Patent ID: 9607307
Date: 2017-03-28
CPC Classifications: G06Q

Claim:
1. Performing a method for creating a referral link, the method comprising: receiving a request for a referral link at a referral link server from a remote computing device associated with a referrer over the Internet; determining a target page from which the referral link was requested; determining a referrer's identity; if the referrer's identity is not determinable, requesting the referrer's identity; storing the association of the referrer's identity and the target page; generating a referral link comprised of a unique identifier that is directed to a unique forwarding location and does not include intelligible information relating to the target page or the referrer's identity; providing the referral link without intelligible information relating to the target page or the referrer's identity over a communication channel to the remote computing device associated with the referrer, wherein providing the referral link without intelligible information relating to the target page or the referrer's identity protects the referrer's identity while also associating the referrer's identity with the referral link; and determining a reward unit for the utilization of the referral link for situations other than when the goods or services of the.