Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention a method and apparatus are described for improving advertising conversions on the Internet. An analysis engine is provided that analyzes raw advertising metrics in order to identify improvements. A treemap based visualization engine allows the user to visualize a tree in two dimensional space. In one embodiment, an action engine includes rapid one-box recommendation that allows the user to take an action to improve an advertising campaign. According to another aspect, a system and method for managing a plurality of advertising networks is also provided. A typical embodiment of the management system integrates the analysis engine, visualization engine, and action engine in order to optimize a user/manager's time and effort in organizing, improving, and managing advertising campaigns across a plurality of advertising networks.

Abstract: A method of tracking a web browser across distinct domains of a network of computers includes the step of identifying, at a first server computer with a first domain name, a first request from the web browser. The web browser is then assigned a unique identification code. The unique identification code is then conveyed to a second server with a second domain name that is distinct from the first domain name. A request by the web browser to the second server computer is associated with the web browser via the unique identification code. In this way, the web browser is tracked across distinct domains of the World Wide Web. As a result, the web browser can be passively tracked to identify content preferences and interests associated with the individual using the web browser.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for operating a client-server computer network such that a server computer dynacically generates and then stores customized pages requested from a client computer. Subsequent requests for previously generated customized pages are retrieved from a cache in the server computer. Since previously generated customized pages need not be re-generated, computational overhead is reduced. This functionality is achieved by transforming a file request into a customized file request. The customized includes the original file request and a selected attribute of a computer user,such as browser name, computer domain, or computer platform. When a customized file request cannot be matched to an existing file on the computer server, an error indication is generated. A customized page corresponding to the file request is created in response to the error indication.

Abstract: A method of passing demographic information between computers includes the step of associating a computer operator with a set of demographic information. When the computer operator requests a transfer to another computer, a remote site information repository is accessed to identify a remote site destination address and a remote site encryption key. The demographic information is then encrypted using the remote site encryption key to form an encoded demographic signal. The encoded demographic signal is then combined with the remote site destination address to form an encoded demographic hyperlink transfer request, which is used to access the remote computer specified by the remote site destination address. The remote computer decrypts the encoded demographic information. The demographic information can be used by the remote computer in a number of ways, including the generation of a customized reply to an inquiry from the computer operator.