US 11,943,488 B2
Systems and methods for assigning advertisements across media content providers
Trevan Zosel, Bothell, WA (US); Brian Edward Thoman, Everett, WA (US); Francisco Lopez Alvarez, Woodinville, WA (US); and William E. Offeman, Redmond, WA (US)
Assigned to WideOrbit LLC, San Francisco, CA (US)
Filed by WideOrbit LLC, San Francisco, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/716,920.
Prior Publication US 2023/0328299 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. H04N 21/81 (2011.01); H04H 60/37 (2008.01); H04N 21/234 (2011.01); H04N 21/262 (2011.01)
CPC H04N 21/23424 (2013.01) [H04H 60/375 (2013.01); H04N 21/26241 (2013.01); H04N 21/812 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating a computer system, comprising:
receiving data indicating a plurality of media content providers, each media content provider having one or more advertisement placement opportunities, each advertisement placement opportunity having one or more spots;
for each media content provider of the plurality of media content providers:
receiving data indicating one or more advertisement spots, wherein each advertisement spot is assigned to at least one slot included in the one or more advertisement placement opportunities of the media content provider, each advertisement spot being assigned a priority score, each advertisement placement opportunity corresponding to a pre-determined time period;
receiving an indication of a time period;
identifying a plurality of advertisement placement opportunities based on the indicated time period, such that the respective time periods corresponding to each of the indicated advertisement placement opportunities overlap with each other;
receiving an indication that an advertisement spot is to be assigned to a slot of the plurality of advertisement placement opportunities, the plurality of advertisement placement opportunities comprising at least one advertisement placement opportunity of two or more media content providers of the plurality of media content providers; and
for each advertisement placement opportunity of the plurality of advertisement placement opportunities:
determining whether there are any slots included in the advertisement placement opportunity to which an advertisement spot is not assigned;
based on a determination that there is a slot to which an advertisement spot is not assigned, assigning the indicated advertisement spot to the slot; and
based on a determination that there are no slots included in the advertisement placement opportunity to which an advertisement spot is not assigned:
determining which advertisement spot has the lowest priority score;
un-assigning the previously assigned advertisement spot determined to have the lowest priority score from the slot to which it is assigned;
assigning the indicated advertisement spot to the slot to which the previously assigned advertisement was previously assigned; and
re-assigning the previously assigned advertisement spot to a new slot within an advertisement placement opportunity.