Patent US6669088B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6669088B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-merchant gift registry
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 2001-11-09
•
Granted: 2003-12-30
•
Expires: 2021-11-09
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a system for registering items selected by a registrant from a plurality of participating merchants for subsequent communication to a prospective purchaser. The system has a computer system that contains identifying information about the registrant. A portable input and storage device is provided that can be carried by the registrant into a plurality of participating merchants. The portable input and storage device is capable of receiving and storing information regarding gifts that the registrant desires to receive as presents. The input and storage device stores a unique identifier for the particular merchant each desired gift is from. A transfer device is provided connected to the computer system that receives the information regarding the registrant's desired gifts from the portable input and storage device and transfers the information to the computer system. Finally, a prospective purchaser interface device is provided that allows the prospective purchaser to view, sort or print a list of the gifts desired by the registrant and which particular merchant those gifts are from.
Inventors
- 👤 William J. Veeneman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:33
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/02; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/343; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G07F17/00; G07F17/42; G07G; G07G1/00; G07G1/0036; G07G1/0045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A multi-merchant gift registry comprising: a kiosk having an ATM function and a gift registry function with one or more merchants participating in the gift registry, the gift registry kiosk having; a first data entry system through which first information and inquiries about registrants in the gift registry are entered into the computer system, the first information for each registrant including at least one name for the registrant; a second data entry system capable of receiving second information, the second information including a list of potential gifts which the registrant has identified and a unique identifier associated with the particular merchant having each of the desired gifts; a database storage system that stores and retrieves the first and second information about the registrant and the unique identifier associated with the particular merchant having each of the desired gifts; and a display system that displays the list of potential gifts for a particular registrant and information about the particular merchants the desired gifts are from, including the unique identifier associated with the particular merchant having each of the desired gifts in response to an inquiry from a prospective purchaser.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A multi-merchant gift registry comprising: a kiosk having an ATM function and a gift registry function with one or more merchants participating in the gift registry, the gift registry kiosk having; a first data entry system through which first information and inquiries about registrants in the gift registry are entered into the computer system, the first information for each registrant including at least one name for the registrant; a second data entry system capable of receiving second information, the second information including a list of potential gifts which the registrant has identified and a unique identifier associated with the particular merchant having each of the desired gifts; a database storage system that stores and retrieves the first and second information about the registrant and the unique identifier associated with the particular merchant having each of the desired gifts; and a display system that displays the list of potential gifts for a particular registrant and information about the particular merchants the desired gifts are from, including the unique identifier associated with the particular merchant having each of the desired gifts in response to an inquiry from a prospective purchaser.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The gift registry of claim 1 , further comprising a printer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The gift registry as in claim 1 wherein the first data entry system is a touch screen system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The gift registry as in claim 1 wherein the second data entry system comprises a transfer device electrically connected to the computer system and a portable device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The gift registry as in claim 4 wherein the portable device is a hand held scanning device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The gift registry of claim 5 , wherein the kisok includes a plurality of hand held scanning devices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The gift registry as in claim 5 wherein the transfer device is a docking station for the portable hand held scanning device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The gift registry as in claim 1 wherein the second data entry system identifies each participating merchant by a unique identifier.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The gift registry as in claim 8 wherein the unique identifier is in the form of a digitally encoded value embodied in a bar code.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The gift registry as in claim 1 further comprising updating means for updating the database storage system as a prospective purchaser buys a gift from the list of potential gifts for a particular registrant.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
212 words
A system for registering items selected by a registrant from a plurality of participating merchants for subsequent communication to a prospective purchaser, the system comprising: a kiosk having an ATM function and a gift registry function for a plurality of merchants participating in the gift registry, the gift registry kiosk having a computer system containing identifying information about a registrant, the information for each registrant including at least one name for the registrant and a list of potential gifts which the registrant has identified; a portable input and storage device for use by the registrant with a plurality of participating merchants, the input and storage device being capable of receiving and storing information regarding the registrant's desired gifts including the merchant each desired gift is from, wherein the input and storage device stores a unique identifier for the particular merchant each desired gift is from; a transfer device connected to the computer system that receives the information regarding the registrant's desired gifts from the portable input and storage device and transfers the information to the computer system; and a prospective purchaser interface device that allows a prospective purchaser to view a list of the goods desired by the registrant wherein the list includes information about the particular merchant each gift is from.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
212 words
A system for registering items selected by a registrant from a plurality of participating merchants for subsequent communication to a prospective purchaser, the system comprising: a kiosk having an ATM function and a gift registry function for a plurality of merchants participating in the gift registry, the gift registry kiosk having a computer system containing identifying information about a registrant, the information for each registrant including at least one name for the registrant and a list of potential gifts which the registrant has identified; a portable input and storage device for use by the registrant with a plurality of participating merchants, the input and storage device being capable of receiving and storing information regarding the registrant's desired gifts including the merchant each desired gift is from, wherein the input and storage device stores a unique identifier for the particular merchant each desired gift is from; a transfer device connected to the computer system that receives the information regarding the registrant's desired gifts from the portable input and storage device and transfers the information to the computer system; and a prospective purchaser interface device that allows a prospective purchaser to view a list of the goods desired by the registrant wherein the list includes information about the particular merchant each gift is from.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The gift registry as in claim 11 wherein the portable device is a hand held scanning device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The gift registry as in claim 11 wherein the unique identifier is in the form of a digitally encoded value embodied in a bar code.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The gift registry as in claim 11 further comprising updating means for updating the database storage system as a prospective purchaser buys a gift from the list of potential gifts for a particular registrant.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
76 words
A multi-merchant gift registry system comprising: a portable scanning device including a central processing unit, a memory, a communication module, and a data input module wherein registry information is entered into the memory and items are entered through the data input module and stored in a database within the memory; and a docking station for securing the portable scanning device when the portable scanning device is not in use, wherein the docking station is an ATM.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
76 words
A multi-merchant gift registry system comprising: a portable scanning device including a central processing unit, a memory, a communication module, and a data input module wherein registry information is entered into the memory and items are entered through the data input module and stored in a database within the memory; and a docking station for securing the portable scanning device when the portable scanning device is not in use, wherein the docking station is an ATM.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 15 , wherein the docking station include a printer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 15 wherein a monetary deposit is required for a registrant to remove the portable scanning device form the docking station.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 15 , wherein the registry information is entered by manually entering the information on a keyboard coupled with the portable scanning device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 15 , wherein the registry information is entered by transmitting the information through a network in communication with the portable scanning device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 15 , wherein the memory further includes a merchant database identifying the merchants participating in the multi-merchant registry and the portable scanner includes a merchant selection function.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 20 , wherein the merchant selection function includes scanning a bar code identifying a merchant.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 21 wherein the bar code is located proximate the merchant.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 20 wherein the merchant selection function includes selecting the merchant from a list of merchants displayed on a screen on the portable scanning device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 20 wherein the merchant database further includes a listing of each merchant's bar codes and corresponding products.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of providing a multi-merchant gift registry, comprising: receiving registry information from a registrant; receiving a designation of one or more registered products from one or more merchants participating in the multi-merchant gift registry; receiving access information to a separate registry for the registrant; accessing the separate registry and obtaining a designation of one or more additional registered products from the separate registry; combining the registered products and the additional registered products as a combined registry in a database; and providing the combined registry.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of providing a multi-merchant gift registry, comprising: receiving registry information from a registrant; receiving a designation of one or more registered products from one or more merchants participating in the multi-merchant gift registry; receiving access information to a separate registry for the registrant; accessing the separate registry and obtaining a designation of one or more additional registered products from the separate registry; combining the registered products and the additional registered products as a combined registry in a database; and providing the combined registry.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 25 , further comprising: updating the separate registry if an additional registered product is removed from the combined registry.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 25 , further comprising: receiving a request to purchase a product from the combined registry; and providing an indication of the request to a merchant from which the registrant selected the product.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of utilizing a multi-merchant gift registry comprising: receiving registry information from a registrant; receiving a list of selected products from the registrant and forming a registry of products; providing a plurality of documents having an encoded identification of the registrant and an identification of the multi-merchant gift registry for distribution to one or more guests; identifying the registrant when a guest presents the encoded identification; and providing the registry of products to the guest.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of utilizing a multi-merchant gift registry comprising: receiving registry information from a registrant; receiving a list of selected products from the registrant and forming a registry of products; providing a plurality of documents having an encoded identification of the registrant and an identification of the multi-merchant gift registry for distribution to one or more guests; identifying the registrant when a guest presents the encoded identification; and providing the registry of products to the guest.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the coded identification is a bar code.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 28 , further comprising: correlating a given document to a given guest; providing incentives for the guest to present the document when making subsequent purchases; and tracking purchasing habits and information of the given guest.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the document is a card.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 30 , further comprising providing targeted advertising to the given guest, the targeted adverting having been based on the tracked purchasing habits and information.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of using a multi-merchant gift registry, wherein the gift registry terminal provides both a gift registry function and a second function, the second function associated with an institution, the method comprising: receiving gift registry information including an identification of a registrant and an identification of an event; querying the registrant as to whether the registrant wants to receive information about what the institution provides; and providing information about the registrant to the institution.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of using a multi-merchant gift registry, wherein the gift registry terminal provides both a gift registry function and a second function, the second function associated with an institution, the method comprising: receiving gift registry information including an identification of a registrant and an identification of an event; querying the registrant as to whether the registrant wants to receive information about what the institution provides; and providing information about the registrant to the institution.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the second function is an ATM and the institution if a financial institution.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 34 wherein if the registrant declines and does not want to receive the information, the registry process is continued and the information about the registrant is not provided to the institution.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein the information about what the institution provides is selected based upon the identification of the event.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3445633A
Cited
US3804007A
Cited
US3622995A
Cited
US4166945A
Cited
US4554446A
Cited
US4809837A
Cited
US4815741A
Cited
US4720785A
Cited
US5160171A
Cited
US4916441A
Cited
US5023438A
Cited
US5047614A
Cited
US5192854A
Cited
US5083638A
Cited
US5329589A
Cited
US5500514A
Cited
US5243174A
Cited
US5652421A
Cited
US5208445A
Cited
US5250789A
Cited
US5754981A
Cited
US5774874A
Cited
US5625562A
Cited
US20010032152A1
Cited
US20020004736A1
Cited
US20010044751A1
Cited
US20020072974A1
Cited
US20020138170A1
Cited
US20020107864A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-12-29 | 2007-06-30 | 2007-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-12-29 | 2011-06-30 | 2011-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-12-29 | 2015-06-30 | 2015-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |