Method and system for transacting with network traffic

• US 20020082926A1
• Filed: 04/18/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: IdeaFlood, Inc.
• Inventors: Shuster, Gary Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 6,978,252 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0246 Traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system and method for using targeted network traffic as payment-in-kind in exchange for rights to anything that may be connected to a network, such as network-connected computer hardware and copyrighted software or content on such hardware, is disclosed. The method may be adapted for use with almost any product or service which may be tracked over a network. The system and method are for use with transactions between a user of a subject product or service and a provider of the subject product or service desiring to receive traffic to a target in exchange for it. The user, called a “traffic generator” is capable of generating network traffic to the target. The subject product or service is connected to a network. A target traffic destination is designated by the provider or sponsor of the subject, such as a web page or web site. An traffic manager application for performing steps of the method, is connected to the network. The traffic manager may be incorporated into the subject (for example, if the subject comprises a web site), or may reside in a separate device. The traffic manager is configured to receive state information from the subject, and particularly, information about the state of use of the subject, such as the extent and manner to which the subject has been used or consumed, and to correspondingly debit a traffic generator account an amount depending on its state of use. The traffic generator is provided with a unique redirection code, and causes requests containing the redirection code to be directed to the traffic manager. The traffic manager is further configured to generally receive requests over the network. When the traffic manager receives a request containing a redirection code, the traffic manager redirects the request to the target, and credits a traffic generator account an amount depending on how the traffic to the target is measured. The traffic manager retains the traffic generator account information for use by the sponsor.

Claims

1. A method for transacting with network traffic in exchange for a network-connectable subject, said method comprising the steps of:

providing the subject and a redirection code to a traffic generator;

receiving state information about the subject;

debiting a traffic generator account a debit amount related to a state of use of the subject;

receiving requests for information over a network, wherein at least selected ones of the requests contain a redirection code;

counting the at least selected ones of the requests to compute a count; and

crediting the traffic generator account a credit amount related to the count.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the traffic generator account balance to a sponsor.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising redirecting over the network the at least selected ones of said requests to at least one target designated by the sponsor.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing the subject to generate additional ones of the at least selected ones of said requests when the traffic generator account balance is less than a predetermined value.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing the state of the subject as a function of the traffic generator account value.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving requests for information step further comprises receiving the requests for information generated by a web page displayed on a client device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said first providing step further comprises providing said redirection code comprising a network address of an executable file.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said crediting step further comprises receiving traffic information from the sponsor and crediting the traffic generator account a credit amount related to the traffic information.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving state information step further comprises receiving the state information about ones of a plurality of subjects, and debiting the traffic generator account an amount related to a state of use of the ones of the plurality of subjects.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving state information step further comprises receiving the state information from a plurality of point-of-sale devices.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving state information step further comprises receiving the state information from a plurality of network-connected client devices each containing a copy of the subject.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the debiting step comprises debiting the traffic generator account a zero debit amount.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step comprises providing a subject comprised essentially of cash or a cash instrument

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the application is further configured to perform the step of providing the traffic generator account balance to a sponsor.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the application is further configured to perform the step of redirecting over the network the at least selected ones of said requests to at least one target designated by the sponsor.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the application is further configured to perform the step of causing the subject to generate additional ones of the at least selected ones of said requests when the traffic generator account balance is less than a predetermined value.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the application is further configured to perform the step of changing the state of the subject as a function of the traffic generator account value.

14. A system for transaction in network traffic in exchange for a subject, the system comprising:

a network device having a memory, and

an application in said memory, said application configured to operate on said device and to perform the steps of;

providing the subject and a redirection code to a traffic generator;

receiving state information about the subject;

debiting a traffic generator account a debit amount related to a state of use of the subject;

receiving requests for information over a network, wherein at least selected ones of the requests contain a redirection code;

counting the at least selected ones of the requests to compute a count; and

crediting the traffic generator account a credit amount related to the count.