IP Library Granted Patent US 9,727,878
Granted Patent B2
US 9,727,878 · App. 12/417,632 · Granted Aug 8, 2017

Maximizing advertising performance

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,727,878
App. No.
12/417,632
Granted
Aug 8, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Multiple filtering criteria derived from consumer surveys can be used to adjust an advertising schedule to achieve improved performance. Historical performance data related to performance factors, such as gross rating points, can be filtered using the multiple filtering criteria. The filtered data can then be used as the basis for predicting future performance of an advertisement or advertising campaign. The historical data can be updated as new performance data becomes available, and the predicted future performance updated. An advertising schedule can be adjusted to maintain performance factors within designated upper and lower limits.

Claims (58)

1. A method for use in a device configured to implement an automated media content scheduling system, the device including a memory and a processor programmed to implement the method, the method comprising:

obtaining a plurality of filtering criteria related to a consumer survey;

storing, in memory, a plurality of historic data regarding historical listener data for a first set of parameters relating to an advertisement;

filtering, using processing circuitry, the plurality of historic data based on the plurality of filtering criteria to generate a filtered set of historic data;

generating, using the processing circuitry, a predicted gross rating point value for the advertisement for the first set of parameters based on filtered set of historic data;

updating the plurality of historic data stored in the memory;

generating, using the processor, an updated predicted gross rating point value in response to updating the plurality of historic data; and

continually adjusting, using the processor, an advertising schedule to maintain the predicted gross rating point value between upper and lower boundary values.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of filtering criteria comprises two demographic filtering criteria.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving user input relating to at least one consumer demographic; and

setting the plurality of filtering criteria based on the user input.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a web page displaying a plurality of day-time combinations according to selectable scheduling criteria;

displaying the predicted gross rating point value for advertisements scheduled to be run in respective ones of the plurality of day-time combinations;

adding one or more additional advertisements to one of the plurality of day-time combinations; and

updating the displayed prediction of advertising performance in response to the adding, the updating based on the predicted advertising performance of the one or more additional advertisements.

5. A computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of computer executable instructions, the program of instructions comprising:

at least one instruction to specify a plurality of filtering criteria related to a consumer survey;

at least one instruction to store a plurality of historic data regarding gross rating points for a first set of parameters relating to an advertisement;

at least one instruction to filter the plurality of historic data based on the plurality of filtering criteria to generate a filtered set of historic data;

at least one instruction to generate a predicted gross rating point value for the advertisement for the first set of parameters based on filtered set of historic data;

at least one instruction to update the plurality of historic data;

at least one instruction to generate an updated predicted gross rating point value in response to updating the plurality of historic data; and

at least one instruction to continually adjust an advertising schedule to maintain the predicted gross rating point value between upper and lower boundary values.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of filtering criteria comprises two demographic filtering criteria.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 5 , further comprising:

at least one instruction to receive user input relating to at least one consumer demographic; and

at least one instruction to set the plurality of filtering criteria based on the user input.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 5 , further comprising:

at least one instruction to provide a web page displaying a plurality of day-time combinations according to selectable scheduling criteria;

at least one instruction to display the predicted gross rating point value for advertisements scheduled to be run in respective ones of the plurality of day-time combinations;

at least one instruction to add one or more additional advertisements to one of the plurality of day-time combinations; and

at least one instruction to update the displayed prediction of advertising performance in response to the adding, the updating based on the predicted advertising performance of the one or more additional advertisements.

9. A system comprising:

memory;

at least one processor operably coupled to said memory;

a program of computer readable instructions configured to be stored in the memory and executed by the processor, the program of instructions comprising:

at least one instruction to specify a plurality of filtering criteria related to a consumer survey;

at least one instruction to store a plurality of historic data regarding gross rating points for a first set of parameters relating to an advertisement;

at least one instruction to filter the plurality of historic data based on the plurality of filtering criteria to generate a filtered set of historic data;

at least one instruction to generate a predicted gross rating point value for the advertisement for the first set of parameters based on filtered set of historic data;

at least one instruction to update the plurality of historic data;

at least one instruction to generate an updated predicted gross rating point value in response to updating the plurality of historic data; and

at least one instruction to continually adjust an advertising schedule to maintain the predicted gross rating point value between upper and lower boundary values.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the program of instructions further comprises:

at least one instruction to select a next advertisement to be scheduled;

at least one instruction to identify one or more valid advertisement breaks for the next advertisement;

at least one instruction to score each of the one or more valid advertisement breaks in accordance with the plurality of filtering criteria; and

at least one instruction to schedule the next advertisement in a valid advertisement break having a highest score if a contract associated with the next advertisement is underperforming, and to schedule the next advertisement in a valid advertisement break having a score other than the highest score if the contract associated with the next advertisement is not underperforming.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the program of instructions further comprises:

at least one instruction to receive user input relating to at least one consumer demographic; and

at least one instruction to set the plurality of filtering criteria based on the user input.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the program of instructions further comprises:

at least one instruction to provide a web page displaying a plurality of day-time combinations according to selectable scheduling criteria;

at least one instruction to display the predicted gross rating point value for advertisements scheduled to be run in respective ones of the plurality of day-time combinations;

at least one instruction to add one or more additional advertisements to one of the plurality of day-time combinations; and

at least one instruction to update the displayed prediction of advertising performance in response to the adding, the updating based on the predicted advertising performance of the one or more additional advertisements.

Assignments (20)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT TO CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: IHEART COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 075557/0138 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS (REEL/FRAME 050017/0882) Recorded Jan 1, 2025
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: IHEARTCOMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069795/0626 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS (REEL/FRAME 049079/0814) Recorded Dec 31, 2024
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION)
To: IHEARTCOMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069795/0488 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS (REEL/FRAME 049067/0800) Recorded Dec 31, 2024
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION)
To: IHEARTCOMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069795/0423 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 29, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 069795/0912 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 28, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 069793/0758 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 28, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 069794/0248 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 27, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 069792/0335 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 23, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 069762/0453 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Feb 5, 2020
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052144/0833 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 23, 2019
From: IHEART COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U. S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 051143/0579 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2019
From: IHEART COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 050017/0882 →
RELEASE OF THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 034008/0027 Recorded May 10, 2019
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: AMFM RADIO LICENSES, LLC; CAPSTAR RADIO OPERATING COMPANY; CAPSTAR TX, LLC; CITICASTERS CO.; CITICASTERS LICENSES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.; IHEARMEDIA + ENTERTAINMENT, INC.; AMFM TEXAS BROADCASTING, LP; CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL INVESTMENTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049149/0773 →
RELEASE OF THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 035109/0168 Recorded May 10, 2019
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: AMFM RADIO LICENSES, LLC; CAPSTAR RADIO OPERATING COMPANY; CAPSTAR TX, LLC; CITICASTERS CO.; CITICASTERS LICENSES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.; IHEARMEDIA + ENTERTAINMENT, INC.; AMFM TEXAS BROADCASTING, LP; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049149/0714 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2019
From: IHEARTCOMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049067/0800 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2019
From: IHEARTCOMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 049079/0814 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2019
From: IHEARTCOMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049067/0606 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 27, 2015
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 035109/0168 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 21, 2014
From: CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 034026/0037 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 15, 2014
From: CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL INVESTMENTS, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 034008/0027 →