Method of Using a Subdomain Portion of a Domain Name to Pass a Unique Tracking Code

Abstract

A method of verifying the identity of an affiliate enrolled in an affiliate program of a merchant and then transmitting information between the affiliate and the merchant is provided. The method relies on embedding a unique identification code in a sub-domain portion of a domain name. Once an identification process has been completed, a server-to-server exchange of information is able to freely continue throughout a shopping session and even beyond checkout to easily handle post transaction changes, returns, cancellations, modifications, shipment notifications, status notifications, and the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of passing a unique session identifier from an affiliate to a merchant, the unique session identifier being generated by the merchant to uniquely identify the affiliate in subsequent e-commerce transactions between consumers and the merchant initiated from the affiliate, the method comprising the steps of:
 publishing a link to a first website of the affiliate, the link not containing the unique session identifier, but wherein the link contains an identification of at least one of a name or an offer of the merchant;   redirecting a consumer who activates the published link to a second website of the merchant; and   wherein the step of redirecting includes the step of adding the unique session identifier to a sub-domain portion of a domain name for the second website of the merchant after activation of the published link by the consumer so as to allow the merchant to uniquely identify the affiliate throughout an e-commerce transaction involving the consumer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of redirecting further comprises the step of passing the unique session identifier and the consumer to the second website simultaneously. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of redirecting further comprises the step of passing the unique session identifier and the consumer to the second website in succession. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising the step of being at least one of identified and verified as an authorized affiliate based on the unique session identifier. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising the step of receiving a request for instructions from a merchant regarding handling of referrals, the request for instructions based on the unique session identifier added to the sub-domain portion of the domain. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , the method further comprising the step of providing the instructions to a merchant based on the unique session identifier. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising the step of pre-associating the unique session identifier with a particular action. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the particular action is opening a shopping cart with a selected item inside, the selected item corresponding to the activation of the published link. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , the method further comprising the step of receiving compensation from the merchant for referring the customer to the merchant. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , the method further comprising the step of at least one of exchanging and transmitting information. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising the step of being tracked as a referral source through the unique session identifier. 
     
     
         12 . A method of using a unique tracking identification code in an electronic commerce transaction, comprising the steps of:
 publishing a link to a website of the affiliate, the link not containing the unique tracking identification code;   adding the unique tracking identification code to a sub-domain portion of a domain name of a merchant upon activation of the link to the website of the affiliate by a customer;   passing the unique tracking identification code to a merchant website;   getting identified by the merchant website as a referring affiliate using the unique tracking identification code;   referring the customer to the merchant website;   transmitting instructions to the merchant regarding how to handle the customer referred to the merchant; and   receiving compensation from the merchant after referral.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , the method further comprising the step of initiating a request to the merchant for the unique tracking identification code. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , the method further comprising the step of receiving the unique tracking identification code from the merchant. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , the method further comprising the step of providing information relating to the customer to the merchant including at least one of a name and address of the customer, a shopping history of the customer, a search string or terms entered into a browser by the customer to find goods or services on the affiliate's website, a search engine used, a browser used, placement and location of an advertisement clicked on by the customer, competitor's websites visited, any comparison shopping performed by the customer, a method of payment used or preferred by the customer such as by credit card, using an account established through a third party intermediary, any coupons or codes used by the customer, contents of a shopping cart. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , the method further comprising the step of participating in a server-to-server exchange of information at least one of during a shopping session or beyond checkout to accommodate a miscellaneous matter selected from the group consisting of a post transaction change, a return, a cancellation, a modification, a shipment notification, and a status notification. 
     
     
         17 . A method of using a unique session identifier in an electronic commerce process, comprising the steps of:
 generating a unique tracking identification code for a particular affiliate;   transmitting the unique tracking identification code to the particular affiliate;   receiving a customer and the unique identification tracking code from the particular affiliate, the unique identification tracking code embedded in a sub-domain portion of a domain name;   identifying the particular affiliate through the unique identification tracking code in the sub-domain portion of the domain name; and   receiving information relating to the customer including at least one of a name and address of the customer, a shopping history of the customer, a search string or terms entered into a browser by the customer to find goods or services on the affiliate's website, a search engine used, a browser used, placement and location of an advertisement clicked on by the customer, competitor's websites visited, any comparison shopping performed by the customer, a method of payment used or preferred by the customer such as by credit card, using an account established through a third party intermediary, any coupons or codes used by the customer, contents of a shopping cart   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , the method further comprising the step of requesting instructions from the particular affiliate regarding how to handle the customer received along with the unique identification tracking code. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , the method further comprising the step of compensating the particular affiliate for the receipt of the customer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , the method further comprising the step of tracking the particular affiliate and the customer received from the particular affiliate during the electronic commerce process using the unique identification tracking code found in the sub-domain portion of the domain name.