Method and system for universal gift registry

Abstract

A universal gift registry providing a partial payment option for gift givers and a mandatory and contingent gift substitution for gift recipients. The gift recipient registers any type of gift idea from any store or establishment, for any occasion with an associated gift amount in the registry. The registrant is able to name their own gift price by selecting a gift amount not necessarily the same as the retail cost of the gift idea. The gift recipient also indicates whether they will accept a contingent substitute of gift or cash if the system is unable to provide the gift idea at the gift amount. The recipient can also select mandatory substitution of gift or cash. A gift giver is also able to select a gift idea and make a partial contribution toward purchase of the gift idea.

1 - 194 . (canceled) 
     
     
         195 . A gift registry computer system configured to enable a gift giver to make a contribution of any desired monetary amount towards a gift on a gift list of a gift recipient, the gift registry computer system comprising:
 a communications interface for communicating over a communications network, the communication network being accessible to the gift giver and the gift recipient;   a memory in communication with the communications interface for storing the gift list; and   a processor in communication with the memory and the communications interface, the processor configured to:
 retrieve the gift list from the memory; 
 generate a web page comprising gifts of the gift list; 
 transmit the gift list web page to the gift giver over the communications network via the communications interface; and 
 receive a commitment from the gift giver via the communications interface for a monetary contribution towards a purchase price of a gift of the gift list, wherein the commitment is for any desired portion of the uncommitted balance of the gift's purchase price. 
   
     
     
         196 . The system of  claim 195 , wherein the gift list stored in the memory comprises gifts selected from a catalog of a retailer. 
     
     
         197 . The system of  claim 195 , wherein the gift list web page includes:
 a designation of a partial purchase option for the gift and is responsive to receiving a selection of the partial purchase option, thereby allowing the gift giver to provide the commitment.   
     
     
         198 . The system of  claim 195 , wherein the communications network is the Internet. 
     
     
         199 . The system of  claim 195 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 generate a purchase request for the gift if the total of a plurality of gift givers' commitments is greater than or equal to the gift's purchase price.   
     
     
         200 . The system of  claim 199 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 generate a request to send an electronic mail message to the gift giver once the purchase request has been generated.   
     
     
         201 . The system of  claim 199 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 generate a request to send an electronic mail message to the gift recipient once the purchase request has been generated.   
     
     
         202 . The system of  claim 199 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive a notification that the purchase request has been satisfied.   
     
     
         203 . The system of  claim 202 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 generate a request to send an electronic mail message to the gift giver once the purchase request has been satisfied.   
     
     
         204 . The system of  claim 202 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 generate a request to send an electronic mail message to the gift recipient once the purchase request has been satisfied.   
     
     
         205 . A method implemented on a gift registry computer system for enabling a gift giver to make a contribution towards a gift on a gift list of a gift recipient of the gift registry computer system, the method comprising:
 retrieving the gift list from a memory of the gift registry computer system;   generating a web page comprising gifts of the gift list;   transmitting the gift list web page to the gift giver over a communications network of the gift registry computer system; and   receiving a commitment from the gift giver via a communications interface of the gift registry computer system for a monetary contribution towards a purchase price of a gift of the gift list, wherein the commitment is for any desired portion of the uncommitted balance of the gift's purchase price.   
     
     
         206 . The method of  claim 205 , wherein the gift list stored in the memory comprises gifts selected from a catalog of a retailer. 
     
     
         207 . The method of  claim 205 , wherein the gift list web page includes:
 a designation of a partial purchase option for the gift and is responsive to receiving a selection of the partial purchase option, thereby allowing the gift giver to provide the commitment.   
     
     
         208 . The method of  claim 205 , wherein the communications network is the Internet. 
     
     
         209 . The method of  claim 205 , further comprising:
 generating a purchase request for the gift if the total of a plurality of gift givers' commitments is greater than or equal to the gift's purchase price.   
     
     
         210 . The method of  claim 209 , further comprising:
 generating a request to send an electronic mail message to the gift giver once the purchase request has been generated.   
     
     
         211 . The method of  claim 209 , further comprising:
 generating a request to send an electronic mail message to the gift recipient once the purchase request has been generated.   
     
     
         212 . The method of  claim 209 , further comprising:
 receiving a notification that the purchase request has been satisfied.   
     
     
         213 . The method of  claim 212 , further comprising:
 generating a request to send an electronic mail message to the gift giver once the purchase request has been satisfied.   
     
     
         214 . The method of  claim 212 , further comprising:
 generating a request to send an electronic mail message to the gift recipient once the purchase request has been satisfied.