SELECTION OF TARGETED ADVERTISEMENTS

• US 20090222315A1
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: HAYES, RAYMOND FRANCIS JR.
• Application Number:
  US12/039,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20090222315A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute

Abstract

System, methods, and computer-storage media are provided for selecting advertisements specifically targeted to a first end user. Information is provided by a second end user that describes characteristics and interests of the first end user. The information provided by the second user is used to select advertisements specifically targeted to the first end user. The selected advertisements are presented to the first end user through computer-enabled forms of communication between the first end user and the second end user.

Claims

1. A method for selecting targeted advertisements, the method comprising:

receiving information at an advertisement server about a first end user, the information provided by a second end user; and

selecting at least one advertisement that is specifically targeted to the first end user based on the information received from the second end user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information received about the first end user comprises at least one of the following:

activities, hobbies, interests, relationship status, educational background, and affiliation with the second end user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

communicating the at least one advertisement for presentation to the first end user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one advertisement is presented to the first end user through a social networking website.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one advertisement is presented to the first end user through real time network based messaging between the first and second end user, electronic mail, or voice telephone communication.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information provided to the advertisement server about the first end user by the second end user does not reveal the true identity of the first end user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one advertisement is communicated to the second end user device and cached on the second user device.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein communicating the at least one advertisement for presentation to the first end user occurs while the first and second end user are engaged in a computer-enabled form of communication.

9. One or more computer storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method, the method comprising:

providing information to an advertisement server about a first end user, the information provided by a second end user, wherein the advertisement server selects at least one advertisement for presentation to the first end user that is specifically targeted to the first end user; and

communicating with a first user device associated with the first end user, wherein the at least one advertisement is communicated for presentation at the first user device

10. The one or more computer storage media of claim 9, wherein the information received about a first end user comprises at least one of the following:

activities, hobbies, interests, relationship status, educational background, and affiliation with the second end user.

11. The one or more computer storage media of claim 9, wherein the at least one advertisement is presented to the first end user through real time network based messaging between the first and second end user, voice telephone communication, or electronic mail.

12. The one or more computer storage media of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving the at least one advertisement from the advertisement server; and

caching the at least one advertisement on the second user device.

13. The one or more computer storage media of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a communication from the first user device, wherein the communication indicates that the first user is attempting to communicate with the second end user.

14. The one or more computer storage media of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

initiating a communication session between the first user device and the second user device.

15. The one or more computer storage media of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

communicating the at least one advertisement to the first user device, wherein the at least one advertisement is communicated to the first user device during communication between the first user and second user device, wherein the at least one advertisement is presented to the first end user.

16. The one or more computer storage media of 15, wherein the at least one advertisement is presented to the first end user occurs while the first and second end users are engaged in a computer-enabled form of communication.

17. One or more computer storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method for presenting targeted advertisements to an end user, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a first end user for content at a server for a website;

providing at least one advertisement specifically targeted to the first end user, wherein the at least one advertisement targeted to the first end user is based on information provided by a second end user; and

communicating the at least one advertisement to the first end user in conjunction with the content.

18. The computer storage media of claim 17, wherein the website is an online social network or other similar network where users create a profile, wherein the profile is viewable by other users.

19. The computer storage media of claim 18, wherein the at least one advertisement is communicated to the first end user when the first end user views a profile created by the second end user.