Method and apparatus for implementing search engine with cost per action revenue model
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computerized search and advertising system comprising:
- a. a web interface configured to receive a search query, wherein the search query specifies a search information;
b. a search engine communicatively coupled with the web interface and configured to receive the search information from the web interface and to retrieve and provide to the web interface a plurality of search results responsive to the search information;
c. a database configured to store a plurality of paid advertisements; and
d. at least one storage device;
wherein the computerized search and advertising system is additionally configured to;
i. retrieve at least one paid advertisement from the database, wherein the retrieved paid advertisement is related to the search information or the plurality of search results and wherein the paid advertisement comprises at least one paid advertising link;
ii. combine the at least one paid advertising link with the plurality of search results;
iii. send a response, the response comprising the combined at least one paid advertising link and the plurality of search results, the response configured to cause the combined at least one paid advertising link and the plurality of search results to be displayed, wherein an advertiser associated with the paid advertisement is charged a fee if it is determined that the paid advertising link was used to generate a revenue for the advertiser by way of a user making a purchase;
iv. collect account information and establish an account for the user based on the collected account information;
v. credit the account of the user when it is determined that the paid advertising link was used to generate the revenue for the advertiser by way of the user making the purchase; and
vi. cause information associated with the account of the user, information on an activity of the user and information on a credit amount credited to the account of the user to be stored in at least one storage area allocated on the storage device, wherein the sent response is further configured to cause the paid advertising link to be displayed above at least one of the plurality of search results;
wherein the sent response is further configured to cause the at least one of the plurality of search results to be displayed below the paid advertising link; and
wherein the plurality of search results are free search results.
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Abstract
The inventive technology enables the search engine operator to charge the advertisers who place their links on the search engine only if the user uses the search results to visit the advertiser'"'"'s web portal(s) and generates revenue for the advertiser. This concept is especially attractive to the advertisers because it eliminates the risk, which the advertisers face in conventional search engines, when they are changed by the search engine per user click irrespectively of whether the user'"'"'s visit resulted in advertiser'"'"'s revenue.
67 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computerized search and advertising system comprising:
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a. a web interface configured to receive a search query, wherein the search query specifies a search information; b. a search engine communicatively coupled with the web interface and configured to receive the search information from the web interface and to retrieve and provide to the web interface a plurality of search results responsive to the search information; c. a database configured to store a plurality of paid advertisements; and d. at least one storage device; wherein the computerized search and advertising system is additionally configured to; i. retrieve at least one paid advertisement from the database, wherein the retrieved paid advertisement is related to the search information or the plurality of search results and wherein the paid advertisement comprises at least one paid advertising link; ii. combine the at least one paid advertising link with the plurality of search results; iii. send a response, the response comprising the combined at least one paid advertising link and the plurality of search results, the response configured to cause the combined at least one paid advertising link and the plurality of search results to be displayed, wherein an advertiser associated with the paid advertisement is charged a fee if it is determined that the paid advertising link was used to generate a revenue for the advertiser by way of a user making a purchase; iv. collect account information and establish an account for the user based on the collected account information; v. credit the account of the user when it is determined that the paid advertising link was used to generate the revenue for the advertiser by way of the user making the purchase; and vi. cause information associated with the account of the user, information on an activity of the user and information on a credit amount credited to the account of the user to be stored in at least one storage area allocated on the storage device, wherein the sent response is further configured to cause the paid advertising link to be displayed above at least one of the plurality of search results;
wherein the sent response is further configured to cause the at least one of the plurality of search results to be displayed below the paid advertising link; and
wherein the plurality of search results are free search results. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer-implemented method performed in a computerized system comprising a central processing unit, at least one storage device and a network interface, the computer-implemented method comprising:
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a. receiving, using the network interface, a search query, wherein the search query specifies a search information; b. retrieving a plurality of search results responsive to the search information; c. storing a plurality of paid advertisements in a database; d. retrieving at least one paid advertisement from the database, wherein the retrieved paid advertisement is related to the search information or the plurality of search results and wherein the paid advertisement comprises at least one paid advertising link; e. combining the at least one paid advertising link with the plurality of search results; f. sending a response, the response comprising the combined at least one paid advertising link and the plurality of search results, the response configured to cause the combined at least one paid advertising link and the plurality of search results to be displayed, wherein an advertiser associated with the paid advertisement is charged a fee if it is determined that the paid advertising link was used to generate a revenue for the advertiser by way of a user making a purchase; g. collecting account information and establish an account for the user based on the collected account information; h. crediting the account of the user when it is determined that the paid advertising link was used to generate the revenue for the advertiser by way of the user making the purchase; and i. causing information associated with the account of the user, information on an activity of the user and information on a credit amount credited to the account of the user to be stored in at least one storage area allocated on the storage device, wherein the sent response is further configured to cause the paid advertising link to be displayed above at least one of the plurality of search results;
wherein the sent response is further configured to cause the at least one of the plurality of search results to be displayed below the paid advertising link; and
wherein the plurality of search results are free search results. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying a set of instructions, which, when executed in a computerized system comprising a central processing unit, at least one storage device and a network interface, cause the computer system to perform a method comprising:
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a. receiving, using the network interface, a search query, wherein the search query specifies a search information; b. retrieving a plurality of search results responsive to the search information; c. storing a plurality of paid advertisements in a database; d. retrieving at least one paid advertisement from the database, wherein the retrieved paid advertisement is related to the search information or the plurality of search results and wherein the paid advertisement comprises at least one paid advertising link; e. combining the at least one paid advertising link with the plurality of search results; f. sending a response, the response comprising the combined at least one paid advertising link and the plurality of search results, the response configured to cause the combined at least one paid advertising link and the plurality of search results to be displayed, wherein an advertiser associated with the paid advertisement is charged a fee if it is determined that the paid advertising link was used to generate a revenue for the advertiser by way of a user making a purchase; g. collecting account information and establish an account for the user based on the collected account information; h. crediting the account of the user when it is determined that the paid advertising link was used to generate the revenue for the advertiser by way of the user making the purchase; and i. causing information associated with the account of the user, information on an activity of the user and information on a credit amount credited to the account of the user to be stored in at least one storage area allocated on the storage device, wherein the sent response is further configured to cause the paid advertising link to be displayed above at least one of the plurality of search results;
wherein the sent response is further configured to cause the at least one of the plurality of search results to be displayed below the paid advertising link; and
wherein the plurality of search results are free search results. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification