Abstract: A system for facilitating virtual gifting of goods or services over a communications network includes: a) a first client module configured for purchasing a virtual gift for a recipient, b) a second client module configured for receiving and viewing the purchased virtual gift from the server, over the communications network; c) a third client module configured for receiving a wireless signal for the recipient from the second client module and viewing the purchased virtual gift, and d) a web server module configured for processing electronic payment for the purchased virtual gift with a payment gateway, transmitting the purchased virtual gift to the second client module, and transmitting a confirmation of payment for the purchased virtual gift to a brick and mortar outlet, wherein the purchased virtual gift is configured for redemption at said brick and mortar outlet.

Abstract: A system for facilitating virtual gifting of goods or services over a communications network includes: a) a first client module configured for purchasing a virtual gift for a recipient, b) a second client module configured for receiving and viewing the purchased virtual gift from the server, over the communications network; c) a third client module configured for receiving a wireless signal for the recipient from the second client module and viewing the purchased virtual gift, and d) a web server module configured for processing electronic payment for the purchased virtual gift with a payment gateway, transmitting the purchased virtual gift to the second client module, and transmitting a confirmation of payment for the purchased virtual gift to a brick and mortar outlet, wherein the purchased virtual gift is configured for redemption at said brick and mortar outlet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for accessing and using services and applications from a number of sources into a customized application. The present invention accomplishes this through an entity referred to as a web service. The web services architecture maintains a directory of services available to provide processing or services, along with the location of the services and the input/output schemas required by the services. When a request for data or services is received, appropriate services are invoked by a web services engine using service drivers associated with each service. A web services application is then generated from a runtime model and is invoked to satisfy the request, by communicating as necessary with services in proper I/O formats. In one embodiment, the web services application provides responses in the form of HTML that can be used to generate pages to a browser.