Internet-based promotional business model

An internet-based promotional business model (PBM) comprising:

• a) an internet data center having means for linking worldwide computers with various data and promotional messages,
• b) a first router having an input and an output, wherein the input is connected to said internet data center, wherein said first router provides users with controlled access to incoming data packets from said internet data center,
• c) a first firewall having an input and an output, wherein the input is connected, via a first switch, to the output of said first router,
• d) a first web server having an input and an output, wherein said first web server allows private or public users of said PBM to view web pages corresponding to a web site selected by the user,
• e) a second web server connected in parallel with said first web server and having an input and an output, wherein said second web server allows
• wherein the inputs of said first and second web servers are connected, via a second switch, to the output of said first firewall, wherein said firewall is designed to relay only data packets which are intended and authorized to reach said first and second web servers,
• f) a first database having an input and an output, wherein the input is connected, via a third switch, to the outputs of said first and second web servers, wherein said first database stores a collection of data used in operating said PBM, and
• g) a PBM software program written to control the operation of said PBM.

An Internet-based promotional business model (PBM) comprising:

• a) a subnet A comprising a redundant internet data center having means for linking individual computers with various data and promotional messages,
• b) a subnet B comprising a first switch and a redundant second switch which are connected respectively to a first firewall and a redundant second firewall, wherein said firewalls are connected respectively to a first cache server and a redundant second cache server, the two cache servers are connected respectively through a second switch and a redundant third switch to a first router and a redundant second router from where said routers are connected to said subnet A,
• c) a subnet C comprising a first load balancer and a redundant second load balancer wherein the two load balancers are connected to subnet B via said first and second switches, and respectively to a web server farm and a mail server farm via a fourth switch and a fifth switch, wherein said fourth and fifth switches can connect said web and mail server inline, with said load balancer or reverse the connections to said load balancers,
• d) a subnet D comprising a sixth switch and a redundant seventh switch, wherein one side of said switches connects said subnet D to subnet C and the other side of said sixth and seventh switches are connected to a web/E mail mass data storage, wherein either of said two switches can be used to control the operation of said web/E mail mass data storage,
• e) a subnet E comprising a clustered database farm controlled by either of said sixth switch or said seventh switch, and
• f) a software program written to control the operation of said PBM.

A process for participating in an Internet-based promotional business model comprising the following steps:

• a) log onto a web site which produces three web pages in sequence,
• b) select from a first web page a set of numbers or utilize a “quick pick”, and a single category banner,
• c) select from a second web page an advertising banner pertaining to the category banner selected in step b), wherein after the advertising banner is selected a third web page appears which:
• (1) displays the set of numbers selected in step b) and whether the numbers selected have won a prize,
• (2) displays a splash page showing details of the advertising banner selected in step c), and
• d) review the contents of the splash page and either press a reply button or log off the web site.

A process for participating in an Internet-based promotional business model comprising the following steps:

• a) log onto a web site which produces four web pages in sequence,
• b) select from a first web page a first set of numbers or a “quick pick”, and a single category banner,
• c) select from a second web page a second set of numbers or a “quick pick”, and a first refinement category banner pertaining to the category banner selected in step b),
• d) select from a third web page a third set of numbers or a “quick pick”, and a second refinement category banner pertaining to the first refinement category banner selected in step c), at this point the participant is subsequently notified if any of the numbers selected have won a prize and a fourth web page is displayed which shows details of the second refinement category banner selected, and
• e) review the contents of the fourth web page and either press a replay button or log off the web site.