System and method for goal-oriented generation of advertising spot sets

• US 10,701,457 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2017
• Issued: 06/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Active Media Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Active Media Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Castano, Melissa A., Lhotak, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Chokshi, Pinkal R
• Application Number:
  US15/643,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20180014086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26241 involving the time of distribution, e.g. the best time of the day for inserting an advertisement or airing a children program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed that, in an embodiment, are related to goal-oriented generation of advertising spot sets. The system and method each involve: receiving spot inventory data associated with a plurality of TV stations; receiving a rule variable associated with an advertising rule; receiving a goal variable associated with a goal; applying the advertising rule to select a plurality of spots that are eligible to form one or more spot sets; forming or generating at least one of the spot sets depending, at least in part, on a proximity to the goal; and generating an output associated with the generated spot set.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving spot inventory data associated with a plurality of TV stations, wherein;

the TV stations are associated with a plurality of TV programs;

the TV stations are operable to display the TV programs in first and second markets; and

the spot inventory data corresponds to a plurality of advertising spots that are selectable to form a plurality of different spot sets that are available for airing at least one commercial during one or more of the TV programs;

receiving a plurality of variables, wherein the variables comprise;

at least one rule variable corresponding to at least one advertising rule; and

at least one goal variable corresponding to at least one advertising goal, wherein the at least one advertising goal comprises a spot distribution goal associated with the first and second markets, wherein the spot distribution goal comprises a mathematical relationship between a first quantity of the advertising spots allocatable to the first market and a second quantity of the advertising spots allocatable to the second market;

applying the at least one advertising rule to the spot inventory data, resulting in a plurality of eligible advertising spots;

generating a plurality of eligible spot sets that comprise a plurality of the eligible advertising spots, wherein;

each of the eligible spot sets satisfies the at least one advertising rule; and

each of the eligible spot sets either satisfies or deviates from the spot distribution goal;

modifying at least one of the eligible spot sets that deviates from the spot distribution goal, wherein the modification comprises replacing at least one of the eligible advertising spots in the at least one eligible spot set with a different one of the eligible advertising spots;

determining a proximity of the modified eligible spot set to the spot distribution goal; and

identifying the modified eligible spot set depending on the determination of the proximity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the TV programs are produced independent of each other.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving the variables from a spot seeker, wherein the spot seeker comprises one of a manufacturer, a service provider, or a contractor of the manufacturer or the service provider.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one advertising rule comprises one of:

(a) a requirement corresponding to a day of week, wherein the day of week is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(b) a requirement corresponding to a day range, wherein the day range is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(c) a requirement corresponding to a time, wherein the time is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(d) a requirement corresponding to a spot quantity, wherein the spot quantity is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(e) a requirement corresponding to a length of one of the TV programs, wherein the length is specified by the at least one rule variable;

or (f) a requirement corresponding to an identification of one of the TV programs, wherein the identification is specified by the at least one rule variable.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one advertising goal comprises one of:

(a) a goal corresponding to a portion of a population of TV households in a territory comprising the first and second markets, wherein the portion is specified by the at least one goal variable;

(b) a goal corresponding to an advertising cost, wherein the advertising cost is specified by the at least one goal variable;

(c) a goal corresponding to a territorial spot distribution, wherein the territorial spot distribution is specified by the mathematical relationship, wherein the mathematical relationship comprises one of;

(i) a ratio of the first quantity to the second quantity;

(ii) the first and second quantities each being based on an average value;

(iii) the first and second quantities each being a result of a spot quantity divided by a market quantity;

or (iv) a value of spots per market;

(d) a goal corresponding to a spot frequency, wherein the spot frequency is specified by the at least one goal variable;

(e) a goal corresponding to a demographic, wherein the demographic is specified by the at least one goal variable;

or

(f) a goal corresponding to a territorial impression level, wherein the territorial impression level is specified by the at least one goal variable.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying comprises performing a randomization function.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the performing of the randomization function comprises performing a heuristic function.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the performing of the heuristic function comprises performing a simulated annealing function that comprises processing one of:

(a) an array of coefficients comprising an initial temperature of 1,000, a stop temperature of 0.50, and a cooling rate of 0.000006;

(b) an array of coefficients comprising an initial temperature of 1,000, a stop temperature of 0.50, and a cooling rate of 0.0006;

(c) an array of coefficients comprising an initial temperature of 1,000, a stop temperature of 0.50, and a cooling rate of 0.00001;

or (d) an array of coefficients comprising an initial temperature of 1,000, a stop temperature of 0.50, and a cooling rate of 0.00003.

9. A system comprising:

a data storage device comprising a plurality of computer-readable instructions that are executable by at least one processor to;

receive spot inventory data associated with a plurality of TV stations, wherein the spot inventory data corresponds to a plurality of advertising spots;

receive a plurality of variables, wherein the variables comprise;

at least one rule variable corresponding to at least one advertising rule; and

at least one goal variable associated with at least one spot distribution goal related to a plurality of markets, wherein the at least one spot distribution goal comprises a relationship between a first quantity of the advertising spots and a second quantity of the advertisings spots, wherein the first quantity is associated with a first one of the markets, and the second quantity is associated with a second one of markets;

apply the at least one advertising rule resulting in a plurality of eligible advertising spots;

generate a plurality of spot sets, wherein each of the spot sets;

(a) comprises a plurality of the eligible advertising spots that are available for airing at least one commercial in the first and second markets; and

(b) satisfies the at least one advertising rule;

determine whether any of the spot sets fails to satisfy the at least one spot distribution goal;

depending on the determination, replace at least one of the eligible advertising spots in at least one of the spot sets with a different one of the eligible advertising spots, wherein the replacing results in a modified spot set; and

generate an output indicating the modified spot set.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the a plurality of the computer-readable instructions are executable by the at least one processor to repeat the determining and replacing steps so as to:

perform a randomization function applicable to the spot sets.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the modified spot set is available for airing at least one commercial in the first and second markets during a plurality of TV programs associated with the TV stations; and

the output comprises information related to how close the modified spot set is to satisfying the at least one spot distribution goal.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the data storage device comprises a plurality of computer-readable instructions that are executable by the at least one processor to perform a plurality of steps comprising receiving the variables from a spot seeker, wherein the spot seeker comprises one of a manufacturer, a service provider, or a contractor of the manufacturer or the service provider.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one advertising rule comprises one of:

(a) a requirement corresponding to a day of week, wherein the day of week is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(b) a requirement corresponding to a day range, wherein the day range is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(c) a requirement corresponding to a time, wherein the time is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(d) a requirement corresponding to a spot quantity, wherein the spot quantity is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(e) a requirement corresponding to a length of at least one TV program, wherein the length is specified by the at least one rule variable;

or (f) a requirement corresponding to an identification of at least one TV program, wherein the identification is specified by the at least one rule variable.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one spot distribution goal comprises one of:

(a) a ratio of the first quantity to the second quantity;

(b) the first and second quantities each being based on an average value;

(c) the first and second quantities each being a result of a spot quantity divided by a market quantity;

or (d) a value of spots per market.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the randomization function comprises a simulated annealing heuristic function.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the randomization function comprises a simulated annealing function.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein performing the simulated annealing function comprises processing one of:

(a) an array of coefficients comprising an initial temperature of 1,000, a stop temperature of 0.50, and a cooling rate of 0.000006;

(b) an array of coefficients comprising an initial temperature of 1,000, a stop temperature of 0.50, and a cooling rate of 0.0006;

(c) an array of coefficients comprising an initial temperature of 1,000, a stop temperature of 0.50, and a cooling rate of 0.00001;

or (d) an array of coefficients comprising an initial temperature of 1,000, a stop temperature of 0.50, and a cooling rate of 0.00003.

18. A system comprising:

a data storage device comprising a plurality of computer-readable instructions that are executable by at least one processor to;

receive spot inventory data associated with a plurality of TV stations, wherein;

the TV stations are associated with a plurality of TV programs produced independent of each other;

the TV stations are operable to control a performance of the TV programs in a territory; and

the spot inventory data corresponds to a plurality of different advertising spots;

receive at least one rule variable corresponding to at least one advertising rule, wherein the at least one advertising rule comprises a requirement corresponding to at least one day of week, wherein the day of week is specified by the at least one rule variable;

receive at least one goal variable, wherein the at least one goal variable specifies a spot distribution goal associated with a plurality of different markets within the territory, wherein the spot distribution goal comprises a relationship between a first quantity of the advertising spots and a second quantity of the advertising spots, wherein the first quantity is associated with one of the markets, and the second quantity is associated with another one of the markets;

filter the spot inventory data in accordance with the at least one advertising rule, wherein the filtering results in a plurality of eligible advertising spots;

determine at least one of the sets of the eligible advertising spots that fails to satisfy the spot distribution goal;

replace at least one of the eligible advertising spots in the at least one set with a different one of the eligible advertising spots, resulting in a modified set; and

generate a signal that causes an output to indicate the modified set.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the data storage device comprises a plurality of computer-readable instructions that are executable by the at least one processor to receive a plurality of rule variables corresponding to a plurality of advertising rules, wherein the advertising rules comprise one of:

(a) a requirement corresponding to a day of week, wherein the day of week is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(b) a requirement corresponding to a day range, wherein the day range is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(c) a requirement corresponding to a time, wherein the time is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(d) a requirement corresponding to a spot quantity, wherein the spot quantity is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(e) a requirement corresponding to a length of one of the TV programs, wherein the length is specified by the at least one rule variable;

or (f) a requirement corresponding to an identification of one of the TV programs, wherein the identification is specified by the at least one rule variable.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the data storage device comprises a plurality of computer-readable instructions that are executable by the at least one processor to receive a plurality of goal variables corresponding to a plurality of advertising goals, wherein the advertising goals comprise one of:

(a) a goal corresponding to a portion of a population of TV households in the territory, wherein the portion is specified by the at least one goal variable;

(b) a goal corresponding to an advertising cost, wherein the advertising cost is specified by the at least one goal variable;

(c) a goal corresponding to a territorial spot distribution, wherein the territorial spot distribution is specified by the relationship;

(d) a goal corresponding to a spot frequency, wherein the spot frequency is specified by the at least one goal variable;

(e) a goal corresponding to a demographic, wherein the demographic is specified by the at least one goal variable;

or (f) a goal corresponding to a territorial impression level, wherein the territorial impression level is specified by the at least one goal variable; and

cause the replacing of the at least one eligible advertising spot to depend, at least in part, on how much the at least one set deviates from the spot distribution goal.

21. A method comprising:

executing a plurality of computer-readable instructions to cause at least one processor to;

receive spot inventory data associated with one or more TV programs that can be aired within first and second markets within a territory, wherein the spot inventory data corresponds to a plurality of advertising spots;

filter the spot inventory data in accordance with at least one rule resulting in a plurality of eligible advertising spots;

generate a plurality of spot sets, wherein each of the spot sets comprises a plurality of the eligible advertising spots;

determine which, if any, of the spot sets deviates from a spot distribution goal, wherein the spot distribution goal specifies a designated relationship between a first quantity of the eligible advertising spots that are allocatable to the first market and a second quantity of the eligible advertising spots that are allocatable to the second market;

depending, at least in part, on the determining, replace at least one of the eligible advertising spots in at least one of the spot sets, resulting in at least one modified spot set; and

cause an output that indicates the at least one modified spot set.

22. The method of claim 21, comprising executing a plurality of the computer-readable instructions to cause the at least one processor to cause the output to:

indicate a plurality of the spot sets that deviate from the spot distribution goal; and

display the spot sets in an order based on how much each of the spot sets deviates from the spot distribution goal.

23. The method of claim 22, comprising executing a plurality of the computer-readable instructions to cause the at least one processor to cause the output to provide information related to how much each of the spot sets deviates from the spot distribution goal.

24. The method of claim 21, comprising executing a plurality of the computer-readable instructions to cause the at least one processor to cause the replacing of the at least one eligible advertising spot to depend, at least in part, on how much the at least one spot set deviates from the spot distribution goal.

25. The method of claim 21, comprising executing a plurality of the computer-readable instructions to cause the at least one processor to:

determine how much the modified spot set deviates from the spot distribution goal after the replacing of the at least one eligible advertising spot; and

modify the modified spot set depending, at least in part, on how much the modified spot set deviates from the spot distribution goal, wherein the modifying of the modified spot set comprises replacing at least one of the eligible advertising spots in the modified spot set with a different one of the eligible advertising spots.