Awkward gift giving moments

BunsenBurner
Tue, 28 Dec 2010 01:29:29 +0000

Holy mollie - no more awkward gifts:

[Amazon patents procedure to let recipients avoid undesirable gifts](http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013781512_amazon28.html)

Yup. An ISSUED US patent - no kidding.

[United States Patent: 7831439](http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=2&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=Bezos.INNM.&OS=IN/Bezos&RS=IN/Bezos)



What is claimed is:


A computer-implemented data processing system comprising: a memory that stores gift conversion rules; and a processor in communication with the memory that: generates a user interface configured to permit a gift sender to order a product as a gift for a gift recipient via a network service; and executes gift conversion logic that permits the gift recipient to specify the gift conversion rules, wherein the gift conversion rules specified by the gift recipient define a manner in which gifts purchased for the gift recipient may be automatically converted, wherein at least one gift conversion rule identifies the gift sender who has ordered a product as a gift for the gift recipient, such that whether the gift is converted is determined based at least in part on the identity of the gift sender specified in the at least one gift conversion rule.
…




And here is my *absolute favorite * independent claim:



56. A computer-implemented method comprising: under control of one or more configured computer systems, receiving a gift purchase from a gift sender, the gift sender being a user of a network commerce service, the gift purchase being a purchase of a gift for a gift recipient; accessing gift conversion rules, the gift conversion rules having been configured for the gift recipient, at least one of the gift conversion rules identifying potential gift senders; and determining that the gift should be automatically converted when the gift sender from whom the gift purchase is received is one of the potential gift senders identified in the at least one gift conversion rule.



:p Grandma Millie, I did not really care for the polka-dot socks you ordered for me from Amazon, so instead of shipping me the darn thing, Amazon conveniently “e-exchanged” it for the gift cerificate that I’m planning to apply towards my purchase of the next Halo game. But instead of me telling you the truth, Amazon sent you a nice e-thank you card on my behalf.