Selection of ad units of a compound advertisement for display

• US 9,299,092 B1
• Filed: 10/15/2013
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unity Technologies SF (Unity Software, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tapjoy, Inc. (Unity Software, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brown, Hans-Frederick, Mihelic-Booth, Shane, Dev, Ravi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, III, Thomas M
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAGGOT, BREFFNI
• Application Number:
  US14/054,691
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.53
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0275 Auctions

Abstract

In an embodiment, a digital data specification of a compound advertisement comprising a plurality of ad units is received at an advertisement delivery server computer, where the digital data specification of the compound advertisement specifies one or more sequential dependencies between one or more ad units of the plurality of ad units and a bid value for each ad unit of the plurality of ad units. Based at least in part on a particular sequential dependency of the first ad unit upon a second ad unit of the same compound advertisement and a bid value associated with the first ad unit, a first ad unit of the compound advertisement is selected for display at a separate user computing device using the advertisement delivery server computer. The first ad unit is caused to display at the particular user computing device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving from an advertiser computer and by a local area network (LAN) interface, at an advertisement delivery server computer, a digital data specification of a compound advertisement comprising a plurality of ad units;

wherein the digital data specification of the compound advertisement specifies;

one or more sequential dependencies between one or more ad units of the plurality of ad units including a particular sequential dependency of a first ad unit upon a second ad unit of the same compound advertisement and at least one bid value for each ad unit of the plurality of ad units;

a base bid value and a bonus bid value for the first ad unit; and

a plurality of bid values for the first ad unit including a first bid value and a second bid value, wherein the first bid value is greater than the second bid value;

wherein the digital data specification of the compound advertisement associates a first app event type with the first ad unit and not with the second ad unit;

transferring the digital data specification into a memory of the advertisement delivery server computer;

using the advertisement delivery server computer, determining that a monetization event has occurred in a publisher application;

using the advertisement delivery server computer, determining that the second bid value associated with the first ad unit is less than at least one second bid value of a plurality of second bid values associated with the plurality of ad units;

based on the determination that the second bid value associated with the first ad unit is less than at least one second bid value of a plurality of second bid values associated with the plurality of ad units, the advertisement delivery server computer selecting from the memory an applicable payment price for the first ad unit based in part on the first bid value associated with the first ad unit;

using the advertisement delivery server computer, selecting from the memory, for display at a particular user mobile computing device separate from the advertisement delivery server computer, the first ad unit of the compound advertisement, wherein the selecting is based at least in part on;

the first bid value if the particular sequential dependency is satisfied,

the second bid value if the particular sequential dependency is not satisfied,

determining that the bonus bid value associated with the first ad unit is greater than a plurality of bonus bid values associated with the plurality of ad units, and

determining that the monetization event is of the first app event type;

transmitting as Internet Protocol (IP) packets by the LAN interface an electronic digital message from the advertisement delivery server computer to the particular user mobile computing device, wherein the message is configured to cause display of the first ad unit at the particular user mobile computing device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

using the advertisement delivery server computer, determining that the base bid value associated with the first ad unit is greater than each of a plurality of base bid values associated with the plurality of ad units;

based on the determination that the base bid value associated with the first ad unit is greater than each of a plurality of base bid values associated with the plurality of ad units, the advertisement delivery server computer selecting from the memory the base bid value associated with the first ad unit as an applicable payment price for the first ad unit.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

using the advertisement delivery server computer, determining that the message configured to cause display of the second ad unit was previously transmitted to the particular user mobile computing device;

the advertisement delivery server computer selecting from the memory the first ad unit for display at the particular user mobile computing device based on the determination that the message configured to cause display of the second ad unit was previously transmitted to the particular user mobile computing device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the particular sequential dependency of the first ad unit upon a second ad unit of the same compound advertisement is a sequential dependency of the first ad unit upon a sequence of ad units comprising a third ad unit followed by the second ad unit, and wherein the message is a first message, the method further comprising:

using the advertisement delivery server computer, determining that a second message configured to cause display of the second ad unit and a third message configured to cause display of the third ad unit were previously transmitted to the particular user mobile computing device and that the third message was transmitted before the second message;

the advertisement delivery server computer selecting from the memory the first ad unit for display at the particular user mobile computing device based on the determination that the third message configured to cause display of the third ad unit and the second message configured to cause display of the second ad unit were previously transmitted to the particular user mobile computing device and that the third message was transmitted before the second message.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sequential dependencies between one or more ad units of the plurality of ad units indicate that the first ad unit and a third ad unit, both of which are units of the same compound advertisement, are both sequentially dependent on the second ad unit;

the method further comprising;

the advertisement delivery server computer determining that a message configured to cause display of the second ad unit was previously transmitted to the particular user mobile computing device the advertisement delivery server computer determining that the particular sequential dependency of the first ad unit upon the second ad unit is associated with the first bid value;

the advertisement delivery server computer determining that a second sequential dependency of the third ad unit upon the second ad unit is associated with a third bid value;

the advertisement delivery server computer determining that the first bid value associated with the first sequential dependency of the first ad unit upon the second ad unit is greater than the third bid value associated with the second sequential dependency of the third ad unit upon the second ad unit;

the advertisement delivery server computer selecting from the memory the first ad unit for display at the particular user mobile computing device based on the determination that the first bid value associated with the first sequential dependency of the first ad unit upon the second ad unit is greater than the third bid value associated with the second sequential dependency of the third ad unit upon the second ad unit.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising using the advertisement delivery server computer to cause display of the second ad unit in response to a first app event in a first application and using the advertisement delivery server computer to cause display of the first ad unit in response to a second app event in a second application that is different from the first application.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first ad unit is associated with a particular constraint related to a target recipient, a target environmental attribute, or an advertisement format;

the method further comprising;

using the advertisement delivery server computer, determining that the particular constraint is satisfied;

the advertisement delivery server computer selecting from the memory the first ad unit for display at the particular user mobile computing device based at least in part on the determination that the particular constraint is satisfied.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of bid values associated with the first ad unit includes a third bid value associated with a second sequential dependency of the first ad unit upon a third ad unit of the same compound advertisement.

8. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving from an advertiser computer and by a LAN interface, at an advertisement delivery server computer, a digital data specification of a compound advertisement comprising a plurality of ad units;

wherein the digital data specification of the compound advertisement specifies;

one or more sequential dependencies between one or more ad units of the plurality of ad units of the compound advertisement, including a particular sequential dependency of a first ad unit of the plurality of ad units upon a second ad unit of the plurality of ad units;

a base bid value and a bonus bid value for the first ad unit;

at least one bid value for each ad unit of the plurality of ad units; and

a plurality of bid values for the first ad unit including a first bid value and a second bid value, wherein the first bid value is greater than the second bid value;

wherein the digital data specification of the compound advertisement associates a first app event type with the first ad unit and not with the second ad unit;

transferring the digital data specification into a memory of the advertisement delivery server computer;

the advertisement delivery server computer determining that a monetization event has occurred in a publisher application at a particular user mobile computing device;

in response to the determination that the monetization event has occurred in the publisher application at the particular user mobile computing device, performing;

using the advertisement delivery server computer, determining that the second bid value associated with the first ad unit is less than at least one second bid value of a plurality of second bid values associated with the plurality of ad units;

based on the determination that the second bid value associated with the first ad unit is less than at least one second bid value of a plurality of second bid values associated with the plurality of ad units, the advertisement delivery server computer selecting from the memory an applicable payment price for the first ad unit based in part on the first bid value associated with the first ad unit; and

selecting from the memory, using the advertisement delivery server computer, the first ad unit of the compound advertisement for display at the particular user mobile computing device based at least on;

a determination by the advertisement delivery server computer that a first message configured to cause display of the second ad unit was previously transmitted to the particular user mobile computing device,

a determination by the advertisement delivery server computer that the first ad unit is associated with a particular app event type and the monetization event is of app event type,

a determination by the advertisement delivery server computer that the first bid value is greater than a bid value associated with a third ad unit,

the bonus bid value associated with the first ad unit is greater than a plurality of bonus bid values associated with the plurality of ad units,

the first bid value if the particular sequential dependency is satisfied, and

the second bid value if the particular sequential dependency is not satisfied;

transmitting as IP packets by the LAN interface a second electronic digital message from the advertisement delivery server computer to the particular user mobile computing device, wherein the second electronic digital message is configured to cause display of the first ad unit at the particular user mobile computing device.

9. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause:

receiving from an advertiser computer and by a LAN interface, at an advertisement delivery server computer, a digital data specification of a compound advertisement comprising a plurality of ad units;

wherein the digital data specification of the compound advertisement specifies;

one or more sequential dependencies between one or more ad units of the plurality of ad units including a particular sequential dependency of a first ad unit upon a second ad unit of the same compound advertisement and at least one bid value for each ad unit of the plurality of ad units;

a base bid value and a bonus bid value for the first ad unit; and

a plurality of bid values for the first ad unit including a first bid value and a second bid value, wherein the first bid value is greater than the second bid value;

wherein the digital data specification of the compound advertisement associates a first app event type with the first ad unit and not with the second ad unit;

transferring the digital data specification into a memory of the advertisement delivery server computer;

using the advertisement delivery server computer, determining that a monetization event has occurred in a publisher application;

using the advertisement delivery server computer, selecting from the memory, for display at a particular user mobile computing device separate from the advertisement delivery server computer, the first ad unit of the compound advertisement, wherein the selecting is based at least in part on;

the first bid value if the particular sequential dependency is satisfied,

the second bid value if the particular sequential dependency is not satisfied,

determining that the bonus bid value associated with the first ad unit is greater than a plurality of bonus bid values associated with the plurality of ad units, and

determining that the monetization event is of the first app event type;

transmitting as IP packets by the LAN interface an electronic digital message from the advertisement delivery server computer to a particular user mobile computing device, wherein the message is configured to cause display of the first ad unit at the particular user mobile computing device.

10. The non-transitory storage media of claim 9, wherein the instructions which, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause:

using the advertisement delivery server computer, determining that the base bid value associated with the first ad unit is greater than each of a plurality of base bid values associated with the plurality of ad units;

based on the determination that the base bid value associated with the first ad unit is greater than each of a plurality of base bid values associated with the plurality of ad units, the advertisement delivery server computer selecting from the memory the base bid value associated with the first ad unit as an applicable payment price for the first ad unit.

11. The non-transitory storage media of claim 9, wherein the instructions which, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause:

using the advertisement delivery server computer, determining that the message configured to cause display of the second ad unit was previously transmitted to the particular user mobile computing device;

the advertisement delivery server computer selecting from the memory the first ad unit for display at the particular user mobile computing device based on the determination that the message configured to cause display of the second ad unit was previously transmitted to the particular user mobile computing device.

12. The non-transitory storage media of claim 9, wherein the particular sequential dependency of the first ad unit upon a second ad unit of the same compound advertisement is a sequential dependency of the first ad unit upon a sequence of ad units comprising a third ad unit followed by the second ad unit, and wherein the message is a first message;

wherein the instructions which, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause;

using the advertisement delivery server computer, determining that a second message configured to cause display of the second ad unit and a third message configured to cause display of the third ad unit were previously transmitted to the particular user mobile computing device and that the third message was transmitted before the second message;

the advertisement delivery server computer selecting from the memory the first ad unit for display at the particular user mobile computing device based on the determination that the third message configured to cause display of the third ad unit and the second message configured to cause display of the second ad unit were previously transmitted to the particular user mobile computing device and that the third message was transmitted before the second message.

13. The non-transitory storage media of claim 9, wherein the one or more sequential dependencies between one or more ad units of the plurality of ad units indicate that the first ad unit and a third ad unit, both of which are units of the same compound advertisement, are both sequentially dependent on the second ad unit;

wherein the instructions which, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause;

the advertisement delivery server computer determining that a message configured to cause display of the second ad unit was previously transmitted to the particular user mobile computing device

the advertisement delivery server computer determining that the particular sequential dependency of the first ad unit upon the second ad unit is associated with the first bid value;

the advertisement delivery server computer determining that a second sequential dependency of the third ad unit upon the second ad unit is associated with a third bid value;

the advertisement delivery server computer determining that the first bid value associated with the first sequential dependency of the first ad unit upon the second ad unit is greater than the third bid value associated with the second sequential dependency of the third ad unit upon the second ad unit;

the advertisement delivery server computer selecting from the memory the first ad unit for display at the particular user mobile computing device based on the determination that the first bid value associated with the first sequential dependency of the first ad unit upon the second ad unit is greater than the third bid value associated with the second sequential dependency of the third ad unit upon the second ad unit.

14. The non-transitory storage media of claim 9, wherein the instructions which, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause using the advertisement delivery server computer to cause display of the second ad unit in response to a first app event in a first application and using the advertisement delivery server computer to cause display of the first ad unit in response to a second app event in a second application that is different from the first application.

15. The non-transitory storage media of claim 9, wherein the first ad unit is associated with a particular constraint related to a target recipient, a target environmental attribute, or an advertisement format;

wherein the instructions which, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause;

using the advertisement delivery server computer, determining that the particular constraint is satisfied;

the advertisement delivery server computer selecting from the memory the first ad unit for display at the particular user mobile computing device based at least in part on the determination that the particular constraint is satisfied.

18. The one or more non-transitory storage media of claim 9, wherein the plurality of bid values associated with the first ad unit includes a third bid value associated with a second sequential dependency of the first ad unit upon a third ad unit of the same compound advertisement.

16. One or more non-transitory storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause:

receiving from an advertiser computer and by a LAN interface, at an advertisement delivery server computer, a digital data specification of a compound advertisement comprising a plurality of ad units;

wherein the digital data specification of the compound advertisement specifies;

one or more sequential dependencies between one or more ad units of the plurality of ad units of the compound advertisement, including a particular sequential dependency of a first ad unit of the plurality of ad units upon a second ad unit of the plurality of ad units;

a base bid value and a bonus bid value for the first ad unit;

a bid value for each ad unit of the plurality of ad units;

at least one bid value for each ad unit of the plurality of ad units; and

a plurality of bid values for the first ad unit including a first bid value and a second bid value, wherein the first bid value is greater than the second bid value;

wherein the digital data specification of the compound advertisement associates a first app event type with the first ad unit and not with the second ad unit;

transferring the digital data specification into a memory of the advertisement delivery server computer;

the advertisement delivery server computer determining that a monetization event has occurred in a publisher application at a particular user mobile computing device;

in response to the determination that the monetization event has occurred in the publisher application at the particular user mobile computing device, selecting from the memory, using the advertisement delivery server computer, the first ad unit of the compound advertisement for display at the particular user mobile computing device based at least on;

a determination by the advertisement delivery server computer that a first message configured to cause display of the second ad unit was previously transmitted to the particular user mobile computing device,

a determination by the advertisement delivery server computer that the first ad unit is associated with a particular app event type and the monetization event is of app event type,

a determination by the advertisement delivery server computer that the first bid value is greater than a bid value associated with a third ad unit,

determining that the bonus bid value associated with the first ad unit is greater than a plurality of bonus bid values associated with the plurality of ad units,

the first bid value if the particular sequential dependency is satisfied, and

the second bid value if the particular sequential dependency is not satisfied;

transmitting as IP packets by the LAN interface a second electronic digital message from the advertisement delivery server computer to the particular user mobile computing device, wherein the second electronic digital message is configured to cause display of the first ad unit at the particular user mobile computing device.