METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TARGETING USER INITIATED SOCIAL EVENTS

• US 20130097016A1
• Filed: 10/14/2011
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Klish, Aaron J., Muchnik, Greg, Ahrens, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 10,248,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.49
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Techniques are provided which allow targeting social events. Methods and systems allow a user to register a social event which involves a group of users watching a program on a television on a social networking platform. Information related to the event may be obtained and the group of users may be classified as belonging to one or more targeting segments based at least in part on the information related to the event. One or more advertisements may be selected based at least in part on the one or more targeting segments. The one or more advertisements may be transmitted such that the one or more advertisements are displayed on the television.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

using one or more computers, allowing a user to register an event on a social networking platform, wherein the event involves a group of users watching a program on a television;

using one or more computers, obtaining information relating to the event;

using one or more computers, classifying the group of users as belonging to one or more targeting segments based at least in part on the information relating to the event;

using one or more computers, selecting one or more advertisements based at least in part on the one or more targeting segments; and

using one or more computers, transmitting the one or more advertisements such that the one or more advertisements are displayed on the television.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information relating to the event comprises time of the event, date of the event, users who are attending the event, and content being watched at the event.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

using one or more computers, classifying each user of the group of users as belonging to one or more individual targeting segments based at least in part on the event information.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

using one or more computers, identifying one or more shared targeting segments among the one or more individual targeting segments to represent the group of users.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the television is configured to access the Internet.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the television is operably connected to a gaming console configured to access the Internet.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the one or more advertisements further comprises:

transmitting the one or more advertisements during the event.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more advertisements are transmitted in response to a request from the television.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more advertisements are pushed to the television at a predetermined time.

10. A system comprising:

one or more server computers coupled to a network; and

one or more databases coupled to the one or more server computers;

wherein the one or more server computers are for;

allowing a user to register an event on a social networking platform, wherein the event involves a group of users watching a program on television;

obtaining information relating to the event;

classifying the group of users as belonging to one or more targeting segments based at least in part on the information relating to the event;

selecting one or more advertisements based at least in part on the one or more targeting segments; and

transmitting the one or more advertisements such that the one or more advertisements are displayed on the television.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the information relating to the event comprises time of the event, date of the event, users who are attending the event, and content being watched at the event.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more server computers are further configured for:

classifying each user of the group of users as belonging to one or more individual targeting segments based at least in part on the event information.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more server computers are further configured for:

identifying one or more shared targeting segments among the one or more individual targeting segments to represent the group of users.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the television is configured to access the Internet.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the television is operably connected to a gaming console configured to access the Internet.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein transmitting the one or more advertisements further comprises:

transmitting the one or more advertisements during the event.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more advertisements are transmitted in response to a request from the television.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more advertisements are pushed to the television at a predetermined time.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more server computers are further configured for:

offering the user one or more of cash, discounts, and coupons for registering the event and for allowing advertisers to target the group of users at the event.

20. A computer readable medium or media containing instructions for executing a method comprising:

using one or more computers, allowing a user to register an event on a social networking platform, wherein the event involves a group of users watching a program on a television;

using one or more computers, obtaining information relating to the event;

using one or more computers, classifying each user of the group of users as belonging to one or more individual targeting segments based at least in part on the event information;

using one or more computers, identifying one or more shared targeting segments among the one or more individual targeting segments to represent the group of users;

using one or more computers, selecting one or more advertisements based at least in part on the one or more shared targeting segments; and

using one or more computers, transmitting the one or more advertisements such that the one or more advertisements are displayed on the television.