Patent ID: 8893966
Filing Date: 2014-11-25
Classification: G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
1. A method for creating a customized online shopping experience for a customer, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a gift card to a gift giver of unknown identity, wherein the gift card is provided in physical form, virtual form, or both, the physical form being deliverable via physical delivery and the virtual form being accessible on a first computing device comprising a connection to a communications network; (b) operating a remote server accessible via the communications network to manage the virtual form; (c) to activate the gift card for a first activation before transferring funds to a card issuer and to create a gift card account associated with the gift card to receive funds transferred by the gift giver into the gift card account in association with the gift card, requiring the gift giver of unknown identity to submit (i) the gift giver's name so that the gift giver's identity becomes known, (ii) at least one gift giver personal information item, (iii) the name of a gift recipient, and (iv) at least one gift recipient personal information item; (c) storing funds data associated with the gift card on the remote server that relates to funds transferred by the gift giver to the card issuer; (d) transferring the gift card from to the gift giver to the gift recipient, the gift card in the physical form being transferrable via physical delivery and the gift card in the virtual form being transferrable via an electronic communication; (e) optionally, requiring the gift recipient to activate the gift card for a second activation before making a purchase using the gift card, wherein the second activation is performed by submitting (i) the gift recipient's name and (ii) at least one gift recipient personal information item; (f) making a purchase of a good or service by the gift recipient using either the physical form of the gift card or the virtual form of the gift card; and (g) analyzing the at least one gift giver personal information item, the at least one gift recipient personal information item, or both to compile data about the gift giver, the gift recipient, or both into a gift giver data profile, a gift recipient date profile, or both, respectively.