SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GOAL-ORIENTED GENERATION OF ADVERTISING SPOT SETS

• US 20180014086A1
• Filed: 07/06/2017
• Published: 01/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Active Media Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Active Media Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Castano, Melissa A., Lhotak, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 10,701,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26241 involving the time of distribution, e.g. the best time of the day for inserting an advertisement or airing a children program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed that, in an embodiment, are related to goal-oriented generation of advertising spot sets. The system and method each involve: receiving spot inventory data associated with a plurality of TV stations; receiving a rule variable associated with an advertising rule; receiving a goal variable associated with a goal; applying the advertising rule to select a plurality of spots that are eligible to form one or more spot sets; forming or generating at least one of the spot sets depending, at least in part, on a proximity to the goal; and generating an output associated with the generated spot set.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving spot inventory data associated with a plurality of TV stations, wherein;

the TV stations are associated with a plurality of TV programs;

the TV stations are operable to display the TV programs in a territory; and

the spot inventory data corresponds to a plurality of advertising spots that are selectable to form a plurality of different spot sets that are available for airing at least one commercial during one or more of the TV programs;

receiving a plurality of variables, wherein the variables comprise;

at least one rule variable corresponding to at least one advertising rule; and

at least one goal variable corresponding to at least one advertising goal, wherein the at least one advertising goal comprises a spot distribution goal associated with a plurality of different markets within the territory;

applying the at least one advertising rule to generate a plurality of the spot sets;

performing a randomization function applicable to the generated spot sets; and

selecting one of the generated spot sets based, at least in part, on a proximity to the at least one advertising goal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the TV programs are produced independent of each other.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving the variables from a spot seeker, wherein the spot seeker comprises one of a manufacturer, a service provider, or a contractor of the manufacturer or the service provider.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one advertising rule comprises one of:

(a) a requirement corresponding to a day of week, wherein the day of week is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(b) a requirement corresponding to a day range, wherein the day range is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(c) a requirement corresponding to a time, wherein the time is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(d) a requirement corresponding to a spot quantity, wherein the spot quantity is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(e) a requirement corresponding to a length of one of the TV programs, wherein the length is specified by the at least one rule variable;

or (f) a requirement corresponding to an identification of one of the TV programs, wherein the identification is specified by the at least one rule variable.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one advertising goal comprises one of:

(a) a goal corresponding to a portion of a population of TV households in the territory, wherein the portion is specified by the at least one goal variable;

(b) a goal corresponding to an advertising cost, wherein the advertising cost is specified by the at least one goal variable;

(c) a goal corresponding to a territorial spot distribution, wherein the territorial spot distribution is specified by the at least one goal variable;

(d) a goal corresponding to a spot frequency, wherein the spot frequency is specified by the at least one goal variable;

(e) a goal corresponding to a demographic, wherein the demographic is specified by the at least one goal variable;

or (f) a goal corresponding to a territorial impression level, wherein the territorial impression level is specified by the at least one goal variable.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the randomization function comprises a performing a heuristic function.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein performing the heuristic function comprises performing a simulated annealing function.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein performing the simulated annealing function comprises processing one of:

(a) an array of coefficients comprising an initial temperature of 1,000, a stop temperature of 0.50, and a cooling rate of 0.000006;

(b) an array of coefficients comprising an initial temperature of 1,000, a stop temperature of 0.50, and a cooling rate of 0.0006;

(c) an array of coefficients comprising an initial temperature of 1,000, a stop temperature of 0.50, and a cooling rate of 0.00001;

or (d) an array of coefficients comprising an initial temperature of 1,000, a stop temperature of 0.50, and a cooling rate of 0.00003.

9. A system comprising:

a data storage device comprising a plurality of computer-readable instructions that are executable by at least one processor to;

receive spot inventory data associated with a plurality of TV stations, wherein the spot inventory data corresponds to a plurality of advertising spots that are selectable to form a plurality of different spot sets;

receive a plurality of variables, wherein the variables comprise;

at least one rule variable corresponding to at least one advertising rule; and

at least one goal variable corresponding to at least one advertising goal;

apply the at least one advertising rule and the at least one advertising goal to form at least one of the spot sets, wherein the formed spot set is available for airing at least one commercial during at least one TV program; and

generate an output indicating the formed spot set.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the application of the at least one advertising rule and the at least one advertising goal comprises:

performing a randomization function applicable to a plurality of the spot sets; and

forming the at least one spot set based, at least in part, on a proximity to the at least one advertising goal.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the formed spot set is available for airing at least one commercial during a plurality of TV programs associated with the TV stations; and

a plurality of the TV programs are produced independent of each other.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the data storage device comprises a plurality of computer-readable instructions that are executable by the at least one processor to perform a plurality of steps comprising receiving the variables from a spot seeker, wherein the spot seeker comprises one of a manufacturer, a service provider, or a contractor of the manufacturer or the service provider.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one advertising rule comprises one of:

(a) a requirement corresponding to a day of week, wherein the day of week is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(b) a requirement corresponding to a day range, wherein the day range is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(c) a requirement corresponding to a time, wherein the time is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(d) a requirement corresponding to a spot quantity, wherein the spot quantity is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(e) a requirement corresponding to a length of the at least one TV program, wherein the length is specified by the at least one rule variable;

or (f) a requirement corresponding to an identification of one of the TV programs, wherein the identification is specified by the at least one rule variable.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one advertising goal comprises one of:

(a) a goal corresponding to a portion of a population of TV households in a territory, wherein the portion is specified by the at least one goal variable;

(b) a goal corresponding to an advertising cost, wherein the advertising cost is specified by the at least one goal variable;

(c) a goal corresponding to a territorial spot distribution, wherein the territorial spot distribution is specified by the at least one goal variable;

(d) a goal corresponding to a spot frequency, wherein the spot frequency is specified by the at least one goal variable;

(e) a goal corresponding to a demographic, wherein the demographic is specified by the at least one goal variable;

or (f) a goal corresponding to a territorial impression level, wherein the territorial impression level is specified by the at least one goal variable.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the application of the at least one advertising rule and the at least one advertising goal comprises performing a randomization function applicable to a plurality of the spot sets, wherein the randomization function comprises a simulated annealing heuristic function.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the data storage device comprises a plurality of computer-readable instructions that are executable by the at least one processor to perform a plurality of steps comprising performing a simulated annealing function.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein performing the simulated annealing function comprises processing one of:

(a) an array of coefficients comprising an initial temperature of 1,000, a stop temperature of 0.50, and a cooling rate of 0.000006;

(b) an array of coefficients comprising an initial temperature of 1,000, a stop temperature of 0.50, and a cooling rate of 0.0006;

(c) an array of coefficients comprising an initial temperature of 1,000, a stop temperature of 0.50, and a cooling rate of 0.00001;

or (d) an array of coefficients comprising an initial temperature of 1,000, a stop temperature of 0.50, and a cooling rate of 0.00003.

18. A system comprising:

a data storage device comprising a plurality of computer-readable instructions that are executable by at least one processor to;

receive spot inventory data associated with a plurality of TV stations, wherein;

the TV stations are associated with a plurality of TV programs produced independent of each other;

the TV stations are operable to control a performance of the TV programs in a territory; and

the spot inventory data corresponds to a plurality of different advertising spots;

receive at least one rule variable corresponding to at least one advertising rule, wherein the at least one advertising rule comprises a requirement corresponding to at least one day of week, wherein the day of week is specified by the at least one rule variable;

receive at least one goal variable, wherein the at least one goal variable specifies a spot distribution goal associated with a plurality of different markets within the territory;

filter the spot inventory data in accordance with the at least one advertising rule, wherein the filtering results in a plurality of eligible advertising spots;

form a set of the eligible advertising spots that is closer to the spot distribution goal than at least one other set of the eligible advertising spots that could be formed; and

generate purchase order data corresponding to the formed set of eligible spots.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the data storage device comprises a plurality of computer-readable instructions that are executable by at least one processor to receive a plurality of rule variables corresponding to a plurality of advertising rules, wherein the advertising rules comprise one of:

(a) a requirement corresponding to a day of week, wherein the day of week is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(b) a requirement corresponding to a day range, wherein the day range is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(c) a requirement corresponding to a time, wherein the time is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(d) a requirement corresponding to a spot quantity, wherein the spot quantity is specified by the at least one rule variable;

(e) a requirement corresponding to a length of one of the TV programs, wherein the length is specified by the at least one rule variable;

or (f) a requirement corresponding to an identification of one of the TV programs, wherein the identification is specified by the at least one rule variable.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the data storage device comprises a plurality of computer-readable instructions that are executable by at least one processor to receive a plurality of goal variables corresponding to a plurality of advertising goals, wherein the advertising goals comprise one of:

(a) a goal corresponding to a portion of a population of TV households in the territory, wherein the portion is specified by the at least one goal variable;

(b) a goal corresponding to an advertising cost, wherein the advertising cost is specified by the at least one goal variable;

(c) a goal corresponding to a territorial spot distribution, wherein the territorial spot distribution is specified by the at least one goal variable;

(d) a goal corresponding to a spot frequency, wherein the spot frequency is specified by the at least one goal variable;

(e) a goal corresponding to a demographic, wherein the demographic is specified by the at least one goal variable;

or (f) a goal corresponding to a territorial impression level, wherein the territorial impression level is specified by the at least one goal variable.