System and Method for Influencing a Computer Generated Search Result List
First Claim
1. A method of generating a search result list in response to a search request from a searcher, comprising:
- (a) maintaining a database of search listings each associated with an advertiser, wherein each search listing is associated with;
(i) a network location or other contact information;
(ii) at least one search term; and
(iii) an advertiser bid amount that is modifiable according to a comparison between a geographical location specified by a searcher and geographical location attributes specified by the advertiser;
(b) receiving a search request from the searcher;
(c) identifying the search listings having search terms generating a match with the search request;
(d) ordering the identified search listings into a search result list in accordance with an algorithm applied to each search listing which algorithm includes a location variable component having a value that depends upon the geographical location attributes specified by the advertiser compared to a location specified by the searcher;
(e) receiving a request from the searcher to retrieve information associated with a search listing in the search result list generated at step (d); and
(f) recording the retrieval request event including account identification information corresponding to the advertiser and calculating an advertiser charge amount based upon the advertiser bid amount, to permit maintenance of accurate advertiser account records.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of generating a search result list in response to a search request from a searcher, comprising: (a) maintaining a database of search listings each associated with an advertiser, wherein each search listing is associated with; (i) a network location or other contact information; (ii) at least one search term; and (iii) an advertiser bid amount that is modifiable according to a comparison between a geographical location specified by a searcher and geographical location attributes specified by the advertiser; (b) receiving a search request from the searcher; (c) identifying the search listings having search terms generating a match with the search request; (d) ordering the identified search listings into a search result list in accordance with an algorithm applied to each search listing which algorithm includes a location variable component having a value that depends upon the geographical location attributes specified by the advertiser compared to a location specified by the searcher; (e) receiving a request from the searcher to retrieve information associated with a search listing in the search result list generated at step (d); and (f) recording the retrieval request event including account identification information corresponding to the advertiser and calculating an advertiser charge amount based upon the advertiser bid amount, to permit maintenance of accurate advertiser account records.
90 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of generating a search result list in response to a search request from a searcher, comprising:
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(a) maintaining a database of search listings each associated with an advertiser, wherein each search listing is associated with;
(i) a network location or other contact information;
(ii) at least one search term; and
(iii) an advertiser bid amount that is modifiable according to a comparison between a geographical location specified by a searcher and geographical location attributes specified by the advertiser;
(b) receiving a search request from the searcher;
(c) identifying the search listings having search terms generating a match with the search request;
(d) ordering the identified search listings into a search result list in accordance with an algorithm applied to each search listing which algorithm includes a location variable component having a value that depends upon the geographical location attributes specified by the advertiser compared to a location specified by the searcher;
(e) receiving a request from the searcher to retrieve information associated with a search listing in the search result list generated at step (d); and
(f) recording the retrieval request event including account identification information corresponding to the advertiser and calculating an advertiser charge amount based upon the advertiser bid amount, to permit maintenance of accurate advertiser account records. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of enabling an advertiser to update information relating to a search listing on a search result list generated by a computer network search engine, comprising the steps of:
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(A) maintaining an account database having at least one account record for each of a plurality of advertisers, the account record including;
(a) at least one search listing including;
(i) a network location or other contact information;
(ii) at least one search term; and
(iii) an advertiser bid amount that is modifiable according to a comparison between a geographical location specified by a searcher and geographical location attributes specified by the advertiser;
(b) an account balance;
(c) a history of search listings;
(d) payment processing information, wherein said payment processing information is accessible to the computer system and isolated from public access via the computer network; and
(e) a payment history;
(B) receiving from an advertiser a change request for a search listing in the advertiser account record;
(C) updating the search listing in the advertiser account record in response to the change request; and
(D) determining a position for the updated search listing in a search result list generated by the search engine in response to a search request received from a searcher using the computer network;
(E) calculating the position of the updated search listing in the search result list using an algorithm applied to each search listing which algorithm includes a location variable component having a value that depends upon the geographical location attributes specified by the advertiser compared to a location specified by the searcher. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of enabling an advertiser to update information relating to a search listing on a search result list generated by a computer network search engine substantially in real time in response to a search request received from a remote computer over the computer network, comprising the steps of:
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(A) maintaining an account database having at least one account record for each of a plurality of advertisers, the account record including;
(a) at least one search listing including;
(i) a network location or other contact information;
(ii) at least one search term; and
(iii) an advertiser bid amount that is modifiable according to a comparison between a geographical location specified by a searcher and geographical location attributes specified by the advertiser;
(b) an account identifier; and
(c) other search listings against which is set the rank of the aforesaid search listing;
(B) providing the advertiser with authenticated login access, wherein the advertiser'"'"'s login access permits the advertiser to modify their account record;
(C) modifying a search listing of the account record upon receiving a request from said advertiser; and
(D) generating a search result list comprised of search listings wherein the search term and geographical location attributes for each search listing are matched to the search request, the search listings in the search result list being ordered in accordance with an algorithm applied to each search listing which algorithm includes a location variable component having a value to that depends upon the geographical location attributes specified by the advertiser compared to a location specified by the searcher. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of enabling an advertiser to update information relating to a search listing on a search result list generated by a computer network search engine in response to a search request received from a remote computer over the computer network, comprising the steps of:
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(A) maintaining an account database having at least one account record for each of a plurality of advertisers, the account record including;
(a) at least one search listing including;
(i) a network location or other contact information;
(ii) at least one search term; and
(iii) an advertiser bid amount that is modifiable according to a comparison between a geographical location specified by a searcher and geographical location attributes specified by the advertiser;
(b) an account identifier;
(b1) an account balance;
(b2) payment processing information for the advertiser, said payment processing information maintained isolated from public access via the computer network;
(b3) a payment history;
(b4) a history of search listings; and
(c) other search listings against which is set the rank of the search listing;
(B) providing the advertiser with authenticated login access, wherein the advertiser'"'"'s login access permits the advertiser to modify their account record;
(C) modifying a search listing of the account record upon receiving a request from said advertiser and later exporting that listing to a listing index for searching;
(D) receiving a search request, the search request including at least one keyword, and a location the search request being received over the Internet from a searcher at a remote computer; and
(E) generating a search result list comprised of search listings wherein the search term and geographical location attributes for each search are matched to the search request, the search listings in the search result list being ordered in accordance with an algorithm applied to each search listing which algorithm includes a location variable component having a value that depends upon the geographical location attributes specified by the advertiser compared to a location specified by the searcher.
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Specification