Electronic discount and rebate coupon system

1) A method for one or more entities to create, distribute and redeem electronic coupons through an electronic coupon system comprising:

• (a) an electronic coupon repository where said entities deposit electronic coupons they create;
• (b) a means where said deposited coupons are distributed to various accounts of consumers who have subscribed to said coupon system
• (c) Providing a means where consumers who subscribe to said electronic coupon system are assigned a coupon account at said coupon repository;
• (d) providing a means for identifying said recipient account including barcode key tags or plastic credit card like devices or any other suitable account identifying device that can be read by machine or human;
• (e) providing a means whereby said consumers may be notified by various means when coupons are deposited into their accounts including but not limited to email, direct mail, phone or website;
• (f) said electronic coupons
• 1) include but not limited to the following uses, as discounts, rebates, and gift certificates, and
• 2) consists of data elements including the issuer, expiration date, monetary value, other data representing coupon terms and conditions;
• (g) providing a means where said subscriber wishing to redeem said electronic coupons that are deposited in their account visits various entities including retail and online stores where said subscriber presents said identifying device to said redeeming entity thereby allowing said entities to identify and access the coupon account of said subscriber through various means to determine if there are any coupons that are redeemable and if there are said redeeming entity redeems the coupons
• (h) providing a means where said coupon repository notifies coupon issuers through various means whenever said issuers coupons are redeemed such that said entities can use said notification to make any necessary adjustments to current or future electronic coupon campaigns
• (i) said notification to said coupon issuers include information about the redeemer, the entity where said coupon was redeemed, date and time said coupon was redeemed or any other useful information to said issuers thereby allowing said entities to create electronic coupon campaigns by creating, distributing and redeeming said coupons electronically including quickly gather information about said coupons from the time said coupons are issued until said coupons have expired or are redeemed whereby said entities can use said information to make adjustments to ongoing or future electronic coupon campaigns.