Management of dynamic electronic coupons

Abstract

Providing for management of a dynamic mobile coupon (DMC) at a mobile device is described herein. Particularly, dynamic characteristics associated with the DMC, such as a redeemable value, can be utilized to browse, sort, search, recall, or redeem the DMC utilizing a user interface of the mobile device. In other aspects, a DMC management application can interact with server components to backup and store DMC data, synchronize dynamic information (e.g., a dynamic redeemable value), access or manage a user profile, interface with other mobile devices to accomplish sharing, trading, exchanging, selling the DMC, and so on. Accordingly, provided is an efficient and personable way to manage mobile coupons in a mobile operating environment and provide increased value and utility for a user of such coupons.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of facilitating management of a mobile coupon at a mobile device, comprising:
 obtaining a rule for generation or distribution of a dynamic mobile coupon (DMC);   identifying a mobile device as a target device based in part on a predetermined characteristic obtained via wireless data exchange with the mobile device;   associating the DMC with the mobile device based on the rule; and   facilitating transmission of the DMC or an ID of the DMC to a coupon management application at the mobile device that categorizes and provides browsing of the DMC based on at least one characteristic of the DMC.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising employing a secure or private channel to synchronize with the coupon management application to at least one of:
 obtain and store status information pertinent to the DMC;   provide or receive data pertinent to determining a current state or value of a dynamic characteristic of the DMC; or   obtain user profile information and validate or update the user profile information.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing an interface for a sponsor of the DMC to update, add to, or delete the rule. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a profile interface that at least one of:
 enables a user to generate, validate, or update a user profile;   enables a sponsor, manufacturer or retailer associated with the DMC to generate, validate or update a commercial profile; or   validates a user profile or a commercial profile in conjunction with generating, transmitting, exchanging, or redeeming the DMC.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising validating a profile of a user, DMC supplier, manufacturer, or retailer as a condition to generating the DMC. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising employing a location of the mobile device, a distance to the mobile device, a time of day, user profile information or commercial profile information in conjunction with identifying the mobile device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one of:
 associating a user ID with the user profile and validating the unique user ID in conjunction with enabling the user to validate or update the user profile; or   associating a commercial ID of the DMC sponsor, manufacturer or retailer with the commercial profile and validating the commercial ID in conjunction with enabling the DMC sponsor, manufacturer or retailer to validate or update the commercial profile.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
 employing a broadcast push that utilizes a general characteristic of the mobile device or a class of mobile devices in conjunction with facilitating transmission of the DMC; or   employing a unicast push utilizing a distinct characteristic of the mobile device or a user profile in conjunction with facilitating transmission of the DMC.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 incorporating a multimedia advertisement application with the DMC and facilitating transmission of the multimedia advertisement application to the mobile device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an ID of the DMC from a redemption entity in conjunction with a transaction;   verifying authenticity of the DMC based at least in part on the ID;   authorizing modification of a characteristic of the transaction based on a variable characteristic of the DMC if the DMC is verified as authentic; and   facilitating reimbursement of a sponsor of the transaction based at least in part on the modified characteristic.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
 receiving a user profile ID and a transaction detail in conjunction with a transaction, and identifying a user profile from the user profile ID;   identifying a redeemable DMC from the identified user profile;   determining whether the redeemable DMC is applicable to the transaction based at least in part on the transaction detail;   updating an account associated with the user profile based on a variable characteristic of the redeemable DMC if the redeemable DMC is pertinent to the transaction; or   updating a status of the redeemable DMC to indicate such DMC has been redeemed.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus that facilitates management of a mobile coupon at a mobile device, comprising:
 a vendor interface configured to receive a DMC or obtain a rule for generation or distribution of the DMC;   a communication processor configured to identify a mobile device as a target device based in part on a predetermined characteristic obtained at least in part via wireless data exchange with the mobile device;   a mediation server configured to generate the DMC for the mobile device based on the rule; and   a transceiver configured to transmit the DMC or an ID of the DMC to a coupon management application at the mobile device that categorizes and provides browsing of the DMC based on at least one characteristic of the DMC.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a DMC database configured to employ a secure or private channel to synchronize with the coupon management application to at least one of:
 obtain and store status information pertinent to the DMC;   provide or receive data pertinent to determining a current state or value of a dynamic characteristic of the DMC; or   obtain user profile information and validate or update the user profile information at a validation entity.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the vendor interface enables a sponsor of the DMC to update, add to or delete the rule. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a profile interface configured to at least one of:
 enable a user to generate, validate, or update a user profile;   enable a sponsor, manufacturer or retailer associated with the DMC to generate, validate or update a commercial profile; or   validate a user profile or a commercial profile in conjunction with generating, transmitting, exchanging, or redeeming the DMC.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a coupon mediation server configured to validate a profile of a user, DMC supplier, manufacturer, or retailer as a condition to generating the DMC. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a filtering module configured to employ a location of the mobile device, a distance to the mobile device, a time of day, user profile information, or commercial profile information as the predetermined characteristic. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a profile mediation server configured to at least one of:
 associate a user ID with the user profile and validate the user ID in conjunction with enabling the user to validate or update the user profile; or   associate a commercial ID of the DMC sponsor, manufacturer, or retailer with the commercial profile and validate the commercial ID in conjunction with enabling the DMC sponsor, manufacturer, or retailer to validate or update the commercial profile.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the transceiver and communication processor at least one of:
 employ a broadcast push utilizing a general characteristic of the mobile device or a class of mobile devices in conjunction with transmitting the DMC; or   employ a unicast push utilizing a distinct characteristic of the mobile device or a user profile in conjunction with transmitting the DMC.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising an integration module configured to incorporate a multimedia advertisement application with the DMC or include the multimedia advertisement application with the transmission of the DMC. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising an integrated redemption module configured to:
 receive an ID of the DMC from a redemption entity in conjunction with a transaction;   verify authenticity of the DMC based at least in part on the ID;   authorize modification of a characteristic of the transaction based on a variable characteristic of the DMC if the DMC is verified as authentic; and   facilitate reimbursement of a sponsor of the transaction based at least in part on the modified characteristic.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a server redemption entity configured to at least one of:
 receive a user profile ID and a transaction detail in conjunction with a transaction, and identify a user profile from the user profile ID;   search a DMC database to identify a redeemable DMC from the identified user profile;   determine whether the redeemable DMC is applicable to the transaction based at least in part on the transaction detail;   update an account associated with the user profile based on a variable characteristic of the redeemable DMC if the redeemable DMC is applicable to the transaction; or   update a status of the redeemable DMC to indicate such DMC has been redeemed.   
     
     
         23 . At least one processor configured to facilitate management of a DMC for a mobile device, comprising:
 a first module configured to obtain a rule for generation or distribution of a DMC;   a second module configured to identify a mobile device as a target device based in part on a predetermined characteristic obtained at least in part via wireless data exchange with the mobile device; and   a third module configured to facilitate transmission of the DMC or an ID of the DMC to a coupon management application at the mobile device that categorizes and provides browsing of the DMC based on at least one characteristic of the DMC.   
     
     
         24 . An apparatus configured to facilitate management of a DMC for a mobile device, comprising:
 means for obtaining a rule for generation or distribution of a DMC;   means for identifying a mobile device as a target device based in part on a predetermined characteristic obtained at least in par via wireless data exchange with the mobile device; and   means for facilitating transmission of the DMC or an ID of the DMC to a coupon management application at the mobile device that categorizes and provides browsing of the DMC based on at least one characteristic of the DMC.   
     
     
         25 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a computer-readable medium, comprising:
 at least one instruction executable to cause a computer to obtain a rule for generation or distribution of a DMC; 
 at least one instruction configured to cause a computer to identify a mobile device as a target device based in part on a predetermined characteristic obtained at least in part via wireless data exchange with the mobile device; and 
 at least one instruction configured to cause a computer to facilitate transmission of the DMC or an ID of the DMC to a coupon management application at the mobile device that categorizes and provides browsing of the DMC based on at least one characteristic of the DMC.