Patent ID: 6078866
Filing Date: 2000-06-20
Classification: G06F,G06Q,Y10S

Abstract:
A system of network site searching and listing comprising:a listing server connected to a network accessible by a plurality of users, having a site listings database containing a plurality of site listings, each of which is provided by a site listing subscriber and includes a title or description of the content of the respective site, a network address at which the site can be accessed on the network, and a denominated value bid by the subscriber for the site listing while it is maintained on the listing server,server search program means for searching the site listings database for site listings having titles or descriptions of content that match a given search inquiry from a user and for ordering the site listings found in the search in order of their denominated values, wherein said listing server provides a search report of the denominated-value-ordered site listings relevant to the search inquiry to the user in order according to the denominated values bid by the subscribers for the found site listings, andbid management program means including a subscriber account interface for allowing a subscriber to connect online with the listing server and to automatically enter a new denominated value bid for said subscriber's site listing into the site listings database,wherein said server search program means of said listing server thereupon conducts searches of the site listings database for site listings in response to search inquiries from users by automatically taking into account the new denominated value bid entered by the subscriber for the subscriber's site listing.