System, method, and medium for digital gift card selection

摘要

Various of the disclosed embodiments generally contemplate computer-implemented systems and methods for selecting an electronic or virtual gift card from among a plurality of possible gift cards or gift card issuers. Various of the embodiments may match and rank the gift cards according to a gift card recipient's characteristics, and possibly to the electronic or virtual gift card itself. Certain embodiments also contemplate the selection of physical gift cards selection, matching, and ranking aspects of the invention. Various methods for operating a gift card business using certain of the embodiments are also disclosed.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a gift card selection system from a first user, a request to select a gift card for a second user; determining, by the gift card selection system, a plurality of attributes associated with the second user based at least in part on the request, wherein at least one attribute is a social network indicator extrapolated from a social profile associated with the second user; identifying, by the gift card selection system, a gift card from a plurality of gift cards based on the plurality of attributes and an identified popular trend, wherein the identified popular trend is derived from a plurality of users; generating, by the gift card selection system, the gift card comprising a virtual foil scratch area; transmitting, by the gift card selection system, the gift card to the second user; displaying, by the gift card selection system, the virtual foil scratch area associated with the gift card; receiving, by the gift card selection system, an input from the second user; determining, by the gift card selection system, that a predetermined percentage of the virtual foil scratch area has been removed based on the input from the second user; revealing, by the gift card selection system, at least a portion of an indicator based on the determination that the predetermined percentage of the virtual foil scratch area has been removed; indicating, by the gift card selection system, to a server that the gift card has been redeemed based on the input from the second user; and updating, by the gift card selection system and in response to the gift card being redeemed, the server to prevent the display or transmission of the gift card to a third party.