System and method of arranging delivery of advertisements over a network such as the internet

• US 6,763,334 B1
• Filed: 12/09/1999
• Issued: 07/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Action Click Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Action Click Company Limited
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Takuya, Ishii, Ryuichi, Kidera, Shiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Young, John L.
• Application Number:
  US09/457,591
• Time in Patent Office: 1,678 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/14, 463/41, 709/217
• US Class Current: 705/14.19
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0217 involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0272 Period of advertisement exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation

Abstract

A method and system of arranging advertisements on a network for a potential media owner or affiliate to sell ad space on a network media to an advertiser. The advertiser'"'"'s conditions and the affiliate'"'"'s acceptance are made on the network through an agent'"'"'s server. The server provides an invitation page for entry of the advertiser'"'"'s conditions. The conditions are disclosed to the affiliate on the network. When the affiliate accepts the conditions on the network, the agent'"'"'s server responds to make an advertisement contract, and allocates an advertiser'"'"'s web site to the ad space of the network media. The number of the responses made to the advertisement is counted at the agent'"'"'s server, which delivers statistical data of the counted responses on the network to the advertiser and the affiliate for determination of the payment and for evaluation of the effectiveness of the advertisement.

Claims

1. A system of arranging the delivery of advertisements over a network, an agent managing said system, said system having an agent'"'"'s server that comprises:

an invitation module, said invitation module providing an invitation page on said network, said invitation page inviting a potential advertiser to place an intended advertisement on said network,

said advertiser having a web site,

said invitation page including a condition form, said advertiser providing at least one entry into said condition form to specify conditions of said intended advertisement,

said condition form having a selection box of defined responses to be made by a user of said network as a consequence of the intended advertisement so that the advertiser can select at least one of said defined responses at said selection box, said at least one of said defined responses to be included in said conditions,

said condition form having a cost per response entry to be entered by the advertiser, said cost per response entry indicating a unit cost payable for the response selected;

an offer module, said offer module making an ad schedule listing the intended advertisement with the specific conditions,

said specific conditions being based upon a reply to said invitation page from the advertiser,

said offer module providing an offer page, said offer page disclosing said ad schedule on the network to a potential affiliate so that the affiliate can determine to place the intended advertisement on an ad space of a network medium in agreement on the specific conditions prescribed in said ad schedule, said affiliate administering said network medium,

said offer page including an agreement entry, said agreement entry instructing the affiliate to enter an acceptance for selling the ad space to the advertiser;

an arrangement module, said arrangement module establishing an advertisement contract between the advertiser and the affiliate upon receipt of said acceptance from the affiliate,

said arrangement module allocating said web site to said ad space of said network by placing the intended advertisement thereon;

a response measurement module, said response measurement module counting the number of specific responses made at the web site through said ad space; and

an administration module, said administration module making a statistical report for analysis of the counted responses and delivering the statistical report through said agent'"'"'s server to the advertiser so that the advertiser can estimate the effectiveness of the intended advertisement,

wherein said web site includes an entrance page that is linked from said ad space, an action page that is linked from the entrance page and where the user may proceed to make at least one specific action of said defined responses, and an action process module that responds to said specific action for processing the same,

wherein said administration module produces the statistical report listing a page access number that is the number of the accesses to the entrance page of the web site during a predetermined period of time, an action access number that is the number of accesses to said action page, and a result number that is the number of the access to said action process module,

wherein the statistical report includes a proceeder rate, which is the ratio of the action access number to said page access number, and completer rate, which is the ratio of the result number to said page access number.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said defined responses made by the users include:

clicking through to said web site

downloading a file or software from the web site;

applying for a prize offered by the advertiser on the web site;

answering to a questionnaire from the advertiser on the web site;

requesting a catalogue from the advertiser through the web site;

requesting a subscription to a newsletter from the web site;

signing up a membership of a club managed by the advertisers through the web site; and

ordering a product or service through the web site.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said clicking through to said web site is excluded from said responses to be paid for.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said cost per response entry is programmed to receive different costs for differing responses selected by the advertiser.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said statistical report including a table showing a ratio of the number of the responses counted to the number of visits to the web site.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said condition form has, in addition to said selection box and said cost per response entry, information entries to be entered by the advertiser for items which include:

campaign objective;

maximum counts of responses per a predetermined period of time;

category of target group;

desired media;

requested advertising time period advertising content URL of the web site.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said response measurement module of the agent'"'"'s server being provided with an index CGI, an action CGI, and a result CGI;

said arrangement module preparing an index URL, an action URL, and a result URL upon establishment of said intended advertisement contract;

said index URL identifying a URL of said index CGI and including an ad code assigned to the intended advertisement, said index URL being embedded in said ad space;

said action URL identifying a URL of said action CGI and being embedded in said entrance page,

said result URL identifying a URL of said result CGI and being embedded in said action page;

said index CGI being linked to ad space through said index URL and to an index log file which stores index data with regard to the user requesting access to said entrance page, said index data including;

1) date and time of the user requesting access to said entrance page;

2) a referrer log showing data of at least said ad space from which the user makes the request for access to said entrance page of the web site; and

3) said ad code;

said arrangement module locating an entrance page URL of said entrance page based upon said ad code received at said index CGI by reference to a table storing various ad code in relation to various entrance page URLs, said arrangement module passing thus located entrance page URL to said index CGI which responds to redirect the user'"'"'s request at said ad space to said entrance page immediately after storing said index data in said index log file;

said action CGI being linked said entrance page through said action URL and to an action log file which stores action access data with regard to the user requesting access to said action page, said action access date including;

1) date and time of the user requesting access to the action page; and

2) a referrer log showing data of at least said ad space from which the user is led to said action page;

said arrangement module locating an action page URL of said action page by collation of said data of the ad space received at said index CGI with data of the ad space received at said action CGI and by reference to said table storing the ad codes in relation to action page URLs, said arrangement module passing thus located action page URL to said action CGI which responds to redirect the user'"'"'s request at said entrance page to said action page immediately after storing said action access data in said action log file;

said result CGI being linked to said action page through said result URL and to a result log file which stores action process data with regard to the user requesting the processing at said action process module, said action process date including

1) date and time of the user requesting an access to the action process module;

2) a referrer log showing data of at least said ad space from which the user is led to said action process module; and

said arrangement module locating an action process URL of said action page by collation of said data of the ad space received at said index CGI with data of the ad space received at said result CGI and by reference to said table storing the ad codes in relation to action process URLs, said arrangement module passing thus located action process URL to said result CGI which responds to redirect the users request for access to said action process module immediately after storing said action process data in said result log file.

8. The system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said administration module produces said statistical report with reference to said index log file, said action log file, and said result log file.

9. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein

said proceeder rate and said completer rate being listed on a daily basis.

10. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein

said proceeder rate and said completer rate are listed per said ad code when different ad codes are assigned to different campaigns.

11. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said statistical report includes said page access number, said action access number, and said result number which are sorted on each ad code when more then one ad code is assigned to different campaigns.

12. The system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said statistical report includes a referrer table listing a ranking of the referred URLs that lead to the action process module through said entrance page and said action page.

13. A method of arranging the delivery of advertisements over a network, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an invitation page on the network, said invitation page inviting potential advertisers each advertiser of said potential advertisers to place an advertisement on the network, said each advertiser having a web site,

said invitation page having a condition form to specify conditions of said advertisement, said condition form having a list of defined responses expected to be made by a user of said network in reply to the advertisement so that the advertiser can select at least one of said defined responses, said at least one of said defined responses to be included in said conditions,

said condition form having a cost per response entry to be filled by the advertiser, said cost per response entry indicating a unit cost payable for the response selected,

said condition form having a media entry for designating a desired network medium on which the advertisement is intended to be placed;

receiving a reply to the invitation page from the advertiser and making therefrom an ad schedule with specific conditions for the advertisement;

providing an offer page, said offer page disclosing said ad schedule over the network to a potential affiliate so that the affiliate can determine to place the advertisement on an ad space of a network medium in agreement on the specific conditions in said ad schedule, said potential affiliate administering said network medium,

said offer page including an agreement entry, said agreement entry instructing the affiliate to enter an acceptance for selling the ad space to the advertiser;

establishing an advertisement contract between the advertiser and the affiliate immediately upon receipt of said acceptance and delivering a confirmation of the contract to the advertiser and the affiliate;

allocating the web site to said ad space in the network medium placing the advertisement in order to count the number of ad space responses made through said ad space to the web site during a predetermined period of time; and

delivering data of the counted ad space responses over the network for access by the advertiser as well as by the affiliate so that the advertiser can evaluate the effect of the advertisement and that the affiliate can charge the advertiser for the advertisement based upon said data,

wherein said web site includes an entrance page that is linked from said ad space, an action page that is linked from the entrance page and where the user may proceed to make at least one specific action of said defined responses, and an action process module that responds to said specific action for processing the same,

wherein said administer module produces the statistical report listing a page access number that is the number of the accesses to the entrance page of the web site during a predetermined period of time, an action access number that is the number of accesses to said action page, and/or a result number that is the number of the access to said action process module,

wherein the statistical report includes a proceeder rate, which is the ratio of the action access number to said page access number, and/or “

completer”

rate, which is the ratio of the result number to said page access number.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein s said defined respnse made by the users include:

clicking through to said web site downloading a file or software from the web site;

applying for a prize offered by the advertiser on the web site;

answering to a questionnaire from the advertiser on the web site;

requesting a catalogue from the advertiser through the web site;

requesting a subscription to a newsletter from the web site;

signing up a membership of a club managed by the advertisers through the web site; and

ordering a product or service through the web site.

15. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said clicking through to

said web site is excluded from said ad space responses to be paid.

16. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein

said cost per response entry is programmed to receive different costs for differing responses selected by the advertiser.

17. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein

said statistical report including a table showing a ratio of the number of the counted ad space responses to the number of visits to the web site.

18. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein

said condition form has, in addition to said selection box and said cost per response entry, information entries to be entered by the advertiser for items which include:

campaign objective;

maximum counts of responses per a predetermined period of time;

category of target group;

desired media;

requested advertising time period;

advertising content;

URL of the web site.

19. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein

said response measurement module of the agents server being provided with:

an index CGI

an action CGI, and

a result CGI;

said arrangement module preparing;

an index URL,

an action URL, and

a result URL upon establishment of said advertisement contract;

said index URL identifying a URL of said index CGI and including an ad code assigned to the advertisement, said index URL being embedded in said ad space,

said action URL identifying a URL of said action CGI and being embedded in said entrance page,

said result URL identifying a URL of said result CGI and being embedded in said action page,

said index CGI being linked to ad space through said index URL and to an index log file which stores index data with regard to the user requesting access to said entrance page, said index data including;

1) date and time of the user requesting access to said entrance page;

2) a referrer log showing data of at least said ad space from which the user makes the request for access to said entrance page of the web site; and

3) said ad code;

said arrangement module locating an entrance page URL of said entrance page based upon said ad code by reference to a table storing various ad codes ad code in relation to various entrance page URLs, said arrangement module passing thus located entrance page URL to said index CGI which responds to redirect the user'"'"'s request at said ad space to said entrance page immediately after storing said index data in said index log file;

said action CGI being linked said entrance page through said action URL and to an action log file which stores action access data with regard to the user requesting access to said action page, said action access data including;

1) date and time of the user requesting to the action page; and

2) a referrer log showing data of at least said ad space from which the user is led to said action page;

said arrangement module locating an action page URL of said action page by collation of said data of the ad space received at said index CGI with data of the ad space received at said action CGI and by reference to said table storing the ad codes in relation to various action page URLs, said arrangement module passing thus located action page URL to said action CGI which responds to redirect the user'"'"'s request at said entrance page to said action page immediately after storing action access data in said action log file;

said result CGI being linked to said action page through said result URL and to a result log file which stores action process data with regard to the user requesting the processing at said action process module, said action process data including

1) date and time of the user requesting an access to the action process module; and

2) a referrer log showing data of at least said ad space from which the user is led to said action process module;

said arrangement module locating an action process URL of said action page by collation of said data of the ad space received at said index CGI with data of the ad space received at said result CGI and by reference to said table storing the ad codes in relation to various action process URLs, said

arrangement module passing thus located action process URL to said result CGI that responds to redirect the users request for access to said action process module immediately after storing said action process data in said result log file.

20. The method asset forth in claim 19, wherein

said administer module produces said statistical report with reference to said index log file, said action log file. and said result log file, said statistical report listing a page access number which is the number of the accesses to the entrance page of the web site during a predetermined period of time,

an action access number that is the number of accesses to said action page, and a result number that is the number of the access to said action process module.

21. The method as set forth in claim 20, wherein

said statistical report includes a proceeder rate, which is the ratio of the action access number to said page access number, and “

completer”

rate, which is the ratio of the result number to page access number, and said proceeder rate and said completer rate being listed on a daily basis.

22. The method as set forth in claim 20, wherein said statistical report includes a proceeder rate, which is the ratio of the action access number to said page access number, and “

completer”

rate, which is the ration of the result number to page access number, and said proceeder rate and said completer rate being listed per said ad code when different ad codes are assigned to different campaigns.

23. The method as set forth in claim 20, wherein

said statistical report includes said page access number, said action access number, and said result number which are sorted on each ad code when more than one ad code is assigned to different campaigns.

24. The method as set forth in claim 20, wherein said statistical report includes a referrer table listing a ranking of the referred URLs which lead to the action process module through said entrance page and said action page.

25. A system of arranging the delivery of advertisements over a network, an agent managing said system, said system having an agent'"'"'s server that comprises:

an invitation module, said invitation module providing an invitation page on said network, said invitation page inviting a potential advertiser to place an intended advertisement on said network,

said advertiser having a web site,

said invitation page including a condition form, said advertiser providing at least one entry into said condition form to specify conditions of said intended advertisement,

said condition form having a selection box of defined responses to be made by a user of said network as a consequence of the intended advertisement so that the advertiser can select at least one of said defined responses at said selection box, said at least one of said defined responses to be included in said conditions,

said condition form having a cost per response entry to be entered by the advertiser, said cost per response entry indicating a unit cost payable for the response selected;

an offer module, said offer module making an ad schedule listing the intended advertisement with the specific conditions,

said specific conditions being based upon a reply to said invitation page from the advertiser,

said offer module providing an offer page, said offer page disclosing said ad schedule on the network to a potential affiliate so that the affiliate can determine to place the intended advertisement on an ad space of a network medium in agreement on the specific conditions prescribed in said ad schedule, said affiliate administering said network medium,

said offer page including an agreement entry, said agreement entry instructing the affiliate to enter an acceptance for selling the ad space to the advertiser;

an arrangement module, said arrangement module establishing an advertisement contract between the advertiser and the affiliate upon receipt of said acceptance from the affiliate,

said arrangement module allocating said web site to said ad space of said network by placing the intended advertisement thereon;

a response measurement module, said response measurement module counting the number of specific responses made at the web site through said ad space; and

an administration module, said administration module making a statistical report for analysis of the counted responses and delivering the statistical report through said agent'"'"'s server to the advertiser so that the advertiser can estimate the effectiveness of the intended advertisement,

wherein said response measurement module of the agent'"'"'s server being provided with an index CGI, an action CGI, and a result CGI;

said arrangement module preparing an index URL, an action URL, and a result URL upon establishment of said intended advertisement contract;

said index URL identifying a URL of said index CGI and including an ad code assigned to the intended advertisement, said index URL being embedded in said ad space;

said action URL identifying a URL of said action CGI and being embedded in said entrance page,

said result URL identifying a URL of said result CGI and being embedded in said action page;

said index CGI being linked to ad space through said index URL and to an index log file which stores index data with regard to the user requesting access to said entrance page, said index data including;

1) date and time of the user requesting access to said entrance page;

2) a referrer log showing data of at least said ad space from which the user makes the request for access to said entrance page of the web site; and

3) said ad code;

said arrangement module locating an entrance page URL of said entrance page based upon said ad code received at said index CGI by reference to a table storing various ad code in relation to various entrance page URLs, said arrangement module passing thus located entrance page URL to said index CGI which responds to redirect the user'"'"'s request at said ad space to said entrance page immediately after storing said index data in said index log file;

said action CGI being linked said entrance page through said action URL and to an action log file which stores action access data with regard to the user requesting access to said action page, said action access data including;

1) date and time of the user requesting access to the action page; and

2) a referrer log showing data of at least said ad space from which the user is led to said action page,

said arrangement module locating an action page URL of said action page by collation of said data of the ad space received at said index CGI with data of the ad space received at said action CGI and by reference to said table storing the ad codes in relation to action page URLs, said arrangement module passing thus located action page URL to said action CGI which responds to redirect the user'"'"'s request at said entrance page to said action page immediately after storing said action access data in said action log file;

said result CGI being linked to said action page through said result URL and to a result log file which stores action process data with regard to the user requesting the processing at said action process module, said action process data including

1) date and time of the user requesting an access to the action process module;

2) a referrer log showing data of at least said ad space from which the user is led to said action process module; and

said arrangement module locating an action process URL of said action page by collation of said data of the ad space received at said index CGI with data of the ad space received at said result CGI and by reference to said table storing the ad codes in relation to action process URLs, said arrangement module passing thus located action process URL to said result CGI which responds to redirect the user'"'"'s request for access to said action process module immediately after storing said action process data in said result log file,

wherein said administration module produces said statistical report with reference to said index log file, said action log file, and said result log file,

wherein the statistical report includes a proceeder rate, which is the ratio of the action access number to said page access number, and completer rate, which is the ratio of the result number to said page access number.

26. A method of arranging the delivery of advertisements over a network such as the Internet, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an invitation page on the network, said invitation page inviting potential advertisers each advertiser of said potential advertisers to place an advertisement on the network, said each advertiser having a web site,

said invitation page having a condition form to specify conditions of said advertisement, said condition form having a list of defined responses expected to be made by a user of said network in reply to the advertisement so that the advertiser can select at least one of said defined responses, said at least one of said defined responses to be included in said conditions,

said condition form having a cost per response entry to be filled by the advertiser, said cost per response entry indicating a unit cost payable for the response selected, said condition form having a media entry for designating a desired network medium on which the advertisement is intended to be placed;

receiving a reply to the invitation page from the advertiser and making therefrom an ad schedule with specific conditions for the advertisement;

providing an offer page, said offer page disclosing said ad schedule over the network to a potential affiliate so that the affiliate can determine to place the advertisement on an ad space of a network medium in agreement on the specific conditions in said ad schedule, said potential affiliate administering said network medium,

said offer page including an agreement entry, said agreement entry instructing the affiliate to enter an acceptance for selling the ad space to the advertiser;

establishing an advertisement contract between the advertiser and the affiliate immediately upon receopt of said acceptance and delivering a confirmation of the contract to the advertiser and the affiliate;

allocating the web site to said ad space in the network medium placing the advertisement in order to count the number of ad space responses made through said ad space to the web site during a predetermined period of time; and

delivering data of the counted ad space responses over the network for access by the advertiser as well as by the affiliate so that the advertiser can evaluate the effect of the advertisement and that the affiliate can charge the advertiser for the advertisement based upon said data,

wherein said response measurement module of the agent'"'"'s server being provided with;

an index CGI,

an action CGI, and

a result CGI;

said arrangement module preparing;

an index URL,

an action URL, and

a result URL upon establishment of said advertisement contract;

said index URL identifying a URL of said index CGI and including an ad code assigned to the advertisement, said index URL being embedded in said ad space, said action URL identifying a URL of said action CGI and being embedded in said entrance

said result URL identifying a URL of said result CGI and being embedded in said action page;

said index CGI being linked to ad space through said index URL and to an index log file which stores index data with regard to the user requesting access to said entrance page, said index data including;

1) date and time of the user requesting access to said entrance page;

2) a referrer log showing data of at least said ad space from which the user makes the request for access to said entrance page of the web site; and

3) said ad code;

said arrangement module locating an entrance page URL of said entrance page based upon said ad code by reference to a table storing various ad codes ad code in relation to various entrance page URLs, said arrangement module passing thus located entrance page URL to said index CGI which responds to redirect the user'"'"'s request at said ad space to said entrance page immediately after storing said index data in said index log file;

said action CGI being linked said entrance page through said action URL and to an action log file which stores action access data with regard to the user requesting access to said action page, said action access data including;

1) date and time of the user requesting access to the action page; and

2) a referrer log showing data of at least said ad space from which the user is led to said action page;

said arrangement module locating an action page URL of said action page by collation of said data of the ad space received at said index CGI with data of the ad space received at said action CGI and by reference to said table storing the ad codes in relation to various action page URLs, said arrangement module passing thus located action page URL to said action CGI which responds to redirect the user'"'"'s request at said entrance page to said action page immediately after storing said action access data in said action log file;

said result CGI being linked to said action page through said result URL and to a result log file which stores action process data with regard to the user requesting the processing at said action process module, said action process data including;

1) date and time of the user requesting an access to the action process module; and

2) a referrer log showing data of at least said ad space from which the user is led to said action process module;

said arrangement module locating an action process URL of said action page by collation of said data of the ad space received at said index CGI with data of the ad space received at said result CGI and by reference to said table storing the ad codes in relation to various action process URLs,

said arrangement module passing thus located action process URL to said result CGI that responds to redirect the user'"'"'s request for access to said action process module immediately after storing said action process data in said result log file,

wherein an administration module produces a statistical report with reference to said index log file, said action log file, and said result log file,

wherein the statistical report includes a proceeder rate, which is the ratio of the action access number to said page access number, and completer rate, which is the ratio of the result number to said page access number.