REDEMPTION

The present invention relates to a digital gift card system, and a method for loading data on to a digital gift card and retrieving the data through video playback on a portable video display screen.

Gift cards are generally paper or plastic cards, similar to credit cards, that have a computer readable code, such as a barcode or magnetic strip, that can be scanned at a merchant terminal and can be loaded with a monetary value for use by the recipient of the gift card. Alternatively, gift cards can have a chip, like the chip on a credit card, which can be scanned by an NFC reader to read the unique code of the gift card and reference this to the code in a server, where details of the monetary amount remaining on the gift card are stored. The physical paper or plastic gift card may or may not show the monetary value of the gift card, alongside the shop branding or logo also printed on the surface. Alternatively, the amount preloaded on the gift card is often written on a paper sleeve which can easily become lost from the gift card. In the best case scenario the gift card has a monetary value printed on it, and the recipient of the gift card is able to see the value. The whole amount is often not used up in one transaction typically if the gift card is loaded with a large amount of money, and the recipient may keep the gift card for several transactions. The amount displayed on either the paper sleeve or printed on the surface of the gift card does not update with the remaining balance, and it may be difficult for the recipient to remember how much is left on the gift card without going to the effort of checking on the retail merchant website or in a store. Traditional gift cards are also very generic and can be seen as being impersonal as they cannot be tailored to the interests of the recipient. Furthermore traditional gift cards are physically similar, no matter what the value of the gift or the nature of the retailer associated with the gift card. A low value gift card for a supermarket, for example, has a similar physical appearance to a high value gift card for an exclusive retailer.

Providing the gift card in a paper or card wallet or with some other attachment can overcome the problem of a lack of space available to print information or advertising material. The choice of wallet can provide a limited way of tailoring gift cards with graphics that may be of interest to the recipient. However such printed wallets or attachments provide limited space for printing information in relation to the card is limited, and information in written form is static and cannot be changed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a gift card system and method which overcomes at least one of the aforementioned problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gift card system comprising: a server for storing a plurality of digital gift card accounts; a central storage means for storing a plurality of video data files, a client having input means for selecting a gift amount, recipient data and one or more video films, each video film having an associated video identifier; a first communication means adapted to communicate the gift amount, the recipient data and the video identifiers associated with the selected video films from the client to the server; means associated with the server to create a digital gift card account associated with the gift amount, the recipient data and the video identifiers, whereby the gift amount is added to a balance of the digital gift card account; a gift card unit comprising a portable video display screen, a power source, a memory and a processor; and a second communication means adapted to communicate the balance of the digital gift card account and the video data files associated with the selected video films to the memory of the gift card unit; wherein the gift card unit is operable by a user to display the balance of the digital gift card account on the portable video display screen; and wherein the gift card unit is operable by a user to display the selected video films.

The gift card system of the present invention can be operable to display the remaining balance of the gift card to the user via a portable video display screen at any time, which is particularly useful when transactions have reduced the balance in the gift card account and the recipient wishes to know the remaining balance.

Furthermore, it can be operable by the user to display videos that have been selected, adding a more personal touch and tailoring the gift card to the interests of the recipient. Recipients may also find that receiving a video that is selected by the donor of the gift card adds a more personal touch to the gift card, and thus enhances the nature of the gift. Furthermore the inclusion of video playback capability enhances the perceived value of the gift card, and provides a possible revenue source for operators of the gift card system through the sale of advertising videos which may be loaded onto the gift card. The power source may be a rechargeable battery or any other appropriate power source.

The client may be an application on a portable electronic device. This may be a tablet, mobile phone or other portable device and may be docked at a retail outlet or may be remote from the outlet and connected to the server via the internet. This provides a convenient way for the gift card donor to select the gift amount, recipient data and video films.

The gift card unit may additionally comprise a SIM card slot for receiving a SIM card. This allows the gift card unit to be remotely connected to the server such that data can be transferred between the server and the gift card unit without requiring a physical connection or without connection to a WiFi network.

Optionally, the gift card unit may further comprise a microphone and the gift card unit may be usable as a mobile telephone. A telephone number may be pre

programmed into the SIM card or the memory of the gift card unit. The gift card unit may be operable by a user to contact, by mobile telephony or other means, a retailer in order to make a booking or redeem some or all of the value of the gift card for a specific service or product.

Additionally, the first and/or second communication means may use one of WiFi, broadband cellular network, 3G, 4G, 5G or Bluetooth, allowing for completely wireless communication of the gift amount, the recipient data and the video identifiers from the client to the server, and/or completely wireless communication of the balance of the digital gift card account and the video data files to the memory of the gift card unit. Alternatively, the connection may be a wired connection, which may provide a faster communication means to transfer the data than by a wireless communication means.

Additionally, the gift card unit may comprise a speaker for playing audio related to the video films or warning sounds. This has the advantage of allowing the gift card donor to select video films with an audio soundtrack, or other audio which the recipient may enjoy receiving. The speaker may be adapted to play an audio file corresponding to the balance on the gift card, which can be particularly advantageous if the gift card unit is gifted to someone who is visually impaired. The playing of a warning sound is advantageous as the warning sound can aid in reminding the user to redeem the gift card before the expiry of the credit. Gift cards often pass their expiry date with credit still available for redemption, and an audible warning will remind the recipient that the credit is about to expire, even if the gift card is not visible to the recipient at the time of the warning (i.e. if it is placed in a drawer or out of sight).

Additionally, the gift card unit may comprise an openable cover member

incorporating a switch operable to commence display of the video films on the portable video display screen and/or display the balance of the digital gift card account on the portable video display screen. The recipient of the gift card unit would find this a very simple and easy way to operate the gift card unit and to commence the playback on the video screen.

Additionally, the gift card unit may comprise a sliding mechanism arranged within a sleeve to permit sliding of the portable video display from the sleeve and

incorporating a switch operable to commence display of the video films on the portable video display screen and/or to display the balance of the digital gift card account on the portable video display screen. The recipient of the gift card unit would find this a very simple and easy way to operate the gift card unit and to commence the playback on the video screen.

Additionally, the client may further comprise an input means for selecting a restriction to redemption of a particular brand of goods or services. This allows the gift card donor to select the digital gift card for use with particular brands of interest to the user, or to ensure that they make a purchase which the gift card donor will also be happy that they have made.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of gift card redemption comprising: providing a plurality of video data files on a central storage means; providing a client input means for a user to select a gift amount, recipient data and one or more video films, each video film having an associated video identifier; communicating the gift amount, the recipient data and the video identifiers associated with the selected video films from the client to the server; creating a digital gift card account associated with the gift amount, the recipient data and the video identifiers, whereby the gift amount is added to a balance of the digital gift card account stored on a server; providing a gift card unit for use with the digital gift card account, the gift card unit comprising a portable video display screen, a memory and a processor; communicating the balance of the digital gift card account and the video data files associated with the selected video films to the memory of the gift card unit; displaying the balance of the digital gift card account on the portable video display screen in response to a user trigger; and displaying the selected video films on the portable video display screen in response to a user trigger.

The present method is advantageous in that it provides a convenient method of loading the required data onto a digital gift card account associated with a gift card unit, and of displaying selected video films to a recipient. The client, which may be a mobile phone, computer or dedicated in-store terminal, makes it easy for the gift card donor to enter the data. The method sets up a way communicating the data around the system such that the basic details (gift amount, recipient data and video identifiers) required for the gift card unit are sent from the client to the server and added to a digital gift card account, then the balance of the digital gift card account and the video data files associated with the selected video films are communicated to the memory of the gift card unit, and then both are displayed on the portable video display screen when the recipient triggers the user trigger.

The method is advantageous as it allows both the value of the gift card to be displayed when required by the recipient, and also more personalised video films or adverts adding a more personal touch and tailoring the gift card to the interests of the recipient, and providing an advertising opportunity for retailers.

Additionally, the method may comprise updating the balance of the digital gift card after a transaction, communicating the new balance of the digital gift card account to the memory of the gift card unit and displaying the balance of the digital gift card account on the portable video display screen in response to the user trigger. This is advantageous as it provides the recipient with an easy way of finding out the remaining balance on the gift card unit, without needing to take the gift card unit to a retail outlet or even entering a code for the gift card online to find out the balance. Simply triggering the user trigger on the gift card unit is a simple and fast way of finding out this information. Additionally, the method may further comprise displaying video samples to the user in the form of one or more samples of the full video film, thumbnails, screenshots or descriptions of the video film. It may be too time consuming or inconvenient for the gift card donor to watch full video films when selecting which video films are to be added to the gift card unit. Providing shorter ways of providing an overview of the video films available for selection is a more user friendly way, and any of the forms mentioned above provide this advantage.

Additionally, the method may further comprise communicating a unique access code associated with the digital gift card account to the memory of the gift card unit, and displaying the unique access code on the portable display screen in response to the user trigger. This allows the recipient to receive the unique access code which can then be entered online, over a telephone connection or at a retail merchant terminal in a store. The unique access code may also be scanned by a merchant terminal. Alternatively, or additionally, the unique access code may be printed on the gift card unit. This provides the advantage that the unique access code can always be viewed for use even if the battery is drained in the portable gift card unit.

Additionally the unique access code can be used to access an online version of the gift card account, via portable and fixed electronic devices to a dedicated website, or via an application or computer program, to give the recipient access to information about the balance, or to spend some or all of the balance of the digital gift card account, or to check the expiry date of the digital gift card account, even if the gift card is lost, discarded or disposed of. In addition, an application or program on a smartphone or device could be adapted to create a machine readable code based on the unique access code which can be read at a merchant terminal from the screen of the smartphone or device, without the need for the gift card to be present.

Additionally, the method may include the user trigger being activated when the gift card unit is opened to reveal the portable video display screen. This allows for the balance and the selected video films to automatically display when the recipient opens the gift card unit to reveal the portable video display screen. The recipient therefore does not need to know how to activate the gift card unit to display the balance and video films, and the activation of it will be smooth and automatic. Alternatively, the user trigger may be activated when the portable video display screen is slid from within the gift card unit. This option may be more convenient to activate the user trigger if the design incorporates the portable video display screen sliding from within the gift card unit rather than opening the gift card unit to reveal it.

Additionally, the method may comprise providing a machine readable code on the gift card unit, the code identifying the gift card unit. The advantage of this feature is that the gift card unit can be identified such that a machine can recognise that particular gift card and perform an appropriate function depending on the purpose of the machine readable code. This may be a simple linear or matrix bar code, a serial number or another code to identify that gift card unit. The additional of a bar code or serial number can assist in the sale of the gift card unit, or in the purchase of items using the prepaid balance on the gift card unit, when it is scanned at a merchant terminal, or it can assist in the loading of data on to the gift card unit as that particular unit can be tracked using the machine readable code. Alternatively the machine readable code may be provided as magnetic or electronic data in the gift card unit, for example a chip or RFID tag or magnetic strip or the like.

Additionally, the gift card unit may be delivered to a recipient identified by the recipient data. Since the recipient data has already been gathered, the shipping of a gift card unit to this recipient once it has been loaded with the required data could easily be automated in a factory.

Additionally, the displaying of the balance of the digital gift card account on the portable video display screen may be terminated in response to a second user trigger. This allows the recipient to terminate displaying this balance whenever they wish. Similarly, the displaying of the selected video films on the portable video display screen may be terminated in response to the second user trigger. The second user trigger may be incorporated into the way the gift card unit is closed, for example the second user trigger may comprise closing the gift card unit to cover the portable video display screen. Alternatively, the second user trigger may comprise sliding the portable video display screen into the gift card unit. These methods provide simple and intuitive ways for the user to be able to control the operation of the portable video display screen, and also ensure that the portable video display screen stops displaying either the selected video films or the balance of the digital gift card account in response to the recipient closing the gift card unit, thus ensuring that the battery is preserved when the gift card unit is closed.

Additionally, the recipient data may include one or more of a recipient name, recipient address for delivery, text greeting, recipient email address, telephone number for delivery of electronic messages, stock still images, still images provided by a user, and video films provided by a user. The gathering of this information allows the recipient to be given a gift card in a much more personal way, as the gift card can be tailored and personalised by the donor. The recipient address for delivery and recipient email address may be used to help identify the recipient for automatic shipping of the gift card unit once it has been loaded with the required data, as previously discussed. Images and video films provided by the user can be uploaded from the client in a known manner.

Additionally, the method may comprise displaying one or more of a text greeting, stock still images, still images provided by a user, and video films provided by a user included in the recipient data on the portable video display screen in response to a user trigger. This again allows for the content displayed to be personalised and tailored which cannot usually be done with traditional gift cards.

Additionally, the method may comprise presenting the gift card unit at a retail location; reading the machine readable code on the gift card unit; identifying the digital gift card account associated with the gift card unit; and deducting a sum of money from the balance of the digital gift card account in response to a transaction at the retail location to calculate an updated balance of the digital gift card account. This method facilitates the actual spending of credit on the gift card unit.

Furthermore, the method may further comprise communicating this updated balance to the memory of the gift card unit so that it can be displayed on the portable video display screen, and might still further comprise applying a filtering criteria to the selected video films to remove video films from being displayed that are related to products which are of a higher value than the updated balance. Alternatively or additionally new films or still adverts for products which are within the budget of the gift card balance may be added and/or displayed. These new media can be transmitted via a mobile date network or could be preinstalled on the video gift card unit. These new media could be pre-selected by the gift card donor in the original set-up transaction, and accompanied by a new message from the gift card donor to the recipient, or could be entirely at the discretion of the retailer. This final method step allows for retail merchants to selectively advertise using the gift card unit, in that they might follow a strategy of advertising products which can be bought with the remaining credit in the digital gift card account, so that the recipient will come back to the store or website to spend the credit, where they can be targeted by other adverts or offers.

Additionally, the method may further comprise the client input means presenting the user with an option to select a restriction to redemption of particular brands of goods or services, communicating the restriction from the client to the server, and applying the restriction to the digital gift card account. This allows the gift card donor to select the digital gift card for use with particular brands of interest to the user, or to ensure that they make a purchase which the gift card donor will also be happy that they have made. If such a restriction is applied, the portable video display screen may display information relating to this restriction to the gift card recipient.

Additionally, the speakers may play a warning sound or an audio file relating to a warning of expiry of the digital gift card account. A warning may instead or also be displayed on the portable video display screen, relating to the expiry of the digital gift card account. These warnings are particularly advantageous to the gift card recipient, as they serve to remind the recipient that the gift card should be used before the expiry date. Often gift cards are forgotten about and the expiry date passes without the full credit being redeemed. This is particularly likely to happen if the gift card is placed out of sight, and the audible reminder will serve to alert the recipient even if the gift card unit is placed in a drawer or cupboard.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic of a gift card system according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a flowchart detailing how a gift card of the gift card system of Fig. 1 may be loaded ready for dispatch to the recipient;

Fig. 3 shows a gift card unit of a gift card system according to the invention comprising a sliding mechanism in a closed position;

Fig. 4 shows the gift card unit of Fig. 3 in an open position;

Fig. 5 shows a side view of the gift card unit of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the gift card unit of Fig. 5

Fig. 7 shows another gift card unit of a gift card system according to the invention in an open position;

Fig. 8 shows a side view of the gift card unit of Fig. 7 in a closed position; and Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of the gift card unit of Fig 8. in the open position.

Referring to Figure 1 , a gift card system 100 is shown. The gift card system 100 is a complete system spanning entry of the essential data from the side of the gift card donor, through processing of the data and display of the data to the gift card recipient. The system 100 allows for a gift card donor to select a gift amount, recipient data and one or more video films which might be of interest to the recipient. The gift amount may be in any currency, or may be points, store credits,

experiences, tickets or goods for example. The recipient data entered may include the recipient name, address for delivery of the gift card, a text greeting, a recipient email address or telephone number for delivery of electronic messages, stock still images from a bank of generic images, still images provided by a user, and video films provided by a user. The still images and video films provided by a user may be images or videos that have been recorded on a mobile phone, for example, and uploaded by a known means such as transferring the images or videos to the client via a cable or via the internet. The gathering of the recipient data, such as the recipient address, allows for the system to store these details which can be fed through the system to allow for postage of the preloaded gift card unit to the recipient identified by the recipient data.

The recipient data might include any other data commonly gathered about the recipient of a gift. The gift donor can also select video films which they want displayed to the gift receiver when they receive the gift card. This may be a birthday greeting, for example a video displaying‘Happy Birthday’ with confetti falling, or it may be a video recorded by the donor of the donor saying‘happy birthday’ or another greeting. The video may also be a video of something of particular interest to the gift card recipient, such as a video related to a hobby they pursue. The gift amount, recipient data and the videos that have been selected can be loaded onto the gift card unit, which is then gifted to the recipient and they are able to view the gift amount and video films on a portable video display screen which is part of the gift card unit. The gift card donor can select the order in which the video films are played. Alternatively the gift card can be programmed to play the films in random order, which will add to the interactivity of the recipient with the gift card and the novelty of the gift.

Referring to Figure 1 , to be able to perform the process set out above, the gift card system 100 comprises a server 110 for storing a plurality of digital gift card accounts 111 , 112, 113, 114. The server 110 may be in a laptop, desktop or mainframe computer, or may be part of a large server network. Each digital gift card account 111 , 112, 113, 114 has a balance which can be topped up from zero with a gift amount, and then used to make purchases in retail outlets or in e-commerce, either using the whole gift amount in one transaction or draining the gift amount in multiple transactions. The gift card system 100 further comprises a central storage means 120 for storing a plurality of video data files 121 , 122, 123, 124, and a client 130 having an input means for selecting a gift amount, recipient data and one or more video films 140, 141 , 142, 143. The client 130 may be a computer a retail merchant terminal, an online portal or an internet portal on a desktop computer or portable device such as a laptop, tablet or phone, and may be presented as an application on a portable device. The video data files 121 , 122, 123, 124 are the full data files required to replay the video films 140, 141 , 142, 143. The gift card donor may select the required video films 140, 141 , 142, 143 on the client 130 from a replay of the full video films 140, 141 , 142, 143, samples of the video films, thumbnails of the video films, screenshots of the video films and/or an audio or written description of the video films.

Each video film 140, 141 , 142, 143 has an associated video identifier 150, 151 , 152, 153. Video identifiers 150, 151 , 152, 153 are used so that only the identifier needs to be communicated between modules of the system, rather than full video data files 121 , 122, 123, 124. The video film 140, 141 , 142, 143 may be created by the user and uploaded, or may be a video film or a plurality of video films selected from a bank of video films. The video film 140, 141 , 142, 143 may be any length and may also feature sound which may be played from speakers built into the gift card unit 170. The sound may include a sound associated with the video films 140, 141 , 142, 143, a description of the gift amount and/or retail outlets it can be redeemed at, or a personal messaged recorded by the donor. Alternatively, the sound may be provided as a separate audio file, independent of the video data file. Additionally, the speakers may play a warning sound, or pre-recorded message, to alert the user when the gift card is about to expire.

Still referring to Figure 1 , the gift card system 100 further comprises a first communication means 160 adapted to communicate the gift amount, recipient data and the video identifiers 150, 151 , 152, 153 associated with the selected video films 140, 141 , 142, 143 from the client 130 to the server 110. The server 110 has a means associated with it for creating a plurality of digital gift card accounts 111 , 112, 113, 114, and can create each gift card account 111 , 112, 113,114 to be associated with the gift amount, the recipient data and the video identifier 150, 151 , 152, 153 for an individual gift card unit 170. The means for creating the digital gift card account can add the gift amount to a balance of a digital gift card account 111 , 112, 113, 114. Each gift card unit 170 comprises a portable video display screen 171 , a memory 172, a processor 173 and an optional speaker 174, which is required if the gift card unit is adapted to play video soundtracks, audio information or a warning that the gift card is about to expire. In this regard, the processor 173 may include a known timing system, and the expiry time or date can be programmed into the processor such that it will activate the speakers to play the warning sound to the user when the gift card is about to expire, or at a predetermined time prior expiry. Additionally, the processor may activate the video display screen 171 at this time, to display a message, image or display a video. Each gift card unit 170 also includes a power source 175, for example a rechargeable battery which can be recharged in a known manner through a USB lead or the like. There is also a second communication means 180 adapted to communicate the balance of the digital gift card account 111 , 112, 113, 114 from the server 110 to the memory 172 of the gift card unit 170, and the video data files 121 , 122, 123, 124 associated with the selected video films 140, 141 , 142, 143 from the central storage means 120 to the memory 172 of the gift card unit 170. The first and second communication means 160, 180 can be any form of wired or wireless communication medium, including, but not limited to, the internet, WiFi, broadband cellular network, 3G, 4G, 5G, Bluetooth, or any other suitable communication medium. The gift card unit 170 may comprise a SIM card slot (not shown) for receiving a SIM card. Using a SIM card in the gift card system 100 allows the gift card unit 170 to communicate via broadband cellular networks, 3G, 4G or 5G. The gift card unit 170 is operable by a user to display the balance of the digital gift card account 111 , 112, 113, 114 on the portable video display screen 171 , and is also operable by a user to display the selected video films 140, 141 , 142, 143, upon activation of a user trigger, for example by opening the gift card unit 170 and thereby triggering a switch within the unit.

Optionally, the gift card unit 170 may further comprise a microphone 176 so that the gift card unit may be used as a mobile telephone. A telephone number may be pre programmed into the SIM card or the memory 172 of the gift card unit 170. The gift card unit 170 may then be used as a telephone by a user to call a retailer in order to make a booking or redeem some or all of the value of the gift card for a specific service or product.

It is important that the recipient of the gift card is able to redeem the gift card whenever they wish to do so. There are various options for how the gift card redemption can work, the most simple method being a printed unique access code associated with the digital gift card account 111 , 112, 113, 114 which is printed on the gift card unit 170. This unique access code is associated with the digital gift card account 111 , 112, 113, 114 on creation of the digital gift card account 111 , 112, 113, 114 or when money is added to the digital gift card account 111 , 112, 113, 114. The recipient may then read off and enter this unique access code online, or provide it to a retail assistant if making an instore purchase. Alternatively, the unique access code may be associated with a digital gift card account 111 , 112, 113, 114, and then communicated to the memory 172 of the gift card unit 170. The unique access code can then be displayed to the recipient on the portable video display screen 171 in response to the user trigger. In an optional embodiment of the invention, the unique access code can provide access to a website where the balance is displayed and transactions can be conducted. Alternatively the unique access code can be used in conjunction with an application on a phone or other device to generate a machine readable code on a screen of the device. The machine readable code can be used at a merchant terminal in a store when spending some or all of the balance in the digital gift card account 111 , 112, 113, 114. The unique access code can be used to give the recipient access to information about the balance, or to spend some or all of the balance of the digital gift card account, or to check the expiry date of the digital gift card account, even if the gift card is lost, discarded or disposed of.

Alternatively, to identify the gift card and therefore the digital gift card account 111 , 112, 113, 114 associated with that gift card, a machine readable code may be provided on the gift card unit 170. The machine readable code may be any code which can be scanned at a merchant terminal instore, or by a code reader application on a portable electronic device such as a phone or tablet. Suitable codes are for example, linear or matrix bar codes, QR codes, serial numbers, electronically readable chips or RFID tags.

The user trigger used to activate the portable video display screen 171 will depend on the physical arrangement of the gift card unit 170. Preferably, the gift card unit 170 is a small square or rectangular box, which is small enough that it can be handheld and operated by hand.

Figure 2 shows a flowchart 200 detailing how a gift card unit 170 of the gift card system 100 of Figure 1 may be loaded ready for dispatch to the recipient. The flowchart 200 begins with step 201 where there is provided a client input means at a retail store or online. The donor of the gift card unit 170 either operates the client themselves if it is an online portal or an application on a portable electronic device or computer, or they may discuss the required recipient details with a retail assistant in a store and the retail assistant could enter the details into the client which may be a merchant terminal.

The gift card donor would enter all of the information they wish to include, some of which is necessary, such as the gift amount to be loaded on to the gift card unit which is selected at step 202. Other information may be left blank, such as a personal greeting to be included and displayed on the gift card unit.

After the gift amount is selected at step 202, and payment is made by the donor, a percentage of this payment goes to the gift card supplier, with the remaining percentage going to the retailer. In some cases the gift card supplier and retailer may be the same entity, in which case the whole payment goes to this joined entity. The gift card donor can select video films 140, 141 , 142, 143 on the client for loading on to the gift card unit 170. These video films 140, 141 , 142, 143 may be any appropriate video films for the type of gift being given. For example, they may be video films of possible items that can be purchased from that retailer, or they may be advertising material for that retailer, possibly comprising seasonal or promotional advertising suitable to the gift, for example Christmas advertising videos for that retailer. The video films could also be video films that have been uploaded by the donor, and might be homemade video films recorded from a mobile phone for example. The video films 140, 141 , 142, 143 may be any combination of these different types of video films, and multiple video films may be selected for loading on to the gift card unit for playback by the gift card recipient. A third party may pay to have their advertising video films included in the bank of video films from which the donor selects video films to be displayed to the recipient. If third party advertising video films are loaded on to the gift card unit 170, the advertising revenue goes to the retail store for which the gift card is purchased - as shown in step 205. This provides an additional revenue stream from which the retail store can make money.

Furthermore, transactional data such as what products are bought with the gift card in response to what advertising videos are displayed may be collected by the retail store, as shown in step 206. This might be done in real time as transactions are made on the gift card, or the data might be saved in the memory 172 and then downloaded for analysis when the gift card unit 170 is returned to the retailer on completion of the final transaction which returns the balance of the digital gift card account 111 , 112, 113, 114 to zero.

After the donor has selected the gift amount and video films 140, 141 , 142, 143 for loading on to the gift card unit 170, and provided any other information for the creating of the gift card unit such as personal messages to be displayed, a unique access code is created at step 207. This is the code that is used by the recipient of the gift card to be able to make purchases with the gift card. The code can be in many forms, and may be a printed bar code or serial number printed on the gift card unit 170, for example. It may also be a unique code that can be displayed on the portable video display screen. The digital gift card account 111 , 112, 113, 114 is created on the server in step 211 , and the balance on the gift card is stored, along with other details of the digital gift card account. If required, the digital gift card account can be accessed online using the unique access code, as described above with reference to Fig. 1.

The donor then has the opportunity to add a personal message to the gift card unit 170, either in the form of a printed message somewhere on the gift card unit 170, or a message that will be displayed on the portable video display screen 171.

Alternatively or in addition the donor can add a personal audio message to the gift card unit 170 that will be played back through the speaker 174. This is step 208 in the flowchart 200.

The data is then downloaded on to the gift card unit 170, as shown in step 209. All of the required data is sent for storage in the gift card unit memory 172, where it may be recalled by the gift card unit processor when the gift card unit 170 is operated by the recipient. The gift card unit 170 may then be dispatched to the recipient at step 210.

An alternative embodiment is envisaged whereby the retail store is provided by the supplier of the gift card unit 170. In this embodiment, the gift card donor accesses the retail store or online e-shop of the gift card provider at step 201. A gift amount is selected at step 202, however in this embodiment the gift card provider is also serving as a retail merchant for the sale of goods to the gift card recipient. The gift card account can be redeemed against any goods for sale through the gift card provider e-shop, or the gift card donor may have the option to select particular brands or products to which the gift card is restricted for redemption of products of these particular brands. The gift card recipient will then access the retail store or online e-shop of the gift card supplier and browse products which can be redeemed using the available credit in their online digital gift card account. If the gift card donor has selected a restriction of brands, as discussed, then the online e-shop of the gift card provider can display only these products as the products available for purchase, after the access code has been entered by the gift card recipient.

In this embodiment, additional revenue may be collected by the gift card supplier in addition to the percentage of the gift amount in step 203, as the supplier is also the retail store in step 205, and so revenue will be available from the mark up on goods redeemed by the gift card. A first possible arrangement of the gift card unit 170 is shown in Figures 3-6. Figure 3 shows the gift card unit 170 in a closed position. Figures 4 to 6 show the gift card unit 170 in an open position. The gift card unit 170 shown in these figures comprises a sliding mechanism 300, which is hidden within an outer sleeve 310. The sliding mechanism may be as disclosed in WO 00/38999. The outer sleeve 310 encases the sliding mechanism 300, the portable video display screen 171 , and a card 320. The outer sleeve 310 may comprise a recess 330, or other feature to allow the card 320 to be gripped by hand as it is positioned below the outer sleeve 310. The card may instead comprise a tab, for example, which may protrude from below the outer sleeve 310 such that it can be held by the user. The gift card unit 170 may be shipped to the recipient in the closed position shown in Figure 3. The outer sleeve 310 may comprise the retail outlet logo or branding for example. The recipient of the gift card unit 170 can pull the card 320 from within the outer sleeve 310. The card 320 may comprise the retail outlet logo or branding, or a printed message for the recipient. The sliding mechanism 300 links the card 320 to the portable video display screen 171 such that pulling the card 320 will move the portable video display screen 171 out from within the outer sleeve 310 and reveal it to the recipient.

The gift card unit 170 may comprise a magnetic switch 340. The magnetic switch 340 can be arranged such that it will activate when the portable video display screen 171 is revealed to the user from within the outer sleeve 310. This can be used to trigger activation of the portable video display screen 171 , to turn it on and allow it to start displaying the balance of the digital gift card account and the selected video films. Similarly, sliding the portable video display screen 171 back into the outer sleeve 310 will connect the contacts of the magnetic switch 340, and this will turn off the portable video display screen to preserve the battery 175. The user will therefore easily be able to stop the display of the balance of the digital gift card account and the display of the video films, simply by sliding the portable video display screen back into the outer sleeve 310. Alternatively, because of the sliding mechanism 300, the user can push the card 320 back into the outer sleeve 310, and this will cause the portable video display screen to also move back into the outer sleeve 310. The gift card unit 170 includes a memory 172, processor 173, optional speaker 174 and battery 175. In Figure 4 the portable video display screen 171 is visible, and it can be seen that the contacts of the magnetic switch 340 are apart. A recess 400 can also be seen in the portable video display screen 171. This recess 400 aligns with the recess 330 of the outer sleeve 310 to aid hand operation of the card 320, as it allows a finger to be placed behind the card 320 so that it can be pulled from within the outer sleeve 310.

The sliding mechanism 300 may comprise any arrangement that allows the card 320 and portable video display screen 171 to be linked such that the user pushing or pulling one of them will cause the other to move in to or out of the outer sleeve 310. The sliding mechanism 300 shown in Figure 5 uses a dividing card member in the centre, wrapped in a band which can move around the dividing card and transfer the motion to the opposite direction and on the opposite side of the dividing card. The portable video display screen 171 and the card 320 abut the band such that the band grips and moves them in to or out of the outer sleeve 310 when it moves.

It can be seen that the magnetic switch cannot be seen from the outside of the gift card unit 170. Using a magnetic switch means that it can be hidden within the portable video display screen 171. This provides a very sleek looking gift card unit 170, where the magnetic switch cannot be seen, and so the recipient of the gift card cannot see how the gift card unit 170 operates to trigger displaying the video films 140, 141 , 142, 143.

Referring now to Figure 7, which shows a different gift card unit arrangement. The gift card unit 700 comprises a portable video display screen 710 and a card 720, however the card 720 is hinged around the video display screen 710 such that it forms a cover member which covers the portable video display screen 710 when it is not in use. The cover member may be of any suitable material. This arrangement also comprises a magnetic switch 740, with the contacts being separated when the card 720 is opened and lifted away from the portable video display screen 710.

Figures 8 and 9 show the same gift card unit arrangement as that shown in Figure 7. Figure 8 shows the gift card unit 700 in the closed position, and Figure 9 shows the gift card unit 700 in the open position. It can be seen in Figure 9 that the magnetic switch 740 is hidden within the portable video display screen 171 allowing for a tidy presentation with no visible controls and a very simple operation. The gift card unit 170 includes hidden within it a memory 172, processor 173 and battery 175. The optional speaker 174 may be provided integrally with the display screen 710.

The gift card unit 170 can be any suitable shape and size and may be made of any suitable material. The gift card unit 170 is not limited to the shapes shown in the figures.

A major advantage of providing a gift card system 100 incorporating a portable video display screen 171 is that after a transaction the remaining balance of the digital gift card account can be displayed on the portable video display screen 171. This is not possible with traditional gift cards. This is achieved by updating the balance of the digital gift card account after a transaction, and communicating the new balance of the digital gift card account to the memory 172 of the gift card unit 170. The balance of the digital gift card account is then displayed on the portable video display screen

171 in response to the user trigger.

A further feature which may be added to the system is that a filtering criteria might be added to the selected video films to remove video films that are related to products which are of a higher value than the updated balance. Alternatively films or images of products of a closer value to the remaining balance may be added to the memory

172 of the gift card unit 170, for example products or services which have a value slightly more or less than the remaining balance, or products or services of considerably lower value. This allows the retailer to adjust what is shown to the recipient, and might benefit the retailer as they might adopt certain marketing strategies in which they might try to tempt the recipient back to the store to spend the gift card, but then target them with other adverts or offers once they are in store. Whichever marketing strategy is deployed, the retailer would benefit from being able to deliver more targeted adverts to the recipient based on the credit they still have available to spend. The criteria for choosing added films or images could be pre selected by the donor in the original set-up transaction, and their appearance on the video display screen 171 could be accompanied by a new video, audio or text message provided by the donor; alternatively the criteria could be entirely at the discretion of the retailer. The system and methods described herein provide advantages over traditional gift cards to retailers, donors and recipients. Retailers are able to make marketing videos for products and offers they wish to push, and then the appropriate ones for that individual can be selected by the gift donor. Furthermore, the invention provides a new form of advertising potential over advertisements being displayed in the traditional fashion, since the adverts traditionally cannot be selected based on the spending trends of the gift card recipient, or selected based on the remaining balance of the gift card. Retailers would find it advantageous if they could allow for multiple possible adverts to be selected, but the actual ones that get shown to the user of the gift card at any point in time are based on the remaining balance of the gift card, the spending habits of the user, or to promote special offers at that time. It might be that the adverts are for products that are cheaper than the remaining balance, to try and encourage the user back to the shop to spend the credit, or it might be that out of the adverts selected by the donor as possible adverts, the retailer may wish to display adverts for products that are just slightly more than the gift card value to try and encourage spending by the user. The gift donor is able to provide a more personalised gift whilst still having the benefits of the traditional gift card in that they offer flexibility and being able to give the recipient the choice of the product or service they wish. If the gift recipient is unfamiliar with the retailer, the videos selected by the donor can inform them of the types of products available for purchase with the gift card. Similarly, these benefits are applicable to the recipient.

Improvements and modifications may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.