Real estate content tracking on the internet

Abstract

Server systems and methods to track digital content pertaining to real estate listings use markers embedded within digital media files. The digital media files are accessible for presentation to client computing platforms through real estate search servers. Responsive to a digital media file being presented, for example through a browser software application, on a client computing platform, information related to browsing activity on the client computing platform is transmitted to a server that associates individual ones of the digital media files with individual ones of the real estate search servers through which a digital media file is presented.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A server system configured to track which server has provided particular digital media files for presentation to users, wherein the digital media files are related to real estate, the server system comprising:
 electronic storage configured to store information electronically; and   a server that includes one or more processors, wherein the server is identified by a server domain identifier, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
 store, in the electronic storage, a first correlation between a first marker and a first digital media file,
 wherein the first marker is embedded in the first digital media file, 
 wherein the first digital media file is accessible to a first client computing platform for presentation through one or more servers; 
 receive a first transmission from the first client computing platform, responsive to the first client computing platform engaging the first marker during presentation of the first digital media file on the first client computing platform, 
 wherein the first transmission indicates that the first digital media file has been presented on the first client computing platform, 
 wherein the first transmission includes:
 the first marker that is correlated with the first digital media file, and 
 information including a domain identifier that identifies an individual one of the one or more servers, wherein the domain identifier is different than the server domain identifier; 
 
 
 retrieve, responsive to receipt of the first transmission, the first correlation from the electronic storage; and 
 associate an individual occurrence of the first digital media file having been presented on the first client computing platform with the domain identifier included in the first transmission. 
   
     
     
         2 . The server system of  claim 1 , wherein the digital media files include markup language files. 
     
     
         3 . The server system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more servers include an online real estate listing service, wherein the online real estate listing service provides access to one or more of the digital media files, and wherein one or more of the digital media files include image data pertaining to real estate listings. 
     
     
         4 . The server system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to embed the first marker within the first digital media file. 
     
     
         5 . The server system of  claim 1 , wherein the first transmission includes a request for information from the first client computing platform. 
     
     
         6 . The server system of  claim 1 , wherein the first transmission includes a request for image information. 
     
     
         7 . The server system of  claim 1 , wherein the first client computing platform engaging the first marker during presentation includes the first client computing platform performing at least one of a rendering of an image, a resolution of an embedded link, and an execution of an embedded script. 
     
     
         8 . The server system of  claim 1 , wherein the first transmission includes information related to browsing activity by a first browser software application running on the first client computing platform. 
     
     
         9 . The server system of  claim 1 , wherein the first transmission includes one or more of an IP address of the first client computing platform, a MAC address of the first client computing platform, or a cookie from the first client computing platform. 
     
     
         10 . The server system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to transmit one or more cookies to the first client computing platform. 
     
     
         11 . A method for tracking which server has provided particular digital media files for presentation to users, wherein the digital media files are related to real estate, wherein the method is implemented in a computer system including electronic storage, a server, and one or more processors, the method comprising:
 storing, by the one or more processors, a first correlation between a first marker and a first digital media file,
 wherein the first marker is embedded in the first digital media file, 
 wherein the first digital media file is accessible to a first client computing platform for presentation through one or more servers; 
   receiving, by the server, a first transmission from the first client computing platform, responsive to the first client computing platform engaging the first marker during presentation of the first digital media files on the first client computing platform,
 wherein the server is identified by a server domain identifier, 
 wherein the first transmission indicates that the first digital media file has been accessed by the first client computing platform through the one or more servers, 
 wherein the first transmission further indicates that the first digital media files has been presented on the first client computing platform, 
 wherein the first transmission includes:
 the first marker that is correlated with the first digital media file, and 
 information including a domain identifier that identifies an individual one of the one or more servers, wherein the domain identifier is different than the server domain identifier; 
 
   retrieving, responsive to receipt of the first transmission, the first correlation from the electronic storage; and   associating an individual occurrence of the first digital media file having been presented on the first client computing platform with the domain identifier included in the first transmission.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the digital media files include markup language files. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more servers include an online real estate listing service, wherein the online real estate listing service provides access to one or more of the digital media files, and wherein one or more of the digital media files include image data pertaining to real estate listings. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: embedding the first marker within the first digital media file. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first transmission includes a request for information. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first transmission includes a request for image information. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first client computing platform engaging the first marker during presentation includes the first client computing platform performing at least one of:
 rendering of an image, resolving an embedded link, and executing an embedded script.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first transmission includes information related to browsing activity by a first browser software application running on the first client computing platform. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first transmission includes one or more of an IP address of the first client computing platform, a MAC address of the first client computing platform, or a cookie from the first client computing platform. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising transmitting one or more cookies to the first client computing platform.