Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing conversion path performance measures and reports. In one aspect, user interaction data are obtained, were the user interaction data specify user interactions for a plurality of conversions. User interactions that are associated with each conversion are selected from the user interaction data, where the associated user interactions for each conversion are user interactions with a converting user during the conversion cycle for the conversion. Using the user interaction data for the selected user interactions, a quantity of user interactions that are associated with each conversion and occurred during the conversion cycle for the conversion are determined. In turn, conversion path performance measures are computed and reports specifying the conversion path performance measures are generated.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for a Content Inserter to determine location(s) for secondary content in streaming video. The Content Inserter receives a set of video frames and analyzes data differential(s) occurring in the set of video frames to identify secondary content locations between adjacent video frames. The Content Inserter inserts secondary content at the location(s) for secondary content. A data differential can be a change in subtitle information between video frames, a change in audio data between video frames, a difference in content ratings between regions of video frames, and/or difference in activity levels between regions of video frames. Activity levels correspond to changes in pixel color data of video frames. Thus, the Content Inserter identifies secondary content locations based on characteristics of each video stream and ensures that inserted secondary content is placed in a video stream so that the secondary content will most likely be viewed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a physical world tracking mechanism may monitor the efficacy of an advertisement with an offline conversion component. A data storage device 306 may store a commercial location 110 described in the advertisement and associate a conversion action with the advertisement. A processor 304 may register the conversion action at the commercial location 110 executed by a handheld computing device 104 of a user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conducting a survey independent of location and participant schedules is disclosed herein. An exemplary method of the present invention comprises sending a multi-media data file to a plurality of survey participants, receiving reactionary feedback from a plurality of participants via a wide area network, and compiling the reactionary feedback to generate the survey results. Subsequently, a viewer synchronously displays the compiled survey results with the corresponding streamed media from the multi-media data file.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments are directed, generally, to a ticket printing and issuing (e.g., vending) system and associated operations for vending such a ticket in conjunction with promotional material in the form of printed, audio and/or video advertising content, and/or electronic data. This enables distribution of promotional material in conjunction with the generation and distribution of a ticket in a manner that also distributes “disruptive promotional material” to a ticket recipient so as to provide an improved advertising effect in association with the distributed promotional material. In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, the ticket is a parking ticket issued in conjunction with a recipient's parking of their automotive vehicle.

Abstract: A computer-readable electronic services management system for a mobile communications network, comprising a distributed network of agents in the form of collaborative autonomous software agents wherein the agents are configured to represent and act on behalf of a user and to communicate with each other to manage, for the user, one or more electronic services (e.g. electronic messages, a purchase etc.) via the user's communications devices. Multiple types of agents include a primary personal agent, a primary creation agent for creating other agents and subordinate agents, and a primary destruction agent for destroying agents meeting pre-determined criteria based on a threshold value in relation to an agent value coefficient. Collaboration between agents is by a private user whiteboard facility whereby collaborating agents post to the whiteboard addressed electronic services, including service tasks to be performed for the user, and extract from the whiteboard electronic services addressed to them.

Abstract: A system obtains ratings associated with a first set of advertisements hosted by one or more servers, where the ratings indicate a quality of the first set of advertisements. The system observes multiple different first user actions associated with user selection of advertisements of the first set of advertisements and derives a statistical model using the observed first user actions and the obtained ratings. The system further observes second user actions associated with user selection of a second advertisement hosted by the one or more servers and uses the statistical model and the second user actions to estimate a quality of the second advertisement.

Abstract: One example embodiment includes a computing environment that includes an application for connecting a remote user to a client. The application performs a method of providing functional advertisements to the user. The method includes providing a functional advertisement, where the functional advertisement includes an advertisement that the user can interact with. The method also includes connecting a user to the client over a network and transmitting the functional advertisement from the client to a user over the network.

Abstract: In various embodiments, strategies, tools and techniques are provided for processing and analyzing data in an advertising measurement system accessible through a software-as-a-service model or a client-downloaded computer program. 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. The data may be matched and cross-correlated for calculating return on advertising investment measurements and other metrics. The data may be used to optimize media placement generally or to address advertising content to specific households. Methods for storing and accessing data in the advertising measurement system by distributing the data across multiple shards are also provided. In addition, methods for protecting privacy of communicated data are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for managing, distributing, and advertising a plurality of promotional offers. The promotional offers are deals such as coupons, gift certificates, and bargains. The present invention allows a plurality of advertisers to enter their promotional offer onto the present invention through an advertiser management infrastructure. The present invention distributes the promotional offers to a plurality of customers through a distribution infrastructure. The distribution infrastructure consists of a website, a mobile phone application, and a plurality of kiosks. The distribution infrastructure allows the plurality of customers to save, print, or share a particular promotional offer seen on the distribution infrastructure.

Abstract: A method for valuating an advertisement included in a printed advertising circular comprises computing a plurality of scores measuring aspects of the advertisement, and computing a quantitative valuation of the advertisement by computing a weighted aggregation of the scores. At least the computing of the weighted aggregation is performed by a digital processing device. The scores optionally include an advertisement size score. The scores optionally include at least one competition score measuring an aspect of competing advertisements also included in the printed advertising circular. The scores optionally include at least one past history score selected to adjust the quantitative valuation based on past advertising history of a product advertised by the advertisement.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of facilitating online advertising. The method includes the step of receiving a financial value, for example, a subscription, from at least one subscribing member, for example, an advertiser, of a system for facilitating online advertising for applying at least one advertising specific rule to advertisements provided on websites or web pages visited by users of the system. A further step involves measuring an amount of user activity on each of a plurality of websites visited by the users of the system by way of at least a client tracking module. A still further step involves allocating a portion of the received financial value to each website visited by the users of the system in proportion to the amount of user activity measured on each website. The invention also extends to an associated method and system.

Abstract: A predetermined distribution type of a number of selections of an advertisement within a predetermined time period for a predetermined phrase and having a predetermined advertisement location is specified. A parameterization of a mean of the predetermined distribution type is also specified. The mean is determined using a hierarchical Bayesian model, based on the predetermined distribution type, the parameterization, and historical data regarding a number of actual selections of the advertisement for each of a number of phrases similar to the predetermined phrase. The mean corresponds to an average number of selections of the advertisement within the predetermined time period for the predetermined phrase and having the predetermined advertisement location, as predicted by the model.

Abstract: A charging method and system for determining an advertising cost according to a unit time are provided. The charging method includes checking a performance index numerically indicating performance of an advertisement; checking a priority index of a next-priority advertisement to the advertisement; and determining an actual charge per unit time of the advertisement based on the performance index, the priority index, and a predetermined weight.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and computer-storage media for providing a method of evaluating preferences of particular users with respect to engaging with advertisements. In one embodiment, advertisements are delivered to users based on user engagement with advertisements. In particular, a request is received from an advertiser to present an advertisement to a set of users meeting a threshold user engagement level. After evaluating user engagement levels of the set of users, a subset of the set of users meeting the threshold user engagement level is determined. The advertisement is then presented to the subset of users.

Abstract: Methods and media are provided for objectively valuing advertising content (or the potential viewer impact thereof) that occur during the course of an event or other presentation (such as TV sitcom). In one embodiment the method includes receiving a source of media, indexing a set of sponsorship images within the media to provide a set of indices, and providing valuation factors by aggregating the indices so that valuation factors can be derived that indicate a viewer's potential awareness of the advertising content or images therein. The valuation factors can be used in connection with a benchmark, such as the 30-second spot rate or time, to determine a value associated with the media source, including a monetary value.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for dynamic generation of media content at the point that content is served. The system and method work within the bounds of simple, existing, open protocols and the media files served are playable by standard media playback clients. The method is driven by a request for media content from a client specifying an edit list. The server opens one or more source files and selects portions of one or more files to transmit based on edit list instructions, and sequentially writes those portions to an output for serving to the client. The server sorts the selected portions of one or more source media files, combines the selected portions to form a combined media shot, and serves the combined media shot to the client. The method allows for various modifications of the content before serving.

Abstract: An approach is provided for serving advertisements to users based on a confidence level of whether the user is in a demographic group. A request is received for initiating an advertising campaign. A confidence level is determined for each representative user of one or more devices that the respective user is a member of a demographic. The advertising campaign is served to devices based on the confidence levels.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to a method for measuring the effectiveness of an advertising method that facilitates purchases involving or assisted by a website. More particularly the method discloses how to measure the advertising effectiveness of widely distributed resealable packets of liquid that bear website addresses to prompt or facilitate direct access to websites. Data derived from the packet's manufacturing, distribution and website access is used in measuring the advertising effectiveness disclosed in this method.

Abstract: A method is provided for identifying and crediting interactions leading to a conversion, comprising acts of for each of at least one defined time interval, defining a recency factor used to scale a credit amount given to an influencing event occurring during the defined time interval; identifying at least one influencing event that influenced a conversion event; for each of the at least one influencing events, identifying a defined time interval in which the influencing event occurred and accessing the recency factor for that defined time interval; and apportioning the credit amount given to the conversion event among the at least one influencing event according to the recency factor for each influencing event.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is described for tracking information about the activities of users of a social networking system while on another domain. The method includes maintaining a profile for each of one or more users of the social networking system, each profile identifying a connection to one or more other users of the social networking system and including information about the user. The method additionally includes receiving one or more communications from a third-party website having a different domain than the social network system, each message communicating an action taken by a user of the social networking system on the third-party website. The method additionally includes logging the actions taken on the third-party website in the social networking system, each logged action including information about the action.

Abstract: A data structure defines a target profile for each ad which target profile specifies characteristics of a request to which the ad may be provided in response. An ad server delivers one or more of the plurality of payloads in response to a request from a target. A payload priority is assigned for each of the payloads as a function of a delivery goal of the payload and as a function of the number of times the payload has been delivered to a target. A particular payload is selected for delivery to the particular target as a function of the particular characteristics and as a function of the payload priorities.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer media for determining supply of and demand for a category of product or service are provided. Demand for a category of good or service is determined by combining advertising performance information for online advertisements relating to the category of goods or services and Internet query information relating to the category of goods or services using a weighting scheme. Supply of the category of good or service is determined by combining online advertisement placement information, offline advertisement placement information, and offline sales location information relating to the category of good or service using a weighting scheme. A user may select to view supply, demand, or supply and demand for the category of good or service.

Abstract: A business method for promoting goods and services of providers includes the steps of designating a group of targeted recipients, and storing demographics information of each recipient in an electronic database. A plurality of direct mail items including provider promotions is generated, and each marked with a machine-readable ID code unique to each of the recipients. The direct mail items are sorted by their respective ID codes into cooperative mail packages, each mail package containing multiple items with common ID codes. The mail packages are then forwarded to respective recipients. After redemption of a direct mail item by a recipient, the ID code is read and electronically linked with the recipient's demographics information contained in the electronic database. A report is generated based on the direct mail items redeemed. The report may include a geographic map which plots respective locations of recipients, and/or a listing of receipts grouped into a plurality of demographics segments.

Abstract: The invention is a computer-aided method of optimizing advertisements and content by grouping viewers into scientific segments, optimizing an advertisement and pieces of content by scientific segments, selecting an advertisement or content to display to a scientific segment, and creating a scientific targeted advertisement or piece of content.

Abstract: Providing online advertisements includes selecting, among a plurality of advertising sources provided by a seller, a selected plurality of advertising sources that meet a predefined condition; generating a plurality of keyword sets that correspond to the selected plurality of advertising sources; establishing a programming model according to a set of predefined constraints, wherein the programming model represents match of the selected plurality of advertising sources and the plurality of keyword sets; and determining a substantially optimal match between at least some of the plurality of advertising sources and the plurality of keyword sets by solving the programming model.

Abstract: An offer delivery system provides a mechanism for coordinating presentation of offers to customers that may originate from multiple different sources and that may be delivered to the customers over different channels. The systems makes use of rules to prioritize, select, and time the delivery of offers to any particular customer, allocate limited resources in the channels to deliver offers to a set of customers, and provide mechanisms for users or their agents to limit the delivery of offers, for example, by their frequency or type.

Abstract: An interactive marketing communication and transaction services platform for managing personalized customer relationships. The platform facilitates communication and transactions between consumers, retailers and manufacturers, by helping suppliers customize product/service offerings, presentations and advertising messages to reflect individual consumers' needs, while providing portals with premium advertising messages for personal interactive info/news/entertainment services.

Abstract: In various embodiments, strategies, tools and techniques are provided for processing and analyzing data in an advertising measurement system accessible through a software-as-a-service model or a client-downloaded computer program. 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. The data may be matched and cross-correlated for calculating return on advertising investment measurements and other metrics. The data may be used to optimize media placement generally or to address advertising content to specific households. Methods for storing and accessing data in the advertising measurement system by distributing the data across multiple shards are also provided. In addition, methods for protecting privacy of communicated data are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed in one general aspect is a method of evaluating the presentation of advertising content on end-user computer displays that includes sending an integrated advertisement program that includes advertising content through a computer network to end-user computers in response to requests from browsers running on the end-user computers. The integrated advertisement program is accessed on each of the end-user computers after it is received from a server on that computer. The integrated advertisement program determines a display attribute of the advertising content in the integrated advertisement program on each of the end-user computers, and reports the detected display attribute from each of the end-user computers through the computer network to a monitoring application.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptive marketing using insight driven customer interaction. The invention uses a closed-loop process for developing insight that may be used to refine further customer interactions. Results of a first customer interaction such as a marketing campaign are stored in a database. The results may be used to retrain predictive models and gain new insights regarding how customers are responding to marketing campaigns. The insights may be used to refine the offers delivered to customers or to extend additional offers in an effort to increase the likelihood that customers will redeem the offers. After each marketing campaign, the results are stored in the database. New and/or modified offers are created based on insights provided by the results of past campaigns. This process may be repeated such that subsequent campaigns are based on insights generated by the predictive models. The insight enables businesses to better target customers with better offers.

Abstract: This invention relates to systems and methods for enabling users to create, to edit and to rate online video timed text over the web. A system embodiment of this invention includes a permission requester that enables a first user to send a permission request. The permission request requests permission from a second user to create a timed text track for a video. A permission granter enables the second user to send a permission response according to the permission request from the first user. A timed text editor enables the first user to create a timed text track for the video based on the response to the permission request and upload the timed text track to a server.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating web-based media planning are disclosed. Media campaigns are recommended based on querying a data library and using a targeting goal. A measure of success of the campaign is determined from responses to the 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: A system, computer program product, and method for activation-based marketing are presented. In one embodiment, the system includes one or more data storage devices configured to store demographic data, healthcare utilization data, and response data associated with a target individual. The system may include a server coupled to the one or more data storage devices. The server may be suitably programmed to determine a life stage associated with a target individual, determine an attitudinal segment associated with the target individual, and determine a response model associated with the target individual. The server may assign the target individual to at least one of a predetermined set of segmentation groups in response to the life stage, the attitudinal segment, and the response model associated with the individual. The system may generate a personalized communication modality tailored to the target individual in response to the segmentation group assigned to the target individual.

Abstract: A method and system for creating an advertising list including a big advertiser's advertising information, which can prevent a big advertiser's advertising information, less associated with a content page, from being displaying only because the big advertiser purchased a plurality of keywords, and thereby control ‘the Poor Get Poorer and the Rich Get Richer’ phenomenon in displaying advertising is provided. According to the present invention, there is provided a method and system for creating an advertising list, which can control ‘the Poor Get Poorer and the Rich Get Richer’ phenomenon in displaying advertising where a big advertiser's advertising information with a great purchasing power is preferentially displayed in an advertising list and thus small and medium advertisers' advertising information may not be displayed.

Abstract: Performing A/B testing of content of a webpage includes selecting one of at least two different versions of the webpage to be displayed to a user through an interactive user interface (e.g., a web browser) based on an identification code, such as an Internet Protocol address or tracker identifier supplied by a cookie, associated with the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for influencing an Internet-based marketing campaign are provided. An introduction panel is sent to a plurality of N generation recipients. Each respective N generation recipient that uses the introduction panel to invite N+1 generation recipients is tracked. An invitation panel is sent to the N+1 generation recipients. Which respective N+1 generation recipients use the invitation panel to perform a defined campaign action is tracked. Each respective N generation recipient is credited with N+1 generation recipients that (i) were invited to the campaign by the N generation recipient and (ii) performs a campaign action. These steps are repeated for subsequent generations N. For each N generation recipient credited during these repeated steps, each ancestor recipient that invited (i) the respective N generation recipient or (ii) another ancestor of the respective N generation recipient to the campaign is also credited.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring media viewing activity by one or more individuals is disclosed. In general, the location of a sign can be identified, a human eye can be located and tracked and vectoring module and a projection module can determine if the individual's eyes are directed towards the sign. The content of the signage can be coordinated with the direction of the eye in real time to determine what content the individual viewed. An audience reaction module can acquire audience reaction data such as how long eyes are engaged on the sign and can determine other reactions such as a smile a frown or a gesture of interest or disinterest based on the change of content on the signage. The system allows for an advertiser to acquire and evaluate audience feedback related to presentation and content displayed on media (e.g., billboards, digital signage, window displays, etc.).

Abstract: A wearable advertising ratings method and system is disclosed. The location of a advertising media can be identified and a human eye can be located and tracked when the user of the ratings system, such as a pedestrian, is wearing eye polarity-sensing earphones. The earphones collect data when a user views media, as well as process and transmit such data through the user's communications device. Changes in the eye's polarity, perception, and reaction to viewing media are correlated to human brain reactions to acquire ratings for viewed media. The system allows for an advertiser to acquire and evaluate audience feedback and ratings related to presentation and content displayed on media (e.g., billboards, digital signage, window displays, etc.), as well as provide incentives for rating such media through use of an applications store.

Abstract: A system for measuring user feedback concerning a particular web page of a website includes a first icon. The first icon is viewable on the particular web page independent of input from a user subsequent to the user accessing the particular web page. The first icon solicits user feedback concerning the particular web page as a whole from the user independent of input from the user subsequent to the user accessing the particular web page. The first icon receives user input indicating a desire to provide user feedback concerning the particular web page as a whole, and the user input causes a second icon to become viewable on the particular web page for providing the user feedback concerning the particular web page as a whole. Software associated with the second icon receives the user feedback concerning the particular web page as a whole for reporting to a website owner.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a system and method for tracking links displayed in Web browsers. In some implementations, a method includes receiving a hostname operable to identify an action and an instance of a link displayed through a Web browser. The hostname is unique for a period of time. The one or more actions associated with the displayed link are tracked.

Abstract: A system and method for identification of an on-line purchase by tracking on-line advertisement interaction. The method comprises comparing between at least one cookie value generated by a tracking server and at least one cookie value provided by one or more web servers, wherein the comparison results in a list of matching cookies; matching between a plurality of on-line purchase transactions and a plurality of on-line advertisements that a user interacted with, wherein the matching is based, in part, on the list of matching cookies and click identifications; and generating, based on the matching results, a report including conventions of the user interaction with the plurality of on-line advertisements into one or more on-line purchases made by the user.

Abstract: An interactive online closed loop marketing system and method for marketing of a technical product or service product to companies and/or users of a plurality of network management systems is provided. A database populated with anonymous aggregate IT asset inventory information, user information, and company information (gathered and aggregated through the network management systems) is queried by a third party to evaluate and analyze the potential market for the technical product or service. The system and method further permit the third party to develop a survey and deliver the survey to users of the network management system via the network management system thereby permitting the third party to further quantify and analyze the potential market opportunity. Additionally, the system and method permit the third party to target advertising for the product or service directly to end users via the network management system while tracking the effectiveness of the advertising campaign.

Abstract: A method of presenting advertising to viewers in a computer network environment includes monitoring a viewer's interactions with an associated computer system, and adjusting a timing of displayed advertisements on the viewer's associated computer system based on one or more of the viewer's monitored interactions.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving a logon request from a user of an online social network; processing the logon request to log the user in to the online social network; and recording usage of the online social network by the user.

Abstract: Measurement data is accessed. The measurement data is associated with a group of users that have been exposed to at least one advertising creative that is part of an advertising campaign. The measurement data reflects one or more consumer responses and one or more non-zero exposure levels. The non-zero exposure levels correspond to non-zero amounts of exposures to at least one advertising creative that is part of the advertising campaign. A model that relates consumer response measures to one or more exposure levels is generated based on the accessed measurement data. Based on the generated model, a consumer response measure for a zero exposure level is determined. The zero exposure level corresponds to a zero amount of exposures to at least one advertising creative that is part of the advertising campaign. An advertising effectiveness metric is determined based on the consumer response measure for the zero exposure level and the accessed measurement data.

Abstract: The subject invention provides for systems and methods that visually enhance paid inclusion listings to facilitate offering a clear and substantial value to paid inclusion advertisers while retaining ordering rights to keep listings relevant to users. More specifically, the systems and methods allow paid inclusion listings to be visually modified at the discretion of the advertiser, the user, and/or the search service provider (e.g., publisher of search results) to facilitate differentiation among advertisers, companies, and the like. The ordering of the enhanced paid inclusion listings is not compromised based on the number or type of enhancement selected by the paid inclusion customer. A search service provider or search result publisher (“service provider”) can offer a plurality, or at least one, of different types of enhancements to paid inclusion customers (“advertisers”) to affect the rendering of any paid inclusion listing to the user.

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: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for online monitoring systems to determine offline advertising effectiveness. Information related to an advertisement for a product is received. The advertisement is presented through offline media. The information includes an advertising schedule. Communications related to the product that are received from the consumers in the market at the time the advertisement is presented, are detected. Data responsive to the detected communications are collected; the data represent a number of consumers in the market. A statistical correlation between the collected data and the advertising schedule is determined and provided to the advertiser as a report of the effectiveness of the advertising.