Patent ID: 7769634

Claim:
An e-coupon distribution method for distributing e-coupons redeemable for value in the purchase of goods or services from a seller, comprising: receiving a request from a mobile electronic device of a user to browse at least one e-coupon; receiving location information for the requesting mobile electronic device; determining at least one seller local to the location of the mobile electronic device and at least one corresponding e-coupon available from said at least one seller; sending e-coupon availability data to the mobile electronic device in response to the user request; receiving a request from the mobile electronic device for at least one e-coupon of a seller from among those identified in the e-coupon availability data sent to the mobile electronic device; determining whether to provide said requested seller's e-coupon to the mobile electronic device in response to the request by determining the number of pending mobile requests for the seller's e-coupons during a processing cycle; calculating an initial threshold number of requests for the processing cycle based at least in part on the advertising cost associated with the distribution of the c-coupon, the seller's profit margin for the goods or services associated with the e-coupon and estimated rates of e-coupon redemption, so that the threshold number of distributed c-coupons will provide the minimum estimated number of redemptions necessary to make expected returns from redeemed e-coupons greater than advertising costs, authorizing the provision of said e-coupon when the number of pending mobile requests during the processing cycle is equal to or greater than the threshold number; and sending said e-coupon to the mobile electronic device upon authorization.