Systems and methods for purchasing gifts

Abstract

A method of creating an aggregated Internet accessible registry includes the step of accepting a query from a registrant. The query contains an identifier and a search criteria, the identifier identifying one of a multitude of registry databases. Registries matching the search criteria in the selected registry database are retrieved. When the registrant selects one of the matching registries, a general user identifier that uniquely identifies the registrant is associated with the registry. Additional queries and registry selection completes the aggregation registry process. The aggregated registry is managed on-line by the registrants and accessed by guests. The aggregated registry provides a framework that allows automated updates by registry database provides without loss of the identity of an aggregated registry.

1 - 32 . (canceled)  
     
     
         33 . A method for purchasing a gift for a registrant of an event, comprising: 
 receiving a search request from a user;    communicating to the user, in response to the search request, information that identifies a plurality of gift registries that match the search request, wherein the plurality of gift registries that match the search request includes at least a first gift registry and a second gift registry that are from unaffiliated registry providers;    receiving from the user a selection of a gift registry from among the plurality of gift registries; and    in response to the selection, accessing over the Internet a remote computer system that hosts the gift registry.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein said first gift registry is from a first registry database associated with a first unaffiliated registry provider and said second gift registry is from a second registry database associated with a second unaffiliated registry provider and wherein said first gift registry database and said second registry database have different data structures.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33  wherein 
 said information that identifies a plurality of gift registries includes names and registry providers associated with the plurality of gift registries; and    said receiving from the user said selection of said gift registry comprises receiving from said user a selection of a name associated with said gift registry.    
     
     
         36 . A method, implemented by a local computer system coupled to the Internet, for enabling a user to review gift information contained in a gift registry, the method comprising: 
 receiving a search request from the user;    conducting a search for gift registries associated with unaffiliated registry providers, at least one of said gift registries being located on a remote computer system coupled to the Internet, for gift registries that match the search request;    transmitting to the user information identifying the matching gift registries; and    facilitating, in response to the user selecting a desired one of the matching gift registries, the presentation to the user of gift information contained in the desired one gift registry.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said information identifying the matching gift registries comprises names and registry providers associated with the matching gift registries.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said matching gift registries includes a first gift registry from a first registry database associated with a first registry provider and a second gift registry from a second registry database associated with a second registry provider and wherein said first registry database and said second registry database have different data structures.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the desired one gift registry is located on the remote computer system.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the desired one gift registry is located on the local computer system and at least another one of the gift registries is located on the local computer system, the method further comprising: 
 facilitating the selection and purchasing of a gift item from the desired one gift registry.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the gift information associated with the desired one gift registry is a plurality of items and the presentation to the user of gift information comprises providing, for each item in the plurality of items, a description of the item, a unit price for the item, and a quantity of the item that is desired.  
     
     
         42 . A method, implemented by a local computer system coupled to the Internet, for enabling a user to review gift information, the method comprising: 
 receiving a search request from the user;    searching for gift information that matches the search request;    communicating to the user a list of names and associated event dates, wherein each name matches the search request and wherein the names and associated event dates are associated with registries, containing gift information, from more than one registry provider, and wherein at least one of said registries is located on a remote computer system coupled to the Internet; and    in response to the user selecting a name on the list of names, facilitating presentment to the user of gift information contained in the gift registry associated with the name selected by the user.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein said more than one registry provider includes unaffiliated registry providers.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the gift information associated with the name selected by the user is a plurality of items and the display to the user of gift information associated with the name comprises providing, for each item in said plurality of items, a description of the item, a unit price for the item, and a quantity of the item that is desired.  
     
     
         45 . A method, implemented on a computer system, for enabling a user to review a list of names and associated event dates over the Internet, the method comprising: 
 receiving a search request from the user;    searching for gift registries that match the search request; and    communicating to the user the list of names and associated event dates, wherein each name in said list of names and associated event dates is associated with a gift registry in a plurality of gift registries that match said search request and wherein at least a first gift registry and a second gift registry in said plurality of gift registries are associated with unaffiliated registry providers.    
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the first gift registry is from a first gift registry database associated with a first unaffiliated registry provider and the second gift registry is from a second gift registry database that is associated with a second unaffiliated registry provider and wherein said first gift registry database and said second gift registry database have different data structures.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said communicating comprises providing, for a name in said list of names, an identifier that identifies one or more gift registries associated with the name.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said communicating comprises providing, for a name in said list of names, an identifier that identifies a single gift registry associated with the name.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 45 , the method further comprising: 
 enabling the user to select a name from said list of names, such that, in response to the selection, a gift registry associated with said name is displayed to enable the user to review items contained in the gift registry.    
     
     
         50 . A method for enabling a user to review gift information, the method comprising: 
 receiving over the Internet a search request from the user;    searching for gift registries that match the search request; and    communicating over the Internet to the user information that identifies a plurality of matching gift registries, wherein the plurality of matching gift registries includes at least two gift registries from unaffiliated retailers.    
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50  wherein said information that identifies a plurality of matching gift registries comprises names and retailers associated with said plurality of matching gift registries.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , the method further comprising: 
 enabling the user to make a selection of a name in said information thereby selecting the gift registry from among the plurality of gift registries that is associated with the selected name.    
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52  wherein, in response to the selection, the user is provided with information identifying items included in the selected gift registry.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 50  wherein said searching for registries occurs over the Internet.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising: 
 receiving, from the user, a selection of a gift registry from among the matching gift registries and, in response to the selection, causing information concerning items contained in the selected gift registry to be presented to the user.    
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , the method further comprising enabling the user to purchase an item contained in the selected registry.  
     
     
         57 . A method for enabling a user to review gift information, the method comprising: 
 receiving over the Internet a search request from the user;    searching, among at least two retailers, for a gift registry that matches the search request; and    communicating, over the Internet, to the user information identifying the matching gift registry.    
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the information identifying the matching gift registry comprises a name or a retailer associated with the gift registry.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the at least two retailers are unaffiliated retailers.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising causing information concerning gift items contained in the matching gift registry to be presented to the user.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 57 , the method further comprising: 
 receiving a request to purchase a gift item in the matching gift registry; and    facilitating the purchase of the gift item.    
     
     
         62 . A method for enabling the purchase of a gift for a registrant of an event, comprising: 
 receiving a search request from a user;    communicating to the user, in response to the search request, information that identifies a plurality of gift registries that match the search request, wherein the plurality of gift registries that match the search request includes at least two gift registries from unaffiliated registry providers; and    enabling the user to make a selection of a gift registry from among the plurality of gift registries such that, in response to the selection, a remote computer system that hosts the selected gift registry is accessed over the Internet.    
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62  wherein 
 the information that identifies the plurality of gift registries comprises names and registry providers associated with the plurality of gift registries; and    said enabling the user to make a selection of the gift registry comprises enabling the user to make a selection of a name associated with the gift registry.    
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 62 , the method further comprising: 
 presenting the user with a gift item list from the selected gift registry.    
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 62 , the method further comprising: 
 receiving a request to purchase a gift item in said gift item list; and    facilitating the purchase of said gift item.    
     
     
         66 . A method implemented by a computer system coupled to the Internet for enabling a user to review, over the Internet, gift information associated with an event, the method comprising: 
 enabling the user to enter a search request;    communicating, in response to the search request, a list of names and associated event dates, wherein each name in said list matches the search request and wherein the list of names and associated event dates collectively represents gift information contained in associated gift registries hosted by more than one registry provider;    receiving from the user a selection of a name on the list; and    causing, in response to the selection, gift information contained in the gift registry associated with the selected name to be presented.    
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 , the method further comprising: 
 enabling the user to purchase a gift item identified by the gift information.    
     
     
         68 . A method implemented by a computer system for enabling a user to review a gift registry over the Internet, the method comprising: 
 receiving a search request from the user;    searching at least two unaffiliated registry providers for a gift registry that matches the search request; and    communicating to the user a name and an event date associated with the matching gift registry.    
     
     
         69 . A method implemented by a computer system coupled to the Internet for enabling a user to review, over the Internet, gift information associated with an event, the method comprising: 
 receiving a search request;    communicating, in response to said search request, a plurality of names and associated event dates, wherein each name of said plurality matches the search request and wherein the plurality of names and associated event dates are associated with gift registries hosted by more than one registry provider; and    in response to a selection of a name from among said plurality of names, causing the gift information contained in the gift registry associated with the selected name to be presented.    
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , the method further comprising enabling the user to purchase a gift item identified by the gift information.  
     
     
         71 . A method for providing a list of names and associated event dates over the Internet, comprising: 
 receiving a search request;    communicating, in response to the search request, the list of names and associated event dates,    wherein names in said list match the search request, and    wherein the names and associated event dates in said list identify a plurality of gift registries, at least two of the plurality of gift registries being associated with unaffiliated registry providers.    
     
     
         72 . A method implemented by a computer system for enabling a user to review a gift registry over the Internet, the method comprising: 
 receiving a single search request;    searching for a gift registry, which matches the single search request, in the registries of a first retailer;    causing the user's computer system to present information that identifies a matching gift registry when a matching gift registry is identified in the registries of the first retailer;    searching for a gift registry, which matches the single search request, in the registries of a second retailer; and    causing the user's computer system to present information that identifies a matching gift registry when a matching gift registry is identified in the registries of the second retailer.