Data processing system for targeted content

• US 20020069105A1
• Filed: 12/01/2000
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ZEDO, Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ZEDO, Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: do Rosario Botelho, Alfredo Agnelo Judas Sebastiao, de Souza, Roy Sunil
• Application Number:
  US09/728,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20020069105A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history

Abstract

The present invention changes the traditional advertisement targeting process to a “pull” system of advertising, where users (e.g. consumers) decide what type of advertisements (or other content) they want to view. The user chooses one or more ad category preferences and the present invention serves one or more advertisements grouped within the chosen ad category preference(s) to a client device operated by the user. To serve the ad, the system builds a URL that includes a concatenation of information from a set of cookies. The URL is then used to locate the ad to be served. In one embodiment, the presence of a cookie with valid data is used as an indication that an advertisement according to the present invention should be served.

Claims

1. A method of providing targeted advertising, comprising the steps of:

receiving information indicating a user selected category request for targeted advertising;

identifying a first advertisement corresponding to said category request; and

providing said first advertisement.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of receiving includes receiving a URL, said URL includes a first attribute and a second attribute concatenated in said URL; and

said step of identifying includes using at least a portion of said URL to find said first advertisement.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said category request includes a request for a category and a subcategory.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said first advertisement is a banner ad for a web page.

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising:

displaying said advertisement on a client device.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein:

said first attribute is received at a server from a client device; and

said step of providing includes communicating said advertisement from said server to said client device.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a second attribute indicating a property of a client device, said step of receiving information includes receiving a first attribute, said first attribute indicates said user selected category request; and

retrieving a third attribute indicating an index, said step of identifying is based on said second attribute and said third attribute.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein:

said second attribute is selected by a publisher capable of controlling environmental characteristics of said client device;

said first attribute, said second attribute and said third attribute are received from said client device; and

said step of providing includes communicating said first advertisement to said client device.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein:

said second attribute is selected by a server;

said first advertisement is stored at said server; and

said step of providing includes communicating said first advertisement from said server.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein:

said second attribute is transient.

11. A method according to claim 7, wherein:

said second attribute is permanent.

12. A method according to claim 7, wherein:

said first, second and third attributes are represented by bit patterns.

13. A method according to claim 7, wherein said first, second and third attributes are stored in one or more cookies.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

said one or more cookies reside on a server remote from said client; and

said step of providing includes communicating said first advertisement from said server to said client for display on said client.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

said one or more cookies reside on a client device; and

said step of providing includes communicating said first advertisement from a server to said client for display on said client.

16. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for a next advertisement corresponding to said user selected category request;

identifying said next advertisement; and

providing said next advertisement.

17. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for a previous advertisement corresponding to said user selected category request;

identifying said previous advertisement; and

providing said previous advertisement.

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of providing includes communicating said first advertisement to a client device; and

said client device includes an interactive television.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of providing includes communicating said first advertisement to a client device; and

said client device includes a mobile computing device.

20. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of providing includes communicating said first advertisement to a client device; and

said client device includes a personal information manager.

21. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of providing includes communicating said first advertisement to a client device; and

said client device includes a computer displaying a web site.

22. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of providing includes communicating said first advertisement to a client device; and

said client device includes a cellular telephone.

23. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a content selection interface at a client, said content selection interface includes a category selection device;

receiving said user selected category request based on said category selection device; and

communicating said user selected category request from said client to a server, said server performs said step of receiving a first attribute.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein:

said category selection device includes a pull down menu displaying a set of categories.

25. A method according to claim 23, wherein:

said category selection device includes a text box.

26. A method according to claim 23, wherein:

said first advertisement is a banner and for a web page.

27. A method according to claim 26, further including the steps of:

displaying a first content page, said step of displaying a content selection interface is part of said step of displaying a first content page;

displaying a second content page;

sending a request from said client to said server for a second advertisement based on said user selected category; and

receiving and displaying said second advertisement on said client, said second advertisement is displayed with said second content page.

28. A method according to claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a vote about said advertisement;

adding said vote to a tally of votes; and

providing information about said tally of votes.

29. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said steps of receiving, identifying and providing are performed in real time; and

said steps of identifying and providing are performed in response to said step of receiving.

30. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of identifying is performed without making use of user profile information.

31. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of providing includes only providing advertisements that correspond to said user selected category request.

32. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method, comprising the steps of:

receiving information indicative of a user selected category request;

identifying a first advertisement corresponding to said category request; and

providing said first advertisement.

33. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 32, wherein:

said first advertisement is a banner ad on a web page.

34. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 33, wherein:

said step of receiving information includes receiving a URL, said URL includes a first attribute and a second attribute concatenated in said URL, said first attribute identifies said user selected category request; and

said step of identifying includes using at least a portion of said URL as an explicit identification of a location within a file system to find said first advertisement.

35. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 33, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

receiving a second attribute indicating a property of a client device, said step of receiving information includes receiving a first attribute, said first attribute indicates said user selected category request; and

retrieving a third attribute indicating an index, said step of identifying is based on said second attribute and said third attribute.

36. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 33, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

receiving a request for a next advertisement corresponding to said user selected category request;

identifying said next advertisement; and

providing said next advertisement.

38. An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein:

said first advertisement is a banner ad for a web page.

39. An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein:

said step of receiving includes receiving a URL, said URL includes a first attribute and a second attribute concatenated in said URL, said first attribute identified said user selected category request; and

said step of identifying includes using at least a portion of said URL as an explicit identification of a location within a file system to find said first targeted advertisement.

40. An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

receiving a second attribute indicating a property of a client device, said step of receiving information includes receiving a first attribute, said first attribute indicates said user selected category request; and

retrieving a third attribute indicating an index, said step of identifying is based on said second attribute and said third attribute.

41. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

receiving a request for a next advertisement corresponding to said user selected category request;

identifying said next advertisement; and

providing said next targeted advertisement.

37. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more processors;

a communication interface in communication with said one or more processors and a network; and

one or more storage devices in communication with said one or more processors, said one or more storage devices store content, said one or more processors programmed to preform a method comprising the steps of;

receiving information indicative of a user selected category request,

identifying a first advertisement corresponding to said category request, and

providing said first advertisement.

42. A method of providing targeted content grouped by categories, comprising the steps of:

displaying a user interface;

receiving a selection of a category using said user interface; and

displaying a first advertisement corresponding to said category.

43. A method according to claim 42, wherein:

said steps of displaying a user interface, receiving and displaying a first advertisement are performed in real time.

44. A method according to claim 42, wherein:

said user interface is displayed in a publisher page; and

said first advertisement is displayed in said publisher page.

45. A method according to claim 42, further comprising the steps of:

requesting said first advertisement based on said category; and

receiving said first advertisement from a server.

46. A method according to claim 45, wherein:

said step of requesting includes sending a set of attributes concatenated in a URL, said attributes identify said first advertisement.

47. A method according to claim 45, wherein:

said step of requesting includes sending a first attribute, a second attribute and a third attribute;

said first attribute pertains to said category;

said second attribute pertains to one or more properties;

said third attribute pertains to an index for said category; and

said first attribute, said second attribute and said third attribute identify said first advertisement.

48. A method according to claim 42, wherein:

said user interface includes a category selection device; and

said step of receiving a selection uses said category selection device.

49. A method according to claim 48, wherein:

said category selection device includes a text box.

50. A method according to claim 48, wherein:

said category selection device includes a pull down menu.

51. A method according to claim 48, wherein:

said first advertisement is an ad for a web site.

52. A method according to claim 51, further including the steps of:

displaying a first content page, said step of displaying said user interface is part of said step of displaying a first content page;

displaying a second content page;

sending a request for a second advertisement corresponding to said category;

receiving said second advertisement; and

displaying said second advertisement with said second content page.

53. A method according to claim 52, wherein said step of displaying a first content page includes the steps of:

displaying content;

determining whether valid selection information exists;

displaying a targeted advertisement if valid selection information exists; and

displaying a non-targeted advertisement if valid selection information is not found.

54. A method according to claim 53, wherein:

said step of determining includes looking for a valid cookie.

55. A method according to claim 54, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a vote about said first advertisement;

adding said vote to a tally of votes; and

displaying information about said tally of votes.

57. An apparatus according to claim 56, wherein:

said first advertisement is a banner ad for a web page.

58. An apparatus according to claim 57, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

requesting said first advertisement based on said category; and

receiving said first advertisement from a server.

59. An apparatus according to claim 57, wherein:

said step of requesting includes sending a set of attributes concatenated in a URL, said attributes identify said first advertisement.

60. An apparatus according to claim 57, wherein:

said step of requesting includes sending a first attribute, a second attribute and a third attribute;

said first attribute pertains to said category;

said second attribute pertains to one or more properties; and

said third attribute pertains to an index for said category.

61. An apparatus according to claim 57, wherein:

said user interface includes a category selection device; and

said step of receiving a selection uses said category selection device.

62. An apparatus according to claim 56, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

displaying a first publisher'"'"'s page, said step of displaying said user interface is part of said step of displaying a first publisher'"'"'s page, said step of displaying a first advertisement includes displaying said first advertisement on said first publisher'"'"'s page;

displaying a second publisher'"'"'s page;

sending a request for a second advertisement based on said category;

receiving said second advertisement; and

displaying said second advertisement on said second publisher'"'"'s page.

63. An apparatus according to claim 62, wherein said step of displaying a first publisher'"'"'s page includes the steps of:

displaying content;

determining whether valid selection information exists;

displaying a targeted advertisement if valid selection information exists; and

displaying a non-targeted advertisement if valid selection information is not found.

56. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more processors;

a communication interface in communication with said one or more processors and a network; and

one or more storage devices in communication with said one or more processors, said one or more storage devices store content, said one or more processors programmed to preform a method comprising the steps of;

displaying a user interface,

receiving a selection of a category using said user interface, and

displaying a first advertisement for said category.

64. A method for locating content, comprising:

retrieving a set of two or more attributes from at least one cookie;

combining said attributes;

forming a URL, said URL includes said combined attributes; and

communicating said URL to a server in order to access content.

65. A method according to claim 64, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said content in response to said step of communicating; and

reporting said content.

66. A method according to claim 64, further comprising the steps of:

finding said content at said server, said URL includes an explicit identification of a location within a file system to find said content, said step of finding uses said explicit identification;

transmitting said content from said server to a client, said steps of combining and forming are performed by said client; and

displaying said content on said client.

67. A method according to claim 64, wherein:

said attributes comprise category information, an index for said category information and one or more properties.

68. A method according to claim 64, wherein:

said attributes include a first attribute and a second attribute;

said URL includes an identification of a host, said first attribute and said second attribute; and

said URL includes an explicit identification of a location within a file system to find said content.

69. A method according to claim 68, wherein:

said first attribute corresponds to a first bit pattern; and

said second attribute corresponds to a second bit pattern.

70. A method according to claim 64, wherein:

said attributes include a first attribute and a second attribute; and

said first attribute and said second attribute are stored in one or more cookies.

71. A method according to claim 64, wherein:

said steps of combining and forming are performed by a client remote from said server; and

said one or more cookies reside on said client device.

72. A method according to claim 64, wherein:

said steps of combining and forming are performed by a client remote from said server; and

said one or more cookies reside on said server.

73. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more processors;

a communication interface in communication with said one or more processors and a network; and

one or more storage devices in communication with said one or more processors, said one or more storage devices store content, said one or more processors programmed to preform a method comprising the steps of;

retrieving a set of two or more attributes from at least one cookie,

combining said attributes,

forming a URL, said URL includes said combined attributes, and

communicating said URL to a server in order to access targeted content.

74. An apparatus according to claim 73, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

receiving said targeted content in response to said step of communicating; and

reporting said targeted content.

75. An apparatus according to claim 73, wherein:

said attributes include a first attribute and a second attribute;

said URL includes an identification of a host, said first attribute and said second attribute; and

said URL includes an explicit identification of a location within a file system to find said content.

76. An apparatus according to claim 73, wherein:

said attributes include a first attribute and a second attribute; and

said first attribute and said second attribute are stored in separate cookies.

77. A method for providing content, comprising the steps of:

determining whether one or more cookies store valid attribute data; and

providing targeted content if said step of determining concludes that one or more cookies store valid attribute data.

78. A method according to claim 77, further comprising the step of:

providing alternate content if said step of determining does not conclude that one or more cookies store valid attribute data.

79. A method according to claim 78, wherein said step of providing targeted content includes the steps of:

adding said valid attribute data to a URL, said valid attribute data includes data from two or more cookies;

communicating said URL to a server;

receiving said targeted content from said server; and

displaying said targeted content.

80. A method according to claim 78, wherein:

said targeted content is a first advertisement pertaining to a first category;

said valid attribute data corresponds to said first category; and

said alternate content is a second advertisement that is not sorted by a category pertaining to said valid attribute data.

81. A method according to claim 77, wherein:

said valid attribute data is represented by one or more bit patterns.

82. A method according to claim 77, wherein:

said valid attribute data includes a first attribute, a second attribute and a third attribute;

said first attribute is stored in a first cookies;

said second attribute is stored in a second cookie; and

said third attribute is stored in a third cookie.

83. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more processors;

a communication interface in communication with said one or more processors and a network; and

one or more storage devices in communication with said one or more processors, said one or more storage devices store content, said one or more processors programmed to preform a method comprising the steps of;

determining whether one or more cookies store valid attribute data, and

providing targeted content if said step of determining concludes that one or more cookies store valid attribute data.

84. An apparatus according to claim 83, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

providing alternate content if said step of determining does not conclude that one or more cookies store valid attribute data.

85. An apparatus according to claim 83, wherein said step of providing targeted content includes the steps of:

adding said valid attribute data to a URL, said valid attribute data includes data from two or more cookies;

communicating said URL to a server;

receiving said targeted content from said server; and

displaying said targeted content.

86. An apparatus according to claim 85, wherein:

said targeted content is a first advertisement pertaining to a first category;

said valid attribute data corresponds to said first category; and

said alternate content is a second advertisement that is not sorted by a category pertaining to said valid attribute data.