Patent ID: 8285587

Claim:
A computer implemented method of generating an electronic greeting card and an associated group gift from multiple parties comprising: sending an electronic notification to selected parties, the electronic notification including a universal resource locator associated with a web page for joining an electronic greeting card for a recipient; receiving messages from a plurality of the selected parties, wherein each of the plurality of the selected parties opens the electronic notification via a computer, accesses the web page associated with the universal resource locator, and enters a message for the electronic greeting card via the web page; prompting the selected parties to make a financial contribution for a group gift associated with the electronic greeting card; electronically receiving financial contributions to the group gift associated with the electronic greeting card from a group of the selected parties via the web page; prompting the plurality of the selected parties to provide electronic contact information for additional parties to be added to the selected parties; sending an electronic notification to the additional parties, the electronic notification including the universal resource locator associated with a web page for joining the electronic greeting card for a recipient and making a financial contribution to the group gift associated with the electronic greeting card; after receiving the financial contributions from the group of the selected parties, receiving a selection of the group gift, wherein a total amount of the financial contributions is in excess of a cost of the selected group gift; returning the excess of the financial contributions to the group of the selected parties; transmitting the electronic greeting card to the recipient, the electronic greeting card including the messages entered by the plurality of the selected parties and a notification of the group gift; and after transmitting the electronic greeting card to the recipient, receiving one or more messages for the electronic greeting card via the web page, and adding the received one or more messages to the electronic greeting card.