IP Library Granted Patent US 12,554,788
Granted Patent B2
US 12,554,788 · App. 18/446,924 · Granted Feb 17, 2026

Systems and methods for providing media content over an electronic network

Inventors: Srinivasan Sudanagunta (New York, NY); Karen Nelson Howe (New York, NY); Jennifer Lynn Kolar (New York, NY)
Assignee: Yahoo Ad Tech LLC
G06F16/9538G06F16/953G06Q30/02G06Q30/0276G06Q30/0241G06Q30/0251G06Q30/0256
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,554,788
App. No.
18/446,924
Granted
Feb 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A facility for processing a search query is described. The facility identifies one or more items that satisfy the query, at least one of which is a media sequence. For each identified media sequence, the facility identifies an advertising message based upon the contents of the query. In response to the query, the facility returns a search result that indicates the identified items. When one of the identified media sequences is selected in the search result, the selected media sequence is provided in conjunction with the advertising message identified for it.

Claims (46)

1 . A method in a computing system for processing a search query, the method comprising:

receiving, over an electronic network, a search query from a user device;

identifying one or more media content items satisfying the search query and one or more related content items relating to the search query;

receiving, profile information established for a user;

upon selection of a first media content item of the one or more identified media content items, storing, in the first media content item, data information that causes a media player displaying the first media content item to request a first related content item for display;

based on receiving a request to display the first media content item, identifying for the first media content item an advertising message, based at least on the profile information established for the user, the advertising message having metadata matching terms included in the query;

displaying the first related content item while the first media content item is downloading; and

upon selection of the displayed first related content, displaying the advertising message corresponding to the first related content item.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprises accessing metadata associated with each of the identified media content items to determine a content type for each of the identified media content items; and

accessing a relational database that indexes an identifier of each of the one or more advertising messages to at least one content type.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprises generating a link, comprising encrypted concatenated identifiers of the identified media content items and the selected advertising message.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising causing the media content items to be presented at the user device in conjunction with the one or more advertising messages.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising wherein the related content is a generated link and causes the one or more advertising messages to be presented in conjunction with the media content item.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising generating a link that causes the one or more advertising messages to be presented in conjunction with the media content items.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising decrypting the encrypted concatenated identifiers of the identified media content items and the selected media content items and advertising messages using a key.

8 . A system for providing media content to users over an electronic network, the system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device that stores instructions that cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving, over an electronic network, a search query from a user device;

identifying one or more media content items satisfying the search query and one or more related content items relating to the search query;

receiving, profile information established for a user;

upon selection of a first media content item of the one or more identified media content items, storing, in the first media content item, data information that causes a media player displaying the first media content item to request a first related content item for display;

based on receiving a request to display the first media content item, identifying for the first media content item an advertising message, based at least on the profile information established for the user, the advertising message having metadata matching terms included in the query;

displaying the first related content item while the first media content item is downloading; and

upon selection of the displayed first related content, displaying the advertising message corresponding to the first related content item.

9 . The system of claim 8 , further comprises accessing metadata associated with each of the identified media content items to determine a content type for each of the identified media content items; and

accessing a relational database that indexes an identifier of each of the one or more advertising messages to at least one content type.

10 . The system of claim 9 , further comprises generating a link, comprising encrypted concatenated identifiers of the identified media content items and the selected advertising message.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the media content type is one or more of: an audio type, a video type, or a video including audio type.

12 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising causing the media content items to be presented at the user device in conjunction with the one or more advertising messages.

13 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising wherein the related content is a generated link and causes the one or more advertising messages to be presented in conjunction with the media content item.

14 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising decrypting the encrypted concatenated identifiers of the identified media content items and the selected media content items and advertising messages using a key.

15 . A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving, over an electronic network, a search query from a user device;

identifying one or more media content items satisfying the search query and one or more related content items relating to the search query;

receiving, profile information established for a user;

upon selection of a first media content item of the one or more identified media content items, storing, in the first media content item, data information that causes a media player displaying the first media content item to request a first related content item for display;

based on receiving a request to display the first media content item, identifying for the first media content item an advertising message, based at least on the profile information established for the user, the advertising message having metadata matching terms included in the query;

displaying the first related content item while the first media content item is downloading; and

upon selection of the displayed first related content, displaying the advertising message corresponding to the first related content item.

16 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further comprises accessing metadata associated with each of the identified media content items to determine a content type for each of the identified media content items; and

accessing a relational database that indexes an identifier of each of the one or more advertising messages to at least one content type.

17 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , further comprises generating a link, comprising encrypted concatenated identifiers of the identified media content items and the selected advertising messages.

18 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the media content type is one or more of: an audio type, a video type, or a video including audio type.

19 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , further comprising causing the media content items to be presented at the user device in conjunction with the one or more advertising messages.

20 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , further comprising decrypting the encrypted concatenated identifiers of the identified media content items and the selected media content items and advertising messages using a key.

Assignments (6)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 24, 2025
From: VERIZON MEDIA INC.
To: YAHOO AD TECH LLC
Reel/Frame 073690/0707 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 7, 2023
From: SUDANAGUNTA, SRINIVASAN; HOWE, KAREN N; KOLAR, JENNIFER L
To: AMERICA ONLINE, INC.
Reel/Frame 064831/0566 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 7, 2023
From: OATH INC.
To: VERIZON MEDIA INC.
Reel/Frame 064837/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 7, 2023
From: AMERICA ONLINE, INC.
To: AOL LLC
Reel/Frame 064839/0227 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 7, 2023
From: AOL INC.
To: OATH INC.
Reel/Frame 064839/0404 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 7, 2023
From: AOL LLC
To: AOL INC.
Reel/Frame 064852/0320 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17002528 · Aug 25, 2020
Continuation 15890328 · Feb 6, 2018
Continuation 11173799 · Jul 1, 2005
Provisional Application 60585563 · Jul 2, 2004
Related Publication 20240004945A1 · Jan 4, 2024
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