Vendor referral system

• US 20040153352A1
• Filed: 02/05/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: RSN, Inc.
• Original Assignee: RSN, Inc.
• Inventors: Hoke, Gary, Berns, James
• Application Number:
  US10/361,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20040153352A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A method includes storing a set of vendor referral information in a vendor referral database, wherein the set of vendor referral information corresponds to a sphere of influence of a host entity, and wherein the host entity controls the storing of the vendor referral information stored in the vendor referral database, receiving a vendor referral inquiry on a computer network, and sending at least one vendor referral from the vendor referral database in response to the received vendor referral inquiry.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing a set of vendor referral information in a vendor referral database, wherein the set of vendor referral information corresponds to a sphere of influence of a host entity, and wherein the host entity controls the storing of the vendor referral information stored in the vendor referral database;

receiving a vendor referral inquiry on a computer network; and

sending at least one vendor referral from the vendor referral database in response to the received vendor referral inquiry.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving supplementary vendor referral information;

determining that the supplementary vendor referral information satisfies a threshold of reliability; and

adding the supplementary vendor referral information to the vendor referral database.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining further comprises:

determining the supplementary vendor referral information was sent by an entity included in the set of vendor referral information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining that the received supplementary vendor information exceeds a threshold of reliability further comprises:

setting the threshold of reliability by the host.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein sending further comprises:

sending information displayable on a user device, the information related to a business entity.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the supplementary vendor referral information comprises a non-redundant set of information stored on a computer coupled to the computer network.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving supplementary vendor information comprises receiving supplementary vendor information corresponding to a user interaction with a browser window.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving further comprises:

receiving the vendor referral query on the computer network from a user device.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprises:

displaying the vendor referral information on a display window of a user device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprises:

displaying the vendor referral information on a browser window of the user device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprises:

displaying an additional window over the vendor referral icon on the display window of a user device, the vendor referral icon being associated with an active area.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting a selection of the active region; and

sending data representing an additional image displayable on a browser window, the additional image including an image associated with vendor referral information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein sending data representing an additional image displayable for a limited time period.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the additional image comprises an advertising image.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the advertising image corresponds to a vendor from the vendor referral database.

16. The method of claim 2, further comprises:

soliciting additional vendor referral information from a one of a plurality of vendors included in the vendor referral database.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the host entity comprises a real estate professional.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a screen door advertisement relating to the vendor referral.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the reliability level of the vendor referral is indicated.

20. A computer-implemented method comprising:

maintaining a repository of vendor referral information comprising vendor referral information and corresponding to a sphere of influence of a host entity;

receiving a vendor referral inquiry on a computer network; and

in response to the received vendor referral inquiry sending at least one vendor referral from the repository of vendor referral information.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving supplementary vendor referral information;

determining that the supplementary vendor referral information satisfies a threshold of reliability; and

adding the supplementary vendor referral information to the repository of referral information.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein determining further comprises:

determining the supplementary vendor referral information was sent by an entity included in the repository of referral information.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein determining that the received supplementary vendor information exceeds a threshold of reliability further comprises:

indicating the threshold of reliability by the host entity.

24. An article comprising a storage medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a machine causes the machine to perform the following:

maintain a repository of vendor referral information comprising vendor referral information and corresponding to a sphere of influence of a host entity;

receive a vendor referral inquiry on a computer network; and

in response to the received vendor referral inquiry send at least one vendor referral information from the repository of vendor referral information.

25. The article of claim 24, further comprising instructions that when executed by a machine cause the machine to perform the following:

receive supplementary vendor referral information;

determine that the supplementary vendor referral information satisfies a threshold of reliability; and

add the supplementary vendor referral information to repository of referral information.

26. The article of claim 25, further comprising instructions that when executed by a machine cause the machine to perform the following:

determine the supplementary vendor referral information was sent by an entity included in the repository of referral information.

27. The article of claim 26, wherein determining further comprising instructions that when executed by a machine cause the machine to perform the following:

set the threshold of reliability by the host entity.

28. The article of claim 24 wherein in response to the received vendor referral inquiry a screen door advertisement relating to the vendor referral is displayed.

29. A method comprising:

sending computer-related material to first host, wherein the first host controls a first host website, the first host-web site being initiated using the computer-related material, wherein the first host website displays a first set of vendor referral information from a first vendor referral database, the first set of vendor referral information corresponding to a sphere of influence of the first host entity; and

sending said computer-related material to second host, wherein the second host controls a second host website, the second host-web site being initiated using the computer-related material, wherein the second host website displays a second set of vendor referral information from a second vendor referral database, the second set of vendor referral information corresponding to a second sphere of influence of the second host entity.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising a master host website, wherein said master host website is hyperlinked to said first host website and said second host website.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising a local master host website that is hyperlinked to said first host website.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein said first and second host websites-are turnkey websites.

33. A system comprising:

a server computer;

a storage device coupled to the server computer, the storage device having a set of vendor referral information stored thereon, the set of vendor referral information corresponding to vendors within a sphere of influence of a host,

the server computer having a network interface coupled to receive a vendor inquiry and send at least one vendor referral in response to the received vendor inquiry, and receive supplementary vendor referral information.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the vendor referral information stored on the storage device comprises a non-redundant set of data.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the host controls access to the storage device, and wherein the host determines additional information that may be added to the storage device.