Patent ID: 7512551

Claim:
A method for executing an online search over a networked computer system comprising the steps of: a. accessing from a user computing device a search entry web element from a search engine web site running on a search engine computer adapted to allow a user to enter a search term associated with a desired product and associated search criteria; b. a user initiating a search by operating said user computing device to enter (i) a search term into an input field on said search entry web element, said search term associated with a desired product, and (ii) associated search criteria, said search criteria specifying the availability of using a payment component comprising points previously accumulated by the user towards the purchase of the product; c. the user computing device transmitting said search term and said search criteria to said search engine web site over a computer network; d. the search engine web site using said search term to perform a search for web pages matching said search term in accordance with said search criteria; e. the search engine web site returning to said user a plurality of links to web pages determined by said search engine web site to match said search term in accordance with said search criteria; f. the user computing device connecting with a merchant web site associated with a selected link; g. the user executing a transaction to purchase the desired product from the merchant web site, wherein said transaction comprises tendering at least partial payment for said desired product with a points payment process, said points payment process comprising the steps of: i. transmitting a points a payment request from the user computing device to the search engine web site; ii. the search engine web site arranging for the redemption of reward points from a reward point account stored on a reward point server on behalf of the user in order to at least partially pay the merchant for the selected product.