Patent ID: 8554621
Filing Date: 2013-10-08
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of linking impressions to trends, comprising: aggregating impressions in each of a plurality of first subsets of impressions that corresponds to a plurality of respective time periods to provide a first periodically aggregated time series, each of the impressions in the first subsets having a first combination of attribute values that is related to a designated combination of attribute values; aggregating impressions in each of a plurality of second subsets of impressions that corresponds to the plurality of respective time periods to provide a second periodically aggregated time series, each of the impressions in the second subsets having a second combination of attribute values that is related to the designated combination of attribute values; estimating a first number of impressions in each of the first subsets that correspond to a first portion of the time periods using a first trend that is based on the first subsets that correspond to a second portion of the time periods to provide respective first forecasts; estimating a second number of impressions in each of the second subsets that correspond to the first portion of the time periods using a second trend that is based on the second subsets that correspond to the second portion of the time periods to provide respective second forecasts; comparing, by a processor, the first numbers and the first forecasts to determine a first cumulative error value; comparing, by a processor, the second numbers and the second forecasts to determine a second cumulative error value; for each impression that occurs in a specified period of time, link the impression to a third trend that is based on the first subsets that correspond to the first portion of the time periods and the first subsets that correspond to the second portion of the time periods if the impression is included among the first subsets and among the second subsets and the first cumulative error value is less than the second cumulative error value; for each impression that occurs in the specified period of time, link the impression to a fourth trend that is based on the second subsets that correspond to the first portion of the time periods and the second subsets that correspond to the second portion of the time periods if the impression is included among the first subsets and among the second subsets and the first cumulative error value is greater than the second cumulative error value; for each impression that occurs in the specified period of time, link the impression to the third trend if the impression is included among the first subsets and not among the second subsets; and for each impression that occurs in the specified period of time, link the impression to the fourth trend if the impression is included among the second subsets and not among the first subsets.