IP Library Granted Patent US 9,183,562
Granted Patent B2
US 9,183,562 · App. 13/492,493 · Granted Nov 10, 2015

Method and system for determining touchpoint attribution

Inventors: Anto Chittilappilly (Waltham, MA); Madan Bharadwaj (Billerica, MA); Payman Sadegh (Alpharetta, GA); Darius Jose (Thrissur, IN)
Assignee: VISUAL IQ, INC.
G06Q30/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,183,562
App. No.
13/492,493
Granted
Nov 10, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for allocating credit for an advertising conversion among various advertising touchpoints encounter by the consumer is provided. The system and method comprise receiving data pertaining to touchpoints and conversions of an advertising campaign across multiple channels. Users are correlated across the channels and the various conversions, touchpoints, and touchpoint attributes are identified. Each touchpoint attribute and touchpoint attribute value is assigned a weight. An attribution algorithm is selected, and coefficients are calculated using the assigned weights. The algorithm is executed and true scores corresponding to the touchpoints encountered by each converting user are computed.

Claims (33)

1. A computer implemented method for allocating credit for conversions among advertising touchpoints, the computer implemented method comprising:

storing in a computer, a plurality of touchpoint encounters that represent marketing messages exposed to a plurality of users, wherein each of the touchpoint encounters comprise a plurality of attributes and the attributes comprise a plurality of attribute values;

sorting the data for the touchpoint encounters in the computer to separate into converting user data, which comprises touchpoint encounters for users that exhibited a positive response to the marketing message, and non-converting user data that comprises touchpoint encounters for users that exhibited a negative response to the marketing message;

retrieving, from storage, the converting user data and the non-converting user data;

training, using machine-learning techniques in a computer, the converting user data and the non-converting user data as training data to generate attribute importance data that reflects importance of the attributes, relative to other attributes, to the response of the marketing message;

training, using machine-learning techniques in a computer, the converting user data and the non-converting user data as training data to generate attribute value lift data that reflects importance of the attribute values, relative to other attribute values, to the response of the marketing message; and

calculating, using a computer, a score for a user that measures propensity of the user to convert by aggregating expressions from touchpoint encounters in accordance with:

User Score=α(the attribute importance data,the attribute value lift data)×λ( T 1 )+α(the attribute importance data,the attribute value lift data)×λ( T 2 )+α(the attribute importance data,the attribute value lift data)×λ( T 3 )

wherein, α (the attribute importance data, the attribute value lift data) which represents the attribute importance and the attribute value lift for the touchpoint encounter, is calculated using an attribution algorithm with a plurality of coefficients derived from a curve fitting technique, and λ (T 1 ), λ (T 2 ) and λ (T 3 ) represent forgetting factors calculated by multiplying a constant, λ, by an elapsed time from which the user encountered the touchpoint encounter.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the touchpoint encounters correspond to a plurality of media channels.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising receiving the touchpoint encounters from a plurality of channel data providers.

4. A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores instructions for allocating credit for conversions among advertising touchpoints, which, when executed, cause a processor to:

store a plurality of touchpoint encounters that represent marketing messages exposed to a plurality of users, wherein each of the touchpoint encounters comprise a plurality of attributes and the attributes comprise a plurality of attribute values;

sort the data for the touchpoint encounters in the computer to separate into converting user data, which comprises touchpoint encounters for users that exhibited a positive response to the marketing message, and non-converting user data that comprises touchpoint encounters for users that exhibited a negative response to the marketing message;

retrieve, from storage, the converting user data and the non-converting user data;

train, using machine-learning techniques in a computer, the converting user data and the non-converting user data as training data to generate attribute importance data that reflects importance of the attributes, relative to other attributes, to the response of the marketing message;

train, using machine-learning techniques in a computer, the converting user data and the non-converting user data as training data to generate attribute value lift data that reflects importance of the attribute values, relative to other attribute values, to the response of the marketing message; and

calculate, using a computer, a score for a user that measures propensity of the user to convert by aggregating expressions from touchpoint encounters in accordance with:

User Score=α(the attribute importance data,the attribute value lift data)×λ( T 1 )+α(the attribute importance data,the attribute value lift data)×λ( T 2 )+α(the attribute importance data,the attribute value lift data)×λ( T 3 )

wherein, α (the attribute importance data, the attribute value lift data) which represents the attribute importance and the attribute value lift for the touchpoint encounter, is calculated using an attribution algorithm with a plurality of coefficients derived from a curve fitting technique, and λ (T 1 ), λ (T 2 ) and λ (T 3 ) represent forgetting factors calculated by multiplying a constant, λ, by an elapsed time from which the user encountered the touchpoint encounter.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 4 , wherein the touchpoint encounters correspond to a plurality of channels.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 5 , wherein the touchpoint encounters are received from a plurality of channel data providers.

7. A system for allocating credit for conversions among advertising touchpoints, the system comprising at least one processor and memory for:

storing, using a computer, a plurality of touchpoint encounters that represent marketing messages exposed to a plurality of users, wherein each of the touchpoint encounters comprise a plurality of attributes and the attributes comprise a plurality of attribute values;

sorting the data for the touchpoint encounters in the computer to separate into converting user data, which comprises touchpoint encounters for users that exhibited a positive response to the marketing message, and non-converting user data that comprises touchpoint encounters for users that exhibited a negative response to the marketing message;

retrieving, from storage, the converting user data and the non-converting user data;

training, using machine-learning techniques in a computer, the converting user data and the non-converting user data as training data to generate attribute importance data that reflects importance of the attributes, relative to other attributes, to the response of the marketing message;

training, using machine-learning techniques in a computer, the converting user data and the non-converting user data as training data to generate attribute value lift data that reflects importance of the attribute values, relative to other attribute values, to the response of the marketing message; and

calculating, using a computer, a score for a user that measures propensity of the user to convert by aggregating expressions from touchpoint encounters in accordance with:

User Score=α(the attribute importance data,the attribute value lift data)×λ( T 1 )+α(the attribute importance data,the attribute value lift data)×λ( T 2 )+α(the attribute importance data,the attribute value lift data)×λ( T 3 )

wherein, α (the attribute importance data, the attribute value lift data) which represents the attribute importance and the attribute value lift for the touchpoint encounter, is calculated using an attribution algorithm with a plurality of coefficients derived from a curve fitting technique, and λ (T 1 ), λ (T 2 ) and λ (T 3 ) represent forgetting factors calculated by multiplying a constant, λ, by an elapsed time from which the user encountered the touchpoint encounter.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the touchpoint encounters correspond to a plurality of media channels.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising at least one processor and memory for receiving the touchpoint encounters from a plurality of channel data providers.

Assignments (16)
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063605/0001 →
RELEASE (REEL 053473 / FRAME 0001) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063603/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063574/0632 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063561/0381 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063560/0547 →
RELEASE (REEL 045288 / FRAME 0841) Recorded Oct 13, 2022
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 061746/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 RECORDED ON 6-9-2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053473 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 7, 2020
From: A.C. NIELSEN (ARGENTINA) S.A.; A.C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A
Reel/Frame 054066/0064 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2020
From: VISUAL IQ, INC.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 053257/0384 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NIELSEN UK FINANCE I, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053473/0001 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 8, 2018
From: VISUAL IQ, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045288/0841 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2017
From: ESCALATE CAPITAL PARTNERS SBIC III, LP
To: VISUAL IQ, INC.
Reel/Frame 043825/0897 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2017
From: CHITTILAPPILLY, ANTO; BHARADWAJ, MADAN; SADEGH, PAYMAN; JOSE, DARIUS
To: VISUAL IQ, INC.
Reel/Frame 043345/0474 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 10, 2017
From: CHITTILAPPILLY, ANTO; BHARADWAJ, MADAN; SADEGH, PAYMAN; JOSE, DARIUS
To: VISUAL IQ, INC.
Reel/Frame 043515/0343 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2017
From: VISUAL IQ, INC.
To: ESCALATE CAPITAL PARTNERS SBIC III, LP
Reel/Frame 040863/0360 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2017
From: VISUAL IQ, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 040860/0479 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2012
From: CHITTILAPPILLY, ANTO; BHARADWAJ, MADAN; SADEGH, PAYMAN
To: VISUAL IQ, INC.
Reel/Frame 028347/0050 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130332264A1 · Dec 12, 2013