E-couponing

At least one computer readable medium storing/one of more computer programs, the one or more computer programs comprising instructions for:

• accessing information indicating association of an electronic coupon with an account of a user of an electronic coupon system, the account including information identifying a first retail entity associated with the user and a second retail entity associated with the user, wherein the second retail entity is different than the first retail entity;
• transmitting information indicating association of the electronic coupon with the user's account to a first computer system associated with the first retail entity, wherein receipt of the information indicating association of the electronic coupon by the first computer system causes the first computer system to associate the electronic coupon with the user such that the user may redeem the electronic coupon at a retail store associated with the first retail entity upon presentation of a first user identifier;
• transmitting information indicating association of the electronic coupon with the user's account to a second computer system associated with the second retail entity, wherein the second computer system is different from the first computer system and receipt of the information indicating association of the electronic coupon by the second computer system causes the second computer system to associate the electronic coupon with the user such that the user may redeem the electronic coupon at a retail store associated with the second retail entity upon presentation of a second user identifier;
• receiving, from the first computer system, information indicating that the user has redeemed the electronic coupon at a retail store associated with the first retail entity;
• and
• in response to receiving from the first computer system, the information indicating that the user has redeemed the electronic coupon at the retail store associated with the first retail entity, transmitting cancellation information for the electronic coupon to the second computer system associated with the second retail entity, wherein receipt of the cancellation information by the second computer system causes the second computer system to cancel the redeemability of the electronic coupon by the user such that the user is prevented from redeeming the electronic coupon at a retail store associated with the second retail entity.

The at least one medium of claim 32 wherein the one or more computer programs further comprise instructions for:

• receiving information identifying a third retail entity to associate with the user's amount after accessing the information indicating association of the electronic coupon with the user's account and prior to receiving, from the first computer system, information indicating that the user has redeemed the electronic coupon at the retail store associated with the first retail entity, wherein the third retail entity is different than the first retail entity and the second retail entity;
• associating the third retail entity with the user's account in response to receiving the information identifying the third retail entity;
• transmitting information indicating that the electronic coupon is associated with the user's account to a third computer system associated with the third retail entity, wherein the third computer system is different from the first computer system and the second computer system arid receipt of the information indicating that the electronic coupon is associated with the user's account by the third computer system causes the third computer system to associate the electronic coupon with the user such that the user may redeem the electronic coupon at a retail store associated with the third retail entity upon presentation of a third user identifier;
• and
• in response to receiving, from the first computer system, the information indicating that the user has redeemed the electronic coupon at the retail store associated with the first retail entity, transmitting cancellation information for the electronic coupon to the third computer system associated with the third retail entity, wherein receipt of the cancellation information by the third computer system causes the third computer system to cancel the redeemability of the electronic coupon by the user such that the user is prevented from redeeming the electronic coupon at a retail store associated with the third retail entity.

An electronic coupon system, comprising:

• an application server;
• a messaging hub;
• a first computer system associated with a first retail entity;
• and
• a second computer system associated with a second retail entity, wherein:
• the second computer system is different from the first computer system and the second retail entity is different than the first retail entity,
• application server is configured to:
• maintain an account for a user of the electronic coupon system, the account including information associating the first retail entity and the second retail entity with the user, and
• associate an electronic coupon with the user's account;
• the messaging hub is configured to:
• access information indicating association of the electronic coupon with the user's account;
• transmit information indicating association of the electronic coupon with the user's account to the first computer system associated with the first retail entity, and
• transmit information indicating association of the electronic coupon with the user's account to the second computer system associated with the second retail entity,
• the first computer system is configured to receive the information indicating association of the electronic coupon with the user's account and, upon receipt, associate the electronic coupon with the user such that the user may redeem the electronic coupon at a retail store associated with the first retail entity upon presentation of a first user identifier,
• the second computer is configured to receive the information indicating association of the electronic coupon with the user account and, upon receipt, associate the electronic coupon with the user such that the user may redeem the electronic coupon at a retail store associated with the second retail entity upon presentation of a second user identifier,
• the first computer system is further configured to transmit information to the messaging hub indicating that the user has redeemed the electronic coupon at a retail store associated with the first retail entity,
• the messaging hub is further configured to:
• receive the information indicating that the user has redeemed the electronic coupon at the retail store associated with the first retail entity, and
• in response to receiving, from the first computer system, the information indicating that the user has redeemed the electronic coupon at the retail store associated with the first retail entity, transmit cancellation information for the electronic coupon to the second computer system associated with the second retail entity, and
• the second computer system is further configured to receive the cancellation information for the electronic coupon and, upon receipt redeemability of the electronic coupon by the user to prevent the user from redeeming the electronic coupon at a retail store associated with the second retail entity.