Methods, Systems, and Computer Program Products that us Measured Location Data to Identify Sources that Fraudulently Activate Internet Advertisements

• US 20140156390A1
• Filed: 02/06/2014
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aaron, Jeffrey A., Ruckart, John
• Granted Patent: US 10,489,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.47
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0248 Avoiding fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0272 Period of advertisement exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

Potential click fraud is determined. When a client device activates an Internet advertisement, the location of the client device is determined. Multiple activations of the same advertisement, by the client device, may indicate fraud.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving activations of an Internet advertisement by client devices;

determining a location associated with each of the client devices activating the Internet advertisement;

determining a sum of the activations having a common location;

comparing the sum of the activations to a threshold value;

determining the sum of the activations exceeds the threshold value;

identifying the sum of activations as fraudulent activations in response to the sum of the activations exceeding the threshold value; and

refunding fees paid for the fraudulent activations of the Internet advertisement in the common location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving global positioning system information as the location.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing for one of the activations.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising summing the activations having the common location.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a time associated with each one of the activations.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a region associated with the common location.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining a demographic associated with the region.

8. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing code that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving activations of an Internet advertisement by client devices;

determining a location associated with each of the client devices activating the Internet advertisement;

determining a sum of the activations having a common location;

comparing the sum of the activations to a threshold value;

determining the sum of the activations exceeds the threshold value;

identifying the sum of activations as fraudulent activations in response to the sum of the activations exceeding the threshold value; and

refunding fees paid for the fraudulent activations of the Internet advertisement in the common location.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise receiving global positioning system information as the location.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise billing for one of the activations.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise summing the activations having the common location.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise determining a time associated with each one of the activations.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise determining a region associated with the common location.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise determining a demographic associated with the region.

15. A memory storing code that when executed causes a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving activations of an Internet advertisement by client devices;

determining a location associated with each of the client devices activating the Internet advertisement;

determining a sum of the activations having a common location;

comparing the sum of the activations to a threshold value;

determining the sum of the activations exceeds the threshold value;

identifying the sum of activations as fraudulent activations in response to the sum of the activations exceeding the threshold value; and

refunding fees paid for the fraudulent activations of the Internet advertisement in the common location.

16. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise receiving global positioning system information as the location.

17. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise billing for one of the activations.

18. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise summing the activations having the common location.

19. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise determining a time associated with each one of the activations.

20. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise determining a region associated with the common location.