Patent ID: 7483886

Claim:
A method of generating an ordered search list via a search engine, the method comprising: in response to a search request from a searcher, retrieving from a database of search listings matching the search request, at least some of the retrieved search listings being associated with an advertiser's account such that the advertiser's account is charged an amount if a chargeable event occurs in connection with a search listing of the advertiser; determining a reconciled account balance for the advertiser's account based on a difference between deposits and a set of current chargeable event charges; ordering the retrieved search listings into a search result list using priced amounts associated with the retrieved search listings, including ordering the retrieved search listings associated with advertisers with reconciled balances that are below a reconciled threshold if priced amount for a given search term was zero; ordering the retrieved search listings if the priced amount for the given search term was above zero and below all other non-zero priced amounts in the ordered search result list to reduce over-delivery of the search listings and reduce over-billing of competing advertisers; providing the ordered search result list to the searcher; and assessing charges to the advertiser's account based on the searcher's selection of a search listing from the search result list, including deducting an event charge amount from the account balance for the advertiser's account after eliminating from result event list events which are non-chargeable events or fraudulent events.