Controlling content distribution
A computer-implemented method for controlling content distribution includes forwarding information associated with a user to a device operated by the user, the information being configured for use in selecting content from any of multiple content providers for a content distribution to the user. The method includes receiving, in response to the information, an edit of the information forwarded from the device. The edit identifies a first content provider and including a first modification of the content distribution regarding the first content provider. The method includes storing the edit in association with the information such that the first modification is taken into account in the content distribution. The method can be implemented using a computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium.
1. A method performed by one or more processors, the method comprising:
generating a graphical user interface that (i) presents a user with information being used to control selection of content presented to the user, and (ii) includes an edit area that enables the user to enable or disable use of particular items of information in selection processes to select, from among a set of content, content for presentation to the user;
detecting user interaction with a user interface control for at least one of the particular items of information;
determining, based on the detected user interaction, that the user has modified a user preference setting that controls the use of the at least one particular item of information as one of a plurality of selection parameters in the selection processes to select content for presentation to the user, wherein the at least one particular item of information is different from each content item in the set of content;
updating stored user preference data for the user based on the modified user preference setting, the updating comprising updating, for the at least one particular item of information, at least one of (i) a frequency at which content related to the at least one particular item of information is provided to the user or (ii) a schedule for delivering the content related to the at least one particular item of information to the user; and
controlling the use of the at least one particular item of information in the selection processes to select content for presentation to the user in accordance with the stored user preference data.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
determining that the user has modified the user preference setting comprises determining that the user has disabled the use of the at least one particular item of information in the selection of content presented to the user; and
controlling the use of the at least one particular item of information in the selection of content presented to the user in accordance with the stored user preference data comprises disabling the use of the at least one particular item of information in the selection processes to select content for presentation to the user.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
determining that the user has modified the user preference setting comprises determining that the user has enabled the use of the at least one particular item of information in the selection of content presented to the user; and
controlling the use of the at least one particular item of information in the selection processes to select content for presentation to the user in accordance with the stored user preference data comprises enabling the use of the at least one particular item of information in the selection of content presented to the user.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each particular item of information comprises at least one of (i) an interest category for the user or (ii) a particular content provider.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the particular items of information comprises an interest of the user.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface comprises a user interface control that enables the user to specify a preference for one or more attributes of content presented to the user.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface displays a set of user interests that have been associated with the user.
8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
generating a graphical user interface that (i) presents a user with information being used to control selection of content presented to the user, and (ii) includes an edit area that enables the user to enable or disable use of particular items of information in selection processes to select, from among a set of content, content for presentation to the user;
detecting user interaction with a user interface control for at least one of the particular items of information;
determining, based on the detected user interaction, that the user has modified a user preference setting that controls the use of the at least one particular item of information as one of a plurality of selection parameters in the selection processes to select content for presentation to the user, wherein the at least one particular item of information is different from each content item in the set of content;
updating stored user preference data for the user based on the modified user preference setting, the updating comprising updating, for the at least one particular item of information, at least one of (i) a frequency at which content related to the at least one particular item of information is provided to the user or (ii) a schedule for delivering the content related to the at least one particular item of information to the user; and
controlling the use of the at least one particular item of information in the selection processes to select content for presentation to the user in accordance with the stored user preference data.
9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein:
determining that the user has modified the user preference setting comprises determining that the user has disabled the use of the at least one particular item of information in the selection of content presented to the user; and
controlling the use of the at least one particular item of information in the selection of content presented to the user in accordance with the stored user preference data comprises disabling the use of the at least one particular item of information in the selection processes to select content for presentation to the user.
10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein:
determining that the user has modified the user preference setting comprises determining that the user has enabled the use of the at least one particular item of information in the selection of content presented to the user; and
controlling the use of the at least one particular item of information in the selection processes to select content for presentation to the user in accordance with the stored user preference data comprises enabling the use of the at least one particular item of information in the selection of content presented to the user.
11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein each particular item of information comprises at least one of (i) an interest category for the user or (ii) a particular content provider.
12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the particular items of information comprises an interest of the user.
13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the graphical user interface comprises a user interface control that enables the user to specify a preference for one or more attributes of content presented to the user.
14. A system, comprising:
a data storage device storing instructions; and
one or more processors coupled to the data storage device, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
generating a graphical user interface that (i) presents a user with information being used to control selection of content presented to the user, and (ii) includes an edit area that enables the user to enable or disable use of particular items of information in selection processes to select, from among a set of content, content for presentation to the user;
detecting user interaction with a user interface control for at least one of the particular items of information;
determining, based on the detected user interaction, that the user has modified a user preference setting that controls the use of the at least one particular item of information as one of a plurality of selection parameters in the selection processes to select content for presentation to the user, wherein the at least one particular item of information is different from each content item in the set of content;
updating stored user preference data for the user based on the modified user preference setting, the updating comprising updating, for the at least one particular item of information, at least one of (i) a frequency at which content related to the at least one particular item of information is provided to the user or (ii) a schedule for delivering the content related to the at least one particular item of information to the user; and
controlling the use of the at least one particular item of information in the selection processes to select content for presentation to the user in accordance with the stored user preference data.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein:
determining that the user has modified the user preference setting comprises determining that the user has disabled the use of the at least one particular item of information in the selection of content presented to the user; and
controlling the use of the at least one particular item of information in the selection of content presented to the user in accordance with the stored user preference data comprises disabling the use of the at least one particular item of information in the selection processes to select content for presentation to the user.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein:
determining that the user has modified the user preference setting comprises determining that the user has enabled the use of the at least one particular item of information in the selection of content presented to the user; and
controlling the use of the at least one particular item of information in the selection processes to select content for presentation to the user in accordance with the stored user preference data comprises enabling the use of the at least one particular item of information in the selection of content presented to the user.
17. The system of claim 14 , wherein each particular item of information comprises at least one of (i) an interest category for the user or (ii) a particular content provider.
18. The system of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the particular items of information comprises an interest of the user.
19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the graphical user interface comprises a user interface control that enables the user to specify a preference for one or more attributes of content presented to the user.
20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the graphical user interface displays a set of user interests that have been associated with the user.