Advertising, compensation and service host apparatus, method and system

• US 6,976,003 B1
• Filed: 06/22/2000
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wk Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wk Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Helton, Mike D., Hamor, Alan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myhre, James W.
• Application Number:
  US09/598,458
• Time in Patent Office: 2,000 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14
• US Class Current: 705/14.46
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0247 Calculate past, present or future revenues
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

A system and method for providing advertising sponsorship for content providers is described. The sponsorship derives revenue from a pool of revenue that is collected from participating sponsors. A functional host system containing a sponsor is served to a client for the duration of the client session. The host system tracks client impressions associated with a content provider'"'"'s content during client browsing. When all of the impressions are collected and attributed to the respective content providers, a compensation value is distributed to each content provider. The value is determined by dividing the revenue pool by the number of impressions attributed to the content provider. The functional host further provides a host redemption system that allows clients to further utilize the hosts in trades, swaps, or barters.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a) determining a revenue pool comprised of an amount paid by a plurality of advertisers, sponsors and other revenue sources prior to receiving or considering client impressions related to content;

b) transmitting over an electronic network a functional host with client control features to a client requesting content data;

c) transmitting over an electronic network at least one content page from at least one content provider, along with the functional host, to the client;

d) receiving client impressions related to the at least one content page through the functional host; and

e) calculating content provider revenue that is comprised of the revenue pool divided by the total number of client impressions counted on the at least one content page from at least one content provider, wherein the revenue pool is not dependent on client impressions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the client control features include functions to print content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the client control features include functions to save content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the client control features include functions to remotely transmit content.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the client control features include functions to search content.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the client control features include functions to print, save, search, transmit content.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the counting of an impression occurs each time the client is delivered at least one content page from at least one content provider, and other similar client activities.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the counting of an impression occurs each time the client prints at least one content page from at least one content provider, and other similar client activities.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the counting of an impression occurs each time the client saves at least one content page from at least one content provider, and other similar client activities.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the counting of an impression occurs each time the client remotely transmits at least one content page from at least one content provider.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the host is always visible to the client when active.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein advertising content is associated with the content page based on at least one of a client profile, preferences, content page and content location.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein advertising content is associated with the content page based on at least one of the content being accessed by the client.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein advertising content is associated with the content page based on at least one of the at least one content page from at least one content provider delivered to the client.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein revenue pool comprises the total number of advertisement spots, multiplied by the price per advertisement.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the value of designated client activity in the content provider'"'"'s content.

17. A method comprising:

a) determining a revenue pool comprised of an amount paid by a plurality of advertisers, sponsors and other revenue sources prior to receiving or considering client impressions related to content;

b) transmitting over an electronic network content from a plurality of content providers to a client;

c) receiving client impressions of the content distributed by the plurality of content providers; and

d) distributing revenue from the revenue pool, wherein each content provider'"'"'s share would be equal to the revenue pool divided by the total number of impressions received for all content providers and then multiplied by the total number of impressions received by each content provider, and the revenue pool is not dependent on client impressions.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein calculating revenue for the revenue pool is accomplished by multiplying the number of advertising spots by the price per advertisement.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the counting of client impressions include actions where the client is delivered a content page from a content provider.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the counting of client impressions include actions where the client prints a content page from a content provider.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the counting of client impressions include actions where the client saves a content page from a content provider.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the counting of client impressions include actions where the client transmits a content page from a content provider.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the counting of client impressions include actions where the client initiates a search from content page from a content provider.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the counting of client impressions include actions where the client:

(1) is delivered a content page from a content provider, (2) prints a content page from a content provider, (3) saves a content page from a content provider, (4) transmits a content page from a content provider.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining the value of designated client activity in the content provider'"'"'s content.

26. A system for providing advertiser-sponsored content in a global content center comprising:

a) means for determining a revenue pool comprised of an amount paid from a plurality of advertisers, sponsors and other revenue sources prior to receiving or considering client impressions related to content;

b) means for associating advertisements with a client profile, preference, content page and content location in the global content center;

c) means for serving associated advertisements to a client host;

d) means for counting client impressions of content on the global content center; and

e) means for distributing revenue from the revenue pool to content providers depending on the number of client impressions counted for each content provider, wherein the revenue pool is not dependent on client impressions.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein an impression is counted when a client:

(1) is delivered a content page;

(2) prints a content page;

(3) saves a content page;

(4) transmits a content page.

28. Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, comprising:

a) code to determine an advertiser-generated revenue pool comprised of an amount paid by a plurality of advertisers, sponsors and other revenue sources prior to receiving or considering client impressions related to content;

b) code to determine the number of client impressions on a content provider'"'"'s content;

c) code to access the advertiser-generated revenue pool; and

d) code to determine a value of compensation for the content provider by processing client impressions in relation to the advertiser-generated revenue pool, wherein the advertiser-generated revenue pool is not dependent on client impressions.

29. Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium as in claim 28, wherein further code is added to determine value of designated client activity in the content provider'"'"'s content.

30. Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, comprising:

a) code to determine an advertiser-generated revenue pool comprised of an amount paid by a plurality of advertisers, sponsors and other revenue sources prior to receiving or considering client impressions related to content;

b) code to associate advertisements with a functional host, content page, and to a known content provider topic;

c) code to serve an associated advertisement;

d) code to determine the number client impressions on a content provider'"'"'s content; and

e) code to determine a value of compensation for the content provider by processing client impressions in relation to the advertiser-generated revenue pool, wherein the advertiser-generated revenue pool is not dependent on client impressions.

31. A system comprising:

a) a memory loaded with a web page;

b) a revenue pool comprised of an amount paid by a plurality of advertisers, sponsors and other revenue sources determined prior to receiving or considering client impression related to content;

c) a functional sponsor host, loaded in the web page and transmitted to a client; and

d) an advertising wheel, disposed in communication with the functional sponsor host, wherein client impressions are transmitted from the functional sponsor host in relation to the web page, the client'"'"'s impressions being used to determine content provider revenue from the revenue pool, wherein the revenue pool is not dependent on the client impressions.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein client impressions are transmitted each time the client:

(1) views the web page;

(2) prints the web page;

(3) saves the web page;

(4) initiates a search from the web page;

(5) transmits the web page.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the advertising wheel contains a secondary source of advertisements.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the secondary source of advertisement is a secondary advertising wheel.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the secondary source is a locality of the sponsor.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the secondary source is a running special on the sponsor'"'"'s product(s) or service(s).

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the secondary source is a price category of a sponsor'"'"'s product(s) or service(s).

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the secondary source is newly released product(s) or service(s) by the sponsor.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein the secondary source is a sponsored community or charity event.

40. The system of claim 33, wherein the secondary source is financially-related news on the sponsor.

41. A method comprising:

a) determining a revenue pool formed from contributions paid by a plurality of advertisers, sponsors and other revenue sources prior to receiving or considering client impressions related to content;

b) transmitting over an electronic network a functional host to a client;

c) transmitting over the electronic network at least one content page from at least one content provider, along with the functional host, to the client; and

d) receiving client impressions related to the at least one content page through the functional host to determine content provider revenue based on the revenue pool, wherein the revenue pool is not dependent on client impressions.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the total number of client impressions received by each content provider are divided by the total number of client impression received by all content providers and then multiplied by the amount of the revenue pool to establish periodic revenue for each content provider.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein transmitting the functional host further includes printing content.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein transmitting the functional host further includes saving content.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein transmitting the functional host further includes transmitting content.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein transmitting the functional host further includes initiating a search from the content.

47. The method of claim 41, wherein transmitting the functional host further includes printing, saving, transmitting, or initiating a search from the content.

48. A method comprising:

a) determining an amount of revenue paid by a plurality of advertisers, sponsors and other revenue sources prior to considering client impressions related to content;

b) determining a revenue pool based on the revenue paid, the revenue pool being determined prior receiving or considering client impressions related to content;

c) transmitting over an electronic network a functional host with client control features to a client requesting content data;

d) transmitting over an electronic network at least one content page from at least one content provider, along with the functional host, to the client;

e) receiving client impressions related to the at least one content page through the functional host; and

f) calculating content provider revenue that is comprised of the revenue pool divided by the total number of client impressions counted on the at least one content page from at least one content provider.

49. A method comprising:

a) determining an amount of revenue paid by a plurality of advertisers, sponsors and other revenue sources prior to considering client impressions related to content;

b) determining the revenue pool based on the revenue paid, the revenue pool being determined prior to receiving or considering client impressions related to content;

c) transmitting over an electronic network content from a plurality of content providers to a client;

d) receiving client impressions of the content distributed by the plurality of content providers; and

e) distributing revenue from the revenue pool, each content provider'"'"'s share being equal to the revenue pool multiplied by the sum of the total number of impressions received for each content provider divided by the total number of impressions received for all content providers.

50. A system for providing advertiser-sponsored content in a global content center comprising:

a) means for determining a revenue pool comprised of an amount paid by a plurality of advertisers, sponsors and other revenue sources prior to receiving or considering client impressions related to content;

b) means for associating advertisements with a client profile, preference, content page and content location in the global content center;

c) means for serving associated advertisements to a client host;

d) means for counting client impressions of content on the global content center; and

e) means for distributing revenue from the revenue pool to content providers depending on the number of client impressions counted for each content provider, wherein the revenue pool is not dependent on client impressions.

51. Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, comprising:

a) code to determine an advertiser-generated revenue pool comprised of an amount paid by a plurality of advertisers, sponsors or revenue sources prior to receiving or considering client impressions related to content;

b) code to determine the number client impressions received on a content provider'"'"'s content;

c) code to access the advertiser-generated revenue pool of a plurality of advertisers, sponsors and revenue sources; and

d) code to determine a value of compensation for the content provider by processing client impressions in relation to the advertiser-generated revenue pool, wherein the revenue pool is not dependent on client impressions.

52. Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, comprising:

a) code to determine an advertiser-generated revenue pool comprised of an amount paid by a plurality of advertisers, sponsors and other revenue sources prior to receiving or considering client impressions related to content;

b) code to associate advertisements with a functional host, content page, and to a known content provider topic;

c) code to serve an associated advertisement;

d) code to determine the number client impressions received on a content provider'"'"'s content, and

e) code to determine a value of compensation for the content provider by processing client impressions in relation to an advertiser-generated revenue pool, wherein the revenue pool is not dependent on client impressions.

53. A system comprising:

a) a means for determining a revenue pool comprised of an amount paid by a plurality of advertisers, sponsors and other revenue sources prior to receiving or considering client impressions related to content;

b) a memory loaded with a web page;

c) a functional sponsor host, loaded in the web page; and

d) an advertising wheel, disposed in communication with the functional sponsor host that determines and transmits a plurality of client impressions from the functional sponsor host in relation to the web page to determine content provider revenue from the revenue pool, wherein the revenue pool is not dependent on the client impressions.

54. A method comprising:

a) determining a revenue pool formed from an amount paid by contributions from a plurality of advertisers, sponsors and other revenue sources prior to receiving or considering client impressions related to content;

b) transmitting over an electronic network a functional host to a client;

c) transmitting over an electronic network at least one content page from at least one content provider, along with the functional host, to the client; and

d) receiving client impressions related to the at least one content page through the functional host to determine content provider revenue based on the revenue pool, wherein the revenue pool is not dependent on client impressions.