Computer-implemented methods for executing transactions

Abstract

Computer systems configured to select links in a set of links having associated descriptive information matching information received by the computer system, to arrange the selected links into an ordered list of links responsive to further information, and to transmit at least a portion of the ordered list of links to a remote computer, wherein the list of links are configured to give a user of the remote computer the ability to select any one of the links and, by using the selected link, to access a digital information block associated with the selected link.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A computer system configured by software to execute a method, the computer system comprising:
 memory;   wherein the memory of the computer system contains in a database:
 a plurality of links to respective digital information blocks, wherein each of the links refers to a single one of the digital information blocks; 
 in association with each link, a bid amount; and 
 in association with each link, descriptive information; and 
   wherein the method comprises:
 receiving, from a remote computer, which is external to the computer system, an electronic communication comprising information; and 
 transmitting at least a portion of an ordered list of links to the remote computer; 
 wherein the links of the ordered list of links are selected links of the plurality of links for which at least some of the associated descriptive information matches at least some of the electronic communication information; 
 wherein the ordered list of links has been arranged into an order being determined responsive to at least the software and the bid amount associated with each of the links of the plurality of links; and 
 wherein the computer system configures the list of links to give a user of the remote computer the ability to select any one of the links and, by using the selected link, to electronically download the digital information block associated with the selected link, for viewing data contained therein. 
   
     
     
         9 . A computer system configured by software to execute a method, for arranging and transmitting a list of links, the method comprising the steps of:
 storing a set of links, each link referring to a respective digital information block;   associating a bid amount with each link;   associating descriptive information with each link;   receiving an electronic communication comprising information from a remote computer, which is external to the computer;   selecting links in the set of links whose associated descriptive information includes at least some of the electronic communication information;   arranging the selected links into an ordered list of links, said order being determined responsive to the software and to at least the bid amount associated with each of the selected links; and   transmitting at least a portion of an ordered list of links to the remote computer;
 wherein the computer system configures the list of links to give a user of the remote computer the ability to select any one of the links and, by using the selected link, to electronically download the digital information block associated with the selected link, for viewing data contained therein. 
   
     
     
         10 . A computer system configured by software to execute a method, the computer system comprising:
 memory;   wherein the memory of the computer system stores:
 a plurality of links to respective digital information blocks, wherein each of the links refers to a single one of the digital information blocks; 
 in association with each link, a bid amount; and 
 in association with each link, descriptive information; and 
   wherein the method comprises:
 comparing the descriptive information associated with each of the plurality of links to a set of information; 
 selecting a subset of links of the plurality of links for which at least some of the associated descriptive information matches at least some of the set of information; 
 arranging the subset of links into an order being determined responsive to at least the software and the bid amount associated with each of the links of the subset of links, thereby generating an ordered list of links; and 
 transmitting at least a portion of the ordered list of links to a remote computer which is external to the computer system; 
 wherein the computer system configures the list of links to give a user of the remote computer the ability to select any one of the links and, by using the selected link, to electronically download the digital information block associated with the selected link, for viewing data contained therein.