Patents by Inventor Michael Els

Michael Els has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11854048
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling real-time bidding for online advertisements is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises communicating with a bidder and an impression server and an event tracking server. The bidder receives a real-time bidding (RTB) request containing an available impression from an exchange and places a bid corresponding to the RTB request. The impression server receives impression requests from a browser and responds to the impression requests from the browser. The event tracking server receives event requests from the browser and responds to event requests from the browser. Campaign performance data is retrieved from one or more of the impression server and the event tracking server and compared to the campaign target. The bidder is notified whether to bid for online advertisement impressions based on the campaign performance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Valassis Digital Corp.
    Inventors: Ben Haley, Michael Els, Damien Harris, Christopher Farmer, Kurt Carlson
  • Patent number: 10861057
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling real-time bidding for online advertisements is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises communicating with a bidder and an impression server and an event tracking server. The bidder receives a real-time bidding (RTB) request containing an available impression from an exchange and places a bid corresponding to the RTB request. The impression server receives impression requests from a browser and responds to the impression requests from the browser. The event tracking server receives event requests from the browser and responds to event requests from the browser. Campaign performance data is retrieved from one or more of the impression server and the event tracking server and compared to the campaign target. The bidder is notified whether to bid for online advertisement impressions based on the campaign performance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Valassis Digital Corp.
    Inventors: Ben Haley, Michael Els, Damien Harris, Christopher Farmer, Kurt Carlson
  • Patent number: 10282758
    Abstract: A method for automated control of bid pricing for bidding on online placements in an automated real-time online auction system during the loading or rendering of network-based digital content. Historical bid result data regarding a particular placement is collected by a bidding system, which segments the bid result data into multiple categories and generates multiple pricing curves for the particular placement based on the segmented bid result data. The bidding system then uses the multiple pricing curves for making bidding decisions in real-time. The bidding system receives a series of bid requests, each identifying a placement in digital content being loaded or rendered. For each received bid request, the bidding system, in real-time, identifies segmenting characteristic(s) associated with the bid request, and performs a bidding analysis—including whether to submit a bid and determining a bid price—based on the identified segmenting characteristic(s) associated with the bid request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: MAXPOINT INTERACTIVE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Els, Igor Postelnik
  • Patent number: 10002368
    Abstract: A method and system for recommending advertisement placements based on scoring is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving a real-time bidding (RTB) request for placing an online advertisement campaign. For each of a plurality of advertisement placements, a performance score is determined based on an estimated feedback parameter. The estimated feedback parameter is calculated from observed performance of the online advertisement campaign and similarity measures of other online advertisement campaigns. A first advertisement placement having a higher performance score is given more weight than a second advertisement placement having a lower performance score. A set of advertisement placements having their performance scores equal to or greater than the target rating is selected from the plurality of advertisement placements and provided for advertisement placements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: MAXPOINT INTERACTIVE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Els, Igor Postelnik
  • Patent number: 9865004
    Abstract: A system and method for advertisement impression volume estimation is herein disclosed. According to one embodiment, the computer-implemented method includes identifying a plurality of advertisement placements for an advertisement campaign based on a campaign parameter and a specified performance level for a past advertisement campaign, determining a first plurality of advertisement impressions from the plurality of advertisement placements based on a target geographic region, and estimating a second plurality of advertisement impressions from the first plurality of advertisement impressions based on a discount rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: MaxPoint Interactive, Inc.
    Inventors: Laura Snoddy, Michael Els
  • Patent number: 9715699
    Abstract: A method and system for pricing advertisement placements online in a real-time bidding (RTB) environment is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a plurality of responses from a plurality of real-time bidding (RTB) requests for an advertisement placement and determining a first data set from the plurality of responses, where the first data set includes prices paid for winning the advertisement placement. The computer-implemented method further includes determining a second data set from the plurality of responses, where the second data set includes losing bid prices, and estimating a price distribution curve based on one or more of the first data set and the second data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: MaxPoint Interactive, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Els, Igor Postelnik
  • Patent number: 9563903
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling real-time bidding for online advertisements is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving a real-time bidding (RTB) request from a bidder. The RTB request contains a campaign target. An online advertisement campaign corresponding to the RTB request is placed. Campaign performance data is received from an impression server and/or an event server. The campaign performance data is compared to the campaign target. Based on the result of comparison, it is determined whether to enable or disable the online advertisement campaign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: MaxPoint Interactive, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben Haley, Michael Els, Damien Harris, Chris Farmer
  • Patent number: 9501789
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling real-time bidding for online advertisements is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises communicating with a bidder and an impression server and an event tracking server. The bidder receives a real-time bidding (RTB) request containing an available impression from an exchange and places a bid corresponding to the RTB request. The impression server receives impression requests from a browser and responds to the impression requests from the browser. The event tracking server receives event requests from the browser and responds to event requests from the browser. Campaign performance data is retrieved from one or more of the impression server and the event tracking server and compared to the campaign target. The bidder is notified whether to bid for online advertisement impressions based on the campaign performance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: MAXPOINT INTERACTIVE, INC.
    Inventors: Ben Haley, Michael Els, Damien Harris, Chris Farmer, Kurt Carlson
  • Publication number: 20160042407
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for managing purchasing of online advertisements in a real-time bidding system is provided. A setpoint profile defining one or more changes in a setpoint value over time is accessed, wherein the setpoint value indicates a target number of advertisement purchases in a particular time period. A controller executes a control loop feedback algorithm intended to produce actual advertisement purchase results that track the setpoint profile over time. The actual advertisement purchase results may experience time lags when encountering changes in the setpoint value due to the operation of the control loop feedback algorithm. Thus, the method further includes executing a profile modification algorithm to modify the setpoint profile to account for such time lags associated with the actual advertisement purchase results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: MAXPOINT INTERACTIVE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Els, Randy Reiss
  • Publication number: 20150332349
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving a series of bid requests from a real-time bidding exchange, each corresponding to an available advertisement placement, determining whether to bid on each bid request based on a current value of a pacing threshold, and dynamically adjusting the value of the pacing threshold over time using a control loop feedback algorithm, such as a PID controller, a PI controller, or a PD controller, for example. The method may also include determining a score for each received bid request that represents an attractiveness of the advertisement placement associated with that bid request for a particular advertising campaign, and determining whether to bid on that bid request based at least on the determined bid request score and the current value of the pacing threshold. The control loop feedback algorithm may be designed to produce actual advertisement purchase results that track a defined setpoint profile over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: MAXPOINT INTERACTIVE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Els, Randy Reiss
  • Patent number: 9129313
    Abstract: A method and system for optimizing real-time bidding on online advertisement placements is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving a real-time bidding (RTB) request from a RTB partner who is selling an impression on behalf of a publisher. Several probability scores are predetermined based on various criterion. During the processing of a real-time bid request, a combined probability score and threshold are calculated based on these probability scores. The decision to bid on and price to bid for the impression is determined by the RTB system. Campaign targets are based on the combined probability score. A RTB bid response indicating the selected campaign targets and the bid prices are returned to the RTB partner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: MAXPOINT INTERACTIVE, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Farmer, Michael Els, Igor Postelnik, Paul Hodges, Kurt Carlson
  • Publication number: 20150170222
    Abstract: A system and method for controlled purchasing of online advertisements in a real time bidding environment is herein disclosed. According to one embodiment, the computer-implemented method includes receiving a real-time bidding request for an online advertisement campaign and determining a score of the real-time bidding request. The score elicits desirability for the online advertisement campaign. The computer-implemented method further includes determining a pacing threshold for the online advertisement campaign and bidding on the real-time bidding request based on the score of the real-time bidding request and the pacing threshold. A bidding pace of the online advertisement campaign is monitored based on a number of impressions won for a given time period, and the pacing threshold is dynamically adjusted based on the bidding pace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: MaxPoint Interactive, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Els
  • Publication number: 20140040015
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling real-time bidding for online advertisements is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving a real-time bidding (RTB) request from a bidder. The RTB request contains a campaign target. An online advertisement campaign corresponding to the RTB request is placed. Campaign performance data is received from an impression server and/or an event server. The campaign performance data is compared to the campaign target. Based on the result of comparison, it is determined whether to enable or disable the online advertisement campaign.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: MaxPoint Interactive, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben Haley, Michael Els, Damien Harris, Chris Farmer