DE102004017389B3 - A method of ordering a product at an online store connected to a communications network - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to achieve a clear assignment of the order to an online shop associated with the advertising partner when ordering a product at an online store and thereby possible to achieve a reduction of the network traffic of the communication network and a reduction in the workload of possibly involved tracking systems is proposed in that DOLLAR A automatically sends at least information relating to the activation of a link on a network page of the advertising partner (5, 6) to the online shop (9) from the client (2) to a server (10) connected to the communication network becomes; DOLLAR A - automatically at least one information relating to the order from the online shop (9) to a server (10) is transmitted; DOLLAR A - depending on at least one predetermined criterion and using the information relating to the activation of the link automatically an advertising partner (5, 6) from the amount of advertising partners (5, 6), in which the user (1) on the online Shop (9) has activated referring link; DOLLAR A - if the selected advertising partners (5, 6) is associated with a tracking system (7, 8), automatically the tracking system (7, 8) is determined and automatically at least a part of the order information to the selected Advertising partners (5, 6) associated tracking system (7, 8) is transmitted.

Description

• a) eine von einem dem Online-Shop zugeordneten Werbepartner bereitgestellte Netzwerkseite mittels eines einem Benutzer zugeordneten Client über das Kommunikationsnetzwerk angefordert wird;
• b) die angeforderte Netzwerkseite an den Client übermittelt wird und dem Benutzer angezeigt wird;
• c) der Benutzer einen auf der angezeigten Netzwerkseite dargestellten und dem Online-Shop zugeordneten Link aktiviert.

The invention relates to a method for ordering a product at a connected to a communication network online store, which is associated with at least one advertising partners, connected to the communication network amount of advertising partners, wherein at least one tracking system associated with at least one of the advertising partners and with the Communication network is connected, and where

• a) a network page provided by an affiliate associated with the online store is requested via the communications network via a client associated with a user;
• b) the requested network page is transmitted to the client and displayed to the user;
• c) the user activates a link displayed on the displayed network page and assigned to the online shop.

• – jedem der dem Online-Shop zugeordneten Werbepartner eine Netzwerkseite zugeordnet ist, die einen durch den Client über das Kommunikationsnetzwerk anforderbaren Link zu dem Online-Shop aufweist;
• – jeder Werbepartner Mittel aufweist, um die angeforderte Netzwerkseite automatisch an den Client zu übermitteln und der Client Mittel aufweist, um die empfangene Netzwerkseite dem Benutzer anzuzeigen;
• – der Client Mittel aufweist, um den auf der empfangenen Netzwerkseite dargestellten Link zu aktivieren.

The invention also relates to a client-server system comprising a client associated with a user, an online shop to which at least one product is assigned, a number of advertising partners associated with at least one advertising partner, at least one associated with at least one of the advertising partners Tracking system and a communication network, by means of which a communication between the client, the advertising partner, the tracking system and the online shop is possible, wherein

• - Each of the online shop associated advertising partner is assigned a network page that has a requestable by the client via the communication network link to the online store;
• Each advertising partner has means to automatically transmit the requested network page to the client and the client has means to display the received network page to the user;
• - The client has means to activate the link displayed on the received network page.

The Invention further relates to a server in a communication network, with the at least one client assigned to a user, an online shop, a quantity of at least one advertising partner from the online shop associated advertising partners and at least one with at least one associated with the affiliate tracking system.

The The invention also relates to a computer program operating on a client-server system, especially on a client and / or a server, is executable.

One Online store is owned by a supplier of products (goods or services) operated. The online shop typically includes a server in a communication network, such as the Internet. The online store are network pages assigned by a likewise with the Communication network connected client can be requested. These Network pages are also referred to as web pages and contain Information regarding the offered products, for example selling price and technical Details. A user of the online shop, so a potential customer, can thereby buy a product offered by the online shop, that he uses the client to create a network page describing the product from the online store, selects the product and an order process in terms of of the selected Product to buy the product.

Under In particular, an online shop should also be a provider of information be understood. In this case, the information is the products of the online store. The order of a product can therefore also the Request for information. Such information is for example, news, stock market reports, Pictures and music files.

Also The access to information in itself can be considered a product of an online store be considered. For example, an access can be made from the online store to a protected Range are offered. For example, a user orders this product by registering with the online store. The protected area may include information that only registered users to disposal stand. The order of a product goes thus in the here used Meaning content about That's what usually happens for example, by purchasing a product. Especially ordering a product is not necessarily the case Payment of a purchase price bound.

The from the online store to the client-accessible network pages are usually in stored in the online store associated memory area or become dynamically dependent the request generated by the user.

During an ordering process, user-specific data is transmitted from the client to the server, which describes, for example, an address and a bank account of the user. By means of this data, the online shop arranges for the provider of the products to send the selected ones Products to the user and, for example, a debit of the corresponding purchase price from a user's bank account.

to Description of the contents of a network page will be a so-called Used page description language. Nowadays it becomes predominant the standardized page description language HTML (Hypertext Mark up Language). HTML allows the content and appearance a network page in the form of a so-called HTML document describe. Represents, for example, the user using the client a request to the online store, so transmitted the online store one the requested information, so for example descriptions, Retail price and a view of a product containing HTML document to the client. Should be sent to the client using the HTML document Information to be presented to a user becomes the network page or the HTML document fed to a so-called browser. When Browser is a computer program that is able to To interpret HTML documents and by means of a suitable graphical surface on a visual display, for example, a computer display.

Around potential customers to the online store or from the online store to draw attention to the products offered, the so-called online-shop Associated advertising partners. An advertising partner is the operator of one Servers that provide network sites that have a so-called Link to the online store. The following is this server himself referred to as an advertising partner. Such a link can through to activate a user. This causes the one associated with the user Client is automatically prompted, from the online store a network page to request. For example, the requested network page can the main page, the so-called home-page, the online store or one provided by the online store or generated dynamically Network page, for example, a description of a product having.

One such link will be common by means of a so-called advertising banner on the network side of the Advertising partners. If the user activates this banner, thus, the client assigned to the user becomes a network page of the online shop requested.

Of the Advertising partners, for example, as a so-called search engine be educated. A search engine is one with the communication network connected server to which the user by means of the client Send request in the form of a search term. The search engine determines based on predefinable rules in dependence from the submitted search term Information associated with the search term. The search engine causes that the information thus determined (the search result) by means of a network page to the client. This will be often dependent on An HTML document is automatically automated from the information obtained generated by the server, which is finally transmitted to the client and displayed to the user by means of the browser. Become frequent on the by the search engines depending on a requirement network pages generated by information also displayed banner ads, in turn, the banner ads are more specific to servers Service providers over the internet is available can be made.

buys the user at the online store a product, the advertising partner receives usually a remuneration, because the user is aware of the online shop through the advertising partner have been done. The height the remuneration can be, for example, a percentage of the profit or the purchase price of the Depend on the product. The remuneration but can also correspond to a fixed amount of money.

It is possible, too, that the user requested a network page from the online store has and to a later When a product buys without one on a network page of the advertising partner shown on the online shop to have been made.

In In this case, the advertising partner is not entitled to any compensation for the order placed. To determine if the user through the affiliate to the online store guided It is conceivable that the advertising partner is the client of the user when activating the link, by means of which the client creates a network page of the online shop, transmits data and causes the client to to store this data on a memory area allocated to the client. This data can For example, include an identification of the advertising partner. On request, the client can send the stored data to the Submit requesting. If the requester of the online shop, so he can see if the Advertising partners a remuneration to be entitled by examining whether the information contains an identification of the advertising partner, or if at all a stored information is present at the client.

However, this method means that a server (here: the online shop) from a client (here: the client assigned to the user) can request data that has been transmitted from another server (here: the advertising partners) to the client. Such a procedure is not desirable for security reasons (for example for reasons of data protection), since in this method it is difficult to prevent a server from also requesting other data from the client.

Around It is common practice to work around this problem a so-called cookie used. Requests the user by means of the client of the advertising partner to a network page, so prompted the affiliate that in addition to the network side additional Information transmitted to the client and this information is assigned in a client Memory area are stored. The information stored in this way are called cookies. This is also called "setting a cookie ". A cookie can also be set if the client has one on one Network page displayed link. Requests the client again a network page from the affiliate, so the cookie may be together with the request from the client to the advertising partner become. A cookie is usually realized so that it will be sent back only to the advertising partner can, which caused the client to set the cookie.

• – Der Benutzer hat bei dem Online-Shop kein Produkt gekauft und somit fordert der Online-Shop den dem Benutzer zugeordneten Client nicht zur Übersendung des Cookie an den Werbepartner auf.
• – Der Benutzer wurde nicht über den Werbepartner zu dem Online-Shop geführt und weist deshalb kein von dem Werbepartner gesetztes Cookie auf.

In order to determine by means of a cookie when a product is ordered, whether the user was led to it via an advertising partner of the online shop, the online shop causes the client to set the advertising partner assigned to the online shop the cookie set by this advertising partner to send. If the advertising partner then receives the cookie from the client, the advertising partner sends a message (so-called compensation claim) to the online shop, which then initiates a payment. If the advertising partner does not receive a cookie from the client, then he does not send a message to the online shop to receive any compensation. In particular, a cookie will not be sent to the affiliate if at least one of the two conditions is met:

• - The user has not purchased a product from the online store and thus the online store does not request the client assigned to the user to send the cookie to the advertising partner.
• - The user has not been directed to the online store through the affiliate and therefore does not have a cookie set by the affiliate.

One Cookie usually shows a predefinable "lifetime" (so-called term) which describes a period of time during which the cookie exists should. At the end of the term, the cookie will be automatically deleted from the Client deleted. Such a term of a cookie is for example 30 days.

a Cookie can also be assigned a so-called confidentiality level be. A confidentiality level of a cookie, for example dependent on the type of data stored in the cookie. The more confidential this data is, the bigger it can be the level of confidentiality. A browser can turn the possibility provide only cookies of certain levels of confidentiality or only cookies of certain confidentiality levels to one to send to the client set cookie requesting server.

It is possible, that a user of the advertising partner has a link to the online store Network page requests, the advertising partner at the client a cookie sets, but the user first no product buys. Requests the user now at a later date by means of the client, a network page from the online shop, without in this case to have followed a link of the advertising partner, so For example, by direct selection of the online store, and ordered the user now has a product, so it is with the one described above Method possible that the advertising partner still receives a fee, if the lifetime of the cookies set by the advertising partner and the cookie consequently not deleted has been.

follows a user once again the link of an affiliate within The lifetime of the first set cookie will not be a new one Cookie but the already existing cookie Updated that life again to the default value (for example, again 30 days) is set.

typically, are assigned to an online store several advertising partners. Thus, must at one performed Ordering a product at the online store that advertising partner be determined over whose link led the user to the online store.

In order to determine the advertising partner in this case in a conducted order of a product by the user at the online store, over whose link the user was led to the online store, the advertising partner sets again at the client a cookie, on its network side Activation of the link displayed there, the user is led to the online store. If the user subsequently orders - or as described above, at a later time within the term of the cookie - a product at the online shop, the online shop initiates the client, that of the advertising partner, via whose link the user to the online -Shop, set cookie, to submit to this advertising partner. The affiliate who receives this cookie will then send a message to the online store identifying the affiliate and giving him compensation can come.

It is now conceivable that a user through a plurality of advertising partners by activating the respective, on the respective network side shown links, is led to the online store. This causes that the client a plurality of cookies are set. Ordered Users now within the lifetime of one or more cookies after all In the online store a product, the client through the online store causes any cookie that has not yet expired and is therefore deleted to the corresponding advertising partner. This leads to, that each of those advertisers who receive a cookie from the client, one compensation claim Send to the online store and this then a remuneration of these advertising partners causes. In this case, so multiple advertisers for the same Order remunerated. this leads to to a multiple remuneration, which in extreme cases leads to that the entire profit or profit achieved with the sale of the product even more has to be paid to the advertising partners.

It is common nowadays that one or more of the advertising partners assigned to the online shop associated with a so-called tracking system. Such a thing Tracking system is for example under http://www.zanox.de or reachable under http://www.affilinet.de. A tracking system allows it an online store on the one hand, one or more of the tracking system assigned advertising partners. On the other hand, an online store can have links and / or banner ads there deposit, then potential, in the tracking system registered advertising partners on their network pages can be. For example, a tracking system manages the advertising partners an online store. The online store itself in this case does not necessarily have information about the identity the advertising partner own. Conveniently, the tracking system However, the online store regularly on the inform the advertising partners currently assigned to the online shop.

is one or more of the advertising partners assigned to the online shop Assigned to a tracking system, so the online store in the case of a product ordered by a user Client, all cookies stored there, by a tracking system Associated advertising partners have been set at the client to the respective advertising partners. The advertising partners, in turn, make a copy of the client's set Receive cookies from this, send a message to the tracking system. The tracking system evaluates these messages and sends one bundled compensation claim to the online store. Also in this case, there is the problem described above the unwanted Multiple payments.

There There are a variety of tracking systems on the market often the affiliate of an online store several different tracking systems assigned. This can be the problem of unwanted Multiple reimbursements still reinforce further, because now several tracking systems their bundled compensation requirements send to the online store.

One Method of the type mentioned and a tracking system for the realization of the method is known from WO 02/13076 A2. The known Procedure is used to determine if an affiliate is a user referred to a particular network page of an online store, to allow a fair and equitable remuneration of the affiliate. However, the implementation of the known method has clear Differences to the invention.

Currently exist on the market almost all conceivable forms and mixed forms of the above Arrangements of advertising partners. In particular, the case occurs on that one online shop affiliate multiple tracking systems, as well as advertising partners that are not connected to a tracking system, assigned. Almost always when an online store has multiple affiliates and one or more advertising partners have a tracking system is the determination of the advertising partner, via its link the user has been led to the online store and through its Mediation finally It was not possible to order a product. This leads for example to the above multiple reimbursements.

task The invention is a possibility to disposal to ask the one as possible unambiguous assignment of an order of a product at an online shop allowed to the advertising partner of the online shop, which took place Order should be attributed while doing a reduction of the Network traffic of the communication network and a reduction of To reach the computational burden of possibly involved tracking systems.

• d) automatisch mindestens eine Information bezüglich der Aktivierung des Links von dem Client an einen mit dem Kommunikationsnetzwerk verbundenen Server gesendet wird;
• e) automatisch eine dem Online-Shop zugeordnete Netzwerkseite durch den Client angefordert wird;
• f) der Benutzer bei dem Online-Shop das Produkt bestellt oder die Schritte a) bis e) solange wiederholt werden, bis der Benutzer das Produkt bei dem Online-Shop bestellt;
• g) automatisch mindestens eine die Bestellung betreffende Information von dem Online-Shop an den Server übermittelt wird;
• h) von dem Server in Abhängigkeit von mindestens einem vorgebbaren Kriterium und unter Verwendung der Information bezüglich der Aktivierung des Links automatisch ein Werbepartner aus der Menge der Werbepartner, von denen der Benutzer eine Netzwerkseite angefordert und einen auf den Online-Shop verweisenden Link aktiviert hat, ausgewählt wird;
• i) falls der ausgewählte Werbepartner einem Tracking-System zugeordnet ist, von dem Server automatisch das Tracking-System ermittelt wird und von dem Server automatisch mindestens ein Teil der die Bestellung betreffenden Information an das dem ausgewählten Werbepartner zugeordnete Tracking-System übermittelt wird;
• j) zumindest falls der ausgewählte Werbepartner nicht einem Tracking-System zugeordnet ist, von dem Server automatisch mindestens ein Teil der die Bestellung betreffenden Information an den ausgewählte Werbepartner übermittelt wird.

The object is achieved by a method with the method steps a) to c) of the type mentioned in that

• d) automatically sending at least one information regarding the activation of the link from the client to a server connected to the communication network;
• e) automatically requests a network page assigned to the online shop by the client becomes;
• f) the user orders the product from the online store or repeats steps a) to e) until the user orders the product from the online store;
• g) automatically at least one information concerning the order is transmitted from the online shop to the server;
• h) automatically from the server in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion and using the information relating to the activation of the link an advertising partner from the amount of advertising partners, of which the user has requested a network page and a link pointing to the online store, is selected;
• i) if the selected advertising partner is assigned to a tracking system, the server automatically determines the tracking system and the server automatically transmits at least part of the information concerning the order to the tracking system associated with the selected advertising partner;
• j) at least if the selected advertising partner is not assigned to a tracking system, the server automatically transmits at least a part of the information relating to the order to the selected advertising partner.

Thus, according to the invention when activating a link to the online shop, the on a network page provided by the advertising partner is shown, an information regarding the activation of the link from the client to one connected to the communications network Server sent.

A such information may, for example, be an identifier of the link be. By activating the link will be automatically from the online store requested a network page, for example the home page of the Online stores or the description of a product. Will then No orders are made at the online store, so will the steps a) to e) repeated until an order at the online store he follows.

Become the step a) to e) repeated, it is in the inventive method the possibility provided that the user by means of the client and a network page of another affiliate affiliate of the online store activated this link on the network side and thereby a Network page of the online shop request. It is also intended that the user initially does not place an order, but then by means of the client at a later date by direct Selecting the online shop requests a network page from the online store and then make an order to the online store.

at the implementation the order will automatically be an order related Information transmitted from the online shop to the server. Achieved thereby The server knows that an order has been made and chooses one Advertising partner from the amount of advertising partners assigned to the online shop out. The server uses at least the information regarding the Activation of the link during activation of the link from the client to the server has been. For example, this information is in a server allocated memory area and allows it thus the server, with the choice of the advertising partner on the information access.

is the selected one Affiliate assigned to a tracking system, so determines the Server as well automatically the tracking system and transmit at least one Information that allows the tracking system to act as if it were the server unavailable. This is an important point of the invention see, since the invention can be realized without elaborate changes of the Tracking system are necessary.

is the affiliate is not assigned to a tracking system, so will automatically from the server part of the information concerning the order transmitted to the client. This informs the client that an order has taken place and he receives a remuneration. It is possible, too if the affiliate is associated with a tracking system and one sent the order message to the tracking system will still send a message to the selected affiliate.

The inventive method Consequently, it allows it to be done in a transparent way, without any existing ones System from advertising partners and tracking systems thereby consuming changed too will need to make a selection of an affiliate who a completed order should be attributed to the online store.

The inventive method has the further advantage that significantly less news about the Communication network transmitted Need to become and the tracking systems themselves are charged significantly less, because only that tracking system receives a message and need to evaluate that associated with the selected affiliate is. At the very big one and further increasing number of purchases at online stores is having the method according to the invention a significant saving of resources (network load and computing time) reached.

In an advantageous development of the method receives the selected advertising partners dependent on the order a remuneration. As with the inventive method only one advertising partner selected will be attributed to the order placed the invention effectively a multiple remuneration, in which several advertising partners a remuneration for a and receive the same order.

In a preferred embodiment of the procedure, the client in step b) becomes the advertising partner, after step d) by the server, and / or in step e) caused by the online store to automatically provide information in to store a memory area associated with the client. A allows such information For example, it gives the client an overview of the requested network pages to obtain. At the same time allows this embodiment, that the server, the online store and / or the advertising partner at the client can request the stored information there again and Thus, an overview of the the client from the server, the online store and / or the advertising partner get requested network pages.

Advantageously transmitted the client stores the memory area associated with the client Information automatically to the advertising partner, the server, the tracking system and / or the Online shop. This can be done by the client, for example automatically performed if this from the advertising partner, the tracking system, the Online shop or the server requests a network page. That saves the advertising partner, the tracking system, the online shop and the server, even method for polling the client stored Provide information and yet provide an overview, for example, of the frequency requesting network pages from the client.

Preferably The online store automatically initiates when ordering a Products the client to submit information to the server. These For example, information can provide information about which advertising partner the client before placing the order at the online store one Network page has requested. Such information in turn can used in the selection of the advertising partner by the server advantageous become.

Advantageously transmitted the online store automatically sends an order confirmation page to the client and thus causes the client to be assigned to the client Memory area to transmit stored information to the server. By means of an order confirmation page the online shop informs the user about the acceptance of the User initiated order. An order confirmation page may also include the total price and an expected delivery date of the ordered product.

The Order confirmation page can also contain a so-called script, which consists of instructions, which are executed by the client when he is the order confirmation page receives. The script can in this case contain instructions that cause the client to send information to the server used by the server when selecting the advertising partner. The script can also be an information regarding the order contained in the step g) from the online store to the server becomes. In that case, would therefore, the information concerning the order first the client and then sent to the server.

Preferably is stored in the memory area allocated to the client Information stored in the form of a cookie at the client. this makes possible on the one hand the use of the client already existing mechanisms and on the other hand it can be achieved that the client only the information to a recipient (advertising partner, Tracking system, server or online store) transmitted previously by this receiver at the client in the form of a cookie were stored, what the data security elevated.

at this embodiment of the procedure may be the confidentiality level of the cookie in particular be set low, for example, because the cookie is very little personal Contains information of the user and / or the client. The for one Ordering the product necessary information will be for example transmitted by the client directly to the online store.

advantageously, contains that in step d) from the client regarding activation of the link sent the server Information a date, a time, an identification of the client, an identification of the user, an identification of the advertising partner and / or an identification of an advertising partner assigned Tracking. Such information can for example, be stored in a database of the server and are particularly suitable when used in the selection of the advertising partner to become.

In a development of the method, the server provides the online shop with one or more of the information stored in the memory area assigned to the server. This can be done for example by the fact that the online shop via a so-called portal of the Server logs in to this then to view the information stored there. This information may in particular also be information regarding the activation of the link. For example, the online shop can generate statistics and obtain information about which link on which network page of which advertising partner is activated particularly frequently. For example, if a link is designed as a banner ad, the online store may, depending on the results of such statistics, alter or remove those links that are rarely activated.

advantageously, In step h), the one advertising partner is selected, the the network page is associated with its associated with the online store Link last was activated by the user before ordering. With this procedure can be particularly fast and clearly an advertising partner selected become. For this purpose, it may be provided that the time of activation a link to the server for the selection is available.

Preferably the at least one of the online store is sent to the server Information regarding of the ordered product as a criterion in step h). Such information may, for example, the time of delivery order by the user at the online store. These Information may be provided by the server when selecting the advertising partner, whose link was last activated before ordering become.

In a further preferred embodiment allows the at least one of the online store sent to the server Information regarding of the product ordered, an indication of a product name, the sales price, an assigned department and / or a achieved profit.

such Information can used particularly advantageous in the selection of advertising partners become. For example, if the server is several, different complex Thus, a selection process for selecting the advertising partner is provided For example, based on the selling price, decide whether a more or less elaborate one Selection procedure should be used.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the method, in the advertising partner is assigned a search engine, the by the user requested by the advertising partner network page dependent on from a search term specified by the user from the search engine created and entered by the user in the search engine Search term evaluated in the selection of the advertising partner. So that can an even more accurate selection of the advertising partner will be carried out for example, by selecting the advertising partner who is there entered search term the greatest similarity with that actually ordered product.

In a further embodiment The procedure will be the advertising partner and / or the tracking system classified and in the selection of the advertising partner in the step h) the classification of the advertising partner and / or the tracking system is evaluated. For example, a classification can be based on the number of already earlier Orders placed with this advertising partner are made. Would one propose, for example, several advertising partners, so could Ultimately, the advertising partner to be selected, the total already the highest Number of orders. Of course that could Selection procedure also has exactly the opposite reasoning realize.

advantageously, the affiliate and / or the tracking system will be at least one Classified by industry or subject area. This can do that Process for selecting an advertising partner to be further improved, for example, by selecting the advertising partner belonging to the same industry as the ordered product.

In a preferred embodiment of the procedure stores the server along with that transmitted by the client Information at least one more information in the server assigned memory area. Such information can then the online store available and / or used in the selection of the advertising partner become. It is possible that this information is generated by the server itself and / or that this information is from an affiliate or tracking system sent to the server becomes.

advantageously, contains the at least one further information is a time, a date, a Frequency, an identification of the client, an identification of the user, an identification of the online shop, an identification of the advertising partner, a Identification of a tracking system assigned to the advertising partner and / or a classification of the advertising partner. With such Information, the selection of the advertising partners can be done very reliable.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method is automatically checked when ordering in the online store, whether within ei ner predetermined time period and / or depending on predeterminable events information by the client was requested by the server. If this is not the case, the online shop can assume that the server has no information regarding the client and with regard to a possible activation of a link with an advertising partner. The online shop can then decide that no advertising partners should be selected and in particular no advertising partners should receive a remuneration, since it can be assumed that other advertising media and / or a direct selection of the online shop has led to the order of the product.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the method transmitted the online store automatically sends information to the server if an order is canceled or an order is placed by the user Online store purchased product is returned. The server automatically initiates a cancellation or the return of the purchased information to the selected advertising partner and / or to the tracking system associated with the affiliate becomes. In this case, advantageously, the remuneration of the selected advertising partner withdrawn.

• – das Client-Server-System einen Server umfasst, der mit dem Kommunikationsnetzwerk verbunden ist;
• – das Client-Server-System Mittel aufweist, um automatisch mindestens eine Information bezüglich der Aktivierung des Links von dem Client über das Kommunikationsnetzwerk an den Server zu übermitteln;
• – dem Server ein Speicherbereich zugeordnet ist und der Server Mittel aufweist, um die übermittelte mindestens eine Information bezüglich der Aktivierung des Links automatisch abzuspeichern;
• – der Server Mittel aufweist, um den Client automatisch zu veranlassen, eine dem Online-Shop zugeordnete Netzwerkseite anzufordern;
• – der Online-Shop Mittel aufweist, um in Abhängigkeit von einer durch den Benutzer mittels des Client abgegeben Bestellung eines Produkts automatisch mindestens eine die Bestellung betreffende Information von dem Online-Shop an den Server zu übermitteln;
• – der Server Mittel aufweist, um in Abhängigkeit von mindestens einem vorgebbaren Kriterium und unter Verwendung der abgespeicherten mindestens einen Information bezüglich der Aktivierung des Links automatisch einen Werbepartner aus der Menge der Werbepartner auszuwählen;
• – der Server Mittel aufweist um zu ermitteln, ob dem ausgewählten Werbepartner ein Tracking-System zugeordnet ist, und falls dem ausgewählten Werbepartner ein Tracking-System zugeordnet ist, automatisch das Tracking-System zu ermitteln und automatisch mindestens einen Teil der die Bestellung betreffenden Information an das Tracking-System zu übermitteln;
• – der Server Mittel aufweist, um automatisch mindestens einen Teil der die Bestellung betreffenden Information an den ausgewählten Werbepartner zu übermitteln;

The object is also achieved by a client-server system of the type mentioned above in that

• The client-server system comprises a server connected to the communication network;
• - The client-server system comprises means for automatically transmitting at least one information regarding the activation of the link from the client to the server via the communication network;
• - The server is assigned a memory area and the server has means for automatically storing the transmitted at least one information regarding the activation of the link;
• - The server has means for automatically causing the client to request a network page associated with the online store;
• - The online store has means for automatically, depending on a given by the user by means of the client ordering a product at least one of the order information from the online store to the server to submit;
• - The server has means for automatically selecting an advertising partner from the amount of advertising partners depending on at least one predetermined criterion and using the stored at least one information regarding the activation of the link;
• - The server has means to determine whether the selected advertising partner is assigned a tracking system, and if the selected advertising partner is assigned a tracking system to automatically detect the tracking system and automatically at least part of the order information to transmit the tracking system;
• - The server has means to automatically transmit at least part of the order information to the selected advertising partners;

advantageously, the client-server system has means for carrying out the method according to the invention on.

The Task further also by a server of the type mentioned solved by that the server means for carrying out the method according to the invention having.

One For example, such a server may be a computer that uses connected to the internet and over the Internet information with the client, the online store, at least a tracking system and at least one advertising partner can. For example, is the online store as a stand-alone computer trained, it is also conceivable that the server according to the invention as software runs on the same computer as with online store connected to the internet. An exchange of information between the server and the online store would then be known way for example, provided by the operating system of the computer functionalities will be realized.

From Of particular importance is the realization of this invention in the form a computer program. The computer program is at least a computing device or a computer, in particular executable on a microprocessor and for execution the method according to the invention suitable. In particular, you can to carry out the inventive method Run parts of the computer program on different computing devices. The invention is thus realized by the computer program, so that this computer program represents the invention in the same way as the procedure for its execution the computer program is suitable.

The Computer program is preferably stored on a memory element. A memory element can in particular be a random access memory, be a read-only memory or a flash memory. The storage element Can also be used as a floppy disk, Compact Disk (CD), Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), and / or at least one at least one component of the client-server system be formed assigned memory area.

Further Features, applications and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are shown in the drawing. Make up all features described or illustrated alone or in any combination the subject of the invention, regardless of its summary in the claims or their relationship as well as independent of their formulation or presentation in the description or in the drawing. In the drawing show:

1 a client-server system according to the invention whose components are connected to the Internet; and

2 a flow diagram of a method according to the invention.

A Variety of clients and servers communicates via the Internet. These form in their entirety a multimedia information system, which so-called WWW (World Wide Web).

Within of the WWW Asked network pages are using a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) addressable. A URL is among other things from the name of the network page available server, a (at least virtual) directory and a name associated with the network page, such as the HTML document composed. A URL allows it to be assigned to this URL Network page from a client to select. This is given by a user For example, by means of a keyboard, the URL in a special Input field of the browser. The client then generates a Request to the appropriate server, in turn, the requested network page transmitted to the client. There is the transmitted Network page then, for example, by means of a special computer program, a so-called browser represents. A browser is called a computer program capable of interpreting HTML documents and display on a display using a suitable graphical interface.

A URL can also be an executable instead of a network page Computer program be assigned to the server. Such a thing Computer program is for example a so-called perl-script. A perl-script is perl coded in the programming language Sequence of instructions. If a client calls a URL that is one is associated with such computer program, then this computer program running on the server. Execution The computer program can also transmit information to the client, for example in the form of a network page. Of course you can the computer program also in another language, in particular in another script language, for example as java-script, be realized.

In In an HTML document, it is possible to use URLs specify additional network pages or HTML documents. Such URLs are referred to as links or links. Become links displayed to a user by means of a browser, the user has the possibility, to select a displayed link and those of the selected URL corresponding network page to display. Of course you can the dialed Network page on another server.

Frequently becomes from a first server, such as an online store second server, for example an advertising partner, on network pages, that from the affiliate to a requesting this network page Client to be transmitted to display a link to a network page of the online store. Such a link may, for example, a so-called banner ad be, by means of a textual and / or graphical representation for a over the Online shop to be purchased product or mediated through the online store service advertises. If the advertising partner is designed as a search engine, so can the online store to hire the advertising partner, depending on one network page generated by a user entered search word, to display a link to a network page assigned to the online shop. Typically, an online store will hire several advertising partners to Links to their network pages.

In 1 schematically a client-server system is shown, which is suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention. A user 1 assigned client 2 has a memory area 3 and is connected to a communication network, such as the Internet 4 connected. The client 2 is configured, for example, as a desktop computer or as a laptop. The client 2 can also be configured as a so-called pocket computer (PC) or as a mobile phone. The client 2 points in 1 not shown means that the user 1 enable with the client 2 to interact. Such means are for example a keyboard, a display, a pointing device (for example a so-called computer mouse) and loudspeakers.

The client-server system also has multiple advertising partners 5 . 6 on that with the internet 4 are connected. The advertising partners can do this 5 . 6 be configured for example as search engines. The advertising partners 5 . 6 may also be so-called information servers that provide general information, such as news, or related information, for example, on medical topics available.

In 1 are also tracking systems 7 . 8th , an online store 9 , as well as a server 10 displayed, which are also connected to the Internet. The server 10 is assigned a memory area, for example, as a database 11 is trained.

At the in 1 client-server system shown are the advertising partners 5 the tracking system 7 and the advertising partners 6 the tracking system 8th assigned. Of course, this is just one example of a possible design of the client-server system. The invention relates to an arbitrary number of advertising partners assigned to an online shop, which are in turn assigned to any number of tracking systems in any desired constellations. It is also possible that individual advertising partners are not assigned to a tracking system.

On the client 2 Several computer programs run from the client 2 enable with other components of the client-server system, ie the advertising partners 5 . 6 , the tracking systems 7 . 8th , the online store 9 and the server 10 To exchange data. One of these programs is, for example, a browser, by means of which the user 1 over the client 2 requested network pages to the user 1 are displayed. For example, the user may 1 by means of the client 2 from the advertising partner 5 . 6 Request information. The advertising partner 5 . 6 transmits the requested information in the form of a network page. This is for example coded in the page description language HTML. Receives the client 2 the network page, this is edited by the browser and the user by means of the display 1 displayed.

The operation of the inventive client-server system in carrying out the method according to the invention is exemplary in 2 shown schematically.

The procedure starts in one step 100 , In one step 101 asks the user 1 by means of the client 2 (For example, by entering a URL in a text input field provided in the browser) a network page of one the online store 9 associated advertising partners 5 . 6 at. Such an advertising partner 5 . 6 For example, it may be a so-called shopping portal that has a plurality of links to various online stores 9 provides. The user 1 For example, starting from the start page of the shopping portal, they are sorted by industry, one or more links to one or more online shops 9 displayed.

An advertising partner 5 . 6 In the broadest sense, any provider can be the provider who, by means of a server assigned to the provider, obtains a network page for retrieval by a client 2 provides, the network page a link to an online store 9 having. Providers of such network sites are, for example, commercial providers of information. However, providers of such network pages are often also private individuals, by presenting links to online shops 9 on one or more of the network sites offered by them want to achieve a financial gain or by the fact that the provision of their network pages on the Internet is free.

The advertising partner 5 . 6 causes that from the user 1 by means of the client 2 requested network page to the client 2 is transmitted. This network page contains a link to the online shop 9 , Of course, it is possible for the user 1 previously by the client 2 several other network pages and / or the same network page multiple times from the advertising partner 5 . 6 requests and, for example, the user 1 reads content displayed on the monitor using the browser.

In one step 102 Finally, the user activates 1 the link to the online shop shown on the network page 9 , Activation of this link first causes the advertising partner 5 . 6 (for example, using one on the affiliate 5 . 6 perl-scripts that is started by activating the link) at the client 2 to set a cookie in which the affiliate 5 . 6 more information to the client 2 sends and causes the client 2 this information in the form of a cookie, for example in the memory area 3 stores. This cookie may include the time, the date, an identification of the network site and / or an identification of the link (eg the banner displayed on the network site). That with the client 2 stored cookie is hereinafter referred to as advertising partner cookie.

By activating the link by the user 1 will also be the server 10 to execute a computer program. This computer program can also be in the form of a script, for example as a perl-script, by the input and the sending of a URL by the client 2 is started. Running this computer program causes the server 10 that on the client 9 another cookie is set, hereinafter referred to as a server cookie. For example, the server cookie contains information that identifies the affiliate 5 . 6 , an identification of the activated link, a time, and / or a date. In particular, the server cookie can also have a particularly low level of confidentiality in that only very little confidential information is stored in the server cookie. This makes it possible, for example, a server cookie at the client 2 to put if one on the client 2 browser has set a high security level and therefore only allows the setting of cookies with a particularly low level of confidentiality. In that it is possible with the inventive method, between the client 2 and the server 10 Only to exchange cookies of very low confidence level, a feasibility of this method is possible even if the browser of the client 2 A particularly high security level is set so that high trusted cookies are available to the client 2 not saved or not by the client 2 transmitted to a requesting server.

It is also possible that the server 10 Information regarding activation of the link in a server 10 associated memory area, such as the database 11 , stores. This information may include one or more of the above information that may also be stored in the server cookie. In the database 11 can also provide more information, such as an identification of the client 2 , be stored. In particular, it is conceivable that the information in the database 11 be stored so that an assignment to the server cookie is possible.

Is the client 5 . 6 a tracking system 7 . 8th assigned, so can information regarding the tracking system 7 . 8th in the server cookie and / or in the database 11 be filed. It can also be arranged on the tracking system 7 . 8th stored computer program is executed. This computer program can also be executed as a perl script that is executed by requesting a URL associated with this perl-script. The execution of the computer program on the tracking system 7 . 8th in turn, can set a cookie at the client 2 have as a consequence. Such a cookie is referred to below as a tracking system cookie.

The information stored in the tracking system cookie may contain information regarding an identification of the advertising partner 5 . 6 , an identification of the activated link, a time, and / or a date included. The tracking system 7 . 8th may further provide that further information in a the tracking system 7 . 8th assigned memory area are stored. In particular, it can be provided that this information is stored in such a way that an assignment to that at the client 2 stored tracking system cookie is possible.

A recognition, whether an advertising partner 5 . 6 a tracking system 7 . 8th can be done, for example, by the information that one on the network side of the advertising partner 5 . 6 associated link is assigned. In the simplest case, this link has a URL to the tracking system 7 . 8th stored computer program that is executed when activating the link. It is also conceivable that the server 10 at least for the online shop 9 in a server 10 associated memory area, such as the database 11 , for every advertising partner 5 . 6 who has a tracking system 7 . 8th is associated with information about this association and this information is provided when running through the URL on the server 10 evaluated computer program. Of course, a variety of other possibilities are conceivable to recognize whether and which tracking system 7 . 8th an advertising partner 5 . 6 assigned.

In one step 103 will finally - also by activating the on the by the advertising partner 5 . 6 through the client 2 received network page links - from the online store 9 requested a network page. For example, this network page is the home page of the online store 9 or a network page that contains a description of a product. It is conceivable that even at the online store 9 a computer program is started, for example, the setting of a cookie at the client 2 causes. Such a cookie is referred to below as an online store cookie.

In one step 104 it checks if the user 1 ordering a product from the online store 9 causes. If this is not the case, then the method in the step 101 or in the step 103 to be continued.

If the procedure in the step 101 continued, so the user can 1 from each of the advertising partners 5 . 6 request a network page. If the user 1 with different advertising partners 5 . 6 activates a link and thereby repeatedly to the online shop 9 is performed, the inventive method is particularly advantageous since then one of the advertising partners 5 . 6 must be selected to which the order is to be attributed to us then receives, for example, a fee.

The process is in the step 103 continued when the user 1 directly a network page from the online shop 9 requests. A direct request can be achieved, for example, by entering a corresponding URL in the browser. A direct request for a network page from the online store 9 can also be achieved by the user 1 the browser already in a past request a network page from the online store 9 (For example, as a result of activating one affiliate on a network page 5 . 6 shown links), the from the online store 9 to the client 2 transmitted network page or the URL assigned to this network page at a suitable location at the client 2 save and then activates a link present on the saved network page or calls the URL assigned and saved to the network page again.

Causes the user 1 finally ordering a product from the online store 9 So the process becomes one step 105 continued.

In the step 105 transmitted to the online store 9 to the client 2 a so-called order confirmation page. This is a network page by which the user 1 from the order acceptance by the online shop 9 is informed. If the order confirmation page is generated dynamically, it can contain current data such as the price and the number of the ordered product.

In the step 105 will also be the server 10 induces one of the advertising partners 5 . 6 to which the order has been placed. For this the on-line shop transmits 9 an information concerning the order to the server 10 , This can be done directly - for example, by having the online store 9 a URL of the server 10 which is assigned a computer program that is started by the selection. This computer program can again be designed as a script. It is possible that the online store 9 when the URL is called or during the processing of the computer program on the server 10 Information regarding the order placed on the server 10 transmitted. Such information may include, for example, the selling price, a product identification number, a date of sale, an identification of the user 1 and / or an identification of the client 2 be.

It is also conceivable that to initiate the selection process to the client 2 submitted order confirmation page contains an item representing the client 2 causes the selection process on the server 10 , for example, by selecting a URL associated with the selection process to start. Such an element may, for example, be a so-called image tag. An image tag is an HTML construct that produces a completely or nearly invisible image (for example, the size of only one pixel) on a client 2 associated display generated. An image tag may provide additional information that the browser interprets and executes as instructions. It is conceivable that the client 2 one or more image tags shown on the order confirmation page cause a message to the server 10 to send.

This message can on the one hand by the server 10 Procedure to be followed for choosing an advertising partner 5 . 6 start. This message can also contain more information. In particular, it can be provided that the client 2 the stored server cookies - if available - to the server 10 sends and thus the selection process on the server 10 starts.

An above described information regarding the order can be both directly from the online store 9 to the server 10 be sent or indirectly through the client 2 , It is conceivable that the information regarding the order together with the order confirmation page to the client 2 to send this information to the server 10 to convey.

The selection process itself is carried out in one step 106 through the server 10 , These are the advertising partners first 5 . 6 determined by which the user 1 and / or the client 2 has requested a network page and then the link to the online store 9 has activated. In other words, these are all the advertising partners 5 . 6 about which the user 1 or the client 2 to the online store 9 was led. The finding of these advertising partners 5 . 6 is feasible in different ways, from the stored cookies, the information stored in the cookies, further to the server 10 stored information and / or further in the tracking system 7 . 8th stored information depends. So it is possible for the server 10 an identification of the client and / or the user 1 is present.

Such an identification can, for example, from the online store 9 to the server 10 be transmitted. However, such identification can also take place, in particular, in the form of the server cookie, which is in the step 102 at the client 2 was saved and now by the client 2 to the server 10 is transmitted. The transmission of the server cookie from the client 2 to the server 10 For example, as described above, as a result of the client 2 received order confirmation page happen.

Is the server 10 an identification of the client 2 before, he can, for example, by querying the database 11 directly all the advertising partners 5 . 6 get over that the user 1 or the client 2 to the online store 9 was led. This assumes, of course, that in the step 102 this information to the server 10 transmitted and stored by him.

The advertising partners 5 . 6 about which the user 1 or the client 2 to the online store 9 can also be determined by the fact that the server 10 Causes the client to send all affiliate cookies and / or all tracking system cookies to the affiliate 5 . 6 and / or to all tracking systems 7 . 8th to send, of which the client 2 to save the respective cookies. In addition, the advertising partners 5 . 6 or the tracking systems 7 . 8th that has a corresponding cookie from the client 2 get the server 10 either directly or indirectly through the client 2 to inform.

For such an exchange of information between clients and servers, a variety of mechanisms are known, which of course depend on the underlying communication network and the communication protocols used for the communication. The use of cookies and the exchange of relevant information is only one of these possibilities, which is particularly useful when the communication network is the Internet 4 is.

Lying the server 10 the advertising partners 5 . 6 before, about which the user 1 or the client 2 to the online store 9 was led, so is the server 10 one of these advertising partners 5 . 6 selected.

• – Es wird der Werbepartner 5, 6 ausgewählt, dessen auf einer Netzwerkseite dargestellter Link der Benutzer 1 bzw. der Client 2 zuletzt aktiviert hat, um zu dem Online-Shop 9 zu gelangen. Dabei muss in dem Schritt 102 das Datum und die Uhrzeit der Aktivierung des ermittelt werden und derartig abgespeichert sein bzw. an den Server 10 übermittelt werden, dass diese dem Server 10 bei der Auswahl zu Verfügung stehen.
• – Es wird der Werbepartner 5, 6 ausgewählt, dessen auf einer Netzwerkseite dargestellter Link der Benutzer 1 bzw. der Client 2 innerhalb einer vorgegebenen Zeitspanne am häufigsten aktiviert hat, um zu dem Online-Shop 9 zu gelangen.
• – Es wird der Werbepartner 5, 6 ausgewählt, dem eine Branche zugeordnet ist, die gleich der Branche ist, der das bestellte Produkt zugeordnet ist. Auch hierbei müssen selbstverständlich die erforderlichen Informationen, also die dem Werbepartner 5, 6 und dem bestellten Produkt zugeordnete Branche, dem Server 10 vorliegen.
• – Es wird der Werbepartner 5, 6 ausgewählt, dem eine Branche zugeordnet ist, die der Branche, der das bestellte Produkt zugeordnet ist, am ähnlichsten ist. Hierbei können beispielsweise aus der KI (Künstlichen Intelligenz) bekannte Verfahren zur Erstellung und Auswertung von Ähnlichkeitsmaßen angewendet werden.

The selection is carried out as a function of at least one predefinable selection criterion. Conceivable criteria include:

• - It will be the advertising partner 5 . 6 selected, the link displayed on a network page of the user 1 or the client 2 last enabled to go to the online store 9 to get. It must be in the step 102 the date and time of activation of be determined and stored in such a way or to the server 10 be transmitted to the server 10 available at the time of selection.
• - It will be the advertising partner 5 . 6 selected, the link displayed on a network page of the user 1 or the client 2 within a given period most often has enabled to go to the online store 9 to get.
• - It will be the advertising partner 5 . 6 to which an industry is assigned that is the same as the industry to which the ordered product is assigned. Again, of course, the necessary information, ie the advertising partners 5 . 6 and industry associated with the ordered product, the server 10 available.
• - It will be the advertising partner 5 . 6 which is associated with an industry most similar to the industry to which the ordered product is assigned. In this case, for example, methods known from AI (Artificial Intelligence) for generating and evaluating similarity measures can be used.

This are just a few examples of possible selection criteria. Of course they are a variety of other selection criteria conceivable. Especially it is conceivable to combine several of the criteria and for example evaluate in a multi-level (hierarchical) procedure.

After the advertising partner 5 . 6 is selected in one step 107 checked if the selected advertising partner 5 . 6 a tracking system 7 . 8th assigned. The necessary information, for example a list of all advertising partners 5 . 6 of the online store 9 and these advertising partners 5 . 6 associated tracking systems 7 . 8th , can in the database 11 be filed. It is conceivable that the online store 9 this information of the database 11 supplies. The information can also be obtained by the client in the step 105 by means of the server 10 transmitted cookies to the server 10 be supplied. Likewise it is conceivable that the server 10 a request to the tracking systems 7 . 8th and request information about which of these tracking systems 7 . 8th the selected advertising partner 5 . 6 assigned. It is also possible that the server 10 from the selected advertising partner 5 . 6 requesting information about which tracking system 7 . 8th he is assigned.

Is the chosen advertising partner 5 . 6 a tracking system 7 . 8th assigned in one step 108 from the server 10 causes the selected tracking system 7 . 8th a message regarding the selection of the advertising partner 5 . 6 is transmitted. The tracking system 7 . 8th can then take other steps, such as notifying the affiliate 5 . 6 or the transmission of a compensation claim to the online shop 9 ,

Is the advertising partner 5 . 6 no tracking system 7 . 8th assigned in one step 109 from the server 10 causes the selected affiliate 5 . 6 a message is sent regarding the selection made. The selected advertising partner 5 . 6 can then take further steps, such as submitting a compensation claim to the online store 9 , The procedure ends in one step 110 ,

Of course they are further embodiments the method according to the invention and the client-server system according to the invention possible.

It is conceivable in the step 105 to provide a query if the client 2 at all by activating a link of an advertising partner 5 . 6 to the online store 9 was led. If so, then the client must 2 a server cookie to be stored. For a decision, whether the client 2 by activating a link of an advertising partner 5 . 6 to the online store 9 could therefore be checked, whether on the client 2 a server cookie exists. If this is not the case, then the method could already be ended in this step. This would ensure that only information to the server 10 regarding an order if the order is ever one of the advertising partners 5 . 6 is attributable. Thus, on the one hand, resources (for example, data traffic in the communication network, computing time of the server and / or computing time of the tracking system 7 . 8th ) and on the other hand, the data security can be increased, because only then information regarding a successful order to the server 10 from the online store 9 be transmitted when the server 10 actually been involved in the process before.

It is also conceivable that the chosen advertising partner 5 . 6 even through the server 10 will be informed of the selection, if the selected advertising partner 5 . 6 a tracking system 7 . 8th is assigned and this already in the step 107 about the selection of the advertising partner 5 . 6 is informed.

In particular, it is conceivable that even the online store 9 informed of the outcome of the selection procedure.

In another embodiment, it is possible that the online store 9 access to parts of the server 10 has stored information. This could be an access of the online store 9 to the database 11 be provided. This allows the online store 9 , Information at the server 10 store. Such information is for example a list of all the online store 9 associated advertising partners 5 . 6 , a list of all tracking systems 7 . 8th , a selection criterion or several selection criteria and / or URLs to the advertising partners 5 . 6 , the tracking systems 7 . 8th and in particular to possibly with the advertising partners 5 . 6 and the tracking systems 7 . 8th stored computer programs that are dependent on the server also in the database 11 to be executed according to predetermined events.

By means of such access to parts of the server 10 stored information can be the online store 9 but also receive information, for example, to obtain statistics on the frequency of activation of certain links.

It is conceivable that the server 10 realized as a software module. In this case, it is especially conceivable that the server 10 on one of the online store 9 associated computing device or the online store 9 itself expires.

Claims (26)

Method for ordering a product at an online store connected to a communication network ( 9 ) one or more advertising partners ( 5 . 6 ) comprehensive set of advertising partners connected to the communications network ( 5 . 6 ), wherein at least one tracking system ( 7 . 8th ) at least one of the advertising partners ( 5 . 6 ) and is connected to the communication network, and a) one of the an online store ( 9 ) associated advertising partners ( 5 . 6 ) provided by a user ( 1 assigned client ( 2 ) is requested via the communication network; b) the requested network page to the client ( 2 ) and the user ( 1 ) is shown; c) the user ( 1 ) displayed on the displayed network page and the online store ( 9 activated link, characterized in that d) automatically at least one information regarding the activation of the link from the client ( 2 ) to a server connected to the communication network ( 10 ) is sent; e) automatically a the online store ( 9 ) assigned by the client ( 2 ) is requested; f) the user ( 1 ) at the online shop ( 9 ) the product is ordered or steps a) to e) are repeated until the user ( 1 ) the product at the online shop ( 9 ) ordered; g) automatically at least one information concerning the order from the online shop ( 9 ) to the server ( 10 ) is transmitted; h) from the server ( 10 ) automatically depending on at least one predetermined criterion and using the information regarding the activation of the link an advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) from the amount of advertising partners ( 5 . 6 ), of which the user ( 1 ) requested a network page and one on the online store ( 9 ) has activated the linking link selected; i) if the selected advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) a tracking system ( 7 . 8th ) is assigned by the server ( 10 ) automatically the tracking system ( 7 . 8th ) and from the server ( 10 ) automatically at least part of the order Information to the selected advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) associated tracking system ( 7 . 8th ) is transmitted; j) at least if the selected advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) not a tracking system ( 7 . 8th ) is assigned by the server ( 10 ) automatically send at least part of the information concerning the order to the selected advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) is transmitted. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the selected advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) receives a fee depending on the order. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the client ( 2 ) in the step b) by the advertising partner, after the step d) by the server ( 10 ) and / or in step e) through the online shop ( 9 ) automatically causes information in a client ( 2 ) store allocated memory area. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the client ( 2 ) in which the client ( 2 ) memory information stored automatically to the advertising partner, the server, the tracking system ( 7 . 8th ) and / or the online store ( 9 ) transmitted. Method according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the online store ( 9 ) when ordering a product the client ( 2 ) automatically sends information to the server ( 10 ). Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the online shop ( 9 ) automatically sends an order confirmation page to the client ( 2 ) and the client ( 2 ) in which the client ( 2 stored memory area information to the server ( 10 ). Method according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that in which the client ( 2 stored information in the form of a cookie at the client ( 2 ) is stored. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in step d) the client ( 2 ) regarding activation of the link to the server ( 10 ) transmitted information a date, a time, an identification of the client, an identification of the user, an identification of the advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) and / or an identification of the advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) associated tracking system ( 7 . 8th ) contains. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the server ( 10 ) the online shop ( 9 ) one or more of those in the server ( 10 ) associated memory area provides information stored. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in step i) the advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) to which the network page assigned to the online store ( 9 ) associated link last before ordering by the user ( 1 ) has been activated. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one of the online store ( 9 ) to the server ( 10 ) transmitted information regarding the ordered product as a criterion in step i) is evaluated. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one of the online store ( 9 ) to the server ( 10 ) provides information regarding the product ordered, the sales price, an associated product group, a profit or a priority obtained. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) is associated with a search engine, characterized in that the information provided by the user ( 1 ) from the advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) requested network page depending on one by the user ( 1 ) specified by the search engine and by the user ( 1 ) search term entered in the search engine when selecting the advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) is evaluated. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) and / or the tracking system ( 7 . 8th ) and in the selection of the advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) in step h) the classification of the advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) and / or the tracking system ( 7 . 8th ) is evaluated. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) and / or the tracking system ( 7 . 8th ) are classified according to at least one industry or subject area. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the server ( 10 ) together with that of the client ( 2 ) transmitted information at least one further information in the server ( 10 ) memory area stores. A method according to claim 16, characterized ge indicates that the at least one further information item is a time, a date, a frequency, an identification of the client, an identification of the user, an identification of the online shop ( 9 ), an identification of the advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ), an identification of the advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) associated tracking system ( 7 . 8th ) and / or a classification of the advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) contains Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when ordering in the online store ( 9 ) is checked automatically, whether within a predeterminable period of time and / or in dependence of predeterminable events information by the client ( 2 ) from the server ( 10 ) was requested. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the online shop ( 9 ) automatically sends information to the server ( 10 ), if an order is canceled or if it is canceled by the user ( 1 ) at the online shop ( 9 returned product, and the server ( 10 ) automatically causes a message describing the cancellation or return of the purchased product to be sent to the selected advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) and / or to the advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) associated tracking system ( 7 . 8th ) is forwarded. A method according to claim 19, characterized in that the remuneration of the selected advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) is withdrawn. Client-server system comprising a user ( 1 ) associated client, an online store ( 9 ) to which at least one product is assigned, at least one advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) comprehensive amount of the online store ( 9 ) associated advertising partners ( 5 . 6 ), at least one of the advertising partners ( 5 . 6 ) associated tracking system ( 7 . 8th ) and a communication network, by means of which a communication between the client, the advertising partner, the tracking system ( 7 . 8th ) and the online shop ( 9 ) is possible, whereby - each of the the online shop ( 9 ) associated advertising partners ( 5 . 6 ) is assigned to a network page, which one through the client ( 2 ) via the communication network requestable link to the online store ( 9 ) having; - every advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) Has means to automatically send the requested network page to the client ( 2 ) and the client ( 2 ) Means to the received network side to the user ( 1 ) to display; - the client ( 2 ) Means for activating the link displayed on the received network page, characterized in that - the client / server system has a server ( 10 ) connected to the communication network; The client-server system has means for automatically providing at least information regarding the activation of the link by the client ( 2 ) via the communication network to the server ( 10 ) to transmit; - the server ( 10 ) a memory area is assigned and the server ( 10 ) Has means for automatically storing the transmitted at least one information regarding the activation of the link; - the server ( 10 ) Means to the client ( 2 ) to automatically initiate an online store ( 9 ) to request assigned network page; - the online store ( 9 ) Has means, depending on a user ( 1 ) by means of the client ( 2 ) order of a product automatically at least one of the order information from the online store ( 9 ) to the server ( 10 ) to transmit; - the server ( 10 ) Comprises means for automatically creating an advertising partner (in dependence on at least one predefinable criterion and using the stored at least one information regarding the activation of the link). 5 . 6 ) from the amount of advertising partners ( 5 . 6 ); - the server ( 10 ) Has means for determining whether the selected advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) a tracking system ( 7 . 8th ) and if the selected advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) a tracking system ( 7 . 8th ) automatically assigns the tracking system ( 7 . 8th ) and automatically send at least part of the order-related information to the tracking system ( 7 . 8th ) to transmit; - the server ( 10 ) Has means for automatically sending at least part of the information concerning the order to the selected advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ). Client-server system according to claim 21, characterized in that that the client-server system means for performing a method according to a the claims 1 to 20. Server ( 10 ) in a communication network with at least one user ( 1 assigned client, an online store ( 9 ), at least one advertising partner ( 5 . 6 ) comprehensive amount of the online store ( 9 ) associated advertising partners ( 5 . 6 ) and at least one with at least one of the advertising partners ( 5 . 6 ) associated tracking system, characterized in that the server ( 10 ) Comprises means for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 20. Computer program running on a client-server system, in particular on a client ( 2 ) and / or a server executable thereby characterized in that the computer program is programmed such that a method according to any one of claims 1 to 20 is performed when the computer program is executed on the client-server system. Computer program according to claim 24, characterized that the computer program is stored on a memory element. Computer program according to Claim 25, characterized that the storage element as a floppy disk, compact disk (CD), digital Versatile disk (DVD), and / or at least one at least one component of the client-server system allocated memory area is formed.