초록 ▼

A gift system and method enable gift givers to, among other things, each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient. This system and method may, for example, be implemented by providing an on-line display of gift ideas to t

A gift system and method enable gift givers to, among other things, each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient. This system and method may, for example, be implemented by providing an on-line display of gift ideas to the gift givers. This on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of purchase prices for one or more of the gift ideas having the partial purchase option. When the monetary contribution from the gift givers exceed the purchase price of the gift, a purchase request is generated.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising: receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the g

We claim: 1. A method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising: receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, said gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to said gift registry computer, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of purchase prices for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at said gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for monetary contributions toward a purchase price of a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments for monetary contributions and updating the display; automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift's purchase price; and attempting to satisfy the purchase request, wherein the commitment of each giver that commits to make a monetary contribution is for any giver-desired portion of the uncommitted balance of the selected gift's purchase price. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the commitment of each giver that commits to make a monetary contribution is directly specified by the gift giver as an amount of currency. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the providing of an on-line display of the gift ideas comprises: generating one or more web pages based on the gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient; and supplying the generated web pages to the gift givers in response to giver-supplied requests. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein attempting to satisfy the purchase request comprises: sending the purchase request to a supplier. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving of commitments from the gift givers comprises: receiving credit card information supplied by the gift givers that make commitments. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving of commitments from the gift givers comprises: receiving commitments from the gift givers that include commitments which are contingent upon other gift givers making commitments such that a final total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift's purchase price. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving of gift ideas from a gift recipient comprises receiving at least one gift idea that specifies a substitute gift. 8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: providing the commitments for monetary contributions to the gift recipient as cash if a final total of the combined commitments is less than the selected gift's purchase price. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the gift ideas specified by the gift recipient is associated with a recipient-determined purchase price for the gift idea. 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the gift ideas specified by the gift recipient is associated with a recipient-determined vendor for the gift idea. 11. A method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising: receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, said gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to said gift registry computer, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of purchase prices for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at said gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for monetary contributions toward a purchase price of a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments for monetary contributions; automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift's purchase price; and attempting to satisfy the purchase request, wherein the commitment of each giver that commits to make a monetary contribution is for any giver-desired portion of the uncommitted balance of the selected gift's purchase price, and wherein attempting to satisfy the purchase request comprises: sending an offer to purchase the selected gift to a plurality of vendors; receiving an acceptance of the offer from one of the vendors; and requesting that the accepting vendor send the selected gift to the gift recipient. 12. A method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising: receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, said gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to said gift registry computer, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of purchase prices for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at said gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for monetary contributions toward a purchase price of a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments for monetary contributions; automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift's purchase price; and attempting to satisfy the purchase request, wherein the commitment of each giver that commits to make a monetary contribution is for any giver-desired portion of the uncommitted balance of the selected gift's purchase price, and wherein attempting to satisfy the purchase request comprises: adding the purchase request for the selected gift to a gift list of gifts to be purchased; aggregating purchase requests for identical gifts into a single purchase order; sending an offer to purchase the gifts in the purchase order to a plurality of vendors; receiving an acceptance of the offer from one of the vendors; and requesting that the accepting vendor send the gifts in the purchase order to the appropriate gift recipients. 13. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising: receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, said gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to said gift registry computer, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of purchase prices for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at said gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for monetary contributions toward a purchase price of a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments for monetary contributions; automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift's purchase price; and attempting to satisfy the purchase request, wherein the commitment of each giver that commits to make a monetary contribution is for any giver-desired portion of the uncommitted balance of the selected gift's purchase price. 14. A centralized gift registry computer system programmed to perform a method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising: receiving at said centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, said gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to said gift registry computer, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of purchase prices for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at said gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for monetary contributions toward a purchase price of a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments for monetary contributions; automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift's purchase price; and attempting to satisfy the purchase request, wherein the commitment of each giver that commits to make a monetary contribution is for any giver-desired portion of the uncommitted balance of the selected gift's purchase price. 15. A gift registry computer system configured to enable a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the computer system comprising: a communications circuit for connecting to a communications network; a processor; and a memory containing instructions executable by said processor to perform the steps of: receiving gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient via said communications network; storing the gift ideas in said memory or in another memory accessible to said gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied via said communications network, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of purchase prices for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving, via said communications network, commitments from the gift givers for monetary contributions toward a purchase price of a gift having the purchase option selected from the display of gift ideas; combining the commitments for monetary contributions; automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift's purchase price; and attempting to satisfy the purchase request, wherein the commitment of each giver that commits to make a monetary contribution is for any giver-desired portion of the uncommitted balance of the selected gift's purchase price. 16. The gift registry computer system according to claim 15, wherein the communications network is the Internet. 17. The gift registry computer system according to claim 15, wherein the commitment of each giver that commits to make a monetary contribution is directly specified by the gift giver as an amount of currency. 18. A method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each contribute part of a total gift amount specified for a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising: receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, at least one of the received gift ideas specifying a substitute gift; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, the gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to the gift registry computer system, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of total gift amounts for one or more gifts having a partial purchase option; receiving at the gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for parts of the total gift amount specified for a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments from the gift givers; and automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the total gift amount specified for the gift, wherein the commitment of each giver for part of the total gift amount is directly specified by the gift giver as an amount of currency. 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the providing of an on-line display of gift ideas comprises: generating one or more web pages based on the gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient; and supplying the generated web pages to the gift givers in response to giver-supplied requests. 20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the receiving of commitments from the gift givers comprises: receiving commitments from the gift givers that include commitments which are contingent upon other gift givers making commitments such that a final total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the total gift amount specified for the selected gift. 21. The method according to claim 18, further comprising: providing the commitments from the gift givers to the gift recipient as cash if a final the total of the combined commitments is less than the total gift amount specified for the selected gift. 22. The method according to claim 18, wherein the gift recipient specifies total gift amounts for the gift ideas. 23. A storage medium having processor-executable instructions for performing a method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each contribute part of a total gift amount specified for a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising: receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, at least one of the received gift ideas specifying a substitute gift; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, the gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to the gift registry computer system, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of total gift amounts for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at the gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for parts of the total gift amount specified for a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments from the gift givers; and automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the total gift amount specified for the gift, wherein the commitment of each giver for part of the total gift amount is directly specified by the gift giver as an amount of currency. 24. A computer system programmed to perform a method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each contribute part of a total gift amount specified for a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising: receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, at least one of the received gift ideas specifying a substitute gift; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, the gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to the gift registry computer system, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of total gift amounts for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at the gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for parts of the total gift amount specified for a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments from the gift givers; and automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the total gift amount specified for the gift, wherein the commitment of each giver for part of the total gift amount is directly specified by the gift giver as an amount of currency. 25. A method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each contribute part of a total gift amount specified for a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising: receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, wherein each gift idea has a specified total gift amount; storing the gift ideas and total gift amounts in a storage medium which is part of, or accessible to, the gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and total gift amounts and in response to requests supplied to the gift registry computer system, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of the specified total gift amounts for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at the gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for parts of the total gift amount specified for a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments from the gift givers; and automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the total gift amount specified for the selected gift, wherein each giver is able to commit for part of the total gift amount specified for the selected gift even if the only gift amount specified by the gift idea for the selected gift is the total gift amount. 26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the providing of an on-line display of gift ideas comprises: generating one or more web pages based on the gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient; and supplying the generated web pages to the gift givers in response to giver-supplied requests. 27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the receiving of commitments from the gift givers comprises: receiving commitments from the gift givers that include commitments which are contingent upon other gift givers making commitments such that a final total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the total gift amount specified for the selected gift. 28. The method according to claim 25, wherein the receiving of gift ideas from a gift recipient comprises receiving at least one gift idea that specifies a substitute gift. 29. The method according to claim 25, further comprising: providing the commitments from the gift givers to the gift recipient as cash if a final total of the combined commitments is less than the total gift amount specified for the selected gift. 30. The method according to claim 25, wherein the gift recipient specifies the total gift amounts for the gift ideas. 31. A storage medium having processor-executable instructions for performing a method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each contribute part of a total gift amount specified for a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising: receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, wherein each gift idea has a specified total gift amount; storing the gift ideas and total gift amounts in a storage medium which is part of, or accessible to, the gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and total gift amounts and in response to requests supplied to the gift registry computer system, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of the specified total gift amounts for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at the gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for parts of the total gift amount specified for a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments from the gift givers; and automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the total gift amount specified for the selected gift, wherein each giver is able to commit for part of the total gift amount specified for the selected gift even if the only gift amount specified by the gift idea for the selected gift is the total gift amount. 32. A computer programmed to perform a method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each contribute part of a total gift amount specified for a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising: receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, wherein each gift idea has a specified total gift amount; storing the gift ideas and total gift amounts in a storage medium which is part of, or accessible to, the gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and total gift amounts and in response to requests supplied to the gift registry computer system, an on-line display of the gift idea, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of the specified total gift amounts for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at the gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for parts of the total gift amount specified for a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments from the gift givers; and automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the total gift amount specified for the selected gift, wherein each giver is able to commit for part of the total gift amount specified for the selected gift even if the only gift amount specified by the gift idea for the selected gift is the total gift amount. 33. A gift registry computer system configured to enable a plurality of gift givers to each contribute part of a total gift amount specified for a gift for a gift recipient, the computer system comprising: a communication circuit for connecting to a communications network; a processor; and a storage medium containing instructions executable by the processor to perform the steps of: receiving gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, at least one of the received gift ideas specifying a substitute gift; storing the gift ideas in a storage medium which is accessible to the processor; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied over the communications network, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of total gift amounts for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving commitments from the gift givers for parts of the total gift amount specified for a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments from the gift givers; and automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the total gift amount specified for the gift, wherein the commitment of each giver for part of the total gift amount is directly specified by the gift giver as an amount of currency. 34. The gift registry computer system according to claim 33, wherein the providing of an on-line display of gift ideas comprises: generating one or more web pages based on the gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient; and supplying the generated web pages to the gift givers in response to giver-supplied requests. 35. The gift registry computer system according to claim 33, wherein the receiving of commitments from the gift givers comprises: receiving commitments from the gift givers that include commitments which are contingent upon other gift givers making commitments such that a final total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the total gift amount specified for the selected gift. 36. The gift registry computer system according to claim 33, further comprising: providing the commitments from the gift givers to the gift recipient as cash if a final total of the combined commitments is less than the total gift amount specified for the selected gift. 37. The gift registry computer according to claim 33, wherein the gift recipient specifies the total gift amounts for the gift ideas. 38. A gift registry computer system configured to enable a plurality of gift givers to each contribute part of a total gift amount specified for a gift for a gift recipient, the computer system comprising: a communication circuit for connecting to a communications network; a processor; and a storage medium containing instructions executable by the processor to perform the steps of: receiving gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, wherein each gift idea has a specified total gift amount; storing the gift ideas and total gift amounts in a storage medium which is accessible to the processor; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and total gift amounts and in response to requests supplied over the communications network, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of the specified total gift amounts for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving commitments from the gift givers for parts of the total gift amount specified for a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments from the gift givers and updating the display; and automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the total gift amount specified for the selected gift, wherein each giver is able to commit for part of the total gift amount specified for a selected gift even if the only gift amount specified by the gift idea for the selected gift is the total gift amount. 39. The gift registry computer system according to claim 38, wherein the providing of an on-line display of gift ideas comprises: generating one or more web pages based on the gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient; and supplying the generated web pages to the gift givers in response to giver-supplied requests. 40. The gift registry computer system according to claim 38, wherein the receiving of commitments from the gift givers comprises: receiving commitments from the gift givers that include commitments which are contingent upon other gift givers making commitments such that a final total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the total gift amount specified for the selected gift. 41. The gift registry computer system according to claim 38, wherein the receiving of gift ideas from a gift recipient comprises receiving at least one gift idea that specifies a substitute gift. 42. The gift registry computer system according to claim 38, further comprising: providing the commitments from the gift givers to the gift recipient as cash if a final total of the combined commitments is less than the total gift amount specified for the selected gift. 43. The gift registry computer system according to claim 38, wherein the gift recipient specifies the total gift amounts for the gift ideas. 44. A centralized gift registry computer system programmed to perform a method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising: receiving at said centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, each gift idea specifying gift parameters including one or more of a recipient-specified purchase price, a recipient-specified vendor and a recipient-specified substitute gift; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, said gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to said gift registry computer, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of the purchase prices for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at said gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for monetary contributions toward the purchase price of a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments for monetary contributions; automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift's purchase price; and attempting to satisfy the purchase request, wherein the amount of the monetary contribution of each commitment toward the uncommitted balance of the selected gift's purchase price is directly specified as an amount of currency which is not constrained by the gift parameters specified by the gift recipient for the selected gift. 45. The gift registry computer system according to claim 44, wherein the recipient-specified substitute gift is substituted for the selected gift if the purchase request for the selected gift cannot be satisfied. 46. The gift registry computer system according to claim 44, wherein the recipient-specified substitute gift is substituted for the selected gift if a final total of the combined commitments is less than the selected gift's purchase price. 47. The gift registry computer system according to claim 44, wherein the recipient-specified substitute gift is substituted for the selected gift if the purchase request for the selected gift cannot be satisfied to provide delivery by a certain time. 48. The gift registry computer system according to claim 44, wherein the recipient-specified substitute gift is substituted for the selected gift if the purchase request for the selected gift cannot be satisfied at the recipient-specified purchase price. 49. A method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising: receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, each gift idea specifying gift parameters including one or more of a recipient-specified purchase price, a recipient-specified vendor and a recipient-specified substitute gift; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, said gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to said gift registry computer, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of the purchase prices for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at said gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for monetary contributions toward the purchase price of a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments for monetary contributions; automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift's purchase price; and attempting to satisfy the purchase request, wherein the amount of the monetary contribution of each commitment toward the uncommitted balance of the selected gift's purchase price is directly specified as an amount of currency which is not constrained by the gift parameters specified by the gift recipient for the selected gift. 50. The method according to claim 49, wherein the recipient-specified substitute gift is substituted for the selected gift if the purchase request for the selected gift cannot be satisfied. 51. The method according to claim 49, wherein the recipient-specified substitute gift is substituted for the selected gift if a final total of the combined commitments is less than the selected gift's purchase price. 52. The method according to claim 49, wherein the recipient-specified substitute gift is substituted for the selected gift if the purchase request for the selected gift cannot be satisfied to provide delivery by a certain time. 53. The method according to claim 49, wherein the recipient-specified substitute gift is substituted for the selected gift if the purchase request for the selected gift cannot be satisfied at the recipient-specified purchase price. 54. A centralized gift registry computer system programmed to perform a method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising: receiving at said centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, each gift idea specifying gift parameters including one or more of a recipient-specified purchase price, a recipient-specified vendor and a recipient-specified substitute gift; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, said gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to said gift registry computer, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of the purchase prices for one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at said gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for monetary contributions toward the purchase price of a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments for monetary contributions; automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift's purchase price; and attempting to satisfy the purchase request, wherein the recipient-specified substitute gift is substituted for the selected gift if the purchase request for the selected gift cannot be satisfied. 55. A method for enabling a plurality of gift givers to each make a respective commitment for a monetary contribution of any giver-desired amount toward a gift for a gift recipient, the method comprising: receiving at a centralized gift registry computer system gift ideas supplied by the gift recipient, each gift idea specifying gift parameters including one or more of a recipient-specified purchase price, a recipient-specified vendor and a recipient-specified substitute gift; storing the gift ideas in a memory which is part of, or accessible to, said gift registry computer system; providing to the gift givers, based on the stored gift ideas and in response to requests supplied to said gift registry computer, an on-line display of the gift ideas, wherein the on-line display of the gift ideas reflects uncommitted balances of the purchase prices of one or more of the gift ideas having a partial purchase option; receiving at said gift registry computer system commitments from the gift givers for monetary contributions toward the purchase price of a gift having the partial purchase option selected from the on-line display of gift ideas; combining the commitments for monetary contributions; automatically generating a purchase request for the selected gift if the total of the combined commitments is equal to or greater than the selected gift's purchase price; and attempting to satisfy the purchase request, wherein the recipient-specified substitute gift is substituted for the selected gift if the purchase request for the selected gift cannot be satisfied.