Content based Ad display control

• US 7,886,226 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adobe Inc.
• Original Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated (Adobe Inc.)
• Inventors: McCoy, William H., Wright, Richard, Sorotokin, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, CONG LAC T
• Application Number:
  US11/739,525
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 715/200, 715/209, 715/253, 715/243, 715/273
• US Class Current: 715/273
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Methods, systems and program products for providing a first visual region, the first visual region configured to present content determined by a document. A distinct second visual region is provided, the second visual region not defined by the document and configured to present content that is not contained in the document. One or more attributes are identified in the electronic document. Based on the one or more attributes, the presentation of ad content in the second visual region is enabled or disabled. The electronic document is presented in the first visual region.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

providing a first visual region, the first visual region configured to present content determined by a document;

providing a distinct second visual region, the second visual region not defined by the document and configured to present content that is not contained in the document;

identifying one or more attributes in the electronic document, wherein identifying the one or more attributes comprises identifying an attribute that controls ad presentation and identifying a value for the attribute that controls ad presentation;

based on the value of the attribute that controls ad presentation, enabling or disabling the presentation of ad content in the second visual region;

presenting the electronic document in the first visual region; and

presenting ad content in the second visual region, the ad content presented only if the value of the attribute that controls ad presentation indicates that that presentation of ad content is enabled.

2. The method of claim 1 where:

the attributes determine a location of ad content in the second visual region.

3. The method of claim 1 where:

the attributes determine the source of ad content.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting ad content based on content in the electronic document.

5. The method of claim 1 where:

the ad content is static or dynamic, and can include images, text, sound, interactive content, or combinations of these.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting additional information related to the ad content in response to user selection of the ad content.

7. A system comprising:

a display for presenting a document;

one or more control interfaces configured to receive input from a user; and

processor electronics configured to perform operations comprising;

providing a first visual region, the first visual region configured to present content determined by a document;

providing a distinct second visual region, the second visual region not defined by the document and configured to present content that is not contained in the document;

identifying one or more attributes in the electronic document, including identifying an attribute that enables or disables ad presentation and a value of the attribute that enables or disables ad presentation;

presenting the electronic document in the first visual region; and

if the value of the attribute that enables or disables ad presentation indicates that ad presentation is enabled;

presenting ad content in the second visual region, wherein the ad content is not presented if the value of the attribute indicates that presentation of ad content is disabled.

8. The system of claim 7 where:

the attributes determine a location of ad content in the second visual region.

9. The system of claim 7 where:

the attributes determine the source of ad content.

10. The system of claim 7 where the processor electronics are further configured to perform operations comprising:

selecting ad content based on content in the electronic document.

11. The system of claim 7 where:

the ad content is static or dynamic, and can include images, text, sound, interactive content, or combinations of these.

12. The system of claim 7 where the processor electronics are further configured to perform operations comprising:

presenting additional information related to the ad content in response to user selection of the ad content.

13. A computer program product, encoded on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

providing a first visual region, the first visual region configured to present content determined by a document;

providing a distinct second visual region, the second visual region not defined by the document and configured to present content that is not contained in the document;

identifying one or more attributes in the electronic document;

identifying that an attribute controls whether or not to present ad content;

determining a value of the attribute that controls whether or not to present ad content;

based on the value of the attribute that controls whether or not to present ad content, enabling or disabling the presentation of ad content in the second visual region; and

if presentation of ad content is disabled;

presenting the electronic document in the first visual region without presenting ad content;

if presentation of ad content is enabled;

presenting the electronic document in the first visual region and presenting ad content in the second visual region.

14. The program product of claim 13 where:

the attributes determine a location of ad content in the second visual region.

15. The program product of claim 13 where:

the attributes determine the source of ad content.

16. The program product of claim 13, further comprising:

selecting ad content based on content in the electronic document.

17. The program product of claim 13 where:

the ad content is static or dynamic, and can include images, text, sound, interactive content, or combinations of these.

18. The program product of claim 13, further comprising:

presenting additional information related to the ad content in response to user selection of the ad content.