Abstract: Middleware can maximize referral fees paid by merchants to affiliates by applying a process. The process ranks merchants according to their referral schedules and conversion rates. Next, when the referrer identifies a lead for the merchants, the referrer checks if the lead is not an existing subscriber of a top-ranked merchant before referring the lead to the merchant. And, if the lead is a subscriber, then the referrer can check to see if the lead is a subscriber to a second-ranked merchant, then refer the lead to the second-ranked merchant if the subscriber is not already a member. The process can be applied particularly well to only referral based businesses such as online dating sites.

Abstract: A dedicated computer client application interfaces with, searches, and displays results from an online dating database. The application opens a window on the computer desktop. Search criteria entered into the application and matching profiles from the database are displayed in the window. Profiles can be selected to form matches with other members. Tools to facilitate communication between users are included. The application consumes a portion of the computer desktop and includes autoscrolling to allow a user to passively browse the window while working in other windows on the computer desktop.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating and enhancing substantially real-time interpersonal communication over a network such as the Internet, the method comprising at least the steps of facilitating data communication between at least a primary user and at least a secondary user, both the primary user and each secondary user being in communication with the network through a computing system, the data communication including at least communication of video data, audio date or text data. In one embodiment, the present invention is a computer application directed towards interpersonal communications which allows a user to access, communicate and log in to a pre-determined Internet web site.