US006016504A
`6,016,504
`[11] Patent Number:
`(15
`United States Patent
`Arnold etal.
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`
`[54] METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRACKING
`THE PURCHASE OF A PRODUCT AND
`SERVICES OVER THE INTERNET
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: John K. Arnold, Kent; John R.
`;
`Bennett, Seattle; Peter O. Claar,
`Seattle; Kurt D. Dahl, Seattle; Jennifer
`L. Dobson,Seattle; Charles A.
`Fontaine, Seattle; Philip H. Johanson,
`Seattle; Donald G. McGuire, Mount
`Vernon; Mary Swanson, Edmonds;
`David G. Wagner, Issaquah; Steve
`+ .
`W
`ht, Seattle,
`all
`of Wash.
`AUNTIE
`DN, DEAS, ah
`OF
`NAS
`InfoSpace.com, Inc., Redmond, Wash.
`
`[73] Assignee:
`
`5,692,132 11/1997 Hogan veccccssssccssescsssesescsseressnees 705/27
`5,708,780
`1/1998 Levergoodetal.
`.. 709/229
`
`5,710,887
`1/1998 Chelliah etal. ....
`» 709/217
`5,715,314
`2/1998 Payneetal. ....
`we. 380/24
`3.717.860
`2/1998. Graberetal...
`» 709/227
`.. 380/24
`5,724,424
`3/1998 Gifford ........
`
`” 705/26
`5,729,504
`3/1998 Klingman
`
`_.. 705/26
`5/1998 Rose etal. ..
`5.757.917
`5/1998 Giovann0lli ...saessescsseneetee 705/26
`5,758,328
`5,826,242 10/1998 Montulli wo. ececcseessssesesereeeee 709/228
`5,923,846
`7/1999 Gage et al
`esccessssssmeeeeesseen 709/217
`Primary Examiner—Zarni Maung
`Assistant Examiner—Bharat Barot
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Christensen O’Connor Johnson
`& Kindness PLLC
`ABSTRACT
`(57]
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/704,143
`a virtual outlet
`for establishing
`and maintaining
`method
`
`
`
`
`
`
`: maintainingavirtualA method fi blishing and outl
`(“VO”)relationship on the Internet between an entity that
`Filed:
`[22]
`Aug. 28, 1996
`SL]
`Int. C0 oeeceeeesseeeeee G06F 17/60; GO6F 17/30
`controls and manages a Web site constituting a VO and a
`2) LS. Cl
`709/200: ne7202: 9003
`merchantthatcontrols and managesa differentWeb site. The
`
`709/204; 709/217; 709/219; 709/227; 709/228;
`709/229; 705/26; 705/27
`[58] Field of Search oe 395/200.3-200.36,
`395/200.47-200.5, 200.57—200.6; 707/10;
`705/26-27, 39-40; 345/335; 709/200-206,
`217-219, 227-229, 245-246
`
`[56]
`
`:
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`et tyLo0y chenea sresesecneeeneneseeeeeeseeeeneeroot0s
`
`5693656
`4/1997 Lyons i
`709/206
`5,664,110
`9/1997 Green el al. vccccssssccsssssseenenes 705/26
`5,671,279
`9/1997 Elgamal
`....ccccseceseeeeeeeeeneeee 380/23
`
`VO presents a series of VO Web pages to customers that
`contain descriptive information about products from one or
`more merchants. Customers can link through the VO Web
`pages directly to a merchant Web page provided to the
`customer computer by the merchant computer for the pur-
`pose of obtaining more detailed information about
`the
`product and for ordering the product. When the customer has
`finished ordering a product, the customer computer returns
`to a VO Webpage. To the customer,it appears that the entire
`ordering process is conducted entirely within the VO Web
`pages. The merchant then credits the VO for the sale of the
`product
`to the customer, charges the purchase to the
`customer, and sends the ordered product to the customer.
`
`28 Claims, 28 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`(ay
`140%)
`A035
`At
`
`CUSTOMER
`CUSTOMER
`CUSTOMER
`CUSTOMER
`
`
`
`1EB
`BRORSER
`1405
`
`
`
`
`
`
`TEB
`WEB
`WEB
`sett
`BROWSER
`BROWSER
`
`
`1408
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2
`1AtO
`
`OUTLET
`
`COMPONENT
`
`
`COMPONENT
`
`—
`
`1415-
`MAINTENANCE|
`COMPONENT
`
`|
`MERCHANT
`VIRTUAL OUTLET
`HOME PAGE
`iA16-
`SIGN UP
`COUPONENT
`
`[1414
`
`
`
`
`
`
`4417
`ORDER
`PROCESSING
`COMPONENT
`
`
`VIRTUAL OUTLET WEB PAGE
`1B11—\_}
`ACME CYBERSTORE
`
`MERCHANT WEB PAGES
`
`HABER
`DASHER &)
`CO.
`PRICE: $49.99
`SIZES: M-XL
`COLORS: BLACK, WHITE
`PRICE: $19.99
`SIZES: M-L
`COLORS: GREEN
`
`--2
`
`ACME CYBERSTORE
`
`VIRTUAL OUTLET WEB PACE
`
`ACME CYBERSTORE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(RETURN
`
`6)
`wo
`HATTER é,)
`C0.
`PRICE: $129.99 —
`A SIZES: 7-9-11
`
`
`
`
`SIZES: 7-9-11
`PRICE: $99.99
`
`4B30
`
`Shopify Exhibit 1011
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan.
`
`18, 2000
`
`Sheet 1 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`1A01
`
`1A02
`
`1403
`
`1A04
`
`CUSTOMER WEB
`
`BROWSER
`
`CUSTOMER
`
`CUSTOMER
`
`CUSTOMER HEB
`
`BROWSER
`
`WEB
`BROWSER
`
`WEB
`BROWSER
`
`1405
`
`1A06
`
`1407
`
`1A08
`
`WORLD WIDE WEB
`
`1409
`
`yfAft
`
`MERCHANT
`
`VIRTUAL OUTLET
`HOME PACE
`
`1A14
`
`tAl2
`
`1A16
`
`1A13
`
`1A17 MAINTENANCE
`
`1410
`
`VIRTUAL OUTLET
`
`VIRTUAL
`OUTLET
`COMPONENT
`
`COMPONENT
`
`VIRTUAL
`ORDER
`SIGN UP
`OUTLET
`COMPONENT COMPONENT||PROCESSING
`MANAGEMENT
`COMPONENT
`
`
`
`Fig. 1d
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 2 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`
`
`
`
`TIVd€4MLATLNOTWALUIA
`
`
`
`HYOLSHTEADTNIV
`
`UFTHSVE
`
`SUIHM‘WOVIE‘S¥OT0)
`
`
`Cor)(2)Saar
`Gunnyam
`JUOLSHTEADTNIV
`
`
`LUOLSUTEADINIV
`66°621§“TITedOW
`
`
`SYI¥diMIJNVHIUIW
`NITED‘SHOTOD
`
`hi-6-2-SdZIS
`
`66°6P$“AIEd=p9
`
`
`66°66$-F01ed
`
`66°6I$“FITed
`
`1KX-W‘SAZIS
`1-H‘SIZIS
`
`
`LIVd€4MLATLNOTWALYIA
`
`“LY
`
`09
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 3 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`VO
`COMPONENT
`
`LISTEN FOR NEXT
`REQUEST OR FOR
`TERMINATION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DISPLAY APPROPRIATE
`RESOURCE,
`INCLUDING
`WEB PACES WITH
`EMBEDDED HOT LINKS
`
`201
`
`202
`
`TERMINATION
`?
`
`203
`
`

`

`301
`
`REQUEST HOME
`PAGE FROM
`MERCHANT AND
`ACCEPT DISPLAY
`
`USER
`TERMINATES
`PROGRAM
`?
`
`USER
`REQUESTS
`SIGN UP
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 4 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`VO
`MANAGEMENT
`
`
`
`
`SIGN UP |
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 5 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`Fig. 4
`
`REQUEST SIGN UP
`SCREEN FROM
`MERCHANT AND
`ACCEPT DISPLAY
`SCREEN AND WAIT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`USER
`REQUESTS
`EXTT
`
`YES
`
`
`
`
`COLLECT INFORMATION
`FROM USER AND SEND
`TO MERCHANT
`
`YES
`
`
`REQUEST CONFIRMATION
`SCREEN FROM MERCHANT
`
`AND DISPLAY
`
`
` USER
`CONFIRMS
`
`
`TES
`
`RETURN
`
`405
`
`ACCEPT DISPLAY
`OF ERROR SCREEN
`
`NO
`406
`
`USER
`REQUESTS
`TERMINATION
`2
`
`
`
`YES
`
`
`
`410
`
`SEND CONFIRMATION
`TO MERCHANT
`REQUEST AND DISPLAY
`THANK YOU
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 6 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`Lok]
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Links
`
`Today's
`
`Links
`
`
`
`St
`
`
`
`Virtual Outlet Signup Form
`
`The purpose of this page is for you, the Webmaster, to submit a request to becomea Virtual Outlet.
`
`To start, let's establish who you are.
`
`Your organization name:
`
`This is the full name of your organization as you would like other Webusersto see it (this is the "user friendly"
`representation of your organization name.) Example: "IBM" (not "International Busines Machines, inc.")
`Organization:
`|UMall
`}
`
`Yourorganization's address:
`
`This is the address where we will be sending your commision checks.
`Official Org Name:
`[BCx Enterprises, Inc.
`Org's Tax ID:
`[414-141-1111
`
`[sutez2iY
`State/Province:
`
`Aadress2:
`City:
`Zip code:
`
`Your "handle":
`
`This "handle" will be used to identify you to us, and will be used within the URL's query strings that you use to
`connectto us. Don notuse spaces or strange characters. Alphanumerics only! Example: "“MAYBERRY"
`
`Handle:
`
`|UMall
`
`Your handle password:
`
`‘|
`
`Type in a password. This password will allow you (and only you) to access your account.
`Password: |
`Retype Password:
`
`(3 Virtual Outlet Signup Example - Microsoft Internet Explorer
`File Edit View Go Favorites Help
`e¢
`>
`@® | @
`
`fI-
`
`
`
`
`
`Address:| http://www.[http://www.virtualoutlet.com/signup.htm[http://www.virtualoutlet.com/signup.htmhtm
`
`
`
`
`
`Back Home Q Favorites affyoemaneA "ls(TalstnisBenes|aysForward Stop Refresh Un [B) Services
`
`[xxx|
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 7 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`Virtual Outlet Signup Example - Microsoft Internet Explorer
`File Edit View Go Favorites Help
`& Qmr & Kk
`e
`8
`Links
`Home
`Search Favorites
`Print
`Font
`Refresh
`Stop
`Back
`Forward
`Address: | http://www.virtualoutlet.com/signup.htm
`
`G}
`
`Today's
`
`et
`Links
`aysen
`
`Id
`
`Services
`
`|
`
`Your logo:
`
`Type in the full URL of your logo, for example, "http://www.outpost.net/img/opn/OPLOGsm.GIF." You may leave
`this field blank, but your logo will not show on our pages.
`
`Logo:
`
`[http://www-umall.com/graphics/logos/mainlogo.bmp
`
`Screen customization:
`
`Ifall is well, then we will display you an example page.
`
`You may makeour serrnslook just like an extension of your own WebSite by customizing colors and background
`images!
`
`All information hereis optional. Leave the fields blank and we'll use our defaults!
`
`Backgroundgraphic:
`
`Type in the full path to a copy of your background. Example: “http://www.outpost.net/img/opn/chalk.gif”
`Backgmd:
`|
`|
`Text Colors:
`
`Colors are defined in HTML as six digit hexadecimal numbers. Refer to an HTML manualfor moredetails.
`
`Backgrnd:
`
`Text:
`
`Link: [000EE
`
`Visited:
`
`Click:
`
`Check everything over, and submit the form.
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 8 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`
`
`Io)
`[@_U Mall - Example Page - Microsoft Internet Explorer
`File Edit View Go Favorites Help
`Back Print A ksuns@yToasuns(sevees|[2) ServicesForward Stop Refresh Home Q Favorites
`
`
`
`
`
`e
`> ® f ff
`fA. &
`
`Address:[http://www.[hitp://www.virtualoutlet.com/cgi-bin/vo_hrefexe?umall&sampleSSCS~S~SC«idCYSvirtualoutlet.com/ogi-bin/vo_href.«http://www.virtualoutlet.com/cgi-bin/vo_href,
`
`
`
`
`ui
`
`SAMPLE PAGE
`
`Take a careful look at this page.
`
`Please ensure that you backgroundcolor, GIFs, text, and company nameare correct.
`
`
`
`Company Name: BCX Enterprises, Inc.
`Tax ID; 111-11-1111
`Address: 1234 Oak St.
`Address2: Suite 202
`City: Seattle
`St! WA
`Zip: 98121
`Handle: UMALL
`Business Name: U Mall
`
`
`
`
`
`This is a sample page created for U Mall.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`If any of these selectionsare incorrect, or you are not satisfied with the look of the page, press "BACK"to return to
`the Signup Page to change any values.
`
`If you are satisfied with this page,fill in the rest of the information and press the Continuebutton.
`
`Webmaster name:
`
`Webmaster e-mail:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 9 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`801
`
`REQUEST LOGIN SCREEN
`SCREEN FROM MERCHANT
`ACCEPT DISPLAY OF
`
`SCREEN AND WAIT
`
`FOR USER INPUT
`
`
`
`USER
`
`
`
`USER
`
`REQUESTS
`
`TO EXTT
`
`
`
`
`COLLECT INFORMATION
`
`FROM USER AND SEND
`TO MERCHANT AS
`LOGIN REQUEST
`
`
`
`
`SCREEN
`REQUESTS
`
`
`RETURNED
`TERMINATION
`
`
`?
`2
`
`
`
`YES
`
`USER
`REQUESTS
`TO EXIT
`?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 10 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`PROCESS MENU
`SELECTION
`
`BILLING
`
`
`
`
`PROCESS
`PACE
`LAYOUT
`
`902
`
`903
`
`ENABLE /DISABLE
`
`PROCESS
`
`
`901
`
`REVIEW
`
`BILLING/CONTRACT
` REQUEST
`
`
`
`
`REVIEW
`
`PAGE LAYOUT
`
`
`
`
`REQUEST
`Q
`
`
` ACCOUNT
`
`
`
`/
`ACCOUNT
`
`
`904
`
`
`PROCESS
`CHANCE
`CHANCE
`PASSWORD
`PASSWORD
`0
`
`
`
`
`BROWSER
`
`CATALOGUE
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 11 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`[@| Merchant Catalog - Microsoft Internet Explorer
`File Edit View Go Favorites Help
`oe
`>
`@®
`fF
`Back
`Forward
`Stop
`Refresh
`
`@& Qs &
`Home
`Search Favorites
`Print
`
`(I)
`
`Sympathy:http://www.virtualmall.com/cgi-bin/vo_hreffUMALL&SYMPATHY
`
`Merchant Catalog
`INSTRUCTIONS
`
`1. Perusethe list below, identifying the items you wish to merchandise on your site.
`2. Click on the page link to see what your personalized page will look like or to gain a better understanding of
`the contents of the page.
`
`Click on any ofthese links below to see your custom page!
`
`Index:
`
`GREETING CARDS—
`
`Birthday: http://www.virtualmall.com/cgi-bin/vo_hreffUMALL&BDAY
`Anniversary: http://www.virtualmall.com/cgi-bin/vo _hreffUMALL&ANNIV
`
`Pig. 70
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 12 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`CBULING>WANTS TO CHANCE
`
`ASK USER
`WHETHER THE USER
`
`1101
`
`BILLING OR CONTRACT
`OR QUIT
`
`USER
`
`WANTS TO
`QUIT
`
`1102
`
`1103
`
`CRETURN
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`REQUEST CONTRACT
`FROM MERCHANT
`
`CHANGE
`1104
`BILLING
`REQUEST BILLING
`
`SCREEN FROM
`
`
`MERCHANT
`
`
`
`
`USER
`USER
`WANTS TO QUIT
`WANTS TO QUIT
`
`
`
`OR ERROR
`OR ERROR
`? No
`
`
`?
`
`
`
`COLLECT INFORMATION
`COLLECT INFORMATION
`FROM USER AND
`FROM USER AND
`SEND TO MERCHANT
`SEND TO MERCHANT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`REQUESTING CHANCE
`REQUESTING CHANGE
`
`
`
`
`ERROR
`DISPLAY
`
`
`
`RETURNED
`OF FRROR
`
`
`SCREEN
`2
`
`
`
`
`1105
`
`1106
`
`
`
`ACCEPT
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 13 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`REQUEST APPROPRIATE
`DISPLAY SCREEN
`FROM MERCHANT
`
`
`USER
`
`WANTS TO QUIT
`QUIT OR ERROR SCREEN
`DISPLAYED
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ACCEPT DISPLAY OF SCREEN -
`COLLECT INFORMATION FROM
`USER AND REQUEST TO
`UPDATE WITH MERCHANT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ACCEPT
`ERROR
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`DISPLAY RETURNED
`FROM MERCHANT
`OF ERROR
`
`
`
`SCREEN
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 14 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`
`
`MERCHANT_INTERNET_SITE
`
`
`
` LISTEN FOR
`NEXT REQUEST OR
`FOR TERMINATION
`
`
`
`HANDLE_REQUEST
`
`Fig. 73
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 15 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`HANDLE_REQUEST
`
`
`
`yes_||_
`
`HANDLE
`
`ston-UP <p
`
`COMPONENT
`REQUEST
`
`1403
`
`1402
`
`1gtESTSN
`
`
`
`COMPONENT
`
`9
`
`REQUEST
`
`T0 MAINTENANCE YES|)MAINTENANCE RETURN
`
`HANDLE
`
`COMPONENT
`REQUEST
`
`
`
`
`COMPONENT
`
`?
`
`1404
`
`
`10 ORDERPROCESSING
`
`
`COMPONENT
`
`2
`
`~>¥ES_+||
`
`HANDLE
`
`ORDER PROCESSING
`COMPONENT
`
`Charon)
`
`Fig. 14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 16 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`HANDLE SIGN-UP
`COMPONENT REQUEST
`
`1501
`
`
`THIS A
`
`
`REQUEST TO DISPLAY
`SIGN UP
`
`1502.
`
`DISPLAY
`SIGN UP
`PACE
`
`
`
`CRETURN
`
`1507
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`CONFIRM
`PACE
`
`
`
`v0
`
`1504
`
`
`150
`1502
`
`IS
`
`
`IS
`INFORMATION
`THIS A SIGN UP
`CORRECTLY
`
`SPECIFIED
`REQUEST
`
`STORE
`
`SIGN UP
`INFORMATION
`
`
`
`PERROR
`THiS A
`
`
`
`REQUEST TO DISPLAY
`SCREEN
`
`
`CONFIRMSCREEN
`
`
`
`NO
`CONFIRMS
`
`YES
`
`1509
`
`STORE INFORMATION
`FIAG FOR REVIEW
`AND FOR SENDING
`EMAIL TO CONFIRM
`
`OR DENY SIGN UP
`SCREEN
`CRETURN
`
`1510
`
`DISPLAY
`THANK YOU
`
`Hig. 15
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 17 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`INFORMATION STORED AT SIGN-UP
`
`BANNER ADVERTISING
`
`VIRTUAL OUTLET URL
`VIRTUAL OUTLET NAME
`TAXPAYER ID
`VIRTUAL OUTLET MAILING ADDRESS
`SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
`VIRTUAL OUTLET EMAIL ADDRESS
`BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER
`PROPOSED PASSWARD
`URL OF LOGOS TO DISPLAY ON ORDER PAGE(S)
`URL FOR GRAPHICS FOR BACKGROUND
`COLORS FOR VARIOUS PARTS OF SCREEN
`FONTS FOR TEXT
`OTHER CHARACTERISTICS FOR HTML DISPLAY
`NAVICATION BAR
`
`Fig. 76
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 18 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`HANDLE MAINTENANCE
`COMPONENT REQUEST
`
`
`
` LOGIN
`
`?
`REQUEST
`
`
`CATALOGUE
`REQUEST
`
`
`
`
`
`
` REVIEW
`PAGE LAYOUT
`
`
`REQUEST
`
`RE VEST
`
`
`ACCOUNT
`ENABLE/ DISABLE
`
`PASSWORD
`
` CHANGE
`REQUEST
`
`
`Ceernw
`
`HANDLE
`
`LOGIN
`
`REQUEST
`
`CRETURN
`
`HANDLE
`CATALOCUE
`REQUEST
`
`[Gna
`
`HANDLE
`BILLING
`REQUEST
`
`
`
`CaeTUR
`
`HANDLE
`PAGE LAYOUT
`REQUEST
`
`HANDLE
`ACCOUNT
`REQUEST
`
`HANDLE
`PASSWORD
`REQUEST
`
`Fig. 1 7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 19 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`HANDLE LOGIN REQUEST
`
`DISPLAY
`LOCIN
`SCREEN
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`USER ID
`AND PASSWORD
`
`VALID
`
`DISPLAY
`ERROR
`SCREEN
`
`DISPLAY
`MAIN
`MENU
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 20 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`HANDLE CATALOGUE REQUEST
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`FRROR
`SCREEN
`
`VALID
`CATALOG PACE
`REQUESTED
`
`
` DISPLAY
`
`
`REQUESTED
`CATALOGUE
`
`PAGE
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 21 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`Hig. <2O
`
`HANDLE BILLING REQUEST
`
`SCREEN
`
`DISPLAY
`
`
`ERROR
`
`
`
` DISPLAY
`
`REQUEST
`
`CURRENT
`TO DISPLAY
`
`
`BILLINC
`
`BILLING FOR VO
`
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`CURRENT
`CONTRACT
`
`
`
`
`
`REQUEST
`
`
`TO DISPLAY
`
`
`CONTRACT
`
`
`
`
`STORE NEW
`BILLING
`
`
`
`
`BILLING
`REQUEST
`INFORMATION
`
`INORMATION
`IN DATABASE
`TO CHANGE
`
`
`
`
`
`BILLING
`AND FLAG FOR
`SPECIFIED
`
`
`
`REVIEW AND
`?
`2
`
`
`
`
`EMAIL RESPONSE
`
`
`DISPLAY
`ERROR
`
`SCREEN
`
`CONTRACT
`
`STORE NEW
`REQUEST
`TNE
`INFORMATION
`
`
`
`
`
`CORRECTLY
`IN DATABASE
`TO CHANCE
`
`
`
`
`CONTRACT
`
`
`AND FLAG FOR
`
` SPECIFIED
`?
`REVIEW AND
`
`
`EMAIL RESPONSE
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 22 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`HANDLE PACE
`LAYOUT REQUEST
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`USER ID
`NO
`
`AND PASSWORD
`
`VALID
`
`
`DISPLAY
`ERROR
`SCREEN
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`CURRENT
`
`
`REQUEST
`
`TO DISPLAY
`
`CURRENT PACE
`
`LAYOUT
`
`
` PAGE LAYOUT
`
`
`
`
`NEW
`PAGE LAYOUT
`CORRECTLY
`SPECIFIED
`
`Sig. a7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 23 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`HANDLE
`ACCOUNT REQUEST
`
`USER ID
`AND PASSWORD
`VALID
`
`DISPLAY
`ERROR
`SCREEN
`
`
`
` REQUEST
`DISPLAY OF ACCOUNT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DISABLE
`ACCOUNT
`
`
`ACCOUNT
`
`DISPLAY ACCOUNT
`ENABLE/DISABLE
`SCREEN
`
`
`
`
`DISABLE
`ACCOUNT
`
`ENABLE
`
`Fig. Ce
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 24 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`HANDLE
`PASSWORD REQUEST
`
`
`DISPLAY
`USER ID
`
`
`ERROR
`AND PASSWORD
`VALID
`SCREEN
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Q
`PASSWORD
`TO DISPLAY
`
`
`
`PASSWORD
`
`
` SCREEN
`
`
`
`NEW
`
`PASSWORD
`
`CORRECTLY
`SPECIFTED
`
`SCREEN
`
`PASSWORD
`
`
`STORE NEW
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 25 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`HANDLE ORDER
`PROCESSING REQUEST
`
`24044
`
`DISA)Y
`SCREEN
`
`NO
`
`VO
`
`IDENTIFIER
`VALID
`
`2401
`
`2402
`
`
`
`
`vo PAGE YES
`
`
`T0 WVSBLLY
`RETRIEVE VO
`REQUEST
`
`
`
`
`
`CONFIRM
`INFORMATION AND
`
`CREATE TEMPLATE
`SCREEN
`
`
`
`FOR VO PACE
`
`To
`
`
`
`TO DISPLAY
`
`
` REQUEST
`
`2404B
`
`2406
`
`2407
`
`YES
`
`DISPLAY
`
`ORDER
`CONFIRM
`
` SCREEN
`
`Carr
`
`2408
`
`2409
`
`T0 CONFIRM
`
`REQUEST
`saber
`
`YES
`
`| CONFIRM
`ORDER
`
`
`CUSTOMER
`
`
`DISPLAY
`VO PACE TO
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 26 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`General Store - Microsoft Internet Explorer
`File Edit View Go Favorites Help
`a& Qf & &
`e
`©
`Home
`Search Favorites
`Print
`Font
`Refresh
`Stop
`Back
`Forward
`Address:|http://www.umall.com
`l
`
`I a
`
`Anindependent handcrafted picture frame company.
`
`s DECORATION
`
`Handcrafted Shaker inspired furniture from the mountains of Wyoming! Looking for the perfect
`picture frame? Ever wonder howto find a great interior designer that can work within your
`budget? Decoration has the resources you need to makeit happen.
`
`m Signed Sealed & Delivered
`Gift Baskets for any occasion. These baskets are beautifully designed to please any taste and
`palate. Perfect for holiday and corporate gift giving.
`
`mu UMall Greeting Cards
`An easy wayto sendreal greeting cards! Choose from our line of high-quality cards.
`
`= The Flower Stop
`The Internet's fresh flower market.
`
`m Jones & Jones
`
`Fig. 25
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 27 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`
`
`
`
`[4 U Mall -- Greeting Cards -- Birthday - Microsoft Internet Explorer
`File Edit View Go Favorites Help
`e
`©
`Back
`Forward
`
` LJ]
`Qa 8 &lu
`&
`su
`:
`Home Q, Favorites
`Print
`Font
`Links
`[@) Today's Links
`[@) Servces
`
`
`
`
`Stop
`
`Refresh
`
`Address:| http://www.virtualoutlet.com/cgi-bin/vo_href.exe?umall&BDAY
`
`
`
`
` Happy BirTHDAY!
`
`Price:$3.75
`
` Instructions:
`
`
`
`
`(click on card to see larger image)
`Show me an
`
`
`
`1, Choose a card by clicking the circle next to the card.
`2. Compose your message using our easy form.
`3. Fill out the name, address and order information.
`
`Card Choices
`
`Fig. LO
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 18, 2000
`
`Sheet 28 of 28
`
`6,016,504
`
`a Qm & &
`Home
`Search Favorites
`Print
`Font
`
`Es
`
`to process... - Microsoft Internet Explorer
`Ready
`File Edit View Go Favorites Help
`e
`9
`Back
`Forward
`
`Stop
`
`Refresh
`
`
`
`
`To complete your order
`
`
`
`PRESS THE COMFIRM ORDER BUTTON Order Summary:
`
`
`
`Price (1 item(s) at 3.75 per item) :
`Order Total :
`US
`
`
`
`
` If you do not wish to complete your order, you may press "Back"or navigate to another page. Your eredit card will
`
`not be charge and your order cancelled.
`
`
` Virtual Outlet Cardshop Customer Service: custserv@virtualoutlet.com
`
`Sig. <r
`
`

`

`6,016,504
`
`1
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRACKING
`THE PURCHASE OF A PRODUCT AND
`SERVICES OVER THE INTERNET
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates to a computer method and
`system for tracking product sales, and more particularly to
`a method and system for tracking sales on the Internet.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`10
`
`The Internet and the World Wide Web
`
`2
`connected, but also among Web pages on entirely different
`servers. Additional types of Web page description Lacilities,
`other than HTML,are either currently available or planned
`for future release.
`
`In general, the Web servers are stateless with respect to
`client transactions. In other words, at the HTTP protocol
`level, each transaction (e.g., request for an HTMLfile) is
`separate from all others.
`In other common networking
`system protocols,a client mightinitialize a connection to the
`server, conduct a series of requests from the server and
`receive information for each request, and then terminate the
`connection from the server, and the entire exchange, from
`the initialization to the termination of the connection, would
`be considered a transaction. In such systems, the client/
`server connection may be considered to be in one of several
`different states at any instance, depending on the nature of
`the requests and responses and their order. Such systems
`require that state information be saved by the server, and
`also usually by the client, and require time outs and other
`connectionfailure strategies. The stateless nature of the Web
`simplifics the server and clicnt architectures.
`
`Marketing Products on the Internet
`
`The use and capabilities of the WWW have greatly
`increased in recent years. It is now a media that supports
`commerce and holds even greater promise for commerce in
`the future as a media that can connect buyers with scllers,
`can take actual orders, and can complete the associated
`payments.
`However, the WWW today has several problems in sup-
`porting large scale commerce. One of the key problems is
`simply putting the buyers and sellers in contact. Because of
`the vastness of the WWW,evenif a person knows what they
`want,
`they may not be able to find it. And, even more
`importantly,
`the WWW lacks in the ability to create
`“impulse” type buying in which a customer stumbles upon
`a product or service that appeals to themat that moment, and
`then allows them to make an immediate purchase.
`Forthe sake of this discussion, the WWW can be divided
`into two kinds of Websites: (1) thosethat attract Web surfers
`(.e., potential customers) by providing rich content of
`specific interest to the Web surfer, and (2) those that actually
`are trying to sell a product or service. The content-richsites
`vastly outnumberthe selling sites. A problem for the selling
`sites is to get
`the potential customers who are at
`the
`content-rich sites to know that the sclling site has a product
`that is available to be sold on the Web. However, a content-
`rich site typically needs some incentive (i.e., compensation)
`to put its Web surfers in contact with the sellingsites.
`Currently, a content-rich site can be compensated using a
`couple of different compensation methods. The existing
`methods, however, have several problems associated with
`them and ultimately do not provide an adequate incentive.
`The first existing method is the WWW’s version of the
`traditional advertising modcl. With this method, a scller
`simply creates a small graphic image, called a banner ad, and
`has the content-rich site place the ad in a prominentposition
`on a Web pageof the content-rich site. The banner ad has a
`hot link to the selling site. A Web surfer (i.e., potential
`customer) will notice the ad, then “click” on it and thereby
`pass through to the selling site, where a purchase may be
`made. With this method, the content-rich Web site is com-
`pensated in the traditional advertising way. Typically, the
`content-rich site displaying the ad will receive a fixed fee
`based on the number of times the ad was presented to
`potential customers.
`
`The Internet comprises a vast number of computers,
`network links between the computers, and protocol and
`other interface standards that provide a communication
`network for computer representatives to exchange computer
`data with other computer representatives. The World Wide
`Web (“WWW”) wasdesigned as an easyvisual interface for
`representatives of the Internet. The WWW allows a server
`computer, called a Web site, to send graphical Web pages of
`information, called Web pages, to a remote representative’s
`computer and allows the remote representative’s computer
`to display the Web pages on a display. These Web pages may
`contain control regions, such as simulated push buttons, that ,
`allow the representative to acquire and display additional,
`related Web pages of information in a hypertext fashion.
`The Internet
`is based on information exchange from
`servers to clients. Each client and server has an Internet
`address called a Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”). An
`example of a URL addressis “http://acme.com/page1.” The
`URLhastwoparts: (1) a scheme and (2) a scheme-specific
`part. The scheme identifies the high-level protocol through
`which the information is to be exchanged, and the scheme-
`specific part contains additional information useful in estab-
`lishing a connection between a client and a server. The
`WWWuses the HTTP protocol. The “http” at the beginning
`of the example URL,above, is the scheme, and indicates that
`the Internet address specified by the example URL
`exchanges information using HTTP, and is therefore a
`WWWsite. The remainder of the URL following the colon
`is the scheme-specific partthat, for WWWservers, generally
`indicates a host IITTP server name andthe file system path
`to a Web page to be transferred. In this example, the host
`HTTPserveris identified by “acme.com”and the Web page
`is identified by “pagel.”
`Currently, a Web page is defined by a HyperText Markup
`Language (“HTML”) file. The software on a client
`that
`manages the Internet connections andinterprets and effects
`the commands contained in HTML documents is called a
`
`15
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`browser. When a representative indicates to the browser a
`desire to view a Web page, the browserinitiates a client
`computer request that the server transfer to the client com-
`puter an HTMLfile that defines the Web page. When the
`requested HTMLfile is received by the client computer, the 5
`browser uses the HTMLfile to construct the Web page and
`display it
`to the representative on the client computer
`display. The HTML file contains various commands for
`displaying text, graphics, controls, background colorsfor the
`Web page, and other displayed features. The HTMLfile may
`contain URL addresses of other Web pages available on the
`server, which allow the browserto offer to the representative
`hypertext-type selection and display of the other Web pages.
`In addition, the HTMLfile also may contain URL addresses,
`called hot links, to other Web pages at other Websites. Thus,
`a representative may be able not only to navigate among
`Web pages available on the server to which he initially
`
`60
`
`65
`
`

`

`6,016,504
`
`4
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention is directed to a method for tracking
`a purchase by a customer of a product supplied by a
`merchant through whatis referred to as a “virtual outlet,”
`where the merchant, virtual outlet owner, and customer each
`have a computer connected through a network and where the
`purchase is conducted as a transaction over the network. To
`purchase the product, the customer requests a Web page
`from the virtual outlet computer. The requested Web page
`typically has a visual indication of the product and a link
`associated with the product. The link identifies a merchant
`Web page available from the merchant computer, identifies
`the virtual outlet, and identifies a return Web page of the
`virtual outlet. When the customer computer receives the
`requested Web page from the virtual outlet, it displays the
`Web page. When the customer selects the product to pur-
`chase from the displayed Web page, the cusLomer computer
`sends to the merchant computer a request for the merchant
`Web pageidentified bythe link associated with the product.
`The merchant computer modifies the merchant Web page to
`contain a return link so that upon completion of the
`purchase, the customer computer displays the return Web
`page of the virtual outlet identified by the link and sends to
`the customer computer the modified merchant Web page.
`The modified merchant Web page is displayed at the cus-
`tomer computer to allow the customer to purchase the
`product from the merchant. The merchant computercredits
`the virtual outlet for the purchase. Upon completion of the
`purchase, the customer computer displays the return Web
`page identified by the return link in the modified merchant
`Web page.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a preferred com-
`puter system that includes the present invention.
`FIG. 1B illustrates the sequence of Web pages as seen by
`a customerof a virtual outlet.
`
`FIG. 2 displays a flow diagram for the virtual outlet
`componentof the virtual outlet.
`FIG. 3 displays a high-level flow control diagram for the
`virtual outlet management componentof the virtual outlet.
`FIG. 4 displays a flow diagram for the Sign-up routine.
`FIG. 5 displays an example sign-up Web page.
`FIG. 6 displays an example sign-up Web page.
`FIG. 7 displays an example confirmation Web page.
`FIG. 8 shows a flow control diagram for the Login
`routine.
`
`FIG. 9 showsa flow control diagram for Process_Menu__
`Selection.
`
`FIG. 10 shows an example merchant catalog Web page.
`FIG. 11 shows a flow control diagram for the routine
`Billing.
`FIG. 12 shows a flow control diagram for the routine
`Process.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`3
`There are several problems with banner advertising. A
`first problem is that when the Web surfer clicks on the
`bannerad, the surfer leaves the content-rich site and goes to
`the selling site and possibly will not return. This is a strong
`disincentive for the content-rich site owner because the
`
`ownerwants the Web surfer to explore andto stay atits site
`for as long as possible.
`A second problem is that, when a purchase is made, the
`selling site collects and retains information about the Web
`surfer (e.g., home address and telephone number). Theseller
`can then market to the Web surfer directly. The content-rich
`site, however, does not take advantage of this information
`and typically is not compensated if additional purchases are
`made by the Web surfer.
`A third problem is the standard problem ofall traditional
`advertising—fairness. There is no connection between the
`compensation and the actual results of the ad. It may be that
`the selling site ended up making nosalesat all to the people
`that were presented the ad, in whichcasetheselling site paid
`money for no results. Conversely, perhaps many sales were
`made, in which case the content-rich site owner received too
`little compensation.
`The second existing method is a commission based com-
`pensation model. This method is designed to address the
`fairness of advertising issue raised above. In this method,the
`content-rich site still attracts Web surfers and then points
`them to a sellingsite, either by using the same kind of banner
`ad, by using a simple hypertext link, or by using an even
`more complex “co-branded” Web page that acts as a bridge
`betweenthe content-richsite and the selling site. In any case,
`the content-rich site is compensated only when the customer
`that it delivered to the selling site actually makes a purchase
`directly after linking from the content-rich site (as opposed
`to, for example, returning to the selling site a week later to
`make a purchase, in whichcase the content-rich site receives
`no commission).
`This commission based method also has several prob-
`lems. Thefirst two problems are the same problems as with
`the advertising method: failure of customers to return to the
`content-rich Web site and lack of access to customerinfor-
`
`mation by the content-rich Website.
`The third problem is again one of fairness. While it would
`appear that a commission onthesale is fair, a content-rich
`site owneris only compensatedif the purchase is immediate.
`Once the potential purchaser has left the content-rich site
`and goesto the selling site, then from that momenton, they
`know about the selling site and how to get to it. The next
`time the purchaser wants to visit the selling site to make a
`purchase, the purchaser will simply go directly to the sellers
`site and bypass the content-rich site completely. When the
`Web surfer does this, the content-rich site will receive no
`commission on the later sales. So, in fact, the content-rich
`site owner receives a commission for delivering, at most,
`one sale; that is, the owner only receives a one-time com-
`mission if the customer purchases a product when the
`customer visits the selling site through the content-richsite.
`‘The content-rich site may have delivered a customer, poten-
`tially a life-long customer, to the selling site, for which the
`content-rich site ownerwill receive no ongoing commission.
`Aneed has been recognized, therefore, for a way to track
`purchases on the Web that avoids the problems associated
`with the banner advertising method and the commission
`method. The invention described below addresses this need
`
`TIG. 13 shows a flow control diagram for the merchant
`portion of the virtual outlet retailing system.
`FIG. 14 shows a flow control diagram for the routine
`Request.
`FIG. 15 shows a flow control diagram for the Sign-up__
`Request routine.
`FIG. 16 lists some of the information returned by the
`virtual outlet to the merchant during the sign-up process.
`by providing an efficient, easily maintained, and flexible
`method for establishing a computer-based relationship
`FIG. 17 shows a flow control diagram for the routine
`
`between a content-rich site andaselling site. Maintenance_Request.
`
`60
`
`65
`
`

`

`5
`FIG. 18 shows a flow contro
`
`diagram for
`
`LoginRequest.
`FIG. 19 shows a flow
`
`control diagram for
`
`CatalogRequest.
`FIG. 20 shows a flow
`BillingRequest.
`FIG. 21 shows a flow
`Page__Layout_Request.
`FIG. 22 shows a flow
`Account Request.
`FIG. 23 shows a flow
`Password_Request.
`FIG. 24 shows a flow contro
`
`control di