Patent ID: 7769738

Claim:
A system for redirecting search requests over a network, the system comprising: a database that stores identification information for a plurality of recipients, wherein the recipients are eligible to receive a benefit as the result of searches performed by individuals; and program code stored in computer readable memory that when executed is configured to: provide a user interface to a user terminal via which a user can identify a recipient; determine if the recipient identified by the user corresponds to a recipient identifier stored in the database; store in computer readable memory an association between the user terminal and the identified recipient to enable the recipient to receive at least one benefit when the user conducts a search; receive a search request from the user; store an indication that the search request was received from the user terminal in association with identified recipient information; forward the search request to an Internet site associated with a search engine; determine a payment allocation with respect to the identified recipient based at least in part on an indication that the search request was received from the same user that provided the recipient designation, even when the search request subject matter is unrelated to the designated recipient.