Method and system to detect invalid and fraudulent impressions and clicks in web-based advertisement systems
This invention improves upon existing pay-per-click arrangements by periodically generating a code associated end users. This code, preferably in the form of a serial number, is compared to the end user of the website, such that by observing a metric like the number of clicks for a given period of time, be it a short time or a longer period, such as a day or a week, the system can automatically determine if certain clicks are illegitimate. This allows the pay-per-click company to more fairly invoice the merchants, thereby preventing fraudulent over use.
1. A method for detecting fraudulent activity in a pay-per-click system, comprising:
a) generating a unique code for identifying an end user's computer;
b) transmitting said code to said end user's computer;
c) transmitting to said end user's computer one or more links associated with one or more websites associated with one or more merchants;
d) generating website information regarding a website selected by the end user when said end user clicks one of said links;
e) receiving said code and said website information from said end user's computer; and
f) detecting fraudulent activity by measuring the duration between clicks by said end user to said selected website by examining said code and website information.
2. A method for detecting fraudulent activity in a pay-per-click system as in claim 1 further comprising the step of: storing said code.
3. A method for detecting fraudulent activity in a pay-per-click system as in claim 1 further comprising the step of: storing said code in a cookie.
4. A method for detecting fraudulent activity in a pay-per-click system as in claim 3 wherein said storing step is performed using at least one of the following: ActiveX, Java, and Javascript.
5. A method for detecting fraudulent activity in a pay-per-click system as in claim 1 further comprising the step of:
concatenating said code with at least one of said links to said websites.
6. A method for detecting fraudulent activity in a pay-per-click system as in claim 1 wherein said code is based on a global unique identifier of said end user's computer.
7. A method for detecting fraudulent activity in a pay-per-click system as in claim 1 wherein said code is based on a network cartography of said end user's computer.
8. A method for detecting fraudulent activity in a pay-per-click system as in claim 1 wherein said code is encoded.
9. A method for detecting fraudulent activity in a pay-per-click system as in claim 1 further comprising the step of: preventing a click-through to at least one of said websites associated with said merchants if fraudulent activity is detected.
10. A method for identifying click fraud, the method comprising the steps of:
generating a code, the code identifying said end user's computer;
sending said code to said end user's computer;
transmitting one or more links associated with one or more web pages to an end user at the end user's computer;
receiving data from said end user's computer, said data including said code and information about one or more selections by the end user of at least one of said one or more web pages;
determining from said data whether said at least one of said selections of said at least one web page is fraudulent; and
examining a duration between a time of one of said selections of said at least one web site and a time of another of said selections of said at least one web site.
11. A method as in claim 10 wherein said code is based on a global unique identifier of said end user's computer.
12. A method as in claim 10 wherein said code is based on a network cartography of said end user's computer.
13. A method as in claim 10 wherein said code is encoded.
14. A method for detecting fraudulent activity in a pay-per-click system, comprising:
a) generating a unique code for identifying an end user's computer;
b) transmitting said code to said end user's computer;
c) transmitting to said end user's computer one or more links associated with one or more websites associated with one or more merchants;
d) receiving website information regarding a website selected by the end user together with said code, when said end user clicks one of said links; and
e) detecting fraudulent activity by measuring the duration between clicks by said end user's computer to said selected website by examining said code and website information.
15. A method for detecting fraudulent activity in a pay-per-click system as in claim 14 further comprising the step of:
storing said code at said end user's computer.
16. A method for detecting fraudulent activity in a pay-per-click system as in claim 15 wherein said storing step is performed using at least one of the following: ActiveX, Java, and Javascript.
17. A method for detecting fraudulent activity in a pay-per-click system as in claim 14 further comprising the step of: storing said code in a cookie.
18. A method for detecting fraudulent activity in a pay-per-click system as in claim 14 further comprising the step of: concatenating said code with at least one of said links to said websites.
19. A method for detecting fraudulent activity in a pay-per-click system as in claim 14 wherein said code is based on a global unique identifier of said end user's computer.
20. A method for detecting fraudulent activity in a pay-per-click system as in claim 14 wherein said code is encoded.