Controlling Content Distribution

• US 20100153516A1
• Filed: 03/10/2009
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Bender, Brad H., Hochmuth, Gregor, Axe, Brian, Moonka, Rajas, Weinberg, Aitan, Zamir, Oren E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,219,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/335 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles filtering in web context G06F16/9535, G06F16/9536
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for controlling content distribution includes forwarding information associated with a user to a device operated by the user, the information being configured for use in selecting content from any of multiple content providers for a content distribution to the user. The method includes receiving, in response to the information, an edit of the information forwarded from the device. The edit identifies a first content provider and including a first modification of the content distribution regarding the first content provider. The method includes storing the edit in association with the information such that the first modification is taken into account in the content distribution. The method can be implemented using a computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling content distribution, the method comprising:

forwarding information associated with a user to a device operated by the user, the information being configured for use in selecting content from any of multiple content providers for a content distribution to the user;

receiving, in response to the information, an edit of the information forwarded from the device, the edit identifying a first content provider and including a first modification of the content distribution regarding the first content provider; and

storing the edit in association with the information such that the first modification is taken into account in the content distribution.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the content distribution takes place under an arrangement where the content providers provide advertising content for publication in connection with content from any of a plurality of publishers, wherein the plurality of publishers receive compensation from the content providers in return for publication, and wherein the edit permits the user to exercise control over which of the advertising content is included in the content distribution.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the information further identifies at least one interest that has been associated with the user for selecting the content for the content distribution, wherein the edit further includes a second modification of the content distribution regarding the interest, and wherein the edit is stored such that the second modification also is taken into account in the content distribution.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein:

the first modification comprises altering the plurality of content providers to add or delete the first content provider; and

the second modification comprises altering the content distribution to add or delete the interest as being associated with the user.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the edit further includes a user-defined modification of the content distribution regarding an interest, and wherein the edit is stored such that the user-defined modification also is taken into account in the content distribution.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first content provider has retargeted the user in response to the user accessing content associated with the first content provider, and wherein the information identifies the first content provider to the user as having retargeted the user.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the edit specifies that the first content provider is to be blocked from retargeting the user but that the first content provider can provide content to the user in the content distribution based on the information taking into account the first modification.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the edit further includes a user preference specification regarding the content distribution, and wherein the edit is stored such that the user preference specification also is taken into account in the content distribution.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the user preference specification defines that the user prefers at least one of a text format and a graphic format for the content distribution.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the user preference specification defines that the user prefers at least one of multiple attributes for the content distribution.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a user identifier associated with the user and accessible on the device for any of the multiple content providers to obtain the information for selecting the content for the content distribution, the user identifier being forwarded from the device to obtain the information, and wherein the information is forwarded to the device in response to receiving the user identifier.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing to the device executable instructions for execution on the device, wherein the information is forwarded to the device in response to receiving a request for the information from the device, the request being generated using the executable instructions, and wherein the executable instructions are configured for the user to define the edit to be forwarded.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the device has stored thereon a cookie including an identifier associated with the user, and wherein the executable instructions are configured for generating a cookie viewer application on the device.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the cookie includes essentially only the user identifier.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a predetermined number of content portions as having been most recently presented to the user in the content distribution;

causing at least part of each of the predetermined number of content portions to again be presented on the device; and

receiving an input generated by the user from the device, the input identifying at least one of the content portions and including another edit of the information regarding the identified content portion.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the other edit comprises that the identified content portion is to be blocked from being presented on the device.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising causing at least part of the information to be presented on the device, wherein the first content provider is referred to as anonymous in the presented information.

18. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium and comprising instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method for controlling content distribution, the method comprising:

forwarding information associated with a user to a device operated by the user, the information being configured for use in selecting content from any of multiple content providers for a content distribution to the user;

receiving, in response to the information, an edit of the information forwarded from the device, the edit identifying a first content provider and including a first modification of the content distribution regarding the first content provider; and

storing the edit in association with the information such that the first modification is taken into account in the content distribution.

19. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, generate on a display device a graphical user interface for controlling content distribution, the graphical user interface comprising:

an information edit area generated on a device for a user to specify an edit of information configured for use in selecting content from any of multiple content providers for a content distribution to the user, the edit identifying a first content provider and including a first modification of the content distribution regarding the first content provider, wherein the graphical user interface causes the edit to be stored in association with the information such that the first modification is taken into account in the content distribution.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein a predetermined number of content portions are identified as having been most recently presented to the user in the content distribution and the graphical user interface causes at least part of each of the predetermined number of content portions to again be presented on the device, and receives an input generated by the user identifying at least one of the content portions and including another edit of the information regarding the identified content portion.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the device has stored thereon a cookie including an identifier associated with the user, and wherein the graphical user interface comprises a cookie viewer application configured for generating a request for the information from the device and defining the edit.

22. A computer-implemented method for controlling content distribution, the method comprising:

presenting information associated with a user on a device operated by the user, the information received from another device and being configured for use in selecting content from any of multiple content providers for a content distribution to the user;

registering an edit of the information made by the user, the edit identifying a first content provider and including a first modification of the content distribution regarding the first content provider; and

forwarding the edit to the other device such that the first modification is taken into account in the content distribution.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein the information further identifies at least one interest that has been associated with the user for selecting the content for the content distribution, wherein the edit further includes a second modification of the content distribution regarding the interest, and wherein the edit is stored such that the second modification also is taken into account in the content distribution.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein the first content provider has retargeted the user in response to the user accessing content associated with the first content provider, and wherein the information identifies the first content provider to the user as having retargeted the user.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, further comprising:

presenting each of a predetermined number of content portions on the device, the predetermined number of content portions being identified as having been most recently presented to the user in the content distribution; and

registering that the user identifies at least one of the content portions, wherein the edit includes another edit of the information regarding the identified content portion.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, wherein the other edit comprises that the identified content portion is to be blocked from being presented on the device.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, further comprising receiving at the device executable instructions for execution, wherein the device has stored thereon a cookie including an identifier associated with the user and wherein the executable instructions are configured for generating a cookie viewer application on the device, the cookie viewer application configured for requesting the information from the other device and for registering the edit to be forwarded.

28. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium and comprising instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method for controlling content distribution, the method comprising:

presenting information associated with a user on a device operated by the user, the information received from another device and being configured for use in selecting content from any of multiple content providers for a content distribution to the user;

registering an edit of the information made by the user, the edit identifying a first content provider and including a first modification of the content distribution regarding the first content provider; and

forwarding the edit to the other device such that the first modification is taken into account in the content distribution.