EP1585047A1 - Method for ordering a product from an on-line shop connected to a network - Google Patents

Abstract

Tracking systems (7,8) are assigned to advertising partners (5,6) and link to a communications network (CN). A network page (NP) made available by an advertising partner is requested over the CN via a client (2) assigned to a user (1). The requested NP is transmitted to the client and displayed to the user, who activates a link shown on the NP and assigned to an online shop (9). Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) A client-server system with a client assigned to a user, an online shop assigned with a product and an advertising partner; (B) and for a server in a communications network linked to a client assigned to a user, an online shop and an advertising partner; (C) and for a computer program to run on a client-server system.

Description

a) eine von einem dem Online-Shop zugeordneten Werbepartner bereitgestellte Netzwerkseite mittels eines einem Benutzer zugeordneten Client über das Kommunikationsnetzwerk angefordert wird;

b) die angeforderte Netzwerkseite an den Client übermittelt wird und dem Benutzer angezeigt wird;

c) der Benutzer einen auf der angezeigten Netzwerkseite dargestellten und dem Online-Shop zugeordneten Link aktiviert.

The invention relates to a method for ordering a product at a connected to a communication network online store, which is associated with at least one advertising partners, connected to the communication network amount of advertising partners, wherein at least one tracking system associated with at least one of the advertising partners and with the Communication network is connected, and where

a) a network page provided by an affiliate associated with the online store is requested via the communications network via a client associated with a user;

b) the requested network page is transmitted to the client and displayed to the user;

c) the user activates a link displayed on the displayed network page and assigned to the online shop.

• jedem der dem Online-Shop zugeordneten Werbepartner eine Netzwerkseite zugeordnet ist, die einen durch den Client über das Kommunikationsnetzwerk anforderbaren Link zu dem Online-Shop aufweist;
• jeder Werbepartner Mittel aufweist, um die angeforderte Netzwerkseite automatisch an den Client zu übermitteln und der Client Mittel aufweist, um die empfangene Netzwerkseite dem Benutzer anzuzeigen;
• der Client Mittel aufweist, um den auf der empfangenen Netzwerkseite dargestellten Link zu aktivieren.

The invention also relates to a client-server system comprising a client associated with a user, an online shop to which at least one product is assigned, a number of advertising partners associated with at least one advertising partner, at least one associated with at least one of the advertising partners Tracking system and a communication network, by means of which a communication between the client, the advertising partner, the tracking system and the online shop is possible, wherein

• each of the advertising partners associated with the online shop is assigned a network page which has a link to the online shop that can be requested by the client via the communication network;
• each advertising partner has means to automatically transmit the requested network page to the client and the client has means to display the received network page to the user;
• the client has means to activate the link displayed on the received network page.

The invention further relates to a server in one Communication network, with at least one User assigned client, an online store, a at least one advertising partner comprising a lot of that Online store affiliated advertising partners and at least one associated with at least one of the advertising partners Tracking system are connected.

The invention also relates to a computer program based on a client-server system, especially on a client and / or a server is executable.

An online store is made by a provider of products (Goods or services) operated. It includes the Online store typically has a server in one Communication network, such as the Internet. the Online store are assigned to network pages by one also connected to the communication network client can be requested. These network pages will too referred to as web pages and contain information regarding the offered products, for example Sales price and technical details. A user of the Online stores, so a potential customer, can be one of the Buy online product through this product that he using the client to describe the product Network page requested by the online store, the product selects and an order process regarding the selected product to purchase the product.

Under an online shop in particular also a supplier understood by information. In this case are the information the products of the online store. The Ordering a product can also be the requirement of information. Such information is for example, news, stock market reports, pictures and Music files.

Also, access to information in itself can be considered a product an online store. For example, can from the online store access to a protected area Tobe offered. A user orders this product For example, by being in the online store registered. The protected area can be information include only registered users for To be available. The order of a product goes with it in addition to the meaning content used here, which usually happens, for example, with the purchase of a Product is understood. In particular, the order is of a product not necessarily to the payment tied to a purchase price.

The ones that can be transmitted from the online shop to the client Network pages are usually in an online store associated memory area are stored or dynamically depending on the request by the User generated.

During an ordering process, user-specific data is created sent from the client to the server For example, an address and a bank account of the Describe user. Using this data causes the Online store the vendor of the products sending the selected products to the user and for example a debit of the corresponding purchase price of one Bank account of the user.

To describe the content of a network page is a so-called page description language used. nowadays is mainly the standardized Page description language HTML (hypertext mark up Language) used. HTML allows the content and the Appearance of a network page in the form of a so-called HTML document. Represents, for example, the User via the client a request to the online store, so the online store submits the requested Information, such as descriptions, Sales price and a view of a product containing HTML document to the client. Should the client by means of of the HTML document transmitted information Users are presented, so will the network page or the HTML document a so-called browser fed. A browser is a computer program, which is able to interpret HTML documents and by means of a suitable graphic surface on one Data display device, for example a computer display, display.

To potential customers on the online store or on the from Online store to draw attention to offered products are assigned to the online shop so-called advertising partners. One Advertising Partner is the operator of a server that Network pages provides a so-called Link to the online store. The following will be this Server itself referred to as an advertising partner. Such a Link can be activated by a user. This causes the client associated with the user automatically caused by the online store a Request network page. The so requested Network page, for example, the main page, the so-called home page, the online store or one of the Online store provided or dynamically generated Network page, for example, a description of a product.

Such a link is often by means of a so-called Advertising banner on the affiliate's network page shown. If the user activates this banner, then becomes a client assigned by the user Network page of the online store requested.

The advertising partner can, for example, as a be designed so-called search engine. A search engine is a server connected to the communication network, to the user by means of the client a request in the form sends a search term. The search engine determines based on predefinable rules depending on the submitted search term information with the Search term be associated. The search engine causes that the information thus determined (the search result) transmitted to the client via a network page become. This is often done depending on the ascertained information automates an HTML document generated by the server, which is finally connected to the Client transmitted and the user by means of the browser is shown. Often on the search engines depending on a request for information generated network pages also displayed banner ads, The banners themselves are in turn servers special service provider over the internet can be made.

If the user purchases a product from the online store, then so does The advertising partner usually receives a compensation, as the Users through the affiliate on the online store was made aware. The amount of compensation can for example, as a percentage of the profit or the purchase price of the Depend on the product. The remuneration can also be one fixed amount of money.

It is also possible that the user of the online store a network page has requested and at a later date When a product buys without one on one Network page of the advertising partner displayed link on the To have been alerted to online store.

In this case, the advertising partner is not paid the order was placed. To determine if the User led by the affiliate to the online store It is conceivable that the advertising partner would be the client of the User when activating the link, by means of which the Client requests a network page of the online store, data and causes the client to retrieve this information a memory area associated with the client save. This data can be for example a Identification of the advertising partner. On The client can request the stored data submit the requestor. Is the requester the Online store so he can tell if the affiliate has one Remuneration is due by verifying that the information is a Identification of the advertising partner includes, or whether any stored information at the client is present.

However, this procedure means that a server (here: the online store) from a client (here: the user assigned client) can request data from a other server (here: the advertising partner) to the client were transmitted. Such an approach is over Security reasons (for privacy reasons, for example) not desirable, because in this process difficult to Prevent a server from getting other data from requesting the client.

To work around this problem is usually a used so-called cookie. Requests the user by means of the client of the advertising partner to a network page, so the affiliate initiates that next to the network page additional information is sent to the client and this information is assigned in a client Memory area are stored. The way stored information is called a cookie. This is also called "setting a cookie". One Cookie can also be set when the client is on a link displayed on a network page. urges the client resumes a network page from the advertising partner On, the cookie may come along with the request from the Client to the advertising partner. A cookie is usually realized so that it only to the Affiliate can be returned to the client to set the cookie.

• Der Benutzer hat bei dem Online-Shop kein Produkt gekauft und somit fordert der Online-Shop den dem Benutzer zugeordneten Client nicht zur Übersendung des Cookie an den Werbepartner auf.
• Der Benutzer wurde nicht über den Werbepartner zu dem Online-Shop geführt und weist deshalb kein von dem Werbepartner gesetztes Cookie auf.

In order to determine by means of a cookie when a product is ordered, whether the user was led to it via an advertising partner of the online shop, the online shop causes the client to set the advertising partner assigned to the online shop the cookie set by this advertising partner to send. If the advertising partner then receives the cookie from the client, the advertising partner sends a message (so-called compensation claim) to the online shop, which then initiates a payment. If the advertising partner does not receive a cookie from the client, then he does not send a message to the online shop to receive any compensation. In particular, a cookie will not be sent to the affiliate if at least one of the two conditions is met:

• The user has not purchased a product from the online store and thus the online shop does not request the client assigned to the user to send the cookie to the advertising partner.
• The user has not been directed to the online store through the affiliate and therefore does not have a cookie set by the affiliate.

A cookie usually has a predefinable "lifetime" (so-called term), which describes a period of time during which the cookie should exist. After expiration of At runtime, the cookie is automatically taken by the client deleted. Such a term of a cookie is for example, 30 days.

A cookie can also have a so-called Be associated with confidentiality level. A Confidentiality of a cookie, for example, in Dependence of the type stored in the cookie data certainly. The more confidential this data is, the bigger can be the level of confidentiality. A browser in turn may provide the possibility only cookies more specific Set confidentiality levels or only cookies certain levels of confidentiality to a one at the Client set cookie requesting server to send.

It is possible for a user of the affiliate to create a a link to the online shop network page the advertiser requests a cookie from the client but the user does not initially buy a product.

Requests the user now at a later date by means of the client a network page from the online shop without, in this case, a link of the advertising partner followed, so for example by direct dialing of the online store, and the user now orders one Product, so it is in the process described above possible that the advertising partner nevertheless a remuneration if the life of the advertising partner receives set cookies are not exceeded and the cookie consequently has not been deleted.

If a user follows the link one more time Advertising partners within the lifetime of the first set cookies, no new cookie is set but the already existing cookie to that effect updated that the lifetime again on the given value (for example again 30 days) is set.

Typically, an online store has several advertising partners assigned. Thus, in the case of a completed order of a product in the online shop, the advertising partner be determined via whose link the user to the Online store was run.

In this case, in case of a completed order of a Product by the user at the online store Identify affiliate through whose link the user is to the online store is run again, the one Advertising partner at the client a cookie over whose Network page by activating the there shown Links the user is led to the online store. Then the user orders - or as above presented at a later date within the Term of the cookie - at the online shop a product, so The online store initiates the client by the Affiliate through whose link the user to the online store led, set cookie, to this advertising partner to convey. The affiliate who receives this cookie, then sends a message to the online store, so Identify the advertising partner and give it a remuneration can deliver.

It is now conceivable that a user has a Majority of advertisers by activating the respective, shown on the respective network page Links, is led to the on-line shop. This causes that the client a plurality of cookies are set. Now the user orders within the lifetime of a or more of the cookies eventually at the online store a product, then the client through the online store causes any not yet expired and thus deleted cookie to the appropriate advertising partner to transfer. This causes each of these Affiliates who receive a cookie from the client, one Send compensation claim to the online store and this then causes a remuneration of these advertising partners. In In this case, multiple advertisers will be the same Order remunerated. This leads to a multiple payment, which in extreme cases causes the whole, with the Sales of the product achieved profit or even more to the Advertising partner must be paid.

It is common today for one or more of the Online store associated advertising partners a so-called Tracking system is assigned. Such a tracking system is for example under http://www.zanox.de or reachable under http://www.affilinet.de. A tracking system allows an online store on the one hand, one or more of those associated with the tracking system Select advertising partners. On the other hand, an online store there left and / or advertising banner deposit, which then from potential, registered in the tracking system Advertising partners on their network pages can. For example, a tracking system manages this the advertising partners of an online shop. The online store itself in this case does not necessarily have information possess the identity of the advertising partners themselves. Conveniently, the tracking system is the online store However, regularly about the currently the online store inform associated advertising partners.

Is one or more of the online store associated Affiliate associated with a tracking system, so the online store will arrange for an order in case of an order Product by one user the client, all there Stored cookies by a tracking system associated advertising partners are set at the client to submit the respective advertising partner. The Advertising partners, in turn, make a copy of the case with the client set cookies received from this, send one Message to the tracking system. The tracking system evaluates these messages and sends a bundled one Compensation claim to the online store. In this case, too There is the above-described problem of undesirable ones Multiple payments.

Because there are a lot of tracking systems in the market are often the advertising partners of an online store associated with several different tracking systems. This can be the problem of unwanted Reinforce multiple reimbursements still further, since now several Tracking systems their bundled compensation requirements send the online store.

At present, there are almost all conceivable forms on the market and mixed forms of the above arrangements of Advertising partners. In this case, the case occurs in particular that an online store advertising partners of multiple tracking systems, as well as affiliates who do not have a tracking system are connected, are assigned. Almost always, if an online store has several advertising partners and one or more advertising partners a tracking system is assigned, is the determination of that Advertising partner, through whose link the user to the online store and through its mediation finally It was not possible to order a product. This leads, for example, to the above Multiple payments.

The object of the invention is to provide a way to To provide the most unambiguous Assignment of an order of a product at an online store allowed to the advertising partner of the online store, to which the order is to be attributed and as far as possible a reduction of the network traffic of the Communications network and a reduction in Calculating load of possibly involved tracking systems to reach.

a) automatisch mindestens eine Information bezüglich der Aktivierung des Links von dem Client an einen mit dem Kommunikationsnetzwerk verbundenen Server gesendet wird;

b) automatisch eine dem Online-Shop zugeordnete Netzwerkseite durch den Client angefordert wird;

c) der Benutzer bei dem Online-Shop das Produkt bestellt oder die Schritte a) bis e) solange wiederholt werden, bis der Benutzer das Produkt bei dem Online-Shop bestellt;

d) automatisch mindestens eine die Bestellung betreffende Information von dem Online-Shop an den Server übermittelt wird;

e) in Abhängigkeit mindestens eines vorgebbaren Kriteriums und unter Verwendung der Information bezüglich der Aktivierung des Links automatisch ein Werbepartner aus der Menge der Werbepartner, von denen der Benutzer eine Netzwerkseite angefordert und einen auf den Online-Shop verweisenden Link aktiviert hat, ausgewählt wird;

f) falls der ausgewählte Werbepartner einem Tracking-System zugeordnet ist, automatisch das Tracking-System ermittelt wird und automatisch mindestens ein Teil der die Bestellung betreffenden Information an das dem ausgewählten Werbepartner zugeordnete Tracking-System übermittelt wird;

g) zumindest falls der ausgewählte Werbepartner nicht einem Tracking-System zugeordnet ist, automatisch mindestens ein Teil der die Bestellung betreffenden Information an den ausgewählte Werbepartner übermittelt wird;

The object is achieved by a method with the method steps a) to c) of the type mentioned in that

a) automatically at least one information regarding the activation of the link from the client to a server connected to the communication network is sent;

b) a network page assigned to the online shop is automatically requested by the client;

c) the user orders the product from the online store or steps a) to e) are repeated until the user orders the product from the online store;

d) automatically at least one information concerning the order is transmitted from the online shop to the server;

e) depending on at least one predeterminable criterion and using the information relating to the activation of the link, an advertising partner is automatically selected from among the number of advertising partners from whom the user has requested a network page and activated a link referring to the online shop;

f) if the selected advertising partner is assigned to a tracking system, the tracking system is automatically determined and automatically at least part of the information relating to the order is transmitted to the tracking system associated with the selected advertising partner;

g) at least if the selected advertising partner is not assigned to a tracking system, automatically at least part of the information relating to the order is transmitted to the selected advertising partner;

According to the invention, therefore, when activating one to the Online store referring links, on one of the Advertising partners provided network page is shown, an information regarding the activation the link from the client to one with the Communication network connected server sent.

Such information may be, for example, an identifier to be the link. By activating the link will automatically from the online store a network page requested, for example, the home page of the online store or the description of a product. Will then no Orders made at the online store, so will the Repeat steps a) through e) until an order is placed done at the online store.

If the steps a) to e) are repeated, it is in the inventive method provides the possibility that the user by means of the client also a Network page of another, the online store assigned Advertising partner on this network page displayed link and thereby a network page of the online shop. It is further contemplated that the user does not make an order, but then using the client at a later date by direct selection of the on-line shop a network side of the online shop and then request one Order at the online store.

When carrying out the order will automatically become a the order information from the online store sent to the server. This will get the server Knowing that an order has been made and chooses one Advertising partners from the amount of the online shop assigned Advertising partners. The server uses at least the Information regarding the activation of the link, the while activating the link from the client to the Server has been transmitted. This information will for example, in a server associated with Memory area stored and thus allows the Server, when selecting the advertising partner on the To access information.

Is the selected affiliate a tracking system? The server also determines automatically the tracking system and transmits at least one Information that allows the tracking system to do so proceed as if the server were not present. That's it to see an important point of the invention, since the Invention is feasible without consuming changes of the tracking system are necessary.

Is the affiliate not a tracking system is assigned automatically by the server part of the the order information to the client transmitted. This informs the client set that an order has taken place and he has one Remuneration receives. It is possible, even if the Affiliate is assigned to a tracking system and one the order message to the tracking system is sent, nevertheless a message to the selected one To send advertising partners.

The inventive method thus allows, on transparent way, so without an existing system from advertising partners and tracking systems involved needs to be changed, a selection of one Advertising partner to whom an order has been placed to be attributed to the online shop.

The inventive method also has the advantage that much less news about that Communication network must be transmitted and the Tracking systems themselves are significantly less burdened, because only that tracking system receives a message and this must evaluate the selected advertising partner assigned. At the very big and rising Number of purchases at online stores will be with the inventive method a significant saving of resources (network load and computation time).

In an advantageous embodiment of the method receives the selected advertising partner depending on the order a remuneration. As with the inventive method only an affiliate is selected who has one Order is attributed, prevents the invention effectively a multiple payment, in which several Advertising partners a fee for one and the same order would receive.

In a preferred embodiment of the method the client in step b) by the advertising partner, after the step d) by the server, and / or in the step e) caused by the online store, automatically a Information in a client associated with the Save memory area. Such information allows the client, for example, an overview about the requested network pages. At the same time, this embodiment allows the Server, the online shop and / or the advertising partner at the Client request the stored information there again can and thus provide an overview of the client from the server, the online shop and / or the advertising partner get requested network pages.

Advantageously, the client transmits the one in the Client associated memory area stored Information automatically to the advertising partner, the server, the tracking system and / or the online store. This can for example, by the client always automatically carried out by the advertising partner, the Tracking system, the online store or the server one Request network page. This saves the advertising partner, the tracking system, the online shop and the server itself Method for polling the client stored Provide information and yet provide an overview for example, about the frequency of the request from Get network pages through the client.

Preferably, the online shop will automatically initiate the Ordering a product the client, an information to submit the server. This information can For example, give information about which Advertising partners of the client before submitting the order the online shop has requested a network page. Such information may in turn be used in the selection of the Advertising partners used by the server advantageous become.

Advantageously, the online store transmits automatically an order confirmation page to the client and prompted to allow the client to be assigned to the client Memory area stored information to the server to transfer. By means of an order confirmation page the online shop informs the user about the acceptance the order initiated by the user. A Order confirmation page may further include the total price and an expected delivery date of the ordered product contain.

The order confirmation page can also be a so-called Contain script that consists of instructions from the Client to run when he Order confirmation page receives. The script can be found in present case statements contain the client cause information to be sent to the server by the server used in the selection of the advertising partner become. The script can also be an order information contained in step g) is transmitted from the online store to the server. In In this case, the order concerned Information therefore first to the client and then to the Server are transmitted.

Preferably, the one associated with the client Memory area stored information in the form of a Cookies stored at the client. this makes possible one hand, the use of the client already existing Mechanisms and on the other hand it can be achieved that the client only sends the information to a recipient (Advertising partner, tracking system, server or online shop) previously submitted by this recipient to the client were filed in the form of a cookie, which the Data security increased.

In this embodiment of the method, the Confidentiality level of the cookie set particularly low be, for example, because the cookie is very little personal information of the user and / or the client contains. The necessary for ordering the product For example, information is sent directly from the client transmitted to the online store.

Advantageously, that in step d) of the Client regarding the activation of the link to the server transmitted information a date, a time, a Identification of the client, an identification of the client User, an affiliate and / or affiliate identification An identification of the advertising partner assigned Tracking. Such information can for example stored in a database of the server be and are particularly suitable in the selection of the Advertising partners to be used.

In a further development of the method, the server provides the Online store one or more of which in the server associated memory area information stored to disposal. This can be done, for example, by that the online shop has a so-called portal of the Servers with this logs on then insight into the there to take stored information. This information In particular, information regarding the Activation of the link. This can be the online store For example, create statistics and information about which link on which network page Which advertising partner is activated very often. is a link, for example, as a banner ad trained, so The online store can depend on the results of a such statistics cause those links too change or remove that are rarely activated.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that in step h) the one Advertising partner, which is the network page whose link is assigned to the online shop last activated before ordering by the user has been. With this procedure can be particularly fast and clearly an advertising partner can be selected. This can be provided that the time of activation of a Left at the server for the selection is present.

Preferably, the at least one of the online store Information transmitted to the server regarding the ordered product as a criterion in step h) evaluated. Such information may be, for example the time of delivery of the order by the user be at the online store. This information can be obtained through the Server in the selection of the advertising partner, whose Link last activated before ordering become.

In a further preferred embodiment allows the at least one from the online store to the server transmitted information regarding the ordered product an indication of a product name, the Sales price, an assigned department and / or a profit made.

Such information can be particularly advantageous in the selection of the advertising partner. Are at the server, for example, several, different elaborate selection process for selecting the advertising partner provided, for example, based on the Sales price to be decided, whether a more or a less complex selection process can be used should.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of Procedure in which the advertising partner is a search engine is assigned by the user of the Advertising partner requested network page depending on a search term specified by the user from the Search engine created and created by the user in the Search engine entered search term in the selection of the Advertising partners evaluated. This can be an even more accurate Selection of the advertising partner can be done by For example, the advertising partner is selected, in which the search term entered there bears the greatest similarity with the product actually ordered.

In a further embodiment of the method, the Advertising partners and / or the tracking system classified and when selecting the advertising partner in step h) the classification of the advertising partner and / or the Tracking system evaluated. A classification can For example, based on the number of earlier this Advertising orders attributed to advertising partners. Would one given selection process, for example, several Propose advertising partners, so could ultimately the one Advertising partners are selected, the total already the highest number of orders is attributed. Of course, the selection process could also be a realize exactly opposite reasoning.

Advantageously, the advertising partner and / or the Tracking system regarding at least one industry or classified in a subject area. This can do that Procedure for selecting an advertising partner again be improved by, for example, the one Advertising partner is selected, the same industry as the ordered product belongs.

In a preferred embodiment of the method the server saves along with the one from the client transmitted information at least one more Information in the memory area assigned to the server from. Such information can then be the online store be made available and / or in the selection of the Advertising partners are used. It is possible that this information is generated by the server itself and / or that this information is from an affiliate or Tracking system is transmitted to the server.

Advantageously, the at least one further contains Information a time, a date, a frequency, a Identification of the client, an identification of the client User, an identification of the online store, one Identification of the advertising partner, an identification of one the advertising affiliate associated tracking system and / or a classification of the advertising partner. With such Information may be the selection of the advertising partner especially reliable.

In a further preferred embodiment of the Procedure is when placing an order in the online store automatically checks whether within a predefinable Time span and / or depending on predefinable events an information by the client from the server was requested. If this is not the case, then the Online store assume that the server has no Information regarding the client and regarding a possible activation of a link with an advertising partner features. The online store can then decide that no advertising partner should be selected and in particular no advertising partner should receive compensation, because of it it can be assumed that other advertising media and / or a direct selection of the online shop to order the Product has led.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of The online store automatically transmits a procedure Information to the server if an order is canceled or one by the user at the online store purchased product is returned. The server initiates then automatically that one the cancellation or the Return of the purchased product descriptive information to the selected affiliate and / or affiliate Advertising affiliate assigned tracking system becomes. In this case, the remuneration of the selected advertising partner withdrawn.

• das Client-Server-System einen Server umfasst, der mit dem Kommunikationsnetzwerk verbunden ist;
• das Client-Server-System Mittel aufweist, um automatisch mindestens eine Information bezüglich der Aktivierung des Links von dem Client über das Kommunikationsnetzwerk an den Server zu übermitteln;
• dem Server ein Speicherbereich zugeordnet ist und der Server Mittel aufweist, um die übermittelte mindestens eine Information bezüglich der Aktivierung des Links automatisch abzuspeichern;
• der Server Mittel aufweist, um den Client automatisch zu veranlassen, eine dem Online-Shop zugeordnete Netzwerkseite anzufordern;
• der Online-Shop Mittel aufweist, um in Abhängigkeit von einer durch den Benutzer mittels des Client abgegeben Bestellung eines Produkts automatisch mindestens eine die Bestellung betreffende Information von dem Online-Shop an den Server zu übermitteln;
• der Server Mittel aufweist, um in Abhängigkeit von mindestens einem vorgebbaren Kriterium und unter Verwendung der abgespeicherten mindestens einen Information bezüglich der Aktivierung des Links automatisch einen Werbepartner aus der Menge der Werbepartner auszuwählen;
• der Server Mittel aufweist um zu ermitteln, ob dem ausgewählten Werbepartner ein Tracking-System zugeordnet ist, und falls dem ausgewählten Werbepartner ein Tracking-System zugeordnet ist, automatisch das Tracking-System zu ermitteln und automatisch mindestens einen Teil der die Bestellung betreffenden Information an das Tracking-System zu übermitteln;
• der Server Mittel aufweist, um automatisch mindestens einen Teil der die Bestellung betreffenden Information an den ausgewählten Werbepartner zu übermitteln;

The object is also achieved by a client-server system of the type mentioned above in that

• the client-server system comprises a server connected to the communication network;
• the client-server system has means for automatically transmitting to the server at least one information regarding the activation of the link from the client via the communication network;
• the server is assigned a memory area and the server has means for automatically storing the transmitted at least one information regarding the activation of the link;
• the server has means for automatically causing the client to request a network page associated with the online store;
• the online shop has means to automatically transmit at least one item of information concerning the order from the online store to the server, depending on a product order made by the user by means of the client;
• the server has means for automatically selecting an advertising partner from the set of advertising partners as a function of at least one predefinable criterion and using the stored at least one information regarding the activation of the link;
• the server has means for determining if a tracking system is associated with the selected affiliate, and if a tracking system is associated with the selected affiliate, automatically determining the tracking system and automatically supplying at least a portion of the information regarding the order to the affiliate To transmit tracking system;
• the server has means to automatically transmit at least a portion of the order-related information to the selected advertising partner;

Advantageously, the client-server system has means for carrying out the method according to the invention.

The task also by a server of the beginning mentioned type solved in that the server means for Implementation of the method according to the invention.

Such a server may be, for example, a computer who is connected to the internet and about that Internet information with the client, the online shop, at least one tracking system and at least one Can replace advertising partners. Is for example the Online store is designed as a stand-alone computer, so is It is also conceivable that the server according to the invention as Software runs on the same computer as an online store connected to the internet. An exchange of Information between the server and the online store would then in a known manner, for example, by the Operating system of the computer provided Functionalities are realized.

Of particular importance is the realization of this Invention in the form of a computer program. That's it Computer program on at least one computing device or a computer, especially on a microprocessor executable and for the execution of the invention Suitable method. In particular, for the execution of the inventive method parts of the computer program run on different computing devices. The invention is thus realized by the computer program, so that this computer program in the same way the invention represents as the procedure for the execution of the Computer program is suitable.

The computer program is preferably on one Memory element stored. A memory element can in particular a random access memory, a read-only memory or be a flash memory. The memory element can also as a floppy disk, Compact Disk (CD), Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), and / or at least one at least one component memory area allocated to the client-server system be educated.

Figur 1

ein erfindungsgemäßes Client-Server-System, dessen Komponenten an das Internet angeschlossen sind; und

Figur 2

ein Ablaufdiagramm eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.

Other features, applications and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated in the drawing. All described or illustrated features, alone or in any combination form the subject matter of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their dependency and regardless of their formulation or representation in the description or in the drawing. In the drawing show:

FIG. 1

a client-server system according to the invention whose components are connected to the Internet; and

FIG. 2

a flow diagram of a method according to the invention.

A large number of clients and servers communicate by means of of the internet. These form in their entirety multimedia information system, the so-called WWW (World Wide Web). Provided within the WWW Network pages are using a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) addressable. A URL is among others from the Name of the network site Servers, a (at least virtual) directory and a the network page, such as the HTML document, associated names. A URL allows the network page associated with this URL from a client to select from. For example, a user gives this using a keyboard, the URL in a special Input field of the browser. The client generates then a request to the appropriate server, the turn the requested network page to the client transmitted. There the transmitted network side becomes then for example by means of a special computer program, a so-called browser represents. As a browser is a computer program that is capable of HTML documents to interpret and by means of a suitable graphical interface on a display display.

A URL can be a network page instead of a executable computer program assigned to the server be. Such a computer program is for example a so-called perl script. A perl script is an in the programming language perl encoded sequence of Instructions. If a client calls a URL that is one assigned to such computer program, so this is Computer program running on the server. Execution The computer program can also be a transmission of Information to the client, for example in the form a network page. Of course that can Computer program also in another language, especially in another script language, for example, as java-script, be realized.

In an HTML document it is possible to add URLs more Specify network pages or HTML documents. Such URLs are referred to as links or links. Become links to a user via a browser shown, the user has the option to one selected link and select the selected URL corresponding network page to display. Of course, the selected network page can on another server.

It is often used by a first server, for example an online store, a second server, for example one Advertising partners mandated on network sites by the Advertising partners to a requesting this network page Client will be sent a link to a Network page of the online store. Such a Link can be, for example, a so-called banner ad, by means of a textual and / or graphic Representation for a via the online shop to be related Product or one mediated through the online store Service advertises. Is the advertising partner as a search engine designed, so the online store can be the advertising partner to assign on a depending on one of a User entered search word generated network page, a link to an online shop associated Network page. Typically instructed Online shop several advertising partners with it, links on their Display network pages.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a client-server system represented, for carrying out the inventive Method is suitable. An associated with a user 1 Client 2 has a memory area 3 and is with a communication network, for example the Internet 4 connected. The client 2 is for example as a desktop Computer or designed as a laptop. The client 2 can also as a so-called pocket computer (PC) or as Mobile phone be configured. The client 2 points in Figure 1 means not shown, it is the user 1 to interact with the client 2. such Means are for example a keyboard, a display, a Pointing device (for example, a so-called computer mouse) and speakers.

The client-server system also has multiple advertising partners 5, 6, which are connected to the Internet 4. there can the advertising partners 5, 6, for example, as Be designed search engines. The advertising partners 5, 6 can also be called information servers, the general information, such as news, or related information, for example medical topics.

In Figure 1 are also tracking systems 7, 8, an online store 9, as well as a server 10 shown, which also with connected to the internet. The server 10 is a Memory area assigned, for example, as Database 11 is formed.

In the client-server system shown in Figure 1 are the advertising partners 5 the tracking system 7 and the Advertising partners 6 associated with the tracking system 8. Of course, this is just one example of one possible configuration of the client-server system. The The invention relates to any number of an online store associated advertising partners, who themselves turn into arbitrary constellations of any number of Tracking system are assigned. And that's it possible that individual advertising partners do not have a tracking system assigned.

On the client 2 run several computer programs, the allow the client 2 to work with other components of the Client-server system, ie the advertising partners 5,6, the, Tracking systems 7, 8, the online shop 9 and the server 10, exchange data. One of these programs is for example, a browser by means of which the user 1 via the client 2 requested network pages the User 1 will be displayed. For example, the User 1 by means of the client 2 from the advertising partner 5, 6 Request information. The advertising partner 5, 6 transmitted the requested information in the form of a Network side. This is for example in the Page description language HTML encoded. Receives the Client 2 the network page, this is from the browser processed and by means of the display to the user 1 displayed.

The operation of the inventive client-server system in carrying out the invention Method is exemplary in Figure 2 schematically shown.

The method starts in a step 100. In one Step 101 requests the user 1 by means of the client 2 (for example, by typing a URL into a Browser dedicated text input field) a Network page of a the online store 9 assigned Advertising partners 5, 6 on. Such an advertising partner 5, 6 can For example, be a so-called shopping portal, the a plurality of links to various online shops 9 to Provides. The user 1 are - starting from the Homepage of the shopping portal - for example ordered by branches, one or more links to one or more several online shops 9 displayed.

An advertising partner 5, 6 can be everyone in the broadest sense Be provider, by means of a provider assigned Server network page for retrieval by a client 2 for Provides the network page with a link to an online store 9 has. Provider of such Network pages are for example commercial providers of information. Provider of such network pages are often but also individuals, who by presenting from links to online stores 9 on one or more of these offered network sites a financial gain want to achieve or achieve that by the Providing their network pages on the Internet is free.

The advertising partner 5, 6 causes that of the user 1 requested by the client 2 network page to the Client 2 is transmitted. This network page contains a link to the online shop 9. Of course it is possible that the user 1 previously by means of the client 2 several other network pages and / or the same Network page multiple times from the advertising partners 5, 6 requests and, for example, the user 1 by means of the browser reads content displayed on the monitor.

Finally, in a step 102, the user activates 1 the link to the online shop shown on the network page 9. The activation of this link causes first the advertising partners 5, 6 (for example by means of a on the Affiliate 5, 6 perl-scripts that by activating the link is started) at the client 2 a cookie put in which the advertising partner 5, 6 more information sends to the client 2 and causes the client 2 this information in the form of a cookie, for example in the memory area 3 stores. This cookie can be the Time, the date, an identification of the network page and / or an identification of the link (ie for example, the banner ad on the network page is shown). That at the client 2 stored cookie is hereafter referred to as an affiliate cookie designated.

By activating the link by the user 1 becomes Further, the server 10 for executing a computer program causes. Also this computer program can take the form of a Scripts, for example, as perl-script, the by entering and submitting a URL through the Client 2 is started. By the execution of this Computer program causes the server 10 that on the Client 9 another cookie is set, the following is called a server cookie. The server cookie includes, for example, information that a Identification of the advertising partner 5, 6, one Identification of the activated link, a time, and / or a date. The server cookie can especially a particularly low Confidentiality by having only special little confidential information in the server cookie be stored. This makes it possible, for example, then put a server cookie at the client 2, if a running on the client 2 browser a high Security level has set and therefore only the Set cookies with a particularly low Confidentiality level allows. That it is with the method according to the invention is possible between the Client 2 and the server 10 only cookies very low Exchanging confidence levels is a viable option This method is possible even if the browser the client 2 sets a particularly high security level is so high-level cookies at the client 2 not stored or not from the client 2 to a requesting server to be transmitted.

It is also possible for the server 10 to have information regarding activation of the link in a server 10 associated memory area, such as the database 11, stores. This information can be one or contain more of the above information can also be stored in the server cookie. In the Database 11 can also provide more information, such as for example, an identification of the client 2, be stored. In particular, it is conceivable that the information stored in the database 11 such Be able to associate with the server cookie is.

Is the client 5, 6 associated with a tracking system 7, 8, so can provide information regarding the tracking system 7, 8 in the server cookie and / or stored in the database 11 become. Furthermore, it can be made to be on the Tracking system 7, 8 stored computer program is performed. Also this computer program can as perl-script executed by requesting a running this perl-script associated URL. The Execution of the computer program on the tracking system 7, 8 may again set a cookie at the client 2 have as a consequence. Such a cookie will be in the following referred to as a tracking system cookie.

The stored in the tracking system cookie Information can be information regarding a Identification of the advertising partner 5, 6, one Identification of the activated link, a time, and / or a date. The tracking system 7, 8 may also provide further information in one the memory system 7, 8 associated memory area be filed. In particular, it can be provided that this information is stored in such a way that a Assignment to the tracking system cookie stored at the client 2 is possible.

A detection of whether an affiliate 5, 6 is a tracking system 7, 8 is assigned, for example, by the Information is provided on the network side of the Advertising partner 5, 6 link is assigned. in the the simplest case, this link has a URL to the Tracking system 7, 8 stored computer program on, which is executed when the link is activated. imaginable It is also that the server 10 at least for the online store 9 in a memory area allocated to the server 10, for example, the database 11, for each advertising partner 5, 6 associated with a tracking system 7, 8, Information regarding this assignment holds and this information when running through the URL evaluated on the server 10 started computer program. Of course, a lot of others Possibilities conceivable to recognize, whether and which Tracking system 7, 8 an affiliate 5, 6 is assigned.

Finally, in a step 103 - also by the Activation of the on the by the advertising partners 5, 6 by the Client 2 received network page links - from the online shop 9 requested a network page. These Network page, for example, is the home page of the online store 9 or a network page that has a description of a Contains products. It is conceivable that even with the Online Store 9 is started a computer program that for example, setting a cookie at the client 2 causes. Such a cookie is referred to below Online shop cookie called.

In a step 104, it is checked whether the user 1 is a Ordering a product at the online store 9 prompted. If this is not the case, the procedure may be in the Step 101 or continue in step 103.

If the method continues in step 101, then the user 1 of each of the advertising partners 5, 6 a Request a network page. When the user 1 at different advertising partners 5, 6 activates a link and thereby repeatedly led to the online shop 9, the method according to the invention is particularly advantageous since then one of the advertising partners 5, 6 must be selected, the order to be attributed to us is the then, for example, receives a fee.

The process continues in step 103 when the User 1 directly a network page from the online store 9 requests. For example, a direct request by entering an appropriate URL in the browser be achieved. A direct request for a Network page from the online store 9 can also do so can be achieved that the user 1 already has the browser when there is a request for a network page from the online shop 9 (for example as a result of Activation of an advertising partner on a network page 5, 6 illustrated links) has caused by the Online shop 9 to the client 2 transmitted network page or the URL associated with this network page Place at the client 2 to save and now one on the stored network page existing link enabled or the network page assigned and stored URL calls again.

Finally, the user 1 causes the order of a Products at the online store 9, so the procedure is in a step 105 continued.

In step 105, the online shop transmits 9 to the Client 2 a so-called order confirmation page. This is a network page by means of which the user 1 of the Order acceptance by the online shop 9 is informed. If the order confirmation page is generated dynamically, then can it current data such as the price and the number of ordered product included.

In step 105, the server 10 is also caused to to select one of the advertising partners 5, 6 to whom it was made Order is attributable. For this the on-line shop transmits 9 an information concerning the order to the Server 10. This can be done directly, for example in that the online store 9 is a URL of the Server 10 dials, associated with a computer program is that is started by the selection. This Computer program can again be designed as a script. It is possible that the online store 9 when calling the URL or during the processing of the computer program the server 10 information regarding the made Order sent to the server 10. such Information can be, for example, the retail price, a Product identification number, a date of sale, an identification of the user 1 and / or an identification of the client 2 be.

It is also conceivable that at the instigation of the Selection process sent to client 2 Order confirmation page contains an item containing the Client 2 initiates the selection process on the server 10, for example by selecting a the selection process associated URL, to start. Such an element can for example, be a so-called image tag. An image tag is an HTML construct that is a complete or near invisible image (eg the size of only one pixel) generated on a client 2 associated display. With an image tag can be linked to more information which are interpreted by the browser and as Instructions are executed. It is conceivable that the Client 2 through one or more on the Order confirmation page pictured image tags is caused to send a message to the server 10.

This message can on the one hand by the server 10th Procedure to be followed for choosing an advertising partner 5, 6 start. This message can also be more Information included. In particular, it may be provided that the client 2 stored in this server cookies - If available - sends to the server 10 and so that the selection process starts on the server 10.

An above-described information regarding the order can both directly from the online shop 9 to the server 10 sent or indirectly through the client 2. This is it conceivable, the information regarding the order along with the order confirmation page to the client 2 to send and cause this information in turn, to the server 10 to submit.

The conduct of the selection procedure itself takes place in a step 106 by the server 10. These are first the advertising partners 5, 6 determined, of which the user 1 and / or the client 2 has requested a network page and then the link to the online shop 9 shown there has activated. In other words, all of these are Advertising partners 5, 6, over which the user 1 or the client 2 was led to the online shop 9. The finding This advertising partner 5, 6 is in different ways feasible, that of the stored cookies, the in the information stored in the cookies, others in the Server 10 information stored and / or further at the tracking system 7, 8 stored information depends. So it is possible that the server 10 a Identification of client and / or user 1 is present.

Such identification may be, for example, from the Online store 9 are transmitted to the server 10. A but such identification can also be particularly in shape of the server cookie that is in step 102 at the Client 2 was saved and now from the client 2 the server 10 is transmitted. The transmission of the Server cookies from the client 2 to the server 10 can for example, as described above due to the. By Client 2 received order confirmation page happen.

If the server 10 is an identification of the client 2, For example, he can do so by querying the database 11 directly received all the advertising partners 5, 6, over which the User 1 or the client 2 led to the online shop 9 has been. This of course assumes that in the Step 102 this information to the server 10 transmitted and stored by him.

The advertising partners 5, 6, over which the user 1 or the Client 2 was led to the online shop 9, too determined by the server 10 the client causes all affiliate cookies and / or all Tracking system cookies to the advertising partners 5, 6 and / or to send to all tracking systems 7, 8, of which the Client 2 for storing the respective cookies causes has been. In addition, the advertising partners 5, 6 or the Tracking systems 7, 8, which have an appropriate cookie of receive the client 2, the server 10 either directly or inform indirectly about the client 2.

For such an exchange of information between Clients and servers are a variety of mechanisms known, of course, from the underlying Communication network and the one for communication depend on communication protocols used. The Inserting Cookies and Replacing the appropriate information is just one of these Possibilities, in particular, if that offers Communication network the Internet is 4.

Are the server 10 before the advertising partners 5, 6, over the the user 1 or the client 2 to the online shop 9 was led, so by the server 10 one of these Advertising partners 5, 6 selected.

• Es wird der Werbepartner 5, 6 ausgewählt, dessen auf einer Netzwerkseite dargestellter Link der Benutzer 1 bzw. der Client 2 zuletzt aktiviert hat, um zu dem Online-Shop 9 zu gelangen. Dabei muss in dem Schritt 102 das Datum und die Uhrzeit der Aktivierung des ermittelt werden und derartig abgespeichert sein bzw. an den Server 10 übermittelt werden, dass diese dem Server 10 bei der Auswahl zu Verfügung stehen.
• Es wird der Werbepartner 5, 6 ausgewählt, dessen auf einer Netzwerkseite dargestellter Link der Benutzer 1 bzw. der Client 2 innerhalb einer vorgegebenen Zeitspanne am häufigsten aktiviert hat, um zu dem Online-Shop 9 zu gelangen.
• Es wird der Werbepartner 5, 6 ausgewählt, dem eine Branche zugeordnet ist, die gleich der Branche ist, der das bestellte Produkt zugeordnet ist. Auch hierbei müssen selbstverständlich die erforderlichen Informationen, also die dem Werbepartner 5, 6 und dem bestellten Produkt zugeordnete Branche, dem Server 10 vorliegen.
• Es wird der Werbepartner 5, 6 ausgewählt, dem eine Branche zugeordnet ist, die der Branche, der das bestellte Produkt zugeordnet ist, am ähnlichsten ist. Hierbei können beispielsweise aus der KI (Künstlichen Intelligenz) bekannte Verfahren zur Erstellung und Auswertung von Ähnlichkeitsmaßen angewendet werden.

The selection is carried out as a function of at least one predefinable selection criterion. Conceivable criteria include:

• The advertising partner 5, 6 is selected, whose link displayed on a network page has the user 1 or the client 2 last activated in order to reach the online shop 9. In this case, in step 102, the date and time of activation of the must be determined and stored in such a way or transmitted to the server 10 that they are the server 10 in the selection available.
• The advertising partner 5, 6 is selected whose link displayed on a network page has the user 1 or the client 2 activated most frequently within a predetermined period of time in order to reach the online shop 9.
• The advertising partner 5, 6 is selected, to which an industry is assigned, which is the industry to which the ordered product is assigned. Of course, the required information, that is, the industry associated with the advertising partner 5, 6 and the ordered product, must also be available to the server 10.
• The advertising partner 5, 6 is selected to which an industry associated with the sector to which the ordered product is associated is most similar. In this case, for example, methods known from AI (Artificial Intelligence) for generating and evaluating similarity measures can be used.

These are just a few examples of possible ones Selection criteria. Of course, there are many further selection criteria conceivable. In particular it is conceivable to combine several of the criteria and for example in a multi-level (hierarchical) Evaluate procedure.

After the advertising partner 5, 6 has been selected, in a step 107 checks whether the selected advertising partner 5, 6 a tracking system 7, 8 is assigned. The to necessary information, such as a list with all advertising partners 5, 6 of the online shop 9 and these Advertising partners 5, 6 associated tracking systems 7, 8, can be stored in the database 11. That's it conceivable that the online store 9 this information the Database 11 feeds. The information can also by the one of the client in the step 105 by means of the server 10 transmitted cookies supplied to the server 10 become. Likewise, it is conceivable that the server 10 a Request to the tracking systems 7, 8 provides and a Request information about which of these tracking systems 7, 8 of the selected advertising partners 5, 6 assigned is. It is also possible that the server 10 of the selected advertising partners 5, 6 information about it requests to which tracking system 7, 8 it is assigned.

Is the selected advertising partner 5, 6 a tracking system 7, 8, then in step 108 of the Server 10 causes the selected tracking system 7, 8 a message regarding the selection of the advertising partner 5, 6 is transmitted. The tracking system 7, 8 can then take further steps, such as the Notification of the advertising partner 5, 6 or the transmission a compensation claim to the online shop 9.

If the advertising partner 5, 6 no tracking system 7, 8 assigned, in a step 109 from the server 10th causes the selected advertising partner 5, 6 a Message regarding the selection made. The selected advertising partners 5, 6 can then further Take steps, such as submitting a Compensation claim to the online shop 9. The procedure ends in a step 110.

Of course, further embodiments of the inventive method and the invention Client-server system possible.

It is conceivable in step 105, a query Provide whether the client 2 at all through the activation a link of an advertising partner 5, 6 to the online shop 9 was led. If this is the case, then at the client 2 a server cookie to be stored. For one Decide if the client 2 by activating a Link of an advertising partner 5, 6 led to the online shop 9 could, therefore, be checked, whether on the client 2 a server cookie exists. This is not the case, so the process could already be ended in this step become. This would ensure that only then Information to the server 10 regarding an order be transmitted if the order at all one of Advertising partners 5, 6 is attributable. Thus, on the one hand Resources (eg data traffic in the communication network, Calculation time of the server and / or computing time of the tracking system 7, 8) are protected and on the other hand the Data security can be increased because only then information regarding a completed order to the server 10 of the online shop 9 are transmitted when the server 10 actually been involved in the process before.

It is also conceivable that the chosen advertising partner 5, 6 also by the server 10 of the selection is informed when the selected advertising partner 5, 6 a tracking system 7, 8 is assigned and this already in step 107 about the selection of the Advertising partners 5, 6 is informed.

In particular, it is conceivable that even the online store 9 is informed of the outcome of the selection procedure.

In a further embodiment, it is possible that the online store 9 has access to parts of the Server 10 has stored information. This could be an access of the online shop 9 to the database 11 be provided. This allows the online store 9, Store information at the server 10. such For example, information is a list of all this Online store 9 associated advertising partners 5, 6, a list all tracking systems 7, 8, a selection criterion or several selection criteria and / or URLs to the advertising partners 5, 6, the tracking systems 7, 8 and in particular to possibly with the advertising partners 5, 6 and the tracking systems 7, 8 stored computer programs, the Server depending on also in the database 11 to be executed according to predetermined events.

By means of such access to parts of the Server 10 stored information can be the online store 9 but also received information, for example Statistics on the frequency of activation of certain To get links.

It is conceivable that the server 10 as a software module is realized. In this case it is special conceivable that the server 10 on a the online store 9 associated computing device or the online shop 9 itself expires.

Claims (26)

A method for ordering a product at an online shop (9) connected to a communication network to which is assigned a number of advertising partners (5, 6) comprising at least one advertising partner (5, 6) connected to the communication network, at least one tracking device System (7, 8) associated with at least one of the advertising partners (5, 6) and connected to the communication network, and wherein a) a network side provided by an advertising partner (5, 6) assigned to the online shop (9) is requested via the communication network by means of a client (2) assigned to a user (1); b) the requested network page is transmitted to the client (2) and displayed to the user (1); c) the user (1) activates a link displayed on the displayed network page and associated with the online shop (9),
characterized in that d) automatically at least one piece of information relating to the activation of the link from the client (2) is sent to a server (10) connected to the communication network; e) a network page assigned to the online shop (9) is automatically requested by the client (2); f) the user (1) orders the product from the online shop (9) or steps a) to e) are repeated until the user (1) orders the product at the online shop (9); g) at least one information relating to the order is automatically transmitted from the online shop (9) to the server (10); h) depending on at least one predetermined criterion and using the information relating to the activation of the link automatically an advertising partner (5, 6) from the amount of advertising partners, of which the user (1) requested a network page and one on the online store ( 9) has activated referring link; i) if the selected advertising partner (5, 6) is assigned to a tracking system (7, 8), the tracking system (7, 8) is automatically determined and automatically at least part of the information relating to the order is sent to the selected advertising partner (5, 6) associated tracking system (7, 8) is transmitted; j) at least if the selected advertising partner (5, 6) is not assigned to a tracking system (7, 8), at least part of the information concerning the order is automatically transmitted to the selected advertising partner (5, 6); A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the selected advertising partner (5, 6) receives a fee depending on the order. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the client (2) in the step b) by the advertising partner, after the step d) by the server (10) and / or in the step e) by the online shop ( 9) is caused to automatically store information in a memory area allocated to the client (2). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the client (2) automatically stores the information stored in the memory area assigned to the client (2) to the advertising partner, the server, the tracking system (7, 8) and / or online Shop (9). Method according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the online shop (9) when ordering a product, the client (2) automatically causes to transmit information to the server (10). Method according to Claim 5, characterized in that the online shop (9) automatically transmits an order confirmation page to the client (2) and causes the client (2) to send the information stored in the memory area assigned to the client (2) to the server ( 10). Method according to one of Claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the information stored in the memory area allocated to the client (2) is stored in the form of a cookie at the client (2). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the information transmitted in step d) by the client (2) with respect to the activation of the link to the server (10) includes a date, a time, an identification of the client, an identification of the client User, an identification of the advertising partner (5, 6) and / or an identification of the advertising partners (5, 6) associated tracking system (7, 8) contains. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the server (10) provides the online shop (9) with one or more of the information stored in the memory area associated with the server (10). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in step i) the advertising partner (5, 6) is selected to whom the network page is assigned, the link associated with the online shop (9) last before being ordered by the user ( 1) has been activated. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one of the online shop (9) to the server (10) transmitted information regarding the ordered product as a criterion in step i) is evaluated. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one information transmitted by the online shop (9) to the server (10) regarding the ordered product includes an indication of a product name, the selling price, an assigned product group, a profit achieved or a priority. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a search engine is assigned to the advertising partner (5, 6), characterized in that the network page requested by the user (1) from the advertising partner (5, 6) depends on a message sent by the user (1 ) is created by the search engine and evaluated by the user (1) in the search engine search term in the selection of the advertising partner (5, 6) is evaluated. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the advertising partner (5, 6) and / or the tracking system (7, 8) are classified and in the selection of the advertising partner (5, 6) in the step h) the classification of the advertising partner (5, 6) and / or the tracking system (7, 8) is evaluated. A method according to claim 14, characterized in that the advertising partners (5, 6) and / or the tracking system (7, 8) are classified with respect to at least one branch or subject area. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the server (10), together with the information transmitted by the client (2), stores at least one further piece of information in the memory area allocated to the server (10). A method according to claim 16, characterized in that the at least one further information is a time, a date, a frequency, an identification of the client, an identification of the user, an identification of the online shop (9), an identification of the advertising partner (5, 6), an identification of the advertising partners (5, 6) associated tracking system (7, 8) and / or a classification of the advertising partner (5, 6) contains Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when ordering in the online shop (9) is automatically checked whether within a predetermined period of time and / or in dependence of predeterminable events information by the client (2) from the server ( 10) was requested. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the online shop (9) automatically transmits information to the server (10) if an order is canceled or one of the user (1) at the online store (9) purchased product, and the server (10) automatically causes any information describing the cancellation or return of the purchased product to be sent to the selected advertising partner (5, 6) and / or to the tracking associated with the advertising partner (5, 6). System (7, 8) is forwarded. A method according to claim 19, characterized in that the remuneration of the selected advertising partner (5, 6) is withdrawn. A client-server system comprising a client associated with a user (1), an online shop (9) to which at least one product is assigned, a set comprising at least one advertising partner (5, 6) from the online shop (9) Advertising partners, at least one tracking system (7, 8) associated with at least one of the advertising partners (5, 6) and a communication network by means of which communication between the client, the advertising partner, the tracking system (7, 8) and the online Shop (9) is possible, where each of the advertising partners (5, 6) associated with the online shop (9) is assigned a network page which has a link to the online shop (9) which can be requested by the client (2) via the communication network; each advertising partner (5, 6) has means to automatically transmit the requested network page to the client (2) and the client (2) has means to display the received network page to the user (1); the client (2) has means for activating the link displayed on the received network page, characterized in that the client-server system comprises a server (10) connected to the communication network; the client-server system has means for automatically transmitting to the server (10) at least one information regarding the activation of the link from the client (2) via the communication network; the server (10) is assigned a memory area and the server (10) has means for automatically storing the transmitted at least one information regarding the activation of the link; the server (10) has means for automatically causing the client (2) to request a network page associated with the online shop (9); the online shop (9) has means for automatically ordering at least one item relating to the order from the online shop (9) to the server, depending on a product ordered by the user (1) via the client (2). 10); the server (10) has means for automatically selecting an advertising partner (5, 6) from the set of advertising partners (5, 6) as a function of at least one predefinable criterion and using the stored at least one information regarding the activation of the link; the server (10) has means for determining whether a tracking system (7, 8) is associated with the selected advertising partner (5, 6), and if the selected advertising partner (5, 6) has a tracking system (7, 8 ) is assigned to automatically determine the tracking system (7, 8) and to automatically transmit at least a portion of the information relating to the order to the tracking system (7, 8); the server (10) has means for automatically transmitting to the selected advertising partner (5, 6) at least part of the information concerning the order; Client-server system according to claim 21, characterized in that the client-server system comprises means for performing a method according to one of claims 1 to 20. Server (10) in a communication network, with which at least one client assigned to a user (1), an online shop (9), a number of advertising partners (at least one advertising partner (5, 6)) associated with the online shop (9) ( 5, 6) and at least one associated with at least one of the advertising partners (5, 6) associated tracking system, characterized in that the server (10) comprises means for performing a method according to one of claims 1 to 20. Computer program executable on a client-server system, in particular on a client (2) and / or a server, characterized in that the computer program is programmed in such a way that a method according to one of claims 1 to 20 is carried out, when the computer program is running on the client-server system. Computer program according to claim 24, characterized in that the computer program is stored on a memory element. Computer program according to claim 25, characterized in that the memory element is designed as a floppy disk, compact disk (CD), digital Verstile disk (DVD), and / or at least one at least one component of the client-server system associated memory area.

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