Patent ID: 6978252

Claim:
A method for transacting over a wide area network, comprising the steps of: communicating with a network resource associated with a traffic generator account, wherein the network resource is interoperable with the wide area network and comprises a resource selected from computer hardware or computer software; receiving state information about use of the network resource by network users; debiting the traffic generator account a debit amount related to the state information; receiving traffic over the network, wherein the traffic comprises requests originating from the network resource in response to use of the network resource by network users, the requests comprising a redirection code designating the traffic generator account; determining a credit amount based on a measure of traffic volume with the redirection code; and crediting the credit amount to the traffic generator account, and wherein the method facilitates a barter transaction in which at least a right to use the network resource is exchanged for at least a portion of the traffic.