Integrated system and method for managing electronic coupons

Abstract

A networked electronic coupon management system is disclosed for managing electronic coupons. The system includes tightly integrated database, application server, and client components facilitating performing electronic coupon definition, issuance, and redemption operations. The operations include creating electronic coupons, wherein each electronic coupon includes a unique coupon ID, creating customer accounts, wherein each customer account comprises a unique customer ID; creating manufacturer accounts, wherein each manufacturer account comprises a Unique ID; and creating retailer accounts, wherein each retailer account comprises a unique retailer ID; and assigning a unique electronic coupon ID to a unique customer ID. Thereafter the system validates the electronic coupon with a product purchase transaction by a customer associated with the unique customer ID. Furthermore, funds transfers associated with the product purchase transaction are tracked, and historical transactional level data is maintained for all customer, manufacturer and retailer accounts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for managing electronic coupons including components, comprising computer executable instructions within a computer-readable medium for:
 creating electronic coupons, wherein each electronic coupon includes a unique coupon ID;   creating customer accounts, wherein each customer account comprises a unique customer ID;   creating manufacturer accounts, wherein each manufacturer account comprises a Unique ID;   creating retailer accounts, wherein each retailer account comprises a unique retailer ID;   assigning a unique electronic coupon ID to a unique customer ID;   validating the electronic coupon with a product purchase transaction by a customer associated with the unique customer ID;   tracking funds transfer associated with the product purchase transaction; and   maintaining historical transactional level data for all customer, manufacturer and retailer accounts.