This invention relates to a method and system for online gift selection. The invention is particularly suitable for providing a method and system which enable gifters to select and purchase gifts online.

Background of the Invention

It is generally desirable for couples who are planning a wedding to be able to generate and provide an electronic wedding registry which can be easily set up and customised by recipients (ie. the to-be-married couples) to enhance gifters' online shopping experience.

There is also a need for potential recipients in other situations to set up an electronic system to facilitate gift giving, for example, to celebrate birthdays, Christmas and other festive holidays, and milestone achievements.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system for and a method of providing an online service for gift selection which may fulfil the above desire, or which will at least provide a useful alternative.

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of providing an online service for gift selection, the method including the steps of: providing an interface;

enabling a list of gifts to be displayed on the interface;

providing access to the interface to a gifter; and allowing the gifter to deposit a chosen amount of fund for a selected gift on the list;

wherein the interface is customisable by a recipient to include selected features.

Preferably the method includes the step of notifying the recipient of the deposit electronically. More preferably, the method includes the further step of the recipient upon receipt of the notification allocating the fund to purchase the selected gift electronically. Optionally, the method includes the yet further step of the recipient withdrawing the funds to purchase the gift physically.

In a preferred embodiment, the list of gifts takes the form of a wishlist. The wishlist may include goods or services selected by the recipient.

The interface may include a gift registry. It is preferred that the step of customising the interface includes choosing a particular theme and editing the interface with personalised features. The interface may also include various e- card options.

Each particular theme may be associated with a certain type of occasion, for example, the occasion may be a wedding such as a beach wedding, a regal wedding or an ethnological wedding. Other occasions may be birthdays, house warmings, baby showers etc. These themes may relate to the personality of the potential recipient rather than to an occasion.

The recipient is preferred to be able to incorporate one or more features formed by visual and/or audio effects. The visual effects may be generated by one or more of the following: photos, decorative embellishments and written comments. The audio effects may be generated by one or more of the following: classical music, contemporary music and ringing tones of wedding bells, for example. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes a further step of automatically sending an e-card to both the gifter and recipient after the purchase is made by the recipient using the fund deposited by the gifter. The method includes a yet further step of the gifter selecting an e-card from the e-card options on the interface. Once selected, the e-card may be sent to the recipient automatically.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for online gift selection, the system including:

an interface for displaying a list of gifts;

means for enabling the list of gifts to be displayed on the interface;

means for providing access to the interface to a gifter;

means for allowing the gifter to deposit a chosen amount of fund for a selected gift on the list; and

means for allowing customising of the interface by a recipient.

Preferably, the interface is associated with a website readily available for a gifter to visit and browse. The website may be visited by invitation only or may be unrestricted.

In a preferred embodiment, the means for enabling the list of gifts to be displayed on the interface includes a computer, a monitor and appropriate software.

The means for providing access to the interface may include a password. The password may be a default password given electronically to the gifter by the recipient. The means for allowing the gifter to deposit a chosen amount of fund may include credit card payment, Paypal™ setups or any other suitable payment arrangements or systems.

It is preferred that the means for allowing customising of the interface includes software. The software may enable the recipient to choose a particular theme and edit the interface with personalised features.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention may be better understood from the following non-limiting description of a preferred embodiment, in which;

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps involved in carrying out the method of the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram demonstrating a system of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

In the description below, the method and system of the present invention are intended to be utilised for online shopping for weddings. It is however contemplated that they are equally applicable to other types of events or functions which involve online purchasing or business transactions.

It should also be understood that the steps of the method of the present invention need not be carried out in the order described below. Figure 1 shows a method 10 of providing an online service for gift selection. The method 10 includes a step of an engaged couple (hereafter referred to as recipient) providing an interface which involves setting up a website, as shown in box 12.

Once the recipient has decided who are to be included on the wedding guest list, an email is sent to each of the guests (hereafter referred to as gifters) on the list with a link to the website. Also provided to each gifter is a password which allows him or her access to the website, as shown in box 14.

The website set up by the recipient includes a gift registry displaying a list of gifts which takes the form of a wishlist. The wishlist includes goods and/or services selected by the recipient. The gifter may then go through the wishlist and select a gift from the list, as shown in box 16. The gifter is then allowed to deposit a chosen amount of fund for the selected gift by clicking on a relevant icon on the website and making a payment, as shown in box 18. The payment may be made by using a credit card of the gifter's choosing or via Paypal™.

Once a payment has been made by the gifter, the recipient is notified of the deposit electronically via e-card, email or text messaging, as shown in box 20. The recipient upon receipt of the notification is then to allocate the funds received to purchase the selected gift electronically, as indicated by box 22. Also, the recipient can allocate the funds received to purchase another item or service of his or her choosing. Furthermore, the recipient may have the option of withdrawing the funds which can be used to physically purchase the gift in- store.

The website of the present invention is customisable by the recipient to include selected features, as indicated in box 24. Customising the website may include choosing a particular theme for the website and/or editing the website with personalised features, as indicated in box 26. The recipient may choose more than one theme for the website during customisation. The recipient may send an e-card to each gifter as an invitation, as shown in box 28.

As for the themes, in this embodiment each of them is associated with a certain type of wedding such as a beach wedding, a regal wedding and an ethnological wedding. Once the recipient has made a selection of the theme, the website will display a background or get-up representative of the relevant theme.

The recipient is also able to incorporate different features formed by visual and/or audio effects. For example, the visual effects are generated by one or more of the following: photos, decorative embellishments and written comments. The audio effects may be generated by one or more of the following: classical music, contemporary music and ringing tones of wedding bells.

The method of the present invention allows the gifter to select an e-card from the e-card options on the website during the customising process. For this purpose, the website includes various e-card options for the recipient, as shown in box 50. After the purchase is made by the recipient using the fund deposited by the gifter, an e-card is sent by email to both the gifter and the recipient, as shown in box 30. It is also contemplated that an e-card is sent by the gifter to the recipient once the funds have been deposited into the recipient account.

Referring to Figure 2, a system 32 for online gift selection is shown including the website 34 described above for displaying a list of gifts. The website 34 is readily available for a gifter to visit and browse at any time before the wedding. The website 34 may only be visited by invitation. The system 32 also includes means in the form of a computer 36 and a monitor 38 for enabling the list of gifts to be displayed on the website 34. Also included in the system is means in the form of a default password 40 for providing access to the website 34 to the gifter. The password 40 is given to the gifter by the recipient electronically.

The system 32 further includes means in the form of credit card or Paypal™ setups 42 for allowing the gifter to deposit the chosen amount of funds for the selected gift on the list. The system 32 also includes means in the form of a software (not shown) for allowing customising of the website 34 by a recipient. The software enables the recipient to choose a particular theme and edit the website with the personalised features described above.

Now that a preferred embodiment has been described in some detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the method and system may offer at least the following advantages:

(1) the website is easy and quick to use by the recipient to create a gift registry;

(2) the recipient has the capability and freedom of customising the website to make it more attractive and target orientated.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope and spirit of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.

Industrial Applicability

The present invention is industrially applicable in that it provides a website which is easy and quick to use by the recipient to create a gift registry. The recipient is able to customise the website to make it more attractive and target orientated.