LINK EXCHANGE SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
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1. A computerized method for automatically reciprocally exchanging links between a first website'"'"'s link page and a second website'"'"'s link page via an intermediary website, comprising the steps of:
- storing first link information related to the first website, the first website being associated with an owner of a first account on the intermediary website;
storing second link information related to the second website, the second website being associated with an owner of a second account on the intermediary website;
accepting first filter criteria from at least one of the website account owners, the first filter criteria forming at least one whitelist, the at least one whitelist being associated with the website belonging to the at least one of the website account owners;
accepting second filter criteria from at least one of the website account owners, the second filter criteria forming at least one blacklist, the at least one blacklist being associated with the website belonging to the at least one of the website account owners;
comparing the first and second link information to the first filter criteria in the at least one whitelist, the comparing being done automatically by the intermediary website;
comparing the first and second link information to the second filter criteria in the at least one blacklist, the comparing being done automatically by the intermediary website; and
creating reciprocal links between the first and second account owner'"'"'s websites only if the first website link information and the second website link information is absent from the criteria on the at least one blacklist and only if at least one item of the first website link information or the second website information appears on the at least one whitelist, the creating being done by the intermediary website through a network.
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Abstract
The link exchange system and method 100 automatically creates links between web sites. Specifically, the method of creating links includes providing an account Owner the opportunity to create and manage whitelists 111 and blacklists 116 which are used as filters to automatically accept or decline a proposed link according to criteria set forth in the respective lists. If the link request is accepted, the link is created on the account Owner'"'"'s link page(s).
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A computerized method for automatically reciprocally exchanging links between a first website'"'"'s link page and a second website'"'"'s link page via an intermediary website, comprising the steps of:
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storing first link information related to the first website, the first website being associated with an owner of a first account on the intermediary website; storing second link information related to the second website, the second website being associated with an owner of a second account on the intermediary website; accepting first filter criteria from at least one of the website account owners, the first filter criteria forming at least one whitelist, the at least one whitelist being associated with the website belonging to the at least one of the website account owners; accepting second filter criteria from at least one of the website account owners, the second filter criteria forming at least one blacklist, the at least one blacklist being associated with the website belonging to the at least one of the website account owners; comparing the first and second link information to the first filter criteria in the at least one whitelist, the comparing being done automatically by the intermediary website; comparing the first and second link information to the second filter criteria in the at least one blacklist, the comparing being done automatically by the intermediary website; and creating reciprocal links between the first and second account owner'"'"'s websites only if the first website link information and the second website link information is absent from the criteria on the at least one blacklist and only if at least one item of the first website link information or the second website information appears on the at least one whitelist, the creating being done by the intermediary website through a network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A link exchange website, comprising:
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a server computer; a data storage medium connected to the computer; means for connecting the server computer to a network; and server software operable on the server computer, the server software including; means for publishing a website on the network; means for registering a plurality of account owners, the account owners being owners of websites connected to the network; means for receiving and storing link information for establishing a link on a link page on each of the registered account owners'"'"' websites; means for receiving and storing whitelist filter criteria from each of the registered account owners, the whitelist filter criteria designating acceptable conditions for creating a reciprocal link exchange with another website; means for receiving and storing blacklist filter criteria from each of the registered account owners, the blacklist filter criteria designating conditions for refusing a reciprocal link exchange with another website; means for comparing the whitelist and blacklist filter criteria, if any, of any two of the registered account owners to the link information provided by the two registered account owners; and means for creating reciprocal links to each other websites when the two registered account owners'"'"' link information is absent from the blacklist filter criteria and at least one item of the two account owners'"'"' link information appears on the whitelist filter criteria. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer product for automatically reciprocally exchanging links between a first website'"'"'s link page and a second website'"'"'s link page via an intermediary website, the product comprising a medium readable by a computer, the medium having a set of computer-readable instructions stored thereon executable by a processor when loaded into main memory, the instructions including:
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a first set of instructions that, when loaded into main memory and executed by the processor, cause the processor to store first link information related to the first website, the first website being associated with an owner of a first account on the intermediary website; a second set of instructions that, when loaded into main memory and executed by the processor, cause the processor to store second link information related to the second website, the second website being associated with an owner of a second account on the intermediary website; a third set of instructions that, when loaded into main memory and executed by the processor, cause the processor to accept first filter criteria from at least one of the website account owners, the first filter criteria forming at least one whitelist, the at least one whitelist being associated with the website belonging to the at least one of the website account owners; a fourth set of instructions that, when loaded into main memory and executed by the processor, cause the processor to accept fourth filter information from the administrator of the intermediary website, the fourth filter criteria forming at least one global blacklist applicable across all account owners'"'"' websites; a fifth set of instructions that, when loaded into main memory and executed by the processor, cause the processor to compare the first and second link information to the first filter criteria in the at least one whitelist, the comparing being done automatically by the intermediary website; a sixth set of instructions that, when loaded into main memory and executed by the processor, cause the processor to compare the first and second link information to the second filter criteria in the at least one blacklist, the comparing being done automatically by the intermediary website; and a seventh set of instructions that, when loaded into main memory and executed by the processor, cause the processor to create reciprocal links between the first and second account owner'"'"'s websites only if the first website link information and the second website link information is absent from the criteria on the at least one blacklist and only if at least one item of the first website link information or the second website information appears on the at least one whitelist, the creating being done by the intermediary website through a network. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification