Electronic Coupon Management

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for electronically managing coupons. The user no longer has to clip and organize coupons. The need for hand processing of coupons is substantially reduced. Rebates or payments for coupons can be substantially hastened and can be deposited directly into a user's bank, credit card, or payment provider account. Merchants and manufactures no longer have to be concerned with receiving bad (e.g., invalid, expired, or counterfeit) coupons. Thus, the electronic coupon management system benefits the users, merchants, and manufactures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 one or more memories storing information about an account of a user, the information comprising coupon information for the user;   one or more hardware processors in communication with the one or more memories and operable to:
 receive a first communication including an indication of a desire of the user to purchase a product from a merchant; 
 access the account of the user; 
 determine, at least in part from the coupon information, if the user has any valid coupons for the product; and 
 send a second communication including information regarding the coupon(s) for the product to facilitate use of the coupon(s) to purchase the product. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable to send the second communication to the merchant. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable to send the second communication to the user. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the account further includes a purchase history for the user; and   the one or more processors are further operable to use the purchase history to customize the information regarding coupons to provide customized coupon information.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable to search outside of the account for valid coupons for the product. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable to store all coupons of a publication in response to a request from the user to store one coupon of the publication. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable to filter coupons prior to storing the coupon information in the account. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 storing, in a memory, information about an account of a user, wherein the information comprises coupon information for the user;   receiving, electronically by one or more processors, a first communication including an indication of a desire of the user to purchase a product from a merchant;   accessing, electronically by the one or more processors, the account of the user;   determining, electronically by the one or more processors and at least in part from the coupon information, if the user has any valid coupons for the product; and   sending, electronically by the one or more processors, a second communication including information regarding the coupon(s) for the product to facilitate use of the coupon(s) to purchase the product.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising sending the second communication to the merchant. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising sending the second communication to the user. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the account further includes a purchase history for the user; and   further comprising using the purchase history to customize the information regarding coupons to provide customized coupon information.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising searching outside of the account for valid coupons for the product. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising storing all coupons of a publication in response to a request from the user to store one coupon of the publication. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising filtering coupons prior to storing the coupon information in the account. 
     
     
         15 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable and executable code for instructing one or more processors to perform a method, the method comprising:
 storing information about an account of a user, wherein the information comprises coupon information for the user;   receiving a first communication including an indication of a desire of the user to purchase a product from a merchant;   accessing the account of the user;   determining, at least in part from the coupon information, if the user has any valid coupons for the product; and   sending a second communication including information regarding the coupon(s) for the product to facilitate use of the coupon(s) to purchase the product.   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises sending the second communication to the user. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the account further includes a purchase history for the user; and   the method further comprises using the purchase history to customize the information regarding coupons to provide customized coupon information.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises searching outside of the account for valid coupons for the product. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises storing all coupons of a publication in response to a request from the user to store one coupon of the publication. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises filtering coupons prior to storing the coupon information in the account.