Systems and methods for automated gift delivery

Abstract

A system and method for automated selective gift delivery whereby a gift-giver is provided the opportunity to register as a user of the system and with respect to each desired recipient of one or more gifts for one or more events, typically recurring, to provide information to the system about the recipient and the events such that the system may select, or cause to be automatically selected, a gift suitable for the recipient and event based upon the parameters provided by the gift-giver, and cause the gift to be automatically delivered to the recipient without further action or intervention by the gift-giver. Alternative modes of the invention provide for the gift-giver to be given the option of sending an alternative gift selected by the system, or caused to be selected by the system, as suitable for the recipient and event. Another additional mode permits the gift-giver to decline to have a gift sent to a recipient for a particular event. Another additional mode permits the gift-giver to select from among the available inventory of gifts suitable for the recipient and event. Another mode of the invention permits the user to have a gift automatically and selectively delivered for a one-time, rather than recurring, event.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing gift-providing services for a gift event, comprising the acts of:
 receiving gift event information from a gift-giver comprising information regarding the event for which a gift is to be provided, said information sufficient to associate a date with the event;   receiving information regarding the gift recipient, including the delivery information of the gift recipient;   receiving information regarding the gift to be delivered;   receiving information regarding the gift-giver, said information comprising a payment method for the gifts:   in advance of the gift event date, identifying a proposed gift selection to the gift-giver, which gift selection will be sent to the gift recipient in the absence of an alternative instruction; and   arranging for delivery of a gift to the gift recipient in accordance with either said proposed gift selection or such an alternative instruction.