System and method of co-branding pages over a network

Abstract

The present server based communications system provides dynamic customization of hypertext tagged documents presented to clients accessing the system. The customization, which pertains to the content of the documents, is based on the specific requirements of a class to which the client belongs to. The class may be defined by the identity of the source which refers the client to the system. The system utilizes a database which dynamically retrieves stored data in response to a server software tool which configures the data into hypertext tagged documents. The system utilizes a dynamic token scheme to pass the identity of the referring network site from document to document to eventual purchase document accessed by the client through the hypertext tags.

1 . A method of co-branding pages sent over a network, the network having a plurality of referring sites and a destination site, the method comprising: 
 receiving a request from a user for a page of the destination site, wherein the user was referred to the destination site by one of the plurality of referring sites,    after receiving the request, the destination site generating a page comprising a visual representation of the brand of the referring site, a visual representation of the brand of the destination site, and text or graphics relating to products or services offered via the destination site, wherein the brand of the referring location is one of a plurality of brands stored and accessible by the destination site,    transmitting the page to a user,    transmitting tracking information to the entity operating the referring site that referred the user to the destination site, wherein the tracking information includes information relating the user's transaction for products or services offered via the destination site.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the network includes client and server computers and wherein servers are disposed at the sites and a client computer is used by user.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the network is the Internet.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the location of the destination site is provided by the referring site to the user via a hypertext link.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sites are specified by network addresses.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the sites are defined by URL's.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the addresses of the first, second and third sites have different domain names.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of generating a page further includes customizing the products or services to be displayed based on the referring site.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the step of customizing the products of services to be displayed further comprises customizing the product and services in accordance with stored requirements provided by the referring site.  
     
     
         10 . A method of co-branding pages sent over a network, the network having a plurality of referring sites and a destination site, the method comprising: 
 storing a plurality of brands such that a least one brand is associated with each of the plurality of referring sites and the stored brands are accessible by the destination site,    receiving a request from a user for a page of the destination site, wherein the user was referred to the destination site by one of the plurality of referring sites,    after receiving the request, the destination site generating a page comprising a visual representation of the brand of the referring site, a visual representation of the brand of the destination site, and text or graphics relating to products or services offered via the destination site, and    transmitting the page to a user.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the network includes client and server computers and wherein servers are disposed at the sites and a client computer is used by user.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the network is the Internet.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the location of the destination site is provided by the referring site to the user via a hypertext link.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the sites are specified by network addresses.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the sites are defined by URL's.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the addresses of the first, second and third sites have different domain names.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of generating a page further includes customizing the products or services to be displayed based on the referring site.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of customizing the products of services to be displayed further comprises customizing the product and services in accordance with stored requirements provided by the referring site.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  or  10  wherein the request from the user for a page is received at the destination site.