US008156096B2
`
`(12)
`
`United States Patent
`Meiresonne
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,156,096 B2
`*Apr. 10, 2012
`
`(54) SUPPLIER IDENTIFICATION AND LOCATOR
`SYSTEM AND METHOD
`
`(76) Inventor: Michael Meiresonne, East Grand
`Rapids, MI (US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended Or adjusted under 35
`U'S'C' 1546)) by 0 days‘
`
`'
`'
`'
`'
`'
`This Patent 15 Sublect to a tenmnal dls'
`Clalmer-
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 13/241,554
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Sep. 23, 2011
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2012/0011107 A1
`
`Jan. 12, 2012
`
`Related US. Application Data
`_
`_
`_
`_
`(63) Continuation of application No. 12/341,857, ?led on
`.
`.
`Dec. 22, 2008, noW Pat. No. 8,051,059, Which is a
`continuation of application No. 10/421,268, ?led on
`Apr. 23, 2003, noW Pat. No. 7,483,872, Which is a
`continuation-in-part of application No. 09/938,163,
`?led on Aug. 23, 2001.
`
`(51) IIlt- Cl-
`(2006-01)
`G06F 7/ 00
`(2006-01)
`G06F 1 7/3 0
`(52) US. Cl. ....................... .. 707/705; 707/707; 707/710
`(58) Field of Classi?cation Search ................ .. 707/705,
`707/706, 707 s 709, 710, 71 1, 769
`See application ?le for Complete Search history,
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,740,425 A
`4/1998 Povilus
`6,058,376 A *
`5/2000 Crockett .................... .. 705/36 T
`6,567,800 B1
`5/2003 Barrera et al.
`
`11/2003 Snyder
`6,643,641 B1
`l2/2003 Rebane
`6,662,192 B1
`6/2006 Langford
`7,065,520 B2
`>i<
`"""" " 715/803
`izgfggg?iglair'
`20023650539223‘;
`6/2002 Tobin et al. ................. .. 345/744
`2002/0075299 A1 *
`2002/0152222 A1 l0/2002 Holbrook
`2002/0194151 A1 12/2002 FeIltOIl et a1~
`2002/0194601 A1 * 12/2002 Perkes et al.
`2003/0001903 A1
`1/2003 Duffy .......................... .. 345/810
`2003/0004837 A1
`l/2003 Myers et a1.
`2004/0044600 A1 *
`3/2004 Chu et al. ...................... .. 705/34
`2004/0073538 A1 *
`4/2004 Leishman et al. .............. .. 707/3
`2006/0149721 A1
`7/2006 Langford
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`WWW.superpages.c0m, May 30, 2007, p. l-2 and l-5.
`WWW.archive.0rg version of the www.contractpackagecom Web site
`dated Sep. 14, 2000, and related linked pages.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner * Don Wong
`A .
`. i -
`sszslanl Examiner Merilyn Nguyen
`M LLP
`74 A
`A
`F, i P . H
`(
`) Howey’ gem’ 0r Wm
`nee eneve
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A supplier identi?cation and locator system in that alloWs a
`user to identify a supplier of goods or services over the Inter
`net; the system includes at least one directory Web site having
`a domain name that is at least partially descriptive of a class of
`goods or services. The directory Web site has a plurality of
`links that access suppliers’ Web sites; a supplier descriptive
`portion located substantially adjacent to the link; a descriptive
`title portion substantially corresponding to the class of goods
`or services described in the domain name; a rollover Window
`that displays information about at least one supplier; and an
`input receiving area Where a user inputs data and ranked
`search results are displayed.
`
`20 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`13
`
`BACK v[12 FIJI'TTiiRD V
`ADDRESS I
`http:/l widgetscorn
`
`10
`
`STOP
`
`REFRESH
`
`"E5
`
`5%"
`lvi
`
`FAVQTES
`l
`l
`
`\
`
`e‘. WIDGETS --~
`
`1k
`
`16
`A DETAILED DIRECTORY OF WIDGETS, EQUIPMENT AND MANUF[CTURERS 20a
`
`24’- auicK SEARCH
`ENGINE
`
`22
`
`AAA inc.
`1Ba/_G|-and Rapids, M|
`616-S55~5555
`
`1
`Manufacturers of industrial widgets
`
`7
`
`_
`
`(
`
`‘
`
`i
`
`.
`
`‘
`
`MI
`
`f
`2111;112:151‘"1.221115111:‘
`
`.
`
`.
`
`I
`
`AAA ww-
`
`MANuFACTuRE'RS 07.-
`INDusT’RIAL STRENGTH
`WIDGETS um: IN ALMOST
`EVERY AWLICATION
`IMAGINA‘BLE
`
`AAA WW2,
`ewe/1pm, MI
`616-555-5555
`
`BBB inc.
`
`616-555-5555
`
`.
`
`18: hé?gnlscéapids MI
`616_555_5555'
`_
`DDD ‘n6-
`18d f‘?rand Rapids, MI
`616-555-5555
`EEE inc..
`TEE’Grand Rapids, Mi
`616-555-5555
`FFF inc.
`mf/‘Grand Rapids, MI
`616-555-5555
`
`Manufacturers of a complete line at residential
`and commercially used widgets
`20d
`
`I
`Manufacturers of commercial widgets used
`in high weight restricted situations 20:
`
`Designers and manufacturers
`of industrial widgets
`
`I
`
`20f
`
`1
`
`Designers of widgets
`
`Google Exhibit 1001
`Page 1
`
`

`

`US 8,156,096 B2
`Page 2
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`WWW.archive.0rg version of the WWW.c0ntractpackage.c0m Web site
`dated Jan. 24, 2001, and related linked pages.
`WWW.archive.0rg version of the WWW.c0ntractpackage.c0m Web site
`dated Feb. 1, 2001, and related linked pages.
`WWW.archive.0rg version of the WWW.c0ntractpackage.c0m Web site
`dated Feb. 7, 2001, and related linked pages.
`WWW.archive.0rg version of the WWW.c0ntractpackage.c0m Web site
`dated Mar. 2, 2001, and related linked pages.
`WWW.archive.0rg version of the WWW.c0ntractpackage.c0m Web site
`dated Apr. 5, 2001, and related linked pages.
`WWW.archive.0rg version of the WWW.c0ntractpackage.c0m Web site
`dated May 16, 2001, and related linked pages.
`WWW.archive.0rg version of the WWW.c0ntractpackage.c0m Web site
`dated May 17, 2001, and related linked pages.
`WWW.archive.0rg version of the WWW.c0ntractpackage.c0m Web site
`dated May 18, 2001, and related linked pages.
`WWW.archive.0rg version of the WWW.c0ntractpackage.c0m Web site
`dated May 19, 2001, and related linked pages.
`WWW.archive.0rg version of the WWW.c0ntractpackage.c0m Web site
`dated May 25, 2001, and related linked pages.
`
`WWW.archive.0rg version of the WWW.c0ntractpackage.c0m Web site
`dated Jul. 21, 2001, and related linked pages.
`http://Web.archive.0rg/Web/l998l2l2034238/http://WWW.yah00.
`com/ (Web page archived Dec. 12, 1998).
`http://Web.archive.0rg/Web/l998121202 l045/http://sh0pguide.ya
`h00.c0m/ (Web page archived Dec. 12, 1998).
`http://Web.archive.0rg/Web/l99812120l2608/http://apparel.sh0p
`ping.yah00.c0m/ (Web page archived Dec. 12, 1998).
`http://Web.archive.0rg/Web/l998120701301llhttp://apparel.sh0p
`ping.yah00.c0m/ Apparel/MenisiandiB0ysiPants/ (Webpage
`archived Dec. 7, 1998).
`http://Web.archive.0rg/Web/l998l202083627fWi/http://WWW.
`llbean.c0m/bin/h0mepage.
`http://Web.archive.0rg/Web/l998l2l2023239/http1/ /WWW.biZrate.
`c0m/.
`http://Web.archive.0rg/Web/ 1 998042 l074244/http://WWW.biZrate.
`com/displaypl?t:cat&b:catiapparel.
`http://Web.archive.0rg/Web/l998042l 075357 /http://WWW.biZrate.
`c0n1/search.pl?cat:Apparel%201%20Access0ries.
`BPAI Decision on Appeal of US. Appl. No. 09/938,163, ?led Nov.
`28, 201 l.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Google Exhibit 1001
`Page 2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`‘Apr.10,2012
`
`Sheet10f9
`
`US 8,156,096 B2
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`Google Exhibit 1001
`Page3
`
`Google Exhibit 1001
`Page 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 10, 2012
`
`Sheet 2 of 9
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`US 8,156,096 B2
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`Google Exhibit 1001
`Page 4
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`
`

`

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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 10, 2012
`
`Sheet 4 of9
`
`US 8,156,096 B2
`
`Google Exhibit 1001
`Page 6
`
`

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`Google Exhibit 1001
`Page 7
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`

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`Google Exhibit 1001
`Page 8
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 10, 2012
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`Sheet 7 of 9
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`US 8,156,096 B2
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`Page 9
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`Google Exhibit 1001
`Page 9
`
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 10, 2012
`
`Sheet 8 of 9
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`US 8,156,096 B2
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`Google Exhibit 1001
`Page 10
`
`
`
`

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`Google Exhibit 1001
`Page 11
`
`
`

`

`US 8,156,096 B2
`
`1
`SUPPLIER IDENTIFICATION AND LOCATOR
`SYSTEM AND METHOD
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation of US. patent applica
`tion Ser. No. 12/341,857, now US. Pat. No. 8,051,059,
`entitled SUPPLIER IDENTIFICATION AND LOCATOR
`SYSTEM AND METHOD, ?led Dec. 22, 2008, the disclo
`sure of Which is hereby incorporated by reference in its
`entirety. US. application Ser. No. 12/341,857 is a continua
`tion of US. patent application Ser. No. 10/421,268 entitled
`SUPPLIER IDENTIFICATION AND LOCATOR SYSTEM
`AND METHOD, ?led Apr. 23, 2003, now US. Pat. No.
`7,483,872 B2, the disclosure of Which is hereby incorporated
`by reference in its entirety. US. Pat. No. 7,483,872 B2 is a
`continuation-in-part of US. patent application Ser. No.
`09/938,163 entitled METHOD, PROCESS, AND SYSTEM
`FOR SEARCHING FOR AND IDENTIFYING SOURCES
`20
`OF GOODS AND/OR SERVICES OVER THE INTERNET,
`?led Aug. 23, 2001, the disclosure of Which is hereby incor
`porated by reference in its entirety.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention generally relates to the design of
`Web sites and interrelationships betWeen the Web sites.
`Currently, for anyone Who has tried to locate speci?c infor
`mation or a speci?c set of suppliers of a particular good or
`service over the Internet, a user has to use a typical search
`engine, such as yahoo.com, excite.com or lycos.com. Unfor
`tunately, Internet search engines are unable to ask a series of
`pointed questions to help a user focus his or her search.
`Therefore, they must rely on the particular search engine’s
`algorithm in order to rank the millions of Web pages thereby
`determining the Web sites that best ?t a given search term the
`user has inputted into the search engine. Thus, users typically
`select Web sites listed at the top of the list provided by the
`search engine. Consequently, Web site designers often design
`their Web sites With the goal of having their Web site listed at
`the top of search engine lists thereby increasing the number of
`hits/visitors to their Web site. HoWever, a particular search
`engine’s increasing the number of hits/visitors to their Web
`site. HoWever, a particular search engine’s algorithm is typi
`cally a closely guarded trade secret. Nevertheless, most major
`search engines folloW the same general rules.
`Generally, a particular search engine’s algorithm, at least
`preliminarily, ranks various Web pages based upon the loca
`tion and frequency of keyWords on a Web page. For example,
`pages containing a particular user search term, the domain
`name or in the header/title html tags, are typically more
`relevant than others to the topic being searched by the user.
`Consequently, Web pages having a particular search term in
`the header tag are often assumed to be more relevant by the
`search algorithm. Search engines also check to see if a user’s
`search term appears near the top of the page. The search
`engine’ s algorithm assumes that any page relevant to the topic
`Will mention the user’s search term in the headline or in the
`?rst feW paragraphs of the text.
`Frequency is another major factor search engines use to
`determine relevancy of a Web page to a speci?c user’s search
`term. A search engine Will analyZe hoW frequently keyWords
`appear in relation to other Words on a Web page, a document
`on the World Wide Web. The World Wide Web is a system of
`Internet servers. A server is a computer or device in a netWork
`that is used to provide services to other computers or devices
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`in the netWork. The Web pages Where the user’s search term
`appears With a higher frequency are often deemed more rel
`evant than other Web pages.
`Some search engines utiliZe other ingredients to further
`qualify the typical location and frequency algorithm method
`described above. One of the most often used ?elds that are
`searched is a Web site’s metatags. HoWever, not all search
`engines read metatags. Metatags are simply a placeholder for
`storing information that may or may not be processed by an
`HTTP server or indexed by a search engine.
`The ?nal main feature most search engines use to rank and
`display the most relevant Web pages to the user’ s search query
`includes an analysis of hoW pages link to each other. In this
`manner, a search engine can better determine What a Web site
`is about and Whether the Web site deserves a higher ranking.
`Links to other related Web sites outside of a given Web site
`typically result in a higher ranking. Some search engines also
`screen out attempts by computer users to build into their Web
`sites false links, Which the Web site designer Would include in
`an attempt to boost their rankings.
`Unfortunately, a person/user attempting to locate goods or
`services on a particular topic using a conventional search
`engine may be successful in locating a feW Web sites corre
`sponding to an insigni?cant number of the goods and services
`providers corresponding to their area of interest. Searching
`using this technique is very laborious and time consuming,
`especially for a professional or business person Who needs
`quick access to information about various suppliers of goods
`and services in order to compare the various suppliers and
`decide Which supplier Would best ful?ll their needs. Often
`times, a conventional search Will reveal only tWo or three
`suppliers of particular goods, but Will not locate the Web sites
`of many other commercial suppliers of a good or service
`Whose Web sites may not achieve, for Whatever reason, as
`high ranking on a particular search engine.
`Consequently, there is a signi?cant need for a goods and
`service directory, Which can easily be located using a conven
`tional search engine accessible using a computer, Which is a
`programmable, usually electronic, device that can store,
`retrieve, and process data, to access the conventional search
`engine on the Internet, Which is an electronic communica
`tions netWork that connects computer netWorks and organi
`Zational computer facilities around the World. There is also a
`signi?cant need for the directory to include numerous links to
`a variety of goods and services suppliers related to a particular
`topic While providing easy and quick navigation to and from
`any number of supplier Web sites so that the user can ?nd out
`more detailed information than that Which is provided by the
`directory.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention includes a supplier identi?cation and
`locator system Whereby a user can identify a supplier of goods
`or services over the Internet. The supplier identi?cation and
`locator system includes at least one directory Web site With a
`directory Web site domain name. The directory Web site
`domain name typically is at least partially descriptive of a
`class of goods or services. The directory Web site also typi
`cally has a plurality of links Where activation of a link
`accesses a supplier’s Web site; a supplier descriptive portion
`located substantially adjacent to the corresponding supplier
`link; a descriptive title portion substantially corresponding to
`the description of the class of goods or services described by
`the directory Web site domain name; and a rollover WindoW
`
`Google Exhibit 1001
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`US 8,156,096 B2
`
`3
`that displays information about at least one of the suppliers
`corresponding to a supplier identi?ed by at least one of the
`supplier links.
`Another embodiment of the present invention includes a
`method to identify a supplier of goods and services over the
`Internet. The method typically includes providing for a user at
`least one directory Web site With a directory Web site domain
`name Where the directory Web site domain name is at least
`partially descriptive of a class of goods or services. The
`directory Web site also typically has a plurality of links Where
`activation of a link accesses a supplier’s Web site; a supplier
`descriptive portion substantially adjacent to the correspond
`ing supplier link; a descriptive title portion substantially cor
`responding to the description of the class of goods or services
`described by the directory Web site domain name; and a
`rollover WindoW that displays information about at least one
`of the suppliers corresponding to a supplier identi?ed by at
`least one of the supplier links.
`These and other features, advantages and objects of the
`present invention Will be further understood and appreciated
`by those skilled in the art by reference to the folloWing speci
`?cation, claims and appended draWings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 shoWs a main Internet broWser WindoW display
`shoWing a layout of a sample home page/main index of direc
`tory listings according to an embodiment of the present inven
`tion;
`FIG. 2 shoWs an abbreviated main directory page for Wid
`gets, a hypothetical good, according to an embodiment of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 3 shoWs a subsequent WindoW according to an
`embodiment of the present invention displaying a supplier’s
`Web site While the separate directory Internet broWser Win
`doW remains open;
`FIG. 4 shoWs an alternative main Internet broWser WindoW
`display according to an embodiment of the present invention
`shoWing a layout of another sample home page/main index of
`directory listings that also incorporate a search feature;
`FIG. 5 shoWs another embodiment of a main directory page
`according to the present invention;
`FIG. 6 shoWs another embodiment of a main directory page
`With sub-directory Web site link;
`FIG. 7 shoWs another embodiment of a subsequent direc
`tory page Without a rollover WindoW;
`FIG. 8 shoWs another embodiment of a subsequent direc
`tory page; and
`FIG. 9 shoWs a subsequent WindoW according to an
`embodiment of the present invention, displaying an informa
`tion page While the separate directory Internet broWser Win
`doW remains open.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`As shoWn in FIG. 1, a homepage or overall goods and
`services index of directories 4 generally includes a series of at
`least partially descriptive domain names of goods and/or ser
`vices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, etc., Where each domain name is a link to
`a detailed directory of goods and services that are described in
`the domain name 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, etc. A ranking link 8, Which
`may also be included on the index of directories 4 as separate
`links, Which When activated, links a user to a Web page that
`provides detailed ranking and user hit information corre
`sponding to at least partially descriptive domain names of the
`related goods and/or services. The ranking links 8', may also
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`be optionally displayed in a drop-doWn list, or other similar
`manner, as shoWn in FIG. 4. This ranking and/or visitor ses
`sion(s) information alloWs a user to determine hoW often
`other users have visited this site or otherWise used the direc
`tory. This may be important for someone searching for a
`goods or services provider to estimate hoW useful other users
`have found the information. The information may also be
`helpful to a goods or services provider Who is thinking about
`purchasing advertising on a given directory of goods or ser
`vices Web site 10 (see FIG. 2). More users utiliZing the
`directory of goods and services Web site 10 results in more
`value to the subscriber because of the increased chance his/
`her advertisement/ listing Will be vieWed or his/her company’ s
`Web site link 18 Will be activated.
`One Way to identify suppliers of a class of goods or ser
`vices, according to the invention, involves utiliZing a com
`puter to access Web sites of suppliers. A user may utiliZe a
`conventional search engine. In doing so, a user searching for
`companies offering particular goods and services Would
`insert a search strategy or term, typically a description of the
`type of good or service the user is searching for, such as, in
`this example, Widgets. In this example, a user searching for a
`Widget Would insert the descriptive term “Widgets” into a
`conventional search engine, such as Yahoo® or Excite®, and
`the search results Would, more than likely, reveal a directory
`constructed according to the present invention as one of the
`top ranked sites and provide a link to the directory, bypassing
`the home page.
`A directory, according to the present invention, achieves
`this high ranking by advantageously employing related ele
`ments in each of the areas Where a “typical” search engine
`locates relevant information. For example, as shoWn in FIG.
`2, if a user Was searching for Widgets, a Widgets directory,
`constructed according to the present invention, employs a
`descriptive domain name, such as, Widgets.com 12. The
`present invention may also employ the descriptive term or
`substantially similar descriptive term in the header 14 as Well
`as the ?rst paragraph of the text 16. The directory Web site
`also provides links to the Web sites of various suppliers Who
`offer goods and services of the type described by the directory
`as Well as a description of the supplier, including address and
`phone number and typically a Written description about the
`supplier and/or the supplier’s product(s) 20a, 20b, 200, etc.
`The directory Web site, according to the present invention,
`may also contain a link or links to one or more informational
`Web sites/pages, Which typically provide links to subsequent
`Web sites of information relating to the goods or services
`listed on the directory Web site. FIG. 8 shoWs an informa
`tional Web site for Widgets, having a title heading 68, subject
`matter sub-headings 69, and links 70a, 70b, 70c, and 70d to
`Web page(s) containing information that may be of interest to
`the user, or links 75a and 75b to an informational Web site
`containing links that the user may then select to vieW a Web
`page of various types of information. Link 7511 is typically
`used When the list of links under a particular title heading is
`too lengthy to ?t on the directory Web site. Selecting a link
`70a, 70b, etc. may cause a separate Internet broWser WindoW
`to appear as in FIG. 9. A separate broWser WindoW alloWs the
`user to navigate through the linked page displaying the
`detailed data/ information corresponding to the selected infor
`mational links 70a, 70b, and 700 While easily returning to the
`informational Web site by simply closing the neW WindoW or
`selecting a still active separate Internet broWser WindoW,
`Which still displays the informational Web site. Selecting
`links 70a, 70b, etc. may also conventionally replace the infor
`mational directory Web site With the subsequent detailed
`data/information Web page. The information Web page
`
`Google Exhibit 1001
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`US 8,156,096 B2
`
`5
`shown in FIG. 9 may also optionally contain a return link 85,
`Which returns the user to the directory Web site 10 that con
`tains links to Web sites of various suppliers as shoWn in FIG.
`2. The informational directory Web site 80 also typically
`provides links to informational Web pages may optionally
`include a scrollbar 67 that may list related Web sites, supplier
`links, or any other link that may be of interest to the user. An
`input receiving locational area 66, Where a user inputs iden
`tifying data, may optionally be included on the informational
`directory Web site 80. The data entered by the user may be any
`keyWord search term. The search function typically searches
`metatag keyWords in the various related goods/ services direc
`tory Web sites and/or informational directory Web sites.
`A master informational home page Web site containing
`links to any number of the individual informational directory
`Web sites or pages may also be utiliZed as another Way a user
`could locate and enter the directory Web sites. A user might
`visit the master informational home page Web site and select
`an individual industry-speci?c informational directory Web
`site. That informational directory Web site or page typically
`contains a link to any number of related goods and/or services
`directory Web sites, thereby alloWing a user to eventually
`reach the given goods and/or services directory Web site. This
`interlinking increases link popularity, Which typically
`increases ranking on search engine results.
`Any type of good or service may be indexed and searched
`using the present invention. While the present invention is
`primarily to be used in connection With offering industrial
`goods or services, any goods or services including goods or
`services such as, art dealers, toys, antiques, etc., may be
`indexed according to the present invention as Well. Any num
`ber of supplier links, including a single supplier link, may
`constitute a directory Web site. HoWever, preferably, multiple
`supplier links are included on a directory Web site. The sup
`plier links are typically categorized into multiple sets of sup
`plier links. The links 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, etc., to various
`suppliers, are such that When a user’s cursor is located over
`such a link, prior to activation of the link, the WindoW 22,
`Which can be any suitable siZe and may or may not have a
`border, displays more detailed information regarding the spe
`ci?c supplier of the goods or services of the directory, includ
`ing the supplier’s logo, Without the user having to activate the
`link and Wait for a neW intemet page to load into their internet
`broWser. Information about a particular supplier may be dis
`played using a script language such as, Java®, JavaScript®,
`Flash® or other similar computer programming language of
`script. Streaming video or steaming audio information can
`also be conveyed. The rollover WindoW is preferably located
`such that it is readily vieWable When the user’s cursor is at
`least substantially over any of the links 18 or the description
`about the supplier 20 on the directory. This also includes any
`other area located substantially adjacent or With the supplier’ s
`description area. If numerous links 18 are listed, more than
`one rollover WindoW 22 may be utiliZed such that a rollover
`WindoW is readily vieWable Whenever the user’s cursor is
`placed over any of the links. Typically When there are many
`supplier links, as shoWn in FIGS. 1 and 4, one of a plurality of
`rollover WindoWs 22 may also correspond to a set of supplier
`links. When a set of supplier links is substantially visible, the
`corresponding rollover WindoW 22 displays information
`about at least one supplier from the set of supplier links. The
`supplier link that activates the rollover WindoW is typically
`also the link that assesses the supplier.
`The directory Web site of the present invention may option
`ally be tiered. When the directory Web site is tiered, a ?rst tier
`section of a supplier link is initially vieWable in the Internet
`broWser WindoW and the rollover WindoW area is typically
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`larger than sub sequent loWer tiers further doWn the directory
`Web site. In this manner, advertising space in the ?rst tier is at
`a premium because the supplier links in the ?rst tier are
`initially displayed to the user When the directory Web site is
`accessed and the rollover WindoW is typically larger. Any
`number of loWer tiers of supplier links extends further doWn
`the directory Web site and may be vieWed by scrolling doWn
`the directory Web site. Applicant presently prefers to use a
`three-tier system. Optionally, the directory Web site may also
`contain links 77 to additional directory Web pages that are
`subsequent pages of the directory Web site, as shoWn in FIG.
`6. These additional directory Web sites may or may not utiliZe
`a rollover WindoW. Typically, they do not and accordingly
`advertising space on these sites is more economically priced,
`as shoWn in FIG. 7. If there are too many supplier links and
`other information to be doWnloaded to the primary directory
`Web site, the Web site Will take too long to load and some
`users Will not Wait until the information is displayed. There
`fore, links 77 to subsequent directory Web pages of the direc
`tory index may be used and are useful to add still further
`supplier links Without sloWing page-loading time.
`The surprising result achieved by the synergistic combina
`tion of having: a goods and/or services descriptive domain
`name; a goods and/ or services descriptive term in the header;
`a ?rst paragraph of text that discusses the goods and/or ser
`vices of the directory; the numerous links to Web sites of
`suppliers Who offer goods and/or services of the directory on
`the ?rst page of the directory Web site; and the rollover
`WindoW, is a very content-rich directory Web site that consis
`tently gets highly ranked by conventional search engines
`When a user enters a search strategy substantially correspond
`ing to the descriptio