Abstract: A system of advertising on the Internet, including: an on-line system for sellers of future advertising space to create advertising contracts; an on-line system for presenting the advertising contracts to purchasers of advertising space; an on-line system for the purchasers of future advertising space to select the sellers' advertising contracts; a system to integrate purchased advertising contracts to a delivery mechanism that displays purchasers' advertising in the sellers advertising space; and a system for transferring funds from the purchasers to the sellers after completion and audit of the advertising contracts.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for determining whether to provide an advertisement to a user of a social network. The determination is based on a click probability and a social network value for the user. The click probability indicates a likelihood of the user to select the advertisement if provided to the user via the social network. The social network value is based on a subscription probability of the user and further based on subscription probabilities of other users in the social network that are included in an affinity set of the user. Each subscription probability indicates a likelihood of a respective user to subscribe to a paid service with respect to the social network.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for dynamic content delivery. Initially, at a first point in time, content is received with metadata, utilizing a network. In use, at a second point in time (after the first point in time), at least one aspect of the delivery of the content, may be controlled and/or modified utilizing the metadata. To this end, at least one aspect of the delivery of the content (which may, as an option, even include the content itself) may be updated and/or made current.

Abstract: Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method for managing data includes receiving user data from a data provider. The user data includes user information in a first format. The method includes transforming the user data in the first format to user data in a second format. The user data in the second format includes a subset of the user information and the second format is defined by a data subscriber. The method includes providing the user data in the second format to the data subscriber.

Abstract: Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a first data set associated with a first data provider. The first data set includes a first set of data attributes associated with a first set of users. The method includes receiving a second data set associated with a second different data provider. The second data set includes a second set of data attributes associated with a second set of users. The method includes generating user cluster information based at least in part on at least one common data attribute associated with the first set of users and the second set of users. The method includes providing the user cluster information to a data purchaser.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an application residing on a mobile device for providing and presenting information The application comprises the following components, a detection module for identifying the activation of at least one function of the mobile device, a selection module enabling to choose at least one information object upon activation of the mobile device function according to predefined rules, a display management module for redesigning the display layout to include at least two display areas a first functional area to display functional screen of the identified function and the second informative area for displaying pre-defined information which is not required for the activated function, wherein the redesigning include setting the definitions of each display area, and a GUI module for integrating the display areas into a single presentation, wherein the user is exposed to selected information object through out the time period he is using the activated functionality

Abstract: This paper presents a practical method for measuring the impact of multiple marketing events on sales, including marketing events that are not traditionally trackable. The technique infers which of several competing media events are likely to have caused a given conversion. The method is tested using hold-out sets, and also a live media experiment for determining whether the method can accurately predict television-generated web conversions.

Abstract: Effective virtual reality environments including in-store virtual reality environments such as supermarket aisles, store shelves, cooler displays, etc. are generated using frameworks and customer layout information. Marketing materials are integrated with the virtual reality environment while introducing imperfections and/or other cues of realism to create a virtual reality environment representation. Imperfections may include misaligned marketing materials, product label blemishes, packages placed slightly askew, etc. Sensory experiences output to the user via the virtual reality environment representation elicit interactivity with a user and user movements, motions, and responses are used to evaluate the effectiveness of the marketing materials and/or the virtual reality environment representations.

Abstract: Set top box logs are received from a television provider and processed to identify channel tunes and channel tune times. The channel tunes and channel tune times of the log data can be compared to expected air times of television advertisements on channels, and an impression values, e.g., projected viewers, can be generated for each television advertisement.

Abstract: A system for implementing a loyalty program includes a personal terminal, an interaction terminal, and a loyalty module. The personal terminal may be associated with a user. The interaction terminal may be associated with a product or service. The interaction terminal and the personal terminal may be operable to establish a communication when in proximity of each other. The loyalty module may be operable to provide a benefit to the user in response to the communication. The benefit may be provided without regard to whether the user obtained or purchased the product or service.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for providing one or more advertisements on a printout of a print job are provided. The advertisements are selected based on dynamic selection criteria.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods and systems for determining competitive market values for an ad impression on an advertiser exchange. An engine executing on a device may receive a candidate set of inputs associated with ad impressions. The engine may determine competitive market values for an ad impression on an advertiser exchange. The engine may determine candidate clearing prices based on the candidate set of inputs and history of clearing prices on the advertiser exchange. The engine may generate, based on the candidate clearing prices, a competitive market value prediction for the ad impression on the advertiser exchange. The competitive market value prediction may comprise a distribution function of predicted clearing prices on the advertiser exchange. The engine may generate, based on the competitive market value prediction, a fair market value bid for the ad impression in the context of a specific ad campaign.

Abstract: The present invention overcomes the deficiencies and limitations of the prior art by providing a direct tracking module for keywords. In one embodiment, the system comprises a direct tracking module, a bid management system, a web analytics tool and a search engine. The direct tracking module interfaces with the bid management system to provide user interfaces for reviewing data about specific keyword and ads/text pairs. The direct tracking module uses unique codes to provide specific information about which combination of keyword and text generated specific Web traffic, such as traffic that generated a sale. This is particularly advantageous because the keyword/text pairs that generate a large number of sales can be reused to generate future traffic. Similarly, keyword/text pairs that do not generate Web traffic can be eliminated from the words that are purchased by the advertiser.

Abstract: Various aspects can be implemented for achieving advertising campaign goals. One aspect can be a method that includes receiving an advertising goal for a broadcast advertising campaign, translating the advertising goal into one or more rules, and automatically calculating campaign settings based on the one or more rules. Other implementations of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating the exchange of information and transactions between two entities associated with two wireless devices when the devices are in close proximity to each other. A first device uses a first short range wireless capability to detect an identifier transmitted from a second device in proximity, ideally using existing radio capabilities such as Bluetooth (IEEE802.15.1-2002) or Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11). The detected identifier, being associated with the device, is also associated with an entity. Rather than directly exchanging application data flow between the two devices using the short range wireless capability, a second wireless capability allows for one or more of the devices to communicate with a central server via the internet, and perform the exchange of application data flow. By using a central server to draw on stored information and content associated with the entities the server can broker the exchange of information between the entities and the devices.

Abstract: A system identifies the location of a user and presents location aware stimulus material to the user. Discounts, promotions, and advertising can be delivered to the user on a wireless device based on location and path information. Stimulus material on in store monitors, billboards, and displays are modified based on information about individuals near the monitors and displays. In particular embodiments, neuro-response data is collected using a portable electroencephalography (EEG) headset while a user is exposed to stimulus materials to allow the effectiveness of the stimulus material to be determined. Stimulus materials presented can also be evaluated for neuro-response effectiveness prior to presentation to users in a location aware and personalized manner.

Abstract: A system presents stimulus materials such as products, product packages, displays, services, offerings, etc., in virtual reality environments such as market aisles, store shelves, showroom floors, etc. Sensory experiences output to the user via the virtual reality environment elicit user interactivity. User activity and responses are used to modify marketing materials and/or virtual reality environments. Neuro-response data including electroencephalography (EEG) data is collected from users in order to evaluate the effectiveness of marketing materials in virtual reality environments. In particular examples, neuro-response data is used to modify marketing materials and virtual reality environments presented to the user.

Abstract: In various embodiments, strategies, tools and techniques are provided for using consumer purchaser behavior for targeting delivery of content to consumers through television and other media. An advertising measurement system, which may be accessible through a software-as-a-service model or a client-downloaded computer program, may be used to process and analyze data. The system may be configured to receive and process household media exposure data, product purchase data, advertising data, program data, and demographic data, wherein the data may be obtained from various sources, including from a program delivery source (e.g., a television set-top box) located in a household of a consumer. Data may be collected from a variety of people identification tools for analyzing the identities of one or more people viewing content delivered on a program delivery source. Data may also be collected from various types of metering devices.

Abstract: An example of a method includes electronically blending an advertisement into a web page based on physical attributes of the web page and providing the web page with the advertisement.

Abstract: Techniques are provided in which information is obtained regarding a set of one or more online advertisements. Information is also obtained relating to performance of advertisements of the set, including information regarding locations of user recipients of the advertisements and information regarding times of serving or receipt of the advertisements. Using the obtained information, an advertisement profile is built, relating to the set of advertisements, providing an indication of varying advertisement performance in connection with differing times of serving or receipt, and differing locations of user recipients. The advertisement profile may be used in selection or ranking of advertisements.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for estimating a conversion rate associated with a digital ad. Generally, an ad provider and/or an ad campaign management system detects an action of a user associated with a digital ad. The ad provider and/or ad campaign management system detects a subsequent action of the user after detecting the action of the user associated with the digital ad and determines an amount of time between the action of the user associated with the digital ad and the subsequent action of the user. The ad provider and/or ad campaign management system then estimates a conversion rate associated with the digital ad based on the determined amount of time. In some implementations, a model is utilized to estimate a conversion rate associated with a digital ad based on dwell times even when the ad provider and/or ad campaign management system has little or no conversion data associated with the digital ad.

Abstract: Techniques are provided that relate to social and communications impact relating to advertising. Techniques are provided that include tracking information relating to an online advertisement served to a user, communications between the ser and one or more other users in the user's social network relating to the advertisement or a subject of the advertisement, and online or offline behavior of the other users in connection with one or more objectives of the online advertisement. The tracked information is used in assessing the impact of the advertising on the other users, which assessment can be used in advertisement campaign optimization.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to: capture first images of customers who have watched a digital sign, using a digital camera attached to the digital sign positioned in vicinity of a retail location; identify characteristics of the customers based on the first images; identify, using the characteristics, a subset of customers who have made payment transactions at the retail location through a transaction handler; determine an aggregated spending profile based on transactions of the subset of customers recorded by the transaction handler; and arrange content on the digital sign based on the aggregated spending profile. The computing apparatus may be further configured to capture second images of the customers who have made payment transactions at the retail location through the transaction handler, using a digital camera attached to a point of sale (POS) station at the retail location, and to correlate the first and second images to identify the subset.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for insertion of assets into a stream of content (e.g., audio and/or video programming). Such assets may be targeted to network users separate from the surrounding content and deliveries thereof confirmed. Among other things, these systems and methods enable a new advertising paradigm based on guaranteed delivery of targeted commercial impressions. In this regard, the systems and methods generally provide assets with broadcast network programming (e.g., via actual insertion and/or switching to an asset channel) based on actual audience observations. For example, asset providers may wish to target assets for delivery according to specific audience classifications (e.g., gender, income level, locale, age, etc.). Programming providers, such as television programmers and radio programmers (e.g., standard tower broadcast radio and satellite radio), may receive information from broadcast network users and insert the assets into available bandwidth based on that information.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a system and method for identifying advertising specialist. In some implementations, a method includes receiving information associated with a plurality of advertising specialist. One or more profiles associated with each advertising specialist is generated. The specialist profiles are filtered based, at least in part, on criteria received from a user.

Abstract: A method attributes credit for conversions to a plurality of event types. A plurality of probabilities that a single impression of each of a plurality of respective event types causes a conversion by one of a plurality of users are defined. A processor is used to select values for the plurality of probabilities so as to minimize a total squared error based on differences between an observed outcome for each user and a respective expected outcome for each user calculated from the plurality of probabilities.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques associated with online advertisement brand engagement value, which can be of critical importance to brand advertisers. Techniques are also included involving use of brand engagement value across various online and offline advertising media and venues. Techniques are provided in which experiments are conducted, such as eyeball-tracking experiments, which include measurements to determine brand engagement value of particular online advertisement impressions. Information from the experiments is utilized in making determinations of brand engagement value, or anticipated brand engagement value, of online advertisement impressions for which brand engagement value has not been measured.

Abstract: Competitive content item serving is provided. Competitive content item serving can include the ability to receive a request for a content item and to compare an expected return for a first network content item to an expected return for a second network content item. Based upon the comparison, it can be determined whether to provide the first network content item to the publisher.

Abstract: An advertising system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, behavior of a user is monitored. In addition, an option is presented to the user to receive advertisement content, where the advertisement content is selected based on the behavior.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking advertisements that are electronically presented to consumers on computing devices and correlating the presented advertisements with consumer visits to retail environments. Using a computing device, a consumer that accesses electronic content may be presented with advertisements. Presented electronic advertisements include a first script that is executed when an advertisement is displayed in order to transmit a presentation message to the monitoring system. The presentation message is used by the monitoring system to track the identity of advertisements that are presented to consumers. When consumers visit a retail establishment, an advertising system utilizes the information about the electronic advertisements that have been presented to consumers in order to target advertising content to consumers on a network of display devices that are located at the retail establishment. Consumers may be targeted on an individual or group basis.

Abstract: A method and a computer system for evaluating an impact of an advertising campaign, defined by given campaign parameters, on a sales volume of a product comprising providing point-of-sale packaging, with given features and bearing at least one advertising message related to said product, to at least one retailer with a given profile, collecting data concerning the sales volume of the product, executing a processor to process and sort the data as a function of the given campaign parameters, the given profile of the at least one retailer, and the given features of the point-of-sale packaging, to obtain an evaluation of the impact of the advertising campaign on the sales volume of the product.

Abstract: A network adapted to target an individual operating a microcomputer that is linked to an Internet to offer this individual goods or services appropriate to his needs that are available at a place within reach of the individual's present location. The microcomputer is provided with a GPS receiver that indicates the present location of the individual, this location and the identity of the individual being transmitted from the microcomputer to a web site on the highway. At the web site, a computer associated with a data bank storing the profiles of a multitude of consumers is programmed to find out whether the identified individual is included in the data bank, and to determine from his profile whether there are available at a place reachable from his present location appropriate goods or services. If a match is found, an offer to supply such goods or services is conveyed from the web site to the microcomputer.

Abstract: A time factor feature generation system includes: a use status grasping portion that extracts transition data showing variations in degree of use of a site from log data; a variation data generating portion that generates, based on the transition data, variation data expressing the variations in degree of use of the site as a group Y of values showing the degree of use of the site; a time factor data recording portion in which a plurality of time factors and time factor values of each of the plurality of time factors are recorded; a time factor extracting portion that generates groups Di of time factor values, each of which corresponds to a time factor extracted from among the plurality of time factors; and a time factor feature generating portion 13 that calculates coefficients ai such that a square of an error b has a minimum value in an equation in which the groups Di and the group Y are used as an explaining variable and an explained variable, respectively, thereby to generate data showing a time factor f

Abstract: Techniques are provided in which review, comment, or purchase information is obtained, associated with a first user and relating to a product or service, product or service type, or brand. A second user is identified who is in an explicit or implicit social network of the first user. An online advertisement is generated, targeted to a second user and relating to the first product or service, product or service type, or brand. The online advertisement is generated utilizing the review, comment, or purchase information, which may serve as a trusted implicit or explicit recommendation regarding a subject of the advertisement.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for use in advertising in connection with email. Techniques are provided in which a user allows placement of advertisements in the user's outgoing emails, or outgoing emails to users in a social network of the user, for which the user is provided some benefit. The benefit is based at least in part on performance of the advertisements. The user provides input with regard to one or more parameters relating to the advertisements. For example, the user may select a category or a particular product associated with the advertisements.

Abstract: Systems and methods relate to frequency of advertisement viewing on the Internet, and more specifically to controlling advertisement viewings by a person during an advertising cycle. A probability of return for a customer is evaluated and an advertisement is shown to the customer based on a function of at least the probability of return and a value for the return. Once the customer has seen the advertisement a target number of times, the customer is no longer shown the advertisement.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for use in assessing the value of information-related services of particular data providers to an online advertising marketplace participant, such as an advertiser, publisher, market-maker, or another data provider, in connection with activities relating to buying, selling or pricing of marketplace properties. Furthermore, a recommendation may be provided to the marketplace participant as to the value or desirability of the services of particular data providers. Techniques are provided in which actual or hypothetical impact of use of information of the particular data providers is assessed.

Abstract: This specification relates to tracking phone calls related to online content items. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of determining a probability that a call to a phone number resulted from a first interaction of a set of interactions. In general, another aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of determining a rank score for an online content item, including for each call of a plurality of phone calls to the phone number, attributing the call to an online content interaction of a set of online content interactions; determining, using the rank score, whether to provide the online content item to a client device; and providing the online content item to the client device upon determining to do so using the rank score.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining effectiveness of content includes receiving, by a computing device, a plurality of attributes relating to rendered content, the plurality of attributes including at least one attribute that characterizes a consumer response to the rendered content and at least one attribute that characterizes a creative strength of the rendered content, generating, by a computing device, an index score indicative of an effectiveness of the content using a statistical analysis of the collected attributes, and storing the index score in memory.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for providing subscription-based products to a merchant's customers which are managed by a third party provider. The merchant sells a subscription-based product to a customer and sends customer information for that customer to the provider. The provider creates a subscription program account for the customer and periodically sends instructions to the merchant for servicing the customer's account. Any instructions, such as an instruction to bill the customer for the subscription, may be branded by the merchant before being sent to the customer so that the provider is unseen by the customer. Dynamic offers for products or services may be created for a customer based on a predetermined set of factors.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for the dynamic placement, management and monitoring of Internet advertising. A provider of Internet content distributes the Internet content by embedding an advertisement placeholder in the Internet content; and provides the Internet content to an aggregator web site. The aggregator web site presents the Internet content to at least one end user with at least one advertisement in the advertisement placeholder. The advertisement placeholder is processed by a third party agent to automatically share revenue from the at least one advertisement with the provider of the Internet content and a provider of the aggregator web site. The advertisement placeholder can optionally be embedded in the Internet content using one or more templates. The third party agent also evaluates the content and at least one policy of multiple parties to identify at least one advertisement to present in the advertisement placeholder.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating the exchange of information and transactions between two entities associated with two wireless devices when the devices are in close proximity to each other. A first device uses a first short range wireless capability to detect an identifier transmitted from a second device in proximity, ideally using existing radio capabilities such as Bluetooth (IEEE802.15.1-2002) or Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11). The detected identifier, being associated with the device, is also associated with an entity. Rather than directly exchanging application data flow between the two devices using the short range wireless capability, a second wireless capability allows for one or more of the devices to communicate with a central server via the internet, and perform the exchange of application data flow. By using a central server to draw on stored information and content associated with the entities the server can broker the exchange of information between the entities and the devices.

Abstract: An Internet advertising locus scoring system including a locus metrics database, a locus parameters database, a scoring engine and a system controller coupled to the locus metrics database, the locus parameters database and the scoring engine. The locus metrics database and the locus parameters database may be at least partially linked and may be at least partially distributed. In an embodiment, the scoring engine may include a weight function operating on at least some of the locus metrics.

Abstract: A computer-implemented location based advertising method is provided. The method includes receiving advertising information and an indication of a physical location associated with the advertising information. The advertising information is transmitted to a first client associated with a first user. Entrance to the physical location is detected by either the first user or a mobile device associated with the first user. The transmission of the advertising information and the detection of the entrance to the physical location of the first user or the mobile device are reported to a second client associated with a second user. The present invention further provides a location based advertising systems.

Abstract: Advertising is displayed in conjunction with web pages and other HTML-rendered information by splitting a display area into frames, so that requested content appears in one frame and one or more advertisements appear in other frames, respectively. By displaying advertisements in frames that are at the same logical layer as the web pages that induced the advertising, the functionality of the presentation resides in native HTML code, making it much more difficult to block the advertisement. An exchange server provides frame generation data to the HTML-rendering device. The device can directly obtain requested content and associated advertisements from respective domains, or the data can be indirectly provided through the exchange server.

Abstract: A “Real-Time-Ready Analyzer” combines a data stream management system (DSMS) with a map-reduce (M-R) framework to construct a streaming map-reduce framework that is suitable for real-time Behavioral Targeting (BT) (or other temporal queries). The Real-Time-Ready Analyzer allows users to write “dual-intent” temporal analysis queries for BT. These queries are succinct and easy to express, scale well on large-scale offline data, and can also work over real-time data. Further, the Real-Time-Ready Analyzer uses the aforementioned streaming map-reduce framework to provide dual-intent algorithms for end-to-end BT phases. Experiments using real data from an advertisement system show that the Real-Time-Ready Analyzer is very efficient and incurs orders-of-magnitude lower development effort than conventional systems.

Abstract: Systems and methods to select targeted advertising for display are disclosed. An example method to select targeted advertising for display includes identifying an advertisement corresponding to the first product, identifying a saturation metric for the advertisement, determining a net effectiveness metric based on an opportunity metric and the saturation metric, the opportunity metric being based on a difference between an expected consumption of a first product by the household and actual consumption of the product by the household, and delivering the advertisement to the household via a media transmission when the net effectiveness metric is greater than a threshold.

Abstract: A method for bidding for an advertisement placement of an on-line advertisement. The method comprises identifying at least a trend for at least a first term appearing in at least one data source; extracting at least a second term from at least one on-line advertisement; performing a correlation analysis, responsive of a desired trend of the at least first term, between the at least first term and the at least second term; and placing a bid for placement of the at least one on-line advertisement for any one of the at least first term and the at least second term that demonstrates a predefined correlation.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing content performance measures and reports. In one aspect, a method receives a request for a user interaction report that specifies measures of user interactions with content items for a reporting period. Initial user interaction data representing user interactions with content items over the reporting period are obtained, where the user interaction data is associated with unique identifiers that each represents a user device with which user interactions are associated. For each of the unique identifiers an initialization time that specifies a time at which the unique identifier was associated with a user device is determined.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing content performance measures and reports. In one aspect, a method receives a request for a user interaction report that specifies measures of user interactions with content items for a reporting period. Initial user interaction data representing user interactions with content items over the reporting period are obtained, where the user interaction data is associated with unique identifiers that each represents a user device with which user interactions are associated. For each of the unique identifiers an initialization time that specifies a time at which the unique identifier was associated with a user device is determined.