Patent ID: 7668748
Filing Date: 2010-02-23
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for associating environments, keywords, and bid information, the method comprising: a) accepting, with an ad system including one or more computers, one or more advertisements or information identifying the one or more advertisements; b) accepting, with the ad system, (1) at least two keywords input via an ad information entry interface and (2) a single maximum bid amount input via the ad information entry interface; c) storing, responsive to the accepted input specifying the single maximum bid amount, an association between the single maximum bid amount and each of the at least two keywords; d) storing, with the ad system, an association between (1) each of the at least two keywords and the single maximum bid amount and (2) the one or more advertisements or information identifying the one or more advertisements; e) receiving an ad request; f) determining, with the ad system, whether the one or more advertisements are relevant to the received ad request using each of the at least two keywords independently; g) determining, with the ad system, a first cost associated with serving the one or more advertisements responsive to a first query having a term matching a first of the at least two keywords associated with the single maximum bid amount; and h) determining, with the ad system, a second cost, which is different than the first cost, associated with serving the one or more advertisements responsive to a second query having a term matching another of the at least two keywords associated with the single maximum bid amount, wherein at least one of the first cost and the second cost is less than the single maximum bid amount associated with the at lest two keywords.