The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Apr. 10, 2012

Filed:

Oct. 31, 2007
Applicants:

Chi-chao Chang, Santa Clara, CA (US);

Sai-ming (Eliot) LI, Santa Clara, CA (US);

Randolph Preston Mcafee, San Marino, CA (US);

Darshan Kantak, Pasadena, CA (US);

Inventors:

Chi-Chao Chang, Santa Clara, CA (US);

Sai-Ming (Eliot) Li, Santa Clara, CA (US);

Randolph Preston McAfee, San Marino, CA (US);

Darshan Kantak, Pasadena, CA (US);

Assignee:

Yahoo! Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06Q 40/00 (2012.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
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.


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