METHOD AND SYSTEM TO DETECT INVALID AND FRAUDULENT IMPRESSIONS AND CLICKS IN WEB-BASED ADVERTISEMENT SYSTEMS

• US 20110231249A1
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Patrick Zuili
• Original Assignee: Patrick Zuili
• Inventors: Zuili, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 8,326,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.47
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0248 Avoiding fraud

Abstract

This invention improves upon existing pay-per-click arrangements periodically generating a code associated with the search-engine users. This code, preferably in the form of a serial number, is compared to the user of the website, such that by observing a metric like the number of clicks for a given period of time, be it a short time or a longer period, such as a day or a week, the system can automatically determine if certain clicks are illegitimate. This allows the pay-per-click company to more fairly invoice the merchants, thereby preventing fraudulent over use.

Claims

1. In an advertising system including a search engine on a server side, the search engine providing a plurality of links associated with a plurality of web pages to a user at a device on a client side, a method for identifying fraud comprising the steps of:

generating a code on the server side, the code identifying said device on the client side;

sending said code to said device;

receiving data from said device, said data including said code and information about one or more selections by the user of at least one of said plurality of web pages; and

determining from said data whether said at least one of said selections of said at least one web page is fraudulent.

2. In an advertising system including a search engine on a server side, the search engine providing a plurality of links associated with a plurality of web pages to a user at a device on a client side, the method for identifying fraud as in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

examining a duration between a time of one of said selections of said at least one web site and a time of another of said selections of said at least one web site.

3. In an advertising system including a search engine on a server side, the search engine providing a plurality of links associated with a plurality of web pages to a user at a device on a client side, the method for identifying fraud as in claim 1 wherein said code is based on a global unique identifier of said device.

4. In an advertising system including a search engine on a server side, the search engine providing a plurality of links associated with a plurality of web pages to a user at a device on a client side, the method for identifying fraud as in claim 1 wherein said code is based on a network cartography of said client.

5. In an advertising system including a search engine on a server side, the search engine providing a plurality of links associated with a plurality of web pages to a user at a device on a client side, the method for identifying fraud as in claim 1 wherein said code is a serial number.

6. A method for detecting fraud in an advertising system including a search engine on a server side comprising the steps of:

generating a code on the server side, the code identifying a device on a client side;

generating on the server side, a plurality of links associated with a plurality of web pages in response to a search initiated at the device on the client side wherein at least one of said links includes said code;

sending said plurality of links to the device;

receiving data from said device, said data including said code and information about one or more clicks by the user on at least one of said plurality of links associated with the plurality of web pages; and

determining from said data whether said at least one of said clicks on said at least one link is fraudulent.

7. A method for detecting fraud in an advertising system including a search engine on a server side as in claim 6 further comprising the step of:

examining a duration between a time of one of said clicks on said at least one link and a time of another of said clicks on said at least one link.

8. A method for detecting fraud in an advertising system including a search engine on a server side as in claim 6 wherein said code is based on a global unique identifier of said device.

9. A method for detecting fraud in an advertising system including a search engine on a server side as in claim 6 wherein said code is based on a network cartography of said client.

10. A method for detecting fraud in an advertising system including a search engine on a server side as in claim 6 wherein said code is a serial number.