SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR COMPENSATING WEB USERS FOR VIEWING TARGETED ADS
First Claim
1. A method for compensating users for viewing targeted ads, comprising:
- providing a first database, wherein the first database is accessible locally by a server machine in a computing environment, wherein the first database is accessible over a network by a plurality of advertisers connected to the computing environment, and wherein the first database stores advertising campaigns containing demographic targets defined by the plurality of advertisers;
providing a second database, wherein the second database is accessible locally by the server machine in the computing environment, wherein the second database is accessible over the network by a plurality of users connected to the computing environment, and wherein the second database stores user files containing traits defined by the plurality of users;
receiving at the server machine a request for ads, wherein the request for ads contains information identifying a user, wherein the user is one of the plurality of users;
in response to the request for ads, initiating by the server machine an ad matching algorithm, wherein the ad matching algorithm is translatable by the server machine to perform;
accessing a user file associated with the user in the second database;
loading a set of traits from the user file;
searching the first database for active advertising campaigns having demographic targets that match the set of traits or a portion thereof;
building a list of ads from the active advertising campaigns; and
returning the list of ads to the server machine for display to the user, wherein each of the ads is associated with an amount to which the user is entitled for viewing the ad.
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Abstract
Embodiments disclosed herein can directly compensate Web users for viewing ads. In some embodiments, this is achieved by Ad player software. In some embodiments, the Ad player may be hosted on a server machine, implemented as a client-side application, or integrated into a Web site. In some embodiments, the Ad player may be operable to allow a user to login to the player, track the ads shown to the user, and directly compensate the user. The ads are selectively presented to the users based on information about the users. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the information about a user is provided by the user and stored in a designated MeFile. In some embodiments, advertisers may define ad campaigns based on information derived from the MeFiles. In some embodiments, advertisers may bid for the attention of Web users and the Ad player may list ads per bid price.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for compensating users for viewing targeted ads, comprising:
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providing a first database, wherein the first database is accessible locally by a server machine in a computing environment, wherein the first database is accessible over a network by a plurality of advertisers connected to the computing environment, and wherein the first database stores advertising campaigns containing demographic targets defined by the plurality of advertisers; providing a second database, wherein the second database is accessible locally by the server machine in the computing environment, wherein the second database is accessible over the network by a plurality of users connected to the computing environment, and wherein the second database stores user files containing traits defined by the plurality of users; receiving at the server machine a request for ads, wherein the request for ads contains information identifying a user, wherein the user is one of the plurality of users; in response to the request for ads, initiating by the server machine an ad matching algorithm, wherein the ad matching algorithm is translatable by the server machine to perform; accessing a user file associated with the user in the second database; loading a set of traits from the user file; searching the first database for active advertising campaigns having demographic targets that match the set of traits or a portion thereof; building a list of ads from the active advertising campaigns; and returning the list of ads to the server machine for display to the user, wherein each of the ads is associated with an amount to which the user is entitled for viewing the ad. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer program product for compensating users for viewing targeted ads, the computer program product comprising one or more computer readable storage media storing computer instructions translatable by one or more processors to perform:
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accessing a user file associated with a user in a consumer database, wherein the consumer database is accessible locally by a server machine in a computing environment, wherein the consumer database is accessible over a network by a plurality of users connected to the computing environment, and wherein the consumer database stores user files containing traits defined by the plurality of users; loading a set of traits from the user file associated with the user; searching an advertiser database for active advertising campaigns having demographic targets that match the set of traits or a portion thereof, wherein the advertiser database is accessible locally by the server machine in the computing environment, wherein the advertiser database is accessible over the network by a plurality of advertisers connected to the computing environment, and wherein the advertiser database stores advertising campaigns, each containing a set of demographic targets; building a list of ads from the active advertising campaigns; and providing the list of ads for display to the user, wherein each of the ads is associated with an amount to which the user is entitled for viewing the ad. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for compensating users for viewing targeted ads, comprising:
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a computing environment comprising a server machine, an advertiser database, a consumer database, and a computer program product; a plurality of advertisers connected to the computing environment over a network; and a plurality of consumers connected to the computing environment over the network, wherein the computer program product comprises one or more computer readable storage media storing computer instructions translatable by one or more processors to perform; accessing a user file associated with a user in the consumer database, wherein the consumer database is accessible locally by the server machine in the computing environment, wherein the consumer database is accessible over the network by the plurality of users, and wherein the consumer database stores user files containing traits defined by the plurality of users; loading a set of traits from the user file associated with the user; searching the advertiser database for active advertising campaigns having demographic targets that match the set of traits or a portion thereof, wherein the advertiser database is accessible locally by the server machine in the computing environment, wherein the advertiser database is accessible over the network by the plurality of advertisers, and wherein the advertiser database stores advertising campaigns, each containing a set of demographic targets; building a list of ads from the active advertising campaigns; and providing the list of ads for display to the user, wherein each of the ads is associated with an amount to which the user is entitled for viewing the ad. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification