Abstract:
The invention provides users with a centralized location to visually represent a objective or common objective and invite members of a defined community to contribute towards achieving the objective. The invention monitors progress as community members begin to contribute towards the objective, creating a clear and measurable method of determining advancement towards achieving the objective. This system can be used in multiple contexts, but is particularly well suited for scenarios such as gift or wedding registries where “group give” functionality becomes necessary. The system provides the ability to create a visual representation of a product such as gift, segment the product, and allow for multiple persons (i.e. the community of wedding guests) to simultaneously monitor progress and contribute towards the objective.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/325,215 entitled “System and method for monitoring and measuring community progress towards a common objective” filed on Apr. 16, 2010. 
     
    
     FEDERAL RESEARCH 
       [0002]    N/A 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This invention relates to data processing for financial, business practice, management or cost price determination applications where there is a computerized arrangement for the management of interaction between individuals or entities who are connected by social networking, and specifically, for a system and method for creating, contributing to and measuring progress towards a common objective. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    With the increased socialization through online networks and multiple connections between individuals and groups across the globe it is now possible to mobilize and engage a community or pre-defined group of people to achieve a common objective. This has become of increasing commercial importance. As such, a way create, contribute to, measure and track community progress towards achieving a particular objective has become necessary. 
         [0005]    An Internet based system for measuring and monitoring community progress towards achieving a particular objective can be used in multiple contexts including situations where group giving or group contributions or collaborations are integral components of achieving the objective. This includes, for example, charitable donations, gift registries for all occasions such as birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries and weddings. The same would apply to community collaboration in the creation of a commercial product in relation to, for example, the development of a computer software program. 
         [0006]    Presently, there is a lack of and a need for, an effective system and method for creating a community objective, allowing members of the community to contribute to the community objective and providing a common view of progress towards a common objective. There is also an inability to link e-commerce to social networking. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The system of the present invention provides users with a centralized location to visually present a common objective and invite members of a defined community to contribute towards achieving the objective through social networking and e-commerce applications. The invention monitors group progress as community members begin to contribute towards the common objective thereby creating a clear and measurable method of determining advancement towards achieving the objective. This system can be used in multiple contexts, but is particularly well suited for cash scenarios such as gifts and wedding registries where “group give” functionality becomes necessary due to the expensive nature of gifts. The system provides the ability to create a visual representation of a product such as gift, segment the product into affordable pieces for cash contributions or “purchases” by one or more members of the community using social networking and e-commerce. The system allows for multiple persons (i.e. the community of wedding guests) to simultaneously monitor community progress towards achieving a common objective and contribute towards the common objective of obtaining sufficient cash for the wedding couple to purchase all of the gifts on the gift registry. 
         [0008]    Another example of a well suited scenario includes the collection of charitable cash donations towards a defined cash objective. The system allows for “group give” by a community towards a visual representation of event, person, or object. The system, as an example, allows a fundraiser to collect cash donations towards a visual representation of a sponsored marathon runner&#39;s objective to finish a race, each “step” or “mile” of the race. 
         [0009]    In the specific context of wedding registries, the invention in combination with an online environment that facilitates the storage of user information, a gift registry database and systems to notify and share the registry information will preferably provide the following features:
       A centralized online gift registry that provides registration of information about a user and allows access to the registry by a group of potential gift giver users.   The ability to create new registry items or customize existing items by modifying/adding a description, choosing a price for the item, and uploading a picture of the item.   A distinct advantage of this system is that a user can segment a gift into multiple pieces, allowing the user to engage multiple gift givers “guests” on one registry gift item. With more people able to chip in, expensive items become more accessible to the couple.   The user can register for non-traditional gift items (i.e. down payment on a house) that may also be out of the price point of a single guests.   The user can add a visual representation of virtually anything, making the scope of possible wedding gifts limitless as opposed to traditional options where the user is limited to a single merchant retailer.   The visual representation provides clear and measurable action steps that guests can take to fulfill the objective and allows the guests to see what they are contributing to.   The user can easily track how much of the gift has been purchased and monitor whether they need to create additional gift items.   System for monitoring progress allows the user to evaluate community response and apply the knowledge as needed.   The system permits the use of e-commerce applications over social networks to make contributions to a central registry.       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a schematic depiction of one embodiment of the system of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a process flow sheet for using one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a process flow sheet for customizing objectives in one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a process flow sheet for notifying community members. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a flow sheet depicting the payment process. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a screen shot for creating a new wedding gift registry. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a screen shot for selecting a gift. 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a screen shot for segmenting a gift. 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a screen shot for prioritizing a gift. 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a screen shot for customizing a gift. 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a screen shot for view the gift registry being built. 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  is a screen shot of uploading community member e-mails to the system. 
           [0031]      FIG. 13  is a sample message generated by the system to the user. 
           [0032]      FIG. 14  is a sample message generated by the system to the guest. 
           [0033]      FIG. 15  is a depiction of the share registry for the guest in one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 16  is a screen shot showing a gift selection window for the guest. 
           [0035]      FIG. 17  is a screen shot showing the gifts selected by the guest for purchase. 
           [0036]      FIG. 18  is a screen shot depicting a check out window. 
           [0037]      FIG. 19  is a screen shot depicting a charitable event window wherein the contributions have been segmented. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0038]    The System 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the system of the invention  10 . The system shown in  FIG. 1  is a generic system and so modifications are possible to suit applications of the system as further explained below. 
         [0040]    The system  10  comprises a user terminal  12  which may be a home computer or a portable computing device. The terminal  12  is used by a subscriber to the system or “user”  8 . The user  8  is an individual or group of individuals or an organization that wishes to invite a community of individuals  11  to participate in an “event”. As further detailed below, the event can be a wedding or a charity fund raising drive or a sports event sponsorship. The user  8  may be a wedding organizer. The community  11  may he members of a known list of wedding invitees. 
         [0041]    The user  8  accesses the system microprocessor  16  and database  18  over a communications network  20  which may be one of the Internet and a cellular telephone network. The microprocessor  16  will respond to the access request by requesting  22  that the system server  24  display the system homepage to the user on the user terminal  12 . The user  8  will register on the system homepage and provide personal information as well as information about the event. 
         [0042]    The system will prompt the user to continue to input information about the event such as event date, location and the community objectives of the event. The community objectives are selected by the user from a list of community objectives  26  stored on the database  18 . The user selects a community objective and transfers the objective  28  onto a objective registry  30 . The registry is stored on the database. Once the user is satisfied that the registry is complete, the user can instruct  14  the system  10  to publish the registry  32  for access  33  by the individuals of the community group through a social network  34  and terminal  35  which may be a computer terminal, a cellular phone or other personal communication device. The individual can then select and purchase a objective as described below using an e-commerce application. Therefore the system is able to link e-commerce applications to social networks. 
         [0043]    The Method 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a flowchart depicting the process by which the community objectives are selected and published. From the beginning  200  the user decides that a community event should be organized  202 . The event may be a fund raising event to raise cash for a charity or a wedding gift registry to raise cash for an engaged couple. The next step  204  is for the user to access the system home page using the user terminal. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the user  8  has access to terminal  12  for accessing the system home page over the network  20 . In the next step  206  the system provides the user with a series of templates so that the user can input data about him/herself or the organization such as name, e-mail and date of event. Referring to  FIG. 1 , these templates are stored on the database  18  operated by microprocessor  16 . The microprocessor orders the database to send the templates to the system server  24  and then to the user terminal  12 . The database received the user input to the templates and stores them. The user will select his or her own password and a unique URL to display the completed registry. In the next step  208  the user will input the community event data including a list of community members participating in the event and their respective e-mail addresses. In the next step  210  the user is provided a list of objectives from which to select objectives to be met by the community. Referring to  FIG. 1 , this list is a database  26  accessible by the user  8 . In one example, the database may contain a selection of suitable wedding gifts that the system has prepared for the user. The user is also able to upload his or her own objectives (gifts, objectives etc) into the database for display on the registry. 
         [0045]    In the next step  212  the user creates or builds a suitable list of community objectives. This is referred to as the objective registry in  FIG. 1 , Item  30 . In the next step  214 , when the user has completed the objective registry, the user instructs the system to publish the list of community objectives on the system server. In the next step  216  the system notifies each member of the community group over a computer networking system such as e-mail. 
         [0046]    In the next step  218  the community members can take the necessary actions to achieve community objectives by accessing the published objective registry through a social networking system such as TWITTER or FACEBOOK. In step  220  the community members select and purchase objectives as desired and the objectives are paid for through an e-commerce payment process using the social networking system. Therefore, this invention links social networking and e-commerce applications. Once an objective is purchased, it is necessary at step  222  to record the purchased objectives on the database so that the system can update the published registry as to which objectives have been purchased and which objectives are still available. This is shown as step  224 . In this way the progress of achieving the community objectives can be monitored. Once all objectives have been met in step  226  the objectives have been achieved and the process can terminate at  228 . 
         [0047]    Revenue is generated by the system by the application of a fee paid for by the community members. The fee is a percentage of the contribution. In another embodiment of the invention, the user may pay a subscription fee to the system. In yet another embodiment of the invention the system will carry advertising for a fee that will negate the user or community member having to pay a fee. 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIG. 2  and step  210 , there is an optional step that the user can take at  300 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the user is presented with a customization option at step  302 . At step  304  this permits the user to determine the cash value or price of the objective, draft a description of the objective, select an image of the objective and prioritize the objective with respect to other objectives selected. One advantage of the prioritization step is that the user is able to modify the priority of the objective as a way of ensuring the objective is met. For example, if the initial prioritization of the objective was low, and no community members are making a contribution to that objective, the user can raise the priority of the objective to ensure that it receives a contribution. This is information that will be presented to community members on the objective registry to provide a wider range of options to the community members. Once a objective has been customized, at step  306  the system will assign a reference identification number to the objective and store it in the database  308 . A further option presented to the user is a segmentation option in step  310 . For example, if the cash value of a single objective is too large for a single community member, the user can segment the objective into smaller pieces call puzzle pieces. These puzzle pieces can be bought singly or as a group at a much lower cost per piece over the entire object. At step  312  the user can select a suitable number of pieces to assign to particular object. This information is stored in the database. At step  316 , if the user does not find a suitable objective listed on the database of objectives stored on the system database, the user can upload a personal objective. The system permits uploading of a photograph at step  318 . Then the normal process from step  304  is followed to identify and possible segment the objective. 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 2  and step  216 , the system will notify each member of the community using a process described in  FIG. 4 . Commencing at  400  the system is directed to notify each community member  402  using the e-mails provided to the database by the user in step  208  over a computer network such as the Internet. At step  404 , the members of the community access the objective registry using the social network such as TWITTER, BLOG or FACEBOOK. At step  406  the community members may select any objective on the registry and purchase that objective for a predetermined cash value in step  408 . In step  410  the system will update the database and the objective registry when a purchase of a objective takes place. This permits the user and the community members to monitor the progress towards achieving the objectives for the event and modify priorities as required. If the objectives are met in step  412  the registry can terminate. If the objectives are not met then the system continues to display the registry until all objectives are purchased continuing at step  406 . 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 2  item  220  and  FIG. 4  item  408 , once the user has selected a gift for purchase over the social network a purchasing process is invoked using an e-commerce application. Referring to  FIG. 5 , and commencing at  500 , in step  502 , the community member has indicated to the system that he or she wishes to purchase a particular objective. Once the purchase is indicated, the system will take the community member to a payment window at step  504 . The system will generate an invoice at step  506  showing the cash value of the objective purchased. At step  508  the system will levy the system fee on the cash value of the objective. At step  510  the community member will input payment data such as credit card data into the data fields provided by the system. The purchase will either be accepted at step  510  if the credit card is accepted or denied at step  512  if the credit card is denied. Either way, the community member will be notified of the outcome at step  514 . At step  518  the database will be updated to reflect any purchased objective. 
         [0051]    Application #1 
         [0052]    This invention involves the creation, monitoring and tracking of community progress towards achieving a particular common objective. The invention is particularly well suited for use in any context in which group contributions are an integral part to meeting a common objective. This may include, but is not limited to, charitable donations and gift registries for all occasions including birthday, Christmas, anniversary and weddings. 
         [0053]    The system and method of the invention can be easily adapted to a wedding situation where a user wishes to create an on-line wedding registry of desired gifts. The purchase of gifts on the registry of gifts becomes the objective. The user may be the bride and groom or a friend of the bride and groom. The list of invitees that they wish to have participate in the wedding are the members of the community of interest that will make the contributions to achieve the objective. 
         [0054]    The advantages of this system and method are very clear. Previously, the wedding guests who wished to purchase wedding gifts for the wedding couple would physically have to shop, purchase and wrap a gift and then present it to the wedding party. Alternatively, and in a typical fashion, the user may have registered at the bridal department of a large department store and created a wedding registry of gifts. Often, the wedding couple would not have total control over the type of gifts they received. The guests would then be notified, usually by mail or by telephone, of the fact that the user has established a wedding gift registry with a large department store. The guests would then have to visit the store, make an inquiry at the wedding gift registry desk within the department store and select a gift for the user. 
         [0055]    The present invention eliminates the cumbersome need for guests to actually purchase gifts or visit department stores by linking e-commerce with social networking. The user will establish desired objectives in the field of gifts and the guests will contribute to those objectives by cash payments through the gift registry e-commerce system. The gift registry is a cash registry and the donations by the guests to the wedding party user are in cash. No gifts are actually purchased by the guests and carried to the wedding. 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 6  there is shown a screen shot of a system template of one embodiment of the invention. This screen shot is meant to be exemplary only.  FIG. 6  comprises a registration window  600  [See  FIG. 2 , Step  206 ]. The user will input account information into the data fields in window  602  comprising the user&#39;s first name  604  and the user&#39;s last name  606 . The user will input an e-mail address in data field  608  and then select a password  610  which the user will use to securely access the system. The user will identify him or herself as one of the bride, groom or friend of the bride or groom in data field  612 . 
         [0057]    In window  614  information about the couple getting married is entered. The first name  616 , last name  618  and e-mail address  620  of the bride/groom are inputted into the data fields. Similarly, the first name  622 , last name  624  and e-mail address  626  of the other bride/groom are inputted into the data fields. A photo of the bride  630  and groom  632  can also be loaded into the system at  634  and then displayed. 
         [0058]    In window  640  the user will input the date of the wedding  642  and the user will indicate the date when the gift registry should be closed  644 . The user can create a message in field  646  which will be a welcoming message to the guests who wish to purchase gifts. The user will also indicate whether the gift registry is to be priced in a particular currency such as US dollars  648 . 
         [0059]    Once this data has been entered into window  600 , the user will click button  650  and be taken to the create a new gift registry page on example of which is shown in  FIG. 7  window  700 . 
         [0060]    The gift items are pre-programmed into the system database and categorized as shown in the list of categories  702  to the left of the gift selection window  704 . Each gift available to the user is depicted pictorially. For example, a house  706 , a car  708  and a backyard pool  710 . 
         [0061]    The user can create a gift list by clicking on one of the gifts. For example, if the user wishes to select the car pictorial  708 , clicking on the car pictorial  708  will take the user to  FIG. 8  and window  800 . In window  800  the gift is described as a “car down payment”  802  and a value  804  to the car down payment is assigned in the amount of $1000. Since the amount of the car down payment may be seen to be very large to the guests it may make it difficult for guests to purchase this particular gift. Therefore, at  806  the user has an option of segmenting the gift into small pieces or “puzzle pieces” as shown in the window  808 . By selecting four (4) pieces the purchase price for each piece of the puzzle becomes $250 which guests may find more affordable. Alternatively, the user could select  10  pieces at $25 each. Another feature of the invention is shown at items  810 ,  812  and  814 . The user has the ability to prioritize each selected gift by clicking on one of the heart icons shown. Icon  810  is a comparatively desirability, icon  812  is a medium desirability and icon  814  is a high desirability. Once the desirability of the object has been selected, the item will appear on the gift registry shown on  FIG. 9  with a priority label in the form of hearts  902 . The more hearts mean that the user desires the guests to purchase that item above lesser priority items. 
         [0062]    Returning to  FIG. 8 , clicking button  816  permits the gift item to be customized. The user is taken to  FIG. 10  and window  1000 . The name of the gift item is, for an example, “major appliances”  1002 . The cost of the gift at  1002  can be modified to increase it or decrease the amount shown. A photo  1006  can be uploaded of a particular appliance that the user desires. A message can be added in text window  1008 . When satisfied the user will click the ADD ITEM button  1010  and be returned to  FIG. 8  window  800 . The user then clicks on the ADD GIFT button and the gift is added to the gift registry. The user is then returned to  FIG. 7  window  700  where the user can select another gift and follow the same process noted above. In this manner the user is able to build a gift registry by repeatedly adding items displayed in window  704  to the gift registry. 
         [0063]    Referring to  FIG. 7  and button  712  the user can click on MY GIFTS and view the gift registry as it exists at any time during the registry build process. This is illustrated in  FIG. 11  NEW REGISTRY, window  1102  where the house down payment pictorial  1104  is shown as one example. A repeated selection of gifts will build the gift registry to a desired level. 
         [0064]    Once the user is satisfied that the gift list is complete, the user will click on button  712  CONTINUE and will be taken to  FIG. 12 , window  1200 . Within window  1200  the user will place all of the e-mails of the guests invited to the wedding. If the user has a list of e-mail contacts stored in another application such as WINDOWS LIVE  1202  then clicking on the WINDOWS LIVE button will allow the user to import that list to window  1200 . At window  1204  the user is able to input a message  1206  that each guest will see when being notified of the registry. The user then clicks on the SEND INVITES button  1208  and notification of the gift registry is sent to each addressee. Each addressee will receive a message like the one shown in  FIG. 14 . The user will receive a message like the one shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         [0065]    Once the gift registry is finalized, the system will publish the gift registry using a suitable template on a website that a guest can access. Once the guest is notified that the registry exists, the guest is invited to visit the registry via the unique URL assigned by the user. From the guests&#39; perspective, the gift registry becomes a share registry. 
         [0066]    Referring now to  FIG. 15 , and the process for the guest to purchase a gift.  FIG. 15  illustrates the window  1500  that the guest will view upon entering the share registry. Window  1502  provides information about the date of the wedding and the registry close date. Window  1500  shows the number of items in the gift registry. For this example, the appliance gift pictorial  1504  and the car down payment pictorial  1506  are shown for simplicity. The user will click on one of the gift pictorials and be taken to  FIG. 16  window  1600  which shows the car down payment pictorial  1602 . The total amount of the gift value is shown as $1000 [ 1604 ]. The user has segmented the gift into six parts to make each part more affordable to the guest. The guest has the option of purchasing one or more pieces of the puzzle at $166.67 each or purchasing all of them for $1000. By moving the curser over each puzzle piece the system will tell the guest whether or not the puzzle piece has been purchased. If the piece turns red  1606  it is available for purchase. If the piece turns grey  1608  it is not available for purchase. The guest selects a puzzle piece clicking on it and then it will turn green  1610 . The guest can click the BUY GIFT button  1612  and purchase the puzzle piece or the guest can cancel (BUTTON  1614 ) this gift selection and select another gift. 
         [0067]    Once the guest clicks the BUY GIFT button  1612  the guest is taken to  FIG. 17 , window  1700  for purchase processing by an e-commerce application. The gifts selected  1702  and  1704  are placed in the purchase window  1700 . The price of the gift is displayed in the price tab  1706 . The guest will click the purchase button  1708  and be taken to  FIG. 18 , window  1800 . In the “Total” window  1802 , the total cost of the purchase is displayed  1804 . Note that the system will add a system user fee  1810  to each purchase which is a percentage of the purchase price. In this example the user fee is 4.5% of each purchase price or $7.50 [ 1806 ] added to this purchase. The purchase of the gift is accomplished through known e-commerce methods over a social network wherein the guest will enter billing date in window  1816  and credit card data in window  1820 . Once that is done, the guest will click the CHECKOUT button  1822 . Once this is done, the payment is processed and the guest will receive confirmation that the purchase has been completed. The system will update the gift registry and notify the user of the purchase. As well, each gift can readily see from the gift registry which gifts have been purchased and which gifts still require a purchase. In this manner, the user and the guests are able to track the progress of the community of guests in achieving the community objective. 
         [0068]    The user, in monitoring the progress of the community in achieving the objectives may notice that certain objectives are not being achieved. For example, it may be that a particular gift is not popular with guests but highly desirable for the user. The user can modify the gift registry and amend the priority data of the gift from a medium desirability to a high desirability. For example, the user may notice that no guest has purchased a toaster. The user can re-enter the gift registry and amend the customization of the toaster gift by increasing the priority of the toaster gift to three hearts or by segmenting the gift into a puzzle so that the per piece cost is much less than the total cost of the toaster. 
         [0069]    Application #2 
         [0070]    This invention is also well suited for the monitoring and tracking of community progress towards achieving a particular charitable objective, as in a fundraiser&#39;s request of a community to purchase “steps” in order to meet the objective of raising money for a Marathon runner. 
         [0071]    The process for a centralized online fundraising event is similar to that of a wedding registry previously described. The user provides registration information for a fund-raising organization. The user describes the event, chooses an amount to raise for the event, and uploading a picture that represents the fundraiser into the system. The user can segment contributions into multiple pieces that represent the event, in this example “steps”, allowing the fundraiser to engage multiple donors on one event, as illustrated in  FIG. 19 . The system will calculate the optimal price for an event piece based on the fundraiser&#39;s selection of number of steps. 
         [0072]    The user relies on the system to share information and notify community members (i.e. friends, family, potential donors) about the event and the desired contributions. A user will have the ability to share their event with their social group through social networks such as Facebook or e-mail addresses which have been uploaded into the system. The system will track the community response across to the event to by monitoring each contributors purchase and visually representing this contributed advancement towards achieving the objective (i.e. donating to the event in its entirety). 
         [0073]    When a charitable event has been updated by the fundraiser, the fundraiser&#39;s social group is updated through the fundraiser&#39;s social network and/or e-mail services. When a social group has completed one of the fundraiser&#39;s objectives (completed a donation towards an event item), the fundraiser&#39;s social group is updated through the fundraiser&#39;s social network and/or e-mail services. Contributions are made over social networks using e-commerce applications. 
         [0074]    A donor can browse the event and has the ability to purchase one of more event segments. The guest can, if desired, purchase all segments of an event, therefore, purchase the entire event. Once the guest has selected the event segment or segments, they will finalize their contribution towards achieving the ultimate charitable objective. 
         [0075]    Payment of a contribution follows the process for payment of a gift previously described. 
         [0076]    The invention provides the following advantages for a fundraising charity:
       A centralized online event registry that provides registration of information for an event fundraiser and allows access to the event registry to a group of potential donors.   The ability to create new fundraising events or customize existing event by modifying/adding a description, choosing a price for the event, and uploading a picture that represents the event.   A distinct advantage of this system is that a registrant can segment an event into multiple, allowing the fundraiser to engage multiple donors on one event. With more people able to chip in, larger charitable objectives become more accessible to the fundraiser.   Fundraisers can reach broad audience of donors through social media; the system allows for easy dissemination from one donor who wishes to share the charitable objective within their social network   Fundraisers can add a visual representation of virtually anything, making the message associated with the charitable event flexible (a picture of a marathon runner or a logo of a charitable organization).   The visual representation provides clear and measurable action steps that community members can take to fulfill the objective and allows the donors to see what they are contributing to.   Fundraisers can easily track how much of the event has been purchased and monitor whether they need to create additional event items.   System for monitoring progress allows the fundraiser to evaluate community response and apply the knowledge as needed.   Contributors can contribute over social networking using e-commerce applications.       
 
         [0086]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.