Methods, devices, systems, and computer program products for distributing electronic coupons

A computer program product comprising a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method of distributing electronic coupons, the method comprising:

• receiving customer preferences including a customer identifier associated with at least one of a preferred vendor identifier, a preferred vendor category identifier, a preferred product/service identifier, or a preferred brand name identifier;
• receiving vendor information including at least one of a vendor identifier, a vendor category identifier, a vendor product/service identifier, a brand name identifier, or a promotional offer discount parameter;
• comparing the customer preferences with the vendor information to determine whether or not a match exists between the customer preferences and the vendor information, and if a match exists:
• generating an electronic coupon including information indicative of at least one of the preferred vendor identifier, the preferred vendor category identifier, the preferred product/service identifier, the preferred brand name identifier, or the promotional offer discount parameter.

A device or group of devices for receiving and storing electronic coupons, the device or group of devices including:

• an input mechanism for specifying customer preferences including at least one of a preferred vendor identifier, a preferred vendor category identifier, a preferred product/service identifier, or a preferred brand name identifier;
• a communications mechanism, operatively coupled to the input mechanism, for transmitting the specified customer preferences to a communications network, and for receiving at least one electronic coupon from the communications network, the electronic coupon including at least one of the preferred vendor identifier, the preferred vendor category identifier, the preferred brand name identifier, or a promotional offer discount parameter;
• a computer-readable storage mechanism;
• a processing mechanism, operatively coupled to the communications mechanism and to the computer-readable storage mechanism, for storing the electronic coupon in the computer-readable storage medium;
• and
• an output mechanism, operatively coupled to the processing mechanism, for performing at least one of:
• (a) electronically displaying information indicative of at least one of the preferred vendor identifier, the preferred vendor category identifier, the preferred brand name identifier, or the promotional offer discount parameter, (b) outputting the electronic coupon to a data communications port, or (c) generating a printout indicative of at least one of the preferred vendor identifier, the preferred vendor category identifier, the preferred brand name identifier, or the promotional offer discount parameter.