Systems and methods for providing Internet accessible registries

Abstract

A method of creating an aggregated Internet accessible registry includes the step of accepting a query from a registrant. The query contains an identifier and a search criteria, the identifier identifying one of a multitude of registry databases. Registries matching the search criteria in the selected registry database are retrieved. When the registrant selects one of the matching registries, a general user identifier that uniquely identifies the registrant is associated with the registry. Additional queries and registry selection completes the aggregation registry process. The aggregated registry is managed on-line by the registrants and accessed by guests. The aggregated registry provides a framework that allows automated updates by registry database provides without loss of the identity of an aggregated registry.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of creating an aggregated registry, said method comprising the steps of: 
 accepting a query from a registrant, said query including an identifier and a search criteria, said identifier designating a registry database in a plurality of registry databases;    retrieving a first set of registries from said registry database designated by said identifier, each registry in said first set of registries matching said search criteria;    receiving a selection of a registry in said first set of registries; and    associating a user identification with said registry, the user identification uniquely identifying said registrant;    wherein said aggregated registry comprises each registry in each registry database in said plurality of registry databases that is associated with said user identification.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the steps of: 
 storing said plurality of registry databases on a server;    updating a registry database in said plurality of registry databases with an update file; and    restoring each association between a registry and a user identification in said registry database.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said retrieving step further includes the steps of: 
 accessing said registry database on a remote server; and    querying said registry database with said search criteria.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a registry database in said plurality of registry databases is created by the steps of: 
 providing an on-line catalog;    identifying items in said on-line catalog that are selected by said registrant; and    creating a registry in said registry database that includes said items.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing an option group, each option in said option group corresponding to a different registry database provider associated with a registry database in said plurality of registry databases;    receiving a selected option;    obtaining a search query;    searching a registry database associated with said selected option using said search query;    communicating a second set of registries from said registry database that match said search query; and    supporting, in response to a selection of a registry in said set of registries, on-line registration services for said registry.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining a first query from a guest;    searching each registry database in said plurality of registry databases for registries matching said first query;    communicating a first set of unique identifiers, each unique identifier associated with a registry that matches said first query;    opening a first registry, in response to a selection of a first unique identifier from said first set of unique identifiers, the first registry associated with said first unique identifier; and    identifying, in response to instructions from said guest, a first item in said first registry.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the steps of: 
 acquiring a second query from said guest;    examining each registry database in said plurality of registry databases for registries matching said second query;    transmitting a second set of unique identifiers, each unique identifier associated with a registry that matches said second query;    selecting a second registry, in response to a selection of a second unique identifier from said second set of unique identifiers, the second registry associated with said second unique identifier; and    adding, in response to an affirmation by said guest, a second item in said second registry to an aggregated purchase list that includes said first item.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of executing a purchase transaction, in response to a purchase request by said guest, said purchase transaction including the steps of: 
 producing a requisition for each registry database provider represented in said purchase list, said requisition including an order for each item in said purchase list that originated from a registry database associated with the registry database provider; and    generating a set of transactions using a purchase option associated with said guest; each transaction in said set of transactions associated with a different registry database provider.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said first query includes a surname and an event date.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said first and said second registry are provided by different registry database providers.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 identifying a request from said registrant, said request including a password;    matching said password with a designation stored in a registrant profile associated with said registrant; and    when said password matches said designation, the method further comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining a unique user identifier from said registrant profile;  
 generating a list of registries, said list of registries including each registry in each registry database in said plurality of registry databases having said unique user identifier;  
 requiring selection of a registry from said list of registries; and  
 supporting on-line management of said registry by said registrant.  
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of supporting on-line management of said registry by said registrant includes at least one of: 
 adding an item to said registry;    deleting an item from said registry;    reviewing a purchase order history of said registry;    altering an item order quantity in said registry;    identifying a party that has made an order using said registry; and    sending a message to a party that has made an order using said registry.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of editing said registrant profile, in response to instructions from said registrant.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said instructions from said registrant include personal contact update information, a personal web site preference, an event date, an event type, a credit card number, a guest list, a guest E-mail address, or a guest broadcast message.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 performing an authentication operation, said authentication operation identifying and granting access to a registry database provider; and    providing said registry database provider access to a registry database associated with said registry database provider.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said providing step includes the option of: 
 reviewing registry orders associated with said registry database,    revising an on-line catalog of products offered by said registry database provider, and    updating a registry database associated with said registry database provider.    
     
     
         17 . A computer readable memory used to direct a server to function in a specified manner, comprising: 
 registry database information stored in said memory, said registry database information including a location of each registry database in a plurality of registry databases; and    executable instructions stored in said memory, said executable instructions including: 
 instructions to accept a query from a registrant, said query including an identifier and a search criteria, the identifier designating a registry database in a plurality of registry databases;  
 instructions to retrieve a first set of registries from said registry database designated by said identifier, each registry in said first set of registries matching said search criteria;  
 instructions to receive a selection of a registry in said first set of registries; and  
 instructions to associate a user identification with said registry, the user identification uniquely identifying said registrant;  
   wherein each registry in each registry database in said plurality of registry databases that is associated with said user identification forms an aggregated registry.    
     
     
         18 . The computer memory  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of registry databases are stored on sais server, said executable instructions further including: 
 instructions for updating a registry database in said plurality of registry databases with an update file; and    instructions for restoring each association between a registry and a user identification in said registry database.    
     
     
         19 . The computer memory of  claim 17 , wherein said instructions to retrieve further include: 
 instructions to access said registry database on a remote server; and    instructions to query said registry database with said search criteria.    
     
     
         20 . The computer memory of  claim 17 , wherein said executable instructions further include: 
 instructions to provide an on-line catalog;    instructions to identify items in said on-line catalog that are selected by said registrant; and    instructions to create a registry in a registry database in said plurality of registry database that includes said items.    
     
     
         21 . The computer memory of  claim 17 , wherein said executable instructions further include: 
 instructions for providing an option group, each option in said option group corresponding to a different registry database provider associated with a registry database in said plurality of registry databases;    instructions for requiring selection of an option;    instructions for obtaining a search query;    instructions for searching a registry database associated with said option using said search query;    instructions for communicating a second set of registries from said registry database hat match said search query; and    instruction for supporting, in response to a selection of a registry in said set of registries, on-line registration services for said registry.    
     
     
         22 . The computer memory of  claim 17 , wherein said executable instructions further include: 
 instructions for obtaining a first query from a guest;    instructions for searching each registry database in said plurality of registry databases for registries matching said first query;    instructions for communicating a first set of unique identifiers, each unique identifier associated with a registry that matches said first query;    instructions for opening a first registry, in response to a selection of a first unique identifier from said first set of unique identifiers, the first registry associated with said first unique identifier; and    instructions for identifying, in response to instructions from said guest, a first item in said first registry.    
     
     
         23 . The computer memory of  claim 22 , wherein said executable instructions further include: 
 instructions for acquiring a second query;    instructions for examining each registry database in said plurality of registry databases for registries matching said second query;    instructions for transmitting a second set of unique identifiers, each unique identifier associated with a registry that matches said second query;    instructions for selecting a second registry, in response to a selection of a second unique identifier from said second set of unique identifiers, the second registry associated with said second unique identifier; and    instructions for adding, in response to an affirmation by said guest, a second item in said second registry to an aggregated purchase list that includes said first item.    
     
     
         24 . The computer memory of  claim 23 , wherein said executable instructions further include instructions for executing a purchase transaction, in response to a purchase request by said guest, said purchase transaction execution instructions including: 
 instructions for producing a requisition for each registry database provider represented in said purchase list, said requisition including an order for each item in said purchase list that originated from a registry database associated with the registry database provider; and    instructions for generating a set of transactions using a purchase option associated with said guest; each transaction in said set of transactions associated with a different registry database provider.    
     
     
         25 . The computer memory of  claim 22 , wherein said first query includes a surname and an event date.  
     
     
         26 . The computer memory of  claim 23 , wherein said first and said second registries are provided by different registry database providers.  
     
     
         27 . The computer memory of  claim 17 , wherein said executable instructions further include: 
 instructions for identifying a request from said registrant, said request including a password;    instructions for matching said password with a designation stored in a registrant profile associated with said registrant; and    when said password matches said designation, said executable instruction further include: 
 instructions for obtaining a unique user identifier from said registrant profile;  
 instructions for generating a list of registries, said list of registries including each registry in each registry database in said plurality of registry databases having said unique user identifier;  
 instructions for requiring selection of a registry from said list of registries; and  
 instructions for supporting on-line management of said registry by said registrant.  
   
     
     
         28 . The computer memory of  claim 27 , wherein said instructions for supporting on-line management of said registry by said registrant includes at least one of: 
 instructions for adding an item to said registry;    instructions for deleting an item from said registry;    instructions for reviewing a purchase order history for said registry;    instructions for altering an item order quantity in said registry;    instructions for identifying a party that has made an order from said registry, and    instructions for sending a message to a party that has made an order using said registry.    
     
     
         29 . The computer memory of  claim 27 , wherein said executable instructions further include instructions for editing, in response to input from said registrant, said registrant profile.  
     
     
         30 . The computer memory of  claim 29 , wherein said input from said registrant includes personal contact update information, a personal web site preference, an event date, an event type, a credit card number, a guest list, a guest E-mail address, or a guest broadcast message.  
     
     
         31 . The computer memory of  claim 17 , wherein said executable instructions further include: 
 instructions for performing an authentication operation, said authentication operation identifying and granting access to a registry database provider; and    instructions for providing said registry database provider access to a registry database associated with said registry database provider.    
     
     
         32 . The computer memory of  claim 31 , wherein said instructions for providing said registry database provider access to a registry database includes instructions for providing the option to: 
 review registry orders associated with said registry database,    revise an on-line catalog of products offered by said registry database provider, and    update a registry database associated with said registry database provider.