Digital coupon offer redemption

Abstract

A coupon clearinghouse server receives a request for a coupon offer from a client device. The server transmits only a first subset of coupon offer data for the coupon offer to the client device, and stores, in memory, a first code for a first merchant at which the coupon offer is redeemable. The code is not revealed to the client device. Subsequently, the server receives, from the client device, a second code that the client device has obtained at a point of sale system. The server determines if there is a match between the first code and the second code, and if so, transmits the second subset of coupon offer data including coupon offer redemption instructions to the client device. The client device presents the now complete coupon offer to the point of sale system to redeem the coupon offer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, by a coupon clearinghouse server, a first merchant code and information associated with a digital coupon offer;   in response to receiving the first merchant code and information associated with the digital coupon offer, determining, by the coupon clearinghouse server, that the first merchant code matches a second merchant code, where the second merchant code was previously stored by the coupon clearinghouse server and is associated with the digital coupon offer;   in response to determining a match between the first merchant code and the second merchant code, the coupon clearinghouse server transmitting approval instructions for redeeming the digital coupon offer.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising, before all steps set forth in  claim 1 , receiving at the coupon clearinghouse server a request for the digital coupon offer, and in response, issuing the digital coupon offer and creating and storing the second merchant code at the coupon clearinghouse server. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , the coupon offer being valid for a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising the coupon clearinghouse server encumbering the digital coupon offer. 
     
     
         5 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of a coupon clearinghouse server, cause the one or more processors to perform functions including:
 receiving, by a coupon clearinghouse server, a first merchant code and information associated with a digital coupon offer;   in response to receiving the first merchant code and information associated with the digital coupon offer, determining, by the coupon clearinghouse server, that the first merchant code matches a second merchant code, where the second merchant code was previously stored by the coupon clearinghouse server and is associated with the digital coupon offer;   in response to determining a match between the first merchant code and the second merchant code, the coupon clearinghouse server transmitting approval instructions for redeeming the digital coupon offer.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-readable media of  claim 5 , further comprising instructions which when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform, before all functions of the sequences of instructions of  claim 5 , receiving at the coupon clearinghouse server a request for the digital coupon offer, and in response, issuing the digital coupon offer and creating and storing the second merchant code at the coupon clearinghouse server. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-readable media of  claim 5 , the coupon offer being valid for a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-readable media of  claim 5 , further comprising instructions which when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform, encumbering the digital coupon offer. 
     
     
         9 . A computer system comprising a coupon clearinghouse server programmed to execute a coupon clearinghouse application, the coupon clearinghouse application comprising one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of the coupon clearinghouse server, cause the one or more processors to perform functions including:
 receiving, by a coupon clearinghouse server, a first merchant code and information associated with a digital coupon offer;   in response to receiving the first merchant code and information associated with the digital coupon offer, determining, by the coupon clearinghouse server, that the first merchant code matches a second merchant code, where the second merchant code was previously stored by the coupon clearinghouse server and is associated with the digital coupon offer;   in response to determining a match between the first merchant code and the second merchant code, the coupon clearinghouse server transmitting approval instructions for redeeming the digital coupon offer.   
     
     
         10 . The computer system of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions which when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform, before all functions of the sequences of instructions of  claim 5 , receiving at the coupon clearinghouse server a request for the digital coupon offer, and in response, issuing the digital coupon offer and creating and storing the second merchant code at the coupon clearinghouse server. 
     
     
         11 . The computer system of  claim 9 , the coupon offer being valid for a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         12 . The computer system of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions which when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform, encumbering the digital coupon offer.