COMPENSATING MEMBERS OF AN ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORK FOR RECRUITMENT OF NEW MEMBERS

摘要

A website accessible via a network to a first plurality of registered users is maintained, wherein the first plurality of registered users comprises a second plurality of paying members and a third plurality of non-paying members. Registration information indicating that a person has registered, status information indicating whether the person has registered as a paying member or a non-paying member, and referring member identification information identifying a particular one of the first plurality of users as a member who referred the person, is received. Referring member status information indicating whether the particular one of the first plurality of users is a paying member or a non-paying member is examined. A sum is paid to the particular one of the first plurality of user based on the status information and the referring member status information.