Method for online session advertising
First Claim
1. An online session advertising method for displaying advertisements to a web site visitor having a computer, which comprises:
- (a) storing a first group of two or more ad identifiers and a second group of two or more ad identifiers, wherein each ad identifier included in the first group identifies an ad for a first advertiser, each ad identifier included in the second group identifies an ad for a second advertiser that is different than the first advertiser, a first ad group identifier is associated with the first group of ad identifiers, and a second ad group identifier is associated with the second group of ad identifiers;
(b) receiving, at a server, a first request message transmitted from a browser executing on the computer;
(c) in response to said first request message, transmitting a response to the computer, wherein the response (1) includes a first web page that includes an ad identifier from the first group of ad identifiers and (2) causes the browser to store information comprising the first ad group identifier;
(d) after step (c), receiving, at a server, a second request message transmitted from the browser in response to the web site visitor activating a hyperlink included in the first web page, wherein the second request message comprises cookie information; and
(e) in response to said second request message,(e1) selecting a set of ad identifiers based, at least in part, on the cookie information included in the second request message, wherein the selecting step comprises;
(e1.a) determining whether the cookie information received with the second request message includes the first ad group identifier;
(e1.b) in response to determining that the cookie information received with the second request message includes the first ad group identifier, determining (i) a maximum page view limit associated with the first ad group identifier and (ii) whether the maximum page view limit has been reached;
(e1.c) choosing a first set of ad identifiers that includes at least one ad identifier from the first group of ad identifiers in response to determining that the cookie information includes the first ad group identifier and the maximum page view limit has not been reached; and
(e1.d) choosing a second set of ad identifiers if the cookie information does not include the first ad group identifier, wherein the second set of ad identifiers includes zero or more ad identifiers from the first group of ad identifiers; and
(e2) transmitting to the browser a second web page that includes the selected set of ad identifiers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a method of providing and selling online advertising in which a single advertiser is guaranteed major advertising locations on each qualifying page viewed by a web site visitor during the viewer'"'"'s entire web session. Advertisements from a single advertiser follow web site visitors through the web pages they select for viewing, allowing a consistent message to be displayed to a particular user over a period of time. Advantages include the ability to engage in linear storytelling and to obtain reach, duration, and impact of the advertising message on a par with or exceeding that obtainable from conventional advertising media such as television and print.
45 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An online session advertising method for displaying advertisements to a web site visitor having a computer, which comprises:
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(a) storing a first group of two or more ad identifiers and a second group of two or more ad identifiers, wherein each ad identifier included in the first group identifies an ad for a first advertiser, each ad identifier included in the second group identifies an ad for a second advertiser that is different than the first advertiser, a first ad group identifier is associated with the first group of ad identifiers, and a second ad group identifier is associated with the second group of ad identifiers; (b) receiving, at a server, a first request message transmitted from a browser executing on the computer; (c) in response to said first request message, transmitting a response to the computer, wherein the response (1) includes a first web page that includes an ad identifier from the first group of ad identifiers and (2) causes the browser to store information comprising the first ad group identifier; (d) after step (c), receiving, at a server, a second request message transmitted from the browser in response to the web site visitor activating a hyperlink included in the first web page, wherein the second request message comprises cookie information; and (e) in response to said second request message, (e1) selecting a set of ad identifiers based, at least in part, on the cookie information included in the second request message, wherein the selecting step comprises; (e1.a) determining whether the cookie information received with the second request message includes the first ad group identifier; (e1.b) in response to determining that the cookie information received with the second request message includes the first ad group identifier, determining (i) a maximum page view limit associated with the first ad group identifier and (ii) whether the maximum page view limit has been reached; (e1.c) choosing a first set of ad identifiers that includes at least one ad identifier from the first group of ad identifiers in response to determining that the cookie information includes the first ad group identifier and the maximum page view limit has not been reached; and (e1.d) choosing a second set of ad identifiers if the cookie information does not include the first ad group identifier, wherein the second set of ad identifiers includes zero or more ad identifiers from the first group of ad identifiers; and (e2) transmitting to the browser a second web page that includes the selected set of ad identifiers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An online session advertising method for displaying advertisements to a web site visitor having a computer, which comprises:
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(b) receiving, at a server, a first request message transmitted from a browser executing on the computer; (c) in response to said first request message, transmitting a response to the computer, wherein the response (1) includes a first web page that includes an ad identifier from a group of ad identifiers and (2) causes the browser to store state information indicating that the first web page includes an ad identifier from the group of ad identifiers; (d) after step (c), receiving, at a server, a second request message transmitted from the browser in response to the web site visitor activating a hyperlink included in the first web page, wherein the second request message comprises cookie information; and (e) in response to said second request message, (i) selecting a set of ad identifiers based, at least in part, on the cookie information included in the second request message; and
(ii) transmitting to the browser a second web page that includes the selected set of ad identifiers, whereinthe step of selecting the set of ad identifiers comprises determining (i) whether the cookie information comprises the information indicating that the first web page includes an ad identifier from the group of ad identifiers, (ii) whether a maximum a page view limit has been reached, and (iii) whether the web page identified by the second request message meets predefined session criteria, and the step of selecting the set of ad identifiers further comprises selecting an ad identifier from the group of ad identifiers in response to determining that (i) the cookie information comprises the information indicating that the first web page includes an ad identifier from the group of ad identifiers, (ii) the maximum a page view limit has not been reached, and (iii) the web page identified by the second request message meets the predefined session criteria. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An online session advertising method for displaying advertisements to a web site visitor having a computer, which comprises:
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(a) receiving, at a server, a first request message transmitted from a browser executing on the computer; (b) in response to said first request message, transmitting a response to the computer, wherein the response (1) includes a first web page that includes an ad identifier from a set of ad identifiers and (2) causes the browser to store state information indicating that the first web page includes an ad identifier from the set of ad identifiers, wherein the set of ad identifiers is associated with a first advertiser; (c) after step (b), receiving, at a server, a second request message transmitted from the browser in response to the web site visitor activating a hyperlink for a second web page, wherein the hyperlink is included in the first web page, wherein the second request message comprises cookie information; (d) in response to the second request message, selecting a set of one or more ad identifiers to be included in the second web page, wherein the selecting step comprises determining (i) whether the cookie information comprises information indicating that the first web page includes an ad identifier from the set of ad identifiers, (ii) whether a maximum page view limit has been reached, and (iii) whether the second web page contains a major advertisement position occupied by a second advertiser that is different than the first advertiser, and the selecting step further comprises selecting an ad identifier from the set of ad identifiers in response to determining that (i) the cookie information comprises information indicating that the first web page includes an ad identifier from the set of ad identifiers, (ii) the maximum page view limit has not been reached, and (iii) the second web page does not contain any major advertisement positions occupied by an advertiser that is different than the first advertiser. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification