Lead distribution system

• US 7,668,725 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2002
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Decisions Media LLC
• Original Assignee: Landmark Communications Incorporated
• Inventors: Alston, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender; F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sheikh; Asfand M
• Application Number:
  US10/305,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20040103041A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,645 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• 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 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A method is disclosed for generating a sales referral over the Internet for the sale of an asset. A first and second salesperson is provided with an account that comprises a number of clicks and a first period during which the clicks will be delivered. A click comprises an assignment on a web site of linking information corresponding to a saleperson'"'"'s web site. A consumer who activates the click is transferred to a web site of the salesperson, and the click is debited from the salesperson'"'"'s account.

Claims

1. A method of providing sales leads comprising a processor for:

(a) the processor, assigning a specific number of clicks to each of a plurality of sales entities each desirous of selling an asset, the number of clicks assigned being determined by the number of clicks purchased by each sales entity, wherein a click corresponds to an occurrence of a potential buyer selecting at least one characteristic of the asset on a first web page to thereby place the potential buyer into a browser session comprising a plurality of related web pages and based on the at least one characteristic, wherein the first web page is generated by a server and displayed on a display device;

(b) the processor, determining which sales entity is to be associated with a click based at least in part on the number of clicks purchased by each sales entity;

(c) the processor, associating a first browser session with linking information associated with one of the sales entities in accordance with the determination in step (b) in response to a click;

(d) the processor, debiting a click from the sales entity that is associated with the first browser session;

(e) the processor, associating a second browser session with linking information associated with one of the sales entities in response to a click in accordance with the determination in step (b); and

(f) the processor, debiting a click from the sales entity that is associated with the second browser session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sales entity is one of a person and a business organization.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying at least a portion of the first web page within the first browser session.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the asset is a geographic location of the asset.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the asset is a price range of the asset.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the asset is one of real estate or a vehicle.

7. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method of generating a sales lead over a communications network comprising:

(a) generating a web page comprising a selectable characteristic of an asset using a first web server;

(b) assigning each of a plurality of sales entities with a specific number of clicks, the number of clicks assigned being determined by the number of clicks purchased by each sales entity, wherein a click corresponds to an occurrence of a potential buyer using an input device to select the characteristic to thereby place the potential buyer into a browser session comprising a plurality of related web pages and based on the characteristic;

(c) determining an order in which each sales entity is to be associated with the click;

(d) operating the server to associate one of the plurality of sales entities with the click according to step (c);

(e) transferring, upon detecting the click, the potential buyer into a first browser session sponsored by a first sales entity, wherein a sales lead is provided to the sales entity associated with the click when the potential buyer selects the characteristic;

(f) debiting a click from the sales entity that is associated with the first browser session; and

(g) associating a different sales entity with the click, according to the order determined in step (c).

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7, further comprising operating the web server to generate a report, the report comprising a current number of clicks available to each sales entity and a remaining time period during which the current number of clicks will be available.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 7, further comprising transmitting an inquiry from the potential buyer regarding the asset to the sales entity over the communications network.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the characteristic of the asset is a geographic location of the assets.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the characteristic of the asset is a price range of the asset.

12. The method computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the communications network is the Internet.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the asset is real estate.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the plurality of sales entities are real estate agents.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the asset is a vehicle.

15. The method computer readable medium of 14, wherein the plurality of sales entities are participants in a multiple listing service.

17. A system for providing sales leads for the sale of an asset comprising:

a first web page accessible over a communications network;

a file comprising a specific number of clicks purchased by each of a plurality of sales entities, wherein a click corresponds to an occurrence of a potential buyer selecting a characteristic of the asset displayed on the first web page to thereby place the potential buyer into a browser session comprising a plurality of related web pages and based on the characteristic; and

a processor operably connected to the communications network, wherein the processor generates the first web page, associates each sales entity with the click only for the number of clicks purchased by that entity, causes to be displayed on a display device a second web page that is part of the browser session and is associated with one of the sales entities in response to the potential buyer selecting the characteristic, causes to be displayed on the display device a third web page that is part of the browser session and is associated with the same sales entity that is associated with the second web page, and debits a click from the same sales entity.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor decrements the number of clicks assigned to the sales entity associated with the click each time a potential buyer selects the characteristic.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a report comprising a current number of clicks available to each sales entity and a remaining time period during which the clicks will be available.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor associates only one sales entity with the characteristic at any given time.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor causes at least a portion of the first web page to be displayed on the display device within the second web page.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the characteristic of the asset is a geographic location of the asset.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the characteristic of the asset is a price range of the asset.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the asset is real estate.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the sales entities are real estate agents.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the communications network is the Internet.

27. A method of providing sales leads in a communications network used by consumers to obtain information associated with one or more real estate listings in a geographic area, each real estate listing having a corresponding hyperlink comprising a processor for:

(a) the processor, assigning a specific number of clicks to each of a plurality of sales entities associated with the network, the number of clicks assigned being determined by the number of clicks purchased by each sales entity, wherein a click corresponds to an occurrence of a potential buyer selecting at least one characteristic of a real estate listing on a first web page to thereby place the potential buyer into a browser session comprising a plurality of related web pages and based on the at least one characteristic;

(b) the processor, determining an ordered list comprising the clicks for the sales entities, the ordered list identifying a sequence in which the clicks are to be associated with each sales entity;

(c) the processor, in response to a first consumer selecting the at least one characteristic on the first web page, presenting to the first consumer real estate information corresponding to the at least one characteristic within a series of web pages that define a first browser session, wherein the first browser session is associated with a first sales entity in accordance with the sequence; and

(d) the processor, debiting a click from the first sales entity.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

(d) the processor, removing from the ordered list one of the clicks assigned to the first sales entity.

29. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

(d) the processor, determining a new ordered list in response to a change in the geographic area.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the ordered list is defined based on the geographic area.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein the geographic area is defined by a zip code.