Yahoo! Inc.

Overture Services, Inc.

Ted Meisel

Thomas A Soulanille

Peter Savich

A system and method for enabling information providers using a computer network to influence a search listing's position within a search result list generated by a search engine. Each network information provider has an account containing at least one search listing having at least three components: a description, a search term comprising one or more keywords, and a bid amount. A network information provider selects a search term relevant to the content of the web site. A search listing includes the search term and a description. A bidding process occurs when the network information provider enters a new bid amount for a search listing. The system then compares the various bid amounts for the same search term, and generates rank values for search listings having that search term. The rank value determines where the listing will appear on the search results page generated in response to a searcher's query.

System and method for enabling multi-element bidding for influencing a position on a search result list generated by a computer network search engine

A system and method for enabling information providers using a computer network to influence a position for a search listing within a search result list generated by an Internet search engine. A database stores accounts for the network information providers. Each account contains at least one search listing having a description, a search term of keywords, and a bid amount. The network information provider may add, delete, or modify a search listing after authenticated login. A bidding process occurs when the network information provider enters a new bid amount for a search listing. The system and method compares the bid amount with all other bid amounts for the same search term, and generates a rank value for all search listings having that search term. The rank value determines where the listing will appear on the search results list page generated in response to a query of the search term.

In a system and method for enabling information providers to influence a position for a search listing within a search result list, a database stores accounts for the network information providers. Each account contains contact and billing information for a network information provider. In addition, each account contains at least one search listing having at least three components: a description, a search term comprising one or more keywords, and a bid amount. The network information provider may add, delete, or modify a search listing after authenticated login. A bidding process occurs when the network information provider enters a new bid amount for a search listing. The system and method then compares the bid amount with all other bid amounts for the same search term, and generates a rank value for all search listings having that search term to determine where the listing will appear on the search results list page.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Ted Meisel