Method and system for use with the internet

Abstract

A method of increasing the awareness of users of the Internet to services and products provided by web sites, wherein the method includes establishing a hosting web site on the Internet having a data processor for registering web site owners (WSO's) as subscribers to a hosting service. The method also includes storing a program of a browser add-on in the web site, and incorporating a set of customizable characteristics, wherein each WSO subscriber is enabled on said hosting web site to customize said browser add-on for defining specific look and functionalities of the browser add-on. The method further includes registering WSO's as subscribers to the hosting service, providing the data processor with a data base for each WSO subscriber, storing the customization data of the browser add-ons in the data bases of the respective WSO subscribers, generating code to be integrated in a web site of the WSO, wherein the code includes a unique identifier of the customization data stored at the hosting web site, in the data base of the respective WSO subscriber. Whenever a user of the Internet activates the code in the WSO subscriber web site, another step provides downloading the browser add-on and the customized data related to the WSO subscriber from the data processor of the hosting web site to the personal computer (PC) of the Internet user and integrating the browser add-on in a web browser installed in the PC.

1 . A method executed at a hosting site comprising the steps of:
 interacting with a website owner (WSO) to register said WSO with said hosting site by said WSO providing information to the hosting site;   interacting with a website owner (WSO) to create customization data that, when combined with an add-on program module that is incorporated in a browser program that is executed within a computer of a user, appears as an add-on element within a window generated by the browser program, wherein (a) information in the customization data imparts characteristics to the add-on element as chosen by the WSO in course of said interacting and (b) the add-on program module comprises code that causes a request to be sent to the hosting site to upload to said user computer said customization data;   establishing ID information for said WSO;   storing the created customization data in a database, in association with an identifier that is part of said ID information, to thereby create a presence of said WSO at said hosting site, which presence enables a party that presents a request that includes said identifier to modify said customization data in said database.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  where the ID information comprises a username for the WSO to be used by said WSO to enable modifying the customization data that is stored in said database. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  where the ID information comprises a username and a password for the WSO to be used by said WSO to enable modifying the customization data that is stored in said database. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  where said add-on program module comprises code that causes a request to be sent to said hosting site, in accord with a present repetition algorithm that is incorporated in said program module, for updates of said add-on information package. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of responding to a request that specifies said identifier with said customization data. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of responding to a request that specifies said identifier with said customization data, and said add-on program module. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  where said request is sent every time an algorithm that is embedded in said add-on program module so dictates. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  where at least some of the information that is included by in said customization data in consequence of said step of interacting is unique to said WSO, thereby presenting a presence of said WSO in said browser window of a user's computer display when said add-on program module is executed following downloading of said information package to said user's computer to create an add-on element that embodies said presence. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  where said at least some of the information comprises a logo of said WSO. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  where the information included in said information package is such that, when said add-on program module and said information package are present in a computer of said requesting party and a browser program is executed in said computer, an add-on element is created in a window of said browser that has a look-and-feel that conforms to desires of the WSO as they are reflected in said information included in said information package. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  where said add-on element is a toolbar. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  where the database contains a plurality of add-on information packages, each with an associated identifier, and at least some of the add-on information packages are created through interactions between said hosting party and different website owners. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of
 providing to said WSO a password; and   when receiving said password and said identifier or a user-name, granting access to said add-on information package that is stored in said database package in order to modify the information contained in said package.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the steps of:
 interacting with said WSO to modify said add-on information package; and   replacing in said database the add-on information package with the modified add-on information package.