SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CATEGORY-BASED CONTEXTUAL ADVERTISEMENT GENERATION AND MANAGEMENT

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a first request for creation of a fixed price ad via a digital network interface, the first request including a first category selection of one or more categories in which the fixed price ad may appear, the fixed price ad being an advertisement for which a fixed price is payable, the fixed price not being dependent upon user action related to the fixed price ad;

receiving a second request for creation of a variable revenue ad via a digital network interface, the second request including a second category selection of one or more categories in which the variable revenue ad may appear, the second request further including a variable revenue value associated with the variable revenue ad, the variable revenue value being used to prioritize a display position for the variable revenue ad in a host site listing;

allocating a first display region in the host site listing in a computer system for displaying a combination of variable revenue ads and fixed price ads, the fixed price ad being displayable based on the first category selection, the variable revenue ad being displayable based on the second category selection, the display position for the variable revenue ad being determined in part based on the variable revenue value of the variable revenue ad; and

allocating a second display region in the host site listing in the computer system for displaying other ads, the other ads being concurrently displayable with the combination of variable revenue ads and fixed price ads.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the variable revenue ad is displayed more prominently than the fixed price ad in the first display region.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display position for the variable revenue ad being determined in part based on a current revenue value generated by the variable revenue ad.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display position for the variable revenue ad being determined in part based on user activity.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the user activity includes clicking on the variable revenue ad.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 1 including displaying a view item page associated with an ad when a user clicks on the ad.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 1 including rotating a plurality of fixed price ads through a portion of the first display region.

8 . The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fixed price ad being an advertisement for a product or service.

9 . The method as claimed in claim 1 including limiting the first category selection to a pre-defined number of categories.

10 . The method as claimed in claim 1 including applying a separate cost to each category selected in the first category selection.

11 . An article of manufacture comprising a machine-readable storage medium having machine executable instructions embedded thereon, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

receive a first request for creation of a fixed price ad via a digital network interface, the first request including a first category selection of one or more categories in which the fixed price ad may appear, the fixed price ad being an advertisement for which a fixed price is payable, the fixed price not being dependent upon user action related to the fixed price ad;

receive a second request for creation of a variable revenue ad via a digital network interface, the second request including a second category selection of one or more categories in which the variable revenue ad may appear, the second request further including a variable revenue value associated with the variable revenue ad, the variable revenue value being used to prioritize a display position for the variable revenue ad in a host site listing;

allocate a first display region in the host site listing in a computer system for displaying a combination of variable revenue ads and fixed price ads, the fixed price ad being displayable based on the first category selection, the variable revenue ad being displayable based on the second category selection, the display position for the variable revenue ad being determined in part based on the variable revenue value of the variable revenue ad; and

allocate a second display region in the host site listing in the computer system for displaying other ads, the other ads being concurrently displayable with the combination of variable revenue ads and fixed price ads.

12 . The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 11 wherein the variable revenue ad is displayed more prominently than the fixed price ad in the first display region.

13 . The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 11 wherein the display position for the variable revenue ad being determined in part based on a current revenue value generated by the variable revenue ad.

14 . The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 11 being further configured to rotate a plurality of fixed price ads through a portion of the first display region.

15 . The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 11 wherein the fixed price ad being an advertisement for a product or service.

16 . The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 11 being further configured to limit the first category selection to a pre-defined number of categories.

17 . The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 11 being further configured to apply a separate cost to each category selected in the first category selection.

18 . A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor to store information related to an advertisement (ad); and

an advertisement processor to: receive a first request for creation of a fixed price ad via a digital network interface, the first request including a first category selection of one or more categories in which the fixed price ad may appear, the fixed price ad being an advertisement for which a fixed price is payable, the fixed price not being dependent upon user action related to the fixed price ad; receive a second request for creation of a variable revenue ad via a digital network interface, the second request including a second category selection of one or more categories in which the variable revenue ad may appear, the second request further including a variable revenue value associated with the variable revenue ad, the variable revenue value being used to prioritize a display position for the variable revenue ad in a host site listing; allocate a first display region in the host site listing in a computer system for displaying a combination of variable revenue ads and fixed price ads, the fixed price ad being displayable based on the first category selection, the variable revenue ad being displayable based on the second category selection, the display position for the variable revenue ad being determined in part based on the variable revenue value of the variable revenue ad; and allocate a second display region in the host site listing in the computer system for displaying other ads, the other ads being concurrently displayable with the combination of variable revenue ads and fixed price ads.

19 . The system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the fixed price ad being an advertisement for a product or service.

20 . The system as claimed in claim 18 being further configured to limit the first category selection to a pre-defined number of categories.

21 . The system as claimed in claim 18 being further configured to apply a separate cost to each category selected in the first category selection.