Abstract: In an embodiment, a method comprises receiving an indication that a user selected social network data that is displayed, on a client device, concurrently with offer data that indicates a coupon offer; wherein prior to receiving the indication, the user of the client device is incapable of accessing the coupon offer; in response to receiving the indication that the user selected the social network data, allowing the user to access the coupon offer, and causing a message to be sent to each user of a plurality of users that are identified, in a social network, as connected to the user, wherein the message includes data about the coupon offer or a coupon provider that initiated the coupon offer; wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

Abstract: A method for distributing digital coupons via a television program, such as a commercial, are described. The method includes enabling insertion of a visual indicator into a television program that advertises a product. The television program is presented to users, such that the visual indicator is indicative of a coupon offer being available for the product being advertised. The method includes enabling addition of the coupon offer to the first user's loyalty card associated with a first retailer. The method includes enabling addition of the coupon offer to the second user's loyalty card associated with a second retailer. The coupon offer is available for redemption at the first and second retailers.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method comprises performing a first search based on a first text string; based on the first search, identifying one or more search results; after identifying the one or more search results, causing the one or more search results to be displayed; while the one or more search results are displayed: receiving input that changes the first text string to a modified text string; in response to receiving the input: performing a second search based, at least in part, on a portion of the modified text string, and determining that no search results are identified based on the second search; after determining that no search results are identified based on the second search, continuing to display the one or more search results; wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

Abstract: A client device detects a QR code (or NFC tag). The client device decodes the QR code. The client device determines that the data encoded within the QR code includes a URL. Based on the URL, the client device sends a first request to a first server identified by the URL. In response to the first request, the client device receives from the first server data configured to cause the client device to display, to a user of the client device, at least one of: a video or an interactive web page. Responsive to the data encoded in the QR code, the client device sends to a coupon server: identification data associated with a user of the client device, and a request for the coupon server to distribute a digital coupon for an offer associated with an identifier encoded within the QR code to an account associated with the user.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method comprises receiving an indication that a user selected social network data that is displayed, on a client device, concurrently with offer data that indicates a coupon offer; wherein prior to receiving the indication, the user of the client device is incapable of accessing the coupon offer; in response to receiving the indication that the user selected the social network data, allowing the user to access the coupon offer, and causing a message to be sent to each user of a plurality of users that are identified, in a social network, as connected to the user, wherein the message includes data about the coupon offer or a coupon provider that initiated the coupon offer; wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method comprises analyzing a string of text that was generated based on audio input, identifying a plurality of text segments, wherein each text segment of the plurality of text segments comprises one or more words in the string of text, wherein at least one of the plurality of segments comprises a plurality of words, and organizing the plurality of text segments into a list of items, wherein each segment is a separate item in the list.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method comprises receiving, at a social network coupon platform, a request to display coupon data regarding a particular coupon that is provided by a coupon provider, wherein a user that is registered with a social network provider initiated the request; in response to receiving the request, sending, from the social network coupon platform, the coupon data to be displayed to the user; receiving, at the social network coupon platform, from the social network provider, profile data that includes profile information of the user; in response to receiving the profile data, allowing the user access to the particular coupon; wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method comprises receiving an indication that a user selected social network data that is displayed, on a client device, concurrently with offer data that indicates a coupon offer; wherein prior to receiving the indication, the user of the client device is incapable of accessing the coupon offer; in response to receiving the indication that the user selected the social network data, allowing the user to access the coupon offer, and causing a message to be sent to each user of a plurality of users that are identified, in a social network, as connected to the user, wherein the message includes data about the coupon offer or a coupon provider that initiated the coupon offer; wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

Abstract: A method for integrating television brand advertising with promotional marketing includes providing an image to be displayed in different television commercials for products from different advertisers, the image indicating a website; and providing at the website coupon offers for the products from the different advertisers. The image will alert a viewer of the television commercial that a special coupon offer is available at a website. The viewer will go to the website and be able to select from one or more coupon offers available to consumers in their market area. The consumer then prints the coupons, or adds credit to a coupon card, which is then redeemed at the retailer. The system allows for Point Of Sale (POS) redemption, or more traditional redemption through a coupon clearinghouse.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for generating, by a coupon distributor, a score that represents a quality of a coupon campaign that a coupon provider offers to the coupon distributor. The score may be generated based on the brand of the product, the product category to which the product belongs, the coupon value, and the percentage discount reflected by the coupon. One or more of these factors may be based on historical data that indicates the success (or failure) of previous coupon campaigns (e.g., of the same product, brand, and/or product category, and/or similar coupon value). The coupon distributor uses the score to, e.g., determine whether to accept a proposed coupon campaign, project the number of prints/redemptions of the coupon campaign, determine how to present the coupon, determine an amount to charge for running the coupon campaign, and/or determine products or product categories of coupons to which the coupon distributor should seek.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for determining, by a coupon distributor, a value for a coupon of a product or service that will be provided by a coupon provider. The coupon provider provides, to the coupon distributor, one or both of a budget value that indicates an amount the coupon provider is willing to pay the coupon distributor for distributing the coupon, and a redemption rate that indicates one or more target redemption rates. The coupon provider uses a coupon value equation to calculate the coupon value based on a budget value and a redemption rate. The coupon provider might estimate that no coupon value will allow the coupon provider to stay within the budget and ensure that the actual redemption rate will be close to a particular redemption rate, which may or may not be specified by the coupon distributor.

Abstract: A data distribution system which includes business groups, a client system and a main database system is described. Coupons and coupon data may be exchanged between the business groups, the client system and the main database system. Each coupon being exchanged may include one or more fraud protection features that can neither be altered nor tampered by users, consumers or retailers.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for allowing a user to access a coupon. In one approach, a social network coupon platform receives a request to display coupon data regarding a particular coupon that is provided by a coupon provider, wherein a user that is registered with a social network provider initiated the request. In response to receiving the request, sending the coupon data is sent form the social network coupon platform to be displayed to the user. Profile data that includes profile information of the user is received at the social network coupon platform from the social network provider. In response to receiving the profile data, the user is allowed access to the particular coupon.

Abstract: State-based approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for recommending items to a user. A method comprises detecting a user state, from a plurality of different enumerated user states, based on items that the user recently selected, and/or location data. Based upon the detected user state, a particular algorithm, from a plurality of algorithms, is selected for recommending items. Information about the recommended items is presented to the user. Responsive to presenting the information about the recommended items, input is received selecting one or more of the recommended items for at least one of: adding to a shopping list, or requesting a coupon. Examples of possible detected user states include a recipe state, a grocery shopping state, and a quick shopping-run state. In an embodiment, state detection occurs at a client device, such as a smartphone featuring a shopping list management application or coupon application. A server-side recommendation engine provides recommendations.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for determining, by a coupon distributor, a value for a coupon of a product or service that will be provided by a coupon provider. The coupon provider provides, to the coupon distributor, one or both of a budget value that indicates an amount the coupon provider is willing to pay the coupon distributor for distributing the coupon, and a redemption rate that indicates one or more target redemption rates. The coupon provider uses a coupon value equation to calculate the coupon value based on a budget value and a redemption rate. The coupon provider might estimate that no coupon value will allow the coupon provider to stay within the budget and ensure that the actual redemption rate will be close to a particular redemption rate, which may or may not be specified by the coupon distributor.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for generating, by a coupon distributor, a score that represents a quality of a coupon campaign that a coupon provider offers to the coupon distributor. The score may be generated based on the brand of the product, the product category to which the product belongs, the coupon value, and the percentage discount reflected by the coupon. One or more of these factors may be based on historical data that indicates the success (or failure) of previous coupon campaigns (e.g., of the same product, brand, and/or product category, and/or similar coupon value). The coupon distributor uses the score to, e.g., determine whether to accept a proposed coupon campaign, project the number of prints/redemptions of the coupon campaign, determine how to present the coupon, determine an amount to charge for running the coupon campaign, and/or determine products or product categories of coupons to which the coupon distributor should seek.

Abstract: A data distribution system which includes business groups, a client system and a main database system is described. Coupons and coupon data may be exchanged between the business groups, the client system and the main database system. Each coupon being exchanged may include one or more fraud protection features that can neither be altered nor tampered by users, consumers or retailers.

Abstract: During a transaction involving a customer purchasing items at a terminal, one or more of coupon data, basket data, or a token are transferred between the terminal and a mobile device associated with the customer, via a proximity-based link. The proximity-based link may be established, without limitation, via NFC, RFID, or other short-range interfaces. For example, a customer may place an NFC component embedded in the customer's mobile device near an NFC component of the terminal. Various techniques are described for causing one or more coupons to be applied to the transaction based on the information transferred over the proximity-based link.

Abstract: A client device detects a QR code (or NFC tag). The client device decodes the QR code. The client device determines that the data encoded within the QR code includes a URL. Based on the URL, the client device sends a first request to a first server identified by the URL. In response to the first request, the client device receives from the first server data configured to cause the client device to display, to a user of the client device, at least one of: a video or an interactive web page. Responsive to the data encoded in the QR code, the client device sends to a coupon server: identification data associated with a user of the client device, and a request for the coupon server to distribute a digital coupon for an offer associated with an identifier encoded within the QR code to an account associated with the user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided that include techniques for searching a database. One method includes receiving one or more input search terms and providing a database. The database maps at least one search term to at least one coupon. The method further includes identifying one or more coupons in the database based on the received input search terms. The method further includes selecting one or more coupons from the identified coupons. A given coupon can be selected based on a number of times the given coupon has been previously printed. A given coupon can also be selected based on a number of times the given coupon has been previously redeemed. The method further includes presenting one or more coupons to the user where the presented one or more coupons include the selected one or more coupons.