Interactive event planning and payment method and system

Abstract

Method for an event organizer to receive gifts and services and an interactive registry system. A database of gifts and services is created and a price therefor is obtained. Gift givers accessing the database are shown gifts and services along with their prices. The gift givers select which gifts and/or services they want to purchase and remit funds to an intermediary upon which, the gift or service provider is directed to forward the gift to the organizer or perform the services for the organizer. In an event planning method and system, different templates with prices are stored in memory, each template including information about goods and services for an event or service. An event organizer accesses the memory to browse the templates and select one for purchase. Upon selection of a template, the provider(s) of the goods or services are requested to provide the listed goods and services.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method for an event organizer to arrange the receipt of gifts for the event and services rendered in conjunction with the event, comprising the steps of: 
 creating an on-line database of gifts and services desired by the organizer,    obtaining a first price for the gifts and services in the database,    enabling access by gift givers to the database,    displaying to the gift givers the gifts and services in the database and a second price for the gift and services and enabling the gift givers to select one or more of the gifts and services for purchase on behalf of the organizer, the second price being a suggested retail price greater than or equal to the first price, and    upon receipt of funds from the gift givers equal to the second price, directing one of the gift and service providers to forward the gift to the organizer or perform the services for the organizer.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of creating the database comprises the steps of: 
 displaying different categories of gifts and services to the organizer,    enabling the selection of each of the categories of gifts and services, and    for each category, displaying different gifts or services and enabling the selection of each of the gifts and services,    whereby the organizer is able to select either categories of gift and services for entry into the database, specific gifts and services within each category for entry into the database or a combination thereof.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of obtaining a first price for the gifts and services comprises the step of contacting gift and service providers to solicit bids from the gift and service providers.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of obtaining a first price for the gifts and services comprises the step of conducting an auction among possible providers to obtain a lowest price for the gifts and services.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of: 
 enlisting providers of gifts and services to submit bids for gifts and services listed in said database, and    electronically notifying the providers when one of the gifts and services provided by the gift and service provider is included in the database.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of obtaining a first price for the gifts and services comprises the step of obtaining a price from several gift and service providers for each gift and service, further comprising the steps of: 
 enabling access to said database by the organizer,    displaying the gifts and services and the prices provided by the gift and service providers, and    enabling the organizer to purchase the gift and services from any of the gift and service providers that submitted a price for the gift and services.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 determining a difference between the first and second price upon receipt of funds from the gift giver equal to the second price, and    directing a first portion of the difference in price to an account of the organizer for use by the organizer in purchasing gifts and services in the database.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of creating the database comprises the steps of: 
 providing a website to enable creation of the database,    displaying options of different gifts and services to the organizer at the website, and    displaying advertising of providers of gifts and services at the website.    
     
     
         9 . A method for coordinating payment for products and services in connection with an event, comprising the steps of: 
 creating a database of goods and services desired by an event organizer for the event with an associated cost;    enabling others to access the database and commit to payment for the desired goods and services;    associating the manner of payment with the desired goods and services; and    upon acceptance by a provider of the goods and services to the manner of payment associated with the goods and services, contractually obligating the provider of the goods and services to deliver the goods and services for the event.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of 
 displaying options to the others for payment of the desired goods and services for specific events or parties in a specified geographical location within a specified time range.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of 
 soliciting providers of goods and services to commit to provide the goods and services at the associated cost.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of creating a database for the event comprises the steps of determining whether a good or service desired for the event is the same or substantially similar to a good or service desired for another event as contained in a database for the other event, and if so, notifying potential providers of the good or services of the presence of multiple requests for the same or similar good or service.  
     
     
         13 . A method for planning an event, comprising the steps of: 
 providing memory media having data encoded thereon in computer useable form, the data comprising a plurality of different templates and associated prices, each of the templates including information about goods and services for an event;    enabling event organizers to interface with the memory media and peruse the templates;    enabling the event organizers to select one of the templates; and    upon selection of one of the templates and after at least partial payment by the event organizer for the selected template, informing providers of the goods and services associated with the selected template of a request to provide the goods and services listed in the template to the event organizer.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of: 
 directing compensation to the creator of the selected template.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of: 
 creating a digital or analog recording, video or photographs of an event using each of the templates, and    enabling the event organizers to view the digital or analog recordings, videos or photographs after selection of the template.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of: 
 associating the identity of the creator of each of the templates and terms for consulting with the creator of the selected template with each of the templates,    providing the identity of the creator of the selected template to the event organizer, and    enabling the event organizer to consult with the creator of the selected template upon acceptance of the terms for consulting with the creator of the selected template.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of: 
 enabling the creation of a new template by presenting options for goods and services for an event, for each good and service, presenting the identity of one or more providers of the good or service, and contractually obligating the provider of the good or service to deliver the good or perform the service upon acceptance of the template by an event organizer.    
     
     
         18 . A method for enabling a user to obtain a service, comprising the steps of: 
 providing memory media having data encoded thereon in computer useable form, the data comprising a plurality of different templates and associated prices, each of the templates including information about a particular service;    enabling the user to interface with the memory media and peruse the templates;    enabling the user to select one of the templates; and    upon selection of one of the templates and after a commitment for payment by the user for the selected template, informing the provider of the service associated with the selected template of a request to provide the service according to the template to the user.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of: 
 operating a web site at which the user interfaces with the memory media.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of: 
 requiring the user to provide partial payment upon selection of one of the templates; and    guaranteeing at least partial payment to the provider of services associated with the template upon commitment by the provider to perform the services for the user.