Referral platform

• US 9,607,307 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Waiki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lemieux, Jessica
• Application Number:
  US12/048,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20090234730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,301 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

Methods and computer storage media for creating referral links are provided. Receiving an advertiser'"'"'s registration of a target page that offers goods or services for sale. Receiving a request for a referral link that is directed to the target page, wherein the referrer of the referral link requests the referral link from the target page. A referral link is then created and presented to the referrer. In some embodiment, an indication that the referral link has been utilized is received. And upon receiving an indication that the referral link was utilized, a reward unit is determined and presented to the referrer.

Claims

1. Performing a method for creating a referral link, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a referral link at a referral link server from a remote computing device associated with a referrer over the Internet;

determining a target page from which the referral link was requested;

determining a referrer'"'"'s identity;

if the referrer'"'"'s identity is not determinable, requesting the referrer'"'"'s identity;

storing the association of the referrer'"'"'s identity and the target page;

generating a referral link comprised of a unique identifier that is directed to a unique forwarding location and does not include intelligible information relating to the target page or the referrer'"'"'s identity;

providing the referral link without intelligible information relating to the target page or the referrer'"'"'s identity over a communication channel to the remote computing device associated with the referrer, wherein providing the referral link without intelligible information relating to the target page or the referrer'"'"'s identity protects the referrer'"'"'s identity while also associating the referrer'"'"'s identity with the referral link; and

determining a reward unit for the utilization of the referral link for situations other than when the goods or services of the.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to receive an indication of the utilization of the referral link.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the processor is further configured to determine, based on the referral link, the identity of the referrer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to provide the reward unit to the referrer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the identity of the referrer is an electronic-mail address of the referrer.

6. Performing a method for creating a referral link, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a referral link from a referrer, wherein the referral link is directed to a target page for one or more items and/or services that may be purchased;

determining the target page to which the referral link is directed;

determining an identifier of the referrer;

creating a referral link comprised of a unique identifier that is directed to a unique forwarding location and does not include intelligible information relating to the target page or the referrer'"'"'s identity;

providing presenting the referral link without intelligible information relating to the referrer'"'"'s identity to the referrer, wherein providing the referral link without intelligible information relating to the referrer'"'"'s identity protects the referrer'"'"'s identity while maintaining an association between the referrer'"'"'s identity and the referral link;

receiving an indication that the referral link was utilized to purchase at least one of the one or more items that may be purchased on alternate pages;

determining a reward unit based on at least one of the target page, the referral link, and the identifier of the referrer; and

presenting the reward unit.

7. A computing system comprising a memory comprising instructions for execution by one or more processors, the one or more processors being coupled to the memory and operable to execute the instructions to:

receive by a receiver request from a referrer for a referral link;

determine by a target page determiner a target page that is associated with the referral link;

identify by a referrer identifier the referrer of the referral link;

create a referral link by a referral link creator using an identifier that specifically corresponds to the referrer and a location of the target page, wherein the referral link includes a derivation of the identifier that protects the identity of the referrer;

communicating by a referral link communicator the referral link with the derivation of the identifier that protects the identity of the referrer, wherein communication of the referral link with the derivation of the identifier that protects the identity of the referrer allows for protection of the referrer'"'"'s identity while maintaining an association between the referrer'"'"'s identity and the referral link; and

a reward unit determiner.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the referral link creator to creates the referral link independent of the request for a referral link or in response to the request for a referral link.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a referral link utilization indicator to indicate utilization of the referral link.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the referrer identifier identifies the referrer using the identifier that specifically corresponds to the referrer included within the request.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the referrer identifier identifies the referrer by soliciting the referrer for information, establishing an account comprising personal information of the referrer, referencing a database, identifying an internet protocol address, or a combination thereof.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the reward unit includes one or more of a discount, purchase credit, store credit, reduced cost service, free service, reduced cost download, or free download.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the identifier that specifically corresponds to the referrer includes a reference associated with an account for receiving reward units, the account being specific to the referrer.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the reward unit determiner determines one or more of a quantity or type of reward unit to be provided to the referrer based on utilization of the referral link.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the reward unit determiner evaluates one or more of the referral link, the target page, the identifier that specifically corresponds to the referrer, and an advertiser registration in determining the reward unit to be provided to the referrer.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the reward unit determiner presents the determined reward unit to the referrer.

17. The system of claim 7, wherein in response to instructions to request a referral link, the referral link creator generates the referral link for the identified target page upon determining the location of said target page having generated the request.

18. The system of claim 7, further comprising an advertiser registrar to register an advertiser, to register at least one target page having an identifying web address, to identify at least one item or service offered for purchase via the at least one target page, to determine a reward unit that corresponds to utilization of a referral link via the at least one target page, or a combination thereof.

19. The system of claim 7, wherein the referral link includes the identifier, the identifier comprising an alpha-numeric code associated with an electronic mail address to which the reward unit may be provided, further wherein the referral link module translates the alpha-numeric code to determine the referrer'"'"'s identity.

20. The system of claim 7, wherein the referral link directs another entity to the target page and facilitates providing the reward unit to the referrer of the referral link based on utilization of the referral link.