System and method for on-line game based on consumer wish list

1. A computer implemented method, the method comprising:

storing in at least one memory a plurality of games of chance, wherein each game of chance comprises a respective starting point in time, a respective ending point in time, a respective maximum number of prizes to be awarded, and a respective set of criteria;

for each game of chance, storing in the at least one memory a representation of a prize instance for each of the respective maximum number of prizes to be awarded, wherein the representation of each prize instance comprises a point in time assigned randomly by at least one processor within a time interval defined by the respective starting point in time and the respective ending point in time of each game of chance, and wherein the representation of each prize instance comprises an indicator representative of whether the prize instance is available to be awarded;

receiving by the at least one processor, at a particular point in time, a request from an end-user to participate, wherein the request comprises information identifying the end-user and information identifying a product item having associated characteristics;

determining by the at least one processor whether the characteristics of the product item meet the criteria of any of the one or more games of chance;

storing the information identifying the product item in a collection of product information of the end-user in the at least one memory, in response to the at least one processor determining that the characteristics of the product item do not meet the criteria of any of the plurality of games of chance, wherein the collection of product information of the end-user comprises specific product items selected by the end-user while browsing an e-commerce web site, and wherein the e-commerce web site stores the collection of product information of the end-user in the at least one memory after the end-user leaves the e-commerce web site;

selecting by the at least one processor a particular game of chance with the fewest criteria from the plurality of games of chance based upon the characteristics of the product item, in response to the at least one processor determining that the characteristics of the product item meets the criteria of at least one of the plurality of games of chance; and

awarding by the at least one processor the product item to the end-user, if the particular point in time is at or after the point in time assigned to at least one prize instance of the particular game of chance and the indicator of the at least one prize instance indicates the at least one prize instance is available to be awarded.

2. The computer implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the set of criteria comprises one selected from the group of: a product price range, a product category, a product manufacturer, a product brand and a product designer.

3. The computer implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the characteristics comprise one selected from the group of: a product price, a product category, a product manufacturer, a product brand, and a product designer.

4. The computer implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein awarding the product item to the end-user comprises:

setting the indicator of the at least one prize instance so that the at least one prize instance is no longer available to be awarded; and

scheduling delivery of the product item to the end-user.

5. The computer implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:

requesting information from the end-user regarding one or both of a reason for selecting the product item and a relationship of the end-user to an intended recipient of the product item; and

updating one or both of personal interest and product preference information of the end-user maintained by the computer system, based upon the requested information.

6. The computer implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:

determining whether the end-user has exhausted a set number of chances to win a prize within a set period of time; and

entering the end-user into a different game of chance.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions executable by at least one processor of a computer system, the plurality of instructions to cause the at least one processor to perform the actions of a method, the actions comprising:

storing a plurality of games of chance, wherein each game of chance comprises a respective starting point in time, a respective ending point in time, a respective maximum number of prizes to be awarded, and a respective set of criteria;

for each game of chance, storing a representation of a prize instance for each of the respective maximum number of prizes to be awarded, wherein the representation of each prize instance comprises a point in time assigned randomly within a time interval defined by the respective starting point in time and the respective ending point in time of each game of chance, and wherein the representation of each prize instance comprises an indicator representative of whether the prize instance is available to be awarded;

receiving, at a particular point in time, a request from an end-user to participate, wherein the request comprises information identifying the end-user and information identifying a product item having associated characteristics;

determining whether the characteristics of the product item meet the criteria of any of the one or more games of chance;

storing the information identifying the product item in a collection of product information of the end-user, if the characteristics of the product item do not meet the criteria of any of the plurality of games of chance, wherein the collection of product information of the end-user comprises specific product items selected by the end-user while browsing an e-commerce web site, and wherein the e-commerce web site stores the collection of product information of the end-user in persistent storage after the end-user leaves the e-commerce web site;

selecting a particular game of chance with the fewest criteria from the plurality of games of chance based upon the characteristics of the product item, if the characteristics of the product item meets the criteria of at least one of the plurality of games of chance; and

awarding the product item to the end-user, if the particular point in time is at or after the point in time assigned to at least one prize instance of the particular game of chance and the indicator of the at least one prize instance indicates the at least one prize instance is available to be awarded.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 7 , wherein the set of criteria comprises one selected from the group of: a product price range, a product category, a product manufacturer, a product brand and a product designer.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 7 , wherein the characteristics comprise one selected from the group of: a product price, a product category, a product manufacturer, a product brand, and a product designer.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 7 , wherein awarding the product item to the end-user comprises:

setting the indicator of the at least one prize instance so that the at least one prize instance is no longer available to be awarded; and

scheduling delivery of the product item to the end-user.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 7 , wherein the actions comprise:

requesting information from the end-user regarding one or both of a reason for selecting the product item and a relationship of the end-user to an intended recipient of the product item; and

updating one or both of personal interest and product preference information of the end-user maintained by the computer system, based upon the requested information.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 7 , wherein the actions comprise:

determining whether the end-user has exhausted a set number of chances to win a prize within a set period of time; and

entering the end-user into a different game of chance.

13. A system, the system comprising:

a memory operable to store:

a plurality of games of chance, wherein each game of chance comprises a respective starting point in time, a respective ending point in time, a respective maximum number of prizes to be awarded, and a respective set of criteria,

a representation of a prize instance for each of the respective maximum number of prizes to be awarded, wherein the representation of each prize instance comprises a point in time assigned randomly within a time interval defined by the respective starting point in time and the respective ending point in time of each game of chance, and wherein the representation of the prize instance comprises an indicator representative of whether the prize instance is available to be awarded, and

information identifying a product item, if the characteristics of the product item do not meet the criteria of any of the plurality of games of chance, wherein the information identifying a product item comprises information selected by an end-user while browsing an e-commerce web site, and wherein the e-commerce web site stores the information after the end-user leaves the e-commerce web site; and

a processor operable to:

receive, at a particular point in time, a request from the end-user to participate, wherein the request comprises information identifying the end-user and information identifying associated characteristics of the product item,

determine whether the characteristics of the product item meet the criteria of any of the one or more games of chance,

select a particular game of chance with the fewest criteria from the plurality of games of chance based upon the characteristics of the product item, if the characteristics of the product item meets the criteria of at least one of the plurality of games of chance, and

award the product item to the end-user, if the particular point in time is at or after the point in time assigned to at least one prize instance of the particular game of chance and the indicator of the at least one prize instance indicates the at least one prize instance is available to be awarded.

14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the set of criteria comprises one selected from the group of: a product price range, a product category, a product manufacturer, a product brand and a product designer.

15. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the characteristics comprise one selected from the group of: a product price, a product category, a product manufacturer, a product brand, and a product designer.

16. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the processor is operable to:

set the indicator of the at least one prize instance so that the at least one prize instance is no longer available to be awarded, and

schedule delivery of the product item to the end-user.

17. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the processor is operable to:

request information from the end-user regarding one or both of a reason for selecting the product item and a relationship of the end-user to an intended recipient of the product item; and

update one or both of personal interest and product preference information of the end-user maintained by the computer system, based upon the requested information.

18. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the processor is operable to:

determine whether the end-user has exhausted a set number of chances to win a prize within a set period of time; and

enter the end-user into a different game of chance.