Method and system for promotion of a search service

• US 8,078,608 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2008
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ChaCha Search, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ChaCha Search, Inc.
• Inventors: Jones, Scott A., Kremer, Steven M., Brown, Jared D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ehichioya, Fred I
• Application Number:
  US11/970,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20080168040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 707/705, 707/709, 707/722, 707/718, 707/736, 707/748, 707/768, 707/769, 707/805, 705/14.16, 705/26.43
• US Class Current: 707/709
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method and system for viral marketing is described. Using the method and system, recruiters may be associated with recruits. Recruiters may be compensated based on activities of recruits. The traceability of a recruit to a recruiter permits analysis of efficacy of the recruiter and recruitment techniques employed. The improved traceability is achieved due to the ability to trace any recruited user associated with an identifier of the recruiter.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

distributing an encrypted identifier of a recruiter;

recording an identifier based on a random number as a current identifier of a recruit when determining that a message is received indicating the encrypted identifier of the recruiter;

receiving a request for information;

compensating the recruiter when determining that the request for information indicates the current identifier of the recruit; and

obtaining the current identifier of the recruit, producing a modified identifier based on the current identifier of the recruit and storing the modified identifier of the recruit as the current identifier of the recruit when determining that the request for information indicates the current identifier of the recruit.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the request for information is augmented by a browser appliance which provides the current identifier of the recruit.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, comprising:

tracking an activity of the recruit responsive to a search result provided responsive to the request for information to determine a compensation for the recruiter.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the recruiter is provided with the compensation based on a ranking of the recruiter based on a count of recruits associated with the recruiter and a ranking of the recruit based on the tracking.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, comprising:

displaying information indicating each activity performed based on a communication service indicated by the encrypted identifier associated with the recruiter.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the request for information is directed to a human guide registered to conduct a search when determining that the request is associated with a suspended recruiter.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the encrypted identifier encodes a communication medium used by the recruiter for said distributing of the encrypted identifier.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said compensating is based on receiving a URL of a search system landing page uniquely associated with the recruit, a modification to a search appliance of a browser to include a code associated with the search system, a registration of the recruit with the search system and a download of a tool bar extension associated with the recruiter.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the encrypted identifier is sent to the recruit using at least one of an electronic mail message, a blog posting, a voice message, a text message, an Instant Message and printed media.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of recruiters are registered, and

a software application extension provided to the recruit modifies an indicator of the current identifier subsequent to the receiving of the request for information.

11. A system, comprising:

a server distributing an encrypted identifier to a recruiter, assigning a first identifier as a current identifier of a recruit when determining that a message is received indicating the encrypted identifier, replacing the current identifier with a modified identifier when determining that a search request indicates the current identifier, and determining a compensation of the recruiter based on the message and the search request; and

a database tracking activities of a recipient of a search result provided responsive to the search request indicating the encrypted identifier, where a message received indicating a subscriber identifier of the recruit increments a count used to determine the compensation of the recruiter and associates the subscriber identifier and the recruit with the recruiter when determining that the subscriber identifier is not associated with the recruit.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a recruiter system;

receiving information of search requests, search appliance installations, and web page views by recruits associated with the recruiter;

sending an invitation including the encrypted identifier to a user system;

tracking an activity of a user responsive to the invitation; and

the server penalizing a recruiter when determining that the activities of the recipient meets a predetermined pattern,

the user system generating a registration request indicating the encrypted identifier and receiving personally identifying information of the recruiter responsive to the message; and

a searcher system performing a search responsive to the search request from the user system when determining that the search request indicates a human assisted search, and does not indicate the current identifier.

13. A computer readable medium having a program stored therein to cause a computer to execute operations, comprising:

distributing, by a recruiter, an invitation message to use a search service including an unique identifier of the recruiter;

receiving a registration request indicating the unique identifier;

assigning an initial identifier as a validated identifier of a user when determining that the registration request comprises a change to a browser home page;

assigning the initial identifier as the validated identifier of the user when determining that the registration request comprises a modified default search service of the browser;

assigning the initial identifier as the validated identifier of the user when determining that the registration request comprises a download of an extension to an application;

assigning the initial identifier as the validated identifier of the user when determining that the registration request comprises a request to register a user identifier and security information;

determining whether a request for information received by the search service indicates the validated identifier;

incrementing a count of usage of the search service by the user and assigning a modified identifier based on the validated identifier as the validated identifier when determining that the request for information indicates the validated identifier; and

providing a compensation for the recruiter based on the registration request and the count.

14. A computer-implemented method of viral marketing, comprising:

assigning an encrypted identifier to a recruiter;

distributing, to a user, information of a search service including an invitation to use the search service and the encrypted identifier of the recruiter, said information encoding a distribution medium for sending the invitation to the user;

presenting personally identifying information of the recruiter to the user responsive to receipt of a message indicating the encrypted identifier, and tracking an action of the user responsive to the personally identifying information, said action being associated with the identifier of the recruiter based on acceptance of the identifying information of the recruiter by the user;

compensating the recruiter when determining that the action is page view of the search service;

compensating the recruiter when determining that the action is an installation of an application extension associated with the search service;

compensating the recruiter when determining that the action is a modification of stored information associated with a browser affecting use of the search service;

compensating the recruiter when determining that the action is a search request and that the user interacts with a result of the search request; and

penalizing the recruiter when determining that the action is associated with a predetermined pattern.