Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for promoting and managing communications among members of a caregroup. Potential recipients of digital gifts are limited to targets of caregroups in which the members participate. An indication of a digital gift to be delivered in hardcopy form to a hardcopy-based email appliance of the target is received. The email appliance is operable to receive digital gifts and produce hardcopy output of the digital gifts. For each content-containing component of the digital gift, default content items are selected based upon one or more of biographical information previously supplied information regarding communications history with the target, ascertained preferences of the target, and the digital gift type. The member of the caregroup is allowed to initiate delivery of the digital gift with the selected default content items or is allowed to personalize the digital gift prior to delivery within a digital gift editor.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for promoting and managing communications from members of a caregroup to a target of the caregroup. According to one embodiment a method is provided for delivering digital gifts to a target of a caregroup. Information defining a caregroup, including a target of a care group, members of the caregroup that are permitted to send digital gifts to the target of the caregroup and one or more administrating caregivers of the caregroup, is received. Potential recipients of digital gifts from the members of the caregroup are limited to the target of the caregroup and targets of any other caregroups of which the members are a part. An indication of a digital gift desired to be generated and caused to be delivered in hardcopy form to a hardcopy-based email appliance of the target of the caregroup is received.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for promoting and managing communications among a social support network. According to one embodiment, a communication system includes a closed communication service platform and a hardcopy-based communication appliance. The communication service platform provides a caregroup virtual private network (VPN) through which only registered members of the caregroup, authorized personnel of the communication service platform, processes associated with the communication service platform, and a target of the caregroup are permitted to exchange communications.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating photo completion are provided. According to one embodiment, a system is provided including a hand held device, an application running on the hand held device, and a printing system. The hand held device includes the capability to both capture and transmit digital photos. The application provides the hand held device with hyper-simplified photo capture and delivery. In one embodiment, the application defaults a number of parameters that can be configured on the hand held device, such as the target, the photo review mechanism, the presentation method. These defaults can be set (reset) directly in the application or overridden in the system post transmission processing. In one embodiment, the printing system may control the schedule of publication. For example, the printing system may print received digital photos immediately, the next morning, on a periodic basis, or after receiving eMail confirmation.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for promoting and managing communications among a social support network. According to one embodiment, a communication system includes a closed communication service platform and a hardcopy-based communication appliance. The communication service platform provides a caregroup virtual private network (VPN) through which only registered members of the caregroup, authorized personnel of the communication service platform, processes associated with the communication service platform, and a target of the caregroup are permitted to exchange communications.