Patent ID: 7054857

Claim:
A method of generating a search result list substantially in real time in response to a search request from a searcher using a computer network, the method comprising: maintaining a database including a plurality of search listings, wherein each search listing is associated with a network location, at least one search term and a modifiable bid amount that is independent of other components of the search listing, the bid amount being associated with at least one of the search term and the network location, the bid amount corresponding to a money amount that is deducted from an account of a network information provider associated with the network location upon receipt of a retrieval request for the network location; receiving extensible markup language (XML) requests from the network information provider to modify one or more search listings associated with the network information provider; receiving a search request from the searcher; identifying the search listings having search terms generating a match with the search request; ordering the identified search listings into a search result list in accordance with the values of the respective bid amounts for the identified search listings; receiving a retrieval request from the searcher to retrieve information associated with a search listing in the search result list; and recording a retrieval request event including account identification information corresponding to the network information provider, to permit maintenance of accurate account debit records.