Patent Publication Number: US-2006015359-A1

Title: Methods and systems for providing combination gift card and greeting card

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims priority benefits based on U.S. provisional application No. 60/584,530, filed Jul. 2, 2004, the technical disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND  
      1. Technical Field  
      The present invention generally relates to providing a gift card. More particularly, the present invention relates to providing a combination gift card and greeting card.  
      2. Background  
      The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independent government agency that provides mail delivery and other services to the public. The USPS is widely recognized as a safe and reliable means for sending and receiving mail and other items. With the advent and steady growth of electronic mail and electronic commerce, the physical mail stream will increasingly be utilized for sending and receiving mailpieces, packages, and other items.  
      Moreover, gift cards, which may comprise, for example, pre-paid elements redeemable at a retail store for items available through the retail store, account for a significant percentage of retail revenues, with 500 million gift cards issued each year in the U.S. In 2001, 18 billion dollars worth of gift cards and certificates were issued in the U.S. alone with the trend moving toward plastic gift cards. Industry analysts project that 60% of retailers expect to convert from paper gift certificates to plastic cards by 2005.  
      A 2003 survey of 1,023 U.S. adults aged 18 or older revealed that consumer awareness of gift cards has reached 92 percent, a 13 percent increase over 2002. Nearly 6 in every 10 adults (59 percent) reported purchasing and/or receiving a gift card in the past year, a 22 percent increase over 2002 findings. Surveys also indicate that consumers increased the number of cards they purchased to an average of 5.6 cards per year, a one card increase over the previous year. Households with teenagers purchased nearly two cards (7.5 cards per year) over the average. Overall, consumers spent an average of $197 on their purchased gift cards in the previous year.  
      Consequently, providing gift cards is desired. Great inefficiencies are created in conventional gift card providing systems because, for example, they do not allow a sender to easily combine a greeting card with the gift card. Accordingly, providing a combination gift card and greeting card is desired. Thus, there remains a need for efficiently providing a gift card. In addition, there remains a need for efficiently providing a combination gift card and greeting card.  
     SUMMARY  
      In embodiments consistent with the present invention, systems and methods are disclosed for providing a combination gift card and greeting card.  
      In accordance with one embodiment, a method for providing a combination gift element and greeting element comprises receiving a request to create a greeting element, the greeting element comprising at least one of an electronic greeting element and a physical greeting element; receiving a request to associate a gift element with the greeting element, the gift element comprising at least one of an electronic gift element and a physical gift element; creating the combination gift element and greeting element based upon the received request to create the greeting element and the received request to associate the gift element with the greeting element; and sending the combination gift element and greeting element to a recipient over at least one of a network and an item delivery system.  
      In another embodiment, a system for providing a combination gift element and greeting element comprises a memory storage for maintaining a database and a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to receive a request to create a greeting element, the greeting element comprising at least one of an electronic greeting element and a physical greeting element. The processing unit is further operative to receive a request to associate a gift element with the greeting element, the gift element comprising at least one of an electronic gift element and a physical gift element; create the combination gift element and greeting element based upon the received request to create the greeting element and the received request to associate the gift element with the greeting element; and send the combination gift element and greeting element to a recipient over at least one of a network and an item delivery system.  
      In yet another embodiment, a computer-readable medium is provided, comprising a set of instructions which when executed by a processor perform a method for providing a combination gift element and greeting element. The method executed by the set of instructions comprises receiving a request to create a greeting element, the greeting element comprising at least one of an electronic greeting element and a physical greeting element. The method of the computer-readable medium further comprises receiving a request to associate a gift element with the greeting element, the gift element comprising at least one of an electronic gift element and a physical gift element; creating the combination gift element and greeting element based upon the received request to create the greeting element and the received request to associate the gift element with the greeting element; and sending the combination gift element and greeting element to a recipient over at least one of a network and an item delivery system.  
      It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and should not be considered restrictive of the scope of the invention, as described and claimed. Further, features and/or variations may be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, embodiments of the invention may be directed to various combinations and sub-combinations of the features described in the detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various embodiments and aspects consistent with the present invention. In the drawings:  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary combination gift element and greeting element providing system consistent with the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an exemplary item delivery system consistent with the present invention; and  
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart of an exemplary method for providing a combination gift element and greeting element consistent with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar parts. While several exemplary embodiments and features of the invention are described herein, modifications, adaptations and other implementations are possible, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, substitutions, additions or modifications may be made to the components illustrated in the drawings, and the exemplary methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering or adding steps to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the invention. Instead, the proper scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.  
      Systems and methods consistent with the invention may provide a combination gift card and greeting card. For example, a customer purchasing a greeting card could also enclose with the greeting card, a gift card for the greeting card&#39;s recipient. The gift card may comprise a pre-paid card redeemable at a retail store for items available through the retail store. The combination gift card and greeting card may be purchased on-line or at a retail point-of-sale. Furthermore, the combination gift card and greeting card may comprise a physical element that may be sent through an item delivery system such as provided by the USPS or other delivery system operator. In addition, the combination gift card and greeting card may comprise an electronic file capable of being transferred over a network such as the Internet, for example.  
      Consistent with the invention, an enterprise such as a delivery system operator may operate a greeting card service capable of creating and sending a greeting card to a recipient. For example, the USPS may operate a greeting card service as a part of a suite of services. This service, for example, may combine the convenience of the Internet with the effectiveness of traditional hard-copy mail to help strengthen customer loyalty, improve customer retention, cross-sell, up-sell, and effectively follow-up sales or marketing efforts. Output of this service may include full-color 5×7 folded, enveloped, and stamped greeting cards. With just a few mouse clicks, a user can open an account, upload images, logos and address lists, and even create a business account. Whether to one recipient or thousands, greeting cards created through the service may be automated and standardized with addresses and proper postage. Created greeting cards may be printed, processed, and entered into an item delivery system, such as the USPS, the next business day, for example. The USPS is exemplary, and other delivery services may be used. Users may personalize their greeting cards by occasion and with personal messages and may even choose a special stamp or other indicia for an envelope containing the greeting card.  
      Furthermore, a retailer may offer a gift card for sale through an internet site. In addition to the gift card, a customer may also choose a greeting card option on the retailer&#39;s internet site associated with the gift card. Accordingly, the user may create a combination gift card and greeting card through a retailer&#39;s Internet site. The combination gift card and greeting card may be configured to be sent to a recipient through an item delivery system such as the USPS. For example, the retailer&#39;s Internet site may utilize a delivery service provided by a delivery system operator. Moreover, a delivery system operator, such as the USPS, may collaborate with one retailer in a particular industry. Accordingly, co-branding between a particular retailer and a particular delivery system operator may be created.  
      An embodiment consistent with the invention may comprise a system for providing a combination gift element and greeting element. The system may comprise a memory storage for maintaining a database and a processing unit coupled to the memory storage. The processing unit may be operative to receive a request to create a greeting element. The greeting element may comprise one of an electronic greeting element and a physical greeting element. The processing unit may be further operative to receive a request to associate a gift element with the greeting element. The gift element may comprise one of an electronic gift element and a physical gift element. Moreover, the processing unit may be operative to create the combination gift element and greeting element based upon the received request to create the greeting element and the received request to associate the gift element with the greeting element. Furthermore, the processing unit may be operative to send the combination gift element and greeting element to a recipient over at least one of a network and an item delivery system.  
      Furthermore, any system or component of the invention may be practiced in an electrical circuit comprising discrete electronic elements, packaged or integrated electronic chips containing logic gates, a circuit utilizing a microprocessor, or on a single chip containing electronic elements or microprocessors. The invention may also be practiced using other technologies capable of performing logical operations such as, for example, AND, OR, and NOT, including but not limited to mechanical, optical, fluidic, and quantum technologies. In addition, the invention may be practiced within a general purpose computer or in any other circuits or systems.  
      As illustrated in the block diagram of  FIG. 1 , system  100  may include a user  105 , processors  110  and  115 , and a network  120 . Processor  110  may include a processing unit  125  and a memory  130 . Memory  130  may include a gift and greeting element software module  135  and a gift and greeting element database  140 . For example, software module  135 , executed on processing unit  125 , may access database  140  and implement processes for providing a combination gift element and greeting element to implement a method such as the method described below with respect to  FIG. 3 .  
      Processors  110  and  115 , or any other processor or component included in system  100  (“the processors”), may be implemented using a personal computer, network computer, mainframe, or other similar microcomputer-based workstation. The processors, however, may comprise any type of computer operating environment, such as hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable sender electronic devices, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. The processors may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices. Furthermore, any of the processors may comprise a mobile terminal, such as a smart phone, a cellular telephone, a cellular telephone utilizing wireless application protocol (WAP), personal digital assistant (PDA), intelligent pager, portable computer, a hand held computer, a conventional telephone, or a facsimile machine. The aforementioned systems and devices are exemplary and the processor may comprise other systems or devices.  
      Network  120  may comprise, for example, a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN). Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets, and the Internet, and are known by those skilled in the art. When a LAN is used as network  120 , a network interface located at any of the processors may be used to interconnect any of the processors. When network  120  is implemented in a WAN networking environment, such as the Internet, the processors may typically include an internal or external modem (not shown) or other means for establishing communications over the WAN. Further, in utilizing network  120 , data sent over network  120  may be encrypted to insure data security by using known encryption/decryption techniques.  
      In addition to utilizing a wire line communications system as network  120 , a wireless communications system, or a combination of wire line and wireless may be utilized as network  120  in order to, for example, exchange web pages via the Internet, exchange e-mails via the Internet, or for utilizing other communications channels. Wireless can be defined as radio transmission via the airwaves. It may be appreciated, however, that various other communication techniques can be used to provide wireless transmission, including infrared line of sight, cellular, microwave, satellite, packet radio, and spread spectrum radio. The processors in the wireless environment can be any mobile terminal, such as the mobile terminals described above. Wireless data may include, but is not limited to, paging, text messaging, e-mail, Internet access and other specialized data applications specifically excluding or including voice transmission.  
      System  100  may also transmit data by methods and processes other than, or in combination with, network  120 . These methods and processes may include, but are not limited to, transferring data via, diskette, CD ROM, flash memory sticks, facsimile, conventional mail, an interactive voice response system (IVR), or via voice over a publicly switched telephone network.  
      By way of a non-limiting example,  FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary delivery system  200  in which the features and principles consistent with the present invention may be implemented. For example, once the combination gift element and greeting element is created, a user  105 , for example, may place an item  210  comprising the combination gift element and greeting element into a delivery system  230 . Item  210  may contain a label  215  indicating a first address at a location  250  of a recipient  255  and a return address  207  indicating where to return item  210  if necessary. Item  210  may also contain a tracking indicia  220  relating to, for example, user  105  and recipient  255 . Tracking indicia  220  may be placed on item  210  by user  105  or the operator of delivery system  230 . User  105  may be, for example, a user working with an enterprise that provides the combination gift element and greeting element. User  105  may also be an organization, enterprise, or any other entity having such needs. Furthermore, user  105  may comprise an individual who purchases the combination gift element and greeting element and places it in item delivery system  230 . In addition, item  210  may include a delivery payment coding  222 . Delivery payment coding  222  may indicate a payment amount user  105  believes is required by the delivery system operator to deliver item  210  to location  250  of recipient  255 . Delivery payment coding  222  may comprise a bar code, an image indicating an account from which delivery payment has been made, a postage stamp, or any other coding type. Recipient  265  may also have a recipient processor  252 , which may be, for example, a personal computer.  
      Item  210  may be routed through delivery system  230 , which may comprise a plurality of facilities, including a sender plant  225 , a delivery path  235 , a first address plant  240 , an alternative address plant  245 , and an alternative processing point  265 . Delivery system  230  may comprise a plurality of plants similar to sender plant  225 , first address plant  240 , and alternative address plant  245 . The plants within delivery system  230  may contain, among other things, scanning equipment designed to scan and read tracking indicia on items processed by plants within delivery system  230 . For example, delivery system  230  may be configured to sense tracking indicia  220  on item  210  with the scanning equipment as item  210  passes through the elements of delivery system  230 . Accordingly, delivery system  230  may collect tracking data corresponding to movement of item  210  through delivery system  230  and provide this tracking data to processors  110  or  115 , for example. System  200  may also include network  120  as described in detail above. Any or all of the systems or components of system  200  may communicate using network  120 .  
      Tracking indicia  220  may comprise a bar code or a PLANET code, to be described below. A bar code is a printed code used for recognition by a bar code scanner (reader). Traditional one-dimensional bar codes use the width of the bar to encode a product or account number. Two-dimensional bar codes, such as PDF417, MAXICODE and DATAMATRIX, are scanned horizontally and vertically and hold considerably more data. Generally, PDF417 is widely used for general purposes, MAXICODE is used for high-speed sorting, and DATAMATRIX is used for marking small parts.  
      Historically, delivery system operators sorted flat mail using a barcode such as POSTNET, a 22-digit barcode consisting of alternating long and short bars indicating the destination of, for example, a mailpiece. Responding to the expanding needs of users who are particularly heavy volume users, PLANET code was developed on the foundation of the existing technical infrastructure. The PLANET code is the opposite of the POSTNET code, reversing long bars for short and short bars for long. This innovation offers the convenience of a bar code that is easily applied using current bar-coding methods, and is readily scanned by the high-speed automation equipment located in the plurality of plants comprising delivery system  230 .  
      Item  210  may be sent through delivery system  230  by user  105  to first address plant  240 . At any time in the delivery process, a determination may be made as to whether item  210  is undeliverable (including undeliverable-as-addressed.) If it is determined that item  210  is undeliverable-as-addressed, item  210  may be forwarded to alternative processing point  265  where an ancillary service may be performed. Examples of such ancillary services may include recycle service (treating item  210  as waste), “NIXIE” service, and Computerized Forwarding Service (CFS).  
      With respect to NIXIE service, NIXIE is a classification given to an item that cannot be sorted or is undeliverable-as-addressed because of an incorrect, illegible, or insufficient delivery address. If item  210  is undeliverable-as-addressed, address correction service (re-label with a correct address) or return service (return item to the sender) may be performed. In this case, a NIXIE operator specialized in the handling of such items may be required. If item  210  requires return service, return address  207  on item  210  may be read and item  210  may be sent to return address  207  accordingly. Return address  207  may be an element of item  210  that is usually placed in the upper left corner of item  210  to indicate the address of user  105 . This address may indicate where user  105  may want item  210  returned if it is undeliverable (including undeliverable-as-addressed.) In addition return address  207  may indicate where user  105  may receive a bill for any fees due for the return of item  210 . When item  210  requires address correction service, a NIXIE operator may obtain the proper address of recipient  255  or the reason for non-delivery. While NIXIE processing may comprise address correction service or return service, other types of NIXIE processing may be performed.  
      Computerized forwarding service may be a centralized, computerized address label-generating operation that forwards undeliverable-as-addressed items to recipients. In this case, recipient  255  may pre-register an alternative address  260  of recipient  255  with the delivery system operator in order to have all items forwarded to alternative address  260 . For example, if recipient  255  moves and wishes to have items sent to alternative address  260 , recipient  255  may notify the delivery system operator of alternative address  260 . Once the delivery system operator is notified of alternative address  260 , all items sent to first address  250  may be detected by delivery system  230 , re-labeled, and then forwarded to alternative address  260 . In the aforementioned computerized forwarding service, items may be forwarded only for a specific period of time, thus providing recipient  255  time to contact each and every sender who recipient  255  may expect to send an item and notify the possible senders of the address change of recipient  255 . After the computerized forwarding service time period is complete, the delivery system operator may cease forwarding items to recipient  255  and may return to the user  105  all items sent to first address  250 .  
      If ancillary services were required, item  210  may remain at alternative processing point  265  or may be processed at an item recovery section of alternative processing point  265 . Item  210  may be recovered by user  105  or recipient  255  upon the completion of a “tracer”. A tracer is a paper or electronic form completed by user  105  or recipient  255  to locate delayed or undelivered items (including items undeliverable-as-addressed). While item recovery may occur at alternative processing point  265 , other types of processing may be performed at alternative processing point  265 .  
      While processor  110  is shown to be separate from delivery system  230 , the functionality of processor  110  may be performed under the control of the delivery system operator at alternative processing point  265 , at any point within delivery system  230 , or at any point outside delivery system  230 . Moreover, the functionality of processor  110  may be performed by an enterprise not under the control of the delivery system operator. Moreover, the delivery system operator may communicate over network  120  with user processor  115 .  
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart setting forth the general stages involved in an exemplary method  300  consistent with the invention for providing a combination gift element and greeting element using system  200  of  FIG. 2 . Exemplary ways to implement the stages of exemplary method  300  will be described in greater detail below. Exemplary method  300  may begin at starting block  305  and proceed to stage  310  where processor  110  may receive a request to create a greeting element. The greeting element may comprise at least one of an electronic greeting element and a physical greeting element. For example, user  105  ( FIG. 1 ), using processor  115 , may send over network  120  the request to create the greeting element. The request may include an indication to create an electronic greeting element or a physical greeting element. The physical greeting element may comprise a greeting card capable of being sent to location  250  of recipient  255  through item delivery system  230 . Furthermore, the greeting element may comprise an electronic greeting element that may be sent to processor  252  of recipient  255  over network  120 .  
      From stage  310  where processor  110  receives the request to create the greeting element, exemplary method  300  may then proceed to stage  320  where processor  110  may receive a request to associate a gift element with the greeting element. The gift element may comprise at least one of an electronic gift element and a physical gift element. For example, user  105 , using processor  115 , may send over network  120  the request to associate the gift element with the greeting element. The physical gift element may comprise a gift card capable of being sent to recipient  255  through item delivery system  230 . For example, the gift card may be placed with the greeting card in item  210  and sent to recipient  255  through item delivery system  230 . Furthermore, the gift element may comprise an electronic gift element that may be sent to recipient  255  over network  120  along with the electronic greeting element.  
      Once processor  110  receives the request to associate the gift element with the greeting element in stage  320 , exemplary method  300  may continue to stage  330  where processor  110  may create the combination gift element and greeting element based upon the received request to create the greeting element and the received request to associate the gift element with the greeting element. For example, processor  110  may create the combination gift element and greeting element capable of either being sent to recipient  255  through item delivery system  230  or over network  120 , as specified in the received request. Next, exemplary method  300  may advance to stage  340  where processor  310  may send the combination gift element and greeting element to recipient  255  over network  120  or item delivery system  230 . From stage  310  where processor  310  send the combination gift element and greeting element to the recipient, exemplary method  300  may end at stage  350 .  
      Consistent with embodiments of the invention, the combination gift element and greeting element, in the form of a physical delivery item, may be sent to recipient  255  over item delivery system  230  to first address location  250  comprising a delivery point. The delivery point may be a physical place to which a delivery system operator may deliver an item. A delivery point may be, for example, a street letterbox, a door slot, an apartment building box cluster, or a separate post office box. The aforementioned are exemplary, and delivery points may comprise any location where an item may be received. Furthermore, an item may comprise a mailpiece, a United States Postal Service Priority Mail package, a United States Postal Service Express Mail Package, or any other item to be delivered. The aforementioned are exemplary and the item may comprise any deliverable element.  
      While certain features and embodiments of the invention have been described, other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein. Furthermore, although embodiments of the present invention have been described as being associated with data stored in memory and other storage mediums, one skilled in the art will appreciate that these aspects can also be stored on or read from other types of computer-readable media, such as secondary storage devices, like hard disks, floppy disks, or a CD-ROM, a carrier wave from the Internet, or other forms of RAM or ROM. Further, the steps of the disclosed methods may be modified in any manner, including by reordering steps and/or inserting or deleting steps, without departing from the principles of the invention.  
      It is intended, therefore, that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims and their full scope of equivalents.