System and method for tracking syndication of internet content

Abstract

A method and system for syndicating content via a plurality of publication venues is provided. In one embodiment the method includes storing in a memory a plurality of videos; storing a content identifier (ID) for each of the plurality of videos; storing a syndication ID for each of the plurality of publication venues, wherein at least some of the plurality of publications venues act as a referring venue for other publication venues; and storing information sufficient to identify the referring venue for the other publication venues. The method may further comprise receiving a syndication request for a first video from a requester, wherein the request includes a first content ID for the first video and a first syndication ID; generating code that includes the first content ID and a second syndication ID; associating the first content ID, the first syndication ID and the second syndication ID in a memory; and providing the code to the requester.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 activating, at a web server, a link that causes the generation of a request for a syndication code associated with content stored at a host server, wherein the request comprises a parent syndication identifier that is associated with a second web server providing the link;   receiving, at the web server, the syndication code comprising:
 a unique syndication identifier representing a combination of an identifier of the content and an identifier of the web server, 
 a link to the content, and 
 a syndication request link that, when activated, generates a second request for a second syndication code associated with the content, the second request comprising the unique syndication identifier; and 
   providing, on a web page by the web server, the syndication request link and the link to the content.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting activation of the syndication request link, and, in response, providing a second web page comprising the second syndication code. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second syndication code comprises at least one of a second unique syndication identifier, a second link to the content, or a second syndication request link. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting activation of the link to the content by a device, and, in response, transmitting the syndication request link to the device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the syndication request link comprises an address of the host server. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the link to the content, when activated, automatically presents the content. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the syndication request link, when activated by a device, causes the device to automatically transmit the second request for the second syndication code to the host server. 
     
     
         8 . A web server comprising:
 a memory; and   a processor in communication with the memory, the processor configured to:
 activate a link that causes the generation of a request for a syndication code associated with content stored at a host server, wherein the request comprises a parent syndication identifier that is associated with a second web server providing the link; 
 receive the syndication code comprising:
 a unique syndication identifier representing a combination of an identifier of the content and an identifier of the web server, 
 a link to the content, and 
 a syndication request link that, when activated, generates a second request for a second syndication code associated with the content, the second request comprising the unique syndication identifier; and 
 
 provide, on a web page, the syndication request link and the link to the content. 
   
     
     
         9 . The web server of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to detect activation of the syndication request link, and, in response, provide a second web page comprising the second syndication code. 
     
     
         10 . The web server of  claim 9 , wherein the second syndication code comprises at least one of a second unique syndication identifier, a second link to the content, or a second syndication request link. 
     
     
         11 . The web server of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to detect activation of the link to the content by a device, and, in response, transmit the syndication request link to the device. 
     
     
         12 . The web server of  claim 8 , wherein the syndication request link comprises an address of the host server. 
     
     
         13 . The web server of  claim 8 , wherein the syndication request link, when activated by a device, causes the device to automatically transmit the second request for the second syndication code to the host server. 
     
     
         14 . The web server of  claim 8 , wherein the link to the content, when activated, automatically presents the content. 
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:
 instructions for a web server activating a link that causes the generation of a request for a syndication code associated with content stored at a host server, wherein the request comprises a parent syndication identifier that is associated with a second web server providing the link;   instructions for receiving a syndication code comprising:
 a unique syndication identifier representing a combination of an identifier of the content and an identifier of the web server, 
 a link to the content, and 
 a syndication request link that, when activated, generates a second request for a second syndication code associated with the content, the second request comprising the unique syndication identifier; and 
   instructions for providing, on a web page, the syndication request link and the link to the content.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising instructions for detecting activation of the syndication request link, and, in response, providing a second web page comprising the second syndication code. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the second syndication code comprises at least one of a second unique syndication identifier, a second link to the content, or a second syndication request link. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising instructions for detecting activation of the link to the content by a device, and, in response, transmitting the syndication request link to the device. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the syndication request link comprises an address of the host server. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the syndication request link, when activated by a device, causes the device to automatically transmit the second request for the second syndication code to the host server.