WO2013053049A1

WO2013053049A1 - Systems and methods for coordinating distributed progress to a common goal

Info

Publication number: WO2013053049A1
Application number: PCT/CA2012/000949
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hana Abaza; James Kinkaid
Original assignee: Hana Abaza; James Kinkaid
Priority date: 2011-10-14
Filing date: 2012-10-15
Publication date: 2013-04-18

Abstract

Online gift registries have evolved with the proliferation of the Internet to augment and / or replace in-store gift registries for individuals for events such as weddings. However, to date these prior art approaches have typically been essentially copying the registry processes of the in-store registry into the online domain. In other instances online registry service providers have been established to address the issues of wedding guests knowing where a bride and groom have set up multiple registries to address their needs. According to embodiments of the invention gift registry creation, management and use is reconfigured to address the needs of the instigator who sets up the registry and their followers who wish to purchase gifts. This reconfiguration exploits social networks between the instigator and followers in creating and partitioning a registry as well as demographic / psychographic data for marketing, advertising, registry creation and monetization activities involving this community.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COORDINATING DISTRIBUTED PROGRESS

TO A COMMON GOAL

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] This invention relates to registries that identify needs or wishes of instigators of entries to the registries and to the engagement and support of merchant and follower communities seeking to address these instigator requirements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[002] The present invention relates to electronic commerce and more specifically to methods of Internet based registries that are used to provide services such as online gift registries, online charity registries, online personal wish lists, Internet based product item catalogs, online purchasing of gifts specified in such registries, online auctioning supply of gifts specified in such registries, online event planning and online donations. Within the description of this specification the invention, background, description, and embodiments will be primarily described with respect to registries with which the reader will be familiar, such as a wedding registry, in order to provide a context. However, it would be evident that the invention as recited in the claims may be applied to a broad range of registries including but not limited to those addressing consumers, business-to-business (B2B) requirements, and business-to-consumer (B2C) requirements and including not only direct registry based activities but secondary activities associated with marketing and advertising for example.

[003] Selecting the right gift for a friend or loved one is often a difficult and time consuming business. Clandestine inquiries of those associated with the intended recipient, giftee, may provide clues, but more often than not, the gift choice is left to the discretion of the buyer, giftor. A poor choice often leads to gift duplication and / or disappointment on the part of the giftee and / or giftor. As a result gift registries, typically wedding registries, became popular to address these issues by allowing the bride and groom to specify a wish list from which friends and family could select. Subsequently, the advent of the Internet led retailers to offer Internet based wedding gift registry services, these being an example of a related art that uses categorized product item lists to describe the product items that are of interest to a gift recipient, giftee, wherein the giftee creates a gift registry at the Internet site operated by a gift registry service provider, the registry, and users, typically friends and family, access the registry to review the wish list and may make a selection to select their gift, wherein the wish list is revised to indicate the selection of that item by the giftee.

[004] The widespread access and essentially ubiquitous access to the Internet subsequently generated interest in the development of web applications relating to registries and registry databases, these being centralized access point to a collection of registries relating to a common registrant. Each registry describes a registrant, an event, and the items that the registrant would like to acquire in celebration of the event. Registries are generally maintained by retailers such as department stores who can offer the registrant a broad range of products. An event may be, for example, an engagement, wedding, anniversary, birthday, graduation, religious holiday, baby shower, baptism, confirmation, Mother's day, Father's day, or other significant event. Further in some instances, rather than representing an event, a registry may simply represent the generalized wish list of the registrant.

[005] Internet accessible registries have many advantages over registries that are exclusively available at the store. First, an Internet accessible registry removes geographic limitations. Trips to the store to review or purchase registry items or to create a registry are no longer necessary. One simply accesses the registry over the Internet from the convenience of the home or office. Using an Internet accessible registry, it is possible for a registrant in Columbus, Montana in the United States of America to register with a retailer such as Saks Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, or for that matter, Harrods in London, England or Galeries Lafayyette in Paris, France. Second for giftors, the purchasers of registration items from a registry, options such as gift routing and wrapping are conveniently handled directly over the Internet as well as having the gifts delivered directly to the giftee, such as if the giftor will be unable to attend the event or where the gift is large, heavy, etc such as a refrigerator or piano for example. Third, Internet accessible registries provide advantages to retailers such as reduction in overhead costs and increased exposure to an expanded, geographically unconstrained market.

[006] Another related art example of a related art is the online wish list provided by Internet based online stores or Internet based independent third party wish list service providers. A typical Internet based wish list system is designed to capture the needs and desires of Internet shoppers by enabling such shoppers to create one or more lists of product items that they would be interested in purchasing at some future time. To use such a wish list system, a user typically creates a wish list account at the Internet site operated by an online store or at a third party wish list service provider and then whenever this user comes across a product item at any online store that they would like to purchase at some future date, the user can add the pertinent details about such product items to the product item wish list associated with their registry.

[007] If we look at weddings then it is not difficult to see why retailers, online retailers, etc have been quick to migrate traditional registry services online. Approximately 2.5 million weddings occur each year in the United States with approximately $72 billion per annum spent on the weddings with an average budget of $20,000, approximately $8 billion per annum spent on honeymoons with an average budget of $3,650, and approximately $ 19 billion per annum being spent via wedding gift registries for gifts. However, the actual value of gifts purchased for weddings by friends, family, etc is considerably higher as online registry services still do not dominate the selection and purchase of gifts through demographic considerations despite the high occurrence of registries by engaged couples today.

[008] However, from 1960 to 2000 the average age of the bride and groom has increased from 20 and 23 respectively to 27 and 29 respectively. At the same time today's brides and grooms are more sophisticated than ever before, have a higher education, more career opportunities and are increasingly comfortable with using the Internet for many aspects of their daily lives as well as making significant purchases and planning events. Increasingly they are also "online" permanently through the massive penetration of smartphones from the likes of Apple, Blackberry, HTC etc such that texting (otherwise known as simple message service or SMS) and email (electronic mail) are immediately available wherever they are as well as Internet access, browsing, and increasingly online financial management and transaction services. These "Echo Boomers^", the 71 million men and women born between 1979 and 2002 as children of the "Baby Boomers", represent the next big generation to move into "engagement zone^". Just as the Echo Boomers have become to expect instantaneous communications and social interaction through social networks then increasingly so are their parents, the Baby Boomers.

[009] Currently the number of women turning 27 each year is approximately 3.8 million but will grow in the next decade to approximately 4.3 million such that an increase in marriages, wedding is likely due to the sheer size of this generation. Overall, their generational characteristics include being highly tech-savvy, well-educated and accustomed to being bombarded by media messages. They've grown up in an affluent society and have big spending power. Their expectations for registries and retailers are similarly higher than those of their parents.

[0010] At present the average engaged couple typically establishes their registry 6 months before the wedding, with an average of three retailers from a limited pool (the top three registry retailers, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target and Macy' s, represent nearly 70% of primary bridal registries), and establishes an average of 150 items overall. From these the resulting average expenditure of a family member and a friend today is $ 146 and $79 respectively for a gift. Registry selection varies today geographically such that across the continental United States the likely store selections are:

• North-East: Macy^' s, Crate & Barrel, Williams-Sonoma and Bloomingdale' s;

• South: Bed Bath & Beyond, Target and Wal-Mart;

• Mid-West: Target and Kohl^' s; and

• West: Macy^'s and Crate & Barrel.

[0011 ] Not surprisingly given the size of the wedding registry market several inventors have tried to address improvements to the basic registry concept both within the online environment provided by the Internet and generally. For example US Patent 5,970,474 by M. LeRoy et al entitled "Registry Information System for Shoppers^" discloses a product information system for selecting, monitoring and purchasing of products in a retail establishment that includes a product selection device, a data processor, a registry retrieval device, a point-of-sale data input device, and a host computer. Accordingly, a registrant establishes a registry and through the product selection device, i.e. bar code scanner, scans products and a registry identifier and then these selected items are stored to the computer system. Subsequently a giftor can access the in-store registry to view the registrants registry list, print a registry identifier and proceed to a checkout wherein the sales clerk scans both the product barcode and registry identifier such that the registry system is updated with the purchase by the giftor. Accordingly, whilst a giftor may purchase from any store within the retail chain the registrant^'s registry is retailer specific.

[0012J S . Robertson in US Patent 6,609, 106 entitled -System and Method for Providing Electronic Multi-Merchant Gill Registry Services over a Distributed Network^" teaches to an online registry systems that captures most of the elements of registry systems today in terms of creating a registry, selecting items from multiple merchants, providing a centralized registry for giftors to access and allowing users to select gift(s) from the centralized registry. However, purchasing gifts is still undertaken through the merchant websites with notification back to the gift registry system.

[0013] M. Veeneman in US Patent 6,669,088 entitled "Multi-Merchant Gift Registry" extends the concept of LeRoy such that items from multiple merchants may be added to a gift registry wherein the registrant obtains the barcode scanner from a kiosk dedicated to the registry service rather than a merchant. As such Veeneman addresses a system for deployment within shopping malls or other similar locations. D. Gary in US Patent 7,039,601 entitled "Method and System for Monetary Gift Registry" discloses the basic system of establishing an online cash account as part of a gift registry allowing giftors to gift money to the giftee.

[0014] K. Shah in US Patent 7,925,542 entitled "Wish List Associated with Buddy List Screen Name" represents one of the first attempts to merge the wish list aspect of a registry with SMS messaging wherein a giftor can access a wish list associated with a friend on their friends list of their portable electronic device. Shah further teaches that friends can make direct purchases or contribute to group purchases from items in the wish list in common with other registry and wish list concepts in the prior art. However, Shah also considers that the registrant may also contribute to their own wish list monetarily over a period of time thereby providing the online version of a "layaway" option provided by some merchants wherein a purchaser may make multiple payments over a period of time to an item. Apart from exploiting the friend list of an SMS messaging service for the giftor to access the wish list of a giftee Shah is silent as to the broader application of social networking and application of the buddy list concept to registries.

10015] J. Morgenstern in US Patent 7,933,810 entitled "Collectively Giving Gifts in a Social Network Environment" extends the teaching of Shah into a broader social networking concept by allowing members of a social network to see what gifts other members have received, from whom and also what those members given themselves. Gifts can also be private within the social network and not visible as well as of arbitrary form as real gifts or virtual gifts. Morgenstern also considers multiple users contributing cash to a common purchase which is then actually purchased for the giftee. Whilst driven primarily from increasing user activities within a social network Morgenstern overlaps with registries as they migrate from discrete websites to services distributed across multiple online services including traditional websites and social networks. [0016] L. Petersen et al in US Patent Application 2006/0,069,627 entitled "Gift Registry System" address the issue of registries for non-wedding related celebrations where the giftee for a variety of reasons, one such example being under the age of legally being able to register with online services, cannot establish the registry directly. Accordingly Petersen teaches to a registry being generated by the giftee and then being vetted and posted online by the registrant, in the example of a child being the giftee their parent or guardian. Petersen's concept may also be applied to applications such as for example geographically separated such that their registry is created in two-steps.

[0017] J.M. Holland et al in US Patent Application 2006/0,212,366 entitled "Systems and Methods for Purchasing Gifts" teaches to a registrant establishing a profile on a hosting registry site and linking registries on multiple merchants with the hosting (aggregating) registry such that a user searching for the registrant's registry information on the aggregator registry they have access to all merchant registries from a single portal rather than having to search for their registries on multiple merchant websites etc. Accordingly, Holland teaches to a system such as provided by "myRegistry.com" such that the multiple registries are in essence hidden from the giftor online in searching and purchasing through a registry aggregator unlike the system provided by "The Knot^" wherein a giftor is presented with a list of registries relating to the registrant on different registry databases and accesses these registries directly to make a purchase such as illustrated in Figure XX.

[0018] Holland also teaches that a user can make multiple purchases across these multiple background registries with a single transaction at checkout or directly at a merchant associated with one of these background registries and that all merchant and hosting registries are synchronized. Holland teaches that the registries of each merchant are merely referenced rather than copied so that the single purchase the giftor executes results in a plurality of transactions between the registry aggregator system and the merchant systems and corresponding merchant registries. Subsequently, the search by another giftor accesses the multiple merchant registries which are then displayed as a combined registry with the updates from each merchant registry as to purchases. Accordingly the giftor could also purchase within a store of the merchant or through the registry of the merchant if it was evident to them which merchant the gift was associated with thereby reducing the aggregator registries revenue through transaction fees.

[0019] However, as the average age of brides and grooms has increased then typically each has been living on their own for many years and accordingly have acquired many of the traditional items of a wedding registry such as bedding, furnishings, furniture, tableware, cookware, etc. Accordingly, whilst their expenditure on the majority of elements relating to the wedding has not changed significantly the expenditures on registry services, honeymoon and life ahead have changed substantially. Similarly, the source of financing the wedding and honeymoon has changed substantially such that today weddings paid for by the bride^'s parents represent only 27% of weddings, and those paid for but both sets of parents only 7%. Those paid for by only the bride and groom are now 27%, those by both sets of parents, bride and groom 15% and other combinations 24%.

Table 1 : Expenditure Distribution for Couples during 16 month Time Period of Engagement, Wedding and Living Together (Fairchild Bridal Infobank Wedding Study 2002, Roper 2000)

[0020] Similarly, there are demographic differences in how couples manage registry communication. In 2010, personal wedding websites showed their third consecutive year of growth with most couples using them as a registry hub for guests. A majority (61 %) of registering couples in 2010 used a personal wedding website to communicate registry information to their guests, compared with 53% in 2009 and 47% in 2008. Older brides ages 25 to 34 were more likely to spread the word via a personal wedding website.

[0021] At the same time social networking platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace were increasingly being used to communicate registry details with 12% registering couples sharing registry details with friends and family via a social networking site in 2010, versus a mere 5% in 2009. Younger brides ages 1 8 to 24 were particularly more likely to let guests know about their registry via social networking sites. Overall traditional reliance on friends and family members to spread news about registries has consistently been declining, down from 71 % in 2008 to 66% in 2010. [0022] Additionally, whilst approximately 80% of engaged couples set up at least one registry today, 89% of these set up registries with more than one retailer, and 52% registered with 3 or more retailers. As a result the average engaged couple actually sets up 3 registries with different retailers. Overall, the expectations and requirements from such registries are fundamentally different for couples as the Echo Boomers move through the "engagement zone" to those generally existing today which are, in general, mere replications and / or modifications of traditional registries offered by department stores. Accordingly, a disconnection between registries and registrants will likely be inevitable unless registries evolve to reflect the different demographic, financial, and social changes within their target market.

[0023] Just as important is the fact that the Internet is increasingly influencing decisions from event planning through to registry set-up and gift selection, and management of both the overall event and gifts. Today, approximately 40% of registrants cited the Internet as "very influential", followed by friends and family (especially Mom) at approximately 35% and consumer reviews at approximately 25%. While in-store initial registry set up continues to be popular representing about 60% of registries established, online-only registry set-up and management has increased significantly with approximately 80% of couples in 2010, compared with approximately 70% in 2009, setting one or more of their registries up solely online.

[0024] Accordingly, within the prior art there exist techniques and methods to address some of these evolving trends in registries. For example, H. Hsu et al in US Patent 7,013,292 entitled "Method and System for Universal Gift Registry" teaches the registrant defining cash gifts, giftees donating partial amounts towards a gift on the registry, and the accessing by the registrant of multiple merchants for selecting gifts and establishing pricing of gifts. The registrant is also able to specify gifts that are not provided by any of the merchants associated with the registry. However, Hsu proceeds a step further in that whereas a traditional registry will order the items selected by a giftor upon completion of the order within the registry the centralized registry of Hsu may elect to consolidate purchases of items that are common to multiple registries so that the centralized registry only makes one purchase from the merchant but the multiple items are dispatched to the multiple giftee or giftor locations. Further, because the registry is centralized the system taught by Hsu allows for gift substitution to be selected by the registrant, and be either visible or invisible to the giftor, such that if an item purchased by a giftor is available from another merchant through a substitution at a lower cost then the centralized registry elects to purchase from the second merchant rather than the original merchant.

(0025] T. Martineau et al in US Patent 7,315,834 entitled "Wish List" address the issue of a merchant discontinuing an item once the item is entered to a wish list, either as a wish list or as part of a registry list, which may be generated from multiple merchants with or without accessing any registries of the multiple merchants. Accordingly, instead of the giftor being provided with a broken link to the item when they select it from the registrant^'s / giftees wish list the link is modified to direct the user to an alternate location within the registrant's website. For example the weblink for a HP PhotoSmart e-AU-in-One Printer - Dl lOa www.shopping.hp. com/webapp/shopping/product ietail.do? storeName=storefronts&landing =printer&category=Photosmart&a 1 =Type&vl =all-in- one&product_code=CN73 lA %23BlH may be selectively truncated to direct the giftor to another level of the product search, i.e. http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/can.do? ^'storeName=storefronts&landing=pri nter&category=Photosmart&a I = Type&v I =all-in-one&catLevel=2#bc Anchor wherein all PhotoSmart printers currently available are displayed. Should that fail the truncation would be increased potentially to simply the root web address.

[00261 R. Bragg et al in US Patent 7,603,292 entitled -'Methods and Systems for Providing a Gift Registry^" address the issue within social networks of friends associating with a user and subsequently friends of the friends associated with a friend and can view / access the user's social network information. Accordingly. Bragg considers that a wish list forming part of a registry that is associated with a registry would be only available to those within the social network that a predetermined degree of separation from the user. In this manner the wish list is restricted to those for example directly linked to the user.

[0027] R. Rembold et al in US Patent Application 2003/0, 177,054 entitled "Generating Marketing Information for Non-Purchased Items of a Gift Registry^" consider the registrant's requirements after the celebration has occurred and the giftors have all given their gifts to the registrant. As such Reinbold teaches to providing marketing information to the registrant from merchants or a marketing company on those items that were not purchased from their wish list. Reinbold also considers that the marketing may also be triggered at predetermined point in the future based upon registry such as waiting a predetermined period of time after a baby shower registry to send marketing information on toddler clothes for example. [0028] R.R. Pandha et al in US Patent Application 2005/0,010,486 entitled "A System and a Method for Adding a Desired Product Item from an Internet based Online Store to an Internet based Universal Product Item Registry" teaches to a method of selecting items on third-party websites for a registry by a click-to-add or a drag-to-add functionality through a web browser add-on. As such the user is able to create a registry wish list with increased flexibility. An example of this concept is the "Add to MyRegistry" feature on "myRegistry.com".

[0029] R.R. Auletta in US Patent Application 2005/0,091 , 120 entitled "Online Gift Registry Service" teaches to a wish list approach for users within a social network whereby members of the social network can create events in their calendars and associate wish lists to these. Other members of the social network associated with the user are able to see this wish list and indicate that they have purchased items from the wish list. However, this selection is not visible to the user so that they are unaware of who purchased the item from the wish list although other members of the network can see who did. Further members are able to add items to the wish list that are invisible to the member establishing the wish list so that other members

[0030] O. Berkowitz in US Patent Application 2008/0, 172,304 entitled "Bidding and Gift Registry System and Method for Mobile Device" teaches similarly to Hsu a system allowing giftors to make cash gifts as part of their gifting to the giftor. Unlike Hsu Berkowitz considers that the cash gi fts are actually transactions to a third party, being a financial institution, rather than being solely with the registry service provider. In this manner increased security may be perceived by the giftors in making, what in many instances, may accumulate to significant cash funds for the giftor. Further, providing the funds to a financial institution provides the giftor with alternate routes of accessing and utilizing the funds. For example, the third party may be their own bank or credit card provider.

1003 1 1 S . Paintin in U S Patent Application 2008/0,243,705 entitled "Third-Party Gift Registry and Payment System^" addresses the issue of giving gifts to a giftor via a registry wherein the giftee does not have a financial instrument compatible with the registry service. Accordingly the system taught by Paintin allows the giftor to reserve an item within the registry so that it is not selected by another giftor in the intervening period and pay for the gift through a third party financial institution, for example Western Union.

[00321 M.A Causey et al in US Patent Application 2009/0,216,549 entitled "Gift Registry and Comparison Shopper^" teaches to leveraging portable electronic devices for the registrant or giftor to create their registry where the registry is not associated with any specific merchant. Rather, the registrant or giftor takes a photograph on their mobile device that includes either the product and / or a barcode which is then sent to the registry website wherein the product is identified from the transmitted image through image recognition. If the product is not within the registry database then it is added. The item is then added to the gift registry associated with the registrant wherein if viewed by a giftor the details are retrieved. If multiple instances of the item exist for different retailers then this information is also presented to the giftor so that they can elect which retailer to purchase from and may include hyperlinks to the product page on a retailer's website allowing the user to purchase online. Causey does not address the linkage between such purchases, store purchases, etc to the registry merely considering that the registry is informed that a gift has been purchased of quantity / type.

[0033] As evident from the prior art whilst different inventors have attempted to address the different aspects of evolving demographics, ubiquitous penetration of portable electronic devices, user behaviour in accessing and joining social networks, and increased ease of use many aspects of these registries many aspects of these registries and their associated systems do not address user requirements now or in the future as all these drivers of demographics, technology, social communication, etc continue to evolve.

[0034] As such it would be beneficial for a registry to provide a true aggregated experience where there is transparency within the registry with respect to retailers such that user actions are within the registry and not within multiple independent retailer websites and registries. Further, it would be beneficial for the user to be able to perform multiple activities within this single registry within a single session without requiring either repeated entering of personal and financial data as different merchant systems are typically incompatible.

[0035| It would also be beneficial for a registry to provide a user with the ability to elect to give a portion of a gift in conjunction with other users either through engagement with the registrant and / or giftce or without their engagement and / or knowledge. Such instances occurring increasing for example as couples combine two existing households such that their requirements for traditional registry items are considerably diminished and they elect to place a variety of non-traditional items on their registry including for example, a cleaning service, lessons within a sport or activity they are interested in, aspects of the wedding and / or honeymoon as well as items relating to other life-related activities they face. Increasingly, therefore it would be beneficial for a registry to allow financial gifts, service gifts, as well as physical gifts. Accordingly, it would be beneficial for service gifts to be directly purchased by the giftor or purchased from a supplier based upon the registrant profile and / or information provided by the giftor. For example, a giftor may purchase a massage service for the giftee on their honeymoon and a massage service upon their return after they have moved into their new house.

|0036] At the same time, many giftors do not wish to give money, as despite having an indication of where the wish list of money may be associated with an activity or goal of the giftee there is no guarantee that they will actually use the money as they requested. This aspect of human nature is unlikely to change even with the current Echo Boomers, the younger children of Baby Boomers, or the children of the Echo Boomers. Accordingly, it would be beneficial for the registry to manage such non-traditional gifts directly where the giftor wishes rather than defaulting to registering a cash fund for the giftee. Similarly, the ability for giftees to establish arbitrary groups to purchase a gift on the registrant's wish list with or without their knowledge addresses this aspect of gift giving. Equally receiving a subsequent notification from the registry that the service or item selected by the giftor for the giftee has been redeemed, provided, or claimed would increase the acceptance of the service with giftors.

[0037] It would also be beneficial for the registry to engage the giftees in generating an increased level of social interaction during the time that the registry is open so that guests, friends, and family are engaged in the registry activities over a longer period of time rather than the single access of their selecting a gift. For example, a giftor who makes a financial gift towards an item may receive subsequent updates so that they are aware the item is purchased and their gift was not an isolated drop or that their funds were redirected to complete another gift for the registrant / giftor rather than 2 items being incomplete. Such increased engagement may for example be achieved through specific social network groups associated with a registry.

[0038] Further, generally apart from Reinbold the knowledge within a registry has been under-utilized in respect of addressing ongoing life requirements of the registrant or in terms of leveraging the knowledge to other registrants. For example, if no gifts over the value of $2,000 are ever purchased or are in only 2% of registries then placing such an item on a registry would be effectively be a waste of time for the registrants. Likewise, establishing purchasing patterns of giftees is beneficial to both merchants and registrants alike. Accordingly it would be beneficial for a registry to leverage this knowledge base for registrants, merchants within the registry, as well exploiting this in marketing / advertising to other merchants to identify the benefits of their membership, to registrants, and to third parties.

[0039] Within the above description of registries in the prior art and trends the focus has been to wedding registries as these currently dominate the industry. However, registries may be applied to a wide range of events and / or celebrations including but not limited to fairs, parades, reunions, birthdays, anniversaries, bar and bat mitzvahs, first communions, sweet 16s, graduations, and memorials. Likewise, whilst they are generally viewed from the perspective of individuals they may also be applied to other activities of commerce and business including for example charities, not-for-profit organizations, volunteer groups, community groups, schools, political parties, unions, and organizations at local, regional, national, and international levels. A registry merely acts as a conduit between a first party with a need or wish and one of more second parties seeking to address that need or wish. Hence, whilst in the vast majority of instances these needs or wishes are addressed through the giving of financial funds a registry can include the gifting of other services including the effort and time of one or more people to a common goal.

[0040] Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0041] It is an object of the present invention to mitigate disadvantages of the prior art with respect to registries that identify needs or wishes of instigators of entries to the registries and to the support of merchants and followers seeking to address these instigator requirements.

[0042] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention there is provided a method comprising:

establishing a registry stored within a memory of a computer system, the registry relating to an instigator comprising at least one desired element of a plurality of desired elements; establishing a first social network around the instigator, the social network comprising at least one follower of a plurality of followers, each follower have a predetermined relationship to the instigator through a second social network;

communicating to the first social network regarding the establishment of the registry;

establishing a redemption of the desired element from the registry by a predetennined portion of the first social network; and storing data relating to the redemption in association with the desired element.

[0043] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention there is provided a method comprising engaging an instigator of a registry to play a game on a first computer system, deriving at least one of first demographic data and first psychographic data relating to the instigator from their behaviour in a game associated with the registry, and storing said at least one of within a first memory of a second computer system associated with a provider of the registry.

[0044] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention there is provided a method comprising:

receiving a request from a merchant in respect of an offer relating to a product or service; determining in respect of the offer at least one registry of a plurality of registries exceeding a predetermined threshold of interest in the product or service, each registry instigated by an instigator and accessed by a plurality of followers associated with the instigator;

communicating to the registry instigator in respect of the offer;

communicating to the registry followers in respect of the offer;

collating the responses from the instigator and followers in respect of the offer; and communicating the collated responses to the merchant.

[0045] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention there is provided a method comprising:

deriving first demographic data relating to an instigator of a registry associated with an event, the registry they established comprising at least one desired element of a plurality of desired elements;

deriving second demographic data relating to at least one follower of a plurality of followers, each follower having a predetermined relationship to the instigator on a social network of a plurality of social networks;

deriving a first purchasing history of the instigator based upon their activities with a first plurality of registries, each registry associated with other events than the instigator event;

deriving a second purchasing history of the follower of the plurality of followers based upon their activities with a second plurality of registries;

establishing a plurality of merchant demographic profiles, each merchant demographic

profile relating to demographic data of interest to the merchant; communicating the first and second demographic data and the first and second purchasing history to each merchant of the plurality of merchants having a predetermined match of their merchant demographic profile to at least one of the first and second demographic data.

[0046] Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein:

[0048] Figure 1 depicts webpage snapshots with respect to a merchant based registry according to the prior art;

[0049] Figure 2 depicts webpage snapshots of the registry service provider "The Knot^" according to the prior art;

[0050] Figure 3 depicts webpage snapshots of the gift card registry service provider "Card Avenue" according to the prior art;

[0051] Figure 4 depicts webpage snapshots of the registry service provider "myRegistry^" relating to establishing a registry according to the prior art;

[0052] Figure 5 depicts webpage snapshots of the registry service provider "myRegistry^" relating to establishing a registry according to the prior art;

[0053] Figure 6 depicts webpage snapshots of the registry service provider "myRegistry^" relating to purchasing gifts on the registry according to the prior art;

[0054] Figure 7 depicts webpage snapshots of the registry service provider "myRegistry^" relating to making a cash gift on the registry according to the prior art;

[0055] Figure 8 depicts webpage snapshots of the registry service provider "UpOnOurStar^" relating a non-traditional registry according to the prior art;

[0056J Figure 9 presents a schematic of a network to identify associated network elements with embodiments of the invention;

[0057] Figure 10 presents a schematic of a portable wireless device and a network access point to identify associated network elements with embodiments of the invention;

[0058] Figure 1 1 A depicts a schematic of the association of users and registrant with a registry and merchants according to a registry in the prior art; [0059] Figure 1 IB depicts a schematic of the association of followers, instigator, registry and merchants according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0060] Figure 12A depicts the schematic of Figure 1 IB in more detail according to an embodiment of the invention with respect to the data plane and Events;

[0061] Figure 12B depicts the schematic of Figure 1 1 B in more detail according to an embodiment of the invention with respect to the merchants, followers and community;

[0062] Figure 13A depicts the first part of an exemplary flowchart for the association of followers, instigator, registry and merchants according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0063] Figure 13B depicts the second part of an exemplary flowchart for the association of followers, instigator, registry and merchants according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0064] Figure 14A depicts exemplary images of webpages presented to an instigator of a registry according to an embodiment of the invention with respect to its creation;

[0065] Figure 14B depicts an exemplary webpage image for an instigator establishing associations to an item added to their registry;

[0066] Figure 15 depicts exemplary images of webpages presented to users from a registry according to an embodiment of the invention with respect to cash collection details and multiple simultaneous registries;

[0067] Figure 16 depicts exemplary images of webpages presented to users from a registry according to an embodiment of the invention with respect to gifts that may be purchased in part;

[0068] Figure 17 depicts an exemplary process flow for a registry according to an embodiment of the invention in respect of an instigator adding gifts to the registry list;

[0069] Figure 18 depicts an exemplary image of a webpage presented to a user from a registry according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0070] Figure 19 depicts an exemplary process flow for a bidding process in respect of a registry list according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0071] Figure 20 depicts an exemplary process flow for a Life Data Collection according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0072] Figure 21 depicts an exemplary process flow for a merchant challenge to a community according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0073J Figure 22 depicts a social network webpage associated with a subset of a community;

[0074] Figure 23 depicts a webpage associated with a charity allowing a follower to make a contribution; [0075] Figure 24 depicts an exemplary flowchart for registry migration according to an embodiment of the invention; and

[0076J Figure 25 depicts a portable electronic device with an application installed to facilitate access and interaction with the Republic and associated registries.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0077] The present invention is directed to registries that identify needs or wishes of instigators of entries to the registries and to the engagement and support of merchant and follower communities seeking to address these instigator requirements.

[0078] The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiment(s) only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the exemplary embodiment(s) will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing an exemplary embodiment. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope as set forth in the appended claims.

[0079] A "portable electronic device" (PED) as used herein and throughout this disclosure, refers to a wireless device used for communication that requires a battery or other independent form of energy for power. This includes devices, but is not limited to, such as a cellular telephone, smartphone, personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computer, pager, portable multimedia player, portable gaming console, laptop computer, tablet computer, and an electronic reader. A "network operator/service provider^* as used herein may refer to, but is not limited to, a telephone or other company that provides services for mobile phone subscribers including voice, text, and Internet; telephone or other company that provides services for subscribers including but not limited to voice, text, Voice-over-IP, and internet; a telephone, cable or other company that provides wireless access to local area, metropolitan area, and long-haul networks for data, text, Internet, and other traffic or communication sessions; etc.

[0080] A "user,^" as used herein and through this disclosure refers to, but is not limited to, a person or device that utilizes the registry, either as a potential gift purchaser, controller of the registry, or the intended recipient of the gifts. A "Registered Party'^" or "registrant^" as used herein may refer to a person, group, or organization that has registered with a registry and may or may not be the intended recipient of the gifts purchased. A '"merchant^" or "retailer^" as used herein may refer to any seller of goods or services, either online or in a traditional store. A "giftor" as used herein may refer to a person, group, or organization that has accessed a registry and who makes, purchases, or contributes to a gift for another person, group, or organization. A "giftee" as used herein may refer to a person, group, or organization that receives a gift from another person, group, or organization via the registry. A "gift" as used herein may refer to, but not be limited to, a product, ware, service, reward, donation, bequest, etc and forms a desired element of the instigator. A "registry" as used herein may refer to, but not be limited to, a service provided to third parties, including but not limited to, giftees, giftors, registrants, users, and Registered Parties for one or more activities including, but not limited to, the identification, listing, selection, purchase, management, and delivery of an item selected from the following non-exhaustive list of a product, service, request, ware, gift, as well as other physical and non-physical items.

[0081] An "instigator" as used herein and through this disclosure refers to, but is not limited to, a person, couple or organization that initiates a registry and defines one or more needs or wishes of the instigator. A "follower" as used herein and through this disclosure refers to, but is not limited to, a person, couple or organization that has some association to the instigator and wishes to understand and / or address the needs or wishes of the instigator. The terms "user", "Registered Party", "registrant", "merchant^", "retailer", "giftor", "giftee", "registry", "instigator", "follower", and "gift" as employed within the descriptions of the embodiments of the invention below are those relating to one application of the invention only, namely gift registries, as used to describe the embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, with respect to the claims of the invention their scope shall be given the broadest interpretation.

[0082] As discussed in the background many researchers, inventors and enterprises have addressed registry services leading to the patents and patent applications discussed. The majority of registry services in existence today are wedding registries operated by traditional merchants providing in-store and online wedding registry services and web enterprises providing only online registry services. Examples of traditional merchants who have migrated their legacy in-store registry services online include independents such as JC Penney, Sears, Kmart, etc and many familiar companies such as Bon Marche, Macy^'s, Target, Bloomingdales, etc that are part of conglomerates such as Federated and Dayton Hudson for example. Examples of web enterprises focusing to online wedding registry services include Depositagift.com, Uponourstar.com, Gift Card Avenue, and Honeymoon. Additionally, non- traditional online aggregators have appeared including Home Depot, The Knot and myRegistry.com as well as online merchandisers including Amazon, eBay, and Google.

[0083] Referring to Figure 1 there are depicted first to fourth webpage snapshots 100A through 100D with respect to a typical merchant based registry according to the prior art, in this instance Sears. First snapshot 100A represents an entry screen on the Sears website for their registry including registry finder pane 10 wherein a user enters the first name and last name of a registrant of a registry they wish to view, a "Create Registry" button 120 allowing a new registrant to create a registry, and a "Sign In^" button 130 allowing an existing registrant to sign in into their own registry in order to add items, edit items or quantities etc. Also shown is pane 145 that links to another webpage, shown in second webpage snapshot 100B, that presents a pre-populated registry intended to provide the new registrant with an initial list of items that they can deselect part or all of or accept items and enter quantities. In instances where the items may be available in different colours, such as furniture, fabric, housewares etc the registrant may have elected to enter colour, style, and decoration infonnation upon registering to help their friends and family choose appropriate styles or colours.

[0084] Alternatively, as shown in third webpage snapshot lOOC, the registrant or one selecting gifts with or for the registrant can locate items on the merchants website, as shown by pane 140 and by selecting a button, typically labeled "Add to Registry^" can add the product to the registry such as shown in the third webpage snapshot l OOC wherein the registrant has added a Kobe™ eReader triggering pop-up 1 50 allowing the registrant to select to either view the registry or continue shopping. If they elect to select to view the registry, or a friend, family member, etc views the registry to select a gift for the registrant then they are presented with fourth webpage snapshot 100D which in the instance of Sears is a very basic text based registry display. As displayed there are registrant pane 160 containing the registrants name and a barcode unique to the registry such that the user can print the sheet and have it scanned at a point-of-sale (POS) terminal of the merchant so that the registry service updates the registrant's registry to indicate the quantity of the item purchased so that other registry user do not select it if the quantity desired have already been purchased.

[0085] Second pane 165 represents details regarding the event for which the registrant has registered the registry including date and a pick-up store location such that friends and family may elect which merchant store location to have the items collected from either so that they can take the gift to the event or for the registrant to collect. Third pane 170 contains information regarding decor of a location within which the registrant will put the items in the registry so that they may advise those viewing the registry of style, dominant colour, secondary colours etc for a room or rooms so that where a product is available in different colours or patterns the user may select what they consider to be a complementary colour or style. Fourth pane 175 indicates that the registrant has indicated that gifting Sears Gift Cards would be acceptable such that the registrant can then spend these subsequently at Sears either at merchant store or online. Fifth pane 180 lists the items selected by the registrant indicating information including the quantity required, quantity received (i.e. purchased already by other users), the description of the item, the cost, availability (e.g. catalog or merchant store or both), catalog number, colour choice (if made by registrant), and the option to select a "Buy Now" button to make a purchase from the merchant^'s online ordering system. It would be evident such registries require that a registrant wishing to have items purchased at multiple merchants, for example Sears, Crate and Barrel, and Target, would have to create registries with each merchant individually, require the registrant to notify their friends and family of the multiple merchant registries, and for these friends and family to review

[0086] Figure 2 depicts first to fifth webpage snapshots 200A through 200B of a registry service aggregator "The Knot^" according to the prior art. Accordingly in first webpage screenshot 200A the user is presented with an entry screen of "The Knot^" including initialization pane 210 wherein a new registrant begins and search pane 220 where a user may search for an existing registry through the first name and / or last name of a registrant. This first webpage screenshot 200A is that shown when the user chooses the registry section of "The Knot^" which is primarily an aggregator of information relating to planning a wedding and finding vendors etc for the event. Considering a user then having entered the first name "Jason^" they are taken to second webpage screenshot 200B wherein a list of registries with a "Jason" as a registrant are listed to them, by the brides first name where the displayed names may include nicknames such as "Jace^" as shown in first grouping 230. Accordingly, the user in this instance is interested in the registry for "Alice Hall^" and "Jace Lassetef and can see in first grouping 230 that there appear to be two such couples with registries. One couple having registries with "JCPenney^" and "Belk^" for a wedding on May 28, 201 1 in Georgia (GA) and the other couple having a single registry with "Bed Bath & Beyond^" for a wedding on May 4, 201 1 in South Carolina (SC). Each registry has a "Tell a friend" option wherein they may enter the email address of another friend to forward a link to the registry. [0087] Accessing the registries of either "JCPenney", "Belk", or "Bed Bath & Beyond" is achieved by clicking on the name of each merchant in the appropriate line of the displayed list. In each instance the user is forwarded to one on the third to fifth webpage snapshots 200C through 200E which relate to "JCPenney", "Belk", and "Bed Bath & Beyond" wherein the user may browse and make selections / purchases in a similar manner to that discussed above in respect of Figure 1 and the merchant registry discussed therein. Also listed on second webpage screenshot 200B is a second grouping 240 wherein a wedding is listed relating to "Carmen Laster" and "Jamar Lastar" for a wedding on March 20, 2010 with a registry at "Macy's". This link and the resulting registry at "Macy's" are still accessible despite the fact the wedding, if it was one given the common surname of the registrants, was 18 months prior to the accessing of "The Knot" and "Macy's."

[0088] Clicking from the resulting webpage of the "Macy's" registry, not shown for clarity, but similar to third to fifth webpage snapshot 20C through 200E, by the user to reviewing the "Macy^' s" registry service itself results in them accessing sixth webpage snapshot 200F regarding "Macy^'s Registry Star Rewards" which in window 250 are highlighted for a registrant registering with the "Macy^'s" registry wherein they are offered an incentive of 5% rewards. Accordingly a registrant establishing a registry with "Macy's" obtains a cash reward equal to 5% of the value of products purchased for them through the registry. It would be evident therefore that "The Knot^" whilst is considered a registry aggregator really only provides aggregation that is only a registrant listing their multiple registries allowing a user to know that the registrant has multiple registries without being told so by the registrant who simply sends them a link to or tells them about "The Knot." No overall registry aggregation is actually performed such that if the registrant forgets that they added "6 Martini Glasses^" to a first registry and adds them again on a second registry friends and family may unwittingly get duplicate gifts each from different registries.

[0089] Now referring to Figure 3 there are depicted first to fourth webpage snapshots 300A to 300D of the gift card registry service provider "Card Avenue^" according to the prior art. As with the preceding descriptions in Figure 1 and 2 above the registrant may create a registry by selecting the icon within first pane 3 1 OA and a user may search for a registry via second pane 10B. Accordingly, if the user searched for "Mary Mutz^" or "Mark Rice" through second pane 310B and selected them from a list on an intermediate webpage, not shown for clarity, they reach second webpage snapshot 300B which lists the gift cards that "Mary Mutz" and "Mark Rice^" have listed that they would like to receive. These include 7 "MasterCard" gift cards in first block 320 of varying values from $20 to $260, a "BestBuy" gift card in second block 330 of value $60, and 2 "Victoria's Secret" gift cards in third block 340 of values $20 and $60.

[00901 In order to actually purchase a "MasterCard" for "Mary Mutz" and "Mark Rice" the user would initially have to select "Buy Gift Card" below one of the "MasterCard" values which would take them to third webpage snapshot 300C in order to buy a pre-paid MasterCard for "Mary Mutz" and "Mark Rice" and have it delivered either to them directly or to the user to give as a gift. Once purchased the user would then enter the value of the gift card they have purchased to indicate its purchase. Alternatively, they may select "Shop discount gift cards" such as for a "Victoria's Secret" gift card in which case they are transferred to fourth webpage snapshot 300D wherein gift cards for "Victoria^'s Secret" with different values are listed, such as discounted card 350 wherein a $50 card is on offer for $46 with free shipping. Accordingly, "Gift Card Avenue" represents another registry service that provides very little aggregation as the user purchases the gift cards directly from each merchant or provider in the instance of MasterCard, Visa, etc with an option to obtain discounted gift cards and has no overlap with any other registry the registrant might have.

[0091] Referring to Figure 4 there are depicted first to fourth webpage snapshots 400A through 400D of the registry service provider "myRegistry^" relating to establishing a registry according to the prior art. In first webpage snapshot 400 A a registrant has entered their personal details and those relating to the event for which the registry is being established for in a previous webpage which is not shown for clarity. The registrant has followed the sequence of steps identified in toolbar pane 410 that allows the registrant to install a toolbar add-on 420 which simplifies the addition of items from third party merchant websites into a registry hosted by "myRegistry^"" as will be evident from the following description. The registrant also selected in the initial set-up procedure a cash gift fund, with the registrant selected name of "Holiday^*", as shown in gift fund pane 430 but has yet to select any specific gifts which will be displayed in firs gift pane 440. The registrant now elects to view the website of an approved retailer and has selected the category of "Electronics^" resulting in second webpage snapshot 400B being displayed that shows the approved retailers in the electronics sector.

[0092] From here the registrant can select a retailer, for example "Apple Store" and is then transferred to their website to browse and search for items that they wish to add to their registry. Having identified an item, for example an Apple™ iPad2 460, as indicated in third webpage snapshot 400C they then clicked the "Add to myRegistry" button, being toolbar add-on 420, in the toolbar wherein the pop-up 450 appears prompting the registrant to enter some information such as price, currency, size, colour, category, and to add some notes with respect to the purchase. The registrant then clicks the "Add This Gift to Your Registry" such that the item is then added to their registry as shown by fourth webpage snapshot 400D wherein the Apple™ iPad2 is added to their gift registry in second gift pane 470.

[0093] Now referring to Figure 5 there are depicted fifth and sixth webpage snapshots 500A and 500B of the registry service provider "myRegistry" relating to establishing an "Offline Gift" as part of the registry they have been establishing as described above in respect of Figure 4. Accordingly, the registrant has selected previously in a display, such as first webpage snapshot 400A in Figure 4, to add a gift that is not available through a merchant, whether an approved retailer or not, but does not want to simply ask for a cash gift. Accordingly, in fifth webpage snapshot 500A, the registrant is establishing a "Soccer for Charlie" 10 gift with a value of $ 199 with a note of "Winter Soccer Training Camp" which when they select the "Save" function results in the offline gift being added to the gift registry as depicted by gift pane 520 in sixth webpage snapshot 500B. The registrant can select an image in image selector pane 530. Accordingly, whilst a cash gift is made the giftor has associated that cash gift with a clear objective for the registrant.

[0094] Accordingly ""myRegistry^" as presented above in respect of Figures 4 and 5 addresses some of the limitations in the prior art of other aggregators such as the "The Knot" as presented in Figure 2 by allowing items selected from any merchant to be displayed within the single registry of the registrant within "myRegistry" as well as allowing the registrant to select cash gifts and establish offline gifts that are for items the registrant cannot, in principle, add to the registry. However, as will become evident in respect of the user gift purchasing from "myRegistry" presented in Figure 6 through first to fourth webpage snapshots 600A to 600D that integration and apparent aggregation stops abruptly. Accordingly, in first webpage snapshot 600 A the user has entered search information for "O^'Donnell" in search pane 610 resulting in a returned list of matching registries of which the first relates to ''Adrian O^' Donnell^" in Ottawa, Canada in entry 620. Having selected the registry relating to "Adrian O^' Donnell" they enter a gift list page, similar to fourth webpage snapshot 400D in Figure 4, and has selected the gift list portion resulting in second webpage snapshot 600B being presented from the user. Accordingly, this displays the offline gift "Soccer for Charlie^" 630 and Apple™ iPad2 640. Selection of the "View or Buy This Gift" button associated with "Apple™ iPad2 640 results in the user being presented with third webpage snapshot 600C where the first lower pane 650 represents the webpage within the "Apple Store" from which the registrant selected the item during the registry creation phase presented above in respect of Figure 4.

[0095] In first upper pane 660 a web application associated with "myRegistry" presents the user with detail section 650A that identifies which merchant website the user is now viewing, namely "store.apple.com" and for whom the registry is for "Adrian O'Donnell" and their address. It also presents response section 650B wherein the user is given a selection of responses under "No" and "Yes" to the question "Did you buy this gift?" Under "No" the user is given the options of "I was just looking" and "It was not available" where the former clearly relates to a user reviewing gifts to make a choice whilst the second implies the user would have bought but could not as the merchant was out of stock. Under "Yes" the user may select from "I purchased the item on" wherein the web address is displayed, in this case "store.apple.com", "I bought this item on another website" and "1 bought this item in a store (not online)" which are self-explanatory. In the event the user selects a different product from the gift item, for example an Ice Cream Maker, not shown in second webpage screenshot 600B, the user would be taken in this instance to the appropriate page on the "Best Buy" website presented in second lower pane 670 and the second upper pane 680 presents variants of the detail section 650A wherein the user is now shown that they are at the website "bestbuy.ca" and response section 650B wherein the image has changed and the online address of the current merchant amended in the "I purchased the item on" section.

[0096] Now referring to Figure 7 the user has elected to select the cash gift option presented to them in second webpage snapshot 600B and is presented with fifth webpage snapshot 700A wherein the detail pane 720 provides details of the cash gift including the title assigned to it by the registrant and their notes. Amount pane 710 allows the user to enter the cash gift amount they wish to gift and also indicates the handling fee that will be charged by "myRegistry^" and a tick box which the user must select to accept the fact that they are being charged a handling fee for the cash gift transaction. Selection of this tick box and the "Contribute^" button takes the user to sixth webpage snapshot 700B wherein they are presented with summary screen 730 and financial instrument screen 740 wherein the user enters the relevant information to allow "myRegistry^" to charge their financial instrument, which may in this instance be a PayPal™ account or Visa™, MasterCard™, Discover™, or American Express™. Accordingly, whilst "myRegistry^" addresses some aspects of the registry aggregators presented above such a registrant can put all items into a single registry and users can view that single registry all other financial and purchasing activities associated with the user^'s selection and purchase of a gift are made through all of the traditional prior art methods of directly in person from a merchant store, the online merchant web store that the user identified the gift from, or another online merchant web store. As such users benefit from the ability of the registrant to place some information from multiple online websites into their registry, automatic linking to the online website that a registrant used to highlight the item in the registry, and the ability to add offline gifts which are either not easily acquired by the user or where the registrant did not or could not identify a merchant to provide the ware or service.

[0097] Figure 8 depicts first to third webpage snapshots 800A and 800C of the registry service provider "UpOnOurStar" relating a non-traditional registry according to the prior art that extends this based upon the demographic information as discussed in the background concerning todays increased average age of bride and groom coupled with the over- whelming social acceptance of non-matrimonial co-habitation prior to marriage. As a result 65% of couples live together in their own house before the wedding and their requirements for wares and services can be very different from a young couple with no prior life together in their own house. As such many registrants are requesting cash gifts but a wishing well or a cash registry can seem tasteless to them and / or their friends and family. As such couples can create any personalized bridal registry items to which users contribute money towards their favourite gift registry item(s), which are collected by the couple as cash.

[0098] First webpage snapshot 800A shows the entry webpage for a couple "Donna 0^"Leary and James Pitcher^'* in respect of a wedding planned for March 3, 2012 showing part of their list for "Honeymoon and Travel^" which is shown in full in third webpage snapshot 800C with items "A night in the Honeymoon Suite^". "Champagne in the Honeymoon Suite^", "Romantic Breakfast^" in Bed^", "Couples Massage^" and "A Little Bit of Lingerie^" which are all being requested individually for $20. In second webpage snapshot 800B under "Unique Wishes^" there is "Flying Lessons^" listed with 20 requested $40 contributions. Similarly under ^"Activities and Leisure^" there is "Catching a Football Game^" with 4 requested at $20 whilst under ^"our Wedding^" there are "A Bouquet to Carry Down the Aisle^" with 2 request at $20 and ^"The Dream Wedding Dress^'" with 20 requests at $20. However, "UpOnOurStar^" fundamentally offers nothing different to "myRegistry^"' with their "Offline Gift^" option which allows for a user to add a gift of their own choosing and associating cash gifts with that gift.

[0099] Referring to Figure 9 there is depicted a representative telecommunication architecture wherein a remote central exchange 980 communicates with the remainder of a telecommunication service providers network via a network 900 which may include for example long-haul OC-48 / OC- 192 backbone elements, an OC-48 wide area network (WAN), a Passive Optical Network, and a Wireless Link. The central exchange 980 is connected via the network 900 to a local exchange 970 and therein through network 900 to first and second wireless access points (AP) 910 and 915 respectively which provide Wi-Fi cells for house 920 and merchant 925 respectively. Within the cell associated with first AP 910 occupants of house 920 may employ a variety of portable electronic devices including for example, laptop computer 935, portable gaming console 940, tablet computer 945, and smartphone 955 as well as fixed electronic devices such as personal computer (PC) 930 and gaming console 950.

[00100] Also connected to the network 900 is first server 965 which hosts a variety of systems including for example electronic mail (email), website, product database, inventory database for the merchant 925. Similarly connected to network 900 are second server 975 and cell tower 985. Second server 975 hosts for example other Internet services such as a search engine, registry service, financial service, and other merchant databases. Cell tower 985 provides cellular service coverage over a predetermined area for devices supporting the communications standard of the cell tower 985, such as GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) for example, including smartphone 955, tablet computer 945, cellphone 990, and portable multimedia player 960 allowing users to access a variety of services including for example voice, SMS, audiovisual, and Internet browsing according to the specific device.

[001011 Some PEDs it would be evident to one skilled in the art may support multiple wireless protocols simultaneously, such that for example a user may employ GSM services such as telephony and SMS and Wi-Fi / WiMAX data transmission, VOIP and Internet access. Accordingly users of portable and fixed electronic devices are able to access the Internet and all products, services, etc provided by enterprises providing web based services including for example email, online merchandising, social networks, blogs, and chat rooms. Accordingly, users may exploit these devices to engage in communications with friend, family, colleagues, and others through a range of real time and data based methods including voice, text, SMS, audiovisual, and email for example either through a variety of services provided by a combination of service providers such as telephone service providers, cable service providers, and cellular service providers. Such services may be provided by one or more telecommunications standards including but not limited to IEEE 802.1 1 , IEEE 802.15, IEEE 802.16, IEEE 802.20, UMTS, GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900, GPRS, ITU-R 5.138, ITU-R 5.150, ITU-R 5.280, and IMT-2000.

[00102] Referring to Figure 10 there is depicted the protocol architecture of a representative portable electronic device as part of a simplified functional diagram of a system 1000 that includes a portable electronic device (PED) 1004, such as a smartphone 955, an access point (AP) 1006, such as first Wi-Fi AP 910, and one or more network devices 1007, such as communication servers, streaming media servers, and routers for example. Network devices 1007 may be coupled to AP 1006 via any combination of networks, wired, wireless and/or optical communication links. The PED 1 104 includes one or more processors 1010 and a memory 1012 coupled to processor(s) 1010. AP 1006 also includes one or more processors 101 1 and a memory 1013 coupled to processor(s) 101 1. A non-exhaustive list of examples for any of processors 1010 and 101 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a reduced instruction set computer (RISC), a complex instruction set computer (CISC) and the like. Furthermore, any of processors 1010 and 101 1 may be part of application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or may be a part of application specific standard products (ASSPs). A non-exhaustive list of examples for memories 1012 and 1013 includes any combination of the following semiconductor devices such as registers, latches, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory devices, non-volatile random access memory devices (NVRAM), SDRAM, DRAM, double data rate (DDR) memory devices, SRAM, universal serial bus (USB) removable memory, and the like.

[00103] PED 1004 may include an audio input element 1014, for example a microphone, and an audio output element 1016, for example, a speaker, coupled to any of processors 1010. PED 1004 may include a video input element 101 8, for example, a video camera, and a video output element 1020, for example an LCD display, coupled to any of processors 1010. PED 1004 includes one or more applications 1022 that are typically stored in memory 1012 and are executable by any combination of processors 1010. PED 1004 includes a protocol stack 1024 and AP 1006 includes a communication stack 1025. Within system 1000 protocol stack 1024 is shown as IEEE 802.1 1 protocol stack but alternatively may exploit other protocol stacks such as an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) multimedia protocol stack for example. Likewise AP stack 1025 exploits a protocol stack but is not expanded for clarity. Elements of protocol stack 1024 and AP stack 1025 may be implemented in any combination of software, firmware and/or hardware. Protocol stack 1024 includes an IEEE 802.1 1 - compatible PHY module 1026 that is coupled to one or more Front-End Tx/Rx & Antenna 1028, an IEEE 802.1 1 -compatible MAC module 1030 coupled to an IEEE 802.2-compatible LLC module 1032. Protocol stack 1024 includes a network layer IP module 1034, a transport layer User Datagram Protocol (UDP) module 1036 and a transport layer Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) module 1038.

[00104] Protocol stack 1024 also includes a session layer Real Time Transport Protocol (RTP) module 1040, a Session Announcement Protocol (SAP) module 1042, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) module 1044 and a Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) module 1046. Protocol stack 1024 includes a presentation layer media negotiation module 1048, a call control module 1050, one or more audio codecs 1052 and one or more video codecs 1054. Applications 1022 may be able to create maintain and/or terminate communication sessions with any of devices 1007 by way of AP 1006. Typically, applications 1022 may activate any of the SAP, SIP, RTSP, media negotiation and call control modules for that purpose. Typically, information may propagate from the SAP, SIP, RTSP, media negotiation and call control modules to PHY module 1026 through TCP module 1038, IP module 1034, LLC module 1032 and MAC module 1030.

[00105] It would be apparent to one skilled in the art that elements of the PED 1004 may also be implemented within the AP 1006 including but not limited to one or more elements of the protocol stack 1024, including for example an IEEE 802. 1 1 -compatible PHY module, an IEEE 802.1 1 -compatible MAC module, and an IEEE 802.2-compatible LLC module 1032. The AP 1006 may additionally include a network layer IP module, a transport layer User Datagram Protocol (UDP) module and a transport layer Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) module as well as a session layer Real Time Transport Protocol (RTP) module, a Session Announcement Protocol (SAP) module, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) module and a Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) module, media negotiation module, and a call control module.

[00106] Figure 1 1 A depicts a schematic 1 100 of the association of users 1 140A through 1 140E and registrant 1 130 with a registry 1 1 10 and first and second merchants 1 120A and 1 120B according to a registry in the prior art. Accordingly, registrant 1 130 has a relationship with registry 1 1 10 in establishing their gift list which they then communicate to their friends and family, as represented by users 1 140A through 1 140E through a variety of methods including voice, email, and SMS plus potentially one or more social networks if the registrant 1 130 posts an entry with respect to the registry. Registrant 1 130 has no association with each of the first and second merchants 1 120A and 1 120B other than potentially accessing their websites to select a gift for their gift list which may or may not have involved the registry 1 1 10.

[00107] The users 1 140 A through 1 140E similarly have no association with the registry 1 1 10 other than accessing it to identify the gifts listed by the registrant 1 130 and potentially making an entry to identify that a gift has been purchased. Their associations are, by contrast, with first and second merchants 1 120 A and 1 120B respectively in that they register at least information relating to a financial instrument with one or both of these merchants in order to purchase the gift for the registrant 1 130. Similarly registry 1 1 10 has no direct association with the first and second merchants 1 120A and 1 120B except potentially as described above in respect of "myRegistry" and "The Knot'^" in Figures 4 and 2 respectively in supporting browsing or use of the web based purchasing / browsing / search aspects of these merchants.

[00108] Now referring to Figure 1 I B there is depicted a schematic 1 150 of the association of followers, instigator, registry and merchants according to an embodiment of the invention. Accordingly, a registrant initiating a registry within the Events 1 190, e.g. wedding registry, sits within the Public Network 1 150 and establishes their Event 1 190 through providing data to the Data Plane 1 180. Similarly, their friends and family seeking to purchase those gifts sit within Public Network 1 150 and access merchants residing within Commercial Community 1 170 through the Data Plane 1 180. Accordingly, the registrant together with their friends and family reside within a common community with direct interactions with each other as well as to the data plane 1 180 and therein to the Events 1 190 and Commercial Community 1 170. Also depicted is Aggregator Community 1 1 60 that sits between Public Network 1 150 and Commercial Community 1 1 70 which will be described in more detail below in respect of Figure 12B.

[00109] Referring to Figure 1 2A there is depicted the schematic of Figure 1 1 B in more detail according to an embodiment of the invention with respect to the Data Plane 1 180 and Events 1 190. As depicted Events 1 190 comprises a plurality of event registries such as "Wedding Republic" 1210B, "Baby Republic" 1210C, and "Birthday Republic^" 1210D. Also shown are connecting Events 121 OA and 12 0E which provide linkage between all events, such as the baby shower relating to a couple having their engagement and wedding and then the birthdays for the child through to their engagement, wedding, etc. All of the event registries are connected to a "Monetization Platform - Events" 1220 that provides the registry service provider with means to, including for example, monetize the demographic and psychographic information within the plurality of life stage registries, evolve the instigator^'s personal and registry information from one registry to another, and manage the overall registry processes.

[00110] Disposed above the Events 1 190 is the Data Plane 1 180 which is depicted as composing three regions, Social Media 1 180A, Republic Data 1 180B and Commercial Data 1 180C. Considering initially Social Media 1 180A then this is composed of first and second data stores 1230A and 1230B respectively which are associated with first and second social networks, such as Facebook™, Twitter™, Blackberry Messenger, and Linkedln™ for example that provide interconnection between followers, who are associated in various mesh patterns according to their immediate friends and family as well as colleague, acquaintances, and friends. Associated with these social networks is Social Media Data 1240A representing data storage containing consolidated data derived from the first and second social networks including for example, identities of users on each social network, their mesh interconnections with associated friends, family etc, extracted data relating to users of the social networks, extracted data relating to likes and dislikes of the users of the social network, and derived information based upon keyword extractions and analysis of the data communicated by users within these social networks.

[0011 1] Republic Data 1 SOB, the second region of Data Plane 1 180, comprises Basic Personal 1230C, Consumer Behaviour 1230D, and Existing Consumer Relations 1230E which represent data stores for extracted and consolidated information from the Events 1 190 such that demographic / psychographic and personal information regarding the instigators and followers is stored within Basic Personal 1230C based upon the individual registries within the Events 1 190. Consumer Behaviour 1230D consolidates data relating to the demographic and psychographic aspects of the activities within the Events 1 190 whilst Existing Consumer Relations 1230E consolidates information relating to the demographic / psychographic aspects of the merchant relationships of the instigators and followers. Associated with the Basic Personal 1230C, Consumer Behaviour 1230D, and Existing Consumer Relations 1230E data stores is Republic Information 1240B which represents overall management and higher level extraction of data from these associated data stores. [00112] The third region of Data Plane 1 180 is Commercial Data 1 1 80C, which comprises two data stores, Marketing Data 1230F and Knowledge Data 1230G, and their associated consolidated data store Feedback Loop Data 1240C. Marketing Data 1230F contains information derived from market research activities targeted at portions of the instigator and follower communities within one or more of the registries within the Events 1 190 together with data derived from the gift selections of instigators and gift acquisitions of followers for example. Knowledge Data 1230G contains for example knowledge rules or statistics for example derived from the data extracted and / or consolidated from the Events 1 190 which may or may not be overlapping with the data employed within the other data stores and regions of the Data Plane 1 180. For example, Knowledge Data 1230G may contain the rule "Average Gift Expenditure is related to Income of Follower and Instigator by Equation ( 1 )."

$_CIFr = $50 + {$ _FOLLOiyER * 2A 5e- )+ ($ _INSTIGAmR * 4.095^⁴ ) ( 1 )

[00113] It would be evident to one skilled in the art that a number of specific elements within the embodiment of the invention described in respect of Figure 12A are exemplary only. For example, the number of social networks from which data is analysed / extracted / consolidated may vary according to the activities of the instigators and their followers and vary with time as new social networks become popular or lose popularity from policy changes, user fees, etc. Similarly Data Plane 1 1 80 may comprise different structures with varying numbers of sections and relationships to the other elements. Extraction of data from the social networks, it would be evident to one skilled in the art, may be performed automatically where a follower or instigator gives permission as part of their activity within the Events 1 190 in conjunction with data extracted from the particular registry(ies) the follower or instigator engages with within the Events 1 190.

[001 14] Now referring to Figure 12B there is depicted the schematic of Figure 1 1 B in more detail according to an embodiment of the invention with respect to the Public Network 1 150, Aggregator Community 1 160, and Commercial Community 1 1 70. Public Network 1 150 as depicted comprises resources News 1260A, Marketing 1260B, Blogs 1260C, and Media 1260D which provide information into the community associated with Public Network 1 150 either in push mode from providers of the content or pul l mode in response from requests made by one or more people within the community associated with Public Network 1 1 50. Also within Public Network 1 1 50 are Content Categories 1260, that associates categories to the pushed and pulled content that forms part of the demographic and psychographic analysis relating to instigators and followers, and User / Community Driven Network 1280 that associates pushed and pulled content to users, groups, and communities within Public Network 1 150 and allows for communications to / from the users, groups and communities from others within Public Network 1 150 as well as those in Registry Community 1 160 and Commercial Community 1 170.

[00115] Commercial Community 1 170 as depicted comprises Incentive Generation 1270A, Knowledge Acquisition 1270B, Direct Marketing 1270C, and Life Tools 1270D that relate to a variety of activities and information accessible to either of the Public Network 1 150 and Republic Community 1 160 from merchants / retailers / service providers etc. For example Incentive Generation 1270A relates to capturing / providing incentives relating to particular products / services; Knowledge Acquisition 1270B relates to acquiring data relating to the pull requirements of the community and uptake of incentives; Direct Marketing 1270C relates to capturing / providing marketing direct to portions of the community relating to particular products / services; and Life Tools 1270D relates to tools accessible to the community such as a mortgage calculator, wedding calculator, recipe suggestions, food tips, coupon services, etc for example. Republic Community 1 160 represents the subset of instigators and followers within Public Network 1 150 and the merchants within Commercial Community 1 170. Also within Commercial Community 1 170 contains Feedback Loop 1270 that provides analysis of aspects of the Commercial Community 1 170, such as those arising from Incentive Generation 1270 A and Direct Marketing 1270C for example, with the information derived from Events 1 190, Public Network 1 1 50, and Republic Community 1 160 provided via Data Plane 1 1 80.

[00116] Accordingly, the Feedback Loop 1270 provides analysis data to the Data Plane 1 180 and therefrom to the communities, instigators, followers, merchants, etc. Also depicted are Retail Partnership Dr lven Network 1290A and Republic Admin Driven Network 1290B that are associated to merchants, retailers, and communities within Commercial Community 1 170, and allows for communications to /' from the merchants, retailers, and communities from others within Commercial Community 1 170 as well as those in Registry Community Network 1 160 and Public Network 1 150. Within the descriptions relating to embodiments of the invention either discretely or in combination with the figures the term "Republic^" may be used and is intended to refer to an application service provider (ASP) who provides management of at least the Data Plane 1 180 and associated data stores and Registry Community Network 1 160. Optionally, the Republic may as an ASP also manage the registries within the Events 1 190 level of the association of followers, instigator, registry and merchants according to an embodiment of the invention. [00117] Accordingly, it would be evident to one skilled in the art that Life Tools 1270D allows determination of demographic and psychographic data including, for example, what is important to the instigator and / or follower. Examples include, but are not limited to, making execution of life milestones easier, achieving life style goals, saving time, saving money, helping others, volunteering, allowing for educated decisions, connections to people that matter, information that matters, and product and services that matter.

[00118] Referring to Figure 13A there is depicted the first part 1300A of an exemplary process flowchart for the association of followers, instigator, registry and merchants according to an embodiment of the invention. The exemplary flowchart begins at step 1305 wherein an instigator accesses an event registry and proceeds to step 1310 wherein the instigator provides the required information in respect of their profile, including for example their name, address, financial account information, and date and location of associated event or events to registry creation. The event registry for example may be part of Events 1 190 discussed above in respect of Figures 1 1 A and 1 1 B and accordingly part of the overall Republic environment as discussed in these Figures.

[00119] Next in step 1315 the instigator generates their requirements which may include for example, but not be limited, products, services, offline gifts, cash gifts, gift certificates, charity donations, requests etc such as described below in respect of Figures 14 and 15. In generating their requirements the registry system being accessed by the instigator may present information, including suggestions for requirements and pricing related data relating to requirements established in dependence upon the multiple demographic, psychographic, transaction, knowledge rules, and historical data for example contained within the systems of the registry service provider, for example as described above in respect of Figure 12A and the structure of the Data Plane 1 180. As depicted within the exemplary flowchart this information is provided from the Community Feedback Loop 1330 and Lifestyle Data Collection 1335.

(00120] Once the instigator has completed their registry to the point that are ready to engage the community then they publish the registry which may for example be by providing friends and family with an email indicating the existence of the registry such as in the prior art or by posting a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to a social net-group such as in accordance with an embodiment of the invention described below where the net-group is a predetermined portion of one or more social networks of which the instigator is a member. The process then moves to step 1 325 wherein one or more system algorithms in execution within one or more of the Data Plane 1 180, Events 1 190, Public Network 1 150, Republic Community Network 1 160, and Commercial Network 1 170. Data from these one or more system algorithms in step 1330 is provided data back to Community Feedback Loop 1330 and Lifestyle Data Collection 1335 wherein the process moves to step 1340 and the system tracks the instigator needs and community habits around this event registry established in process steps 1305 through 1320 as discussed above. The information from the system tracking is provided to Gift Database (GDB) 1350 and User Database Demographic / Psychographic (UDB) 1345.

[00121] In a separate thread of the process a merchant or agent wishes to sign-up to part of the overall Republic community through the Commercial Community 1 170 and accordingly enters profile data in step 1365. Next in step 1370 the merchant selects the target demographic / psychographic group that they are interested in before in step 1375 they identify the products and / or services relating to their community membership. Next in step 1380 the system determines from the information provided by the merchant in conjunction with data extracted from the QB 1350 and UDB 1345 the interest determinations of the merchant that can be addressed and proceeds to Part B in step 1360, being process flowchart 1300B presented below in respect of Figure 13 A.

[00122] Now referring to Figure 13B there is depicted the second part 1300B of an exemplary process flowchart for the association of followers, instigator, registry and merchants according to an embodiment of the invention. The exemplary flowchart begins at step 13105 wherein Part A has been completed, this being the process flowchart 1300A presented above in respect of Figure 13A above. In process step 13 1 10 the system provides recommendations to increase interest within the community relating to the products and / or services of the merchant who registered in process flow 1300A within the demographic / psychographic that they are interested in. next in step 13 1 15 engages identified individuals, for example registry instigators, within the community and within process step 13 120 tracks the responses from the identified individuals against the improved offer and then in step 13125 tests the offering to determine its success against the objectives of the merchant. The instigators engagement is encouraged in the assessment of the offer by providing a reward.

[00123] In step 13 130 this test is analysed to determine a feasibility of the offer, wherein if the offer is not feasible the process moves to step 1 3 135 with a notification to the merchant that the offer is not feasible and terminates. If the offer is feasible the merchant is notified of this in step 13 140 wherein the retailer or agent in step 13 145 then engages the community with the offer. In step 13150 the users that are interested participate in the offer wherein their participation is tracked by the system in step 13155. In step 13160 the reward is delivered to the selected individuals engaged in the test marketing whilst in step 13165 the UDB 1345 and GDB 1350 databases are updated. Optionally, the selected individuals are rewarded even if the determination of the test offering is that the offer is not feasible. Alternatively, in order to encourage accurate feedback of the test offer the selected individuals are advised that the reward is dependent upon the accuracy of the information in their responses.

[00124] Accordingly, the Republic and it's associated Data Plane 1 180and Events 1 190 together with Public Network 1 150, Republic Community Network 1 160, and Commercial Network 1 170, provide a method for collecting and aggregating an instigator and their followers / associated communities consumer behavior and / or consumption patterns, as well as demographic and psychographic data to create a method of determining, enhancing, and utilizing their life stage and lifestyle "'needs". Accordingly, the system collects and aggregates consumer behavior, demographic, and psychographic data, develops of "needs'^", and offer^'s methods to improve the relevance of a good or service "offer." As described in respect of Figures 13A and 13B the invention will allow for an interested party to query based on the interested parties target consumer behavior, demographic, and psychographic data. The system determines the if there is currently "interest" from the User or Community, and then recommends methods to increase the relevance of this "interest^" or generates ways for the system to improve the understanding or relevance of the User or Communities consumer behavior, demographic, and psychographic data in order to confirm or improve "interest^".

[00125] For example, Retailer A is interested in offering their new electronic device to a particular demographic / psychographic. Retailer A may then engage Republic to query the "offer^" based on a selection of known product, demographic, and psychographic data. In this case, Retailer A uses data that they believe will represent that customer; retailers would typically understand their own target customer. The Republic execution of their tools on the data stores analyzes the system^' s data to determine that 30% of the system^'s Community would have an "interest^" in an offer of this type (i.e. a similar electronic device). The invention also determines that only 20% of the interested Community (6% of the overall Community) has indicated an interest in an "offer^" from Retailer A or for an electronic device similar to that offered by Retailer A. Further, the Republic determines that in contrast 50% of the interested Community ( 1 % of the overall Community) would be interest in a similar "offer" from another Retailer B based upon perceived product attributes but that 60% of the interested Community ( 18% of the overall Community) would be interested in a modified "offer" from Retailer A.

[00126] Using algorithms to determine relevance, the invention queries the available data to determine a way to engage the User or Community via a feedback loop to increase or decrease the relevance of this User or Communities "interest" in the "offer". As a result of this feedback loop, the quality of the User or Communities product, demographic, and psychographic data is improved to determine the benefit and relevancy of this Retailer^'s "interest"; as well, the invention has gained intimate knowledge of the User and Community. As a result, the invention offer^'s the system a way to provide retailer A the ability to make an "offer" to a targeted User or Community. The invention offers analytics between Retailer A and Retailer B, and the invention detennines a User and Community "interest" for Retailer B.

[00127] Now referring to Figure 14A there are depicted exemplary images of first to fourth vvebpages 1400A through 1400D presented to an instigator of a registry according to an embodiment of the invention with respect to its creation such as presented to the instigator in steps 1305 to 1320 in process flow 1300A in Figure 13 A. First webpage 1400A represents a registry creation webpage such as presented in step 1305 wherein create pane 1410 allows the instigator to enter the names of the bride and groom, as the registry in this instance is a wedding registry. In web pane 1420 the instigator can establish a custom URL on www. wedclingrepublic. com allowing them to provide this URL to their friends and family for directly accessing their registry rather than entering a website and searching such as occurs within the prior art as described above in respect of Figures 1 through 8. In currency pane 1430 the instigator may select the currency for their registry, allowing them for example to select a currency relating to a location associated with the event. In that instance the instigators may obtains products and services, such as gift certificates, cash gifts etc in the currency of the location they will redeem them in thereby removing them from uncertainty in currency fluctuations.

100128] In second webpage 1400B the instigator is adding the gifts to their registry wherein in selector pane 1440 the instigator can elect to move through different categories, merchants, charities, etc as well as being able to create their own customized gifts. Display of the second webpage 1400B being triggered by selection of the "Our Gifts" button in menu bar 1445 which is displayed to the instigator during their accessing the registry. In gift pane 1450 the gifts already selected by the instigator are shown which are "Honeymoon" and "Help the Winchester Hawks" and therefore are cash gift options. The addition of "Help the Winchester Hawks" being shown in third webpage 1400C wherein the instigator has previously selected the "Cash is King" category in category pane 1455 resulting in a pop-up window, not shown for clarity, allowing the instigator to enter the title of the gift, its value ($250), and some text for followers to understand what the gift is or how the gift will be redeemed / donated etc. The gift after completion of these fields is shown by gift pop-up 1460. The instigator is also able to add an image, audio file, or multimedia to the gift display to provide an initial cue for a follower looking at the registry once it has been posted, in this instance the instigator is searching for a new image with image pop-up 1470 displayed to them. Selection of "Add Item" in gift pop-up 1460 will result in the gift being added to the registry established by the instigator.

[00129] Once, the instigator has entered either all the gifts they intend to request, entered sufficient at this point in time, or wishes to publish the registry without gifts at this point in time the selects the "Invite Guests" button from menu bar 1445 resulting in the menu bar being re-displayed as second menu bar 1475 and the remainder of fourth webpage 1400D displays invitation window to the instigator wherein they may enter email addresses in email pane 1480 or import contact addresses from their Yahoo™, Gmail™ (Google), or Hotmail accounts by selecting email import button 1490A. Alternatively the instigator may invite friends from their Facebook™ account, for example, with social network button 1490C. Once ready to publish they select the preview button 1490B wherein their introduction, custom URL, and other data relating to the registry and the instigator are send to their followers, for example friends and family, that they have at this point in time decided to invite. It would be evident that the social network button 1490C may alternatively be a plurality of buttons each relating to a different social network or may be a link to another pop-up allowing the instigator to select the social networks from which they wish to retrieve contact details for followers and which profile of the instigator to select contact details from. Optionally, when establishing the gift list upon the registry the instigator may have provided to them the option of making selected items on the registry private, restricted in access, or associable with different groups. Alternatively, as described below in respect of Figure 15 the instigator may have multiple registries. In each case the basis being that the instigator may not wish all followers to see every gift on the registry as they may wish to restrict some gifts as being for direct family followers, others as for friend followers, some for their same sex friends to select, etc. [00130] In Figure 14B there is depicted an exemplary webpage 1400E as would be displayed to an instigator establishing associations 1495B to an item 1495 A added to their registry. Accordingly the instigator is presented with options to establish the item 1495A within an auction and if "Yes" is selected within which category of the auction do they wish the item 1495 A to be. They are also presented with the option of whether or not the item 1495 A is posted fully to the registry wherein if they select "No" they have the ability to associate the item 1495 A to a partition, e.g. "Friends - General," and associate followers to these partitions as well as create their own partitions, e.g. a bride may elect to have a very narrow partition for girlfriends to select lingerie from. The instigator may also select whether the item may be purchased by two or more followers as a group (community) gift and establish a priority for the gift so that followers may differentiate "needs" from "wishes" and "nice-to-haves."

[00131] Accordingly within the instigator's registration process with a registry and / or Republic personal data would be collected including for example some or all of the following name, address, email address or addresses, SMS contact, Blackberry Messenger PIN, home telephone number, work telephone number, cellphone number, social network identity / identities, social network password(s), date of birth, driver^'s license reference, and details relating to at least one financial instrument such as a bank account, credit card, Western Union account, or PayPal account. Similarly, followers may also have personal details collected by the Republic system including for example some or all of the following name, address, email address or addresses, SMS contact, Blackberry Messenger PIN, home telephone number, work telephone number, cellphone number, date of birth, driver' s license reference, social network identity / identities, social network password(s), relationship to instigator, and details relating to at least one financial instrument such as a bank account, credit card, Western Union account, or PayPal account.

[00132] Now referring to Figure 15 there are depicted first and second exemplary webpages 1500A and 1500B respectively presented to an instigator by a registry according to an embodiment of the invention with respect to cash collection details and multiple simultaneous registries. In first webpage 1500A the instigator having elected for a cash gift within their registry is presented with collection pane 1510 as the result of selecting "Collect" button within the menu 1530. Within the collection pane 1510 they can provide address and contact details in respect of their cash gift or gifts so as to meet regulatory requirements and to address issues such as the registry relating to a minor without a financial instrument such as a bank account for example wherein the cash gift(s) should be send or paid to a third party or the instigator of the registry for the minor. In payment pane 1520 the options of having a cheque mailed, having the cash paid directly into a bank account, and into a third party financial provider (in this instance PayPal™) are provided. Also displayed on first webpage 1500A, in common with other webpages on the registry, are community pane 1540, where links to communities are provided, e.g. Twitter™, Facebook™, and Wedding Republic™ who are the registry provider who also hosts an online community and link pane 1550 which provides links to a variety of social media networks as well as other web resources including YouTube™ for multimedia access and Share This™ for rapid sharing of content to third parties.

[00133] Optionally, within link pane 1550 and / or community pane 1540 links may be provided to the Republic Community Network such as described above in respect of Figures 12A and 12B as well as other resources including but not limited to forums, news sources, marketing resources, and profiles of the instigator. Optionally, the community pane 1550 may be customizable by the instigator so that the resource links presented to their followers are those that they select.

[00134] In second webpage 1500B the instigator is presented with information relating to their registries as a result of selecting "Registry Info^" button within the menu 1530 on first webpage 1 500A. As shown first and second registry access panes 1560 and 1570 are presented to the instigator with navigation buttons for them to link to the sections of the registry they wish to work on. First registry access pane 1560 relating to "Engagement Party" and second registry access pane 1570 relates to "Wedding.^" As discussed above the multiple registries may for example allow for the instigator to partition their registry for multiple groups.

[00135] Referring to Figure 16 there are depicted third and fourth webpages presented to users from a registry according to an embodiment of the invention with respect to gifts that may be purchased in part by the follower. Third webpage 1600A relating to selection of a gift of ^"'Winchester Hawks'^' as shown in pop-up.1610 which has been designated by the instigator as being purchasable in multiple parts, each part 1620 being $50 and 4 of these parts 1 20 leading to the purchase of the "Winchester Hawks^" gift by the follower(s). Having made their selections from the gift list of the instigator the follower proceeds to a checkout such as depicted in fourth webpage 1600B wherein the follower is presented with first to third checkout items 1630 through 1650 respectively. First checkout item 1630 being "Winchester Hawks" with one part, visually presented to the follower in their selection of the part 1620 as a piece of a jigsaw puzzle. Second checkout item 1640 being "Community Sponsored Agriculture" for $500 wherein they have selected the gift which was not split up but is shown in the checkout as a single puzzle piece. Third checkout item 1650 is a transaction fee in respect of the management of the gift for the follower and its subsequent provision to the instigator.

[00136] Now referring to Figure 17 there is depicted an exemplary process flow 1700 for a registry according to an embodiment of the invention in respect of an instigator adding gifts to the registry list and establishing the format of the gift presented to followers. The process begins at step 1705 wherein the instigator selects a gift which they wish to add to their registry. In step 1710 the process queries whether a preset value for the gift exists, such as where the gift is selected from a merchant website for example. If a preset value exists then the process moves to step 1720 otherwise the process moves to step 1715 wherein the instigator is prompted to enter the value of the gift and the process proceeds to step 1720 wherein the instigator is asked whether they wish to establish the gift as a multi-part gift. Within this specification the portioning of a gift as a multi-part gift is referred to as puzzling the gift, the gift as a whole as puzzle, and each individual part of the partitioned gift as a puzzle piece. If the instigator decides not to turn the gift into a puzzle then the process moves to step 1725 wherein the gift is posted to the registry without the ability for a follower to purchase a part thereof.

[00137] If the instigator decides to establish the gift as a puzzle then the process moves to step 1730 wherein they are asked if they wish the establishment of the puzzle to be based upon community information or not. If not then the process moves to step 1735 wherein the instigator can decide whether to allow a follower or followers full flexibility in selecting what portion they wish to purchaser. If not, then the process moves to step 1740 wherein the puzzle is posted to the registry based upon a pre-set puzzle selected by the instigator, for example by selecting a target price for a puzzle piece or quantity of puzzle pieces wherein the registry calculates the appropriate puzzle piece cost and quantity to fit the gift cost based upon these inputs. If the instigator decides on full flexibility then the process moves to step 1745A wherein a free draw option is enabled for the purchasing by a follower and the process moves to step 1745B, posts the gift to the registry with an ability for a follower to establish and coordinate a social group to purchase. A free draw selection being presented below in respect of Figure 18. [00138] If in process step 1730 the instigator has elected to establish the puzzle based upon community information the process moves to step 1765 wherein the purchasing history for the gift, or a gift similar to that selected by the instigator, is retrieved with demographic / psychometric filtering in dependence of the demographic / psychometric data relating to the instigator. In process step 1770 the process determines a recommended puzzle piece value in dependence upon the demographic / psychometric filtering and the process proceeds to step 1775 wherein the instigator may accept or reject the suggested value. If the instigator accepts the proposed puzzle piece value then the process proceeds to post the gift to the registry with the demographic / psychometric puzzle piece value in step 1780. If the instigator rejects the proposed puzzle piece value then the process proceeds to step 1755 wherein the instigator may establish the number of puzzle pieces or puzzle piece value themselves generally with their mental consideration of the proposed value. The process then proceeds to step 1760 and the gift is posted with the instigator selected puzzle.

[00139J It would be apparent to one skilled in the art that the posting of the gift to the registry may be accompanied with the updating of various databases within the Data Plane 1 180 discussed above in respect of Figures 1 1 and 12A in order to provide updated demographic and psychographic data including but not limited to Basic Personal 1230B, Community Behaviour 1230C, and Marketing Data 1230D. Optionally, where filtering of the purchasing history is performed in dependence of the demographic / psychometric data relating to the instigator this filtering may also be weighted by demographic / psychometric data of any followers of the instigator who have already been identified or are identified by the instigator as being representative of followers likely to contribute to the gift.

[00140] Referring to Figure 18 there is depicted an exemplary image 1800 of a webpage presented to a user from a registry according to an embodiment of the invention where a follower has selected a gift which has been designated as free draw. The gift being identified by headline 1810 as "Big Noise Productions Sonic Shaker 3^"" with a cost of $2,699 and image 1830. A highlighted portion 1850 of the image 1 830 is presented to the follower wherein the follower can adjust the highlighted portion 1850 through cursor 1820 which results in gift value 1840 being updated in response to their adjustment of the highlighted portion 1 850 relative to the image 1830 and the total cost of the item. The instigator had also identified this gift as being one that may be community purchased and accordingly community pane 1860 is displayed wherein the follower may seek to establish a social group to purchase the gift by selecting "Yes^" and creating the social group by selecting contacts from their address books and social networks. In this manner a group of friends or family, for example, may come together to purchase a single larger item wherein they have an increased engagement with the event and registry as a result rather than simply giving cash or having the hassle of agreeing to purchase the item and then managing the collection of the multiple followers contributions especially when these may be geographically distributed. Also shown is dynamic pane 1860 allowing the follower to turn off the dynamic mouse based establishment of the highlighted portion. When turned on, cursor motion as discussed above results in the highlighted portion 1850 being manipulated and gift value 1840 being updated. When turned off the follower may enter a value into the gift value 1840 field and the highlighted portion is then generated in dependence of this value and the total gift value.

[00141] Referring to Figure 19 there is depicted an exemplary process flow 1900 for a bidding process in respect of a registry list according to an embodiment of the invention wherein an instigator upon creation of their gift list may seek to obtain an enhanced cost profile prior to posting the registry to their community. Accordingly in step 1905 the process begins with an instigator establishing a registry wherein the process moves to step 1910 where the instigator selects a gift, which they then establish the structure for in process step 1915, which for example may be as discussed above in respect of Figure 17 for setting a puzzle, allowing dynamic allocation, etc. In step 1920 the instigator indicates if the registry is complete wherein if not the process circles back round to step 1910 otherwise it proceeds forward to prompting the instigator if they wish to auction the registry in step 1925. If not the process moves to step 1 30 and stops.

[00142] If the instigator determines to auction the gift lift for the registry then the process moves to step 1940 wherein the instigator is asked whether they wish to select the merchants who will participate in the auction or whether the system implementing the process should select merchants based upon factors including but not limited to historical data, knowledge data, and demographic / psychographic data. In the first instance the process moves to step 1945 where the instigator selects merchants, for example by selecting from a list of available merchants who will participate in an auction or entering merchant names. In the second instance the process moves to step 1950 wherein the system selects the merchants to bid on the registry either in its entirety or in parts. For example, a traditional department store such as Sears or an online aggregator such as Amazon may have the breadth of services and products to bid on large portions of a registry whereas other merchants both physical and online may have product ranges to only bid on smaller portions of the registry, e.g. Best Buy™ bidding on household electronics and major domestic appliances. In either instance the process moves to step 1955 wherein the merchants are engaged and prepare their responses to the registry content provided to them as part of their bid.

[00143] Next in step 1960 the system implementing the process receives all the tendered bids from the merchants and presents the results to the instigator. For example, the instigator may be presented with a lowest offer from an aggregator / merchant able to offer a bid against a large portion of the registry and a compiled bid derived from the bids of multiple merchants made against predetermined portions of the registry together with additional elements they may elect to bid upon. For example, Best Buy™ in bidding on household electronics and major domestic appliances may also bid on small domestic appliances and telecommunications service provisioning based upon a planned migration of their business or a partnership they have established to address a broader market. In step 1965 the instigator reviews the bids and in step 1970 elects to accept or reject the bids. If rejected the process moves to step 1985 and the registry is posted. If accepted the instigator identifies the accepted bids in step 1975 wherein in step 1980 the registry gift list is revised in dependence upon the accepted merchant bids and the process then proceeds to step 1985 to post the registry. It would be evident to one skilled in the art that the presentation of bids to the instigator may be through a variety of text, graphic, and numeric means allowing them to select the accepted merchant bids in a single step or in multiple steps. For example, the instigator may select a first bid for a first portion of the registry wherein the information presented is updated based upon the merchant bids existing in respect of the remainder of the registry.

[00144] In some instances a merchant may elect to respond with multiple bids, such as for example individual bids for specific categories within the registry and an overall bid for a predetermined portion of the entire registry. Hence, for example Best Buy™ may be selected for the household electronics and large domestic appliances by the instigator against a bid from Sears™, wherein the Sears™ bid for the kitchenware and household furnishings is then displayed against the remainder of the registry. Bids may be provided with multiple approaches to the bidding as well as subsequent or additional incentives without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, one merchant may bid as a percentage discount on individual items with a second higher percentage discount against a purchase of all items within a category. It would also be evident to one skilled in the art that some of these winning bids may be disclosed to followers on the registry where the winning bid for example may leverage a further benefit to the instigator. For example, the registry might indicate that merchant A has offered a 10% on electronic items on the registry which it will increase to a 20% discount with the additional 10% as a cash reward to the instigator if all items on the registry within the electronics category are purchased.

[00145] Now referring to Figure 20 there is depicted an exemplary process flow 2000 for a Life Data Collection process according to an embodiment of the invention. For example, first part 1300 A of an exemplary process for the association of followers, instigator, registry and merchants described above in respect of Figure 13A contains the step Lifestyle Data Collection 1335 as indicated by the solid process flow element within the schematic of first part 1300A. The process flow 2000 begins at step 2005 wherein it is established which products and / or services data will be collected upon. Next in step 2010 it is established which demographic / psychographic filtering will be applied to the instigator and follower data in step 2015 to establish the contact groups for each of the followers and instigators. For the instigators the process proceeds to step 2020 wherein the instigator set are engaged as a community with the lifestyle data acquisition tool which may for example in step 2025 be the instigator partaking in a game or in step 2030 partaking in a survey, wherein their involvement is encouraged by the offering of one or more incentives that are commensurate with the demographic / psychographic filtering. For example, if the filtering was single, female, middle-class, age 18 to 24, college educated then the incentive may be donations to a charity on their behalf for example whereas if the demographic was married, male, age 30 to 35, high school educated then the incentive may be a gift certificate to an electronic store for example.

(001461 The instigator results from the game and / or survey are col lated in step 2035 and provided to data stores, such as the Gift Database 1350 and User Database Demographic / Psychographic 1 345 described in respect of Figure 13A or data stores within the Data Plane 1 180 described in respect of Figure 12A including, but not limited to Basic Personal 1 230C, Consumer Behaviour 1 230D, Marketing Data 1230E, Republic Information 1 240B and Feedback Loop Data 1 240C. Similarly, for the followers the process proceeds to step 2040 wherein the follower set are engaged as a community with the lifestyle data acquisition tool which may for example in step 2045 be the follower partaking in a game or in step 2050 partaking in a survey, wherein their involvement is encouraged by the offering of one or more incentives that are commensurate with the demographic / psychographic filtering. The follower results from the game and / or survey are collated in step 2055 and provided to the data stores as described above. The instigator results and follower results in steps 2035 and 2055 are also collated and analysed in step 2060 for correlation of results from the two communities and extraction of trend data against previous analysis for comparable products / services and demographic / psychographic cross-sections. The results of the analysis in step 2060 are similarly stored with the data stores such as those described above and others including for example Knowledge Data 1230G.

(00147) Within the above description followers and instigators are engaged through a game and / or survey. Whilst surveys are well known in the prior art for deriving responses from individuals the use of games to derive such information is not. For example, the individual may have psychographic information derived from their playing of a game which they are not associating with the Republic or any activities of the Republic. For example, registered users of online games, such as Second Life, Alter Ego, Kaneva, and Game of Life for example, as well as users registering purchased games such as SimCity, Money Game, The Sims, etc may have data such as for example psychographic data, such as are easily led, opinionated, helpful, negative, positive, etc; leader, trend setter, follower, or an activist derived from their gaming behaviour and actions / choices.

[00148] Now referring to Figure 21 there is depicted an exemplary process flow 2100 for a merchant challenge to a community according to an embodiment of the invention. The process flow 2100 begins at step 2105 wherein it is established that a merchant wishes to engage a plurality of communities forming part of the Republic Community and contacts Republic in this respect. In step 2010 Republic provides demographic / psychographic analysis of the Republic Community to the merchant regarding the target community allowing them to determine whether they will derive statistically significant information from challenging the community. If the merchant determines the community will meet its ob_jective then Republic is engaged in step 21 15 to establish contact groups for each of the followers and instigators. For the instigators the process proceeds to step 2120 wherein the instigator set are engaged as a community with a first game and / or survey wherein their involvement is encouraged by the offering of one or more incentives that are commensurate with the demographic / psychographic filtering. At the same time the process also proceeds to step 2140 wherein the follower set associated with the instigator set are challenged with a second game and / or survey wherein their involvement is encouraged by the offering of one or more incentives relating to the instigators, where each instigator is associated with a community comprising their followers. [00149] The remainder of process flow 2100 in process block 2150 follows essentially the same process flow of steps 2020 through 2065 in process flow 2000 in Figure 20 as described above. Accordingly process flow 2100 provides a method for a merchant to engage the plurality of communities to each complete a "community objective" such that completing the objective results in a benefit being provided to the instigator associated with their community. Accordingly the embodiment of the invention allows a retailer to review an instigator's "needs" as the instigator has defined them within the context of a wish list or gift registry. The merchant can also review the aggregate "needs" of the overall community of instigators. For example, if the instigators are selected based upon a "need" for a product, for example an Apple iPad, the merchant, in this case Apple as manufacturer and retailer, or alternatively Research in Motion as a competitor or Target as retailer, can challenge the filtered demographic / psychographic community to complete a task, for example a quiz, challenge, survey, game, or series of tasks in order to receive a benefit. The benefit may for example be a discount on the product or early access to a new release of the product.

[00150] An example of a "challenge" may be for example be for the community associated with an instigator to be challenged for a certain number of members of the community to answer questions about the instigator. An example of a task for example may be for a certain number of members to complete an action, i.e. tweet. If the community completes the "challenge" the instigator would receive a benefit. Optionally the benefit may increase according to the degree of participation of the community.

[00151] Now referring to Figure 22 there is depicted a social network webpage 2200 associated with a subset of a community around an instigator. As discussed above an instigator may establish a plurality of registries for a single event or may according to the features of the registry restrict access to portions of the registry gift list so that some gifts are visible to those granted access. According to an embodiment of the invention the instigator when they elect to restrict a portion of the registry gift or establishes multiple registries they may through the registry establish a social network page such as for example a group webpage on Facebook™. As shown webpage 2200 comprises details pane 2210 that includes information such as the group name "A Woman - Private Wedding Gift" and the description of the group "Any Woman^'s group for choosing her clothes for her wedding.^*" Discussion pane 2220 displays multimedia content posted by the members of the group as well as their text based comments which may be made directly to the discussion pane 2220 or be captured from other social networks such as Twitter™ for example. [00152] Member pane 2230 displays the members of the group with their profile images, where they exist, from their profile pages on the social network, i.e. Facebook™. Related groups 2240 provides links to other web based sites associated with the instigator either on this social network, associated social networks, registry, or another registry from those within the Events for example. In this instance these are "A and A Wedding - Open Registry", "A and A Wedding - Friend Registry", and "A Woman - Facebook Group." Wall 2250 relates to the instigator, in this instance "A Woman", wherem they can post comments. Accordingly, the members of the group can discuss the gift or gifts without their discussions being public to the overall community associated with the. As discussed above the social network group and associated page may be automatically established based upon the infonnation within the registry created by the instigator as the instigator, followers, gift(s) etc are all defined within the registry.

[00153] It would also be evident to one skilled in the art that the membership of a social network group, registry, etc may be determined on the basis of other factors without necessarily direct instigator involvement including for example, determining whether a follower fits into a category such as for example spouse, family, close friend, acquaintance, external community (e.g. high school or college association) as well as exploiting the linkage of members of a social network. Accordingly for example, a registry may be accessible only by those who have a predetermined separation from the instigator within a social network or plurality of social networks.

[00154| Now referring to Figure 23 there is depicted a webpage 2300 associated with a charity allowing a follower to make a contribution. As shown a pane 2340 displays multimedia content associated with a charity together with a pattern of Bought Items 2360 and Unpurchased Items 2350. As indicated in donation pane 2230 the follower may purchase one or more Bought Items 2360 for $25 each thereby contributing to the chanty and to completing the pane 2340. Also presented to the follower is social pane 23 10 allowing the follower to engage their social media to contact other followers to advise them of the charity and the location of the webpage 2300. Also shown is Logo 2320 associated with an enterprise such that the specific webpage 2300 is linked both to the enterprise and charity. For instance, in this case the charity is "Run for the Cure^"" in respect of breast cancer and the enterprise is Perley-Robertson, Hill and McDougall LLP such that the followers may be the employees of the enterprise or followers associated with the enterprise such as clients for example. Optionally, webpage 2300 may form one of several accessible to the follower who may wish to view the donations to the charity at various levels such as the enterprise office, enterprise overall, and overall charity progress. In this instance each of the enterprise's offices forms a different group of followers with the enterprise office as an instigator.

[00155] Now referring to Figure 24 there is depicted an exemplary flowchart for a process 2400 for registry migration according to an embodiment of the invention in the context of an association of followers, instigator, registry and merchants such as presented and described in respect of Figure 1 1 B and schematic 1 150. Process 2400 begins with step 2405 where an instigator establishes a first registry A, for example a wedding registry, wherein the process moves to step 2410 where the Event associated with the first registry A occurs such that in step 2415 the registry closes according to the settings established by the instigator, such as 30 days after event for example and the data stores within the Data Plane, such as Data Plane 1 180 in Figure 1 1 B, are updated are updated with the history of first registry A alongside other information including for example knowledge rules, demographic data, and psychographic data. Subsequently the instigator establishes a second registry B in step 2420 where in the registry in step 2425 extracts data stored within the Data Plane for the previous registry, and hence previous Event, and pre-populates the second registry B.

[00156] Next in step 2430 the instigator edits and revises the gifts within the second registry B followed by the followers in step 2435. Subsequently, the Event associated with the second registry B occurs in step 2450 with the associated gift selection, merchant engagements, etc and the process proceeds to step 2445 wherein second registry B closes according to the settings established by the instigator and the data stores within the Data Plane are updated such as described above when first registry A closed. Subsequently the process proceeds to steps 2450 and 2455 wherein registry cycle 2460 representing steps 2420 to 2445 is repeated for each of third registry C and fourth registry D respectively. For example second registry B represents a baby shower for a baby to the instigator after the wedding, third registry C represents a christening for the baby and fourth registry D represents a birthday for the baby. It would be evident to one skilled in the art that the Events such as represented by Events 1 190 in Figure 1 1 B of which those associated with first to fourth registries form part may in some instances "close-the-loop^" so to speak in that a child who has been the subject of one or more life stage registries established by their parent(s) or guardian(s) may subsequently establish a registry in event of their own for themselves or their own child. [00157] Accordingly as described, an instigator may in some instances create a wedding registry and get married but still have outstanding gifts which are "rolled-over" to a "house warming" registry. In other instances the instigator may for example create a bridal registry and then convert it to their wedding registry. Such processes include migrating data to new registry (copy, not convert), re-skinning the registry based on new event parameters, and locking down previous registry (users can still see it, prompt them to access new registry) or redirect custom URL to new registry to remove issues with followers maintaining the URL as part of their favorites on their electronic devices and not updating to reflect the changed circumstances.

[00158] It would be evident to one skilled in the art that in addition to providing feedback to the establishment of items by the instigator may be established in dependence of information provided to the instigator through feedback generated from one or more of the data stores within the Data Plane in conjunction with demographic / psychographic and / or follower information derived from the instigator^'s profile and registry creation. For example, the instigator may be advised that requests for an Apple iPad resulted in only 15% conversion to purchased gift when the instance of the Apple iPad was high in the purchase histories of followers to the registry but under similar circumstances the purchase of a Research in Motion Blackberry smartphone resulted in 73% conversion. Optionally, the registry or registries may include direct feedback features such as for example asking the follower "Why did you choose this^" when buying a puzzle piece having a value above a certain threshold when other gifts on registry exist at a comparable financial value.

[00159) Within the previous descriptions of embodiments of the invention in respect of Figures 1 I B through 24 the linking of life stage / life style registries was discussed in respect of communicating to / from followers and the instigator. However, it would be apparent that this may be exploited further such that actions including, but not limited to, gift purchase, puzzle piece purchase, and puzzle completion are communicated to the community of followers without them having to repeatedly monitor the registry directly thereby increasing their engagement to the registry process. Optionally, in addition to the formation of social network groups as discussed above the followers may be set up as followers of a twitter account established and uniquely associated with the registry so that rather than email or notification through a social network the information is communicated as tweets for example or as SMS messages alternatively to keep such updates brief to prevent followers becoming frustrated at the length of messages and disassociating from the social network(s) etc. [00160] Optionally, the communication of the purchase of a puzzle piece rather than a text message may be communication of a multimedia update displaying the progress to completion of the puzzle in a manner quickly understood by the receiving followers. It would be evident to one skilled in the art that the linking of life stage / life style to / from followers and the instigator together with the communications and interaction with merchants, blogs, websites, etc as described may be performed by a user through a fixed electronic device such as a personal computer or Internet enabled television for example or that it may be performed through a portable electronic device such as a smart phone, personal digital assistant, laptop computer, tablet computer, cellular telephone, portable multimedia player and portable gaming console. Accordingly the information presented may be formatted according to the display and interface capabilities of these electronic devices used to access the Republic and other aspects of the systems discussed in the embodiments of the invention above in respect of Figures 1 I B through 24. In the instance of portable electronic devices the user may download an application specifically for their portable electronic device or class of portable electronic device to provide interfaces and controls suited to their electronic device.

[00161 ] For example, such applications may be targeted at Apple products from the Apple online application store, Blackberry products from the Blackberry online application store, and Android phones from the Android Market online application store. For example referring to Figure 25 there is depicted a portable electronic device 2500 with applications installed to facilitate access and interaction with the Republic and associated registries. As shown a smartphone 2510 displays a series if icons relating to applications for the user including for example Faeebook™, Twitter™, Skype™, Google™. iPod, iTaxi, and WordPress. At the bottom of the display on the smartphone 2510 are a second series of icons for user features such as telephone, SMS, calendar, email and directions. Also shown are first to fourth Republic application icons 2530 through 2560 respectively which provide access to "Wedding Republic^", "Baby Republic^", "Family Republic^" and ''Charity Republic^" respectively. Selecting first application icon 2530 results in the display on the smartphone 2510 becoming an entry screen to "Wedding Republic^" such as first webpage snapshot 1400A in Figure 14A adapted to the dimensions of the display on the smartphone 2510. Likewise second application icon 2540 takes the user to an entry screen on "Baby Republic" wherein they would for example be able to view an existing registry of an instigator and edit the registry they as instigator have created. Similarly third and fourth application icons 2550 and 2560 take the user to entry screens for "Family Republic^" and "Charity Republic" respectively. From these entry screens in each instance the user as instigator or follower would navigate through a series of screens similar to those presented above in respect of Figures 14A, 14B, 1 5, 16, 18 and 23 allowing the user to perform the various functions as described above in respect of Figures 1 1B through 24 respectively.

[00162] Within the embodiments of the invention items selected by an instigator on their registry may be defined as cash gifts despite the fact that the items are products and / or services. In some embodiments of the invention the registry system may be authorized by the instigator to source these items rather than merely accumulate the cash purchase. In these instances the registry system upon determining that a puzzle with cash gifting has been completed may seek to engage associated merchants to source the gift or engage a third party to seek and source the gift in other circumstances. It would evident therefore to one skilled in the art that in these circumstances that the community members who bought puzzle pieces within the completed puzzle are advised that the gift was bought. Equally where cash gifts are specified with no associated product / service when the instigator purchases products from merchants associated with the registry system through the systems of the registry service provider then their followers may be similarly updated either each time or at predetermined points in time. For example, followers of "A and A^" are advised three months after the wedding that of the $25,000 received they have made a down payment on a house and purchased a vacation rather than wondering if "A and A^" simply lost it all in a casino.

100163] In some embodiments of the invention an instigator may seek a "quick-start^" or "quick-create^" approach to their registry. Accordingly, the registry service provider and registry system may present three options in achieving this to the instigator, these being an instigator led process, a Republic or registry led process, and feedback. In the former instigator led process the instigator may be given the opportunity to reach out to their network (community) for help (i.e. giving the couple for example with a wedding registry to crowd source gift ideas) by, for example:

- Phone a friend - instigator would like gift suggestions from their network;

- Contact a friend via their preferred method (email, Facebook™, SMS etc);

- Followers follow a link to make suggestions wherein registry provider provides mechanism to collect these suggestions for the instigator; and

- Combine all follower submissions and provide all instigators with access to gift ideas and / or registries based upon factors including for example segment content, demographics, Event, and popular suggestions. [00164] In a Republic or registry led process then, based upon previously given permissions or permissions granted at that time by the instigator, the Republic then extracts from the variety of resources associated with the instigator data including but not limited to that relating to interests, hobbies, affiliates, affiliations, followers, and applicable data enabling assessment of demographics and / or psychographics which may include for example keyword retrieval and analysis. For example, the instigators preferences, interests, and activity keywords from their social network platforms such as Facebook™ may be retrieved. In a feedback based process then the instigator and Republic engage in, for example, a questionnaire wherein the registry populates based upon pre-established gift selections using responses from the instigator to queries based upon knowledge data, demographic / psychographic data, etc within the Data Plane 1 180 together with historical data relating to the instigator and their followers where it exists from prior activities within one or more registries within the Events 1 190.

[00165] Within the embodiments of the invention above instigators and followers may authorise the Republic and / or one or more registries to access social network accounts relating to them in order, for example, to generate social network groups, associate individuals to a Twitter account, and extract demographic and psychographic data. Additionally, data may be accessed at that point and others subsequently to establish data relating to their social network use such as number of messages sent, number of messages received, average length of message, percentage of messages replied to, percentage of messages deleted, and percentage of messages forwarded which may be aggregated for all their use or segmented for example to general, registry derived, and marketing / advertising derived.

[00166] As discussed supra in respect of Figure 12 the Commercial Community 1 170 includes a Feedback Loop 1270. However, it would be evident that within embodiments of the invention such as described above in Figures 13 A, 13B, 20 and 21 that other activities provide feedback loops to merchants and other entities engaged with a registry, registries or community. For example, feedback may be provided to a point-of-sale merchant, e.g. Target, Crate & Barrel, and Abercombie & Fitch; an agency, such as advertising agencies aQuantive, M&C Saatchi and WPP Group; and local community organizations such as Club Link (Canada), Greater Chinatown Community Association (New York), and San Francisco LGBT Community Center. [00167] For example, consider a Retailer wishing to incentivize retail traffic with a campaign that challenges a shopper to get their community to complete a task in order for them to receive a discount. The retailer may place a sticker on a cellphone that reads "Get 10 friends to complete a free survey to receive 10% off this cellphone^". A system according to an embodiment of the invention would allow the individual shopper who wants the device establishes a registry and invites their friends wherein the registry system will track the friends the shoppers shares the offer with as well as the collection of demographic / psychographic data for this group and other groups associated with other individual shoppers. In this feedback loop, when challenged a friend would take the survey, the system would parse the friend's data, e.g. via invitation data through a social network, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedln, and / or pre-existing data within registry providers database, and provide the survey to the friends either as initially configured, modified based upon the demographic / psychographic data of the friend(s) in this survey, or modified based upon the demographic / psychographic data from previous surveys, i.e. based upon trending results.

[00168] For example, an individual wants a particular brand XXX of PED. If a friend is challenged and accesses the platform via a PED of the particular brand XXX the individual wants then the system may ask "When was the last time you purchased a XXX phone^", based upon this answer, the system may pose additional questions to the friend with respect to upgrades and / or new product releases. If, in contrast, the friend accesses from a brand that is a competitor to XXX then the system may ask "When all your friends use XXX PEDs, why do you use a YYY device^", followed by questions that educate the friend on the benefits of all using an XXX product. Accordingly, a retailer may target different marketing campaigns more effectively. For example the retailer may use a specific campaign to learn additional data about existing customers, i.e. one month before the launch of a new Apple™ iPhone. Accordingly, the retailer may build upon their existing data as well as data based upon a platform according to an embodiment of the invention to establish a better profile of their existing customers as well as provide targeted marketing to those partaking of the surveys who are associated with their existing customers.

[00169] According to another embodiment of the invention an advertising agency, e.g. M&C Saatchi (Saatchi), may wish to leverage a client^'s existing data to build brand awareness of a new product, for example Proctor and Gamble (P&G). Accordingly, exploiting digital channels and social media feedback loops within embodiments of the invention may expand upon the knowledge of the agency and / or client of its existing data. For example P&G may provide Saatchi with the names and email addresses of 100,000 customers who use "Tide", a fabric detergent. Accordingly, Saatchi launches a campaign to these customers wherein they receive the following offer - ''Get a 1 -Year supply of Tide 2 if you refer 10 friends to tell us why they might switch to a new laundry detergent". A registry system according to an embodiment of the invention would predictably built a profile of each invited friend via data from social media through the registry and where available merge preexisting consumer data. Accordingly within an embodiment of the invention the customer receiving the offer is provided a link that when selected connects to the registry system such that a registry is created in their name and they can then invite their friends through the registry with personal emails such as described supra in respect of embodiments of the invention. Alternatively, a customer may open the registry themselves where they are aware that using the registry means that all the other aspects of engaging friends etc within the registry are automated and they need to do nothing more than identify the friends. As such these options the registry processes proceed in a manner similar to those described above in respect of Figures 9 through 25.

[00170] Optionally, the registry system may interface to one or more social media networks as a result of the contact information provided being a profile upon such a social media network or the customer electing to execute the registry function through the social media network. Alternatively, their electronic mail may be mirrored to the social media network such that the link for the registry is available to them or is automatically identified by the social media network. In each of these instances the registry activity appears as part of the social network interface or as a pop-up window such as depicted in Figure 26. In first image 2600 the social network graphical user interface (GUI) has a registry access button 2630 allowing the user to access the registry environment. In first image 2600 the social media network GUI now displays to the user information, similar to that presented in first and third webpages 1400A and 1400C respectively in Figure 14, relating to establishing a registry wherein the user can enter free form text relating to why they are establishing the registry and enter friends contact information. Subsequently, the registry system processes all friend activity, generates the demographic / psychographic data, and communicates this to Saatchi together with information relating to whether the user now qualifies for the incentive offered. Alternatively, in second image 2650 the registry access button 2630 triggers a pop-up window 2620 which is displayed over the social media network webpage 2610 wherein the user similarly enters free form text and friend contact information. [00171] Accordingly it would be evident that in these instances as well as others described with respect to embodiments of the invention in respect of Figures 9 through 26 that the registry provides an environment for the generation, use, and obsolescence of social networks between users and their contacts of varying duration, purpose, and size without some of the issues associated with prior art social media networks where all contacts can see and interact upon any content posted by the user.

[00172] It would be evident that the registry system according to embodiments of the invention based upon the personal and / or demographic / psychographic information of a contact nominated by a customer (user) may then present different questions as part of the survey. For example, contacts satisfying the criteria

([Married < 5yrs = TRUE]OR[BityBabyItem < 2yrs = TRUE]) may be asked "Would you switch to a new laundry detergent if it was proven to be less allergenic to children?", whilst those satisfying Status = Single) may be asked '"Did you know that sheets that smell nice impress a girl?", or if P&G donated to "Heart & Stroke Foundation" as does the contact they may be asked "Did you know that P&G supports the Heart & Stroke Foundation."

[00173] Now consider an organization seeking to employ a localized campaign or campaigns such as "Club Link", which provides cross-course benefits to its members for 53 golf courses in North America. Having identified gaps within some courses in certain localized markets they engage the registry provider wherein the registry system analyses and aggregates the data of each course^'s members against their activities within the registry. Then based upon this an offer is made to registry members such that, for example, those within the National Capital Region of Canada receive "Get a free Nike™ driver if 10 of your friends under 40 play at one of our courses^" whilst those in Florida receive "Bring in a new member between 40 and 55 years of age receive 5 free rounds at our courses.^" As a result the organization begins to establish marketing information addressing questions such as "Does this target demographic react to a promotional item that is marketed to their demographic?^" or "Can demographic data in Canada be used to predict marketing campaign results in Florida or Illinois?^"

[00174] By exploiting the systems and processes described above in respect to embodiments of the invention the inventors have proposed means to exploiting registries and their associated connections with Events as a structure for market and / or business strategy that emphasizes the generation and ongoing realization of mutual merchant-follower value.

As such the associated networks formed act as forums for merchants and active followers to share, combine and renew each other's resources and capabilities to create value through new forms of interaction, service and learning mechanisms. Co-created value arises in the form of personalised, unique experiences for the follower (value-in-use) and ongoing revenue, learning and enhanced market performance drivers for the merchant (loyalty, relationships, follower word of mouth). Value is co-created with followers if and when a follower is able to personalize his/her experience using a merchant's product-service proposition - in the lifetime of its use - to a level that is best suited to get his/her job(s), tasks, goals achieved and which allows the merchant to derive greater value from its product-service investment in the form of new knowledge, higher revenues/profitability and/or superior brand value/loyalty.

[00175] As this applies to the embodiments of the invention the follower is integral in creating the end product of the registry, i.e. there are no default options and they must actively choose something. The registry systems provide the tools and platform to provide complete control and customization of the registry where distinction is made between customizing based on a pre-set range of choices versus customizing based on free-form fields.

[00176] Within the embodiments of the invention described above the discussion(s) in respect of Events and the association of registries with these has typically been associated with events that are immediate or near-term for the instigator and their followers such an engagement party within the next few months, a wedding a year away, a birthday, and pregnancy for example. However, nothing within these descriptions should be considered to limit neither the time that a registry may be established prior to the Event nor the time after the Event that the registry is accessible. For example, parents may establish a registry for their child at birth associated with their graduation and hoped attendance at University to help offset tuition fees, cost of living, etc such that the registry is open for 1 8 years in this instance and may be accessed during a 3 or 4 year University degree.

[00177] Within the preceding description in respect to embodiments of the invention described in Figuresl l B through 24 reference has been made to purchasing patterns, consumer behaviour, etc as well as demographic and psychographic data. In respect of purchasing patterns, consumer behaviour, etc then examples of such filtering of data may include, but are not limited to, the following:

- Category: Automotive, Electronic, Finance, Household, Sport, Fitness, Environmental etc;

- Price: Less than $ 100; <$ 100, >$500; <$500, >$ 1 ,000, etc; - Community Engagement: Community group purchase versus individual purchase;

- Geographical Adoption or Use: Alabama, Eastern Europe, London, Southwest US, etc;

- Purchase Pattern: Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Seasonally, Retail, Wholesale, etc; and

- Time Association: Purchase patterns as related to Events and milestones (i.e. pre- wedding, post wedding, pre-baby, post-baby etc).

[00178] In respect of demographics examples include, but are not limited to, the following:

Age: baby, children, teens, young, middle age, senior, etc;

Gender: male, female, third gender, etc;

Education: high school, technical, college, post graduate, post doctorate, etc;

- Income: poor, low, middle, upper, wealthy, <$30,000, <$60,000, $ 100,000, etc;

Marital status: single, married, divorced, engaged, partner, common-law, same sex, opposite sex, etc;

Ancestry: White, Black, Aboriginal, Latino, European, Irish, Spanish, etc; and Family Life Cycle: newlyweds, married 10+ years, with or without children, retired, etc.

[00179] In respect of psychographic examples include, but are not limited to, the following:

Lifestyle: adventurous, affluent, frugal, intellectual, trendy, etc;

Political: Conservative, Democrat, Independent, Liberal, Republican, Green, etc; Religion and/or Belief System: Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Agnostic, etc;

Social Class: lower, middle, upper, blue-collar, white-collar, etc;

Opinion: easily led or opinionated, helpful, negative, positive, etc; leader, trend setter, follower, activist, etc;

Activities & Interests: books, fitness, hobbies, shopping, sports, etc; and

Attitudes & Values: environmentalist, security conscious, vegetarian, environmental, etc

[00180] Within the specification above and the descriptions in respect of Figures 1 1 B through 24 described above in respect of the invention these embodiments have been described in respect of registries associated with Events, such as engagement, wedding, birthday, birth, death, etc and their associated communities of instigators, those around whom Events occur, and followers, those associated with the instigator, who interact with the registries and access additional resources such as merchant websites etc. However, it would be apparent to one skilled in the art that the embodiments of the invention may be applied to a variety of other scenarios including but not limited to busmess-to-consumer (B2C), business- to-business (B2B), commercial organizations, charities, not-for-profit organizations, Government departments, sports associations etc. Essentially, anywhere where a need can be defined by a first party (instigator) and that need addressed by those associated with the first party (followers) directly or indirectly with other third-party resources or products can be modeled into the Republic environment and the techniques, models, communication mechanisms, need identification, need satisfaction methods discussed can be applied in whole or in part according to the particular circumstances of the instigator / followers etc.

[00181] Specific details are given in the above description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it is understood that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, circuits may be shown in block diagrams in order not to obscure the embodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques may be shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments.

[00182| Implementation of the techniques, blocks, steps and means described above may be done in various ways. For example, these techniques, blocks, steps and means may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For a hardware implementation, the processing units may be implemented within one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed to perform the functions described above and/or a combination thereof.

[00183] Functional units described in this specification may have been labeled as modules in order to more particularly emphasize their implementation independence. For example, a module can be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. A module can also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices, or the like. Modules can also be implemented in software for execution by various types of processors. An identified module of executable code can, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions which can, for instance, be organized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables of an identified module need not be physically located together, but can comprise disparate instructions stored in different locations which, when joined logically together, comprise the module and achieve the stated purpose for the module.

[00184] Indeed, a module of executable code can be a single instruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs, and across several memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be identified and illustrated herein within modules, and may be embodied in any suitable form and organized within any suitable type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set, or may be distributed over different locations including over different storage devices, and may exist, at least partially, merely as electronic signals on a system or network.

[00185] Also, it is noted that the embodiments may be described as a process which is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a data flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. As such, the depicted order and labeled steps are indicative of one embodiment of the presented method. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of the illustrated method. In addition, the order in which a particular method occurs may or may not strictly adhere to the order of the corresponding steps shown. A process is terminated when its operations are completed, but could have additional steps not included in the figure. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its termination corresponds to a return of the function to the calling function or the main function. Such flowchart embodiments are generally set forth as logical flow-chart diagrams wherein the format and symbols employed are provided to explain the logical steps of the method and are understood not to limit the scope of the method. Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in the flow-chart diagrams, they are understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding method. Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the method. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted method.

[00186) Furthermore, embodiments may be implemented by hardware, software, scripting languages, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages and/or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, middleware, scripting language and/or microcode, the program code or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may be stored in a machine readable medium, such as a storage medium. A code segment or machine-executable instruction may represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a script, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures and/or program statements. A code segment may be coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters and/or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via any suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc.

[00187] For a firmware and/or software implementation, the methodologies may be implemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein. Any machine-readable medium tangibly embodying instructions may be used in implementing the methodologies described herein. For example, software codes may be stored in a memory. Memory may be implemented within the processor or external to the processor and may vary in implementation where the memory is employed in storing software codes for subsequent execution to that when the memory is employed in executing the software codes. As used herein the term '"memory^" refers to any type of long term, short term, volatile, nonvolatile, or other storage medium and is not to be limited to any particular type of memory or number of memories, or type of media upon which memory is stored.

[00188] Moreover, as disclosed herein, the term "storage medium^" may represent one or more devices for storing data, including read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic RAM, core memory, magnetic disk storage mediums, optical storage mediums, flash memory devices and/or other machine readable mediums for storing information. The term "machine-readable medium^" includes, but is not limited to portable or fixed storage devices, optical storage devices, wireless channels and/or various other mediums capable of storing, containing or carrying instruclion(s) and/or data.

[00189] The methodologies described herein are, in one or more embodiments, performable by a machine which includes one or more processors that accept code segments containing instructions. For any of the methods described herein, when the instructions are executed by the machine, the machine performs the method. Any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine are included. Thus, a typical machine may be exemplified by a typical processing system that includes one or more processors. Each processor may include one or more of a CPU, a graphics-processing unit, and a programmable DSP unit. The processing system further may include a memory subsystem including main RAM and/or a static RAM, and/or ROM. A bus subsystem may be included for communicating between the components. If the processing system requires a display, such a display may be included, e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD). If manual data entry is required, the processing system also includes an input device such as one or more of an alphanumeric input unit such as a keyboard, a pointing control device such as a mouse, and so forth.

[00190] The memory includes machine-readable code segments (e.g. software or software code) including instructions for performing, when executed by the processing system, one of more of the methods described herein. The software may reside entirely in the memory, or may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the RAM and/or within the processor during execution thereof by the computer system. Thus, the memory and the processor also constitute a system comprising machine-readable code.

[00191] In alternative embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device or may be connected, e.g., networked to other machines, in a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer or distributed network environment. The machine may be, for example, a computer, a server, a cluster of servers, a cluster of computers, a web appliance, a distributed computing environment, a cloud computing environment, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. The term "machine^" may also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

[00192] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the above description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of programming, software modules, user selections, network transactions, database queries, database structures, hardware modules, hardware circuits, hardware chips, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well- known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. [00193] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or similar language means that a particular feature, stmcture, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment," "in an embodiment," and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

[00194] The foregoing disclosure of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many variations and modifications of the embodiments described herein will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above disclosure. The scope of the invention is to be defined only by the claims appended hereto, and by their equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:

establishing a registry stored within a memory of a computer system, the registry relating to an instigator comprising at least one desired element of a plurality of desired elements;

establishing a first social network around the instigator, the social network comprising at least one follower of a plurality of followers, each follower have a predetermined relationship to the instigator through a second social network;

establishing a redemption of the desired element from the registry by a predetermined portion of the first social network; and

storing data relating to the redemption in association with the desired element.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein,

the predetermined portion of the first social network is at least one of:

a single follower;

a first group of followers wherein each follower purchases an integer multiple number of puzzle pieces relating to the desired element, the total number of puzzle pieces for the desired element being established by the instigator;

a first group of followers wherein each follower purchases a predetermined portion of the desired element, wherein the first group of followers have established a social group to collaboratively purchase the desired element; and

a first group of followers wherein each follower purchases an integer multiple number of puzzle pieces relating to the desired element, the total number of puzzle pieces for the desired element being established by the registry.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein,

establishing the total number of puzzle pieces for the desired element is established by the registry the total number of puzzle pieces are determined in dependence upon at least one of a history associated with said desired element within the registry, a history associated with said desired element within another registry, a demographic assessment of the followers of the instigator, a demographic analysis, and a psychographic analysis.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein,

the desired element is at least of a ware, a service, a donation, financial, and a request.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein,

establishing the registry comprises at least one of the instigator selecting a ware or service from a merchant, selecting a recipient of a donation, specifying the desired element themselves without reference to any third party information, specifying the desired element themselves with reference to any third party information, selecting a ware or service in dependence of a target element and a demographic analysis, selecting a ware or service in dependence of a target element and historical analysis of the target element and comparable elements, and selecting a ware or service in dependence of data collected from within a game played by the instigator.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein,

establishing the registry comprises:

establishing the at least one desired element of a plurality of desired elements;

communicating data relating to a predetermined portion of the registry to at least one merchant of a plurality of merchants;

receiving at least one bid of a plurality of bids, each bid associated with a merchant and a predetermined portion of the data;

analyzing the received bids to establish whether a benefit exists to the instigator by accepting a received bid;

determining an acceptance of the received bid by the instigator; and

modifying the registry in dependence of the received bid.

7. A method according to claim 1 further comprising;

communicating with at least one merchant of a plurality of merchants regarding redemption of the desired element, the plurality of merchants determined in dependence upon at least one of a location of the instigator and the desired element.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising;

deriving at least one of demographic data and psychographic data relating to the instigator based upon their population of the registry with at least one desired element of a plurality of desired elements.

9. A method comprising:

engaging an instigator of a registry to play a game on a first computer system;

deriving at least one of first demographic data and first psychographic data relating to the instigator from their behaviour in a game associated with the registry; and

storing said at least one of within a first memory of a second computer system associated with a provider of the registry.

10. The method according to claim 9 further comprising;

deriving at least one of second demographic data and second psychographic data relating to the instigator based upon their population of the registry with at least one desired element of a plurality of desired elements; and

storing said at least one of within a second memory of a second computer system associated with a provider of the registry.

1 1. The method according to claim 9 further comprising;

communicating to the first social network regarding the establishment of the registry; and deriving at least one of third demographic data and third psychographic data relating to the at least one follower based upon their activity in association with the registry.

12. The method according to claim 1 1 further comprising;

deriving personal data relating to the at least one follower based upon at least one of their registration with the registry and their selection and redemption of a desired element within the registry.

13. A method comprising: receiving a request from a merchant in respect of an offer relating to a product or service; determining in respect of the offer at least one registry of a plurality of registries exceeding a predetermined threshold of interest in the product or service, each registry instigated by an instigator and accessed by a plurality of followers associated with the instigator; communicating to the registry instigator in respect of the offer;

communicating to the registry followers in respect of the offer;

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein,

communicating to the registry followers in respect of the offer comprises notifying the registry followers of a benefit to be provided to the instigator based upon meeting a predetermined objective relating to their responses to the offer.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein,

the registry followers are notified that the benefit to the instigator will be determined in dependence upon at least one of the number of responses from the followers and the accuracy of the responses from the followers.

16. The method according to claim 13 further comprising;

notifying the instigator of a benefit, the benefit based upon at least one of the responses of the registry followers to the offer and a predetermined threshold.

17. The method according to claim 165 wherein,

the benefit to the instigator is determined in dependence upon at least the accuracy of the responses from the followers and the importance of at least one of the associated product or service to the offer and a comparable product or service to the offer in the registry of the instigator.

18. The method according to claim 13 further comprising;

providing the merchant with a counter-offer having an increased likelihood of acceptance based upon at least one of the responses from the instigators of the plurality of followers, the responses of the followers of the plurality of registries, demographic data relating to the plurality of registries, psychographic data relating to the plurality of registries, a history relating to the product or service of the offer, and a history relating to a comparable product or service to the offer.

19. A method comprising:

profile relating to demographic data of interest to the merchant;

communicating the first and second demographic data and the first and second purchasing history to each merchant of the plurality of merchants having a predetermined match of their merchant demographic profile to at least one of the first and second demographic data.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising;

making an offer to the instigator and the at least one follower of a plurality of followers, the offer made by a merchant of the set of merchants having the predetermined match of their merchant demographic profile to at least one of the first and second demographic data.