Patent ID: 8190711
Filing Date: 2012-05-29
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling distribution of a content throughout a network, the method comprising: on a computer having a microprocessor and a memory, executing the following steps: (a) generating the content and placing it on a content server; (b) generating a first URL link to the content; (c) providing the first URL link to an end user who consumes the content; (d) modifying the first URL link on the content server when the end user accesses the content using the first URL link; (e) providing the modified first URL link to another end user; (f) modifying the modified first URL link on the content server, when the another end user accesses the content using the modified first URL link; (g) recording all modifications to the first URL link; (h) repeating steps (e) through (g) for subsequent different end users; estimating effectiveness of advertising the content based on a percentage of referrals of URL links to the content made by end users at every level of propagation of the content through the network; and determining efficiency of advertising the content based on any of (i) an average number of connections per network node; (ii) a number of super-connected nodes, wherein each super-connected node has a number of connections that exceeds the average number of connections per network node; and (iii) an influence of the super-connected nodes on other network nodes, the influence measured by a number of end users that receive information from the super-connected nodes.