Online Network and Associated Methods

Abstract

Computer program products, computer systems and related methods are provided which compare a URL, title and/or content of an online site viewed by a user with a first index of keywords relating to a plurality of subject matter categories, to determine any subject matter categories to which the online site relates; cross-reference any determined subject matter categories with a second index of alternative online sites categorised by subject matter, in order to determine any alternative online sites in the same or similar category; and perform a variety of actions in response including displaying a determined alternative online site to the user.

1 . A method of conducting a commercial transaction in an online environment including the steps of:
 as part of a purchase over the internet with a merchant, extracting a user's personal, credit and delivery details from a storage on a user's device that is connected to the Internet; and   sending said user's personal, credit and delivery details to the merchant automatically when the user initiates a purchase request.   
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein said sending is done in a way such that said personal, credit and delivery details are not stored in the merchant's database. 
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein said user's personal, credit and delivery details are stored in said storage in an encrypted form. 
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein said user's personal, credit, and delivery details are automatically sent to the merchant from said storage when the user selects a product and makes a specified actuation from said user's device. 
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 4 , wherein said specified actuation requires a password in order to send said personal, credit, and delivery details. 
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein said sending comprises first sending said personal, credit, and delivery details to a first merchant at a first time, and second sending said personal, credit, and delivery details to a second merchant at a second time, without the user reentering said personal, credit and delivery details. 
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising an initial step of the user entering said personal, credit and delivery details in their user device. 
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein said extracting and sending is carried out by software that is running on the user's user device, where said software automatically interacts with the merchant's website. 
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 8 , wherein the user enters said personal, credit, and delivery details as part of installing said software. 
     
     
         10 . A computer system comprising:
 a local computer, having a processor, running a program that connects with the internet, and controls a purchase over the internet with a merchant,   a memory storing a user's personal, credit and delivery details on said local computer that is connected to the Internet; and   said processor sending said user's personal, credit and delivery details to the merchant automatically when the user initiates a purchase request of a specified form.   
     
     
         11 . The system as in  claim 10 , wherein said sending is done in a way such that said personal, credit and delivery details are not stored in the merchant's database. 
     
     
         12 . The system as in  claim 10 , wherein said user's personal, credit and delivery details are stored in said memory in an encrypted form. 
     
     
         13 . The system as in  claim 10 , wherein said user's personal, credit, and delivery details are automatically sent to the merchant from said memory, when the user selects a product and makes the purchase request of the specified form. 
     
     
         14 . The system as in  claim 10 , wherein said purchase request of the specified form requires a password in order to send said personal, credit, and delivery details. 
     
     
         15 . The system as in  claim 10 , wherein said processor first sends said personal, credit, and delivery details to a first merchant at a first time, and second sends said personal, credit, and delivery details to a second merchant at a second time, without the user reentering said personal, credit and delivery details. 
     
     
         16 . The system as in  claim 10 , wherein the user enters said personal, credit, and delivery details as part of installing said software. 
     
     
         17 . A computer system comprising:
 a local computer, having a processor, running a program that connects with the internet, and controls a purchase over the internet with a merchant,   a memory storing a user's personal, credit and delivery details on said local computer that is connected to the Internet; and   said processor sending said user's personal, credit and delivery details to the merchant automatically when the user selects a product, and initiates a purchase request of a specified form that includes entering a password that allows said personal, credit and delivery details to be sent to the merchant, and wherein said sending is done in a way such that said personal, credit and delivery details are not stored in the merchant's database.   
     
     
         18 . The system as in  claim 17 , wherein said processor first sends said personal, credit, and delivery details to a first merchant at a first time, and second sends said personal, credit, and delivery details to a second merchant at a second time, without the user reentering said personal, credit and delivery details.