SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN ELECTRONIC GIFT KEY

摘要

A system and method for a physically-based gift key (5) enabling a purchaser to deliver a single, fully-integrated gift item to a recipient and including an electronic greeting card and store credits redeemable online is presented. The method includes the steps of activating a gift key (50), customizing an electronic greeting card (51) associated with the gift key (5) at a host site via physical or wireless linkage of a gift key (5) to a first local computer (1), accessing the greeting card (52) at the host site via linkage of the gift key (5) to a second local computer, and redeeming a store credit (53) associated with the gift key (5) at a retail website accessible from the host site. The system includes a gift key (5) and a host computer system (3) directly or indirectly controlling a host site. The gift key (5) has a housing (8a, 8b), an integrated circuit (10) within the housing (8a, 8b), and a connector (7) or wireless interface (16) extending from the housing (8a, 8b) so as to allow linkage of the gift key (5) with a local computer (1) remotely located with respect to the host system (3) and retailer systems (4a-4f). The local computer (1) automatically launches a website at the host or retailer levels when the gift key (5) is linked to the local computer (1).