IP Library Granted Patent US 9,129,313
Granted Patent B1
US 9,129,313 · App. 13/672,698 · Granted Sep 8, 2015

System and method for optimizing real-time bidding on online advertisement placements utilizing mixed probability methods

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,129,313
App. No.
13/672,698
Granted
Sep 8, 2015
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method and system for optimizing real-time bidding on online advertisement placements is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving a real-time bidding (RTB) request from a RTB partner who is selling an impression on behalf of a publisher. Several probability scores are predetermined based on various criterion. During the processing of a real-time bid request, a combined probability score and threshold are calculated based on these probability scores. The decision to bid on and price to bid for the impression is determined by the RTB system. Campaign targets are based on the combined probability score. A RTB bid response indicating the selected campaign targets and the bid prices are returned to the RTB partner.

Claims (75)

1. A computer-implemented method performed by a real-time bidding (RTB) bidding system including a processor and instructions stored in non-transitory computer-readable media and executable by the processor, the method comprising:

determining by the processor a set of probability scores corresponding to a plurality of bid request parameters related to online advertisement bid requests based on a set of criteria for an online advertisement campaign for purchasing online advertisements via RTB auctions managed by an RTB exchange,

wherein the set of probability scores includes, for each bid request parameter, a range of probability scores indicating a respective desirability of different values for that bid request parameter with respect to the online advertisement campaign;

during the online advertisement campaign, receiving at the processor via a communications network an RTB bid request from the RTB exchange for an online advertisement placement associated with an internet webpage being loaded remotely by a web browser, the RTB bid request having associated values for one or more bid request parameters, and

in real time during the loading of the webpage, the processor:

calculating, during the processing of the received RTB bid request, a combined probability score based on the values for the one or more bid request parameters associated with the RTB bid request and the set of probability scores;

determining whether to bid on the online advertisement placement associated with the RTB bid request based at least on the calculated combined probability score and a campaign threshold associated with the online advertisement campaign; and

in response to determining to bid on the online advertisement placement associated with the RTB bid request, returning from the processor to the RTB exchange an RTB bid response for inclusion in an RTB auction completed during the loading of the webpage;

wherein the set of probability scores are calculated prior to receiving the RTB bid request to facilitate the real-time execution of the determination of whether to bid on the online advertisement placement associated with the RTB bid request.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the set of probability scores including at least one of (a) user-targeting probability scores based on a geographic location associated with the respective bid request, (b) advertisement placement probability scores related to an advertisement placement associated with the respective bid request, and performance probability scores related to a time associated with the respective bid request.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein multiple probability scores associated with the received RTB bid request are combined to calculate a final joint probability score for the received RTB bid request.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an impression quota from an advertiser; and

determining whether the impression quota has been met based on a number of bids won for the online advertisement campaign.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising:

if the impression quota has not been met or met too quickly:

adjusting the bid price; and

determining target campaigns based on the adjusted bid price.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , further comprising:

if the impression quota has not been met or met too quickly:

adjusting the campaign threshold; and

determining target online advertisement campaigns based on the adjusted campaign threshold.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , further comprising:

if multiple online advertisement campaigns are eligible to bid on the received RTB bid request, applying a set of rules to select a particular online advertisement campaign to bid on that RTB bid request.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-readable instructions, which instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

determining a set of probability scores corresponding to a plurality of bid request parameters related to online advertisement bid requests based on a set of criteria;

wherein the set of probability scores includes, for each bid request parameter, a range of probability scores indicating a respective desirability of different values for that bid request parameter with respect to the online advertisement campaign;

during the online advertisement campaign, receiving via a communications network an RTB bid request from an RTB exchange for an online advertisement placement associated with an internet webpage being loaded remotely by a web browser, the RTB bid request having associated values for one or more bid request parameters;

in real time during the loading of the webpage, the processor:

calculating during the processing of the received RTB bid request, a combined probability score based on the values for the one or more bid request parameters associated with the RTB bid request and the set of probability scores;

determining by the processor whether to bid on the online advertisement placement associated with the RTB bid request based at least on the calculated combined probability score and a campaign threshold associated with the online advertisement campaign; and

in response to determining to bid on the online advertisement placement associated with the RTB bid request, returning from the processor to the RTB exchange partner an RTB bid response for inclusion in an RTB auction completed during the loading of the webpage;

wherein the set of probability scores are calculated prior to receiving the RTB bid request to facilitate the real-time execution of the determination of whether to bid on the online advertisement placement associated with the RTB bid request.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the set of probability scores including at least one of (a) user-targeting probability scores based on a geographic location associated with the respective bid request, (b) advertisement placement probability scores related to an advertisement placement associated with the respective bid request, and performance probability scores related to a time associated with the respective bid request.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the multiple probability scores associated with the received RTB bid request are combined to calculate a final joint probability score for the received RTB bid request.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 having further instructions stored thereon, which instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving an impression quota from an advertiser; and

determining whether the impression quota has been met based on a number of placements of the online advertisement campaign.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , having further instructions stored thereon, which instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

adjusting the bid price; and

determining targets based on the adjusted bid price.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 , having further instructions stored thereon, which instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

adjusting the campaign threshold; and

determining targets based on the adjusted campaign threshold.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , having further instructions stored thereon, which instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

when multiple online advertisement campaigns are eligible to bid on the received RTB bid request, applying a set of rules to select a particular online advertisement campaign to bid on the RTB bid request.

15. A computer-implemented method performed by a real-time bidding (RTB) bidding system including at least one processor and instructions stored in non-transitory computer-readable media and executable by the at least one processor, the method comprising:

for each of a plurality of simultaneously active online advertisement campaigns:

determining by the at least one processor a set of probability scores corresponding to a plurality of bid request parameters related to online advertisement bid requests based on a set of criteria for the respective online advertisement campaign,

wherein the set of probability scores for the respective online advertisement campaign includes, for each bid request parameter, a range of probability scores indicating a respective desirability of different values for that bid request parameter with respect to the respective online advertisement campaign;

receiving at the at least one processor via a communications network an RTB bid request from an RTB exchange for an online advertisement placement associated with an internet webpage being loaded remotely by a web browser, the RTB bid request having associated values for one or more bid request parameters, and

in real time during the loading of the webpage, the at least one processor:

for each of the plurality of online advertisement campaigns, calculating, during the processing of the received RTB bid request, a combined probability score based on the values for the one or more bid request parameters associated with the RTB bid request and the set of probability scores determined for the respective online advertisement campaign;

for each of the plurality of online advertisement campaigns, determining whether to bid on the online advertisement placement associated with the RTB bid request based at least on the combined probability score calculated for the respective online advertisement campaign and a campaign threshold associated with the respective online advertisement campaign; and

returning from the at least one processor to the RTB exchange at least one RTB bid response based on the determination of whether to place a bid on the online advertisement placement for each of the plurality of online advertisement campaigns;

wherein the set of probability scores are calculated prior to receiving the RTB bid request to facilitate the real-time execution of the determination of whether to bid on the online advertisement placement associated with the RTB bid request.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein:

determining by the at least one processor whether to place a bid on the RTB bid request for each of the plurality of online advertisement campaigns comprises determining to place bid on the RTB bid request for each of at least two online advertisement campaigns; and

returning from the at least one processor to the RTB exchange at least one RTB bid response comprises returning from the at least one processor to the RTB exchange an RTB bid response for each of the at least two online advertisement campaigns.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein:

determining by the at least one processor whether to place a bid on the RTB bid request for each of the plurality of online advertisement campaigns comprises:

determining that at least two of the plurality of online advertisement campaigns are suitable for bidding on the RTB bid request; and

applying a set of rules to select one of the at least two online advertisement campaigns to bid on the RTB bid request; and

returning from the at least one processor to the RTB exchange at least one RTB bid response comprises returning from the at least one processor to the RTB exchange an RTB bid response for the selected online advertisement campaign.

18. A computer-implemented real-time bidding (RTB) bidding system, comprising:

a processor and

instructions stored in non-transitory computer-readable media and executable by the processor to perform the steps of:

determining by the processor a set of probability scores corresponding to a plurality of bid request parameters related to online advertisement bid requests based on a set of criteria for an online advertisement campaign for purchasing online advertisements via RTB auctions managed by an RTB exchange,

wherein the set of probability scores includes, for each bid request parameter, a range of probability scores indicating a respective desirability of different values for that bid request parameter with respect to the online advertisement campaign;

during the online advertisement campaign, receiving at the processor via a communications network an RTB bid request from the RTB exchange for an online advertisement placement associated with an internet webpage being loaded remotely by a web browser, the RTB bid request having associated values for one or more bid request parameters, and

in real time during the loading of the webpage, the processor:

calculating, during the processing of the received RTB bid request, a combined probability score based on the values for the one or more bid request parameters associated with the RTB bid request and the set of probability scores;

determining whether to bid on the online advertisement placement associated with the RTB bid request based at least on the calculated combined probability score and a campaign threshold associated with the online advertisement campaign; and

in response to determining to bid on the online advertisement placement associated with the RTB bid request, returning from the processor to the RTB exchange an RTB bid response for inclusion in an RTB auction completed during the loading of the webpage;

wherein the set of probability scores are calculated prior to receiving the RTB bid request to facilitate the real-time execution of the determination of whether to bid on the online advertisement placement associated with the RTB bid request.

Assignments (22)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2025
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 070919/0394 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.; VALASSIS DIGITAL CORP.; VALASSIS DIRECT MAIL, INC.; VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC
Reel/Frame 068533/0812 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.; VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; VALASSIS DIGITAL CORP.; VALASSIS DIRECT MAIL, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 068534/0447 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.; VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; VALASSIS DIGITAL CORP.; VALASSIS DIRECT MAIL, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 068534/0366 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2024
From: VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; VALASSIS DIGITAL CORP.; VALASSIS DIRECT MAIL, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 068200/0923 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2024
From: COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR TO WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: NCH MARKETING SERVICES, INC.; VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; VALASSIS DIGITAL CORP.; VALASSIS DIRECT MAIL, INC.
Reel/Frame 068177/0738 →
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2024
From: COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR TO WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: NCH MARKETING SERVICES, INC.; VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; VALASSIS DIGITAL CORP.; VALASSIS DIRECT MAIL, INC.
Reel/Frame 068177/0784 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2024
From: COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR TO WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: HARLAND CLARKE CORP.; VERICAST CORP.; CHECKS IN THE MAIL, INC.; NCH MARKETING SERVICES, INC.; VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; VALASSIS DIGITAL CORP.; VALASSIS DIRECT MAIL, INC.
Reel/Frame 068103/0460 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2024
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS SUCCESSOR TO CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: VALASSIS DIRECT MAIL, INC.; VALASSIS DIGITAL CORP.; VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 068030/0297 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2024
From: MIDCAP FUNDING IV TRUST, AS THE AGENT
To: NCH MARKETING SERVICES, INC.; VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; VALASSIS DIRECT MAIL, INC.; VALASSIS DIGITAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 068031/0932 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL RECORDED ON 11-3-2017 Recorded Feb 23, 2024
From: CREDIT SUISSE (AG) CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS ASSIGNOR
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS ASSIGNEE
Reel/Frame 066663/0674 →
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 20, 2023
From: GROWMAIL, LLC; HARLAND CLARKE CORP.; NCH MARKETING SERVICES, INC.; VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; VALASSIS DIGITAL CORP.; VALASSIS DIRECT MAIL, INC.; VERICAST CORP.
To: COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064024/0319 →
SECOND LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 12, 2021
From: CHECKS IN THE MAIL, INC.; CLIPPER MAGAZINE LLC; HARLAND CLARKE CORP.; NCH MARKETING SERVICES, INC.; VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; VALASSIS DIGITAL CORP.; VALASSIS DIRECT MAIL, INC.; VERICAST CORP.; VALASSIS IN-STORE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 057181/0837 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME NO. 044217/0323 Recorded Apr 23, 2021
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: MAXPOINT INTERACTIVE, INC.
Reel/Frame 056032/0598 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2021
From: CHECKS IN THE MAIL, INC.; CLIPPER MAGAZINE LLC; HARLAND CLARKE CORP.; NCH MARKETING SERVICES, INC.; VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; VALASSIS DIGITAL CORP.; VALASSIS DIRECT MAIL, INC.; VERICAST CORP.; VERICAST IN-STORE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST
Reel/Frame 055995/0898 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 17, 2020
From: MAXPOINT INTERACTIVE, INC.
To: VALASSIS DIGITAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 053812/0374 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 3, 2017
From: MAXPOINT INTERACTIVE, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 044364/0890 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2017
From: MAXPOINT INTERACTIVE, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 044286/0579 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Oct 10, 2017
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK
To: MAXPOINT INTERACTIVE, INC.
Reel/Frame 044173/0028 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2017
From: MAXPOINT INTERACTIVE, INC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 044217/0323 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2014
From: MAXPOINT INTERACTIVE, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 033154/0909 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 10, 2014
From: FARMER, CHRISTOPHER; ELS, MICHAEL; POSTELNIK, IGOR; HODGES, PAUL; CARLSON, KURT
To: MAXPOINT INTERACTIVE, INC.
Reel/Frame 033061/0600 →