METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMPRESSION INVENTORY TRADING

• US 20140358798A1
• Filed: 06/04/2014
• Published: 12/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AppNexus Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Anderson, Eric, O'Kelley, Catherine S., Johansson, Wendy W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,319,055 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing an impression inventory trading platform are described. A specification of impression inventory for sale is received from a seller, the impression inventory having associated therewith a plurality of attributes. Each attribute is specified as either visible or hidden to a potential impression inventory buyer. The impression inventory specification and visible attributes associated therewith are provided to one or more potential impression inventory buyers via a user interface, and negotiation for purchase of the impression inventory is facilitated between the seller and one or more of the potential impression inventory buyers via the user interface.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, from a seller, a specification of impression inventory for sale, the impression inventory having associated therewith a plurality of attributes;

specifying, for each of the attributes, whether the respective attribute is visible to a potential impression inventory buyer;

providing the impression inventory specification and visible attributes associated therewith to one or more potential impression inventory buyers via a user interface; and

facilitating negotiation, via the user interface, between the seller and one or more of the potential impression inventory buyers for purchase of the impression inventory.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the facilitating negotiation comprises:

receiving a proposal from a first one of the potential impression inventory buyers for the seller to expose one or more hidden attributes associated with the impression inventory to the first potential impression inventory buyer; and

providing the proposal to the seller.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the proposal comprises an offer to provide a benefit to the seller in exchange for the seller exposing the one or more hidden attributes.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a particular benefit to the seller comprises a price floor for certain impression inventory or a minimum spend commitment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a particular attribute comprises a full uniform resource locator, a partial uniform resource locator, a domain, an age, a gender, a content category, an auction price floor, a geography, a tag, a publisher, or a fold position.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the facilitating negotiation comprises:

receiving from the seller proposed terms for the sale of the impression inventory;

providing, via the user interface, the proposed terms to a first one of the potential impression inventory buyers;

receiving from the first potential impression inventory buyer an acceptance or rejection of the proposed terms; and

providing, via the user interface, the acceptance or rejection to the seller.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the proposed terms comprise a proposed rate for a sale of at least a subset of the impression inventory.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the proposed terms comprise proposed targeting access to the impression inventory for the first potential impression inventory buyer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the facilitating negotiation comprises:

receiving from a first one of the potential impression inventory buyers proposed terms for the purchase of the impression inventory;

providing, via the user interface, the proposed terms to the seller;

receiving from the seller an acceptance or rejection of the proposed terms; and

providing, via the user interface, the acceptance or rejection to the first potential impression inventory buyer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the facilitating negotiation further comprises:

receiving modifications to the proposed terms from the seller; and

providing, via the user interface, the modifications to the first potential impression inventory buyer.

11. A system comprising:

one or more computers programmed to perform operations comprising;

receiving, from a seller, a specification of impression inventory for sale, the impression inventory having associated therewith a plurality of attributes;

specifying, for each of the attributes, whether the respective attribute is visible to a potential impression inventory buyer;

providing the impression inventory specification and visible attributes associated therewith to one or more potential impression inventory buyers via a user interface; and

facilitating negotiation, via the user interface, between the seller and one or more of the potential impression inventory buyers for purchase of the impression inventory.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the facilitating negotiation comprises:

receiving a proposal from a first one of the potential impression inventory buyers for the seller to expose one or more hidden attributes associated with the impression inventory to the first potential impression inventory buyer; and

providing the proposal to the seller.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the proposal comprises an offer to provide a benefit to the seller in exchange for the seller exposing the one or more hidden attributes.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein a particular benefit to the seller comprises a price floor for certain impression inventory or a minimum spend commitment.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein a particular attribute comprises a full uniform resource locator, a partial uniform resource locator, a domain, an age, a gender, a content category, an auction price floor, a geography, a tag, a publisher, or a fold position.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the facilitating negotiation comprises:

receiving from the seller proposed terms for the sale of the impression inventory;

providing, via the user interface, the proposed terms to a first one of the potential impression inventory buyers;

receiving from the first potential impression inventory buyer an acceptance or rejection of the proposed terms; and

providing, via the user interface, the acceptance or rejection to the seller.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the proposed terms comprise a proposed rate for a sale of at least a subset of the impression inventory.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the proposed terms comprise proposed targeting access to the impression inventory for the first potential impression inventory buyer.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the facilitating negotiation comprises:

receiving from a first one of the potential impression inventory buyers proposed terms for the purchase of the impression inventory;

providing, via the user interface, the proposed terms to the seller;

receiving from the seller an acceptance or rejection of the proposed terms; and

providing, via the user interface, the acceptance or rejection to the first potential impression inventory buyer.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the facilitating negotiation further comprises:

receiving modifications to the proposed terms from the seller; and

providing, via the user interface, the modifications to the first potential impression inventory buyer.