Method, system, and computer-readable medium for provisioning a multi-selection gift interface

1. A method for multi-selection gifting, comprising:

rendering, by an ecommerce server, a user interface for redeeming a multi-selection gift for a gift recipient, the user interface comprising:

(i) a plurality of gift choices from a plurality of different merchants, the plurality of gift choices arranged in particular regions of the interface, each region displaying data particular to the gift choice published from a respective merchant computer of the plurality of different merchants, each gift choice comprising either an individual item of merchandise or a group of items of merchandise, and each item being fulfilled by the respective merchant of the plurality of different merchants;

(ii) a designated maximum cost of gift choices that may be selected;

(iii) for each gift choice comprising a single item of merchandise, a selection box configured to receive an indication of selection of the gift choice;

(iv) for each gift choice comprising a group of items, a selectable control configured to cause ungrouping of the group of items and a single selection box for the group of items; and,

(v) a counter element;

interactively guiding, by the ecommerce server, the gift recipient in selecting one or more of the plurality of gift choices without exceeding the designated maximum cost, comprising:

un-grouping, responsive to a selection of the selectable control, a gift choice comprising a group of items into a plurality of individual items;

dynamically updating, by the ecommerce server, the interface in accordance with the un-grouped items such that the plurality of items of the un-grouped gift choice are designated as selected and the counter element is updated to reflect the selections such that the counter element depicts either (i) a remaining balance or (ii) a running total.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said interactively guiding further comprises enabling the gift recipient to exceed the designated maximum cost, if the gift recipient agrees to pay the excess cost.

3. A system for providing a multi-selection gifting interface, comprising:

an ecommerce server configured to render a user interface for redeeming a multi-selection gift for a gift recipient, the user interface comprising:

(i) a plurality of gift choices from a plurality of different merchants, the plurality of gift choices arranged in particular regions of the interface, each region displaying data particular to the gift choice published from a respective merchant computer of the plurality of different merchants, each gift choice comprising either an individual item of merchandise or a group of items of merchandise, each item being fulfilled by the respective merchant of the plurality of different merchants;

(ii) a designated maximum cost of gift choices that may be selected;

(iii) for each gift choice comprising a single item of merchandise, a selection box configured to receive an indication of selection of the gift choice;

(iv) for each gift choice comprising a group of items, a selectable control configured to cause ungrouping of the group of items and a single selection box for the group of items; and,

(v) a counter element;

the ecommerce server further configured to:

un-group, responsive to a selection of the selectable control, a gift choice comprising a group of items into a plurality of individual items; and,

dynamically update the interface in accordance with the un-grouped items such that the plurality of items of the un-grouped gift choice are designated as selected and the counter element is updated to reflect the selections such that the counter element depicts either (i) a remaining balance or (ii) a running total.

4. The system of claim 3 where the user interface enables the gift recipient to exceed the designated maximum cost, if the gift recipient agrees to pay the excess cost.

5. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing program code that, when executed by at least one computing device, causes performance of a method comprising the steps of:

rendering, by an ecommerce server, a user interface for redeeming a multi-selection gift for a gift recipient, the user interface comprising:

(i) a plurality of gift choices from a plurality of different merchants, the plurality of gift choices arranged in particular regions of the interface, each region displaying data particular to the gift choice published from a respective merchant computer of the plurality of different merchants, each gift choice comprising either an individual item of merchandise or a group of items of merchandise, and each item being fulfilled by the respective merchant of the plurality of different merchants;

(ii) a designated maximum cost of gift choices that may be selected;

(iii) for each gift choice comprising a single item of merchandise, a selection box configured to receive an indication of selection of the gift choice;

(iv) for each gift choice comprising a group of items, a selectable control configured to cause ungrouping of the group of items and a single selection box for the group of items; and,

(v) a counter element;

interactively guiding, by the ecommerce server, the gift recipient in selecting one or more of the plurality of gift choices without exceeding the designated maximum cost, comprising:

un-grouping, responsive to a selection of the selectable control, a gift choice comprising a group of items into a plurality of individual items;

dynamically updating, by the ecommerce server, the interface in accordance with the un-grouped items such that the plurality of items of the un-grouped gift choice are designated as selected and the counter element is updated to reflect the selections such that the counter element depicts either (i) a remaining balance or (ii) a running total.