System and method for influencing a position on a search result list generated by a computer network search engine

Abstract

The present application is related to systems and methods for enabling information providers to influence a position for a search listing within a search result list generated by an Internet search engine. The systems and methods may provide accounts for the network information providers. Each account may contain a search listing having at least three components: a description, a search term comprising one or more keywords, and a bid amount. The network information provider may add, delete, or modify a search listing to influence the position for a search listing within a corresponding search result list. The systems and methods may send a notification to an external destination upon occurrence of a predetermined event, such as the change of position in the search listing.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A computer system for providing online management of an online search listing account, comprising:
 at least one computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions for managing an online account for a website promoter;   at least one processor in communication with the at least one computer-readable storage medium, configured to execute the set of instructions to:
 maintain a database record of the online account, the online account comprising:
 a search listing comprising a search term, a website, and a bid amount chargeable to the online account; 
 a notifying option, selectable by the website promoter, for setting a notifying event associated with the online account; 
 
 charge the bid amount from an account balance of the online account upon receipt of a notification that a link associated with the website and listed on a webpage associated with the search listing has been clicked through; and 
 send the notification to an external destination when the notifying event occurs, when the website promoter has selected the notifying option and set the notification event. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the external destination is an electrical mail address and the notification is an electrical mail. 
     
     
         3 . The computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the notification event is at least one of:
 the account balance falling below a predetermined level;   a change in position of the link associated with the website listed on the webpage associated with the search listing; and   an outbid event associated with the search listing.   
     
     
         4 . The computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the online account further comprises an adjusting function, operable by the website promoter, for adjusting the search term, the bid amount, and the website associated with the search listing. 
     
     
         5 . The computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the online account further comprises a tracking function, operable by the website promoter, for tracking performance of multiple target market segments. 
     
     
         6 . The computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein when the website promoter selects to pay an invoiced amount at regular intervals which reflects charges incurred by actual cost from the click-through, the at least one processor is further configured to incur the charges to the online account after the account balance having been fallen below zero. 
     
     
         7 . The computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the online account further comprises at least one option of:
 viewing rules and policies of the online account;   requesting customer service assistance associated with maintaining the online account;   inputting a customer comment into a web-based input form;   viewing transaction history of the online account;   making online payment to the online account; and   maintaining a default billing information of the website promoter for the online payment.   
     
     
         8 . A computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions for managing an online account for a website promoter, the set of instructions, the set of instructions to direct at least one processor to perform acts of:
 maintaining a database record of the online account, the online account comprising:
 a search listing comprising a search term, a website, and a bid amount chargeable to the online account; 
 a notifying option, selectable by the website promoter, for setting a notifying event associated with the online account; 
   charging the bid amount from an account balance of the online account upon receipt of a notification that a link associated with the website and listed on a webpage associated with the search listing has been clicked through; and   sending the notification to an external destination when the notifying event occurs, when the website promoter has selected the notifying option and set the notification event.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the external destination is an electrical mail address and the notification is an electrical mail; and
 wherein the online account further comprises at least one option of:   viewing rules and policies of the online account;   requesting customer service assistance associated with maintaining the online account;   inputting a customer comment into a web-based input form;   viewing transaction history of the online account;   making online payment to the online account; and   maintaining a default billing information of the website promoter for the online payment.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the notification event is at least one of:
 the account balance falling below a predetermined level;   a change in position of the link associated with the website listed on the webpage associated with the search listing; and   an outbid event associated with the search listing.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the online account further comprises an adjusting function, operable by the website promoter, for adjusting the search term, the bid amount, and the website associated with the search listing. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the online account further comprises a tracking function, operable by the website promoter, for tracking performance of multiple target market segments. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein when the website promoter selects to pay an invoiced amount at regular intervals which reflects charges incurred by actual cost from the click-through, the set of instructions further direct at least one processor to perform acts of:
 incurring the charges to the online account after the account balance having been fallen below zero.   
     
     
         14 . A computer-implemented method for providing online management of an online search listing account, the method comprising:
 maintaining, by a processor, a database record of the online account, the online account comprising:
 a search listing comprising a search term, a website, and a bid amount chargeable to the online account; 
 a notifying option, selectable by the website promoter, for setting a notifying event associated with the online account; 
   charging, by a processor, the bid amount from an account balance of the online account upon receipt of a notification that a link associated with the website and listed on a webpage associated with the search listing has been clicked through; and   sending, by a processor, the notification to an external destination when the notifying event occurs, when the website promoter has selected the notifying option and set the notification event.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14 , wherein the external destination is an electrical mail address and the notification is an electrical mail. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14 , wherein the notification event is at least one of:
 the account balance falling below a predetermined level;   a change in position of the link associated with the website listed on the webpage associated with the search listing; and   an outbid event associated with the search listing.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14 , wherein the online account further comprises an adjusting function, operable by the website promoter, for adjusting the search term, the bid amount, and the website associated with the search listing. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14 , wherein the online account further comprises a tracking function, operable by the website promoter, for tracking performance of multiple target market segments. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 when the website promoter selects to pay an invoiced amount at regular intervals which reflects charges incurred by actual cost from the click-through, applying, by a processor, the charges to the online account after the account balance having been fallen below zero.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14 , wherein the online account further comprises at least one option of:
 viewing rules and policies of the online account;   requesting customer service assistance associated with maintaining the online account;   inputting a customer comment into a web-based input form;   viewing transaction history of the online account;   making online payment to the online account; and   maintaining a default billing information of the website promoter for the online payment.