REAL TIME DEBUGGING IN ONLINE VIDEO ADVERTISEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20150339730A1
• Filed: 07/21/2014
• Published: 11/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yahoo AD Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Endo, Jason, Stone, Aaron, Roever, Amanda, Hsiung, Daniel, Kuhn, Evan
• Granted Patent: US 10,733,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0275 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

Techniques for monitoring an online video advertisement system include receiving a request for insertion of an online video advertisement, determining, selectively based on presence of a debug suffix, whether the request includes a debug request, performing a bidding auction to select a winning bid, and sending debug information, in response to the request, upon determination that the request includes the debug request. The debug data includes bid data received during the bidding auction. In one advantageous aspect, the use of hypertext transfer protocol headers to communicate debug information allows for activation and deactivation of the debugging operation transparently, e.g., without changing the underlying application layer workflow.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring an online video advertisement system, comprising:

receiving a request for insertion of an online video advertisement;

determining, selectively based on presence of a debug suffix, whether the request includes a debug request;

performing a bidding auction to select a winning bid; and

sending debug information, in response to the request, upon determination that the request includes the debug request, comprising bid data received during the bidding auction.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to the request, upon determination of that the request does not include a debug request, sending a response comprising an abbreviated version of the debug information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of determining whether the request includes the debug request comprises:

verifying that the request for insertion was sent from a trusted internet protocol address.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein bid data included in the debug information comprises bid data only from the winning bid.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the request uses a hypertext transfer protocol format.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the determining is performed by parsing the request prior to taking an application layer action on the request.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the debug information further includes debug data received from a computer in the online video advertisement system.

8. An apparatus for monitoring an online video advertisement system, comprising:

a request receiver module that receives a request for insertion of an online video advertisement;

a debug determination module that determines, selectively based on presence of a debug suffix, whether the request includes a debug request;

a bid module that performs a bidding auction to select a winning bid; and

a debug response module that responds, when it is determined that the request for insertion includes a debug request, with debug information.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

an online video insertion module that responds, when it is determined that request for insertion does not include a debug request, with a response comprising an abbreviated version of the debug information.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the debug module comprises:

a verification module that verifies that the request for insertion was sent from a trusted internet protocol address.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein bid data included in the debug information comprises bid data only from the winning bid.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the debug information is derived from bid data received during the bidding auction.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the request uses a hypertext transfer protocol format.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the debug determination module parses the request prior to taking an application layer action on the request.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the debug information includes a first portion that is locally generated and a second portion that is relayed on behalf of a server in the online video advertisement system.

16. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having code stored thereon, the code, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to implement a method comprising:

receiving a request for insertion of an online video advertisement;

determining, selectively based on presence of a debug suffix, whether the request includes a debug request;

performing a bidding auction to select a winning bid; and

responding, when it is determined that the request for insertion includes a debug request, with debug information comprising bid data received during the bidding auction.

17. An online video advertisement system, comprising:

an advertisement server;

an operator console; and

a video advertisement bidding server;

wherein the advertisement server is configured to;

transmit video advertisement bid requests to the video advertisement bidding server; and

provide debug information upon request; and

wherein the operator console is configured to;

control normal operation of the advertisement server using hypertext messaging; and

request debug information from the advertisement server by modifying hypertext messaging with a debug suffix.

18. A method of integrating a new partner into a video advertisement system, comprising:

operating a bid server in debug mode to solicit a bid response from the new partner, along with other existing partners, for placement of a video advertisement to an online viewer;

generating debug data based on the bid response received from the new partner;

permitting the new partner to place video advertisements only a user confirms, based on the debug data, that the new partner'"'"'s bid response is acceptable.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the debug operation is activated by adding a video advertisement request to the bid server with a debug entry.

20. The method of claim 18, further including:

providing an identity of the new partner to the bid server using an offline message.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the video advertisement request is in a hypertext protocol format.