Abstract: A computer system for providing attribution based on advertisement conversion data comprising a processing circuit configured to receive user interaction data, to determine that a conversion event has occurred based on the user interaction data and conversion criteria, to store conversion path data based on the user interaction data, wherein the conversion path data comprises user interaction data prior to and including the conversion event. The system attributes the conversion event to a channel in a conversion path using a plurality of different attribution models. At least one of the attribution models is a model other than a model based solely on a last click in the conversion path. The system receives cost data representing a relative or actual cost of a plurality of channels in the conversion path and generates report data comprising the first attribution data, the second attribution data and the cost data.

Abstract: A method for temporal budget optimization in online advertising, the method comprising using at least one hardware processor for: receiving a user selection of a time period in the future; forecasting, based on historical data associated with an online ad entity, a future return on investment (ROI) function of the online ad entity; receiving a user selection of a point on the ROI function, thereby setting a budget for the time period; and during the time period: (a) tracking a spending of the budget, to determine a remaining budget, (b) periodically updating the future ROI function based on newly-accumulated historical data associated with the online ad entity, and (c) periodically adjusting, in an online advertising platform, a spending pace of the remaining budget, wherein the adjusting is based on the updated future ROI function.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining identified impressions that are detected from consumption data collected from a group of media processors where the identified impressions represent viewing of selected content and where the consumption data indicates channel tuning events at the group of media processors including changing of channels, applying a ridge regression analysis to the identified impressions to determine a predicted number of target impressions per advertisement slot, and generating a media plan based on a ratio of an advertisement slot cost to the predicted number of target impressions per advertisement slot. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system to provide price adjustments based on indicated product interest includes reception of an indication from a customer of interest in a first product, reception of an indication from a customer of interest in a second product, determination of a price adjustment for the second product based on the indication of interest in the first product, and transmission of the price adjustment to the customer. By virtue of the foregoing features, a retailer may be willing to provide a price adjustment for the second product which would otherwise not be provided. Moreover, such a price adjustment may incent the customer to purchase the second product in a case that the second product would not otherwise be purchased, thereby potentially increasing a total profit received by the retailer.

Abstract: An advertisement information providing device includes an advertisement content storage unit that stores advertisement content of a plurality of types. The advertisement information providing device includes an expected earning calculation unit that calculates expected earnings per unit impression number for each type of the advertisement content or for a combination of a plurality of types of the advertisement content. The advertisement information providing device includes an advertisement content type determination unit that determines which type of the advertisement content or combination of types of the advertisement content is to be delivered based on the expected earnings. The advertisement information providing device includes an advertisement content delivery unit that acquires the type of the advertisement content or combination of types of the advertisement content and delivers the advertisement content to an advertisement space.

Abstract: A media mix modeling tool is configured to enable a marketing budget to be analyzed for purposes of allocation across different marketing channels and campaigns. The media mix modeling tool utilizes and builds upon web analytics data. For example, for particular channels that are to be the subject of a marketing investment, web analytics data is gathered for each channel. A statistical attribution method is then utilized to analyze the web analytics data to determine how much revenue should be attributed to each channel based on various touch points for each campaign. Cost data is then utilized to create a plot of campaigns within a particular channel. From this plot, a model is fitted that describes the performance of the particular channel. Once a model has been fit to each individual channel, a solver is applied to find a desirable or optimal way to distribute the marketing budget.

Abstract: A call receiving device includes an identification information acquisition part configured to acquire identification information by receiving calls each made based on identification information that is explicitly or implicitly provided in a web page and that identifies a call receiver. An information associating part is configured to associate the acquired identification information with discrimination information to discriminate each of the calls. A call connection part is configured to connect each of the calls to the call receiver. A discrimination information sending part is configured to send the discrimination information to the call receiver through the call connected to the call receiver. A discrimination information receiving part is configured to receive the discrimination information input into a predetermined device.

Abstract: The system provides an automatically targeted network for text and graphical advertising based on cost-per-action bidded pricing, wherein actions comprise any of acquisitions, purchases, downloads, registrations, donations, clicks, and impressions. Contextual, search and behavioral relevance features are integrated to optimize ad selection for advertisers, who enter action objectives, associated bids, and creatives or catalog assets. The assets are automatically analyzed and stored, and ads are automatically constructed for catalog assets. When an ad request is received from a user terminal in regard to a publisher asset, e.g. a web page, the ad request is matched to a stored contextual analysis of at least a portion the publisher asset if available, and preferably to a profile associated with the user of the user terminal. The best advertisements are determined, based upon a predicted response, and are then served, i.e. displayed, at the user terminal, based upon available ad space.

Abstract: Tools and techniques for determining click values are described herein. A method for determining click values may include processing transaction history records. These records may be related to transactions that are conducted between visitors and a website. The method may also include computing respective click values associated with different visitors, based on the transaction history records involving those visitors. These click values indicate a likelihood that the visitors may transact for particular goods or services offered through the website.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for content distribution. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining reservation data specifying a reservation period and a number of impression reservations for the reservation period; receiving, during the reservation period, content item request data specifying that a resource was requested; identifying candidate content item providers; determining an expected revenue that will be obtained by selecting one of the candidate content item providers to provide a content item; providing, to a content item exchange, auction data including a reserve price; receiving positive response data specifying that the content item exchange will provide an exchange content item for a price that meets the reserve price; and in response to receiving the positive response data, selecting the exchange content item as the content item to be provided in response to receiving the content item request data.

Abstract: A cost maintenance scheme useful with an advertising system which orders ads in a manner that maximizes both their relevance and their economic value, and which provides a fair bidding process in which a winning bidder is assured of not having paid too much. Ordering may be done based on accepted maximum ad bid information and/or ad performance information. For example, this information may be used to determine a position value. Cost may be determined based on accepted maximum ad bid information and/or performance information. Billing the determined cost may be subject to a condition precedent.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing content in accordance with informational campaigns or advertisements administered by one or more distribution partners. the distribution partners typically revenue share with the system administrator (system owner), who coordinates the informational campaigns and sends electronic mails (e-mails) associated therewith. By applying a distribution optimization formula to various informational or advertising campaigns of the distribution partners, e-mails with links to these distribution partners will be sent to users, and each user who opens the e-mail and clicks on a portion of the e-mail over an underlying link, will be directed to the requisite distribution partner, typically the server associated therewith.

Abstract: Detecting click fraud that includes a processing device that receives data related to a cursor movement towards an advertisement displayed on a web page. The processing device analyzes the cursor movement data and determines a confidence level useable in the determination of click fraud, the confidence level responsive to the analysis of the cursor movement. The received data includes data that the cursor on the web page has transited at least one pixel cluster on the web page prior to a clicking the advertisement. In one embodiment, a click fraud is detected when the click occurred without the cursor crossing a pixel cluster, and no click fraud occurring when the click occurred after the cursor crossed a pixel cluster.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for helping a consumer to solve a problem associated with a product. During operation, the system receives, via a web portal, a description of the problem from the consumer; generates a list of experts based on the description of the problem; receives a selection of an expert based on the list from the consumer; and establishes a online session between the consumer and the selected expert, thereby facilitating the expert in helping the consumer to solve the problem.

Abstract: A computer implemented process for generating customized, user-specific programming for delivery over a network, each programming unit comprising one or more media items, such as song tracks, and at least one promotional media item, such as a commercial advertisement. The media items are selected in response to implicit user taste data, and promotional media items or ads are selected where a media item associated with the promotional media item matches at least one media data item identified as responsive to the user taste data. The media items and the promotional media items are selected so as to constrain the promotional program unit to incur a net cost of no more that a selected maximum cost, wherein the net cost is determined as a sum of the licensing costs of the selected media items, reduced by a sum of the expected revenues generated by the selected promotional media items.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for dynamically adjusting advertisement (“ad”) time for a multicast channel. In one embodiment, a variable ad insertion function operates to receive one or more multicasts of media content from a core distribution network, insert ad timeslots into the media content, and optionally perform late-binding of ads to the ad timeslots. The media content including the inserted ad timeslots and late-binded ads, if any, is then multicast to associated client devices over a feeder network using corresponding multicast channels. For each multicast channel, insertion of ad timeslots into the associated media content is dynamically controlled based on the number of users currently consuming or predicted to consume the multicast channel, the number of client devices receiving or predicted to receive the multicast channel, or both.

Abstract: Processes for determining predicted prices of social media actions from disparate social media types are disclosed. In one example process, campaign attribute data associated with an advertising campaign on a social media service may be received. The campaign attribute data and historical campaign attribute data associated with previously performed advertising campaigns may be used to generate a plurality of predicted prices for the social media action. A weighted sum of the plurality of predicted prices may be calculated to generate a final predicted price for the social media action. Predicted prices for other social media actions performed on other social media services may similarly be generated. Systems and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for performing these processes are also provided.

Abstract: In one embodiment of a method for generating targeted content, an indication of a geographic position is received from a mobile electronic device. An instance of targeted content is generated based upon the geographic position of the mobile electronic device.

Abstract: A search engine, system and method for locating and rating a plurality of electronic mentions of respective ones of a plurality of brands.

Abstract: A method, system and product useful for online advertisement. The method comprising: displaying a first advertisement in a web page, wherein the first advertisement is associated with a compensation model that is contingent on a user action by a user with the first advertisement; and replacing the first advertisement by a second advertisement that is associated with a serving-based compensation model. In some embodiments, the first advertisement is replaced in response to a determination that a probability that the user action will be performed by the user is below a predetermined threshold. In some embodiments, the first advertisement is replaced in response to a determination that a predetermined threshold time has elapsed after said displaying the first advertisement. In some embodiments, the predetermined threshold time is computed for an ad impression relating to the first advertisement, to the user and to the web page.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include tools for extracting data of interest from the world wide web (WWW). The extraction is accomplished using descriptions of data of interest. The descriptions of data of interest can include computer programs comprising a sequence of instructions and extractor patterns. The extractor patterns can be developed interactively using a web browser integrated into the graphical development environment for creating the descriptions of data of interest. The instructions can be selected from a predetermined list of instructions designed for extracting information from the WWW. The descriptions of data of interest can be grouped into categories sharing common query elements.

Abstract: Detecting click fraud that includes a server that hosts a website that includes a web page containing an advertisement. The server provides an advertisement on a web page, provides pixel clusters on the web page with the advertisement, each pixel cluster having an associated mechanism for capturing whether a cursor on the web page has transited the associated pixel cluster, and collects information based on the capturing of each associated mechanism of information regarding the transit of the pixel cluster by a cursor. The collected information is useable in a determination of a confidence level pertinent to the determination of click fraud occurring on the advertisement on the web page. The server verifies the cursor on the web page has transited at least one pixel cluster on the web page prior to a controller of the cursor clicking the advertisement.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for evaluating a score for a particular user of network-based services. In one method, advertisements are provides on webpage(s) of the user. The webpage(s) may include content generated by the user. Advertising revenue generated by the webpage(s) is calculated and a score is assigned to the user based on the calculated advertising revenue.

Abstract: Making a determination of originality of content is disclosed. At least one originality factor related to the content is analyzed, wherein the originality factor is independent of a time when the content is detected. Based on the analysis of the at least one originality factor, automatically the determination is automatically made. The determination is outputted.

Abstract: A system and method for swapping self-mailer inserts and reporting an income with respect to the self-mailer inserts to an IRS (internal revenue service). A self-mailer insert having a return address addressed to a third party can be attached with a magazine. A swapping insert placement order for swapping the self-mailer insert between two or more magazines can be processed by the third party and recorded to a database. A returned insert along with a cash payment from a new subscriber for a new magazine can be received by the third party for processing and data collection and recorded to a database. A report statement including the cash payment enclosed with the returned insert can be reported back to the magazine company by querying the database. The cash payment received from the returned insert for each magazine can also be reported as a reportable income to the IRS.

Abstract: Advertising rewards and referrals are described, including detecting an interaction with an advertisement, recording the interaction, the interaction including an input being provided in response to the advertisement, generating a reward for the interaction, the reward being an action taken to provide a benefit in response to the interaction, analyzing data associated with the advertisement, the data including a plurality of documented interactions, and providing a result from analyzing the data.

Abstract: A cost-per-second (CPS) based technology for Internet advertising is introduced. In one embodiment, the systems and methods described herein improve efficiency and efficacy of Internet based advertisements. Efficiency is improved by making advertisements relevant to the user; decreasing loss or waste in advertisement space and opportunity for the publisher; and displaying advertisements only for an appropriate duration and being charged according to actual duration for the advertiser. In embodiments, the cost for a certain branding effect can be measured and used with higher accuracy. In embodiments where multiple advertisements are shown simultaneously or at various timings, the technology introduced here provides unique bidding models to allow an advertiser to bid for advertising space, of an advertisement display. The bidding models incorporate bidding based on CPS, a function of CPS and cost-plus-click, effective CPS, etc.

Abstract: In a system that provides an open exchange environment to connect business entities through a network, methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for performing a revenue adjustment process to distribute one of a revenue surplus or a revenue deficit amongst business entities involved in one or more transactions from which the one of the revenue surplus or the revenue deficit originates over a predefined time interval, the performing including identifying a set of business entities involved in the one or more transactions to which the one of the revenue surplus or the revenue deficit is to be distributed; and determining a proportion of the one of the revenue surplus or the revenue deficit to which each business entity of the set is distributed.

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: Systems and methods for placing ads in a block on a webpage are disclosed. Generally, two ranking models are trained using a first and second ads data set. The first model predicts a first click probability for each ad in the first ads data and rank the ads based on the eCPM. The second model is trained using the second ads data set comprising a subset of the first ads data set and interaction features related to ad position in the block. The second model predicts a second click probability for each ad in the second ads data set. An overall expected revenue for each arrangement of ads in the second ads data set is then calculated. The computer system selects the arrangement with maximum computed overall expected revenue and places the ads in the block on the webpage according to the selected arrangement.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods and systems for optimizing economic yield from a publisher's impression inventory. An advertising router may receive economic data from a plurality of placement channels used to place a publisher's impression inventory. The advertising router may be intermediary between the publisher's advertising server and the plurality of placement channels. The advertising router may receive impression inventory data from the publisher's advertising server. The advertising router may generate, based on the impression inventory data, a forecast of economic yield of the publisher's impression inventory. The advertising router may determine, based on the forecast, at least one recommendation to improve the economic yield. The advertising router may apply the at least one recommendation to place an impression of the impression inventory through the plurality of placement channels.

Abstract: A simulation framework for evaluating revenue that may use a pricing engine that runs at least one pricing algorithm with particular configurations and under particular model market conditions to provide revenue projections.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium estimate media performance on advertising space inventory. The method selects at least one media cell that shares one or more common attributes with a target media cell. The method subsequently estimates mean revenue per impression (RPI) of the selected media cell, and then defines an initial estimate of a RPI of the target media cell based on the estimated RPI of the selected cell. The method computes the RPI of the target media cell by combining the initial RPI estimate for the target media cell with performance data associated with the target media cell.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses are disclosed for collecting cost data regarding advertisements of an offering through two or more marketing channels over a time period and, in near real time, revenue data generated by the marketing campaign. The cost data and the revenue data are grouped into a desired level of granularity. The returns on investment for the desired level of granularity are calculated and displayed. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating and managing financial term objects are disclosed herein for generating, based on a publisher's input, a plurality financial term objects. A financial term object includes a set of rules that govern how revenue is divided between a partner and a publisher when a supplemental content object is displayed to a user in response to the user accessing an online property of the partner. After generating the financial term object, the publisher may use the system to system store the financial term object in a database. After storing the financial term object, the system allows the publisher to associate the plurality of financial term objects with a plurality of partners. After associating the financial term objects, the system may then calculate at least one revenue share owed to the partner based on a financial term object.

Abstract: A social network system includes one or more participant terminals operable to act as a client on a social network and a computer operable to act as a server on the social network and to communicate with each of the participant terminals over the social network. The computer includes: a memory configured to store a set of instructions; and a processor configured to execute the set of instructions. The set of instructions cause the processor to: provide one or more advertisements to a user; receive one or more user selected advertisements for display on a user's profile; display the one or more selected advertisements on the user's profile; and calculate user revenue based on the advertisements displayed on the user's profile.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided for determining a bid value for placing an advertisement onto advertising space available through an electronic marketplace. A method is used for calculating the option value of maintaining the advertisement in the advertising space during one or more periods of time. The option value may be based on expected profits and the estimated future value of maintaining the advertisement. The option value may then be used to calculate the bid price for placing the advertisement.

Abstract: The unified payment system, product and method provide an effective and efficient way to better communicate to a merchant the value of running a promotion and determine a deal structure that works for the merchant, the customer, the promotion system, or any combination thereof. The unified payment system, product and method provide real-time ROI calculations that a merchant and sales representative can collaboratively simultaneously work on to identify a deal structure for the merchant to select. In this way, the merchant and sales representative may arrive at a mutually acceptable payment plan.

Abstract: A tool for off-line experimentation with auction parameters for auctions for an ad space. The tool computes, using historical bid information, values per click to advertisers competing for the ad space. The tool applies a homotopy algorithm, using these values, to predict equilibrium bids based on the values to the advertisers. In computing the equilibrium bids, the bid of each advertiser is assumed to stay fixed over multiple auction cycles, but each advertiser is assumed to face uncertainty about quality scores used by the advertising platform in selecting bids and the rank of their bid with respect to others. The quality scores also are assumed to vary between auctions.

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: To help advertisers to manage their online advertising, some business metric, such as ROI, profit, gross profit, etc., may be estimated and/or tracked with respect to an ad campaign, or a portion of the ad campaign. An advertiser may provide a business metric target, such as a target ROI, a target gross profit, a target profit, etc. An ad delivery system may then adjust information in an ad campaign (or a portion of an ad campaign) in an effort to meet the target. Similarly, an advertiser may provide a goal, such as maximizing or minimizing a business metric. The ad delivery system may then adjust information in an ad campaign (or a portion of an ad campaign) in an effort to meet the goal. The targets or goals may be subject to one or more constraints. The advertiser may provide limits on values of one or more business metrics. The ad delivery system may then turn off, or govern, the delivery of ads if the limits are violated.

Abstract: Computer implemented methods and systems are provided for intelligent advertisement selection from multiple sources. A request for a content page is received from a device. An advertisement source is selected from a plurality of advertisement sources based on an advertisement source request from a content provider. The content page is generated based on the selection of the advertisement source. An advertisement is selected from a plurality of advertisements based on an advertisement from the content page. The content page is provided to the device. The advertisement is provided to the device.

Abstract: A social networking system presents advertisements and recommendation units to its users. The recommendation units suggest actions for the users to increase their engagement with the social networking system or otherwise interact with other users, while the social networking system receives revenue from advertisers for displaying advertisements based on bid values associated with the advertisements. The social networking system determines values for the advertisements and for the recommendation units, where the values are measured in a comparable fashion. This allows the system to rank and select the advertisements and recommendation units together in a unified auction model. For example, the social networking system uses a pacing value to determine values of recommendation units having a common unit of measurement with expected values of advertisements to the social networking system.

Abstract: A method and system for mining a database for product migration analysis includes querying product usage data for a legacy product and a new product from the database as time series data. The product usage data is representative for a large number of consumers of the legacy and new products. A mathematical model may be used to determine a relationship between the two time series data. Product migration values and other features related to product migration, such as a transition period of product usage, may be estimated, determined or predicted.

Abstract: A system for targeting advertising content includes the steps of: (a) receiving respective requests for advertising content corresponding to a plurality of mobile communication facilities operated by a group of users, wherein the plurality includes first and second types of mobile communication facilities with different rendering capabilities; (b) receiving a datum corresponding to the group; (c) selecting from a first and second sponsor respective content based on a relevancy to the datum, wherein each content includes a first and second item requiring respective rendering capabilities; (d) receiving bids from the first and second sponsors; (e) attributing a priority to the content of the first sponsor based upon a determination that a yield associated with the first sponsor is greater than a yield associated with the second sponsor; and (f) transmitting the first and second items of the first sponsor to the first and second types of mobile communication facilities respectively.

Abstract: A system for targeting advertising content includes the steps of: (a) receiving respective requests for advertising content corresponding to a plurality of mobile communication facilities operated by a group of users, wherein the plurality includes first and second types of mobile communication facilities with different rendering capabilities; (b) receiving a datum corresponding to the group; (c) selecting from a first and second sponsor respective content based on a relevancy to the datum, wherein each content includes a first and second item requiring respective rendering capabilities; (d) receiving bids from the first and second sponsors; (e) attributing a priority to the content of the first sponsor based upon a determination that a yield associated with the first sponsor is greater than a yield associated with the second sponsor; and (f) transmitting the first and second items of the first sponsor to the first and second types of mobile communication facilities respectively.

Abstract: The present application relates to systems and computer-implemented methods for calculating a suggested reserve price associated with an opportunity to realize an online advertisement. In some implementations, data associated with historical online advertisement auctions are clustered based on a reference opportunity for realizing an online advertisement, wherein each historical online advertisement auction of the cluster is associated with a first bid price of higher value and a second bid price of lower value; a dominance relationship between a distribution of the first bid prices of the cluster and a distribution of the second bid prices of the cluster is determined; a reserve price associated with the cluster based on the dominance relationship is calculated; and the reserve price is stored as a suggested reserve price to realize an online advertisement, wherein the suggested reserve price is associated with the reference opportunity that is associated with the cluster.

Abstract: Systems and methods for placing ads in a block on a webpage are disclosed. Generally, two ranking models are trained using a first and second ads data set. The first model predicts a first click probability for each ad in the first ads data and rank the ads based on the eCPM. The second model is trained using the second ads data set comprising a subset of the first ads data set and interaction features related to ad position in the block. The second model predicts a second click probability for each ad in the second ads data set. An overall expected revenue for each arrangement of ads in the second ads data set is then calculated. The computer system selects the arrangement with maximum computed overall expected revenue and places the ads in the block on the webpage according to the selected arrangement.

Abstract: In embodiments disclosed herein, a computer may operate to determine, for each member in a set and each non-member under consideration for the set, an expected revenue to be passed to a parent organization. The expected revenue may be determined utilizing a plurality of weighted features. Members in the set may be ranked according to their expected revenues. Top performing members in the set may be protected to ensure their expected revenues. Bottom performing members may be removed from the set and/or replaced with new members outside of geographical protective areas of the top performing members. The optimization process can be repeated until the set of members can satisfy an existing demand while maximizing revenue for the parent organization.

Abstract: Systems and methods for allocating and providing advertisements in response to impression events (e.g., a request for a placement of an advertisement) corresponding to forecasted impressions (e.g., a forecast of a request for a placement of an advertisement). The advertisements are allocated according to solution data that includes two disjoint solution sets, with each solution set identifying an advertisement that can be allocated to a forecasted impression.