System, method and computer program for varying affiliate position displayed by intermediary

Abstract

Endogenous and exogenous variables associated with an item for sale by an affiliate may be displayed to a user of an affiliate decision-making tool. In response to the user selecting one of the endogenous variables, the affiliate decision-making tool may compute a number of introductions, a number of leads, and a number of sales for each of a plurality of possible values of the endogenous variable. The computation may be done utilizing a display position algorithm. A visualization of effects of setting the endogenous variable at different levels may be presented. The user may interact with the display position algorithm to vary one or more of the plurality of possible values of the endogenous variable such that the affiliate is eligible or disqualified to be displayed by an intermediary in response to a search for the item by a visitor of a network site owned and operated by the intermediary.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions translatable by the at least one processor to implement an affiliate decision-making tool on one or more server machines owned and operated by an intermediary, the affiliate decision-making tool configured to perform:   causing a view comprising endogenous variables and exogenous variables to be displayed on a client machine communicatively connected to the one or more server machines, wherein the endogenous variables and exogenous variables are associated with an item for sale by an affiliate owning and operating the client machine;   in response to a user at the client machine selecting a first endogenous variable of the endogenous variables, computing a number of introductions, a number of leads, and a number of sales for each of a plurality of possible values of the first endogenous variable; and   causing a visualization on the client machine to show effects of setting the first endogenous variable at different levels of the number of introductions, the number of leads, and the number of sales.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to implement a display position algorithm, the display position algorithm configured to compute an expected revenue for the intermediary and a display position for the affiliate. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the display position algorithm is further configured to compute an expected revenue for the affiliate. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the affiliate decision-making tool is further configured to allow the user at the client machine to interact with the display position algorithm to vary one or more of the plurality of possible values of the first endogenous variable such that the affiliate is eligible or disqualified to be displayed by the intermediary in response to a search for the item by a visitor of a network site owned and operated by the intermediary. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the display position algorithm is further configured to compute, for the affiliate, an adjustment to the first endogenous variable such that the display position for the affiliate is not more than a maximum number of display positions set by the intermediary, thereby ensuring that the affiliate is displayed by the intermediary in response to a search for the item by a visitor of a network site owned and operated by the intermediary. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the display position algorithm is further configured to compute, for the affiliate, an adjustment to the first endogenous variable such that the display position for the affiliate is at a specific position set by the affiliate, the specific position being within a maximum number of display positions set by the intermediary for responding to a search for the item by a visitor of a network site owned and operated by the intermediary. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the item represents a specific vehicle configuration, the specific vehicle configuration including trim information. 
     
     
         8 . A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions translatable by at least one processor to implement an affiliate decision-making tool on one or more server machines owned and operated by an intermediary, the affiliate decision-making tool configured to perform:
 causing a view comprising endogenous variables and exogenous variables to be displayed on a client machine communicatively connected to the one or more server machines, wherein the endogenous variables and exogenous variables are associated with an item for sale by an affiliate owning and operating the client machine;   in response to a user at the client machine selecting a first endogenous variable of the endogenous variables, computing a number of introductions, a number of leads, and a number of sales for each of a plurality of possible values of the first endogenous variable; and   causing a visualization on the client machine to show effects of setting the first endogenous variable at different levels of the number of introductions, the number of leads, and the number of sales.   
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to implement a display position algorithm, the display position algorithm configured to compute an expected revenue for the intermediary and a display position for the affiliate. 
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the display position algorithm is further configured to compute an expected revenue for the affiliate. 
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the affiliate decision-making tool is further configured to allow the user at the client machine to interact with the display position algorithm to vary one or more of the plurality of possible values of the first endogenous variable such that the affiliate is eligible or disqualified to be displayed by the intermediary in response to a search for the item by a visitor of a network site owned and operated by the intermediary. 
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the display position algorithm is further configured to compute, for the affiliate, an adjustment to the first endogenous variable such that the display position for the affiliate is not more than a maximum number of display positions set by the intermediary, thereby ensuring that the affiliate is displayed by the intermediary in response to a search for the item by a visitor of a network site owned and operated by the intermediary. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the display position algorithm is further configured to compute, for the affiliate, an adjustment to the first endogenous variable such that the display position for the affiliate is at a specific position set by the affiliate, the specific position being within a maximum number of display positions set by the intermediary for responding to a search for the item by a visitor of a network site owned and operated by the intermediary. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the item represents a specific vehicle configuration, the specific vehicle configuration including trim information. 
     
     
         15 . A method for an affiliate of an intermediary to vary position displayed by the intermediary, the method comprising:
 causing, by an affiliate decision-making tool executing on one or more server machines owned and operated by the intermediary, a view comprising endogenous variables and exogenous variables to be displayed on a client machine communicatively connected to the one or more server machines, wherein the endogenous variables and exogenous variables are associated with an item for sale by the affiliate owning and operating the client machine;   in response to a user at the client machine selecting a first endogenous variable of the endogenous variables, computing, by the affiliate decision-making tool executing on the one or more server machines, a number of introductions, a number of leads, and a number of sales for each of a plurality of possible values of the first endogenous variable; and   causing, by the affiliate decision-making tool executing on the one or more server machines, a visualization on the client machine to show effects of setting the first endogenous variable at different levels of the number of introductions, the number of leads, and the number of sales.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 computing an expected revenue for the intermediary and a display position for the affiliate.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 computing an expected revenue for the affiliate.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 allowing the user at the client machine to vary one or more of the plurality of possible values of the first endogenous variable such that the affiliate is eligible or disqualified to be displayed by the intermediary in response to a search for the item by a visitor of a network site owned and operated by the intermediary.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 computing, for the affiliate, an adjustment to the first endogenous variable such that a display position for the affiliate is not more than a maximum number of display positions set by the intermediary, thereby ensuring that the affiliate is displayed by the intermediary in response to a search for the item by a visitor of a network site owned and operated by the intermediary.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 computing, for the affiliate, an adjustment to the first endogenous variable such that a display position for the affiliate is at a specific position set by the affiliate, the specific position being within a maximum number of display positions set by the intermediary for responding to a search for the item by a visitor of a network site owned and operated by the intermediary.