Method and system for exchanging data between affiliated sites

A method for using a clearinghouse site, in communication via a communication network with a merchant site and a partner site having a partner database, to facilitate a sale of merchant products from the partner site, the method comprising:

• storing a first set of product data in the clearinghouse database, the first set of product data being transmitted to the clearinghouse site from the merchant site via the communication network;
• receiving at the clearinghouse site a registration document that specifies a database format for use by the clearinghouse site in transmitting product data to the partner site, the registration document being transmitted to the clearinghouse site from the partner site via the communication network;
• using at the clearinghouse site the registration document by placing a second set of product data, extracted from the first set of product data stored in the clearinghouse database, into database fields that comply with the database format specified in the registration document;
• transmitting from the clearinghouse site to the partner site via the communication network the formatted second set of product data whereby the partner site stores the second set of product data in the partner database;
• receiving at the clearinghouse site a request to access via the communication network a merchant site web page having information relevant to one or more products represented by the second set of product data stored in the partner database, the request being transmitting to the clearinghouse site from the partner site via the communication network;
• facilitating access to the merchant site web page via the communication network by using an identifier received at the clearinghouse site in connection with the request, the identifier linking the second set of product data to the merchant site;
• and
• tracking at the clearinghouse site consumer interaction with the merchant site web page to thereby allow for a commission payment to be made for purchases of merchant products attributable to accessing of the merchant site web page via the partner site.

A method for using a clearinghouse site, in communication via a communication network with a merchant site having a merchant database and a partner site having a partner database, to facilitate a sale of merchant products from the partner site, the method comprising:

• storing a first set of product data in the clearinghouse database, the first set of data being transmitted to the clearinghouse site from the merchant site via the communication network;
• receiving at the clearinghouse site a first registration document that specifies a database format for use by the clearinghouse site in transmitting product data to the partner site, the registration document being transmitted to the clearinghouse site from the partner site via the communication network;
• receiving at the clearinghouse site a second registration document that specifies a database format for use by the clearinghouse site in transmitting product ordering data to the merchant site, the registration document being transmitted to the clearinghouse site from the merchant site via the communication network;
• using at the clearinghouse site the first registration document by placing a second set of product data, extracted from the first set of product data stored in the clearinghouse database, into database fields that comply with the database format specified in the first registration document;
• transmitting from the clearinghouse site to the partner site via the communication network the formatted second set of product data whereby the partner site stores the second set of product data in the partner database;
• receiving at the clearinghouse site from the partner site via the communication network a request to purchase one or more products represented by the second set of product data stored in the partner database, the request including product ordering data;
• using at the clearinghouse site the second registration document by placing product ordering data, extracted from the request, into database fields that comply with the database format specified in the second registration document;
• transmitting from the clearinghouse site to the merchant site via the communication network the formatted product ordering data whereby the merchant site stores the product ordering data in the merchant database to thereby facilitate product purchasing fulfillment;
• and
• tracking at the clearinghouse site product purchasing fulfillment to thereby allow for a commission payment to be made for purchases of merchant products attributable to a consumer accessing the partner site.