Services for increasing the utility of electronic wish lists

A computer-implemented method of assisting users in purchasing gifts associated with gift-giving events, the method comprising:

• maintaining an electronic wish list of a first user in computer storage, the electronic wish list including items selected from an electronic catalog by the first user and being accessible to other users;
• identifying a second user who is affiliated with the first user;
• automatically sending to the second user a message regarding a gift-giving event associated with the first user together with a link to the electronic wish list of the first user, to thereby facilitate purchasing of a gift associated with the gift giving event;
• and
• prior to sending said message, inferring a type of the gift-giving event at least partly by determining a type of gift wrap selected by a purchaser of a gift for the first user;
• said method performed in its entirety by a computer system.

A computer storage system which stores executable instructions that direct a computer system to perform a method that comprises:

• maintaining an electronic wish list of a first user in computer storage, the electronic wish list including items selected from an electronic catalog by the first user and being accessible to other users;
• inferring information regarding an annual gift-giving event associated with the first user based on gift transaction data that identifies at least one gift purchased from the electronic catalog for the first user by another user, wherein inferring the information regarding the annual gift-giving event comprises analyzing the gift transaction data to assess whether the gift was purchased in connection with an annually-occurring event;
• identifying a second user who is affiliated with the first user;
• and
• automatically sending to the second user, based on the inferred information, a message regarding the annual gift-giving event associated with the first user together with a link to the electronic wish list of the first user, to thereby facilitate purchasing of a gift associated with the annual gift-giving event.

A method of assisting users in purchasing gifts associated with recurring gift-giving events, the method comprising:

• maintaining an electronic wish list of a first user, the electronic wish list including items selected from an electronic catalog by the first user and being accessible to other users;
• detecting, and recording transaction information regarding, a purchase by a second user of a gift for the first user;
• inferring information regarding an annual gift-giving event of the first user at least partly by analyzing the recorded transaction information to assess whether the gift was purchased in connection with a recurring gift-giving event;
• and
• subsequently, using the inferred information to automatically generate a reminder message for transmission to the second user, said reminder message identifying said purchase and including a link to the electronic wish list;
• said method performed by a computer system.

A non-transitory computer storage system which stores executable instructions that direct a computing system to perform a method that comprises:

• maintaining an electronic wish list of a first user, the electronic wish list including items selected from an electronic catalog by the first user and being accessible to other users;
• detecting, and recording transaction information regarding, a purchase by a second user of a gift for the first user;
• inferring information regarding an annual gift-giving event of the first user at least partly by analyzing the recorded transaction information to assess whether the gift was purchased in connection with a recurring gift-giving event;
• and
• subsequently, using the inferred information to automatically generate a reminder message for transmission to the second user, said reminder message identifying said purchase and including a link to the electronic wish list.

A system, comprising:

• a computer data repository that stores representations of electronic wish lists of users;
• a detection system that automatically detects affiliations between users, and infers information regarding recurring gift giving events of users, based at least partly on gift purchasing activities of the users, said detection system operative to infer information about the recurring gift giving events in part by analyzing gift transaction data to assess whether particular gift purchases were made in connection with recurring gift-giving events;
• and
• a notification system that uses data regarding the detected affiliations, and the inferred information regarding the recurring gift giving events, to generate notification messages regarding upcoming recurring gift giving events of particular users, and which sends said notification messages to users who are affiliated with said particular users, at least some of the notification messages including links to the electronic wish lists of the respective users whose recurring gift giving events are upcoming.