Source: http://www.google.co.uk/patents/US7873709
Timestamp: 2017-12-17 12:07:25
Document Index: 152873307

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.\n3', 'art 200', 'art 200', 'art 200', 'art 200', 'art 200', 'art 200', 'art 200']

Patent US7873709 - Systems and methods for recommending website hosting applications - Google Patents
Systems and methods of the present invention allow for recommending hosting applications. An exemplary method may comprise the steps of receiving a URL for a Submitted Website from a potential customer, determining the features of the Submitted Website, and offering Hosting Applications (that implement...http://www.google.co.uk/patents/US7873709?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7873709 - Systems and methods for recommending website hosting applications
Publication number US7873709 B2
Application number US 12/774,517
Also published as US7739358, US20080147856, US20100217690
Publication number 12774517, 774517, US 7873709 B2, US 7873709B2, US-B2-7873709, US7873709 B2, US7873709B2
Inventors Yong Lee, Jason Chappie, Justin Jilg
Patent Citations (18), Non-Patent Citations (5), Referenced by (79), Classifications (11), Legal Events (4)
US 7873709 B2
Systems and methods of the present invention allow for recommending hosting applications. An exemplary method may comprise the steps of receiving a URL for a Submitted Website from a potential customer, determining the features of the Submitted Website, and offering Hosting Applications (that implement the Submitted Website's features) for sale to said potential customer.
a) a Search Webpage hosted on at least one server computer communicatively coupled to a Network, said Search Webpage having a data field configured to receive a URL resolving to a Submitted Website; and
b) a Recommendation Engine running on at least one of said at least one server computer configured to perform the steps of:
i) analyzing said Submitted Website;
ii) determining at least one software-implemented tool on said Submitted Website;
iii) identifying at least one Hosting Application providing similar functionality to at least one of said at least one software-implemented tool; and
iv) offering for purchase, via said Search Webpage, at least one of said at least one Hosting Application.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said Search Webpage further comprises a Shopping Cart.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein said Recommendation Engine is further configured to populate said Shopping Cart with at least one of said at least one Hosting Application.
4. The system of claim 1, further comprising an Applications Database comprising a list of Hosting Applications that may be offered to a potential customer, said Applications Database communicatively coupled to said Network and searchable by said Recommendation Engine.
5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a Popular Website Profile Database comprising a plurality of Popular Website Profiles for popular websites, said Popular Website Profile Database communicatively coupled to said Network and searchable by said Recommendation Engine.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one software-implemented tool comprises an operating system, an e-mail application, an online file storage application, a forum application, a blog application, a shopping cart application, an SSL certificate, or a flash-based application.
a) receiving, by at least one server computer communicatively coupled to a Network, a URL resolving to a Submitted Website from a potential customer;
b) determining, by at least one of said at least one server computer, at least one software-implemented tool on said Submitted Website; and
c) offering, by at least one of said at least one server computer, at least one Hosting Application for sale to said potential customer, said at least one Hosting Application providing similar functionality to at least one of said at least one software-implemented tool.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein said receiving step a) further comprises the step of providing a Search Webpage having a data field for entry of said URL by said potential customer.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of, after step b) but before step c):
i) generating, by at least one of said at least one server computer, a Website Profile identifying said at least one software-implemented tool;
ii) comparing, by at least one of said at least one server computer, said Website Profile against an Applications Database storing a list Hosting Applications that may be offered for sale to said potential customer; and
iii) generating, by at least one of said at least one server computer, a list of at least one Hosting Application providing similar functionality to at least one of said at least one software-implemented tool.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein said generating a Website Profile step i) comprises selecting said Website Profile from a Popular Website Profile Database storing a plurality of Popular Website Profiles for popular websites.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein said determining step b) further comprises the steps of:
i) identifying a hosting provider hosting said Submitted Website;
ii) transmitting a request for an identification of said at least one software-implemented tool to said hosting provider; and
iii) receiving said identification from said hosting provider.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein said determining step b) comprises the step of analyzing said Submitted Website to determine said at least one software-implemented tool.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said analyzing step comprises analyzing a HTTP reply received from said Submitted Website.
14. The method of claim 8, wherein said offering step c) comprises populating a Shopping Cart on said Search Webpage with at least one of said at least one Hosting Application.
15. The method of claim 7, wherein said at least one software-implemented tool comprises an operating system, an e-mail application, an online file storage application, a forum application, a blog application, a shopping cart application, an SSL certificate, or a flash-based application.
This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/029,062 to Lee, et al., with filing date Feb. 11, 2008 and entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RECOMMENDING WEBSITE HOSTING APPLICATIONS” (assigned to The Go Daddy Group, Inc.), priority from which is hereby claimed.
The present inventions generally relate to the field of Internet website hosting and, more specifically, systems and methods for recommending website hosting applications.
Prevalent on the Web are multimedia websites offering and selling goods and services to individuals and organizations (i.e., potential customers). Websites may consist of a single webpage, but typically consist of multiple interconnected and related webpages. Websites, unless extremely large and complex or have unusual traffic demands, typically reside on a single server and are prepared and maintained by a single individual or entity. Menus and links may be used to move between different webpages within the website or to move to a different website as is known in the art. The interconnectivity of webpages enabled by the Internet can make it difficult for Internet users to tell where one website ends and another begins.
Websites may have different features that can be implemented by various Hosting Applications (i.e., server-side software generating the requisite functionality). Examples include a website's operating system, e-mail, online file storage (e.g., documents, videos, photos, etc.), forums, blogs, shopping cart, SSL certificates, flash, etc. Hosting providers may offer to sell such Hosting Applications to potential customers.
Applicant, however, has noticed that presently-existing systems and methods do not provide potential customers with an adequate set of tools to determine which Hosting Applications they may want to purchase and implement on their website. Specifically, they do not allow potential customers to model their website after the features implemented by another example website. For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for the systems and methods for recommending Hosting Applications and related functionality as described herein.
The limitations cited above and others are substantially overcome through the systems and methods disclosed herein, which allow for recommending website hosting applications.
In an example embodiment of a system for recommending hosting applications, a Search Webpage may be hosted on at least one server communicatively coupled to a Network. The Search Webpage may have a data field for entry of a URL for a Submitted Website. A Recommendation Engine may be communicatively coupled to the Network, and may comprise computer-readable media with instructions executable by a processor, which perform the steps of: i) analyzing the Submitted Website; ii) generating a Website Profile comprising a list of features of the Submitted Website; and iii) generating a list of Hosting Applications that match the features listed in the Website Profile. The system also may comprise a Shopping Cart on the Search Webpage that may be populated with the Hosting Applications for sale to a potential customer.
An exemplary method for recommending hosting applications may comprise the steps of receiving a URL for a Submitted Website from a potential customer, determining the features of the Submitted Website, and offering Hosting Applications (that implement the features) for sale to said potential customer.
FIG. 1 illustrates a possible embodiment of a system for recommending hosting applications.
FIG. 2 illustrates a possible embodiment of a system for recommending hosting applications.
FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a possible embodiment of a method for recommending hosting applications.
FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a possible embodiment of a method for recommending hosting applications.
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a possible embodiment of a method for recommending hosting applications.
FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a possible embodiment of a method for recommending hosting applications.
A streamlined example embodiment of a system for recommending Hosting Applications is illustrated in FIG. 1. The illustrated embodiment includes a Search Webpage 100 hosted on at least one server 110 communicatively coupled to a Network 120. The Search Webpage 100 may have a data field 130 for entry of a URL for a Submitted Website. A Recommendation Engine 140 also may be communicatively coupled to the Network 120, and may comprise computer-readable media with instructions executable by a processor, which perform the steps of: i) analyzing the Submitted Website; ii) generating a Website Profile 150 comprising a list of features of the Submitted Website; and iii) generating a list of Hosting Applications that match the features listed in the Website Profile 150.
The example embodiments herein place no limitation on Network 120 configuration or connectivity. Thus, as non-limiting examples, the Network 120 could comprise the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, a local area network, a wide area network, a wired network, a wireless network, a telephone network, or any combination thereof.
The Search Webpage 100, which may be a webpage on a hosting provider's website, is a place on the Internet where potential customers may go to identify the features of a Submitted Website and purchase Hosting Applications that perform the same features. The Search Webpage 100 may be accessed by a potential customer (or any Network 120 user) by entering the webpage's URL into a browser, which will cause the Search Webpage 100 to resolve from the domain name.
The Search Webpage 100 may be hosted on at least one server 110 by, as a non-limiting example, subscribing to a hosting provider (e.g., GODADDY.COM) for website hosting services (e.g., GODADDY.COM's HOSTING PLANS). Alternatively, the at least one server 110 could be any computer or program that provides services to other computers, programs, or users either in the same computer or over a computer network. As non-limiting examples, the at least one server 110 could be an application, communication, mail, database, proxy, fax, file, media, web, peer-to-peer, or standalone server and may use any server format known in the art or developed in the future (possibly a shared hosting server, a virtual dedicated hosting server, a dedicated hosting server, or any combination thereof).
The Search Webpage 100 may be communicatively coupled to a Network 120 via any method of network connection known in the art or developed in the future including, but not limited to wired, wireless, modem, dial-up, satellite, cable modem, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Asymmetric Digital Subscribers Line (ASDL), Virtual Private Network (VPN), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), X.25, Ethernet, token ring, Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), IP over Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), wireless, WAN technologies (T1, Frame Relay), Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE), and/or any combination thereof.
The Recommendation Engine 140 also may be communicatively coupled to the Network 120 (perhaps using the methods described above) and comprises software-implemented logic (i.e., computer-readable media with instructions executable by a processor) that performs the analysis of the Submitted Website, determines its features, and recommends Hosting Applications for purchase. This is accomplished by analyzing the Submitted Website, generating a Website Profile 150 comprising a list of features of the Submitted Website (e.g., functionality, operating system, software-implemented tools, etc.) and generating a list of Hosting Applications that match the features listed in the Website Profile 150. The software-implemented logic may reside on any computer or server having a processor that is communicatively coupled to the Network or, alternatively, may reside on the at least one server 110 hosting the Search Webpage 100.
In an alternate embodiment of a system for recommending Hosting Applications, illustrated in FIG. 2, the Search Webpage 100 also may comprise a Shopping Cart 200. As a non-limiting example, the Shopping Cart 200 may be implemented via shopping cart software (i.e., software used in e-commerce to assist online purchases), such as GODADDY.COM's QUICK SHOPPING CART. Such software may be installed on the server 110, or on another secure server that may accept sensitive ordering information. In this example embodiment, the Recommendation Engine 140 also may cause the processor to populate the Shopping Cart 200 with the Hosting Applications 230 that match the features listed in the Website Profile 150. This allows potential customers to view, and perhaps purchase, Hosting Applications that will allow them to implement the features of the Submitted Website on their own website.
This embodiment also may comprise an Applications Database 210 communicatively coupled to the Network 120 and searchable by the Recommendation Engine 140. The Applications Database 210 may comprise a list of Hosting Applications 230 that may be offered to a potential customer. The Hosting Applications 230 listed in the Applications Database 210 may comprise any piece of software relevant to hosting and/or operating a website including, but not limited to, operating system, e-mail, online file storage (e.g., documents, videos, photos, etc.), forums, blogs, shopping cart, SSL certificates, flash, etc. Structurally, the Applications Database 210 may comprise any collection of data. As non-limiting examples, the Applications Database 210 may comprise a local database, online database, desktop database, server-side database, relational database, hierarchical database, network database, object database, object-relational database, associative database, concept-oriented database, entity-attribute-value database, multi-dimensional database, semi-structured database, star schema database, XML database, file, collection of files, spreadsheet, and/or other means of data storage located on the server 110, a computer, a client, another server, or any other storage device.
This embodiment also may comprise a Popular Website Profile Database 220 communicatively coupled to the Network 120 and searchable by the Recommendation Engine 140. The Popular Website Profile Database 220 may comprise a plurality of Popular Website Profiles 240 for popular websites. The popular websites may comprise any well-known and/or frequently accessed website, such as www.godaddy.com, www.google.com, www.yahoo.com, www.wikipedia.com, or www.youtube.com. The Popular Website Profiles 240 may comprise a list of features of popular websites (e.g., functionality, operating system, software-implemented tools, etc.). The Popular Website Profiles 240 may be manually generated (i.e., by analyzing popular websites, identifying their features, and manually preparing a Popular Website Profile 240 for each popular website). Alternatively, automated processes, such as analytical software, may perform the analysis and generate the profiles. Structurally, any database type described above may be used.
Several different methods may be used to recommend hosting applications. In the streamlined example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, a URL for a Submitted Website is received from a potential customer (Step 300). At least one feature of the Submitted Website is then determined (Step 310). Finally, at least one Hosting Application (that implements the Submitted Website's features) is offered for sale to the potential customer (Step 320).
A more detailed embodiment of a method for recommending hosting applications is illustrated in FIG. 4. In this example embodiment, the URL for a Submitted Website may be received from a potential customer (Step 300) by providing a Search Webpage 100 (Step 400) having a data field 130 for entry of the URL. This embodiment places no limitation on the individual or entity providing the Search Webpage 100. Thus, among others, this method may be performed by an individual, entity, automated system, domain name registrar, domain name registry, reseller of a domain name registrar, Internet service provider, software developer, website designer, website operator, or any combination thereof. The Search Webpage 100 may be provided by hosting it on at least one server 110 by, as a non-limiting example, subscribing to a hosting provider (e.g., GODADDY.COM) for website hosting services (e.g., GODADDY.COM's HOSTING PLANS). Alternatively, the Search Webpage 100 may be hosted on any computer or program that provides services to other computers, programs, or users either in the same computer or over a computer network including, but not limited to, application, communication, mail, database, proxy, fax, file, media, web, peer-to-peer, or standalone servers.
The Submitted Website resolving from the submitted URL may then be analyzed (Step 440) (perhaps by analyzing a HTTP reply received from said Submitted Website) to determine the Submitted Website's features that the potential customer may wish to utilize on his own website (Step 310). Alternatively, software that scans the Submitted Website for functionality may be used. Using the information gleaned during this analysis (Step 440), a Website Profile 150 comprising a list of the Submitted Website's features may be generated (Step 410). For example, if the Submitted Website used the WINDOWS SERVER 2003 operating system, included blog functionality, and had a shopping cart, the Website Profile 150 may contain a list of these features.
The Website Profile 150 may then be compared against an Applications Database 210 having a list of Hosting Applications 230 that may be offered for sale to potential customers (Step 420). This step may be accomplished by the Recommendation Engine 140 described above, or by any other method known in the art or developed in the future for searching a database. A list of the Hosting Applications 230 that match at least one of the features listed in the Website Profile 150 may then be generated (Step 430) and offered for sale to the potential customer (Step 320), perhaps by populating a Shopping Cart 200 with the Hosting Applications 230 for sale (Step 450).
In the embodiment of a method for recommending hosting applications illustrated in FIG. 5, the step of determining the Submitted Website's features (Step 310) may be accomplished by identifying a hosting provider hosting the Submitted Website (Step 510) and subsequently requesting (Step 520) and receiving (Step 530) a list of features from the hosting provider. The hosting provider may be determined (Step 510) by analyzing a HTTP reply received from said Submitted Website. Alternatively, a WHOIS lookup of the Submitted Website's domain name may be performed. WHOIS records may be maintained by a domain name registry or registrar and are readily accessible over the Internet. WHOIS is a TCP-based query/response protocol that is widely used for querying these records to determine the owner of a domain name, an IP address, or an autonomous system number on the Internet. The WHOIS search may utilize either a command line interface or a web-based tool and either “thick” or “thin” lookups. “Thin” registries store a limited amount of information about a domain name, typically including: “Domain Name,” “Registrar,” “Whois Server,” “Referral URL,” “Name Server,” “Status,” “Updated Date,” “Creation Date,” “Expiration Date,” etc. “Thick” registries also store Registrant, Administrative, Technical, and Billing contact information. The .info and .biz TLDs are “thick” while .com and .net TLDs are “thin.” Registrars usually store detailed information about the domain names registered through them.
A list of Submitted Website features may then be requested and received from the hosting provider (Steps 520-530). This may be accomplished via any automated or manual method of communicating with a hosting provider known in the art or developed in the future including, but not limited to HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), e-mail, instant messaging, telephone call, and/or facsimile.
In this example embodiment, a Website Profile 150 may then be generated (Step 410), perhaps by selecting a Popular Website Profile 240 from a Popular Website Profile Database 220 (Step 500). As set forth in detail above, The Popular Website Profile Database 220 may comprise a plurality of Popular Website Profiles 240 for popular websites. The selected Popular Website Profile 240 may list features similar to those of the Submitted Website. As set forth in detail above, the Website Profile 150 may then be compared against an Applications Database 210 (Step 420) and a list of the Hosting Applications 230 may be generated (Step 430) and offered for sale to the potential customer (Step 320), perhaps by populating a Shopping Cart 200 with the Hosting Applications 230 for sale (Step 450).
In the embodiment of a method for recommending hosting applications illustrated in FIG. 6, a URL for a Submitted Website may be received from a potential customer (Step 300) by providing a Search Webpage 100 (Step 400) having a data field 130 for entry of the URL. The Submitted Website's features may then be determined (Step 310), perhaps by identifying a hosting provider hosting the Submitted Website (Step 510) and subsequently requesting (Step 520) and a list of features from the hosting provider.
If the list of features is received (Step 500), a Website Profile 150 may be generated by extracting a list of features from the information received from the hosting provider (Step 610). If the list of features is not received, the Submitted Website may be analyzed (Step 440)—perhaps by analyzing a HTTP reply received from said Submitted Website—to determine the Submitted Website's features that the potential customer may wish to utilize on his own website. Alternatively, software that scans the Submitted Website for functionality may be used. Using the information gleaned during this analysis (Step 440), a Website Profile 150 may then selected from a Popular Website Profile Database 220 (Step 500).
Once the Website Profile 150 is generated, it then may be compared against an Applications Database 210 (Step 420) and a list of the Hosting Applications 230 may be generated (Step 430) and offered for sale to the potential customer (Step 320), perhaps by populating a Shopping Cart 200 with the Hosting Applications 230 for sale (Step 450).
In another example embodiment, a potential customer may decide to register a domain name and develop a website to be associated with the domain name. To determine which features he may want to implement on his website, the potential customer may research other websites on the Internet. Once he identifies a website with the requisite features (e.g., operating system, e-mail, online file storage for documents, videos, photos, etc., forums, blogs, shopping cart, SSL certificates, flash, etc.), he may go to a Search Webpage 110, perhaps on a hosting provider's website. The Search Webpage 110 may allow the potential customer to enter the URL of a website (the Submitted Website) in a data field 130.
A Recommendation Engine 140 may then determine the Submitted Website's features (Step 310) and generate a Website Profile 150 for the Submitted Website (Step 410). As set forth in detail above, this may be accomplished by analyzing the Submitted Website (Step 440), requesting a list of features from the Submitted Website's hosting provider (Steps 510, 520, and 530), and/or selecting an appropriately-matching Popular Website Profile 240 from a Popular Website Profile Database 220. The Recommendation Engine 140 may then compare the Website Profile 150 against an Applications Database 210 (Step 420) and generate a list of Hosting Applications 230 (Step 430) that may allow the potential customer's website to perform the functionality of the Submitted Website. These Hosting Applications 230 then may be offered for sale to the potential customer (Step 320), perhaps by populating a Shopping Cart 200 on the Search Webpage 100, or elsewhere on the hosting provider's website.
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U.S. Classification 709/219, 709/218, 709/217, 709/203
Cooperative Classification H04L67/02, H04L67/306, G06Q30/0601
European Classification H04L29/08N29U, H04L29/08N1, G06Q30/0601
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LEE, YONG;JILG, JUSTIN;CHAPPIE, JASON;REEL/FRAME:024341/0250