Patent ID: 8626581

Claim:
A network-based method for distributing coupons, comprising: storing, in a database, demographic data for a user along with a unique ID number; transmitting to a device associated with the user, for display, information regarding one or more available coupons; receiving, from a computer at a retail location, redemption data corresponding to at least one coupon presented by the user for redemption at the retail location, wherein the redemption data includes the unique ID number; determining, by a computer in communication with the database, whether a number of times that the at least one coupon has been redeemed by the user is greater than a predetermined number of times specified for the at least one coupon; and denying authorization to further redeem the at least one coupon if it is determined that the number of times that the at least one coupon has been redeemed by the user is greater than the predetermined number of times.