Method of sharing revenue in an internet printing system

Abstract

The present invention shares revenue in an Internet printing system comprising a search engine provider, a host computer capable of browsing the Internet, and an advertisement sponsor. A user of the host computer registers with the search engine provider as a participant in an Internet advertisement revenue sharing system managed by the search engine provider. The user of the host computer conducts a search utilizing a web page of the search engine provider and the search results in a search result page being displayed on a browser of the host computer. The user of the host computer selects an option to print the displayed search result page on a printer connected to the host computer. The host computer generates print data to print out the search result page together with advertisement data and submits the generated print data to the printer for printing. The host computer receives a confirmation message from the printer confirming that the printout of the generated print data, which includes the advertisement data, was successful. The host computer notifies the search engine provider that the printout of the print data, that included the advertisement data, was successful. The search engine provider then charges the advertisement sponsor for the printing of the advertisement data included in the printout. Finally, the search engine provider credits an account of the registered user a portion of the amount charged to the advertisement sponsor for the printing of the advertisement data.