Systems and methods for reviewing gift information

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.

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 - 32 . (canceled)  
     
     
         33 . A computer-implemented method for enabling a user to select for review, using a client computer system coupled to the Internet, a gift registry associated with a retailer, the, method comprising: 
 receiving a search request from the user;    searching, from among at least two unaffiliated retailers, for a gift registry that matches the search request;    communicating to the user information identifying the matching gift registry; and    enabling the user to select the matching gift registry, such that, in response to the selection, the gift registry is automatically displayed to enable the user to review information concerning items contained in the matching gift registry.    
     
     
         34 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 33  wherein a plurality of gift registries from among said at least two unaffiliated retailers is copied to a local computer system at a time prior to said searching and said searching is performed using said plurality of gift registries stored on said local computer system.  
     
     
         35 . A computer-implemented method for enabling a user to select for review, using a client computer system coupled to the Internet, a gift registry associated with a retailer, the method comprising: 
 receiving a search request from the user;    searching for gift registries that match the search request;    communicating to the user a list identifying a plurality of matching gift registries, at least two of the plurality of matching gift registries being associated with unaffiliated retailers; and    enabling the user to select a gift registry identified in the list, such that, in response to the selection, the selected gift registry is automatically displayed to enable the user to review information concerning items contained in the gift registry.    
     
     
         36 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 35  wherein a plurality of gift registries from said unaffiliated retailers is copied to a local computer system at a time prior to said searching and said searching is performed using said plurality of gift registries stored on said local computer system.  
     
     
         37 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 35  wherein said list identifying said plurality of matching gift registries indicates a name and a retailer associated with each gift registry in said plurality of matching gift registries.  
     
     
         38 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 37  wherein said enabling the user to select a gift registry comprises enabling the user to select the name associated with the gift registry.  
     
     
         39 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 35  wherein said list identifying said plurality of matching gift registries indicates a name and a retailer associated with each of said at least two of the plurality of matching gift registries in said plurality of matching gift registries.  
     
     
         40 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 39  wherein said enabling the user to select a gift registry comprises enabling the user to select the name associated with one of said at least two of the plurality of matching gift registries in said plurality of matching gift registries.  
     
     
         41 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 35  wherein the searching includes searching over the Internet for a gift registry stored on a remote computer system coupled to the Internet.  
     
     
         42 . A method, implemented on a computer system coupled to the Internet, for enabling a user to select a gift registry for review, the method comprising: 
 receiving a search request from the user;    searching for gift registries that match the search request;    communicating to the user's computer system, via the Internet, information that identifies a plurality of matching gift registries, wherein said plurality of matching gift registries includes at least two gift registries from unaffiliated retailers; and    enabling the user's computer system to receive a selection from the user of a gift registry from among the plurality of matching gift registries and, in response to the selection, causing the user's computer system to automatically present information concerning a plurality of items contained in the selected gift registry.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein 
 said information that identifies said plurality of matching gift registries comprises names and retailers associated with gift registries in said plurality of matching gift registries; and    said enabling the user's computer system to receive said selection comprises enabling the user's computer system to receive a selection of a name associated with said selected gift registry.    
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42  wherein said plurality of matching gift registries includes a first gift registry in a first gift registry database and a second gift registry in a second gift registry database wherein said first gift registry database and said second gift registry database have different data structures.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42  wherein a plurality of gift registries from said unaffiliated retailers is copied to a local computer system at a time prior to said searching and said searching is performed using said plurality of gift registries stored on said local computer system.  
     
     
         46 . A method, implemented on a client computer system, for enabling a user to select for review, over the Internet, a gift registry associated with a retailer, the method comprising: 
 receiving a search request from the user;    searching, from among at least two unaffiliated registry providers, for a gift registry that matches the search request;    communicating to the user information identifying the gift registry that matches said search request; and    enabling the user to select the gift registry, such that, in an automated response to the selection, the user is provided with information identifying items included in the selected gift registry.    
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said information identifying the gift registry comprises a name and a registry provider associated with the gift registry, and wherein said enabling the user to select the gift registry comprises enabling the user to select the name associated with the gift registry.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46  wherein a registry database associated with at least one of said at least two unaffiliated registry providers is stored on a remote computer system coupled to the Internet.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 46  wherein a plurality of gift registries from said unaffiliated retailers is copied to a local computer system at a time prior to said searching and said searching is performed using said plurality of gift registries stored on said local computer system.  
     
     
         50 . A method implemented by a local computer system coupled to the Internet for enabling a user to review a gift registry associated with a retailer, the method comprising: 
 enabling the user to enter a search request over the Internet;    searching for a gift registry that matches the search request, the searching including a search for a first gift registry in a first gift registry database on the local computer system and a search for a second gift registry in a second gift registry database on a remote computer system coupled to said local computer system by the Internet, said first and second gift registry databases each being associated with unaffiliated retailers;    communicating to the user information identifying a gift registry that matches the search request, wherein the matching gift registry is located on the remote computer system; and    causing, in response to a selection of the gift registry by the user, a plurality of items contained in the selected gift registry to be identified to the user.    
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50  wherein 
 said information identifying said matching gift registry comprises a name and a retailer associated with said matching gift registry.    
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , the method further comprising: 
 enabling the user to select for purchase a desired item from among said plurality of items.    
     
     
         53 . A method implemented by a local computer system coupled to the Internet for enabling a user to review a gift registry associated with a retailer, the method comprising: 
 enabling the user to enter a search request over the Internet;    searching for gift registries that match the search request, the searching including a search for a first gift registry and a search for a second gift registry, said first and second gift registries each being associated with an unaffiliated registry provider;    communicating to the user information identifying a plurality of gift registries matching the search request, said plurality of matching gift registries including the second gift registry;    receiving from the user a selection of a desired one of the plurality of matching gift registries; and    causing, in response to the selection, a plurality of items contained in the selected gift registry to be identified to the user.    
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the first gift registry is stored on the local computer system and the second gift registry is stored on a remote computer system.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54  wherein the local computer system storing a first registry database having a first data structure and the remote computer system storing a second registry database having a second data structure, and wherein 
 (i) the search for the first gift registry comprises searching the first registry database for the first gift registry;    (ii) the search for the second gift registry comprises searching the second registry database for the second gift registry; and    (iii) the first data structure is different from the second data structure.    
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54  wherein the second gift registry is the desired one gift registry selected by the user.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein 
 the plurality of matching gift registries includes the first gift registry located on the local computer system;    the desired one of the plurality of matching gift registries is the first gift registry; and    the plurality of gift items identified to the user are gift items contained in the first gift registry.    
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the desired one of the plurality of matching gift registries is the first gift registry, the method further comprising: 
 facilitating the purchase of a gift item in said plurality of items.    
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the desired one of the plurality of matching gift registries is the first gift registry, the method further comprising: 
 receiving a selection of an item in said plurality of items; and    effecting a purchase of said item.    
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the selected gift registry is stored on the local computer system.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the selected gift registry is stored on a remote computer system.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 53  wherein 
 said information identifying a plurality of gift registries includes names and registry providers associated with said plurality of gift registries; and    said selection received from said user is a selection of a name in said information.    
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 53 , the method further comprising receiving from the user a purchase selection of a desired item from among said plurality of items.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the first gift registry and the second gift registry are stored on a remote computer system.  
     
     
         65 . A method implemented by a local computer system coupled to the Internet for enabling a user to review a gift registry, the method comprising: 
 receiving a search request from the user;    searching for a gift registry that matches the search request, from among at least two registry providers, at least one of the gift registries being located on a remote computer system coupled to the Internet;    communicating to the user information identifying the gift registry that matches the search request; and    causing to be displayed to the user, in response to the user's selection of the gift registry, information pertaining to items contained in the gift registry.    
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65  wherein 
 said information identifying the gift registry comprises a name and a registry provider associated with said registry; and    the user's selection of the gift registry comprises a selection of a name associated with the gift registry.    
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 65  wherein each of said at least two registry providers represents an unaffiliated retailer.  
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 65  wherein 
 (i) a first registry database is associated with one of said at least two registry providers;    (ii) a second registry database is associated with another of said at least two registry providers;    (iii) said first registry database has a different data structure than said second registry database; and    (iv) one of said at least one gift registries is in said first or said second registry database.    
     
     
         69 . A method, implemented by a local computer system coupled to the Internet, for enabling a user to review a registry of gift items, the registry of gift items being accessible by the user over the Internet, the method comprising: 
 receiving a search request from the user;    conducting, on at least two registry databases, a search for a registry that matches the search request, wherein at least one of the at least two registry databases is located on a remote computer system coupled to the Internet; and    facilitating a display to the user of a plurality of items contained in the matching registry.    
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69  wherein the at least two registry databases include, registry databases having different data structures.  
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 69  wherein the matching registry is located on the remote computer system coupled to the Internet.  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 69  wherein the matching registry is not located on the remote computer system.  
     
     
         73 . A method, implemented by a computer system coupled to the Internet, for enabling a user to review a registry of gift items, the registry of gift items being accessible by the user over the Internet, the method comprising: 
 receiving a search request from the user;    conducting a search for registries that match the search request;    transmitting to the user a list of registries located by the search, wherein: (i) at leas,t two registries on the list are each associated with an unaffiliated retailer, and (ii) at least one registry on the list is located on a remote computer system coupled to the Internet; and    in response to the user selecting a registry in the list of registries, facilitating a display to the user of a plurality of items contained in the selected registry.    
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73  wherein 
 said list of registries comprises names and retailers associated with the registries identified by the search; and    the user selection of said registry in the list of registries comprises a selection of a name associated with the selected registry.    
     
     
         75 . A method for enabling a user to review a gift registry, the method comprising: receiving a search request from the user over the Internet; 
 sending, in response to the search request, information that identifies a plurality of gift registries that match the search request, wherein the plurality of matching gift registries includes at least two gift registries each of which is from an unaffiliated registry provider; and    enabling the user to select the gift registry from among the plurality of gift registries such that, in response to the selection, a remote computer system that includes the selected gift registry is accessed over the Internet.    
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75  wherein 
 said information comprises names and registry providers associated with the plurality of gift registries; and    said enabling the user to select a gift registry from among the plurality of gift registries for review comprises enabling the user to select names associated with the plurality of gift registries.    
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 75  wherein said at least two gift registries includes a first gift registry that is from a first registry database, associated with a first unaffiliated registry provider, and a second gift registry that is from a second registry database, associated with a second unaffiliated registry provider, and wherein the data structure of said first registry database is different from the data structure of said second registry database.  
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 75  the method further comprising: 
 presenting, in response to a selection of the gift registry, gift information contained in the gift registry.    
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 75 , the method further comprising: 
 enabling the user to select an item from the selected gift registry for purchasing.    
     
     
         80 . A method implemented by a computer system for enabling the review of a gift registry, the method comprising: 
 receiving a search request over the Internet;    searching for a gift registry that matches the search request, wherein the searching includes searching the gift registries of unaffiliated retailers; and    causing a user's computer system to present information that identifies the matching gift registry.    
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 80  wherein said information that identifies the matching gift registry comprises a name and a retailer associated with the matching gift registry.  
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 80  wherein 
 (i) the unaffiliated retailers include a first unaffiliated retailer and a second unaffiliated retailer,    (ii) a gift registry database of the first unaffiliated retailer has a data structure that is different from a data structure of a gift registry database of the second unaffiliated retailer., and    (iii) said searching comprises searching the gift registry database of the first unaffiliated retailer and the gift registry database of the second unaffiliated retailer.    
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 80 , the method further comprising enabling the user's computer system to purchase a gift item in the matching gift registry.  
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 80 , the method further comprising: 
 copying a first registry database from a remote computer system to a local computer system; and wherein said searching includes searching said first registry database.    
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 80 , the method further comprising: 
 enabling the user to purchase a gift item contained in the matching gift registry.    
     
     
         86 . A method for presenting gift information to a user, the method comprising: receiving over the Internet a search request from the user; and 
 transmitting over the Internet to the user, in response to the search request, a list identifying a plurality of gift registries that match the search request, wherein the list identifies gift registries associated with more than one retailer.    
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 86  wherein said list comprises names and retailers associated with said plurality of gift registries and said search request comprises a particular name in said list.  
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 86 , the method further comprising receiving, from the user, a selection of a gift registry from among the gift registries identified on the list.  
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 88 , the method further comprising presenting a plurality of gift items contained in the selected gift registry.  
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 89 , the method further comprising receiving instructions to purchase a gift item in said plurality of gift items.  
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 86  wherein a first gift registry in said plurality of gift registries is from a first gift registry database associated with a first retailer in said more than one retailer and a second gift registry in said plurality of gift registries is from a second gift registry database associated with a second retailer in said more than one retailer.  
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 91  wherein said first registry database has a different data structure than said second registry database.  
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 91  wherein at least one of said first registry database and said second registry database is copied to a local computer system at a time prior to said transmitting.