System and Method of Distributing a Coupon

A method of distributing an electronic coupon in response to a request from a user using a computer network, comprising:

• maintaining a database including one or more coupon campaign records associated with one or more advertisers, wherein the coupon campaign record is associated with an advertiser credit amount;
• receiving a coupon request from an indicating user for a coupon associated with a coupon record in the database via the computer network;
• providing to the indicating user the coupon corresponding to the coupon request;
• subtracting a coupon redemption amount from the advertiser credit account associated with the coupon when the coupon is redeemed.

A system for enabling an advertiser using a computer network to distribute a coupon comprising:

• a computer system having stored thereon
• a database having at least one account record for each of a plurality of advertisers using the computer network, the account record including:
• at least one coupon record having a coupon and a coupon identifier;
• an account balance;
• payment processing information, wherein said payment processing information is accessible to the computer system and isolated from public access via the computer network;
• and
• a payment history;
• programming code on the computer system for providing the advertiser with login access in response to authentication, wherein the advertiser's login access grants the advertiser access to modify the advertiser's account, the advertiser not being provided with access to modify the accounts of others;
• programming code on the computer system for adding money to the account of an advertiser in substantially real time upon receiving a request from said advertiser;
• programming code on said computer system for adding a coupon to an account of an advertiser in substantially real time upon receiving a request from said advertiser;
• programming code on said computer system for deactivating a coupon related to an account of an advertiser in substantially real time upon receiving a request from said advertiser;
• programming code on said computer system for modifying in substantially real time a coupon listing of an advertiser upon receiving a request from said advertiser;
• programming code on the computer system for generating in substantially real time an activity report for an advertiser receiving a request from said advertiser;
• programming code on the computer system for receiving a coupon request from an indicating user for a coupon associated with a coupon record in the database, the coupon request being received over the computer network from a remote computer;
• programming code on the computer system for subtracting a coupon distribution amount from the account balance of the advertiser associated with the coupon to be distributed;
• and
• programming code on the computer system for distributing the coupon corresponding to the coupon request of the indicating user over the computer network.

A system for enabling an advertiser using a computer network to distribute a coupon comprising:

• a computer system having:
• a processor;
• a memory signal connected to the processor;
• the memory having at least one coupon record associated with an advertiser and an advertiser account balance, the coupon records having a coupon and a coupon identifier;
• the memory capable of storing function instructions executable by the processor;
• an authentication function stored on the memory for providing the advertiser with login access in response to authentication, wherein the advertiser's login access grants the advertiser access to modify the advertiser's account;
• an add money function stored on the memory for adding money to the account of an advertiser in substantially real time upon receiving a request from said advertiser;
• an add coupon function stored on the memory for adding a coupon to an account of an advertiser upon receiving a request from said advertiser;
• a request receiving function stored on the memory for receiving a coupon request from an indicating user for a coupon associated with a coupon record in the database, the coupon request being received over the computer network from the remote computer through an interface that is publicly accessible without authentication;
• an account debit function stored on the memory for subtracting a coupon distribution amount from the account balance of the advertizing user associated with the coupon to be distributed;
• a coupon distribution function stored on the memory for distributing the coupon corresponding to the coupon request of the indicating user over the computer network;
• a coupon deactivation function stored on the memory for deactivating a coupon related to an account of an advertiser;
• an advertising user account redemption debit function stored on the memory for subtracting a coupon redemption amount from the advertiser credit account associated with the coupon when the coupon is redeemed or after the coupon is redeemed.

A system for enabling an advertiser using a computer network to distribute a coupon comprising:

• a computer system having:
• a processor;
• a memory signal connected to the processor;
• the memory having at least one coupon record and at least one user record;
• coupon record is associated with an advertiser;
• the indicating user record is associated with an indicating user and an indicating user account balance;
• the coupon record having a coupon and a coupon identifier;
• the memory capable of storing function instructions executable by the processor;
• an authentication function stored on the memory for providing the indicating user with login access in response to authentication, wherein the indicating user login access grants the indicating user access to modify the indicating user's account;
• an indicating user add money function stored on the memory for adding money to the account of an indicating user in substantially real time upon receiving a request from said indicating user;
• an add coupon function stored on the memory for adding a coupon to an account of an advertiser upon receiving a request from said advertiser;
• a request receiving function stored on the memory for receiving a coupon request from an indicating user for a coupon associated with a coupon record in the database, the coupon request being received over the computer network from the remote computer through an interface;
• an indicating user account debit function stored on the memory for subtracting a indicating user coupon distribution amount from the account balance of the indicating user associated with the coupon request;
• and
• a coupon distribution function stored on the memory for distributing the coupon corresponding to the coupon request of the indicating user over the computer network.