Encoding ad and/or ad serving information in a click URL
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
- a) encoding, with a computer system including at least one computer, ad properties of an ad and including the encoded ad properties in a click URL, wherein the encoded ad properties include all of (A) a topic or concept associated with a Web page with which the ad was served, (B) a time the ad was served or rendered, (C) information about other ads that were rendered along with the ad, (D) a geolocation to which the ad was served, (E) an identity of a server that chose the ad, and (F) a digital signature generated based on the other ad properties included in the click URL;
b) serving, with the computer system, the ad together with the click URL;
c) in response to a user selection of the ad,i) decoding, with the computer system, the encoded ad properties at an intermediate URL server, andii) forwarding, with the computer system, a content rendering facility of the user to an ad landing page; and
d) using the encoded ad properties to perform, with the computer system, at least one of (1) tracking the performance of the ad and (2) determining advertiser charges for serving the ad.
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Abstract
The tracking of ad selections (such as ad clicks for example), and/or rich levels of ad performance may be facilitated by encoding one or more ad properties in a click URL of the ad. An intermediate URL server may be used to decode such ad properties when the ad is selected. Ad properties may include an identity of the ad; an identity of the advertiser; and/or various other ad serving parameters.
49 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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a) encoding, with a computer system including at least one computer, ad properties of an ad and including the encoded ad properties in a click URL, wherein the encoded ad properties include all of (A) a topic or concept associated with a Web page with which the ad was served, (B) a time the ad was served or rendered, (C) information about other ads that were rendered along with the ad, (D) a geolocation to which the ad was served, (E) an identity of a server that chose the ad, and (F) a digital signature generated based on the other ad properties included in the click URL; b) serving, with the computer system, the ad together with the click URL; c) in response to a user selection of the ad, i) decoding, with the computer system, the encoded ad properties at an intermediate URL server, and ii) forwarding, with the computer system, a content rendering facility of the user to an ad landing page; and d) using the encoded ad properties to perform, with the computer system, at least one of (1) tracking the performance of the ad and (2) determining advertiser charges for serving the ad. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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a) encoding, with a computer system including at least one computer, ad properties of an ad and including the encoded ad properties in a click URL, wherein the encoded ad properties include all of (A) a topic or concept associated with a Web page with which the ad was served, (B) a time the ad was served or rendered, (C) information about other ads that were rendered along with the ad, (D) a geolocation to which the ad was served, (E) an identity of a server that chose the ad, and (F) a digital signature generated based on the other ad properties included in the click URL; b) serving, with the computer system, the ad together with the click URL; c) in response to a user selection of the ad, i) decoding, with the computer system, the encoded ad properties at an intermediate URL server, and ii) forwarding, with the computer system, a content rendering facility of the user to an ad landing page; and d) using the encoded ad properties to perform, with the computer system, at least one of (1) tracking the performance of the ad and (2) determining advertiser charges for serving the ad, wherein the act of encoding the ad properties of the ad and including the encoded ad properties in the click URL includes; (1) representing, with the computer system, each of the ad properties of the ad with a binary value; (2) concatenating, with the computer system, each of the binary values to define a sequence of bits; (3) encoding, with the computer system, the sequence of bits into a sequence of characters, wherein each of the characters is selected from a set of K legal characters; and (4) providing, with the computer system, the sequence of characters in the click URL of the ad. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. Apparatus comprising:
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one or more processors; at least one input device; and one or more storage devices storing processor-executable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, perform a method of; a) encoding ad properties of an ad and including the encoded ad properties in a click URL, wherein the encoded ad properties include all of (A) a topic or concept associated with a Web page with which the ad was served, (B) a time the ad was served or rendered, (C) information about other ads that were rendered along with the ad, (D) a geolocation to which the ad was served, (E) an identity of a server that chose the ad, and (F) a digital signature generated based on the other ad properties included in the click URL; b) serving the ad together with the click URL; c) in response to a user selection of the ad, i) “
decoding the encoded ad properties at an intermediate URL server, andii) forwarding a content rendering facility of the user to an ad landing page; and d) using the encoded ad properties to perform, with the computer system, at least one of (1) tracking the performance of the ad and (2) determining advertiser charges for serving the ad. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Apparatus comprising:
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one or more processors; at least one input device; and one or more storage devices storing processor-executable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, perform a method of; a) encoding ad properties of an ad and including the encoded ad properties in a click URL, wherein the encoded ad properties include all of (A) a topic or concept associated with a Web page with which the ad was served, (B) a time the ad was served or rendered, (C) information about other ads that were rendered along with the ad, (D) a geolocation to which the ad was served, (E) an identity of a server that chose the ad, and (F) a digital signature generated based on the other ad properties included in the click URL; b) serving the ad together with the click URL; c) in response to a user selection of the ad, i) decoding the encoded ad properties at an intermediate URL server, and ii) forwarding a content rendering facility of the user to an ad landing page; and d) using the encoded ad properties to perform, with the computer system, at least one of (1) tracking the performance of the ad and (2) determining advertiser charges for serving the ad, wherein the act of encoding the ad properties of the ad and including the encoded ad properties in the click URL includes; (1) representing each of the ad properties of the ad with a binary value; (2) concatenating each of the binary values to define a sequence of bits; (3) encoding the sequence of bits into a sequence of characters, wherein each of the characters is selected from a set of K legal characters, and (4) providing the sequence of characters in the click URL of the ad. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification