Tracking transactions by using addresses in a communications network
Communications between participants over a communications link are proxied by an intermediary, such as an Integrated Order Mechanism (IOM). Participants interact with each other through the IOM. The IOM may be transparent to the participants such that they are not aware that the IOM is involved in processing communications. For example, in the context of a transaction by a customer making a purchase from a merchant over the Internet, the IOM facilitates the processing of transactions by processing requests from both the customer and the merchant. Neither the customer nor the merchant may be aware that the transactions are being handled by the IOM. Transactions may be tracked using addresses in a communications network. Address identifiers may be used to reduce the size of the addresses.
1. A method for tracking network transactions associated with a customer making a purchase from a merchant over the Internet via a shopping application, the method comprising
receiving, at an intermediary, from a merchant computer, at least one Internet cookie that includes first transaction data for a transaction originated via the shopping application, wherein the intermediary comprises a proxy server associated with the shopping application;
storing the received at least one Internet cookie at an intermediary storage location;
receiving, at the intermediary, second transaction data for a completed transaction via one or more tracer images included in a merchant order confirmation page provided by the merchant computer for the completed transaction, wherein the one or more tracer images do not include transaction origination information for the completed transaction;
comparing, by the intermediary, the first transaction data to the second transaction data to determine whether the completed transaction originated via the shopping application; and
determining that a commission is owed to the shopping application from the merchant for the completed transaction in response to a determination that the completed transaction originated via the shopping application.
2. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the first transaction data further comprises at least a customer identifier;
wherein the second transaction data associated with the completed transaction further comprises at least a particular customer identifier; and
wherein comparing, by the intermediary, the first transaction data and the second transaction data comprises determining whether the particular customer identifier matches the customer identifier included in the first transaction data from the transaction originated via the shopping application.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one Internet cookies is set to expire after a specific period of time.
4. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the first transaction data further comprises at least a customer identifier, a merchant identifier, and a product identifier;
wherein the second transaction data associated with the completed transaction further comprises at least a particular customer identifier, a particular merchant identifier, and a particular product identifier; and
wherein the comparing, by the intermediary, the first transaction data and the second transaction data further comprises determining whether the particular customer identifier, the particular merchant identifier, and the particular product identifier match the customer identifier, the merchant identifier, and the product identifier that are included in the first transaction data for transaction originated via the shopping application.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first transaction data for the transaction is generated in response to a request from a participant in the transaction.
6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for tracking network transactions associated with a customer making a purchase from a merchant over the Internet via a shopping application, the non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
receiving, at an intermediary, from a merchant computer, at least one Internet cookie that includes first transaction data for a transaction originated via the shopping application, wherein the intermediary comprises a proxy server associated with the shopping application;
storing the received at least one Internet cookie at an intermediary storage location;
receiving, at the intermediary, second transaction data for a completed transaction via one or more tracer images included in a merchant order confirmation page provided by the merchant computer for the completed transaction, wherein the one or more tracer images do not include transaction origination information for the completed transaction;
comparing, by the intermediary, the first transaction data to the second transaction data to determine whether the completed transaction originated via the shopping application; and
determining that a commission is owed to the shopping application from the merchant for the completed transaction in response to a determination that the completed transaction originated via the shopping application.
7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6 ,
wherein the first transaction data further comprises at least a customer identifier;
wherein the second transaction data associated with the completed transaction further comprises at least a particular customer identifier; and
wherein the comparing, by the intermediary, the first transaction data and the second transaction data comprises determining whether the particular customer identifier matches the customer identifier included in the first transaction data for the transaction originated via the shopping application.
8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6 , wherein the at least one Internet cookie are set to expire after a specified period of time.
9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6 ,
wherein the first transaction data further comprises at least a customer identifier, a merchant identifier, and a product identifier;
wherein the second transaction data associated with the completed transaction further comprises at least a particular customer identifier, a particular merchant identifier, and a particular product identifier; and
wherein the comparing, by the intermediary, the first transaction data and the second transaction data further comprises instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to determine whether the particular customer identifier, the particular merchant identifier, and the particular product identifier match the customer identifier, the merchant identifier, and the product identifier that are included in the first transaction data for the transaction originated via the shopping application.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6 , wherein the first transaction data for the transaction is generated in response to a request from a participant in the transaction.
11. The method of claim 4 ,
wherein the first transaction data further comprises a date and time indicating when a customer accesses the shopping application for the transaction;
wherein the second transaction data associated with the completed transaction further comprises a particular date and time indicating when the completed transaction is completed by a merchant; and
wherein the comparing, by the intermediary, the first transaction data and the second transaction data further comprises determining whether the date and time included in the first transaction data for the transaction originated via the shopping application is consistent with the particular date and time included in the second transaction data associated with the completed transaction.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 ,
wherein the first transaction data further comprises a date and time indicating when a customer accesses the shopping application for the one or more transaction;
wherein the second transaction data associated with the completed transaction further comprises a particular date and time indicating when the completed transaction is completed by a merchant; and
wherein the comparing, by the intermediary, the first transaction data and the second transaction data further comprises instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to determine whether the date and time included in the first transaction data for the transaction originated via the shopping application is consistent with the particular date and time included in the second transaction data associated with the completed transaction.