Dynamically changing system for fulfilling concealed value gift certificate obligations
US6138106A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 19, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 24, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 19, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q30/0241
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and process for redeeming concealed value gift certificates with concealed value products. The gift certificates, purchasable by a buyer, represent a value stored in a database and concealed from the subsequent recipient/redeemer. Gift products are selected by the system operator and similarly stored in a database with their corresponding prices. Upon receipt of a gift certificate identifier, the corresponding value is retrieved from the database, and used to identify a selection of gifts affordable with the certificate. The gifts are then displayed to the redeemer, without revealing either the value of the certificate or the cost of the gifts. As gifts are selected for purchase by the redeemer, the concealed value of the gift certificate is reduced by the cost of the selected gifts, and new sets of affordable gifts are identified and displayed to the redeemer. Gifts may also be `returned,` and the value added back into the concealed value of the gift certificate. The redeemer can thus select gifts in an interactive, game-type manner.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.