Abstract: A computer implementable online advertising method is provided. A basic price for publishing an advertisement for a pre-specified duration is determined. A score indicative of the performance of the advertisement during the pre-specified duration is determined. Whether the score satisfies a pre-determined criterion is determined. An incentive associated with publishing the advertisement is provided to an advertiser associated with the advertisement based on the pre-determined criterion being satisfied.

Abstract: A podcast system and method are provided to select and deliver media ads over a network to a user device and to insert the media ads in media content subscribed to and delivered over the network to the user device.

Abstract: A query is generated for determining a correlation between an advertisement and a person who interacted with a merchant. The query includes an image of the person. In response to the query, a determination is made about whether the correlation exists between the image and a face that has given attention to the advertisement. In response to determining that the correlation exists, a report of the correlation is generated for the merchant.

Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for recommending one or more cross-media marketing campaign strategies are disclosed. For example, the method collects information about a business, applies a weighting table to the information about the business, wherein the weighting table comprises a pre-defined value for each one of a plurality of cross-media marketing campaign strategies based upon a plurality of different industries and a plurality of different business operations, calculates, via a processor, a total score for each one of the plurality of cross-media marketing campaign strategies for an industry and a business operation determined based upon the information about the business that is collected and recommends one or more cross-media marketing campaign strategies based upon the total score of each one of the plurality of cross-media marketing campaign strategies.

Abstract: An advertisement choosing device chooses an advertisement to be displayed in a display space of a predetermined size. The advertisement choosing device includes an advertisement storing unit and an advertisement choosing unit. The advertisement storing unit stores therein sizes of multiple advertisements of various sizes. The advertisement choosing unit chooses, from among the multiple advertisements, one or more advertisements whose total size is equal to or less than the size of the display space as the advertisement to be displayed in the display space.

Abstract: An improved system and method is provided for using sampling for scheduling advertisements in slots of different quality in an online auction with budget and time constraints. A multi-armed bandit engine may be provided for sampling new advertisements by allocating advertisements for web page placements of different quality and optimizing payments to maximize the welfare of the advertisers while remaining within advertiser's budget and time constraints. Advertisers may report their private information including arrival time, departure time, value per click, and budget. And the multi-armed bandit mechanism may approximate the maximal welfare that may be achieved under budget and time constraints by bounding the possible gain from any possible lie an advertiser might submit in reporting private information.

Abstract: The system provides a method and apparatus for providing analytics to determine accountability of offers and ads. The system provides real time analysis of advertising effectiveness and permits modification of ad campaigns during the life of the campaign. The system also determines success and performance of an ad campaign on a per platform basis. The system includes an analystics engine that receives response data to an offer, along with metadata and metrics associated with the offer. The analytics engine utilizes historical data associated with a specific product, category of product, geographical area, temporal data, demographic data, platform of publishing, platform of response, and the like, along with response data from consumers during a campaign to determine the effectiveness of both online and offline advertising. The system allows the pricing of ads to be determined and to determine the value on a response platform basis.

Abstract: A system for generating a schedule for use in triggering transmission of message content in a telecommunications network is provided. The system comprises a store for storing profiles of a plurality of recipients, and a plurality of message delivery campaigns with one or more criteria. The campaigns to be executed in relation to a given inventory, which may relate to a predetermined time period, may be arranged into one or more campaign clusters. A suitable allocation method may be used individually for each of said plurality of campaign clusters to allocate, among the plurality of recipients, target recipients for each of the campaign clusters based on campaign criteria and the profiles. The allocation process may be repeated to obtain, for example as high a number of messages as possible with the network resources available without exceeding a predetermined maximum number of messages per any given recipient.

Abstract: A system and method for pushing information to a mobile device are disclosed herein. A triggering event is detected, and information relevant to the detected trigger event is determined. The information is located in one of a plurality of memory location channels, wherein the information is stored in the one of the plurality of memory location channels based on a category of the information matching a pre-defined category of the one of the plurality of memory location channels. When the information relevant to the detected triggering event comprises content information, a meta tag is inserted to the content information. The meta tag relates to display of specific one or more advertisements with the content information. The content information that includes the meta tag is transmitted to the mobile device.

Abstract: A method for determining advertising effectiveness of cross-media campaigns provided. The effectiveness of the combined campaign is plotted, and the effects of different media are isolated. Examining complementary effects and synergies are examined, and a dollar-for-dollar comparison for each of the media is performed. This dollar-for-dollar comparison may include a return on marketing objective calculation. If applicable, budget re-allocations are recommended. Optionally, post effectiveness, efficiency, and allocation analysis are performed. Such analysis may include providing descriptive advertising and media suggestions on each media independently.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to smoothing budgets of advertisers in online advertising. Information that indicates respective budgets of advertisers for online advertising during a time period and bids for auctions during the time period from the advertisers can be received. Moreover, a determination concerning whether to either throttle an advertiser from an auction or permit the advertiser to participate in the auction can be effectuated for each of the auctions during the time period and for each of the advertisers. The determination satisfies equilibrium conditions between the advertisers based on the respective budgets of the advertisers and the bids of the auctions. Moreover, winning bids for the auctions during the time period are determined. The winning bids can be determined from the bids of the advertisers respectively permitted to participate in each of the auctions.

Abstract: A computer-implementable method for selection and delivery of a customized consumer offer or engagement dialog by a live customer service representative (CSR) in communication with said consumer comprises upon a first communication from the consumer to the CSR, enabling the CSR to acquire from a first computer system at least one identifying feature of said consumer; using the at least one identifying feature to generate automatically, without CSR involvement, a search of the internet, via a second computer system, to acquire at least one current, real time internet content cue relating to said consumer, said real time internet content cue being collected while the CSR maintains engagement with the consumer; processing, via the second computer system, the at least one identifying feature and the at least one current, real time internet content cue to generate a consumer profile for said consumer; analyzing the consumer profile to create customized consumer offer or engagement dialog; and prompting the CSR to

Abstract: A call tracking system and method that uses a pooling algorithm to manage a pool of telephone numbers that are utilized in advertisements. The pooling algorithm allows adjustments to be made to the pool in order to achieve a desired degree of call tracking accuracy performed by the system. The pooling algorithm may adjust the pool in terms of size, quality, or other metric, and assign phone numbers so as to meet the desired accuracy requirements. While additional numbers in a pool may increase accuracy, fewer numbers result in lower cost, and a balance may be struck based on the requirements of an advertiser. When a phone number is to be provided for an advertising campaign, the phone number may be selected from the pool randomly, in round-robin fashion, or according to criteria related to expected accuracy.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to generating an online marketing campaign that comprises a list of keywords to be purchased from a search engine. Keywords for a business' marketing campaign may be selected from a pre-defined template of keywords for the business service category into which the business falls. In addition, the business may add keywords not found in the template into its marketing campaign. The performance of the non-template keywords added by the business may be evaluated and, if they are determined to have been performed well, may be added into the template so that they may be used in the marketing campaigns of other businesses in the business service category.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described. In some embodiments, the operations include receiving a message that was published from a social-communication application of a social network website, selecting a first phrase (e.g., promotional expression, by a user, regarding the wagering game venue) from the message, and comparing the first phrase to a plurality of second phrases (e.g., characteristics associated with a wagering game venue) accessible via a wagering game server. The operations can further include detecting that the first phrase is substantially similar to at least one of the plurality of the second phrases, and providing an award (e.g., loyalty points) in response. In some embodiments, the value of the award is based on a condition associated with the message, publication of the message, etc.

Abstract: A marketing analytics system may include a mixed marketing channel modeling module to determine a mixed marketing channel model for a macro level, and an attribution analysis module to determine values for variables associated with behaviors of individuals for a microsegment associated with the macro level. A marketing analytics engine may identify individuals with similar behaviors, needs and preferences, and facilitate targeted product or service offerings to the microsegment.

Abstract: Interactive and active information executable applications comprise: a) at least one marketing campaign item, b) at least one piece of insight information, c) at least one dynamic consumer profile, d) at least one metric bank, and e) at least one storage medium. Methods for implementing and utilizing an interactive and active information executable application include: providing at least one marketing campaign item, providing or collecting at least one piece of insight information, providing at least one metric bank, storing the at least one piece of insight information on the at least one metric bank, utilizing or accessing at least one metric bank, developing at least one dynamic consumer profile from the at least one piece of insight information, and accessing at least one computer readable storage medium.

Abstract: An information distribution server includes a content sending unit, a measurement data reception unit, an advertisement effect processing unit, an effect measurement database, a data input unit, a template selection unit and a content generation unit. The measurement data reception unit receives measurement information for measuring the advertisement effect of the content data during a content distribution period. The advertisement effect processing unit determines whether or not advertisement effect is good based on the received measurement information. The effect measurement database stores the determined advertisement effect together with measurement information for each screen template. The template selection unit preferentially selects a screen template having a good advertisement effect with reference to the effect measurement database based on the input project information.

Abstract: A shadow ad can be evaluated by receiving an ad request, identifying at least one shadow ad and at least one actual ad based on the received ad request, generating an ad ranking by analyzing one or more criteria associated with the identified at least one shadow ad and the at least one actual ad, and selecting one or more of the identified at least one shadow ad and the at least one actual ad based on the ad ranking. Further, the at least one shadow ad can be associated with one or more campaign parameters corresponding to a shadow ad campaign. Additionally, the ad request can be received from an online advertising system.

Abstract: A computerized method and system for managing a media advertising proposal from inception to completion of an order with one or more media outlets are described. An embodiment of the method includes receiving a customer request for placement of advertising in one or more media outlets, creating a media advertising proposal, that includes schedule of advertising for the requested placement, based on user inputs into a media proposal tool, storing the media advertising proposal in a database connected to the media proposal tool, accessing one or more external applications to integrate information and data into the media advertising proposal, assigning a grade to the media advertising proposal, entering the media advertising proposal into a computerized workflow in the media proposal tool for review and approval, and if the media advertising proposal is approved, injecting the media advertising proposal as an order into a traffic and billing system.

Abstract: An improved system and method is provided for using sampling for scheduling advertisements in an online auction with budget and time constraints. A multi-armed bandit engine may be provided for sampling new advertisements by allocating advertisements for web page placements of equal quality and optimizing payments to maximize the welfare of the advertisers while remaining within advertiser's budget and time constraints. Advertisers may report their private information including arrival time, departure time, value per click, and budget. And the multi-armed bandit mechanism may approximate the maximal welfare that may be achieved under budget and time constraints by bounding the possible gain from any possible lie an advertiser might submit in reporting private information. Advertisers departing from the online auction may be charged using a payment method that may provide truthful guarantees on budget, arrivals, departures, and valuations for a budget-constrained online auction.

Abstract: Techniques for presenting a content item with a media item are described. The techniques include receiving user input indicating a placement preference for a content item to be presented with a media item. The placement preference indicates a presentation preference of the content item relative to presentation of the media item. The placement preference is used to influence selection of a media item with which the content item is to be presented.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for receiving information regarding a plurality of conversion paths. Each conversion path includes one or more user interactions, corresponds to a user, and ends with a conversion interaction. A list of channel groups is received. Each channel group includes a name and one or more group rules that refer to the characteristics of one or more user interactions of the plurality of conversion paths. Each user interaction in the plurality of conversion paths is grouped based upon the list of channel groups. A selection of channels to visualize is received and for each of the selected channels to visualize the user interactions are aggregated based upon the channel group of the user interaction and a position of the user interaction within the conversion path. Information regarding the aggregated user interactions for each of the selected channels is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a computer implemented method of determining an aggregated web analytics value. A first data storage medium stores a sequence of episodic values, each associated with a respective time interval. A second data storage medium stores a sequence of aggregate values, each aggregating an equal number of the episodic values. Further aggregates are stored and provided in a like manner, until an additional sequence of higher level aggregate values cannot be created using the same base number. When a request for an aggregate value over a range of episodic values is received, the system queries the storage mediums in a parallel operation, retrieving as little aggregated values and episodic values needed to compute the requested value.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for processing a readable indicia associated with an advertisement associated with a product. The invention presents a readable indicia in association with an advertisement, where the readable indicia includes instructions for triggering a data collection tool. The invention collects data from the data collection tool and analyzes characteristics of the readable indicia and the advertisement in order to determine a customer advertisement impact. The readable indicia may include information indicating at least one of a current date, a time of inception of the advertisement, a placement location of the readable indicia within the advertisement, or a visual characteristic of the readable indicia.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention present an approach to conversion rate estimation which relies on using past performance observations along user, publisher, and advertiser data hierarchies. More specifically, embodiments of the invention model the conversion event at different select hierarchical levels with separate binomial distributions and estimate the distribution parameters individually. It is shown how to combine these individual estimators using logistic regression to identify conversion events accurately. Embodiments of the invention can also handle many practical issues, such as data imbalance, missing data, and output probability calibration, which render this estimation problem more difficult for a real-world implementation of the approach.

Abstract: Techniques for affecting display of content may include receiving a request for content to supplement a response to an input initiated by a first user; outputting first content in response to the request, where the first content includes a control feature that is displayable along with the first content, and where the control feature enables the first user to register a negative reaction to the first content; obtaining information relating to the first content based on the negative reaction; identifying second content having one or more characteristics in common with the first content; identifying one or more second users having one or more characteristics in common with the first user; and using the information relating to the first content in determining whether to provide the second content to the one or more second users.

Abstract: A system and method maximize profits by determining the optimal combination of sale price for a product and bids for advertising. The system and method address the non-linear relationship between product pricing and advertising through an advertising bidding system. In particular, a seller sells a product at a plurality of sale prices and buys the at least one advertisement by submitting a plurality of bid prices to the at least one advertising venue, resulting in a combination of bid prices for the at least one advertisement at each of the plurality of sale prices. Data from advertising with each of the at least one advertisement is collected. Then, a non-linear model for pricing and bidding is determined from the collected data, and an optimal price for the product and an optimal advertising bid for each of the at least one advertisement is determined from the non-linear model.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for adapting an advertising campaign based on real-time analysis of campaign metrics for a concurrent advertising campaign. As one advertising campaign runs, parameters of the campaign are updated to incorporate insights from another advertising campaign. In one embodiment, parameters of the campaign are updated to boost performance of a portion of the advertising campaign determined to be particularly responsive based on the campaign metrics from another campaign. The campaign metrics may be measured using real-time, single-question surveys across segmented portions of the target audience and may be used to generate correlations between the target audience and marketing objectives sought.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for populating a product recommendation list can include identifying a first set of products using customer data and a second set of products using social network data, identifying a third set of products, wherein the third set of products includes products in the second set of products and not in the first set of products, calculating a product score for each product in the second set of products, and populating the product recommendation list of the customer with a subset of the first set of products and a subset of the third set of products based on the calculated product scores.

Abstract: A device may receive information that identifies a design item associated with a promotion, where the design item relates to an appearance of the promotion, may receive information that identifies a promotion characteristic associated with the promotion, where the promotion characteristic identifies at least one of a product or a service associated with the promotion, may receive distribution information associated with the promotion, where the distribution information identifies a customer device to which the promotion is to be sent, and may receive scheduling information associated with the promotion, where the scheduling information identifies a time period during which the promotion is active. The device may also provide the promotion to the customer device based on the design item, the promotion characteristic, the distribution information, and the scheduling information.

Abstract: Dynamically changing targeted advertising content is dispatched wirelessly in real time via a cellular network from a remote web portal to a plurality of vehicles, and ads are displayed on a digital display mounted in a rear window of the vehicles. Vehicles communicate wirelessly to the web portal their geographic location, and cameras are used to record the effect of the ads on viewers in following vehicles. Ads are changed based upon criteria established by advertisers, changing vehicle geographic locations, and changing conditions such as areas, times of day, traffic on roads, and profiles of viewers.

Abstract: A communication apparatus including a first storage unit, a second storage unit logically or physically discriminated from the first storage unit, a first communication unit, a second communication unit for transmitting data stored in the second storage unit through electric field coupling or magnetic field coupling, and a selecting unit for selecting at least either the first storage unit or the second storage unit as a storage destination of the data received by the first communication unit.

Abstract: A system for tracking telephone calls made in response to advertising campaigns in electronic or other media is provided. The system permits an advertiser to associate specific and distinct telephone numbers with associated advertising campaigns. The system cleans at least one phone number to be assigned to a campaign by determining that unwanted phone traffic associated with the at least one phone number is below a defined threshold.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present application relate to a method for generating flow quality comparison parameters, a system for generating flow quality comparison parameters, and a computer program product for generating flow quality comparison parameters. A method for generating flow quality comparison parameters is provided. The method includes collecting click log data and transaction log data on relevant products or services advertised in off-site advertising spaces, generating off-site advertising space results data based at least in part on the click log data and the transaction log data, obtaining quality indicators of advertising flows of the corresponding off-site advertising spaces based on the off-site advertising space results data, and obtaining flow quality comparison parameters for the off-site advertising spaces based at least in part on the quality indicators of the advertising flows of the off-site advertising spaces.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a correlation between an online campaign and offline activity may include generating a content item and content identifier data identifying the content item, transmitting the content item and content identifier data over a network to a client computer, wherein the content item or content identifier data is configured to cause the client computer to display the content item on a resource and to emit a first signal based on the content identifier data, receiving an indication that the content identifier data was received at the time of a transaction by a user at a point of sale terminal, and determining a correlation between presentation of the content item and the transaction based on the generated content identifier data and the received content identifier data.

Abstract: A system may provide for mobile application based online advertising via mobile application interface. A database may be configured to store data corresponding to a plurality of visual elements for rending an advertisement. An advertising server may be in operative communication with the database and configured to receive requests for advertisement campaigns. A mobile interface may allow submission of information relating to an advertisement campaign to the advertising server. A generator engine may be configured to select from the plurality of visual elements and generate display logic for displaying an advertisement corresponding to the advertisement campaign.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a commercial game that poses questions to a user related to advertisements that the user views or listens to using a multimedia device such as a computer connected to the Internet. Points may be awarded to the user based on the number of questions answered correctly, the number of advertisements viewed, the length of time advertisements are viewed, the number of attempts at answering each question before providing the correct answer, or other advertiser-selected criteria. Points earned by the user are immediately redeemable for services such as subscription services, movies downloads, Pay-Per-View credits, or for any other tangible or intangible good, service, or reward representing a monetary value. If the user provides an incorrect answer to a question, the user is permitted to watch the advertisement multiple times until a correct answer is provided and points are awarded.

Abstract: An Internet advertisement method and system that issues an authentication key for enabling selected target customers to receive a commercial sample at a membership-based offline store by performing an advertisement in the form of a banner on a web page of an online market, such as an Internet shopping mall, such that an advertiser can conveniently satisfy needs of customers desiring to purchase goods after receiving the sample without delivering the sample, a targeting goods advertisement can be effectively performed, membership-based offline stores can be publicized, and increasing visits from customers can lead to an increase in sales. The Internet advertisement method includes providing an advertisement including information on providing a sample, and generating an authentication key for enabling a customer terminal selecting the advertisement and requesting a sample of advertised goods to receive the sample at an offline store.

Abstract: A database interface for developing at least one media play is disclosed. The database interface for developing at least one media play includes a plurality of templates, generated in accordance with feedback prior ones of the at least one media plays, at least two desired criteria limiting circumstances for play of the media play received at one of said templates, and an accessor that accesses media play inventory and preempts certain of the media play inventory with an insertion of the media play according to said at least two desired criteria.

Abstract: Measuring influence in social networks, in which a marketing message related to a good or service has been distributed to one or more influencers. An agreement to allow tracking of the influencer's sharing of the marketing message is made. Also, after receiving the agreement to allow tracking of the influencer's sharing of the marketing message, sharing of the marketing message is enabled in a manner that enables tracking of actions taken by users to which the marketing message is shared. Sharing of the marketing message by the influencer is tracked and actions related to the marketing message taken by users to which the message was shared by the influencer are tracked. Data descriptive of an influence of the influencer related to the marketing message is stored and output based on the stored data is provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which one or more webpages are identified based on one or more signals associated with an advertisement, a content of each of the webpages, and a property associated with the advertisement, and a performance measure is determined for the advertisement for each of the webpages. An auction score is calculated for the advertisement for each of the webpages based on the performance measure and a bid associated with the advertisement.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for testing the effectiveness of one or more advertisements. The method may include conducting a plurality of point-of-sale transactions. In conjunction with these transactions, an advertisement may be presented a first number of times. Each time the advertisement is presented, it may contain a machine-readable code encoded with an identification unique to the advertisement. A computer system may receive first data identifying the number of times the advertisement is presented. The computer system may further receive second data identifying the number of times a machine-readable code encoded with the identification is scanned by a customer. Accordingly, the computer system may calculate and display a success rate for the advertisement.

Abstract: In general, techniques for using short range communication, such as near-field communication (NFC), to redirect the communication of a computing device to receive digital items selected at a kiosk may include receiving, by a computing device and from a kiosk computing device via a first communication pathway comprising short-range wireless communication, a device identifier associated with the kiosk computing device, wherein the kiosk computing device is operable to receive a selection of a digital item. The techniques may further include sending, by the computing device, a request for access to the digital item based at least in part on the device identifier associated with the kiosk computing device. The techniques may further include receiving, by the computing device via a second communication pathway, access to the digital item based at least in part on the device identifier.

Abstract: A method for providing automatic, personalized information services to a computer user includes the following steps: transparently monitoring user interactions with data during normal use of the computer; updating user-specific data files including a set of user-related documents; estimating parameters of a learning machine that define a User Model specific to the user, using the user-specific data files; analyzing a document to identify its properties; estimating the probability that the user is interested in the document by applying the document properties to the parameters of the User Model; and providing personalized services based on the estimated probability.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for selecting thumbnail images to display with text advertisements. In one aspect, a method includes identifying landing page non-textual content items from a landing page to which the textual content item links and which a user device requests when the textual content item is selected at the user device; for each landing page non-textual content item, determining a relevance measure that measures the relevance of the landing page non-textual content item to the content of the landing page; selecting one or more of the landing page non-textual content items for display with the textual content item based on the relevance measures of the landing page non-textual content items; and storing, in a data storage system, data associating the selected landing page non-textual contents with the textual content items.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products that provide digital and projection advertising solutions are described. In particular computer-based systems, methods, and programs for store-front, in-store or mobile displays that promote advertisements to consumers based on detectable or predefined conditions are described.

Abstract: Electronic correspondence that includes one or more promotions may be generated for presenting to a consumer. In order to determine whether to present the electronic correspondence to the consumer, the promotions included in the electronic correspondences may be analyzed in terms of a probability the consumer will accept the promotions, a relevance level between the promotions and attributes of the consumer, a relevance level between the promotions and the consumer, a relevance level between the promotions and a set of goals or rules, among other similar terms. After the analysis, a determination may be made whether to send the electronic correspondence to the consumer. Similarly, the analysis may compare multiple electronic correspondences, and determine, based on the comparison, which of the multiple electronic correspondences to send to the consumer.

Abstract: A method of providing cursor related analytics is disclosed. The method can include sending instruction code from a server to a user device, the instruction code operable to collect cursor information related to a cursor position and dwell time on a display of the user device, receiving from the user device the cursor information collected in response to execution of the instruction code; and generating from the received cursor information an indication of relative interest between regions on the user device display.

Abstract: A system making use of video games and data communications external to video games is used to provide advertisements, prizes and other benefits to gamers. The prizes relate to either of real world products and services as well as content for use within the video game environment. During a video game session an advertisement is provided to the gamer. When the gamer interacts with the advertisement the video game software acts to facilitate a transaction between the gamer and the advertiser.