System for multiple signers on an electronic card and gift
The current invention is a viral group greeting cards Internet service. It is a method and process that is an electronic greeting card service that utilizes the distributed access afforded by the Internet or local area networks (LANs) to enable the collection of greetings from multiple users on a single greeting card and its delivery to a recipient. It also allows for the pledges and collection of funds from multiple parties for a gift.
1. A computer implemented method of generating an electronic greeting card and an associated group gift from multiple parties comprising:
sending an electronic notification to selected parties, the electronic notification including a universal resource locator associated with a web page for joining an electronic greeting card for a recipient;
receiving messages from a plurality of the selected parties, wherein each of the plurality of the selected parties opens the electronic notification via a computer, accesses the web page associated with the universal resource locator, and enters a message for the electronic greeting card via the web page;
prompting the selected parties to make a financial contribution for a group gift associated with the electronic greeting card;
electronically receiving financial contributions to the group gift associated with the electronic greeting card from a group of the selected parties via the web page;
prompting the plurality of the selected parties to provide electronic contact information for additional parties to be added to the selected parties;
sending an electronic notification to the additional parties, the electronic notification including the universal resource locator associated with a web page for joining the electronic greeting card for a recipient and making a financial contribution to the group gift associated with the electronic greeting card;
after receiving the financial contributions from the group of the selected parties, receiving a selection of the group gift, wherein a total amount of the financial contributions is in excess of a cost of the selected group gift;
returning the excess of the financial contributions to the group of the selected parties;
transmitting the electronic greeting card to the recipient, the electronic greeting card including the messages entered by the plurality of the selected parties and a notification of the group gift; and
after transmitting the electronic greeting card to the recipient,
receiving one or more messages for the electronic greeting card via the web page, and
adding the received one or more messages to the electronic greeting card.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein entering a message for the electronic greeting card via the web page comprises creating a text message.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting the electronic greeting card to the recipient comprises sending an electronic notification to the recipient, the electronic notification including a universal resource locator associated with a web page.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating an address list of selected parties.
5. A computer implemented method of generating an electronic greeting and an associated group gift from multiple parties comprising:
generating a list of the electronic addresses of selected parties to be invited to participate in an electronic greeting and a group gift;
sending an electronic notification to the electronic addresses of the selected parties, the electronic notification including a universal resource locator associated with a web page for joining an electronic greeting for a recipient;
receiving messages from a plurality of the selected parties, wherein each of the plurality of the selected parties opens the electronic notification via a computer, accesses the web page associated with the universal resource locator, and enters a message for the electronic greeting via the web page;
prompting the selected parties to make a financial contribution for a group gift associated with the electronic greeting card;
electronically receiving financial contributions to the group gift associated with the electronic greeting from a group of the selected parties via the web page;
prompting the plurality of the selected parties to provide electronic contact information for additional parties to be added to the selected parties;
sending an electronic notification to the additional parties, the electronic notification including the universal resource locator associated with a web page for joining the electronic greeting for the recipient and making a financial contribution to the group gift associated with the electronic greeting card;
after receiving the financial contributions from the group of the selected parties, receiving a selection of the group gift, wherein a total amount of the financial contributions is in excess of a cost of the selected group gift;
returning the excess of the financial contributions to the group of the selected parties;
sending an electronic notification to the recipient, the electronic notification including a universal resource locator associated with a web page having the messages provided by the plurality of the selected parties and a notification of the group gift; and
after sending the electronic notification to the recipient,
receiving one or more messages for the electronic greeting, and
adding the received one or more messages to the electronic greeting.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein entering a message for the electronic greeting via the web page comprises creating a text message.
7. The method of claim 5 further comprising sending an electronic notification to an initiator of the electronic greeting and group gift each time one of the selected parties enters a message for the electronic greeting.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising sending an electronic notification to the initiator of the electronic greeting and group gift each time one of the selected parties makes a contribution to the group gift.