US 5,513,117 A · Apparatus and method for electronically dispensing personalized greeting cards and gifts

Abstract

A vending machine which allows a customer to design and personalize a greeting card also allows the customer to integrate an electronically vendable gift along with or directly onto the card. A stand-alone kiosk includes a credit card verifier, an alphanumeric keyboard, a video screen, a color printer printing on blank or partially printed card stock, and a gift calculator and vender, all controlled by a CPU. In an alternative system and method, a central terminal downloads card and gift selection data to PC's or interactive television via a modem and a user of the PC or interactive television remotely personalizes the card and selects a gift and amount. The card is then printed and physically mailed or sent to the recipient via electronic mail by the central terminal. Examples of gifts available through either system include prepaid long distance telephone calling cards and any other gift accessible via long distance carriers. The gift value and other enabling information such as a predetermined telephone access number and an authorized PIN number can be associated with the personalized card, printed directly onto the personalized card, or printed out at the recipient's terminal.

Claims74

Dependent claims

A method of creating and forwarding a combination personalized greeting card and electronically generated gift comprising the steps of:

(a) remotely interconnecting a central terminal and a remotely located interactive terminal;
(b) displaying a menu of alphanumeric and/or graphic information on a monitor at the interactive terminal from which a customer at the interactive terminal can select data to be used to personalize said card;
(c) prompting the customer to select said card data and/or add personal information via a data input means at the interactive terminal to create personalized greeting card data for said card;
(d) displaying on said interactive terminal monitor a menu of gift categories accessible via prepaid long distance telephone access accounts and a plurality of gift values from which a customer can select a particular gift category at a selected value via said data input means;
(e) prompting the customer to select said gift category and said value via said data input means;
(f) creating, at said central terminal, a greeting card with said personalized greeting card data;
(g) associating with said greeting card information concerning said selected telephone access account including a predetermined telephone number for accessing said prepaid long distance account and account authorizing data;
and
(h) forwarding the card and the associated gift information to the customer or a recipient.

6 more elements

A method of creating and forwarding a combination personalized greeting card and electronically generated gift comprising the steps of:

(a) remotely interconnecting a central terminal and a remotely located interactive terminal over a telephone line;
(b) displaying a menu of alphanumeric and/or graphic information on a monitor at the interactive terminal from which a customer at the interactive terminal can select data to be printed to personalize said card;
(c) prompting the customer to select said card data and/or add personal information via a data input means at the interactive terminal to create personalized greeting card data for printing on said card;
(d) displaying on said interactive terminal monitor a menu of gift categories accessible via prepaid long distance telephone access accounts and a plurality of gift values from which a customer can select a particular gift category at a selected value via said data input means;
(e) prompting the customer to select said gift category and said value via said data input means;
(f) prompting the customer to provide payment for said card and associated gift;
(g) creating, at said central terminal, a greeting card with said personalized greeting card data;
(h) associating with said greeting card gift information concerning said selected telephone access account including a predetermined telephone number for accessing said prepaid long distance account and account authorizing data;
(i) forwarding the printed card and the associated gift information to a recipient;
and
(j) redeeming said gift by dialling said predetermined telephone number to access said prepaid telephone account;
and
(k) entering said authorizing data to validate said recipient as entitled to use said prepaid telephone account.

10 more elements

A method of creating and forwarding a combination personalized greeting card and electronically generated gift comprising the steps of:

(a) remotely interconnecting a central terminal and a remotely located interactive terminal over a telephone line;
(b) displaying a menu of alphanumeric and/or graphic information on a monitor at the interactive terminal from which a customer at the interactive terminal can select data to be printed to personalize said card;
(c) prompting the customer to select said card data and/or add personal information via a data input means at the interactive terminal to create personalized greeting card data for printing on said card;
(d) displaying on said interactive terminal monitor a menu of gift categories accessible via prepaid long distance telephone access accounts and a plurality of gift values from which a customer can select a particular gift category at a selected value via said data input means;
(e) prompting the customer to select said gift category and said value via said data input means;
(f) prompting the customer to provide payment for said card and associated gift;
(g) creating, at said central terminal, a greeting card with said personalized greeting card data;
(h) associating with said greeting card gift information concerning said selected telephone access account including a predetermined telephone number for accessing said prepaid long distance account and account authorizing data;
(i) prompting the customer to select between the alternative steps of printing and mailing the card with the associated gift information or electronically creating and electronically forwarding said personalized card and associated gift information to a recipient;
and
(j) forwarding the card and the associated gift information to a recipient in the selected manner.

8 more elements

A system for creating and forwarding a combination personalized greeting card and electronically generated gift comprising:

(a) a central computer controlled terminal and printer;
(b) at least one remotely located interactive terminal with a monitor and a data input means connectable with said central terminal over a telephone line;
(c) means at said central terminal for transmitting a menu of alphanumeric and/or graphic information to said interactive terminal for display on a monitor at the interactive terminal from which a customer at the interactive terminal can select data to personalize said card;
(c) means at said central terminal for prompting the customer to select said card data and/or add personal information via a data input means at the interactive terminal to create personalized greeting card data for printing on said card;
(d) means at said central terminal for transmitting a menu of gift categories accessible via prepaid long distance telephone access accounts and a plurality of gift values from which a customer can select a particular gift category at a selected value via said data input means for display on said monitor on said interactive terminal;
(e) means at said central terminal for prompting the customer to select said gift category and said value via said data input means;
(f) payment acceptance means at said central terminal for accepting and verifying payment for said card and gift;
(g) creating means at said central terminal for creating said card with said personalized greeting card data;
(h) associating means for associating printed gift information concerning said selected telephone access account including a predetermined telephone number for accessing said prepaid long distance account and account authorizing data;
and
(i) means for forwarding the card and associated gift to a recipient.

8 more elements

A method of creating and retailing a combination personalized greeting card and electronically generated gift comprising the steps of:

(a) locating an interactive terminal in a first, customer accessible, area of a retail establishment;
(b) locating a card printer in a second, non-customer accessible, area of said retail establishment, said card printer being connected to said interactive terminal and being controllable via controls located in said second area;
(c) displaying a menu of alphanumeric and/or graphic information on a monitor at the interactive terminal from which a customer at the interactive terminal can select data to be printed to personalize said card;
(d) prompting the customer to select said card data and/or add personal information via a data input means at the interactive terminal to create personalized greeting card data for printing on said card;
(e) displaying on said interactive terminal monitor a menu of gift categories accessible via prepaid long distance telephone access accounts and a plurality of gift values from which a customer can select a particular gift category at a selected value via said data input means;
(f) prompting the customer to select said gift category and said value via said data input means;
(g) printing, on said printer, a greeting card with said personalized greeting card data;
(h) associating with said greeting card gift information concerning said selected telephone access account including a predetermined telephone number for accessing said prepaid long distance account and account authorizing data;
and
(i) retailing the printed card and gift information to the customer "over the counter" in said retail establishment.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for electronically dispensing personalized greeting cards and gifts

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for electronically dispensing personalized greeting cards and gifts

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims74