SALEABLE COUPONS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to an improved system and method for providing coupons from merchants to users via an interconnected computing system. Specifically, the present invention relates to a web-based computerized system and method for generating, providing and distributing saleable coupons from merchants to consumers and contacts of consumers, such as via one or more social media networks. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the coupons are purchasable or otherwise earned through interaction with the system or one or more interconnected social media networks.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] The present application is a continuation in part of and claims priority to US provisional patent application number 62/072,663 entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTRONICALLY GENERATING, PROVIDING AND DISTRIBUTING SALEABLE COUPONS" filed October 30, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Daily deal sites and other voucher based platforms have become ubiquitous in society's value driven economy. However, the voucher model has significant drawbacks for both the provider and the merchants working with the providers in the generation and provision of these vouchers.

[0004] One major drawback is that, given the complexity of the model, merchant acquisition and marketing costs have made the entire process expensive, leaving merchants bearing the majority of the costs and diminishing profit margins of these merchants. For instance, a merchant may not only be required to provide a good or service at a reduced cost compared to its standard pricing, but the merchant must also split the money with the provider and often wait to get paid, as the provider collects the initial fee from the customer. Many times, merchants may do no better than break even, with the hopes that the increased exposure leaves them with customers that will return, even without further discount. At best the voucher models currently utilized are a customer acquisition strategy, which assumes that profit will be made when customers return for a second or further visit. However, often times merchants get swamped with vouchers and end up providing diminished services in order to fulfill all the vouchers, leaving many customers less than likely to return for future visits.

[0005] Currently, there are also no systems or methods that utilize the strength of a social network to distribute information about discounts and create incentives for a customer to distribute information about the discount to their friends, family or other contacts. Coupons and rebates are typically distributed using direct mail, newspaper print, and magazines and have associated with them a low percentage of users of those actually receiving the coupons. Besides not being environmentally friendly due to paper waste, coupons and rebates may not be cost effective. Further, advertising and marketing associated with coupons and rebates can be expensive when done through radio or television medium, and extremely ineffective when done through print advertisements. Regardless of the advertising medium however, there is very little reason for the consumer to pass along the advertisement or coupon to others, so that a merchant must advertise or market the discount to each individual. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a system and method for generating, providing and distributing saleable coupons from merchants to consumers and contacts of consumers, such as via one or more social media networks. These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be explained and will become obvious to one skilled in the art through the summary of the invention that follows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a system and method for generating, providing and distributing saleable coupons from merchants to consumers and contacts of consumers, such as via one or more social media networks.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system for generating, providing and distributing saleable coupons from a merchant to consumers and contacts of consumers, such as via one or more social media networks, comprises: a processor, a data store, a communications means, a merchant processing module, comprising computer-executable code stored in non-volatile memory and executed by said processor, and a consumer processing module comprising computer-executable code stored in non-volatile memory and executed by said processor, wherein said merchant processing module, said consumer processing module, said processor, said data store, and said communications means are operably connected and said processor is configured to process the computer-executable code of said modules configured to: receive, via said communications means, a coupon generation request, wherein said coupon generation request comprises merchant information, initial discount information and initial coupon cost; generate, via said processor, and an initial coupon offer, wherein said initial coupon offer is based at least in part on said merchant information, initial discount information and said initial coupon cost; distribute, via said communications means, said initial coupon offer to one or more consumers; receive, via said communications means, a plurality of purchase requests to obtain electronically providable coupons associated with said initial coupon offer; receive, via said communications means, a plurality of social sharing requests to obtain electronically providable coupons associated with said initial offer based on electronic sharing of said initial coupon offer on social media systems by one or more of said one or more consumers; generate, via said processor, and transmit, via said communications means, a plurality of electronically providable coupons associated with said initial offer and based on said received plurality of purchase requests and plurality of social sharing requests; constantly recalculate interest level, via said processor, in said initial coupon offer based at least in part on the number of purchase requests and social sharing requests received in association with said initial coupon offer; generate a modified coupon offer, via said processor, wherein said modified coupon offer has parameters of said initial coupon offer that have been modified based on said recalculated interest level and criteria provided by the merchant in said coupon generation request or set by the system; and distribute, via said communications means, said modified coupon offer to a second set of one or more consumers.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the coupon generation request further comprises information related to boundaries for minimum and maximum number of coupons to offer, price of the coupon as well as the discount given for sharing the coupon. [0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the coupon generation request further comprises information related to setting how many coupons are able to be shared for free by posting to social networks.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, said merchant processing module, said consumer processing module, said processor, said data store, and said communications means are configured to process the computer-executable code of said modules in order to: receive a redemption information request from said merchant, via said communications means, wherein said redemption information request comprises information identifying the initial offer coupon and modified coupon offer; retrieve, via said processor, said initial coupon offer and modified coupon offer from said information identifying the initial coupon offer and modified coupon offer; generate, via said processor, a redemption report from said retrieved initial coupon offer and modified coupon offer and recalculated interest level, wherein said redemption report comprises information about the purchase and interest level of a coupon; and transmit said redemption report, via said communications means, to said merchant.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, said merchant processing module, said consumer processing module, said processor, said data store, and said communications means are configured to process the computer-executable code of said modules in order to: generate, via said processor and in conjunction with said redemption report, visualization features related to activity associated with the coupon; and transmit said visualizations to said merchant, via said communications means.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, said merchant processing module, said consumer processing module, said processor, said data store, and said communications means are configured to process the computer-executable code of said modules in order to: generate, via said processor and in conjunction with said initial coupon offer, visualization features related to said initial coupon offer, selected from the group comprising value, discount, savings, time left to purchase, total remaining initial coupon offers, total purchased initial coupon offers, description of goods or services associated with the initial coupon offer and images associated with the initial coupon offer; and transmit said visualizations to said one or more consumers, via said communications means. [0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, said merchant processing module, said consumer processing module, said processor, said data store, and said communications means are configured to process the computer-executable code of said modules in order to: generate, via said processor and in conjunction with said modified coupon offer, visualization features related to said modified coupon offer, selected from the group comprising value, discount, savings, time left to purchase, total remaining initial coupon offers, total purchased initial coupon offers, description of goods or services associated with the modified coupon offer and images associated with the modified coupon offer; and transmit said visualizations to said one or more consumers, via said communications means.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for generating, providing and distributing saleable coupons from merchants to consumers and contacts of consumers, such as via one or more social media networks, comprises the steps of: receiving, via a communications means, a coupon generation request, wherein said coupon generation request comprises merchant information, initial discount information and initial coupon cost; generating, via a processor, and an initial coupon offer, wherein said initial coupon offer is based at least in part on said merchant information, initial discount information and said initial coupon cost; distributing, via said communications means, said initial coupon offer to one or more consumers; receiving, via said communications means, a plurality of purchase requests to obtain electronically providable coupons associated with said initial coupon offer; receiving, via said communications means, a plurality of social sharing requests to obtain electronically providable coupons associated with said initial offer based on electronic sharing of said initial coupon offer on social media systems by one or more of said one or more consumers; generating, via said processor, and transmit, via said communications means, a plurality of electronically providable coupons associated with said initial offer and based on said received plurality of purchase requests and plurality of social sharing requests; constantly recalculating interest level, via said processor, in said initial coupon offer based at least in part on the number of purchase requests and social sharing requests received in association with said initial coupon offer; generating a modified coupon offer, via said processor, wherein said modified coupon offer has parameters of said initial coupon offer that have been modified based on said recalculated interest level and criteria provided by the merchant in said coupon generation request or set by the system; and distributing, via said communications means, said modified coupon offer to a second set of one or more consumers.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the steps of: receiving a redemption information request from said merchant, via said communications means, wherein said redemption information request comprises information identifying the initial offer coupon and modified coupon offer; retrieving, via said processor, said initial coupon offer and modified coupon offer from said information identifying the initial coupon offer and modified coupon offer; generating, via said processor, a redemption report from said retrieved initial coupon offer and modified coupon offer and recalculated interest level, wherein said redemption report comprises information about the purchase and interest level of a coupon; and transmitting said redemption report, via said communications means, to said merchant.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the steps of: generating, via said processor and in conjunction with said redemption report, visualization features related to activity associated with the coupon; and transmitting said visualizations to said merchant, via said communications means.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the steps of: generating, via said processor and in conjunction with said initial coupon offer, visualization features related to said initial coupon offer, selected from the group comprising value, discount, savings, time left to purchase, total remaining initial coupon offers, total purchased initial coupon offers, description of goods or services associated with the initial coupon offer and images associated with the initial coupon offer; and transmitting said visualizations to said one or more consumers, via said communications means.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the steps of: generating, via said processor and in conjunction with said modified coupon offer, visualization features related to said modified coupon offer, selected from the group comprising value, discount, savings, time left to purchase, total remaining initial coupon offers, total purchased initial coupon offers, description of goods or services associated with the modified coupon offer and images associated with the modified coupon offer; and transmitting said visualizations to said one or more consumers, via said communications means. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic overview of a computing device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a network schematic of a system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic of a system for generating, providing and distributing saleable coupons from merchants to consumers and contacts of consumers, such as via one or more social media networks; and

[0022] FIG. 4, is an exemplary process flow for generating, providing and distributing saleable coupons from merchants to consumers and contacts of consumers, such as via one or more social media networks.

[0023] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a graphical user interface (GUI) provided by an exemplary system for generating, providing and distributing saleable coupons from merchants to consumers and contacts of consumers, such as via one or more social media networks.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a wireframe of a graphical user interface (GUI) for a visualization of report data provided to merchants as provided by an exemplary system for generating, providing and distributing saleable coupons from merchants to consumers and contacts of consumers, such as via one or more social media networks;

[0025] FIG. 7 is an exemplary process flow showing the continuous checking of interest level of a coupon and adjustment of pricing in relation thereto is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG 8 is an illustration of a network diagram for a cloud based portion of the system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED SPECIFICATION

[0027] The present invention generally relates to an improved system and method for providing coupons from merchants to users via an interconnected computing system. Specifically, the present invention relates to a web-based computerized system and method for generating, providing and distributing saleable coupons from merchants to consumers and contacts of consumers, such as via one or more social media networks. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the coupons are purchasable or otherwise earned through interaction with the system or one or more interconnected social media networks.

[0028] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the system and method is accomplished through the use of one or more computing devices. As shown in Fig 1, One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that a computing device 100 appropriate for use with embodiments of the present application may generally be comprised of one or more of a Central processing Unit (CPU) 101, Random Access Memory (RAM) 102, a storage medium (e.g., hard disk drive, solid state drive, flash memory, cloud storage) 103, an operating system (OS) 104, one or more application software 105, a display element 106 and one or more input/output devices/means 107. Examples of computing devices usable with embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, personal computers, smartphones, laptops, mobile computing devices, tablet PCs and servers. The term computing device may also describe two or more computing devices communicatively linked in a manner as to distribute and share one or more resources, such as clustered computing devices and server banks/farms. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that any number of computing devices could be used, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any computing device.

[0029] In an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention, data may be provided to the system, stored by the system and provided by the system to users of the system across local area networks (LANs) (e.g., office networks, home networks) or wide area networks (WANs) (e.g., the Internet). In accordance with the previous embodiment, the system may be comprised of numerous servers communicatively connected across one or more LANs and/or WANs. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous manners in which the system could be configured and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any configuration.

[0030] Referring to Fig. 2, a schematic overview of a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The system is comprised of one or more application servers 203 for electronically storing information used by the system. Applications in the server 203 may retrieve and manipulate information in storage devices and exchange information through a WAN 201 (e.g., the Internet). Applications in server 203 may also be used to manipulate information stored remotely and process and analyze data stored remotely across a WAN 201 (e.g., the Internet).

[0031] According to an exemplary embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, exchange of information through the WAN 201 or other network may occur through one or more high speed connections. In some cases, high speed connections may be over-the-air (OTA)(e.g., GSM, CDMA), passed through networked systems, directly connected to one or more WANs 201 or directed through one or more routers 202. Router(s) 202 are completely optional and other embodiments in accordance with the present invention may or may not utilize one or more routers 202. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous ways server 203 may connect to WAN 201 for the exchange of information, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any method for connecting to networks for the purpose of exchanging information. Further, while this application refers to high speed connections, embodiments of the present invention may be utilized with connections of any speed.

[0032] Components of the system may connect to server 203 via WAN 201 or other network in numerous ways. For instance, a component may connect to the system i) through a computing device 212 directly connected to the WAN 201, ii) through a computing device 205, 206 connected to the WAN 201 through a routing device 204, iii) through a computing device 208, 209, 210 connected to a wireless access point 207 or iv) through a computing device 211 via a wireless connection (e.g., CDMA, GMS, 3G, 4G) to the WAN 201. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous ways that a component may connect to server 203 via WAN 201 or other network, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any method for connecting to server 203 via WAN 201 or other network. Furthermore, server 203 could be comprised of a personal computing device, such as a smartphone, acting as a host for other computing devices to connect to.

[0033] Turning to FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a system for generating, providing and distributing saleable coupons from merchants to consumers and contacts of consumers, such as via one or more social media networks is comprised of one or more communications means 301, one or more data stores 302, a processor 303, memory 304, a merchant processing module 305 and a consumer processing module 306. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that the system may be operable with a number of optional components, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any such optional component.

[0034] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the communications means of the system may be, for instance, any means for communicating data, voice or video communications over one or more networks or to one or more peripheral devices attached to the system. Appropriate communications means may include, but are not limited to, wireless connections and, wired connections, cellular connections, data port connections, Bluetooth connections, or any combination thereof and in each case may include the circuitry required to propagate communications therethrough. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous communications means that may be utilized with embodiments of the present invention, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any communications means.

[0035] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the merchant processing module 305 is configured to receive and process information and requests related to one or more merchants utilizing the methods provided by the system. The merchant processing module is configured to allow merchants to enter information related to goods and/or services offered by a merchant, as well as parameters for the provision of coupons to be generated and offered by the system and receive data and other information related to the purchase or other consumption of coupons provided by the system to consumers. These and other features are detailed further below. [0036] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the consumer processing module 306 is configured to receive and process information and requests related to one or more consumers utilizing the methods provided by the system. The consumer processing module is configured to allow consumers to view and purchase or otherwise earn coupons from merchants that offer coupons via the system. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the system is configured to allow users to purchase coupons for a specified price or otherwise earn coupons through one or more interactions with the system or other interconnected third party systems, such as social media networks. Further, the customer processing module may be configured to receive and process information about a customer, such information can be obtained in numerous ways. For instance, customer information may be generated from an information profile that is provided by the customer or those that know the customer. Additional information may be retrieved or identified from previous coupons or transactions provided by the system or third- party systems. Information known about the customer can be utilized to optimize coupons that are offered to that customer. These and other features are detailed further below.

[0037] While the current embodiment of the present invention is shown distributed into two distinct modules (i.e., the merchant processing module 305 and the consumer processing module 306), embodiments where these modules are separated out into additional modules or the entire system could be provided via a single module. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous ways to implement the structure of the system, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any appropriate implementation.

[0038] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the system is configured to allow merchants to provide coupons to consumers via interaction with the system, such as through a website or mobile application interface. In preferred embodiments, the coupons are not offered to consumers without either (i) paying an amount to the system; (ii) taking one or more actions identified by the system; or (iii) any combination thereof.

[0039] According to an embodiment of the present invention, consumers wishing to purchase a coupon may be offered to buy the coupon for a specific price. The price may fluctuate based on the value of the coupon and the interest level in a specific coupon. For instance, a merchant may first offer a coupon for sale as a 25% off coupon at a purchase price of $1.50. As the coupon generates interest, the price of the coupon may increase (or decease). For instance, a coupon that generates a lot of interest may increase in price (e.g., $2.50, $3.50, $5.00, $7.50).

[0040] According to an embodiment of the present invention, consumers may pay for the coupons via any electronic payment means available. For instance, consumers may use ACH transfers, debit cards, credit cards, third party payment source providers (e.g., PAYPAL, GOOGLE WALLET, APPLE PAY), or any combination thereof. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous types of payment means that may be utilized with embodiments of the present invention and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any appropriate payment means.

[0041] In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the system may allow the merchant to set one or more of the following: the specific data points, price levels, interest level thresholds, discount levels for each coupon, total number of coupons to be allowed, or any combination thereof. In this manner, the merchant is provided flexibility and control over the coupon issuance and sharing process. Greater control over the process allows merchants to better estimate the cost and demand that will be placed on their business as a result of the coupon offering.

[0042] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the system may also provide users the ability to earn coupons through interaction with the system or through interaction with interconnected third party systems, such as social media networks. For instance, the system may be configured to allow users to take surveys, quizzes, read product information or other materials provided by merchants about the merchant's products or services in exchange for a coupon.

[0043] Further, in preferred embodiments, the system may offer users the ability to share the availability of the coupon on one or more interconnected social media networks, exposing the coupon to their friends, family and/or colleagues and further generating interest in the coupon. In exchange for taking these actions, the system may provide the coupon at no charge, or reduce the overall cost of the coupon to the user (e.g., reduce the cost from $3.00 to $1.50 for sharing on one or more social media networks). One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous criteria for which the system could use to determine discount of a purchase price on a coupon, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any such criteria. [0044] In certain embodiments, the system may be configured to generate and provide coupons with unique identifiers (e.g., GUIDs) that allow merchants to identify the coupon, recipient and purchase price of the coupon. In this manner, the system can provide merchants a method for not only validating the coupon is authentic, but also a method for tracking cost and effectiveness of any coupon campaign, including matching purchase date/price with interest levels at that time to see peak and off-peak coupon purchasing events. One or ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous data points that could be tracked and verified through embodiments of the present invention, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any appropriate data points.

[0045] In other embodiments, the system may be configured to allow for the generation and printing of purchased/earned coupons on computing devices of the consumer. These printed coupons may be redeemed in the same manner as completely electronic versions of the coupons. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate there are numerous methods for generating and printing physical coupons, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any appropriate means.

[0046] In certain embodiments, the system may allow merchants to validate and redeem coupons through use of a mobile application, desktop application or a browser application on any computing device. In general, this will be a computing device at the merchant's place of business and used to validate and/or redeem coupons used by consumers at the time of sale. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous methods for providing validation and redemption of coupons, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for any appropriate validation and redemption means.

[0047] In certain embodiments, the system may allow for consumers to redeem coupons via the consumer's computing device, such as via a mobile browser on a smartphone. In these embodiments, either the merchant or the consumer may be able to redeem the coupon. In some embodiments, the merchant may even redeem the coupon by using the consumer's computing device. In other embodiments, the merchant (or the consumer) may redeem the coupon through use of the merchants computing device. In still further embodiments, the redemption can be done via a computing device connected to the system website (e.g., via a web browser). In still further embodiments, the merchant may not be concerned about redeeming the coupon. [0048] Further, preferred embodiments of the present invention may provide merchants with numerous reporting and consumption metrics associated with one or more coupon offerings. Data received by the system from interaction with and by consumers will provide a wealth of data that may be encapsulated in one or more reports and provided to merchants for use in determining effectiveness of any given coupon offering. For instance, merchant data may include, but is not limited to, information related to how often a coupon is shared on social media and what social media sources are the most prevalent for any given coupon. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous types of metrics tracking and reporting features that could be offered by the system, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any appropriate metrics tracking and reporting features.

[0049] In certain embodiments, the system may allow for coupon pricing to be based on an identified value of a consumer's social standing in one or more social networks. For example, the system may be able to offer coupon pricing or discounts to coupons based on the size of a consumer's social network. Consumers with larger numbers of contacts or more significant contacts may be provided larger discounts than those with fewer contacts or contacts of less significance. In certain embodiments, the system may determine the discount to provide to any given consumer based on information received from one or more third party social networks, such as via an API. With respect to determining the significance of any particular contact, the information may take into account information about not only the consumer, but also the consumer's contacts (e.g., contact's social network size, contact's net worth, contact's income level, contact's education level). Further, the system may use other information about the consumer in determining coupon discount, including demographics of the consumer (e.g., offer larger or smaller discounts based on whether the consumer matches the target audience for a specific coupon).

[0050] Turning now to Fig. 4, an exemplary process flow for generating, providing and distributing saleable coupons from merchants to consumers and contacts of consumers, such as via one or more social media networks. The process begins at step 400 with the provision of a request for coupon generation to the system. At step 401, the system receives the coupon generation request, which would be provided by a merchant and contain information required to generate the initial coupon. In certain embodiments, the request may also include optional information, such as appropriate boundaries for minimum and maximum number of coupons, price of the coupon as well as the discount given for sharing the coupon. The merchant might also be able to set how many coupons are able to be shared for free by posting to social networks. In other embodiments, the request may be a simple request, allowing the system to generate the initial coupon without a great deal of interaction from the merchant, allowing for ease of setup and use. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous types of information that could be provided by the merchant, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any such information.

[0051] At step 402, the system generates and shares the initial coupon. The initial coupon will generally be the lowest discount and lowest cost, but in certain instances the initial coupon could be set at a point above the lowest cost/discount. For instance, the initial coupon could be set at a midpoint of cost and discount and increase or decrease in either metrics based on interest or lack thereof in the coupon (including increasing discount while decreasing cost if little to no interest occurs in the initial coupon). Sharing of the coupon could be done in any number of manners, including, but not limited to, provision via a website, provision via a mobile application, provision via email, provision via SMS/text message, provision through one or more third party providers (e.g., social networks, advertising partners).

[0052] An exemplary embodiment of an initial coupon offer can be seen in FIG. 5. In this exemplary embodiment of an initial coupon offer, information, such as images, product/service description, initial discount, value of the coupon, number of customers who have purchased the coupon, number of coupons remaining, savings, and interactive components to purchase the coupon or share the coupon, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

[0053] At step 403, the system begins to receive coupon purchase requests or requests to obtain the coupon via interaction with the system as described herein. Upon receipt of such a request, the system generates and provides the coupon to the consumer requesting the coupon (step 404) and records information related to the transaction.

[0054] At step 405, the system recalculates interest levels in the coupon and potentially modifies the cost or discount of the coupon based on criteria provided by the merchant or set by the system and interest levels based on current interactions with the coupon. This process may loop through steps 402-405 any number of times. [0055] For a working example, a consumer may visit a website provided by the system and be offered any number of coupons (e.g., 150 coupons). Coupons could, for instance, start at approximately 5% off the cash value of the discount offer and then increase to about 25% of the face value based on demand, supply and other factors. A $30 coupon at a fine restaurant could initially sell for $1.50 or the system may allow the consumer to share the availability of the coupon on one or more social media sites and get the coupon for free. However, as interest levels increase, the cost of the coupon moves to about 10%> of the value ($3.00) and once it increases past 10%> of the value the social share is no longer free but instead saves the consumer approximately 5% off the face value. So for example, a $30 coupon would start at $1.50 and the social share would get it for free until the cost of the coupon hits $3.00 at which time the share would provide a share discount of $1.50. Further, as the coupon continues to rise in price, the discount may be limited to the initial discount of $1.50, regardless of the final total price of the coupon (e.g., $7.00 coupon - $1.50 share discount = $5.50).

[0056] At step 406, the system provides information about the purchase and interest level of a coupon to the merchant and potentially other reporting features or visualization features to the merchant with respect to activity related to the coupon. An exemplary wireframe of a visualization for a merchant is shown in FIG. 6. In this FIG. 6, the merchant is provided information related to the total number of coupons offered, total redeemed by both sharing and purchase as well as metrics related to the interest level, price over time and interest over time. The process then terminates at step 407.

[0057] Turning now to FIG 7, a process flow showing the continuous checking of interest level of a coupon and adjustment of pricing in relation thereto is shown. The process starts at step 701 with the generation of an initial coupon offer. At step 702, the system sets the initial coupon cost for both the purchase requests and the social sharing. As noted above, the social sharing cost may be free or it may be some reduced price from the purchase request pricing or otherwise incentivized over the purchase request price (e.g., rewards points given for social sharing).

[0058] At step 703, the system enters the process of continuously checking interest level in the coupon to see if a change in pricing is warranted. In conjunction with continuously checking interest levels, the system will monitor to see if a threshold is exceeded that would warrant the alteration of the initial coupon offer (or later, a modified coupon offer) (step 704). [0059] If the threshold is exceeded, then the process moves to step 705, where the system will increase the cost to purchase the coupon. Increasing the price of the coupon can be handled as described herein, such as by raising the price of the coupon with respect to the total discount and the total interest level in the coupon. The process will then move to step 706, where the system will analyze and make adjustments to the social sharing price of the coupon. As noted above, at some point where interest level is great enough, even social sharing may not be enough to make the coupon free, and the social sharing will also require some form of purchase request as well.

[0060] If the threshold is not exceeded, the system may optionally move to step 707, where the system may decrease the cost of a coupon in order to attract more interest in the coupon. Similarly, at step 708, where there is not enough interest in the coupon, the social share price may also be adjusted accordingly, such as reducing it from a paid level, to a free level of offering with social sharing.

[0061] Regardless of the threshold exceeding point, the system will either continuously loop through checking interest levels and altering the coupon cost accordingly, or otherwise the system may terminate the process at step 709.

[0062] Turning now to FIG. 8, a continued schematic overview of a cloud based system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In FIG. 8, the cloud based system is shown as it may interact with users and other third party networks or APIs. For instance, a user of a mobile device 801 may be able to connect to application server 802. Application server 802 may be able to enhance or otherwise provide additional services to the user by requesting and receiving information from one or more of an external content provider API/website or other third party system 803, an third party e-commerce system 804, one or more additional merchant service providers 805 or any combination thereof. Additionally, application server 802 may be able to enhance or otherwise provide additional services to an external content provider API/website or other third party system 803, an third party e-commerce system 804, one or more additional merchant service providers 805 by providing information to those entities that is stored on a database that is connected to the application server 802. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate how accessing one or more third-party systems could augment the ability of the system described herein, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any third-party system. [0063] Throughout this disclosure and elsewhere, block diagrams and flowchart illustrations depict methods, apparatuses (i.e., systems), and computer program products. Each element of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, as well as each respective combination of elements in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, illustrates a function of the methods, apparatuses, and computer program products. Any and all such functions ("depicted functions") can be implemented by computer program instructions; by special-purpose, hardware -based computer systems; by combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions; by combinations of general purpose hardware and computer instructions; and so on - any and all of which may be generally referred to herein as a "circuit," "module," or "system."

[0064] While the foregoing drawings and description set forth functional aspects of the disclosed systems, no particular arrangement of software for implementing these functional aspects should be inferred from these descriptions unless explicitly stated or otherwise clear from the context.

[0065] Each element in flowchart illustrations may depict a step, or group of steps, of a computer-implemented method. Further, each step may contain one or more sub-steps. For the purpose of illustration, these steps (as well as any and all other steps identified and described above) are presented in order. It will be understood that an embodiment can contain an alternate order of the steps adapted to a particular application of a technique disclosed herein. All such variations and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. The depiction and description of steps in any particular order is not intended to exclude embodiments having the steps in a different order, unless required by a particular application, explicitly stated, or otherwise clear from the context.

[0066] Traditionally, a computer program consists of a finite sequence of computational instructions or program instructions. It will be appreciated that a programmable apparatus (i.e., computing device) can receive such a computer program and, by processing the computational instructions thereof, produce a further technical effect.

[0067] A programmable apparatus includes one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, embedded microcontrollers, programmable digital signal processors, programmable devices, programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, memory devices, application specific integrated circuits, or the like, which can be suitably employed or configured to process computer program instructions, execute computer logic, store computer data, and so on. Throughout this disclosure and elsewhere a computer can include any and all suitable combinations of at least one general purpose computer, special-purpose computer, programmable data processing apparatus, processor, processor architecture, and so on.

[0068] It will be understood that a computer can include a computer-readable storage medium and that this medium may be internal or external, removable and replaceable, or fixed. It will also be understood that a computer can include a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), firmware, an operating system, a database, or the like that can include, interface with, or support the software and hardware described herein.

[0069] Embodiments of the system as described herein are not limited to applications involving conventional computer programs or programmable apparatuses that run them. It is contemplated, for example, that embodiments of the invention as claimed herein could include an optical computer, quantum computer, analog computer, or the like.

[0070] Regardless of the type of computer program or computer involved, a computer program can be loaded onto a computer to produce a particular machine that can perform any and all of the depicted functions. This particular machine provides a means for carrying out any and all of the depicted functions.

[0071] Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non- exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable readonly memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. [0072] Computer program instructions can be stored in a computer-readable memory capable of directing a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner. The instructions stored in the computer-readable memory constitute an article of manufacture including computer-readable instructions for implementing any and all of the depicted functions.

[0073] A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

[0074] Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0075] The elements depicted in flowchart illustrations and block diagrams throughout the figures imply logical boundaries between the elements. However, according to software or hardware engineering practices, the depicted elements and the functions thereof may be implemented as parts of a monolithic software structure, as standalone software modules, or as modules that employ external routines, code, services, and so forth, or any combination of these. All such implementations are within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0076] In view of the foregoing, it will now be appreciated that elements of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations support combinations of means for performing the specified functions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions, program instruction means for performing the specified functions, and so on.

[0077] It will be appreciated that computer program instructions may include computer executable code. A variety of languages for expressing computer program instructions are possible, including without limitation C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, assembly language, Lisp, and so on. Such languages may include assembly languages, hardware description languages, database programming languages, functional programming languages, imperative programming languages, and so on. In some embodiments, computer program instructions can be stored, compiled, or interpreted to run on a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, a heterogeneous combination of processors or processor architectures, and so on.

[0078] In some embodiments, a computer enables execution of computer program instructions including multiple programs or threads. The multiple programs or threads may be processed more or less simultaneously to enhance utilization of the processor and to facilitate substantially simultaneous functions. By way of implementation, any and all methods, program codes, program instructions, and the like described herein may be implemented in one or more thread. The thread can spawn other threads, which can themselves have assigned priorities associated with them. In some embodiments, a computer can process these threads based on priority or any other order based on instructions provided in the program code.

[0079] Unless explicitly stated or otherwise clear from the context, the verbs "execute" and "process" are used interchangeably to indicate execute, process, interpret, compile, assemble, link, load, any and all combinations of the foregoing, or the like. Therefore, embodiments that execute or process computer program instructions, computer-executable code, or the like can suitably act upon the instructions or code in any and all of the ways just described.

[0080] The functions and operations presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. Various general-purpose systems may also be used with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to construct more specialized apparatus to perform the required method steps. The required structure for a variety of these systems will be apparent to those of skill in the art, along with equivalent variations. In addition, embodiments of the invention are not described with reference to any particular programming language. It is appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the present teachings as described herein, and any references to specific languages are provided for disclosure of enablement and best mode of embodiments of the invention. Embodiments of the invention are well suited to a wide variety of computer network systems over numerous topologies. Within this field, the configuration and management of large networks include storage devices and computers that are communicatively coupled to dissimilar computers and storage devices over a network, such as the Internet. [0081] The functions, systems and methods herein described could be utilized and presented in a multitude of languages. Individual systems may be presented in one or more languages and the language may be changed with ease at any point in the process or methods described above. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous languages the system could be provided in, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any language.

[0082] While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. The invention is capable of myriad modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.