Methods and apparatuses for targeting the delivery of advertisements over a network such as the Internet are disclosed. Statistics are compiled on individual users and networks and the use of the advertisements is tracked to permit targeting of the advertisements of individual users. In response to requests from affiliated sites, an advertising server transmits to people accessing the page of a site an appropriate one of the advertisement based upon profiling of users and networks.

Method of delivery, targeting, and measuring advertising over networks

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for scheduling the presentation of a continuously-changing display (702) to computer users, and is particularly well-suited for use in an advertisement-supported e-mail service. An advertisement display scheduler (700) resident on a user's computer receives advertisements from a server system over a network. Upon receipt, the advertisement display scheduler (700) determines the priority of the advertisement (MSG01 .... MSGnn) and assigns it to one of a plurality of prioritized advertisement queues (Qo .... Qn). Each queue is sorted (701) according to predetermined scheduling criteria so that advertisements deemed 'more important' are presented to a user first. The advertisement display scheduler (700) logs statistical information relating to the presentation of advertisements for use in updating the scheduling criteria, and makes such statistical information available to the server system.

Method and apparatus for scheduling the presentation of messages to computer users

Prioritized queues of advertising and content data are generated by a queue builder and sent to an on-line queue manager. A computer mediated communications network provides content and subscriber data to the queue builder and receives content segment play lists from the on-line queue manager. An exposure accounting module calculates and stores information about the number of exposures of targeted material received by subscribers and generates billing information. An information warehouse manager is employed to receive data from advertisers' data bases and third party sources as well as from the computer mediated communications network.

On-line interactive system and method for providing content and advertising information to a targeted set of viewers

A computer system for automatic replacement of direct advertisements in scarce media includes an advertising server for selecting a direct advertisement based on certain criteria. Transaction results of the direct advertisement placement are reported back to the advertising server, and an associated accounting system. In one embodiment, the direct advertiser's server reports transactions back to the advertising server by email. In a second embodiment, a direct proxy server brokers the user's session (or interaction) with the direct advertiser's server, including transaction processing and the direct proxy server reports the results of transactions back to the advertising server and its associated accounting system. A direct proxy provides an independent audit of transactions at a remote direct advertiser's web site. The feedback of the results of direct advertisement transactions provides an efficient utilization of direct advertising space by way of an automated computer system with a predictive model for selection and distribution of direct advertising.

Method and apparatus for automatic placement of advertising

A data processing system issuing electronic certificates (6) through 'online' networks of personal computers, televisions, or other devices (3) with video monitors or telephones. Each electronic certificate (6) includes transaction data and identification data, and can be printed out on a printing device (4) linked to a consumer's personal input device (3), or electronically stored in a designated database (5) until a specified expiration date. The certificate can be used for various purposes, including use as a coupon for a discounted price on a product or service, proof of a gift or award, proof of reservation, or proof of payment. Consumers access the data processing system online, browse among their choices, and make their selections. The data processing system provides reports on the selected certificates and their use following selection. Certificate issuers (1) also have online access to the data processing system and can create or revise offers, and provide various instructions pertaining to the certificates to be issued, including limitations as to the number of certificates to be issued in total and to each individual consumer.

Interactive marketing network and process using electronic certificates

Method for improving the process of uploading data from a terminal computer to a host computer with interactive, data receiving screens. The method features use of spreadsheet software to format data to be uploaded in a data source file. The data to be uploaded is laid out in single-row, multi-column form within the spreadsheet so that vivid, hard copy journals of the data may be created that facilitate examination of the data and memorializes its existence. Additionally, the data layout may be transformed and provided with additional information using the spreadsheet to create the data source file having a single-column, multi-row format suitable to facilitate entry of the data to the interactive screens for uploading. Additionally, the method features use of a management program that includes instruction for directing and coordinating the feeding of the data contained the source file to an interface program that enters the data in the predetermined fields of the interactive screens.

Michael Rossillo

Papers

Method for improving interactive-screen uploading of accounting data