LOCATION-INTENTION CONTEXT FOR CONTENT DELIVERY

• US 20120054180A1
• Filed: 08/31/2010
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Priyadarshan, Eswar, Grigorovici, Dan Marius, Abdala, Omar
• Granted Patent: US 8,983,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/731
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context

Abstract

Invitational content targeted to a particular behavior can be served to the user when the user is likely to reproduce a desired behavior. The user is classified into one or more spatial-temporal segments based on an analysis of the user'"'"'s characteristics and the user'"'"'s past behavior. When a request is made for an item of invitational content, a spatial-temporal segment is selected based on a substantial likelihood that the current context will lead to a repeat of the representative past behavior. An item of invitational content associated with the selected segment is then served to the user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

collecting user characteristic data, the user characteristic data including user information collected by a mobile device, at least a portion of the user characteristic data being temporary data;

classifying the user into a spatial-temporal segment based on the user characteristic data, wherein the inclusion of the user into the spatial-temporal segment is indicative of a past behavior;

purging the temporary data after the user has been categorized into the spatial-temporal segment; and

serving invitational content to the user based on the user having been categorized into the spatial-temporal segment, when the user is likely to repeat at least a portion of the past behavior.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user characteristic data includes a location of the user'"'"'s device.

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

determining a prioritized ranking of invitational content for distributing to the user.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the prioritized ranking is based on goals assigned to segments of users, the segments associating the user within the segment with invitational content targeted to users of the segment.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the step of determining a prioritized ranking of invitational content is performed before serving the invitational content.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the step of categorizing only considers information with an associated confidence score greater than a specified threshold value.

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

inferring unknown user characteristic data associated with the user from other user characteristic data.

8. A system comprising:

a processor;

a first module configured to control the processor to collect user characteristic data, the user characteristic data including user information collected by a mobile device, at least a portion of the user characteristic data being temporary data;

a second module configured to control the processor to classify the user into a spatial-temporal segment based on the user characteristic data, wherein the inclusion of the user into the spatial-temporal segment is indicative of a past behavior;

a third module configured to control the processor to purge the temporary data after the user has been categorized into the spatial-temporal segment; and

a fourth module configured to control the processor to serve invitational content to the user based on the user having been categorized into the spatial-temporal segment, when the user is likely to repeat at least a portion of the past behavior.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the user characteristic data includes a location of the user'"'"'s device.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a fifth module configured to control the processor to determine a prioritized ranking of invitational content for distributing to the user.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the prioritized ranking is based on goals assigned to segments of users, the segments associating the user within the segment with invitational content targeted to users of the segment.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the step of determining a prioritized ranking of invitational content is performed before serving the invitational content.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the step of categorizing only considers information with an associated confidence score greater than a specified threshold value.

14. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a fifth module configured to control the processor to infer unknown user characteristic data associated with the user from other user characteristic data.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer-readable code stored thereon for causing a computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

collecting user characteristic data, the user characteristic data including user information collected by a mobile device, at least a portion of the user characteristic data being temporary data;

classifying the user into a spatial-temporal segment based on the user characteristic data, wherein the inclusion of the user into the spatial-temporal segment is indicative of a past behavior;

purging the temporary data after the user has been categorized into the spatial-temporal segment; and

serving invitational content to the user based on the user having been categorized into the spatial-temporal segment, when the user is likely to repeat at least a portion of the past behavior.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the user characteristic data includes a location of the user'"'"'s device.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

determining a prioritized ranking of invitational content for distributing to the user.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the prioritized ranking is based on goals assigned to segments of users, the segments associating the user within the segment with invitational content targeted to users of the segment.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the step of determining a prioritized ranking of invitational content is performed before serving the invitational content.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the step of categorizing only considers information with an associated confidence score greater than a specified threshold value.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

inferring unknown user characteristic data associated with the user from other user characteristic data.