WO2014176352A1

WO2014176352A1 - Personalized gifting system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2014176352A1
Application number: PCT/US2014/035171
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brett Glass; Nicole GLASS; Dominique PIERRON O'HARA; Elizabeth TRIMBLE; Karl Geisler
Original assignee: Gift Card Impressions, LLC
Priority date: 2013-04-24
Filing date: 2014-04-23
Publication date: 2014-10-30

Abstract

An online gift personalization system includes an application to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) to a computing device and receive from the GUI, user-supplied textual, audio, images, photographic, and/or video content from the computing device, and information associated with a merchant of a gift card and a monetary amount to be associated with the gift card. From the received content and gift card information, the application generates a personalized reveal structure from the received user-supplied content and the gift card. The personalized reveal structure has multiple independently viewable frames that includes the received user-supplied content in which the gift card is included in at least one of the frames.

Description

PERSONALIZED GIFTING SYSTEM AND METHOD

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application takes priority to U.S. Patent Application Serial No.

61/815,638, filed April 24, 2013, and entitled "Personalized Gifting System and

Method." The contents of 61/815,638 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable.

COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

[0003] Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to gifting system, and more particularly, to a personalized gifting system and method.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Transaction cards, stored value cards, or gift cards as they are commonly called based upon their intended use, have become popular gifts. Gift cards typically comprise a stored value card whereby a certain cash equivalent value is encoded upon a magnetic strip applied to the surface of the card. This stored value may be determined by the vendor prior to packaging and display for sale or is selected at the point of sale by the purchaser and loaded by the cashier using a magnetic card reader/writer.

[0003] Although gift cards have become an accepted form of gifts, their use has not been without limitation. For example, currently available gift card designs have been generally impersonal in nature and therefore may not adequately provide a desired sentiment that the user wishes to convey to the intended recipient. What is needed is a system that provides for user-supplied content, such as textual, audio, photographic, and/or video content, to be included with gift cards that are sent to a recipient. SUMMARY

[0004] Embodiments of the personalized gifting system and method may provide a solution to conventional gift card purchasing systems by incorporating a reveal structure including user-supplied content that accompanies a gift sent to a recipient. The reveal structure may be generated in any suitable manner, such as online via a website, or via application software (i.e. a mobile app) that is accessed through a network, which provides a gift card reveal structure generating platform.

[0005] According to one embodiment, an online gift card personalization system includes an application executable on a server to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) on the computing device and receive from the GUI, user-supplied textual, audio, or video content from the computing device, and information associated with a merchant of a gift card and a monetary amount to be associated with the gift card. From the received content and gift card information, the application generates a personalized reveal structure from the received user-supplied content and the gift card. The personalized reveal structure comprising multiple independently viewable frames that includes the received user- supplied content, the gift card included in at least one of the frames that may be sent to a recipient.

[0006] According to another embodiment, an online gift personalization method includes receiving user-supplied textual, audio, images, photographic, or video content, and gift information associated with a gift to be given to a recipient from a computing device of a user. The method also includes generating, a personalized reveal structure from the received user-supplied content and the gift information in which the

personalized reveal structure comprising a plurality of independently viewable frames that includes the received user- supplied content, the gift information included in at least one of the frames. The method then facilitates transmission the reveal structure and the gift information to the recipient.

[0007] According to yet another embodiment, executable instructions stored in a no n- transitory, computer-readable medium are executed to receive user- supplied textual, audio, images, photographic, or video content, and gift information associated with a gift to be given to a recipient from a computing device of a user. The instructions, when executed, also generates a personalized reveal structure from the received user-supplied content and the gift information in which the personalized reveal structure comprising a plurality of independently viewable frames that includes the received user-supplied content in which the gift information is included in at least one of the frames. The instructions then facilitate transmission the reveal structure and the gift information to the recipient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Fig. 1A is a block diagram of an example gift personalization system according to one aspect of the gift personalization system.

[0009] Fig. IB depicts an example embodiment of a computing device according to one aspect of the gift personalization system.

[0010] Fig. 1C depicts an example embodiment of a data source according to an aspect of the gift personalization system.

[0011] Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an example computing device that includes a gift personalization application according to an aspect of the gift personalization system.

[0012] Fig. 3 is a flowchart depicting a process for creating a personalized reveal structure according to an aspect of the gift personalization system.

[0013] Fig. 4 depicts an example photo booth that may be implemented with the gift personalization system.

[0014] Fig. 5 illustrates an example of a reveal structure type screen according to an aspect of the merchant onsite personalization gifting system.

[0015] Fig. 6 illustrates an example of a reveal structure template screen according to an aspect of the merchant onsite personalization gifting system.

[0016] Fig. 7 illustrates an example of a scrapbook video personalization screen according to an aspect of the merchant onsite personalization gifting system.

[0017] Fig. 8 illustrates an example of a photo strip reveal structure

personalization screen according to an aspect of the merchant onsite personalization gifting system.

[0018] Fig. 9 illustrates an example of a puzzle template personalization screen according to an aspect of the merchant onsite personalization gifting system.

[0019] Fig. 10 illustrates an example of a photo entry screen according to an aspect of the merchant onsite personalization gifting system.

[0020] Fig. 11 illustrates an example of a personal text message entry screen according to an aspect of the merchant onsite personalization gifting system.

[0021] Fig.12 illustrates an example of an audio selection screen according to an aspect of the merchant onsite personalization gifting system.

[0022] Fig. 13 illustrates an example of another audio selection screen according to an aspect of the merchant onsite personalization gifting system.

[0023] Fig. 14 illustrates an example of an audio generation screen according to an aspect of the merchant onsite personalization gifting system.

[0024] Fig. 15 illustrates an example of a celebration video template selection screen according to an aspect of the merchant onsite personalization gifting system.

[0025] Fig. 16 illustrates an example of a celebration video preview screen according to an aspect of the merchant onsite personalization gifting system.

[0026] Fig. 17 illustrates an example of a reveal video preview screen according to an aspect of the merchant onsite personalization gifting system.

[0027] Fig. 18 illustrates an example of a reveal structure delivery type screen according to an aspect of the merchant onsite personalization gifting system.

[0028] Fig. 19 illustrates an example of a gift selection screen according to an aspect of the merchant onsite personalization gifting system.

[0029] Fig. 20 illustrates an example of a gift card selection screen according to an aspect of the merchant onsite personalization gifting system.

[0030] Fig. 21 illustrates an example of recipient information entry screen according to an aspect of the merchant onsite personalization gifting system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Although gift cards have been become a commonly accepted gifting medium from givers to recipients, their use has not been without limitation. For example, conventionally implemented gift cards are generally impersonal in that they typically do not include any personal sentiment that the user (i.e., sender) would like to convey to his or her recipient. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solution to this problem using a system that provides for personalization of gift cards via an online, interactive gift card purchasing and delivery platform including a personalized reveal structure, such as a digital scrapbook structure, a photo strip structure, a puzzle structure, or other similar structure for displaying user- supplied content in which the gift card may be included.

[0032] Figs. 1A through 1C depict an example gift personalization system 100 according to aspects of the disclosure. The system 100 includes a gift personalization server 102 or other computing device or system that includes a gift personalization application 104 and a data source 106. As will be described in detail below, the gift personalization system 100 receives user-supplied content from a computing device 108 of a user (e.g., purchaser of the gift), and generates a digital personalized reveal structure 110 and associated digital gift 112 that may be sent to a computing device 114 of a recipient. Additionally, the gift personalization system 100 may communicate with the production facility 122 generate a physical reveal structure 110' to be sent along with a physical gift 112' to the recipient using a suitable mail delivery service.

[0033] Certain embodiments of the gift personalization system 100 may provide an enhanced mechanism for implementing online personalized gifting platforms and gift packaging formats that improve the giftability of online gift sales. Various formats include a system for providing a personalized reveal structure, such as a digital scrapbook structure, a photo strip reveal structure, and a puzzle reveal structure that may be used to reveal the gift provided to a recipient. The system also provides for generation of one or more elements of content to be included with the reveal structure, such as a celebration video structure that is played prior to revealing the gift, a keepsake photograph, and/or other content, such as an instance of music and/or video content (e.g., a copyrighted song, movie, etc.) selected by the user.

[0034] The gift personalization application 104 also provides a mechanism for generating a personalized reveal structure 110 that may include personalized content by uploading one or more photographs, customized text messages, such as a text greeting message, add audio content, such as pre-recorded songs and/or sound or voice messages, images, and/or video content and include content such as this with the personalized reveal structure 110. The reveal structure 110 may include a digital gift 112 that may be electronically transmitted to the recipient using an e-mail message, a short message service (SMS), via a social media account, or other suitable electronic communication medium. Alternatively, the system 100 may send, via a production facility 122, a physical reveal structure 110' and an associated physical gift 112' to the user using a mail delivery service, such as the UNITED PARCEL SERVICE™.

[0035] The digital gift 112 and/or physical gift 112' may be any item that may be given by a user (i.e., purchaser of the gift) to a recipient. Examples of physical gifts include, but are not limited to, chocolate boxes, flowers, toys, gift cards, and the like. Examples of digital gifts may include event tickets, coupons that may be redeemed for physical items, digital gift cards, and the like.

[0036] The gift personalization application 104 receives personalized

information associated with a gift 112 and a personalized reveal structure 110 from the computing device 108 via a communication network 120. The user accesses the system 100 via the computing device 108 hosted by the gift personalization server 102 using an HTML link or other suitable entry point, such as through application software (i.e., a mobile app) executed on a portable computing device (e.g., a cellular telephone). For example, the gift personalization application 104 may generate the reveal structure 110 using user-supplied content, such as textual information, photographic information, audio information, and/or video information, provided by the user. Additional details related to customization of the greeting card are described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/273,220, filed July 12, 2013, and entitled "Online Personalized Gifting System," which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0037] Upon receipt of the reveal structure 110 and/or gift 112 by the recipient 114, the recipient may be allowed to record a thank you message 120 that includes audio and/or video content to be transmitted back to the user. For example, the recipient may record a video segment of himself or herself (e.g. a selfie) revealing the gift, and have that recorded video segment transmitted back to the user to convey a sentiment of gratitude to the user from the recipient 114.

[0038] The server 102 communicates with a website of a retailer, such as a mail order retailer, or processing center of a retailer or other entity that processes incoming orders for products and fulfills these orders by managing shipment of the ordered product to the purchaser or other recipient and payment for the ordered product from the purchaser. The server 102 includes a processing system 202 (Fig. 2) that executes the gift personalization application 104 stored in volatile and/or no n- volatile memory 204 (i.e., computer readable media) using the data source 106. Examples of a server 102 include one or more servers, personal computers, mobile computers and/or other mobile devices, and other computing devices. The server 102 may communicate via wireless and/or wireline communications.

[0039] The server 102 may also communicate with the financial account server 116 that is associated with a financial account of the user to provide payment for the personalized reveal structure by the user. The financial account server 116 is

administered by an e-commerce outlet that manages any type of financial account, such as a credit card account, a debit card account, or a PAYPAL™ account. Prior to generating the reveal structure, the server 102 facilitates a financial transaction with the financial account server 210 associated with the user to provide payment for the gift. The financial account server 116 has one or more processors and executable instructions stored in volatile and/or non- volatile memory for performing the actions and/or steps described herein.

[0040] The server 102 may be associated with a website of a retailer, such as a mail order retailer that processes incoming orders for products and fulfills these orders by managing shipment of the ordered product to the purchaser or other recipient and payment for the ordered product from the purchaser. Examples of such a server 102 include one or more servers, personal computers, mobile computers, and other computing devices. The local server 102 may communicate via wireless and/or wireline

communications. [0041] The computing device 108 has one or more processors and volatile and/or no n- volatile memory. Examples of a computing device 108 include one or more personal computers, mobile computers and/or other mobile devices, and other computing devices. The computing device 108 may communicate via wireless and/or wireline

communications.

[0042] The production facility 122 receives information associated with a reveal structure, generates a physical reveal structure/gift combination according to the received information, and sends the generated physical reveal structure /gift combination to the recipient using a conventional mail delivery service. The production facility may include a computing device having one or more processors and executable instructions stored in volatile and/or non- volatile memory for receiving and processing incoming information from the server 102.

[0043] The communication network 120 can be the Internet, an intranet, or another wired and/or wireless communication network. In one aspect, one or more of the server 102 and the computing device 108 communicate with one another using any suitable protocol or messaging scheme. For example, the server 102 and computing device 108 may communicate using a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), extensible markup language (XML), extensible hypertext markup language (XHTML), or a

Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) protocol. Other examples of communication protocols exist. Although the example of Fig. 1A shows the server 102 communicating with the computing device 108 through a network, other embodiments contemplate the server 102 communicating directly without the use of a separate and distinct network. Additionally, other embodiments contemplate that the modules employed by the server 102 and the computing device 108 are integrated in one computing system. Further, the server 116 and production facility 122 alternatively may communicate with the gift personalization server 202 via the network.

[0044] The data source 106 stores reveal structure templates or other data that may be used by the user to generate a personalized (e.g., customized) reveal structure. In one embodiment, the data source 106 stores one or more scrapbook templates 130, one or more photo strip templates 132, one or more puzzle templates 134, one or more celebration video templates 136, and one or more music files 138. In other embodiments, the data source 106 may store any suitable type of information for personalizing the reveal structure by the user. Although the data source 106 is shown as being located on, at, or within the local server 102, it is contemplated that the data source 106 can be located remotely from the local server 102 in other aspects of the system 100, such as on, at, or within a database of another computing device or system having at least one processor and volatile and/or non-volatile memory.

[0045] Fig. IB depicts an example embodiment of a computing device 108 according to one aspect of the gift personalization system 100. The computing device 108 is a computing or processing device that includes one or more processors 140 and memory 142 and is to receive data and/or communications from, and/or transmit data and/or communications to, the server 102 via the communication network 120. For example, the computing device 108 can be a personal computer, such as a laptop or notebook computer, a workstation, or other processing device such as a personal digital assistant or a tablet computer. The computing device 108 includes a display 144, such as a computer monitor, for displaying data and/or a graphical user interface 146. The computing device 108 may also include an input device 148, such as a keyboard or a pointing device (e.g., a mouse, trackball, pen, or touch screen) to enter data into or interact with the graphical user interface 146. In one embodiment, the display 144 comprises a touchscreen device in which input is provided via contact by the user with the display of the touchscreen device.

[0046] The graphical user interface (GUI) 146 may be generated in any manner, such as via a browser application, or via application software (i.e., an app). The graphical user interface 146 enables the computing device 108 of the user to interact with one or more data entry forms received from the server 102 to enter order detail data and submit orders to the application 104 for the purpose of generating a personalized reveal structure that may be sent to the recipient 114.

[0047] In one embodiment, the computing device 108 is a computing device owned and maintained by the user 108. In another embodiment, the computing device 108 is configured in a photo booth 400 such as shown in Fig. 4. The photo booth 400 as shown generally includes a box- like housing 402 sized for temporary accommodation of the user, and the computing device 108. The computing device 108 includes the display 144, and an input device 148 for receiving user- supplied content or instructions for its use from the user. The photo booth 400 also includes a stool 404 to be sat upon by the user, a camera 406 and a microphone 408 for generating audio and/or video content to be included in the reveal structure 110, and/or a curtain 408 for privacy of the user during the gift personalization process and/or for controlled lighting when obtaining video content by the camera 406.

[0048] Fig. 2 is a block diagram depicting an example gift personalization application 104 executing on a computing device 200. According to one aspect, the computing device 200 includes a processing system 202 that includes one or more processors or other processing devices. A processor is hardware. The processing system 202 executes the gift personalization application 104 to generate a GUI to a display of the computing device 108 for receiving customized information from a user (i.e., sender) and generating a personalized reveal structure that may be combined with a gift to be sent to a recipient.

[0049] According to one aspect, the computing device 200 includes a computer readable media 204 with the gift personalization application 104. The gift

personalization application 104 includes instructions or modules that are executable by the processing system 202 to generate customized reveal structure/gift combinations to be sent to a recipient.

[0050] The computer readable media 204 may include volatile media, nonvolatile media, removable media, non-removable media, and/or another available media that can be accessed by the computing device 200. By way of example and not limitation, the computer readable media 204 comprises computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes non-transient storage memory/media, volatile media, nonvolatile media, removable media, and/or non-removable media implemented in a method or technology for storage of information, such as computer/machine readable/executable instructions, data structures, program modules, and/or other data. Communication media may embody computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data and include an information delivery media or system.

[0051] A GUI interface module 206 facilitates the receipt of data and/or other communications from the computing device 108. In one example, the computing device 108 executes a graphical user interface (GUI), such as a web browser that displays an interactive web page (Fig. 12), an applet, or other suitable user interface mechanism including one or more selectable fields, editing screens, and the like for receiving instructions and data for personalizing a reveal structure to be sent to the recipient. In another example, the computing device 108 may be a computing platform, such as a cellular telephone, that executes an app for providing one or more selectable fields, edit screens, and the like for selecting content and/or modifying pre-recorded content by the user. In either case, the GUI interface module 206 may communicate with the computing device 108 to provide the selected content or edited content to one or more of the other modules of the gift personalization application 104.

[0052] A reveal structure processing module 208 receives user-supplied content from the GUI interface module 206 and generates a reveal structure from the content. For example, the reveal structure is a scrapbook structure includes multiple independently viewable frames (e.g., pages) on which the user-supplied content may be displayed, in which one of the pages includes a representation of a gift for the recipient. The reveal structure processing module 208 may associate the user-supplied content with the scrapbook structure such that, when viewed by the recipient, the content may be viewed on each frame in a similar manner to the pages of a conventional paper-bounded, physical scrapbook. As the recipient views the scrapbook, the gift may be revealed. For example, the scrapbook structure may include a personal story (e.g., "10 Things I Love About You," or "My Wishes For Your Birthday") for the recipient to page through before the gift is revealed.

[0053] For another example, the reveal structure may be a puzzle reveal structure that includes multiple independently viewable frames (e.g., jigsaw puzzle pieces) that may be arranged in different orientations with respect to one another on a GUI of the display 144, such as the computing device of the recipient. Each frame may include content such that, when all the frames arranged in a specified orientation, a message may be revealed to the recipient. In one embodiment, the message may include a

representation of the gift that is given to the recipient. For example, the recipient may include a custom puzzle made up of pieces that reveal an occasion- specific personalized message that features the gift recipient's photograph before being presented with the gift. [0054] For yet another example, the reveal structure may be a photo strip reveal structure having a series of independently viewable frames that be displayed for the recipient. Each frame may include any suitable type of content, such as a photograph, a text message, and may also include other content, such as audio or video segments that may be played when the particular frame is selected by the recipient. Additionally, the user may select from among multiple themed photo strip templates stored in the data source 106 that may be associated with a particular occasion, such as a birthday, a wedding, or a holiday, such as Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and the like. For example, a wedding themed photo strip template may include frames each with pre- stored visual animation, such as wedding cakes, wedding rings, and the like.

[0055] The reveal structure processing module 208 may include additional forms of content to be included with either of the reveal structures described above. For example, the reveal structure may include a celebration video structure that may be generated by selecting from among multiple celebration video templates by the user. Each celebration video includes a template having textual, audio, and/or video animation content for inclusion of a video segment supplied by the user. The animation may be associated with a particular occasion such as described above. For example, the user may record a personal audio message to be integrated into a celebration video template, along with recipient's photograph and name. Additionally, a representation of the gift that is given to the recipient may be included in the celebration video structure.

[0056] Another form of additional content includes a keepsake photograph that generally includes a photographic image of relatively high quality that is provided as a gift to the recipient. The reveal structure processing module 208 includes a mechanism for editing and adding additional content to an uploaded photograph for creating the finished (e.g., touched-up) photograph. The reveal structure processing module 210 may also provide filters or other artistic treatment tools for the user to manipulate the uploaded photograph, which may be transformed into a work of art for sending to the recipient. Additionally, the computing device 104 may also include a high-resolution version and means for printing (e.g., using a printer) the manipulated photograph as a keepsake piece.

[0057] The reveal structure processing module 208 may also generate a thank you message structure that may be used by the recipient to generate content to be returned to the user. For example, the reveal structure processing module 208 may generate one or more hypertext links to be included in the reveal structure 110, such that, when selected by the recipient, generates a webpage on a display of the computing device of the recipient with instructions for acquiring audio and/or video content of the recipient as the gift is revealed. Thus, the thank you video structure may provide a customized thank you message 118 to express how much they enjoyed receiving the reveal structure and associated gift.

[0058] A payment processing module 210 processes a monetary transaction with the user for the services provided by the gift personalization application 104. In one example, the payment processing module 210 may include an application program interface (API) for coordinating a monetary transaction (e.g., online money transfer) through an e-commerce provider, such as a credit card account, a debit card account, or a PAYPAL™ account of the user. Prior to generation of the of the reveal structure/gift combination, the server 102 facilitates a financial transaction with the financial account server 116 associated with the user to provide payment for the gift.

[0059] A reveal structure generation module 212 facilitates the generation of the reveal structure and associated gift to be sent to the recipient. In one example, the gift/ reveal structure combination may be generated in digital form and transmitted to the recipient via any suitable communication mechanism, such as via an e-mail message, or a short message service (SMS) message. In another example, information associated with the gift/ reveal structure combination may be transmitted to a production facility 112 for generating a physical copy of the reveal structure, from which a gift may be inserted and sent to the recipient via conventional mail.

[0060] It should be appreciated that the modules described herein are provided only as an example of a computing device that may execute the gift personalization application 104 according to the teachings of the present disclosure, and that other computing devices may have the same modules, different modules, additional modules, or fewer modules than those described herein. For example, one or more modules as described in Fig. 2 may be combined into a single module. As another example, certain modules described herein may be encoded on, and executed on other computing devices, such as the computing device 108 used by the user. Further, one or more or all of the modules may be stored and executed by the gift personalization server 102 and data and instructions are transmitted to and from the gift personalization server 102 and the computing device 108 to execute their functions.

[0061] Fig. 3 illustrates an example process that may be performed by the gift personalization application 104 according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

[0062] In step 302, the gift personalization application 104 receives a request from a computing device 108 and generates a GUI to the display 144 of the computing device 108 according to the request for receiving personalized information from the user. In one embodiment, the GUI is generated as a web page that is rendered by a web browser executed on the computing device 108 through a network, such as the Internet. In another embodiment, the GUI may be generated by application software (i.e., a mobile app) designed to be executed on wireless communication devices, tablet computers, or other similar types of portable computing devices. In another example, the GUI module is executed on the gift personalization server 102, and the gift personalization server generates the GUI screens to the display 144 of the computing device 108.

[0063] In one embodiment, the computing device 108 is a computing device owned and maintained by the user, such as one that communicates with the server 102 via the Internet. In another embodiment, the computing device 108 is configured in a photo booth (Fig. 4) that is disposed in any suitable location. For example, the photo booth may be configured as a kiosk in a retail environment, such as a department store, or other retail establishment.

[0064] The user accesses the system 100 via the user interface of the computing device 108 hosted by the gift personalization server 102. A user may arrive at the system interface via an HTML link or other suitable entry point, such as through application software executed on a portable computing device. The user typically initiates the online personalized gifting transaction by requesting a URL of the server 102 through a browser or by launching a mobile app on a portable computing device, such as a wireless communication device or portable tablet computer from which the GUI may be generated to the display 144 of the computing device 108.

[0065] In one embodiment, the GUI may be provided as a particular feature of a website, which is owned and managed by a retailer, such as the TARGET™ retail chain, that may be accessed using a conventional browser executed on the computing device 108. The website may provide other products and services for online sale. Thus, the system 100 may provide enhanced benefit for consumers that shop online for gifts and other associated accessories to also purchase custom gifts that are personalized to the user's taste.

[0066] In step 304, the gift personalization application 104 receives information from the user for generating the personalized reveal structure. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, the gift personalization application 104 may receive a selection of a reveal structure template using a reveal structure type screen (Fig. 5) generated on the GUI. As shown, the reveal structure template may be a scrapbook template, a photo strip template, and a puzzle template. Although only a scrapbook template, a photo strip template, and a puzzle template are described herein, it should be appreciated that any type of reveal structure having multiple independently viewable frames may be implemented with the teachings of the present disclosure.

[0067] Upon selection of a particular reveal structure type, the application 104 presents a reveal structure template screen (Fig. 6) for selection of a particular template to be used for further personalization by the user. The template may include built-in animations and/or other content, such as text, audio, images, photographic, and/or video content pertaining to a particular occasion. Upon receiving a request for a particular template from the list of templates, the application 104 then displays the selected template on the GUI 146 for view by the user. The application 104 may alternatively display all, some, or only one frame of the selected template at a time on the GUI 146 for view and/or manipulation by the user. The application 104 then receives instructions, from the GUI 146, for modifying existing content of each independently viewable frame. Additionally, the application 104 may receive user-supplied content, from the GUI 146, to be included in each frame. That is, the application 104 may receive content, such as textual, audio, images, and/or video content that is uploaded from the computing device 108, and include this content is each frame as instructed by the user via the GUI 146.

[0068] If a scrapbook video reveal structure is selected, the application 104 displays a scrapbook video personalization screen (Fig. 7) that displays a template of a scrapbook video having one or more pages with editable fields for inclusion of user- supplied content from the user. For example, one editable field may be adapted to accept a user-supplied photograph, while another editable field is adapted to accept user- supplied textual content describing a memorable moment associated with the photograph. The editable fields may include other forms of content, such as multimedia (e.g., audio or video content). For example, if the scrapbook video may include an editable field for inclusion of an image representing a gift, such as a gift provided by the user to the recipient. The scrapbook video may also include other editable fields, such as a hypertext link that, when selected by the recipient, downloads multimedia content (e.g., a prerecorded song or movie) to the computing device of the recipient for consumption by the user.

[0069] If the photo strip reveal structure 110 is selected, the application 104 presents a photo strip reveal structure personalization screen (Fig. 8) that displays a template for inclusion of one or more photos to be supplied by the user. If the puzzle reveal structure 110 is selected, the application 104 presents a puzzle template

personalization screen (Fig. 9). For example, the puzzle template personalization screen includes a region representing a two-dimensional space for inclusion of a user-supplied photograph and one or more editable user- specified selections, such as one requesting a user- specified difficulty to be associated with the puzzle generated by the application 104.

[0070] For either reveal structure 110 selected by the user, the application 104 may receive personalized content, such as customized textual, audio, images,

photographic, and/or video content to be included with the reveal structure. For example, the application 104 presents a photo entry screen (Fig. 10) to receive selection of a photograph from either a social media website, from the computing device on which the GUI is displayed, or from a camera. As another example, the merchant onsite

personalization gifting application 104 presents a personal text message entry screen (Fig. 11) that allows for the entry of a text message by the user computing device 122.

[0071] As yet another example, the application 104 presents an audio selection screen (Fig. 12) that allows the user to either select a pre-record audio segment or create an audio segment, such as an audio file stored in 'mp3' or 'wav' format. If the application 104 receives selection of a pre-recorded audio segment, an audio selection screen (Fig. 13) is generated that allows for selection of a particular audio file by the computing device 108. However, if the application 104 receives selection of an audio creation, an audio generation screen (Fig. 14) is generated to receive an audio segment from the computing device 108. The audio segment may be a song or a portion of a prerecorded song to be included with the reveal structure. For example, the user may select from a target library of music stored in the music files 139. The music may be any type, such as a retailer-exclusive sound bite or segment of a complete work of music. The music segment may be played for the recipient prior to revealing the gift along with an opportunity for the recipient to download the complete work of music as a part of the gifting experience provided by the reveal structure. In one embodiment, the GUI has access to the API associated with the microphone of the computing device 108 such that the audio segment is obtained directly from the microphone of the computing device 108.

[0072] The application 104 provides for inclusion of other forms of content, such as a celebration video which is played for the recipient prior to revealing the gift, and/or a keepsake photograph to be included with the reveal structure 110. For example, the application 104 may present a celebration video template selection screen (Fig. 15) on the GUI. The gift personalization application 104 may then receive content, such as photographic content, audio content , and/or textual content to be included with the celebration video. If photographic content is received, the gift personalization

application 104 may receive editing instructions for manipulating the received

photographic content, such as positioning the photographic content on the template, cropping the photographic content, or other suitable image adjusting technique.

Thereafter, the gift personalization application 104 may display a celebration video preview screen (Fig. 16) for displaying the personalized celebration video for view by the user.

[0073] Once any photographs and/or text messages are received from the user computing device 122, the merchant onsite personalization gifting application 104 displays a preview screen (Fig. 17) to show how the reveal structure 110 will look.

When the user, via the GUI 146, has completed editing and/or adding user-supplied content to the reveal structure, the application 104 may then display the reveal structure for final review by the user using the GUI 146, and perform one or more other tasks associated with the generation of the reveal structure. For example, if the reveal structure is a puzzle reveal structure of a jigsaw-like puzzle that includes a user-supplied photograph, the application 104 may display one or more cut-out patterns having multiple lines indicating how the photograph is to be separated into multiple frames. Upon receipt of a selected cut-out pattern from the user through the GUI 146, the application 104 then separates the photograph along the lines of the cut-out pattern and scrambles the individual frames, which can then be sent to the recipient as a puzzle to be re-assembled.

[0074] Once the reveal structure 110 has been personalized, the application 104 generates a reveal structure delivery type screen (Fig. 18) for receiving the type of delivery (e.g., physical delivery or digital delivery) desired by the user.

[0075] Referring again to Fig. 3, in step 306, the gift personalization application 104 receives selection of a gift to accompany the personalized reveal structure designed and personalized in step 304. For example, the gift personalization application 104 may generate a gift selection screen (Fig. 19) that allows the user to select one or more gifts to accompany the personalized reveal structure. Information received by the application 104, may include, for example, merchant type information and a monetary amount to be associated with the gift. If the gift is a gift, the application 104 may generate a gift card selection screen (Fig. 20) that allows the user to select a style including one or more elements of content to be displayed on the card, such as a background image associated with a particular occasion, and a monetary amount to be associated with the gift. Finally, the application 104 presents a recipient information entry screen (Fig. 21) for entry of information related to the recipient of the reveal structure.

[0076] In step 308, the application 104 generates a personalized reveal structure in accordance with information provided by the user of the computing device in steps 302 through 306. In one embodiment, the application 104 generates the reveal structure combination in digital form. In another embodiment, the application 104 generates the reveal structure in physical form.

[0077] In step 310, the application 104 facilitates delivery of the reveal structure to the recipient. In the case where a digital reveal structure is generated, the reveal structure is digitally transmitted to the user via any suitable digital format, such as via an e-mail message, via a short message service (SMS) message, or via a social media account. In the case where a physical reveal structure is generated, information associated with the reveal structure may be sent to a production facility where a reveal structure in physical form may be fabricated using conventional printing techniques on a physical medium, such a paper cardstock, plastic sheet, parchment, or other suitable print media and subsequently sent to the recipient via a mail delivery service.

[0078] Although Fig. 3 describes one particular example of a process that may be performed by the application 104 to generate a personalized reveal structure, changes may be made to the process of Fig. 3 without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. For example, the steps as described in Fig. 3 can be performed in any suitable order and/or may be performed with fewer or additional steps not specifically described herein.

[0079] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that variations from the specific embodiments disclosed above are contemplated by the invention. The invention should not be restricted to the above embodiments, but should be measured by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. An online gift personalization system comprising:

a server in communication with a computing device and comprising at least one processor;

an application executable by the at least one processor to:

generate a graphical user interface (GUI) to the computing device;

receive, from the GUI on the computing device, at least one of user- supplied textual, audio, images, photographic, or video content from the computing device;

receive, from the GUI, gift information associated with a gift to be given to a recipient;

generate a personalized reveal structure from the received user- supplied content and the gift information, the personalized reveal structure comprising a plurality of independently viewable frames that includes the received user-supplied content, the gift information included in at least one of the frames; and

facilitating transmission of the reveal structure and the gift information to the recipient.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the personalized reveal structure comprises a digital scrapbook.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the personalized reveal structure comprises a puzzle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the personalized reveal structure comprises a photo strip.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pop-up photo booth to house the computing device, the pop-up photo booth having at least one of a camera and a microphone that are coupled to the computing device, the computing device to receive at least one of the user- supplied audio content from the microphone or the user- supplied image or video content from the camera.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the application is further executed to generate a thank you structure that is digitally transmitted to the computing device of the user.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the application receives, from the GUI, information associated with at least one music piece from among a plurality of music pieces, a segment of the one music piece comprising the at least one user-supplied content.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the application, from a recipient computing device, the one music piece associated with the segment at the request of the recipient.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the gift comprises a gift card.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the application is further executed to generate a celebration video that is transmitted along with the reveal structure to the recipient.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the application is further executed to generate a keepsake photograph that is transmitted along with the reveal structure to the recipient.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the application is further executed to digitally transmit the reveal structure and the gift information to the recipient.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the reveal structure and the gift information are digitally transmitted using at least one of an e-mail message and a short messaging service (SMS) message.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the application is further executed to facilitate transmission of a physical reveal structure and a physical gift using a mail delivery service.

15. An online gift personalization method comprising:

receiving, using at least one processor that executes an application stored in a memory, at least one of user-supplied textual, audio, images, photographic, or video content from a computing device of a user;

receiving, by the application, gift information associated with a gift to be given to a recipient;

generating, by the application, a personalized reveal structure from the received user- supplied content and the gift information, the personalized reveal structure comprising a plurality of independently viewable frames that includes the received user-supplied content, the gift information included in at least one of the frames; and

facilitating transmission, by the application, the reveal structure and the gift

information to the recipient.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating a thank you structure, and digitally transmitting the thank you structure to the computing device of the user.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving, from a computing device of the user, music information associated with at least one music piece from among a plurality of music pieces, a segment of the one music piece comprising the at least one user-supplied content.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating a celebration video, and transmitting the celebration video the reveal structure to the recipient.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating a keepsake photograph, and transmitting the keepsake photograph along with the reveal structure to the recipient.

20. Code implemented on a no n- transitory, computer-readable medium, when executed by at least one processor, operable to perform at least the following:

receive, using at least one processor that executes an application stored in a

memory, at least one of user-supplied textual, audio, images, photographic, or video content from a computing device of a user;

receive, by the application, gift information associated with a gift to be given to a recipient;

generate, by the application, a personalized reveal structure from the received user- supplied content and the gift information, the personalized reveal structure comprising a plurality of independently viewable frames that includes the received user-supplied content, the gift information included in at least one of the frames; and

facilitate transmission, by the application, the reveal structure and the gift

information to the recipient.