Media Play Optimization

• US 20070168254A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LOT Network Inc.
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Steelberg, Ryan, Steelberg, Chad, Ketchum, Russell, Beauchamp, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,239,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.610
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

Systems, methods, and a user interface for automatically scheduling a media play is disclosed. The user can specify criteria for play of the media play, including times, stations, and/or external criteria such as a weather condition or the occurrence of an event. Information relevant to the entered criteria is received and assessed against the criteria to determine if the criteria are met. Responsive to the received information meeting the criteria for play of the media play, an accessor accesses the media play inventory and inserts the media play into a media feed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing an advertising campaign, the method comprising:

receiving a set of criteria for scheduling a plurality of plays of an advertisement, the criteria comprising at least one selected from a group consisting of broadcast station, time, and cost;

receiving an indication of unsold advertising slots across a plurality of broadcast stations, each slot having an associated broadcast station, time, and cost; and

responsive to an unsold advertising slot meeting the set of criteria, reserving the slot for one of the plurality of plays of the advertisement.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of criteria comprises broadcast station, time, and cost.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of broadcast stations have different audience demographics.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of broadcast stations broadcast to different geographic markets.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising buying the slot for one of the plurality of plays of the advertisement.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an indication of unsold advertising slots occurs on a day, and the unsold advertising slots are slots for the next day.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an indication of unsold advertising slots occurs on a day, and the unsold advertising slots are slots for later the same day.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of criteria further comprises demographic characteristics of a target audience for the advertisement.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving an indication of audience demographic characteristics for each unsold advertising slot.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the unsold advertising slots comprise slots during terrestrial radio broadcasts.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the unsold advertising slots comprise slots during satellite radio broadcasts.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the unsold advertising slots comprise slots during podcasts.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the unsold advertising slots comprise slots during transmissions over the internet.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the unsold advertising slots comprise slots during transmissions to mobile phones.

15. A computer-implemented method for managing an advertising campaign, the method comprising:

receiving a set of criteria for scheduling a plurality of plays of an advertisement, the criteria comprising a cost and at least one selected from a group of additional criteria consisting of broadcast station, time, and a demographic characteristic of a target audience;

receiving an indication of unsold advertising slots across a plurality of broadcast stations, each slot having an associated broadcast station and time; and

responsive to an unsold advertising slot meeting the additional criteria, bidding for the unsold adverting slot in accordance with the cost criteria.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the additional criteria comprises broadcast station and time.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of broadcast stations have different audience demographics.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of broadcast stations broadcast to different geographic markets.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving an indication of unsold advertising slots occurs on a day, and the unsold advertising slots are slots for the next day.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving an indication of unsold advertising slots occurs on a day, and the unsold advertising slots are slots for later the same day.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving an indication of audience demographic characteristics for each unsold advertising slot.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the additional criteria comprises a demographic characteristic of a target audience.

23. A computer-implemented method of managing a radio advertising campaign across a plurality of broadcast stations, the method comprising:

receiving a set of target audience characteristics and a budget constraint for scheduling a plurality of radio advertisements;

receiving an indication of unsold radio advertising slots across the plurality of broadcast stations, each slot having audience characteristics and a cost; and

responsive to the audience characteristics of an unsold radio advertising slot meeting the target audience characteristics and the cost meeting the budget constraint, buying the slot for one of the plurality of plays of the advertisement.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein receiving an indication of unsold radio advertising slots occurs on a day, and the unsold radio advertising slots are slots for the next day.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein receiving an indication of unsold radio advertising slots occurs on a day, and the unsold radio advertising slots are slots for later the same day.

26. A computer program product for managing an advertising campaign, the computer program product stored on a computer readable medium and adapted to perform the operations of:

receiving a set of criteria for scheduling a plurality of plays of an advertisement, the criteria comprising at least one selected from a group consisting of broadcast station, time, and cost;

receiving an indication of unsold advertising slots across a plurality of broadcast stations, each slot having an associated broadcast station, time, and cost; and

responsive to an unsold advertising slot meeting the set of criteria, reserving the slot for one of the plurality of plays of the advertisement.

27. A computer program product for managing an advertising campaign, the computer program product stored on a computer readable medium and adapted to perform the operations of:

receiving a set of criteria for scheduling a plurality of plays of an advertisement, the criteria comprising a cost and at least one selected from a group of additional criteria consisting of broadcast station, time, and a demographic characteristic of a target audience;

receiving an indication of unsold advertising slots across a plurality of broadcast stations, each slot having an associated broadcast station and time; and

responsive to an unsold advertising slot meeting the additional criteria, bidding for the unsold adverting slot in accordance with the cost criteria.