Selecting web site content to be displayed to a web site visitor based upon a probability distribution
First Claim
1. A method for dynamically selecting a content option from a plurality of content options in order to display the content option to a user who is browsing through a web site, comprising:
- receiving a request for content from a web browser that is being operated by the user;
calculating a probability distribution across the plurality of content options that can be sent to the web browser;
selecting the content option at random from the plurality of content options based upon the calculated probability distribution;
sending the selected content option to the web browser;
allowing the web browser to display the selected content option to the user of the web browser;
receiving a response to the selected content option from the user of the web browser; and
using the response to update a future probability distribution across the plurality of content options that is used in making a future selection of a content option.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system dynamically selects a content option from a plurality of content options in order to display the content option to a user who is browsing through a web site. The system operates by receiving a request for content from a web browser that is being operated by the user. In response to this request, the system calculates a probability distribution across the plurality of content options that can be sent to the web browser, and then selects the content option at random from the plurality of content options based upon the calculated probability distribution. Next, the system sends the selected content option to the web browser and then allows the web browser to display the selected content option to the user of the web browser. The system then receives a response to the selected content option from the user of the web browser, and uses this response to update a future probability distribution across the plurality of content options.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for dynamically selecting a content option from a plurality of content options in order to display the content option to a user who is browsing through a web site, comprising:
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receiving a request for content from a web browser that is being operated by the user;
calculating a probability distribution across the plurality of content options that can be sent to the web browser;
selecting the content option at random from the plurality of content options based upon the calculated probability distribution;
sending the selected content option to the web browser;
allowing the web browser to display the selected content option to the user of the web browser;
receiving a response to the selected content option from the user of the web browser; and
using the response to update a future probability distribution across the plurality of content options that is used in making a future selection of a content option. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for dynamically selecting a content option from a plurality of content options in order to display the content option to a user who is browsing through a web site, the method comprising:
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receiving a request for content from a web browser that is being operated by the user;
calculating a probability distribution across the plurality of content options that can be sent to the web browser;
selecting the content option at random from the plurality of content options based upon the calculated probability distribution;
sending the selected content option to the web browser;
allowing the web browser to display the selected content option to the user of the web browser;
receiving a response to the selected content option from the user of the web browser; and
using the response to update a future probability distribution across the plurality of content options that is used in making a future selection of a content option. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus that dynamically selects a content option from a plurality of content options in order to display the content option to a user who is browsing through a web site, comprising:
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a receiving mechanism that is configured to receive a request for content from a web browser that is being operated by the user;
a calculating mechanism that is configured to calculate a probability distribution across the plurality of content options that can be sent to the web browser;
a selection mechanism that is configured to select the content option at random from the plurality of content options based upon the calculated probability distribution;
a sending mechanism that is configured to send the selected content option to the web browser;
wherein the receiving mechanism is additionally configured to receive a response to the selected content option from the user of the web browser; and
an updating mechanism that is configured to use the response to update a future probability distribution across the plurality of content options that is used in making a future selection of a content option. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification