Transaction tracking, managing, assessment, and auditing data processing system and network

• US 20040254813A1
• Filed: 06/15/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rakuten USA, Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Linkshare Corporation (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Messer, Stephen Dale
• Granted Patent: US 7,395,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0635 Risk analysis of enterprise or organisation activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/023 the neutral party being a clearing house
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0185 Product, service or business identity fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0248 Avoiding fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0619 Neutral agent
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols

Abstract

An improved processing system for tracking commerce on the Internet provides for subvariable processing and includes web page scanning to discern fraud or improper content to insure proper promotion of select products within the network environment.

Claims

1-10. -10. cancel.

11. In a data processing method for bringing together Merchants and Content Providers using a computer network comprising the steps of:

a. receiving multiple inquiries from Merchants and Content Providers using a Clearinghouse server;

b. accessing the Clearinghouse server to enter or locate data regarding a promotional offer associated with goods or services available from said Merchant on a separate site interconnected to said network;

c. accessing the Clearinghouse server to search for and/or access stored data on existing offers to said Content Providers;

d. entering an acceptance of counteroffer by said Content Provider; and

e. consummating a promotional arrangement electronically by interconnecting said Content Provider site to said Merchant site by a hyperlink.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said promotional offer includes an auto-approve indicator.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said Content Provider receives transaction processing software from said Clearinghouse server.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said searching step includes entry of keyword search criteria to locate Merchant offers.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said consummated promotional arrangement delineates payment terms for sales relating to said Content Provider.

16. A data processing system for establishing promotional arrangements governing the development of referrals, comprising a Clearinghouse server configured and programmed to receive communications from web-based Merchants regarding commerce to be effected over a web site and in response to said communications accessing one or more stored promotional arrangements governing the use of a referral promotion to direct USER'"'"'S browsing the web to said Merchant'"'"'s site said Clearinghouse server transmitting to said Merchants one or more of said promotional arrangements for review and selection.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said promotional arrangements are stored on said Clearinghouse server in pre-defined format having an established set of terms.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said Clearinghouse server includes communication means for access by one or more Content Providers, wherein said Content Providers are able to access said Clearinghouse server and review offers corresponding to one of said stored promotional arrangements.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said promotional arrangement can be either open or closed.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein said promotional arrangement is auto-approved.