Abstract:
Disclosed is a convenient and effectively immediate gifting method for who wants to interactively gift via a service provider by specific identification of a gift recipient, choosing a gift from among gifts available from the service provider or a partner thereof, and providing a message for relaying to the gift recipient. When the recipient accesses the service provider a gift notification is presented, allowing the recipient to redeem the gift and access the gift.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60/930,142 filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on May 14, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a system and method for interactive gifting and, in particular, to a method of sending cards and gifts via cablegrams. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Television and movie viewing is a hugely popular form of leisure activity. To enhance their television and movie viewing, millions of people willingly incur a monthly charge for cable and/or satellite service. Such cable network and satellite television providers allow certain subscribers to purchase movies over their respective cable and satellite networks from a library of shows and movies licensed by the cable service provider. 
         [0006]    Apple Inc., which designs, manufactures and markets personal computers, portable digital music players, and mobile communication devices, provides an Itunes® service that allows users to purchase movies over the Internet, i.e. on-line. These movies can be gifted locally for convenient viewing on a portable device, on a computer or on a television with the addition of dedicated hardware. 
         [0007]    Often, while viewing a television program, a viewer will recall and seek to acknowledge an event such as a birthday or anniversary. Conventionally, a person utilizes a card and/or gift for such acknowledgment. Such cards are typically delivered by hand, regular mail or email. However, such conventional greetings and acknowledgement is typically subject to delay. Moreover, gifts, even those of significant value, rarely include as part of the gift other than the card any indication that specifically reminds the recipient of the person who gave the gift. Also, to a lesser extent, a conventional gift will lack a mechanism linking the gift to the event for which the gift was given. 
         [0008]    The present invention overcomes such shortcomings of conventional methods by providing a unique and convenient method of sending good wishes via a television cable box interface and television/video monitor, without the need for a separate computer interface. Moreover, the present invention provides a mechanism for instantaneous delivery as well as repetitive use and acknowledgement. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention overcomes disadvantages of conventional systems by providing a method for convenient sending of good wishes via a user&#39;s television/video monitor, allowing a user to act on a sudden desire to send a token of good wishes and/or gift, allowing for specific recognition of a special and/and planned occasion. 
         [0010]    In the present invention, a system and method are provided for interactive gifting by sending cards with a viewing gift via cablegrams that is personalized to the recipient. The present invention provides people an opportunity to discuss movies and shows that they have all viewed and enjoyed, thereby enhancing a shared experience. The present invention further provides a prompt at the conclusion of the user&#39;s movie viewing, allowing immediate selection of the previously viewed movie for gifting. The present invention provides a convenience of purchase at home, or other location where the user is recreating, of unique, personalized gifts. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a flowchart showing an input mechanism for a gifting method of the present invention: 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing event input and acknowledgement of the present invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing recipient operation of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    The following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention will be made in reference to the accompanying drawings. In describing the invention, explanation about related functions or constructions known in the art are omitted for the sake of clearness in understanding the concept of the invention, to avoid obscuring the invention with unnecessary detail. 
         [0016]    As used here, a cablegram is a message for a service provider to relay to a gift recipient via the service network provided by the service provider, i.e. via cable, Internet or satellite television service. For clarity, the following description makes reference to service provider and will be recognized to also apply to services of Internet, satellite and other service providers. 
         [0017]    In a preferred embodiment, purchaser  160  selects and sends a gift  100  to recipient  130  by accessing a service provider  110  and identifying a recipient household  120 . The service provider can be a cable network provider  112  or a satellite television provider  114 . The gift can be a movie  102  or other interactive service available from service provider  110  or, as described below, a partnered service provider  210 . 
         [0018]    Purchaser  160  chooses the gift from among gifts available  105  from the service provider  110 . Purchaser  160  provides the service provider  110  with a message  200  to relay to the recipient  130 . Recipient  130  accesses services provided by the service provider  110 , at which time the service provide  110  provides to the recipient  130  notification of the gift  100 . If recipient  130  elects to redeem the gift  100 , the gift  100  is made available to the recipient  130 . In a preferred embodiment, the service provider  110  sends a gift receipt  150  to the purchaser  160  acknowledging viewing of the gift  100 . Recipient  130  is preferably provided with an interface  170  for entry of a thank you  172  for the gift  100 . In a preferred embodiment, the recipient  130  can use the interface  170  to select a preformatted card  174  as the thank you  172 . 
         [0019]    In another preferred embodiment, the purchaser  160  can identify a gift delivery parameter  140  such as whether the gift  100  is to be made available for a single viewing by the recipient  130 , or if the recipient  130  can store/access the gift  100  on several occasions. Upon viewing of the gift  100 , a banner  180  chosen or developed by the purchaser is displayed on the viewing screen as an accompaniment of the gift  100  during viewing. The banner  180  may appears one or more times while the recipient  130  accesses the gift  100 , pursuant to the purchaser&#39;s election. The banner  180  may also appear as an intermittent streamed message. Preferably, the banner  180  is presented to the purchaser  160  in a predefined format, for example, reading “Happy Birthday from Grandpa Jeff,” in a personalized manner to specifically identify the purchaser  160 . 
         [0020]    Where the recipient household  120  subscribes to a partnered service provider  210  different from but having entered into a prior agreement with the service provider  110 , the available gifts  105  can include movies  102  licensed by the partnered service provider  210 , but not available from the service provider  110 . 
         [0021]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a purchaser  160 , i.e. a person desiring to give a gift to another, if already a cable service provider customer, would order a gift  100  utilizing a remote control device  116  provided by the service provider  110 . Remote control device  116  preferably is the same remote used to access other features provided by service provider  110 . Billing for gift  100  is preferably reflected on the purchaser&#39;s cable service account or can alternately be charged to a credit card. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , at step  101  a “sending gift” option is accessed within an input menu. If the option is selected, in step  103  the purchaser  160  enters an identifier type such as a telephone number or address. In step  105 , the recipient household identifier is entered. Preferably, verification is performed, such as by look-up table or repeated data entry, as shown in step  107 . In step  109 , the purchaser is prompted to enter the name of a specific recipient  130 , particularly if there more than one person resides in the recipient household  120 . A given name, nickname, or the like can be entered. Data entry can be performed via an interactive program, by selecting letters and spaces on a television screen, by keypad entry using a dedicated device, or wireless phone. 
         [0023]    In a preferred embodiment, a prompt is provided for purchaser to utilize his or her billing name as the gift purchaser  160 . At steps  130  and  133  a remote control  116  is used for automated entry. Alternatively, steps  140  and  143  depicts a key entry via a Blackberry® type device, and steps  150  and  153  depict data entry via telephone. At step  160  a system search is performed to identify the recipient household  120  within an account list of the service provider  110 . If found, the process continues at step  201  of  FIG. 2 . If not found, a further search is performed of account lists of one or more partnered service providers  210 , at step  165 . If not found, a message is sent explaining that the request can not be processed, at step  167 . 
         [0024]    At step  201  of  FIG. 2 , a delivering service provider, i.e. the service provider  110  and/or partner service provider  210 , lists the available gifts  100 . A selection is made at step  203 , and at step  205  a title is displayed on the screen. Although not shown in  FIG. 2 , multiple items can be listed and gifted. Alternatively, a dollar amount for a gift certificate can be designated, to appear as a credit on the recipient&#39;s account. 
         [0025]    At step  207  an interface is provided for the purchaser to select among events that correspond to the gift-giving event. A message/card option is then provided. At step  220  the user is provided with choices among preformatted messages and at step  222  a display is provided of messages offered that correspond to the event type. At step  224 , purchaser  160  selects a desired message  190 . In a preferred embodiment, a surcharge is typically added and profits from the surcharge are split with the supplier of any pre-printed greeting card that might be used. In another preferred embodiment, the system screens for select words, thereby eliminating any obscene or offensive messages, absent prior consent of same from recipients or coordinating with recipient V-chip setting. 
         [0026]    Alternatively, at steps  230  to  232  a personalized message can be key entered or, at steps  240  to  244  a preformatted gift card can be selected. A preferred embodiment includes a banner  180  option for displaying the desired message  190 . At step  260 , purchaser  160  enters an identifier such as a signature, e.g. “Grandpa Jeff”, to accompany the desired message  190 , and a final authorization is made at step  270 . 
         [0027]    Although not shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in a preferred embodiment, two warnings/disclaimers are displayed, one to the purchaser that there is no guarantee of personal delivery within the receiving household, and another, which is a privacy disclaimer, that as to the message being sent may be read by others within the receiving household. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , when the recipient powers on their television at step  301  and accesses their cable service, a message appears showing that gift  100  is available, in step  303 . At step  305 , confirmation is made that the desired recipient  130  is present. If the intended gift recipient  310  is not present, at step  310  the gift is retained. Preferably, for time-sensitive gifts such as birthday greeting, a prompt is provided at regular intervals to quickly determine when recipient  130  starts viewing the television. 
         [0029]    If recipient  130  is present, at step  320  the gift is accessed and at step  322  a provider rating service is performed, such as parental overrides to ensure viewing of only appropriate gifts within each household. 
         [0030]    At steps  324  and  326 , message  190  is displayed to the recipient  130  with access instructions. This, or at least a reminder message of “more gifts to open”, preferably repeats every time the service is accessed or until the entire gift is utilized. If a gift certificate was provided, the recipient  130  is directed to an On-Demand type selection menu to select a gift  100  to the liking of the recipient  130 . 
         [0031]    In step  330 , at preset intervals during viewing of the gift, a ribbon line at the bottom of the screen appears identifying the purchaser and identifying the gift occasion. For example, a banner  180  is provided that reads: “Hope you are enjoying this show. Love, Grandma &amp; Grandpa.” As another example, banner  180  reads: “feel better soon” for a gift provided to a sick person, with the “feel better” banner preferably being set to expire after a time corresponding to a type of illness that can be specified by the purchaser. In this embodiment, the “feel better” banner is replaced by a default banner after the passage of a default period of time, with the default banner preferably displaying a message in smaller characters and playing only on commencement and close of viewing, to identify the person or entity providing the gift. 
         [0032]    At step  340 , an interface is provided for recipient  130  to provide a thank you  172 , which is preferably in the form of a preformatted card  174 , either prior to or after viewing of the gift  100 . If selected, the provider  110  sends the thank you  172 , to the purchaser  170 , at step  350 . 
         [0033]    While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.