Patent · US Active

Auction-pricing many substitute products

US8156032B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
1References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 31, 2007
Grant dateApr 10, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 16, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06Q40/04
  • WIPO fieldIT methods for management
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of providing advertising services selects a finite set of topics, and arranges the selected set of topics into a hierarchical structure. The method classifies impression items into the nodes within the hierarchical structure, and allows bidding against the nodes within the hierarchical structure. Some embodiments allow a bidder to request a refinement of the hierarchical structure. These embodiments receive such a request, and compare the request to a set of criteria. If the request meets the set of criteria, the method divides a first node in the hierarchical structure to at least a second and third node. The method allows bidders to bid on each of the first, second, and third nodes. The method optionally measures a performance for the nodes within the hierarchical structure. Based on the measure of performance for the nodes, the method preferably removes an under-performing node from the hierarchical structure.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.