Method and apparatus for distribution of greeting cards with electronic commerce transaction
A system for enabling on-line creation of greeting cards and distribution of the cards with gifts also purchased on-line includes a server system and one or more client systems. The server system is accessible online and enables network users to select and customize electronic versions of greeting cards. The customizations to the cards, as well as data identifying the card, the network user, the card recipient, and a vendor, are transmitted to a client system located at the vendor's distribution facilities. The transmitted information is utilized to print the card in hard copy form for shipment by the vendor to the designated recipient. In the disclosed system, a network user may view the card including any customizations in WYSIWYG format.
1. In a computer system connectable to a computer network, a method comprising:
A. maintaining a network accessible card;
B. receiving data identifying the card;
C. receiving data defining modifications to the card;
D. presenting an image of the card in combination with the received modifications in WYSIWYG format; and
E. receiving data identifying a destination address of the card;
F. printing the card in combination with the modifications at a remote location where an item, that has been ordered on line from a web site, physically resides, the identified card selected independent of the item ordered on line; and
G. matching the printed card with the item that has been ordered on line and which is associated with a recipient.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
H. transmitting the data defining modifications to the card over the computer network to a peripheral apparatus.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein (F.) further comprises:
F.1 printing the card with the peripheral apparatus.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the destination address comprises a postal address.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
H. transmitting the data identifying the card over the computer network to a remote database.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the data defining modifications to the card comprises data defining a graphical image.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the data defining modifications to the card comprises data defining a font color.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the data defining modifications to the card comprises data defining a font size.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the data defining modifications to the card comprises data defining a font style.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the data defining modifications to the card comprises data representing scanned information.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the data defining modifications to the card comprises data representing user defined text.
12. A computer program product for use with a computer system operatively coupled to a computer network, the computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having program code embodied thereon, the program code comprising:
A. program code for maintaining a network accessible card;
B. program code for receiving data identifying the card;
C. program code for receiving data defining modifications to the card;
D. program code for presenting an image of the card in combination with the modifications in WYSIWYG format;
E. program code for receiving data identifying a destination address of a card recipient;
F. program code for printing the card in combination with the modifications at a remote location where an item that has been ordered on line from a web site physically resides, the identified card selected independent of the item ordered on line; and
G. program code for matching the printed card with the item that has been ordered on line and which is associated with a recipient.
13. In a computer usable memory, a data structure representing a card, the data structure comprising:
A. data identifying a card template;
B. data identifying modifications to the identified card template; and
C. data defining an address to which a card will be sent;
D. data associating the card template with an item ordered on line from a vendor website, the card template selected independent of the item ordered on line; and
E. data identifying a remote network accessible system where the item ordered on line is physically located and where the card is to be printed and matched with the item ordered on line.
14. The data structure of claim 13 wherein data associating the card with an item ordered on line comprises:
D.1 data defining a vendor identifier.
15. The data structure of claim 13 wherein data associating the card with an item ordered on line comprises:
D.1 data defining a vendor transaction identifier.
16. The data structure of claim 13 wherein data associating the card with the item ordered on line comprises any of a greeting card identifier, personalized modifications identifier, recipient identifier, item identifier, vendor transaction identifier, vendor identifier and a vendor network address.
17. The data structure of claim 13 wherein the data identifying modifications to the card template comprise:
graphical information and data defining the relationship of the graphical information to the card image.
18. A method for sending greeting cards over a computer network comprising:
A. selecting a card;
B. modifying the card;
C. viewing the modifications to the card in WYSIWYG format;
D. designating a destination address;
E. transmitting any of a card identifier, data modifying the card and destination address to a remote location over a computer network;
F. authorizing printing of the card in combination with the modifications at a location where an item, that has been ordered on line from a web site, physically resides and with which the card is associated; and
G. authorizing delivery of the card to the destination address in conjunction with the item that has been ordered on line and with which the card is associated.
19. A computer system connectable to a computer network comprising:
A. a processor;
B. a memory coupled to the processor for storing a plurality of card;
C. a network interface coupled to the processor in a memory;
D. program logic configured to receive data identifying a card and further defining modifications to the card;
E. program logic configured to present an image of the card in combination with the received modifications to the card;
F. program logic configured to receive data identifying a destination address of the card;
G. program logic configured to receive data identifying a vendor transaction associated with the card;
H. program logic configured to transmit over a computer network to a system located where the item ordered on line is located, any of the card identifier, data modifying the card, destination address and vendor transaction identifier to a remote location over a computer network; and
I. program logic configured to print, at the location where the item ordered on line is located, the modified card to enable matching and shipment of the printed modified card with the item ordered on line as a combined package.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein data identifying a vendor transaction comprises data defining a vendor identifier.
21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein data identifying a vendor transaction comprises data defining a vendor transaction identifier.
22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein data identifying a vendor transaction comprises data defining a vendor network address.
23. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising:
J. program logic configured to receive payment for the card and for remitting a portion of the payment to an identified charitable entity.
24. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising:
J. program logic configured to present a graphic user interface having an appearance similar to a vendor website.
25. A method comprising:
(A) offering a plurality of items for on line ordering from a first network accessible web site;
(B) receiving data identifying at least one item ordered on line from the first web site;
(C) receiving data identifying a recipient;
(D) offering at least one card for on line ordering from a second web site;
(E) receiving data identifying the card, the identified card selected independent of the item ordered online;
(F) receiving data defining personalized modifications to the identified card;
(G) storing data associating the at least one item ordered on line with the identified card and the data defining personalized modifications thereto;
(H) printing the identified card in conjunction with the personalized modifications and a reference to the data associating the at least one item ordered on line with the card;
(I) combining the printed personalized card and the at least one item ordered online as a combined card and item package; and
(J) shipping the combined card and item package to the identified recipient.
26. The method of claim 25 wherein the data associating the at least one item ordered on line with the identified card comprises any of a card identifier, personalized modifications identifier, recipient identifier, item identifier, vendor transaction identifier, vendor identifier and vendor network address.