Method, system and computer program product for affiliating content

• US 20100082450A1
• Filed: 09/28/2009
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marqera LLC
• Original Assignee: David Greaves, Thomas Creaven
• Inventors: Greaves, David, Creaven, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,190,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0619 Neutral agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

In a method of affiliating content, a selection of at least one vendor and a unique affiliate tracking number associated with the at least one vendor are received, and a search routine associated with the at least one vendor is automatically selected. A network connection is established to a web site associated with the at least one vendor. Content from the web site of the at least one vendor is automatically retrieved using at least one keyword, the retrieved content including at least one product information that includes a unique product code associated with each product information. The unique affiliate tracking number is automatically inserted into the unique product code associated with each retrieved product information. A unique affiliated product code is generated for each retrieved product information.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A method of affiliating content comprising:

receiving a selection of at least one vendor and a unique affiliate tracking number associated with the at least one vendor;

automatically selecting a search routine associated with the at least one vendor;

receiving a selection of at least one keyword;

establishing a network connection to a web site associated with the at least one vendor;

automatically retrieving content from the web site of the at least one vendor using the at least one keyword and the search routine associated with the at least one vendor, the retrieved content comprising at least one product information that includes a unique product code associated with each product information;

automatically inserting the unique affiliate tracking number into the unique product code associated with each retrieved product information; and

generating a unique affiliated product code for each retrieved product information.

13. A method according to claim 12;

wherein the at least one vendor comprises a plurality of vendors.

14. A method according to claim 12;

further comprising the steps of displaying on an affiliate web site the retrieved content from the web site of the at least one vendor, and storing the retrieved content from the web site of the at least one vendor in a database.

15. A method according to claim 12;

further comprising the step of filtering the retrieved content from the web site of the at least one vendor by double checking the retrieved product information to ensure that the retrieved product information is associated with the selection of the at least one keyword.

16. A method according to claim 12;

further comprising the steps of displaying on an affiliate web site the retrieved content from the web site of the at least one vendor, and indicating a value of at least one product corresponding to the at least one product information and indicating potential commission earnings for sales of the at least one product made via the affiliate web site.

17. A system for affiliating content comprising:

means receiving a selection of at least one vendor and a unique affiliate tracking number associated with the at least one vendor;

means for automatically selecting a search routine associated with the at least one vendor;

means for receiving a selection of at least one keyword;

means for establishing a network connection to a web site associated with the at least one vendor;

means for automatically retrieving content from the web site of the at least one vendor using the at least one keyword and the search routine associated with the at least one vendor, the retrieved content comprising at least one product information that includes a unique product code associated with each product information;

means for automatically inserting the unique affiliate tracking number into the unique product code associated with each retrieved product information; and

means for generating a unique affiliated product code for each retrieved product information.

18. A system according to claim 17;

wherein the at least one vendor comprises a plurality of vendors.

19. A system according to claim 17;

further comprising means for displaying on an affiliate web site the retrieved content from the web site of the at least one vendor, and means for storing the retrieved content from the web site of the at least one vendor in a database.

20. A system according to claim 17;

further comprising means for filtering the retrieved content from the web site of the at least one vendor by double checking the retrieved product information to ensure that the retrieved product information is associated with the selection of the at least one keyword.

21. A system according to claim 17;

further comprising means for displaying on an affiliate web site the retrieved content from the web site of the at least one vendor, and means for indicating a value of at least one product corresponding to the at least one product information and for indicating potential commission earnings for sales of the at least one product made via the affiliate web site.

22. A computer program product having a computer readable medium tangibly embodying computer executable code for affiliating content, the computer program product comprising:

code for receiving a selection of at least one vendor and a unique affiliate tracking number associated with the at least one vendor;

code for automatically selecting a search routine associated with the at least one vendor;

code for receiving a selection of at least one keyword;

code for establishing a network connection to a web site associated with the at least one vendor;

code for automatically retrieving content from the web site of the at least one vendor using the at least one keyword and the search routine associated with the at least one vendor, the retrieved content comprising at least one product information that includes a unique product code associated with each product information;

code for automatically inserting the unique affiliate tracking number into the unique product code associated with each retrieved product information; and

code for generating a unique affiliated product code for each retrieved product information.

23. A computer program product according to claim 22;

wherein the at least one vendor comprises a plurality of vendors.

24. A computer program product according to claim 22;

further comprising;

code for displaying on an affiliate web site the retrieved content from the web site of the at least one vendor;

code for storing the retrieved content from the web site of the at least one vendor in a database;

code for filtering the retrieved content from the web site of the at least one vendor by double checking the retrieved product information to ensure that the retrieved product information is associated with the selection of the at least one keyword;

code for displaying on an affiliate web site the retrieved content from the web site of the at least one vendor; and

code for indicating a value of at least one product corresponding to the at least one product information and for indicating potential commission earnings for sales of the at least one product made via the affiliate web site.

25. A method for operating an affiliate web site of an affiliate selling online products of a vendor, comprising the steps of:

developing a computer program that facilitates;

connecting to an interactive vendor web site providing access to a vendor database;

automatically searching, retrieving, and reviewing information contained in the vendor database;

transferring at least a portion of the information to a computer of the affiliate; and

processing the at least of a portion of the information on the computer of the affiliate and incorporating data of interest in the affiliate web site;

storing the computer program on a server accessible by the computer of the affiliate; and

executing the computer program upon a request initiated by the affiliate.

26. A method according to claim 25;

wherein the steps of automatically searching, retrieving, and reviewing information contained in the vendor database comprise the steps of;

entering keywords corresponding to the data of interest;

forming lists of the keywords;

selecting or de-selecting information associated with the keywords, the selected or de-selected information including at least one of product data, product codes, product related contents, and design templates for the affiliate web site; and

associating the product codes with identification code assigned to the affiliate by the vendor to facilitate crediting commissions to the affiliate for the products of the vendor sold by the affiliate.

27. A method according to claim 25;

wherein the processing step further comprises editing the at least a portion of the information on the computer of the affiliate.

28. A method according to claim 25;

wherein the processing step further comprises forming or updating at least one affiliate database containing information related to the products of the vendor.

29. A method according to claim 25;

wherein the processing step further comprises automatically or manually developing or updating contents or design of the affiliate web site using the at least a portion of the information.

30. A computer readable medium storing software that, when executed by a computer processor, facilitates execution of the method of claim 25.

31. A computer readable medium storing software that, when executed by a computer processor, facilitates execution of the method of claim 26.