offer=Clorox Coupon for Cleaning Supplies
[0080] When such criteria is associated with a particular offer or
offers, analytics, typically based on user input such as
click-throughs, will be tracked and evaluated either via system
algorithms or by system personnel for continual improvement of the
criteria type and associated values. Selection criteria data is
typically stored in a Relational Database (e.g., MySQL, Oracle,
etc.). PHP along with SQL is utilized to match special offers with
selection criteria.
[0081] Following the cut-off date for participation, an email,
text, social media message or similar electronic message is
transmitted by the system to the recipient notifying the recipient
of the celebration. If a text message or other message that
typically does not support graphic content is used, a link is
provided to a recipient personalized webpage. If an email or
similar message capable of displaying graphic content is used, the
message may include, in addition text, photos or other images
(including images provided by participants) as well as the
aforementioned link.
[0082] The personalized webpage is created by the system and serves
as the main interface for interaction between the recipient and the
system as well as a means for the organizer and participant, as
well as third party vendors, to display messages and content. Links
to e-gift cards or to details and descriptions regarding physical
gift cards are typically provided on the personalized event webpage
and may comprise graphic elements, such as representations of gift
boxes, which the recipient may click on with a computer pointer and
mouse (or similar means) to open and view the details and
descriptions. Physical gift cards may be shown as drawings or
photos and will give the recipient the option to view who the gift
was from. Electronic gift cards (also referred to as e-gift cards)
are typically presented via animated video. Following the video,
e-gift cards may then be printed or sent to a mobile device. In the
case of a mobile device, the e-gift card will typically display a
code on the mobile device screen that may be used to access and use
the e-gift card to make a purchase. The system may present offers
on the personalized event webpage from third party vendors such as
discounts, coupons, special pricing and other incentives for using
gift cards to purchase from certain manufacturers or within certain
time spans.
[0083] The system interface provides means for the recipient to
send thank you notes, either physical or electronic, to
participants. In some embodiments, the recipient may customize
thank you note content. In certain embodiments of the system, the
recipient may record and/or upload a video or audio message for
viewing by participants. Links to such videos, typically hosted on
a system webpage, may be transmitted to participants via email or
text message or similar means, or may be posted on social media
sites.
[0084] Another embodiment of the invention includes a personalized
webpage to facilitate travel-related gifting and sharing photos and
travel-related details, such as travel itinerary, with others. The
personalized webpage is addressed by a PURL created using user
entered information. The PURL and personalized webpage may be
created by any of several types of users including a traveler, a
friend or relative of a traveler, or someone in the travel industry
working with the traveler, such as travel agent booking a trip for
the traveler.
[0085] The PURL-addressed personalized webpage may comprise a
centralized resource for storing and presenting all details
pertaining to a traveler's trip and may replace one or more travel
confirmation numbers. All trip details may be entered, stored and
presented on the personalized webpage for ready access by the
traveler and others (participants). In addition, the personalized
webpage may present one or more interfaces for participants to
contribute monetarily to trip expenses, purchase gifts for the
traveler from associated merchants or vendors, purchase hotel
upgrades, book dinner reservations, pay for meals and excursion,
upgrade airline or other travel tickets, and view and upload
content.
[0086] The personalized webpage may also provide third party
content pertaining to the trip such as flight information, weather
information, and touring and activity suggestions. During or after
the trip, the traveler may upload content such as text, audio,
photos, and video to the personalize webpage for access by the
traveler and for the traveler to share with others. In certain
embodiments of a travel-related personalized webpage, options for
creating online photo albums may be provided as well as options for
purchasing photo prints, photo compact discs, and printed photo
albums.
[0087] Travel-related personalized webpages and associated PURLs
may be offered by parties in the travel industry such as travel
agencies, cruise lines, airlines, hotels, theme parks, national and
state parks, and federal and state tourism agencies. Travel-related
personalized webpages and associated PURLs may include themes or
otherwise be directed to occasions such as family vacations,
honeymoons, anniversary trips, family travel such as for baptisms,
and business-related travel.
[0088] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an enhanced
online gifting experience that includes a webpage personalized for
a gift recipient. A system according to the present invention
includes an online interface for a purchaser to enter information
identifying a gift recipient, as well as text, sound, images or
video relevant to the gift recipient and/or to an event. The system
may use portions of this information, or other information provided
by a user, to create a personalized webpage identified and located
via a personal uniform resource locator (PURL). The personalized
webpage is a dynamic webpage that is addressed by the PURL which is
created using information provided to the system, typically by an
occasion organizer A gift recipient's name can be utilized by the
system when generating (naming) the PURL or the PURL can be custom
named by the user. A unique identifier may be included in the PURL
to avoid users creating duplicate PURLs.
[0089] The personalized webpage provides a means for a purchaser
(i.e. organizer or host) to organize a gifting experience
pertaining to an occasion or event, and includes options to allow a
gift recipient and invited third parties (participants or guests)
to add information and make selections on the webpage.
[0090] An embodiment of a computer-implemented personalized webpage
gifting system may include a purchase interface for receiving data
comprising an occasion selection, recipient identifying
information, recipient preferences, organizer identifying
information, a personalized webpage design selection, a gift card
selection, gift card selection criteria, event details, a gift card
holder selection, a video selection, payment information, and
shipping information. Upon entering typically at least occasion
selection, recipient identifying information, organizer identifying
information, webpage design selection, and event details, the
system creates a purchaser-initiated personalized uniform resource
locator addressing a personalized webpage (also generated by the
system) for celebrating a recipient occasion and facilitating
gifting to the recipient by the purchaser and other
participants.
[0091] In an embodiment of the system, a user initiating a
celebration (also referred to as a purchaser, organizer or host)
accesses a system purchase interface of a system user interface of
a system webpage or other gifting platform. The organizer may begin
organizing the celebration by selecting an occasion or event they
wish to celebrate, typically on behalf of a gift recipient
(recipient), for example a birthday, wedding or anniversary, or a
seasonal celebration such as Christmas, Hanukah, or Valentine's
Day. The organizer enters information identifying themselves, such
as name and e-mail address, and also enters similar information
identifying the recipient. The organizer selects and specifies the
gender of the recipient and also enters the recipient's age.
Additional information about the recipient, particularly
information pertaining to interests and preferences, such as where
the recipient likes to shop and where the recipient likes to eat,
may also be provided or selected. Such information may be selected
from menus or lists of predetermined third party providers or
vendors (associated with gift cards or other gifting means) that
may be provided by the system. The organizer may also select a gift
card from a list of predetermined merchants or vendors, as well as
a corresponding dollar amount to associate with the card, as the
organizer's own gift to the recipient. The system provides the
organizer with information regarding whether or not any of the
available gift card vendors are offering specials or discounts to
the gift card recipient with the purchase of the gift card.
[0092] The organizer selects whether to close out the celebration
or keep it open for other participants to add to the amount or
select additional gift cards and amounts. (Note that the term
"participant" may include the organizer.) The organizer selects how
the gift card will be delivered, either physically or
electronically/digitally, e.g. by email. Notification of the gift
card may be via social media or networks such as FACEBOOK.TM.,
TWITTER.TM., PINTEREST.TM., INSTAGRAM.TM., YOUTUBE.TM., GOOGLE.TM.,
or by SMS/Text Message or email. Physical gift cards are typically
delivered to the recipient by mail or mail service. Electronic gift
cards may be delivered electronically via non-public (private)
means such as email or text message or attachments thereto. The
system provides the organizer with an option for the personalized
webpage to include special offers or coupons from gift card brands,
retailers, or manufactures for the gift recipient (PURL recipient)
to view and consider. The option will typically be presented as an
opt-in box that the organizer may select in order for the gift
recipient to see the special offers or coupons made available from
manufacturers or retailers at the time of the gift reveal (when the
PURL and personalized webpage are presented to the recipient).
[0093] The system interface also provides the organizer with a
selection of gift card holder personalization options. The options
may vary depending on the gift card delivery method, either
physical or digital. Personalization options for physical gift
cards include selecting among holders that may bear customized
images and text, holders that may include stored audio data for
playback by audio circuits held within the holder, and holders that
include stored video data for playback by video circuits held
within the holder and various combinations thereof. Personalization
options for electronic gift cards include recording a video or
audio message to announce the arrival of the gift card, customizing
a celebration video that utilizes the recipient's name, photo and
other identifying elements, or selecting an animation video that
reveals the gift card to the recipient. If digital delivery of an
electronic or electronic gift card is selected, there are
additional customization options available such as audio or video
messages that allow the sender to announce the delivery or arrival
of the electronic gift card as well as animation videos that do the
same.
[0094] During the process of organizing the gifting experience, the
system creates a personalized webpage for the recipient including a
PURL typically generated using information specific to the
recipient, such as the recipient's name or a portion thereof. The
PURL is then used by the system, the organizer or other
participants to identify and link to the recipient's personalized
webpage created according to the system. Initially, the
personalized webpage typically includes a message to participants
identifying the recipient and the occasion to be celebrated.
Options are provided to participants such as adding dollar amounts
to a gift card, selecting a new gift card and amount, adding
messages or comments, viewing messages or comments, adding images
or videos, viewing images or videos uploaded by participants or
generated by the system, or adding other content to be used by the
system. Typically, the personalized webpage will include indicia or
instructions such as a countdown to the cut-off date, or occasion
date, to prompt participants to take action. Such instructions may
also be transmitted upon initiation by the organizer or at selected
intervals to participants to remind participants to take
action.
[0095] The organizer may select among various prerecorded video
templates stored on a system server to customize a celebration
video for extending the gifting experience for the recipient. The
celebration video will be presented to the recipient as on or in
association with the recipient personalized webpage. Images
provided by the organizer or other participants, such as a photo of
the recipient (and possibly the organizer), as well as information
provided as text, is placed by video generation software associated
with the system into predetermined fields within the video template
thereby creating a customized video for the recipient. The
celebration video is presented on a personalized webpage, or system
interface thereof, and links to the personalized webpage may be
provided to the recipient, the organizer, and other participants by
the system via email or text messages or by postings on social
media sites.
[0096] In the case of an open celebration, the organizer will
typically specify a cut-off date by which any contributions by
other participants must be made. Typically, the cut-off date is
specified as just prior to the date of the occasion being
celebrated. Upon closure of an open celebration, the system will
typically display a webpage thanking participants for their
participation in the celebration, indicating amounts and types of
gifts prepared for the recipient, and displaying content provided
by participants and the organizer A link may also be transmitted
via electronic means, such as email or text message, to
participants and/or posted on social media sites. The system also
creates and displays the finalized recipient personalized webpage
including a greeting to the recipient and information such as
indications of gifts provided, relevant dates (such as dates by
which gifts will arrive in the mail or be transmitted to the
recipient), links to the teaser video or other content, and links
to content or information provided on social media sites.
[0097] The system also provides an option to select creation of an
online photo album or scrapbook. The event organizer or others
participating in the celebration (collectively referred to as
participants) may create an online photo album consisting of any
images provided by the participants, including photographs of the
gift recipient. The pages of the photo album can be selected from a
library of predesigned photo album page templates including
predesigned photo layouts and page designs. The photo album
functionality typically may be accessed by all participants to view
and to upload images. Images may be uploaded from a participant's
computer or mobile device (e.g. cell phone, smart phone, pad or
tablet) or may be selected from a social media site such as
FACEBOOK.TM., TWITTER.TM., PINTEREST.TM., INSTAGRAM.TM.,
YOUTUBE.TM., and GOOGLE.TM..
[0098] The photo album is typically viewable by all participants
throughout the event creation process and to the gift recipient as
part of the recipient's personalized webpage. The photo album
displays the provided or selected photographs or other images and
allows a participant who uploads an image to include a brief
description, or caption, with the image. Participants may also
provide and associate comments with each image in the photo album.
The various photos that are added may be sized, moved or
repositioned on a photo album page by the participant who is adding
the photos and customizing the album page. Photos may also be
added, deleted, sized, moved or repositioned by the recipient.
[0099] A physical, printed photo album containing the image content
(or a selected portion thereof) of the online photo album may be
ordered for an additional cost. Printed photo albums are typically
made available for ordering once the personalized webpage has been
created and provided for access to the gift recipient. The gift
recipient or a participant (ordering party) may select from a
number of photo album covers and templates to be used with a
printed album and may place an order by which the selected images
will be printed, compiled and bound into a physical album mailed to
the ordering party. In certain embodiments of the system, only the
gift recipient may select printed photo album criteria such as
images, covers and templates. In such case, participants in the
event typically may also order and purchase the album designed by
the gift recipient. In other embodiments of the system, any
participant may make such selections to create a printed photo
album personalized for that participant.
[0100] In addition to gift cards, or other gifts generated by the
system through input from the organizer and participants, special
offers may be provided and presented through the system from third
parties such as vendors. Vendors may, for example, offer coupons,
discounts or other special incentives for using gift cards by a
certain date or for particular types of purchases or for purchases
from particular manufacturers.
[0101] The system may also provide a selection of thank you cards,
typically electronic or e-cards, amongst which the recipient may
choose for transmission to one or more participants or groups of
participants. Additionally, the system may provide means for the
recipient to select among and/or customize a video message to
participants. E-cards, video messages or links thereto may all be
posted by or through the system to social media sites. The system
may also provide means for the recipient to send a physical thank
you card that is personalized with photos, sound, text or video and
sent to a selected participant, several selected participants, or
to all participants.
[0102] All Functionality described in the invention can either be
provided via standalone ecommerce site or individual
components/modules can be embedded in third party retailer sites
via industry standard APIs provided by the system provider.
[0103] An embodiment of a method of providing a personalized
webpage for online gifting may comprise certain of the steps of
providing a system interface for receiving an occasion selection
and recipient information, generating a personal uniform resource
locator based upon a portion of said recipient information,
generating a personalized webpage addressed by said personal
uniform resource locator, providing a system interface for
receiving a first set of identifying information, a gift card
selection, a gift card dollar amount selection and a gift card
delivery method selection, a second set of identifying information,
a closed celebration selection or an open celebration selection, a
gift card holder selection, one or more gift card holder
personalization option selections, and other personalized content,
and providing means for notification of the personalized webpage.
The recipient information may include gender, age, location and
preferences. The gift card holder may be selected from the group
consisting of holders personalized with text, holders personalized
with images, holders personalized with audio, and holders
personalized with video. The personalized content may be selected
from the group consisting of text, image file, audio file, and
video file. The means for notification may be selected from the
group consisting of text message, email message, electronic
message, and social media network.
[0104] FIGS. 1A through 1C depict an example personalized webpage
hosting system 100 according to aspects of the disclosure. The
system 100 includes a personalized webpage hosting server 102 or
other computing device or system that includes a webpage hosting
application 104 and a data source 106. As will be described in
detail below, the webpage hosting application 102 receives
personalized content for a recipient from a computing device 110 of
a host and computing devices 112 of one or more participants and
generates a personalized webpage 108 for display on a computing
system 114 of a recipient.
[0105] The server 102 includes a processing system 202 (FIG. 2)
that executes the webpage hosting application 104 stored in
volatile and/or non-volatile memory 204 (i.e., computer readable
media) using the data source 106. Examples of a server 102 include
one or more servers, personal computers, mobile computers and/or
other mobile devices, and other computing devices. The server 102
may communicate via wireless and/or wireline communications.
[0106] The server 102 communicates with a gift card validation
server 116 for activation of one or more gift cards, and a
financial account server 118 that is associated with a financial
account of the user to provide payment for the activated gift cards
by the host and participants. The financial account is any type,
such as a credit card account, a debit card account, or a
PAYPAL.TM. account of the user. Prior to activation of a gift card,
the server 102 facilitates a financial transaction between the gift
card activation server 116 and the financial account server 118
associated with the user to provide payment for the gift card.
[0107] The server 102 also communicates with a social network
server 120 and a production facility 122. The server 102
communicates with the social network server 120 to obtain
information about the user and/or recipient for suggesting
additional content to be included with the gift card holder/gift
card combination. The server 102 communicates with the production
facility 122 to facilitate manufacture of a medium for including
user-supplied content, which in this particular embodiment is a
gift card holder that may be sent along with the selected physical
gift card 128 to the recipient. The gift card validation server
116, the financial account server 118, the social network server
120, and production facility 122 have one or more processors and
executable instructions stored in volatile and/or non-volatile
memory for performing the actions and/or steps described
herein.
[0108] In one embodiment, the server 102 receives personalized
information from a computing device 110, 112 of a host or
participant, respectively, and generates a gift card holder 126
that is sent to a recipient along with a selected gift card 128.
The gift card holder/gift card combination may be an electronic
gift card holder 126' and electronic gift card (e-gift card) 128'
that is transmitted to a computing device 114 of the recipient as
an element of the personalized webpage 108. In another embodiment,
the electronic gift card holder/gift card combination may be
transmitted to the computing device 114 of the recipient via a
messaging service, such as e-mail, a short message service (SMS),
or a multimedia message service (MMS), or other suitable digital
communication medium. In yet another embodiment, the gift card
holder/gift card combination may be a physical gift card holder 126
that is fabricated by the production facility 122 and sent to the
recipient using a suitable mail delivery service along with a
physical gift card 128.
[0109] The server 102 communicates with a website of a retailer,
such as a mail order retailer, or processing center of a retailer
or other entity that processes incoming orders for products and
fulfills these orders by managing shipment of the ordered product
to the purchaser or other recipient and payment for the ordered
product from the purchaser.
[0110] The server 102 communicates with a gift card validation
server 116 for activation of the gift card, and a financial account
server 118 that is associated with a financial account of the user
to provide payment for the activated gift card by the user. The
financial account is any type, such as a credit card account, a
debit card account, a GOOGLE WALLET.TM. account, or a PAYPAL.TM.
account of the user. Prior to activation of the gift card, the
server 102 facilitates a financial transaction between the gift
card validation server 116 and the financial account server 118
associated with the user to provide payment for the gift card. The
server 102 also communicates with a social network server 120 to
obtain information about the user and/or recipient for suggesting
additional content to be included with the gift card holder/gift
card combination. Additionally, the server 102 communicates with
the social network server 120 to obtain information about the user
and/or recipient for suggestions regarding events or any special
occasions (e.g., birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, expected
graduation dates, and the like) associated with the user and/or
recipient. For example, the server 102 may obtain information
associated with a friend of the user indicating that the friend has
an upcoming anniversary, and present this information to the user
along with any gift card/gift card holder designs related to
anniversaries so that the user can optionally select a particular
gift card/gift card holder design to send to the friend (e.g.,
recipient).
[0111] The data source 106 stores personalized webpage files 130,
gift card information files 132, gift card holder information files
134, pre-recorded audio files 136, pre-recorded video files 138,
and pre-recorded image files 139 (i.e., photographs). In other
embodiments, the data source 106 stores any suitable type of
information for personalizing the gift card holder by the user. The
personalized webpage files 130 store information with each
personalized webpage and its associated personalized uniform
resource locator (PURL). The gift card information files 132 store
information with one or more gift cards that may be purchased by
the host and/or participants. The gift card holder information
files 134 store template data associated with customized gift card
holders that are generated by the host and/or participants. The
pre-recorded audio files 136, video files 138, and image files 139
may selected by the host or participant for inclusion as customized
content on the gift card holder 126, which is sent to the
recipient. Although the data source 106 is shown as being located
on, at, or within the local server 102, it is contemplated that the
data source 106 can be located remotely from the local server 102
in other aspects of the system 100, such as on, at, or within a
database of a data management system or a database of another
computing device or system having at least one processor and
volatile and/or non-volatile memory.
[0112] The communication network 124 can be the Internet, an
intranet, or another wired and/or wireless communication network.
In one aspect, one or more of the server 102 and the computing
devices 110, 112, and 114 communicate with one another using any
suitable protocol or messaging scheme. For example, the server 102
and computing devices 110, 112, and 114 may communicate using a
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), extensible markup language
(XML), extensible hypertext markup language (XHTML), or a Wireless
Application Protocol (WAP) protocol. Other examples of
communication protocols exist. Although the example of FIG. 1A
shows the server 102 communicating with the computing devices 110,
112, and 114 through a network, other embodiments contemplate the
server 102 communicating directly with the computing devices 110,
112, and 114 without the use of a separate and a distinct network.
Additionally, other embodiments contemplate that the modules
employed by the server 102 and the computing devices 110, 112, and
114 are integrated in one computing system. Further, the servers
116 through 120 alternatively may communicate with the personalized
webpage hosting server 102 via the network.
[0113] The personalized webpage hosting application 104 provides a
mechanism for transmitting user-supplied content along with a gift
card that is selected by the host and/or one or more participants.
The user-supplied content may be included on any suitable medium
and may be content generated by the host/participants (e.g., a
video clip generated by a camera of the host/participants) and/or
pre-recorded content 136, 138, and 139 stored in the data source
106 and selected for inclusion on the medium by the
host/participant. In one embodiment, the medium is a physical gift
card holder 126 or an electronic gift card holder 126'. The
application 104 the gift card holder 126 by uploading one or more
photographs, customized text messages such as a greeting, add
pre-recorded songs and/or sound or voice messages and include this
content with the gift card holder 126.
[0114] The user accesses the system 100 via the computing device
110, 112 hosted by the server 102 using an HTML link or other
suitable entry point, such as through application software (i.e., a
mobile app) executed on a portable computing device, such as a
wireless communication device. The application 104 then either
transmits this information to a production facility 122 where the
physical gift card holder 126 is fabricated according to the
received information, and subsequently sent along with a selected
physical gift card 128 to the recipient, or generates an electronic
gift card holder 126', electronic gift card 128' combination that
is digitally transmitted to the recipient using an e-mail message,
a short message service (SMS), via a social media account, or other
suitable digital communication medium.
[0115] FIG. 1B depicts an example embodiment of a computing device
110, 112, and 114 of the host, participants, and recipient
according to one aspect of the personalized webpage gifting system
100. The computing device 110, 112, and 114 is a computing or
processing device that includes one or more processors 140 and
memory 142 and is to receive data and/or communications from,
and/or transmit data and/or communications to, the server 102 via
the communication network 124. For example, the computing device
110, 112, and 114 can be a personal computer, such as a laptop or
notebook computer, a workstation, or other processing device such
as a personal digital assistant or a tablet computer. The computing
device 110, 112, and 114 includes a display 144, such as a computer
monitor, for displaying data and/or a graphical user interface 148.
The computing device 110, 112, and 114 also includes an input
device 150, such as a keyboard or a pointing device (e.g., a mouse,
trackball, pen, or touch screen) to enter data into or interact
with the graphical user interface 148. In one embodiment, the
display 144 comprises a touchscreen device in which input is
provided via contact by the user with the touchscreen device.
[0116] The computing device 110, 112 includes a user application
152 stored in the memory 142 and executed on the processors 140 to
generate the graphical user interface (GUI) 148 to the display 104.
The graphical user interface 148 enables the computing device 110,
112 of the host/participant to interact with one or more data entry
forms received from the server 102 to enter order data for
generating the personalized webpage and/or submitting orders to the
application 104. In one embodiment, the user application 152
includes a web browser that displays interactive web pages,
applets, or other suitable user interface mechanisms including one
or more selectable fields, editing screens, and the like for
selecting content and/or modifying pre-recorded content by the user
(i.e., sender). In another embodiment, the GUI application 152
includes application software (i.e., a mobile app) that is executed
on the computing device 110, 112, which is, for example, a wireless
communication device for providing one or more selectable fields,
edit screens, and the like for selecting content and/or modifying
pre-recorded content by the user.
[0117] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the user
application 152 also includes one or more application program
interface (API) modules 154 for communicating with one or more
peripheral devices 156 configured in the computing device 110, 112.
The API modules 154 include any type that receives user-supplied
content from the user. For example, the API modules 154 include a
keyboard for receiving alpha-numeric text information from the
user, a microphone for receiving audio content from the user,
and/or a camera for receiving photographic or video content from
the user. As another example, the user application 152 may expose
the API modules 154 for use by one or more other systems, such as
PAYPAL.TM., or GOOGLE WALLET.TM., so that these systems may also
communicate with the peripheral devices 156 for receiving
user-supplied content from the computing device.
[0118] FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting an example personalized
webpage hosting application 104 executing on the personalized
webpage hosting server 102. According to one aspect, the
personalized webpage hosting server 102 includes a processing
system 202 that includes one or more processors or other processing
devices. A processor is hardware. The processing system 202
executes the personalized webpage hosting application 104 to
generate a GUI on a display of the computing devices 110, 112, and
114 in order to receive customized content for generating the PURL,
and for generating a gift card and associated gift card holder to
be sent to a recipient. According to another aspect, the
personalized webpage hosting server 102 also includes a display
203, such as a computer monitor, for displaying data and/or a
graphical user interface 226. The personalized webpage hosting
server 102 may also include an input device 228, such as a keyboard
or a pointing device (e.g., a mouse, trackball, pen, or touch
screen) to enter data into or interact with the graphical user
interface 228.
[0119] The personalized webpage hosting server 102 includes a
computer readable media 204 on which the personalized webpage
hosting application 104 and data source 106 are stored. The
personalized webpage hosting application 104 includes instructions
or modules that are executable by the processing system 202 to
generate customized gift card holder/gift card combinations to be
sent to a recipient. The computer readable media 204 may include
volatile media, nonvolatile media, removable media, non-removable
media, and/or another available media that can be accessed by the
personalized webpage hosting server 102. By way of example and not
limitation, computer readable media 204 comprises computer storage
media and communication media. Computer storage media includes
non-transient storage memory/media, volatile media, nonvolatile
media, removable media, and/or non-removable media implemented in a
method or technology for storage of information, such as
computer/machine readable/executable instructions, data structures,
program modules, and/or other data. Communication media may embody
computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules,
or other data and include an information delivery media or
system.
[0120] A GUI interface module 206 facilitates the receipt of data
and/or other communications from the host computing device 110, the
participant computing device 112, and the recipient computing
device 114. In one example, GUI interface module 206 communicates
with the computing device 110 to generate an interactive display,
or other suitable user interface mechanism including one or more
selectable fields, editing screens, and the like for receiving
instructions and data and activating the card by the host on the
GUI 148.
[0121] A financial account API module 208 communicates with a
payment processing server, such as the financial account server
118, to transact a monetary transfer of funds from the financial
account of the host and/or participant to a financial account of a
merchant of the gift card.
[0122] The gift card validation API module 210 communicates with
the gift card validation server 116 for activation of the gift
card. For example, the gift card validation server 116 may be a
server managed by a merchant associated with the gift card. For
another example, the gift card validation server 116 may be a third
party server of a third party gift card activation service for
activation of the gift card. Examples of such third party gift card
activation service include INCOMM.TM., SVS.TM., and STORE
FINANCIAL.TM. gift card activation services.
[0123] A physical gift card or an electronic gift card (e-gift
card) may be validated. In one embodiment, an e-gift card may be
generated in digital form and transmitted to the recipient via any
suitable communication mechanism, such as via an e-mail message or
a short message service (SMS) message. The e-gift card may be
printable in a form suitable for redemption at a retail outlet of a
merchant associated with the e-gift card.
[0124] Additionally, the GUI 220 may receive user input via the
input device 222 to control the operation of the server 102. For
example, an administrator may, from the display 203 and input
device 222 of the server 102, control the server 102 to inhibit or
allow certain functionality, perform periodic maintenance on the
server 102, and/or access one or more log files associated with the
operation of the server 102.
[0125] A user session management module 212 establishes, maintains,
and cancels user sessions with each user (i.e., host, participants,
and recipient) that accesses the personalized webpage. The user
session management module 212 grants certain rights to add, delete,
and/or modify content included in the personalized webpage
according to each user. For example, the user session management
module 212 allows addition and/or deletion of certain features,
such as the addition of another group video or the deletion of an
existing, while restricting the participants from performing such
procedures.
[0126] An announcement board management module 214 manages the
creation and modification of an announcement board that is included
with the PURL website. The announcement board is included as a
portion of the personalized webpage for facilitating communication
among the host and one or more participants. For example, a
participant may jot down a comment to another participant that has
previously added video content to the group video feature of the
personalized webpage informing the other participant that the added
video content looks great.
[0127] A scrapbook management module 216 manages the creation and
modification of a scrapbook feature of the personalized webpage.
The scrapbook is included as a portion of the personalized webpage,
and includes content such as textual, audio, photographic, and/or
video content that is supplied by the host and/or participants for
consumption by the recipient. The scrapbook is formatted in a
manner to resemble a physical scrapbook having multiple pages that
each commemorates a memorable occasion shared between the
host/participants and the recipient.
[0128] A gift card holder (GCH) customization module 220 receives
personalized content from the computing system 110, 112 and
provides for the customization of content, such as content received
from the user interface module 206. For example, the gift card
holder customization module 208 receives personalized content
generated by the host/participant and processes the received
user-supplied content to generate customized content to be included
in the gift card holder. For another example, the gift card holder
customization module 220 receives user selection of a holder type
including a particular design associated with a special occasion,
which is, for example, a birthday, wedding, or a holiday, such as
Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and the like.
[0129] The user-supplied content also includes for example, content
stored in the data source 106, such as pre-recorded audio
information from pre-recorded audio files 136, pre-recorded image
information from pre-recorded image files 139, and/or pre-recorded
video information from pre-recorded video files 138 that is further
manipulated by the user via the GUI 148. In a particular
embodiment, the user-supplied content includes pre-recorded content
including a song or a portion of a pre-recorded song that is
copyrighted and licensed by the owner of the copyrighted song. The
gift card holder customization module 220 modifies existing
content, such as pre-recorded content or other previously received
content, based upon input received from the computing system 110,
112. An example of modifying existing content includes modifying a
received photograph using one or more photograph editing features
that provides for cropping, color hue adjustment, brightness
adjustment, sizing, and/or other features associated with
manipulation of digital imagery.
[0130] A peripheral device interface module 222 provides an
interface to one or more peripheral devices of the computing
device, such as a global positioning system (GPS) device, a camera,
a microphone, and other device configured on the computing system
110, 112. For example, the peripheral interface module 222 uses
location information associated with a GPS device to aid in
selecting pertinent gift card design (e.g., when vacationing at
Grand Canyon, the application 104 uses the peripheral device
interface module 222 to select imagery of canyon to include as the
design of the holder). For another example, the peripheral device
interface module 222 receives audio, still imagery, and/or video
content using the microphone and/or camera configured on the
computing device 110, 112.
[0131] A gift card holder (GCH) generation module 224 facilitates
the generation of the gift card holder to be sent to the recipient
along with the selected gift card. In one example, the gift
card/gift card holder combination is generated in electronic form
and transmitted to the recipient via any suitable communication
mechanism, such as via an e-mail message, or a short message
service (SMS) message. In another example, information associated
with the gift card/gift card holder combination is transmitted to a
production facility 122 for generating a physical gift card holder,
from which a gift card is inserted and sent to the recipient via a
mail delivery service, such as the UNITED PARCEL SERVICE.TM.
(UPS).
[0132] It should be appreciated that the modules described herein
are provided only as an example of a computing device that may
execute the personalized webpage hosting application 104 according
to the teachings of the present invention, and that other computing
devices may have the same modules, different modules, additional
modules, or fewer modules than those described herein. For example,
one or more modules as described in FIG. 2 may be combined into a
single module. As another example, certain modules described herein
may be encoded and executed on other computing devices, such as the
computing devices 110, 112, and 114 used by the host, participants,
and recipient, respectively. Further, one or more or all of the
modules may be stored and executed by the personalized webpage
hosting server 102 and data and instructions are transmitted to and
from the personalized webpage hosting server 102 and the computing
device 103 to execute their functions.
[0133] FIG. 3A illustrates an example process of generating a
personalized webpage and associated personalized URL by the
application 104 according to the teachings of the present
disclosure. Although the example process describes a generic GUI
148 interface for receiving content from the host/participants for
generating he personalized webpage, the application 104 may
generate any suitable interface for receiving information from a
host or participant that can be used to create a personalized
webpage and associated personalized URL. For example, the interface
may be generated as a webpage that is rendered by a web browser
executed on the host computing device 110 through a network 124,
such as the Internet, or generated by application software (i.e., a
mobile app) designed to be executed on a computing device embodied
as a wireless communication device, a tablet computer, or other
similar type of portable computing device.
[0134] In general, the generic interface receives information from
the host that includes selection of an occasion, recipient
identifying information, recipient preferences, host identifying
information, a personalized webpage design selection, a gift card
selection, gift card selection criteria, event details, a gift card
holder selection, a video selection, payment information, and
shipping information. Upon receiving the information, the
application 104 creates a personalized uniform resource locator
(PURL) addressing a personalized webpage for celebrating an
occasion of the recipient and facilitating gifting to the recipient
by the host and one or more other participants.
[0135] In step 302, the application generates an occasion selection
screen (FIG. 4) for receiving a particular occasion to be
celebrated with the recipient. Examples of selectable occasions
generated by the application 104 include, for example, a birthday,
wedding or anniversary, or a seasonal celebration such as
Christmas, Hanukah, or Valentine's Day.
[0136] In step 304, the application 104 generates a recipient
information screen (FIG. 5) for receiving recipient identifying
information associated with the recipient. As shown, the recipient
information screen may also provide an interface for entering
certain interests and/or preferences known about the recipient by
the host. These interests/preferences are used by the application
104 to generate suggested content and/or gift cards that may be
added to the personalized webpage.
[0137] For example, the application 104 may prompt the host to
enter information identifying the host and information identifying
the recipient. Such information may include name, address,
telephone number and email address. If the host uses a device
including GPS to access the system, such as mobile telephone, GPS
data may be provided by the device to the system as a means of
providing host location. Further information entered for the gift
recipient may include gender, age, interests, etc. Providing
interests to the system may include entering or selecting, by the
host, vendors typically frequented or preferred by the recipient.
The purchaser is then prompted to select one or more gift cards or
other gifting means, select or enter monetary amounts, and provide
personalization content, such as photographs or other images, sound
or video files, or one or more messages to the recipient.
[0138] In one embodiment, the application 104 presents the host
with a choice to either create a closed webpage wherein all
selections are made by the host, or to create an open webpage
wherein the host serves as an organizer, and participants, and in
some embodiments the recipient, may provide additional content and
selections.
[0139] In step 306, the application 104 generates a host
information screen (FIG. 6) for receiving information associated
with the host. In step 308, the application 104 generates a webpage
design screen (FIG. 7) for receiving information associated with a
particular design of the webpage. For example, if the application
receives Christmas as an occasion selection, the webpage design
screen may include selectable themes, such as a manger design
theme, a wise men design theme, and a Christmas tree design theme
that may be selected by the host.
[0140] In step 310, the application 104 generates an occasion/event
details screen (FIG. 9) for receiving one or more details to be
associated with the personalized webpage. For example, the event
details screen may receive a title to be associated with the
personalized webpage, a date of the event, and a participant
cut-off date. The event date is the date at which the personalized
webpage is made available to the recipient, while the participant
cut-off date refers to a point in time in which no further content
is allowed to be added to the personalized webpage so that it may
be finalized for sending to the recipient. In one embodiment, the
application 104 displays a counter indicating a period of time
period remaining before the cut-off date arrives. In step 312, the
application 104 generates a group video screen (FIG. 10) for
receiving information associated with a group video to be added to
the personalized webpage.
[0141] In step 314, the application 104 receives information
associated with a gift card. To accomplish this, the application
104 generates a gift card merchant selection screen (FIG. 12) for
receiving information associated with a particular merchant of the
gift card. Once the merchant information is received from the host,
the application generates a gift card detail selection screen (FIG.
13) for receiving detailed information associated with the gift
card.
[0142] The gift card may be a physical gift card that is fabricated
by a production facility and sent to the recipient using a suitable
mail delivery service, such as the United Parcel Service.
Alternatively, gift card may be an electronic gift card (e-gift
card) that is included in the personalized webpage. In one
embodiment, if the gift card is to be a physical gift card, the
application 104 receives information for customization of a gift
card holder to be sent with the gift card to the recipient in step
316. Additional details for customizing gift card holders, which
are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/273,220,
entitled "Online Personalized Gifting System," filed Oct. 13, 2011,
is incorporated fully herein by reference in its entirety.
[0143] Once gift card information is received, the application 104
authorizes the selected gift card with the gift card validation
server 116 in step 318. That is, the application 104 provides the
host with an option for the personalized webpage to include special
offers or coupons from gift card brands, retailers, or manufactures
for the gift recipient to view and consider. The option will
typically be presented as an opt-in box that the host may select in
order for the gift recipient to see the special offers or coupons
made available from manufacturers or retailers when the recipient
views the personalized webpage.
[0144] In step 320, the application 104, processes payment for the
selected gift card by communicating with a financial account server
that manages a financial account (e.g., a credit card account) of
the host.
[0145] In step 321, the application 104 generates the PURL and
associated personalized webpage using information provided by the
host. The application 104 generates a uniform resource locator
(URL) to uniquely identity or associate the recipient with the
personalized webpage. In one embodiment, the personal uniform
resource locator (PURL) will typically take the following form:
http://<party name or other selected personal
identifier>.<domain name (typically the name or identifier of
the owner of the domain)>.<com, net, biz, org or other top
level domain>. In other embodiments, any suitable uniquely
identifying format may be used. The generated PURL may be used as a
means for providing a customized or personalized web address
without creating a separate domain.
[0146] FIG. 3B illustrates an example process of a PURL management
webpage that is generated by the application 104 according to the
teachings of the present disclosure.
[0147] In step 322, the application 104 generates a splash screen
(FIG. 14) representing a home page of the PURL management webpage.
The splash screen provides for user initiation of a particular
personalized webpage (step 324), navigating to a help page (step
326), navigating to an information screen describing the
administrators of the PURL management webpage (step 328), and/or
navigating to a site map page that outlines describing the various
webpages that make up the PURL management webpage (step 330).
[0148] From a user perspective, the host initiates begins
organizing the personalized webpage by selecting an occasion or
event they wish to celebrate, typically on behalf of a recipient,
for example a birthday, wedding or anniversary, or a seasonal
celebration such as Christmas, Hanukah, or Valentine's Day. The
host enters information identifying themselves, such as name and
e-mail address, and also enters similar information identifying the
recipient, such as the gender of the recipient and the recipient's
age. Additional information about the recipient, particularly
information pertaining to interests and preferences, such as where
the recipient likes to shop and where the recipient likes to eat,
may also be provided or selected. Such information may be selected
from menus or lists of predetermined third party providers or
vendors (associated with gift cards or other gifting means) that
may be provided by the system. The host may also select a gift card
from a list of predetermined merchants or vendors, as well as a
corresponding monetary amount to associate with the card, as the
host's own gift to the recipient. The system provides the host with
information regarding whether or not any of the available gift card
vendors are offering specials or discounts to the gift card
recipient with the purchase of the gift card.
[0149] In response to the host initiating a particular personalized
webpage, the application 104 generates a drop-down list (FIG. 15)
showing the various occasions that the personalized webpage may be
generated for in step 332. Alternatively, the application 104 may
generate a detailed occasion screen (FIG. 16) showing a detailed
view of the occasions for which the personalized webpage may be
generated for in step 334. When a particular occasion is received
from the host, the application 104 displays a "next" button (FIG.
17) for the host to continue to step 336.
[0150] In step 336, the application 104 generates a details entry
screen (FIG. 18) for receiving information associated with the
host, the recipient, and one or more other participants.
Additionally, the application 104 may be receive, via the details
entry screen, information associated with personal preferences
associated with the recipient that the application 104 may use to
create suggested gift cards that may be purchased by the host
and/or participants.
[0151] In step 338, the application 104 generates a gift card
selection screen (FIG. 19) for receiving selection of one or more
gift cards. At this point, the application 104 receives
instructions from the host for either entry of information for
adding one or more participants (step 350) or customizing the
selected gift card. The host and/or the recipient selects how the
gift card will be delivered, either physically or digitally. If the
gift card is a physical gift card, it may be delivered using a
conventional mail delivery service. However, if the gift card is an
electronic gift card, it may be included as a feature of the
personalized webpage.
[0152] In step 340, the application 104 generates a gift card
customization screen (FIG. 20) for receiving additional information
associated with the selected gift card. In step 342, the
application 104 generates a group video entry screen (FIG. 21) that
provides for entry of textual, audio, photographic, and/or video
content by the host and/or the participants. The group video review
screen also allows the host and/or each participant to review the
celebration video that was previously created.
[0153] Any type of user-supplied content may be entered by the host
and/or participants. For example, the user can upload a photo or
other image via an interface such as a Flash based player interface
to the application 104. The user may upload image files in any
supported format such as JPG, TIFF, PNG, and BMP formats. The
uploaded image is stored on the data storage 110. The application
104 provides for positioning of the image by dragging and dropping
the image to a selected portion of the screen, as well as
fine-tuning controls for moving the image left, right, up, or down
as well as zooming in, zooming out, and rotating the image in any
desired orientation. The final, positioned image is then placed in
group video file. The group video file has predetermined placement
areas that are marked and tracked within the group video file.
Uploaded content elements (e.g. text, images) are mapped on the
placement areas in the video file. Once image and text information
are uploaded and mapped to the placement areas, the host and/or
participants can view a preview of the group video through a video
player.
[0154] The group video is then composited and saved as a new group
video file (e.g. Flash video file) that is set for streaming from a
content delivery network or content distribution network (CDN),
such as RACKSPACE.TM. or AKAIVIAI.TM.. The content delivery network
typically manages most or all content of the group video file. The
group video may be composited using any suitable means, which may
include a system specific custom compositing engine based on
Adobe's Open Source Media Framework Template flash video files.
[0155] The personalized webpage includes a hypertext link to access
the final composited group video file by the content delivery
network. The group video may be viewed using any suitable means,
including a system specific, custom video player based on Adobe's
Open Source Media Framework.TM.. The system may utilize a server
such as a Rackspace Content Delivery Network.TM. server for storing
the uploaded user-supplied images and a video server for storage of
the template video files and streaming of the final composited
group video files. Additionally, using format conversion tools (e.,
SWF to MP4 conversion tools), the group video file may be encoded
into an MP4 format for optional playback on mobile devices. In
certain embodiments, the group video may be formatted according to
an HTML5 format to play audio and video within webpages and, for
example, to construct and play group videos provided by the
system.
[0156] In step 344, the application 104 completes a transaction
with the host using conventional financial checkout procedures. At
this point, the application 104 receives instructions from the host
for either entry of information for adding one or more participants
(step 350) or creation of a reveal video by the host and/or
participants. In step 346, the application 104 generates a reveal
video creation screen (FIG. 22) that allows the host to create a
reveal video structure. The application 104 allows the host to
select among various prerecorded video templates stored on a system
server to customize the reveal video for the recipient (FIG. 23).
The reveal video will be presented to the recipient as on or in
association with the recipient personalized webpage. Images
provided by the host or other participants, such as a photo of the
recipient, as well as information provided as text, is placed by
video generation software associated with the application 104 into
predetermined fields within the video template thereby creating a
customized video for the recipient. In step 348, the application
104 generates an invitation screen (FIG. 24) that allows
participants to add video and/or audio content to the reveal video
structure.
[0157] In step 350, the application 104 generates a guest
invitation screen (FIG. 25) that allows the host to enter the one
or more participants. In order to invite participants to contribute
to the content of the personalized webpage and/or to make gift
purchase selections, a link incorporating the PURL associated with
the webpage may be sent to participants via email, text message,
social media or other technique. The invitation to participate may
include graphics and text designed to encourage participation and
build excitement. The invitation may be sent well in advance of an
alert to the recipient, so that participants may make contributions
and selections to the webpage, as well as gift purchases, prior to
presentation of the personalized webpage to the recipient.
Alternatively, the recipient may be alerted shortly after creation
of the personalized webpage so that the recipient may also
influence content and selections, such as by providing a wish list
or other information useful for participants to make gift purchase
decisions.
[0158] In step 352, the application 104 receives various options
associated with the PURL webpage that includes for example, the
cut-off date for participation in the PURL webpage, the delivery
date at which the PURL webpage is made available to the recipient,
one or more content features to be included in the personalized
webpage, an addition or deletion of at least one of the participant
users. At this point, the application 104 generates a PURL and a
corresponding personalized webpage using customized information
provided by the host.
[0159] FIG. 3C illustrates an example process of a personalized
webpage that is generated by the application 104 according to the
teachings of the present disclosure. In step 360, the application
104 generates a home page when either of the computing devices 110,
112, and 114 of the host, participants, and/or recipient,
respectively, accesses the personalized webpage via the PURL.
[0160] In step 362, the application 104 generates a version of the
personalized webpage according to an identity of the user that
accesses the personalized webpage. For example, the application 104
generates a home page screen (FIG. 26) that is displayed for the
host and/or participants. In one embodiment, the application 104
provides session management for access to the personalized webpage
using a login screen in which each user, such as a public user, the
host, participants, or recipient may enter identifying information,
such as a user name and password for providing a session to view
and/or modify content included in the personalized webpage. In one
embodiment, the session provided for all users other than the host
has limited modification rights relative to the host. That is, the
session provided for the host allows certain administrative
operations that are restricted from use by either of the
participants, recipient, and other (i.e., public) users.
Administrative operations allowed by the host session may include,
for example, a delivery date that the personalized webpage is to be
made available to the recipient, one or more content features to be
included in the personalized webpage, an addition or deletion of at
least one of the participants.
[0161] The public user generally refers to a generic user who is
neither a host, a participant, nor a recipient associated with the
personalized webpage. In one embodiment, an administrative
operation of the host includes whether the personalized webpage is
to be a public webpage or a private webpage. For example, if the
host designates the personalized webpage to be a public webpage,
access to the personalized webpage is allowed for public users;
however, if the host designates the personalized webpage to be a
private webpage, access to the personalized webpage by public users
is not allowed.
[0162] In another embodiment, the application 104 provides another
administrative operation of allowing the host to add or delete one
or more content features, such as the celebration video or
scrapbook, from the personalized webpage. For example, after the
application 104 has generated the personalized webpage and
participants have begun inputting content, it is noted that an
additional scrapbook should be generated for a particularly
memorable occasion known among the host, certain participants, and
the recipient. In this case, the application 104 provides a means
for the host to generate a second scrapbook commemorating the
particularly memorable event even after the personalized webpage
has been initiated.
[0163] In step 364, the application 104 generates a gift card
selection screen (FIG. 27) for receiving information associated
with one or more gift cards. The application 104 provides for
adding additional monetary value to a previously selected gift
card; or alternatively, selection of a new gift card by the host
and each participant.
[0164] In one embodiment, the application 104 performs analytics
using information about the recipient to generate suggested gift
card selections for the host and participants. The recipient
information may be obtained from the host, participants, and/or one
or more social media outlets. The application 104 includes various
selection criteria to construct a user profile that is used to
select or generate special offers or to provide suggested gift card
types or vendors to participants. Examples of such selection
criteria may include an event type, an age of the recipient, a
gender of the recipient, and a geographical region in which the
recipient resides. As a particular example, analytics performed on
a male recipient residing in Chicago, Ill. having his 14th birthday
reveals that he has an interest in computer gaming. The application
104 uses this information to suggest one or more gaming coupons for
computer games. When such criteria is associated with a particular
offer or offers, analytics based on user input such as
click-throughs, will be tracked and evaluated either via system
algorithms or by system personnel for continual improvement of the
criteria type and associated values.
[0165] In step 366, the application 104 receives textual, audio,
photographic, and/or video content from the host and/or
participants for generating a group video to be included in the
personalized webpage. For example, the application 104 may allocate
a specified time portion of the group video for each participant to
enter a video segment to be included in the group video.
Additionally, the application 104 may provide for embellishments to
existing video segments by certain participants.
[0166] A group video is generally a video file which may be
provided on the personalized webpage to communicate a particular
sentiment, occasion, or gift card brand experience for the
recipient. The group video is typically personalized by uploading
the recipient's photo to a system central server. Text content can
be added to certain customizable text fields such as the
recipient's name and the occasion or sentiment. Upon uploading
personalized content, the video is then rendered or composited to
include the personalized content. The recipient is able to share
the group video via social media channels by sharing a video URL
associated with the group video with social networks, such as
FACEBOOK.TM. TWITTER.TM., PINTEREST.TM., INSTAGRAM.TM.,
YOUTUBE.TM., and GOOGLE.TM..
[0167] To select and enable generation of a group video, the host
selects a group video type from among several prerecorded video
templates that may be viewed on or from the GUI 148 of the host
computing device 110 or participant computing device 112. The host
uploads a photograph, such as a photograph of the recipient and/or
a photograph of the host, enters the recipient's name in a text
box, selects an appropriate occasion or sentiment from among
several provided by the system. In some embodiments, additional
text fields may be provided to receive additional text or
photographic information from the host and/or participant. The
photograph and text information are rendered into the selected
video based on pre-defined fields within the video thereby creating
an augmented reality experience for the recipient. The host and/or
participants are provided with an option to preview the video and
make changes to the entered information. When the host is satisfied
with the video, it is saved to the data storage.
[0168] In step 368, the application 104 activates a scrapbook
according to upon request from the computing device of the host or
one of the participants. The pages of the scrapbook can be selected
from a library of predesigned scrapbook page templates including
predesigned photo layouts and page designs. The scrapbook
functionality typically may be accessed by all participants to view
and to upload images. Images may be uploaded from a participant's
computer or mobile device (e.g. cell phone, smart phone, pad or
tablet) or may be selected from a social media site such as
FACEBOOK.TM., TWITTER.TM., PINTEREST.TM., INSTAGRAM.TM.,
YOUTUBE.TM., and GOOGLE.TM..
[0169] The scrapbook is typically viewable by all participants
throughout the event creation process as part of the recipient's
personalized webpage. The scrapbook displays the provided or
selected photographs or other images and allows a participant who
uploads an image to include a brief description, or caption, with
the image. Participants may also provide and associate comments
with each image in the scrapbook. The various photos that are added
may be sized, moved or repositioned on a scrapbook page by the
participant who is adding the photos and customizing the album
page. Additionally, photos may also be added, deleted, sized, moved
or repositioned by the recipient.
[0170] A physical, printed scrapbook including the image content of
the online scrapbook may be ordered from the administrator of the
PURL management webpage. Printed scrapbooks are typically made
available for ordering once the personalized webpage has been
created and provided for access to the gift recipient. The gift
recipient or a participant may select from a number of scrapbook
covers and templates to be used with a printed album and may place
an order by which the selected images will be printed, compiled and
bound into a physical album mailed to the ordering participant. In
certain embodiments, only the recipient may select printed
scrapbook criteria such as images, covers and templates. In such a
case, participants in the event typically may also order and
purchase the album designed by the gift recipient. In other
embodiments of the system, any participant may make such selections
to create a printed scrapbook personalized for that
participant.
[0171] Once the scrapbook is activated, the application 104
generates various pages, such as a background page that includes
content summarizing other content included in the scrapbook (step
370), one or more photo pages including photographs entered by the
host and/or one or more participants (step 372), one or more text
pages including textual content entered by the host and/or one or
more participants (step 374). At any point during the scrapbook
generation process, the host and/or participants may review the
scrapbook for visualizing the scrapbook as it would be viewed by
the recipient (step 376).
[0172] At the delivery date set by the host, the application 104
sends a message, such as an email notification message to the gift
recipient and includes a link to a personalized webpage identified
by a PURL. The personalized webpage and PURL are both created by
the system in response to selections and information provided by
the host. Typically, the PURL will incorporate some portion of the
recipient's name or other personal identifier. In certain instances
the identifier may relate to the name of a company or organization.
The personalized webpage may include information provided by the
host such as the recipient's name, images, messages to the
recipient, and information regarding gifting. Means may be provided
for the recipient to add information to the webpage such as a wish
list or a message to participants that view or interact with the
webpage. Means may also be provided for participants, such as
friends, relatives, or coworkers to add information for
presentation on the webpage or other use by the system, such as
details of an event (e.g. birthday party), messages to the
recipient, or photos or video clips of an event. Information
generated by the system or provided by the system provider may also
be presented on the webpage such as information identifying gifting
opportunities for a party interacting with the webpage. Information
provided by a gift card vendor, or affiliates of the system
provider or gift card vendor, may also be provided. For example,
offers and advertisements generated by or on behalf of the gift
card vendor or affiliate may be displayed.
[0173] In order to alert the recipient to the personalized webpage,
and to provide a link incorporating the PURL associated with the
webpage, the system may generate an email, text message, social
media message or similar means of communication to the recipient.
In one embodiment, the application 104 generates a notification to
the recipient via a social media outlet. The application 104 may
include network APIs and JavaScript SDKs, for example, using the
Facebook SDK to invoke various social network APIs. It should be
appreciated that communications between the system and social media
networks make occur by any operable means. In addition to a link to
the personalized webpage, posts generated by the social media
outlets may provide additional information related to the recipient
and event and provide a means for coordinating activities related
to the event.
[0174] As an alternative to e-mail or text messages to convey
links, QR codes may be provided on gift cards, gift card holders,
inserts, backer panels, correspondence, or other physical items
conveyed to the gift recipient. These QR codes may be used as an
alternative machine-readable method to encode and convey links or
other information relative to the system.
[0175] FIG. 3D illustrates an example process for displaying the
personalized webpage to the recipient by the application 104
according to the teachings of the present disclosure. In step 380,
the application 104 generates the recipient version of the
personalized webpage when the recipient establishes a session as
described above with respect to step 362 of FIG. 3C. The
application 104 generates an initial splash screen (FIG. 28) that
is displayed for the recipient when the recipient session is
initially established. The splash screen includes a hypertext link
for receiving an instruction by the recipient to view the various
features of the personalized webpage. For example, the application
104 generates a recipient home page screen (FIG. 29) that allows
the recipient to browse through the various features of the
personalized webpage previously generated by the host and
participants (step 382).
[0176] In step 384, the application 104 generates a gifting screen
(FIG. 30A) when the recipient selects a gifting hypertext link from
the recipient home page. The gifting screen includes monikers that
may be expanded by the application 104 when selected by the
recipient as shown in FIG. 30B. In one embodiment, the a merchant
offer screen (FIG. 30C) is generated by the application 104 to
display one or more merchant offerings provided by certain
merchants who have previously formed advertising agreements with
the administrator of the PURL management webpage. The merchant
offer screen includes other monikers that may be expanded by the
application 104 when selected by the recipient as shown in FIG.
30D.
[0177] In step 386, the application 104 generates a thank you
screen (FIG. 31) for entry of thank you information to be sent to
the participant and the participants. That is, the application 104
provides for selection of thank you cards, typically electronic or
e-cards, among which the recipient may choose for transmission to
the host and the one or more participants. Additionally, the system
may provide means for the recipient to select among and/or
customize a video message to participants. E-cards, video messages
or links thereto may all be posted by or through the system to
social media sites. The application 104 may also provide means for
the recipient to send a physical thank you card that is
personalized with photos, sound, text or video and sent to a
selected participant, several selected participants, or to all
participants.
[0178] From the home screen, the application may display various
other screens, such as the group video that has been generated by
the host and participants (step 388), and the scrapbook that has
been generated by the host and participants (step 390).
[0179] A personalized URL and associated personalized webpage has
been herein described that provides a technique for group
collaboration to generate a gifting mechanism for a recipient using
user-supplied textual, audio, photographic, and/or video content
that may include one or more gift cards. Whereas conventionally
implemented gift cards are typically small in size thus minimizing
any visual appeal that may otherwise be obtained with physically
larger retail products. Additionally, due to the gift cards'
relatively small size, only a limited amount of information may be
placed on these gift cards. Embodiments of the present disclosure
provide a solution to this problem via an online personalized
webpage for including personalized information and/or one or more
customized gift cards for a recipient.
[0180] A system according to the present invention includes a
graphical user interface (GUI) for entry of information by a host
identifying a gift recipient and one or more participants. The host
generally refers to as an administrator of the personalized webpage
while the participants are generally referred to as users of the
webpage having limited rights relative to the host. The host and
the participants may enter content, such as text, sound, images or
video relevant to the recipient and/or to an event associated with
the recipient. The system may use portions of this information, or
other information, to create a personalized webpage identified and
located via a personal uniform resource locator (PURL). The
personalized webpage is addressed by the PURL which is created
using information provided by the host. A recipient's name can be
utilized by the system when generating (naming) the PURL or the
PURL can be custom named by the host. A unique identifier may be
included in the PURL to avoid users creating duplicate PURLS.
[0181] It is to be understood that while certain forms of this
invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited
thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the
following claims and allowable equivalents thereof.
* * * * *