IP Library Granted Patent US 8,799,062
Granted Patent B1
US 8,799,062 · App. 13/762,297 · Granted Aug 5, 2014

System for improving shape-based targeting by using interest level data

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,799,062
App. No.
13/762,297
Granted
Aug 5, 2014
Kind
B1
Abstract

A system for improving shape-based targeting by using interest level data is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes creating one or more trade zones, wherein creating a trade zone includes grouping a set of parameters to deliver custom shapes, clustering the custom shapes according to offline data and geographic distribution of IP addresses, and mapping clusters of the custom shapes to IP addresses. Data indicating consumption of a content source is received by one or more trade zones at a calculated rate and the calculated rate is analyzed to determine an interest associated with each trade zone. Targeting is based on a selected trade zone, wherein the selected trade zone is selected based upon a desired interest representative of a desired audience. A targeting request is transmitted including instructions or information associated with a target action, and the target action is performed.

Claims (94)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

creating one or more trade zones, wherein creating a trade zone comprises

grouping a set of parameters to deliver custom shapes;

clustering the custom shapes according to offline data, online data, and geographic distribution of IP addresses; and

mapping clusters of the custom shapes to IP addresses;

receiving data indicating consumption of a content source by one or more trade zones at a calculated rate;

analyzing the calculated rate to determine an interest associated with each trade zone;

selecting the one or more trade zones based upon a desired interest representative of a desired audience;

transmitting a targeting request to the one or more selected trade zones including display instructions and information associated with a target action; and

performing the target action.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein online data and offline data associated with the one or more trade zones are independent of cookies.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the custom shapes are independent of geographic location.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein offline data comprises demographic data, point of sale data, and business information data.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein online data comprises page content, user clicks, advertisement impressions, and pages visited.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein offline data uses location information in the offline data to map to the custom shapes.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein online data uses IP addresses to map to the custom shapes.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting a targeting request to the one or more selected trade zones results in properly targeted actions, wherein properly targeted actions reach only the desired audience.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein a trend of an interest for a trade zone is calculated, wherein the trend is one of upward or downward.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the content source is one of a webpage, a purchased server log, a mobile application, a television programming transcript, or an on-demand video selection.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein consumption of the content source comprises:

organizing one or more keywords according to the one or more trade zones, wherein the one or more trade zones consume the one or more keywords at a calculated rate.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the calculated rate is determined by multiplying a first number of times that a content source was viewed by a second number of occurrences of a chosen keyword in the content source.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein consumption of the content source at a calculated rate comprises:

using a data mining technique to produce an output, wherein the output is mapped into one or more phrases having one or more words; and

organizing the one or more phrases according to the one or more trade zones.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the calculated rate is determined by multiplying a first number of times a content source was viewed by a second number of occurrences of a chosen phrase in the content source.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein data mining techniques comprise linear and nonlinear classification methods, supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms and neural networks.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein creating a trade zone further comprises combining custom shapes that are too small to represent an IP range mapping based on consideration of one or more sets of parameters.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 , wherein consideration of one or more sets of parameters comprises geographic areas that best conform to the probable distribution of the IP address range, demographic homogeneity, natural geographic boundaries and types of IP address ranges.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 , wherein types of IP address ranges comprise business, residential and public locations.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein selecting one or more trade zones is further based on using probability to find a range of interests that related to a desired interest of a desired audience.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting a targeting request to the one or more selected trade zones further comprises transmitting simultaneously to similar trade zones based on one or more sets of parameters.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , transmitting a targeting request to the one or more selected trade zones further comprises using a selection process to select the best target action.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21 , wherein the selection process comprises weighted, random and sequential processes.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising optimizing the targeting request based upon performance metrics collected when performing the target action.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 23 , wherein performance metrics comprise click-through rates, coupon downloads, impressions delivered, price per impression, lead submissions, landing page arrivals, product queries and product purchases.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein information associated with a target action comprises a weighted score dynamically assigned to each content source based upon one or more desired interests.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein creating a trade zone further comprises assigning one or more secondary custom shapes based on census tracts that are in close proximity to the clusters of custom shapes.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein performing the target action occurs independent of keywords and a prior online presence of the desired audience.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining whether multiple target items match the one or more selected trade zones; and

determining a best fit target item of the multiple target items.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising

mapping the trend to the one or more trade zones to use as a targeting configuration for campaigns.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising

discovering new search engine marketing keywords using the trend.

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

using keywords for interest discovery.

32. A system, comprising:

a server, hosting a first webpage, in communication with a network, wherein a client system accesses the first webpage via the network; and

a targeting system in communication with the network,

wherein the targeting system creates one or more trade zones by

grouping a set of parameters to deliver custom shapes;

clustering the custom shapes according to offline data, online data, and geographic distribution of IP addresses; and

mapping clusters of the custom shapes to IP addresses;

receives data indicating consumption of a content source by one or more trade zones at a calculated rate;

analyzes the calculated rate to determine an interest associated with each trade zone;

selects the one or more trade zones based upon a desired interest representative of a desired audience;

transmits a targeting request to the one or more selected trade zones including display instructions and information associated with a target action; and

performs the target action.

33. The system of claim 32 , wherein online data and offline data associated with the one or more trade zones are independent of cookies.

34. The system of claim 32 , wherein the custom shapes are independent of geographic location.

35. The system of claim 32 , wherein offline data comprises demographic data, point of sale data, and business information data.

36. The system of claim 32 , wherein online data comprises page content, user clicks, advertisement impressions, and pages visited.

37. The system of claim 32 , wherein offline data uses location information in the offline data to map to the custom shapes.

38. The system of claim 32 , wherein online data uses IP addresses to map to the custom shapes.

39. The system of claim 32 , wherein transmitting a targeting request to the one or more selected trade zones results in properly targeted advertisement impressions, wherein properly targeted advertisement impressions reach only the desired audience.

40. The system of claim 32 , wherein a trend of an interest for a trade zone is calculated, wherein the trend is one of upward or downward.

41. The system of claim 32 , wherein the content source is one of a second webpage, a purchased server log, a mobile application, a television programming transcript, or an on-demand video selection.

42. The system of claim 32 , wherein consumption of the content source comprises:

organizing one or more keywords according to the one or more trade zones, wherein the one or more trade zones consume the one or more keywords at a calculated rate.

43. The system of claim 42 , wherein the calculated rate is determined by multiplying a first number of times that a content source was viewed by a second number of occurrences of a chosen keyword in the content source.

44. The system of claim 32 , wherein

the targeting system uses a data mining technique to produce an output, maps the output into one or more phrases comprising one or more words; and organizes the one or more phrases according to the one or more trade zones.

45. The system of claim 44 , wherein the calculated rate is determined by the targeting system that multiplies a first number of times a content source was viewed by a second number of occurrences of a chosen phrase in the content source.

46. The system of claim 44 , wherein data mining techniques comprise linear and nonlinear classification methods, supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms and neural networks.

47. The system of claim 32 , wherein the targeting system further creates a trade zone by combining custom shapes that are too small to represent an IP range mapping based on consideration of one or more sets of parameters.

48. The system of claim 47 , wherein the one or more sets of parameters comprise geographic areas that best conform to the probable distribution of the IP address range, demographic homogeneity, natural geographic boundaries and types of IP address ranges.

49. The system of claim 48 , wherein types of IP address ranges comprise business, residential and public locations.

50. The system of claim 32 , wherein the targeting system selects one or more trade zones by using probability to find a range of interests that are similar to a desired interest of a desired audience.

51. The system of claim 32 , wherein the targeting system transmits a targeting request to the one or more selected trade zones and transmits the targeting request to similar trade zones based on one or more sets of parameters.

52. The system of claim 32 , wherein the targeting system transmits a targeting request to the one or more selected trade zones and uses a selection process to select the best target action.

53. The system of claim 52 , wherein the selection process comprises weighted, random and sequential processes.

54. The system of claim 32 , wherein the targeting system further comprises optimizing the targeting request based upon performance metrics collected when performing the target action.

55. The system of claim 54 , wherein performance metrics comprise click-through rates, coupon downloads, impressions delivered, price per impression, lead submissions, landing page arrivals, product queries and product purchases.

56. The system of claim 32 , wherein information associated with a target action comprises a weighted score dynamically assigned to each content source based upon one or more desired interests.

57. The system of claim 32 , wherein the targeting system assigns one or more secondary custom shapes based on census tracts that are in close proximity to the clusters of custom shapes.

58. The system of claim 32 , further comprising a real-time bidding system and a plurality of real-time bidders in communication with the network, wherein the targeting system acquires impressions from the real-time bidders for serving advertisements.

59. The system of claim 32 , further comprising a publisher site in communication with the network, wherein the publisher site uses the targeting system to perform target actions for the publisher site's audiences.

60. The system of claim 32 , wherein a target action is one of serving content, serving video, serving a page view, serving an advertisement, or serving a game.

61. The system of claim 32 , wherein the target action occurs independent of page keywords and a prior online presence of the desired audience.

62. The system of claim 32 , wherein the targeting system determines whether multiple target items match the one or more selected trade zones; determines a best fit target item of the multiple target items.

63. The system of claim 41 , wherein the targeting system maps the trend to the one or more trade zones to use as a targeting configuration for campaigns.

64. The system of claim 41 , wherein the targeting system discovers new search engine marketing keywords using the trend.

65. The system of claim 32 , wherein keywords are used for interest discovery.

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 053812/0345 →
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 9, 2014
From: EPPERSON, JOSEPH; CARLSON, KURT; FARMER, CHRISTOPHER; GONZALEZ, ROBERT; LOWE, MARK
To: MAXPOINT INTERACTIVE, INC.
Reel/Frame 033057/0498 →