Richfx Ltd.

William K Dodd

Methods and systems for electronically forwarding an online gift are disclosed. The method permits a first recipient to forward a gift to a second recipient. Prior to shipment of the gift to the first recipient, the first recipient receives notice of the gift and may use a web browser communicating with a server to forward the gift to the second recipient by supplying contact information for the second recipient. The system includes a computerized network environment designed and configured to implement the claimed method. A computer readable medium containing instructions for implementation of the claimed method is further disclosed.

Methods and systems for electronically forwarding an online gift

Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide the ability for an online gift recipient to accept or exchange an online gift prior to shipping the gift to the recipient. A gift giver accesses a gift server over a network (such as the Internet) using conventional browser software on a user node of the network. While online with the gift server node (e.g. the gift server's website), the gift giver selects an online gift for the recipient from a variety of gifts supplied from one or more gift vendors. Information on the gift selection is sent to an gift queue on the gift server node while the recipient is notified of the gift, typically via an electronic mail message. In response to the notification, the recipient connects online to the gift server node, reads the gift selection information from the gift queue and determines whether to accept or exchange the gift. If the gift is to be exchanged, an electronic gift certificate is generated and another gift may be selected or different kinds of actual gift certificates may be selected as a replacement gift before an order for the initial gift is placed or the initial gift is shipped to the recipient.

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Marietta, GA, United States of America

William K Dodd