System and method for influencing a position on a search result list generated by a computer network search engine
First Claim
1. A method of generating a result list in response to a computer user entering a keyword, comprising:
- storing a plurality of listings, where each listing is associated with an information provider, at least one keyword, a money amount, and a computer network location;
receiving a keyword entered by a user;
identifying at least some listings having a keyword generating a match with the keyword entered by the user;
ordering the identified listings based at least in part on the money amounts for the respective identified listings;
generating a result list including at least some of the ordered listings;
displaying the result list to the user;
receiving a retrieval request from the user to retrieve information associated with a listing selected from the result list and charging to an account of the information provider associated with the selected listing an amount related to the money amount associated with the selected listing for each retrieval request;
providing an information provider with online authenticated login access permitting the information provider to modify the money amount associated with the listing of the information provider; and
at the request of an information provider provided with login access, automatically estimating the cost of including an information provider listing in the database for a specified time period;
wherein the displayed listings which generate a charge to the information provider are identified in the display as paid listings.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for enabling information providers using a computer network such as the Internet to influence a position for a search listing within a search result list generated by an Internet search engine. The system and method of the present invention provides a database having accounts for the network information providers. Each account contains contact and billing information for a network information provider. In addition, each account contains at least one search listing having at least three components: a description, a search term comprising one or more keywords, and a bid amount. The network information provider may add, delete, or modify a search listing after logging into his or her account via an authentication process. The network information provider influences a position for a search listing in the provider'"'"'s account by first selecting a search term relevant to the content of the web site or other information source to be listed. The network information provider enters the search term and the description into a search listing. The network information provider influences the position for a search listing through a continuous online competitive bidding process. The bidding process occurs when the network information provider enters a new bid amount, which is preferably a money amount, for a search listing. The system and method of the present invention then compares this bid amount with all other bid amounts for the same search term, and generates a rank value for all search listings having that search term. The rank value generated by the bidding process determines where the network information providers listing will appear on the search results list page that is generated in response to a query of the search term by a searcher located at a client computer on the computer network. A higher bid by a network information provider will result in a higher rank value and a more advantageous placement.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of generating a result list in response to a computer user entering a keyword, comprising:
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storing a plurality of listings, where each listing is associated with an information provider, at least one keyword, a money amount, and a computer network location;
receiving a keyword entered by a user;
identifying at least some listings having a keyword generating a match with the keyword entered by the user;
ordering the identified listings based at least in part on the money amounts for the respective identified listings;
generating a result list including at least some of the ordered listings;
displaying the result list to the user;
receiving a retrieval request from the user to retrieve information associated with a listing selected from the result list and charging to an account of the information provider associated with the selected listing an amount related to the money amount associated with the selected listing for each retrieval request;
providing an information provider with online authenticated login access permitting the information provider to modify the money amount associated with the listing of the information provider; and
at the request of an information provider provided with login access, automatically estimating the cost of including an information provider listing in the database for a specified time period;
wherein the displayed listings which generate a charge to the information provider are identified in the display as paid listings.
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2. A method of generating a search result list in response to a user submitting a search request to a search engine operating over a computer network, comprising:
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maintaining a database including a plurality of network information provider listings, wherein each listing is associated with at least one search term, a money amount and a network information provider;
receiving a search request entered by a user;
identifying at least some network information provider listings having a search term generating a match with the search request received from the user;
displaying to the user a search result list including at least some of the identified network information provider listings; and
upon receiving a retrieval request from the user to retrieve information associated with a network information provider listing selected from the result list, charging to an account of a network information provider associated with the selected listing the money amount associated with the listing;
wherein a network information provider is provided with online authenticated login access permitting the network information provider to modify the money amount associated with a listing of the network information; and
at the request of a network information provider provided with login access, automatically estimating the cost of including a network information provider listing in the database for a specified time period. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An online method for an information provider to automatically update information relating to a listing includable in a result list generated by a computer network server, wherein the listing is stored and is associated with at least one keyword, a money amount, and the information provider;
- the result list is generated by the server in response to a user entering a keyword;
keywords associated with the listings in the result list match the user keyword;
the listings in the result list are ordered at least in part on the basis of the money amounts of the respective listings; and
a request from the user to retrieve information associated with a selected listing from the result list causes a charge to an account of the information provider associated with the selected listing in the money amount associated with the selected listing, the method comprising;navigating the computer network to a network location of the server;
accessing at least one listing associated with the information provider through an authenticated login procedure;
requesting the server to modify the money amount with the access listing; and
requesting and receiving from the server a cost estimate for including a listing among the stored listings for a specified time period. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
- the result list is generated by the server in response to a user entering a keyword;
Specification