Patent ID: 7895077
Filing Date: 2011-02-22
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for determining which advertisements to include with electronic content delivered to users over a network, the method comprising the steps of: after accepting a first contract with a first advertiser, accepting a second contract with a second advertiser; wherein the delivery obligations associated with the second contract are such that fulfillment of the second contract would prevent the delivery obligations of the first contract from being fulfilled; receiving a plurality of advertisements from a plurality of advertisers; storing revenue information that indicates potential revenue amounts for the plurality of advertisements, wherein each of the plurality of advertisements is associated with corresponding delivery criteria and a corresponding contract of a plurality of contracts; wherein the plurality of contracts includes the first contract and the second contract; wherein the plurality of advertisers includes the first advertiser and the second advertiser; receiving, from a client that is not one of the plurality of advertisers, a request to provide over the network a piece of electronic content that includes a slot for an advertisement; and in response to receiving the request, performing the steps of: