Abstract:
The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a computer-implemented method including receiving a first input from a publisher who has established an account with a content-distributing entity to publish content from others, the first input being generated based on a publisher media item configured to present at least part of the content and including code from the publisher media item for requesting the content. The method further includes obtaining the content from the content-distributing entity including using the code to generate a request for the content. The method further includes generating an analysis view available to the publisher, the analysis view generated using the content.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This specification relates to information processing. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Advertisers conventionally purchase advertising inventory (e.g., advertisement spots) from advertising publishers (e.g., television stations, radio stations, and other providers of information over different types of media) according to procedures that support pre-defined advertisement targeting. For example, advertisers may have a well defined target market that they are attempting to reach with their advertising message. Similarly, advertisers can perform very detailed analysis on the return that they can expect from a properly targeted advertisement. Advertisers can select advertising inventory in an effort to satisfy their targeting and revenue projection efforts. 
         [0003]    Advertising publishers/owners of advertising inventory can place restrictions on their advertising inventory in an attempt to efficiently allocate the advertising to advertisers. For example, owners of advertising inventory can restrict the types of advertisements that can appear near other advertisements. Similarly, owners of advertising inventory can restrict the number of advertisements that are placed by a single advertiser. 
         [0004]    Advertising inventory can be allocated to a limited number of advertisers during any given time period. Allocation can be performed, for example, in an attempt to balance the constraints imposed by advertisers and the restrictions placed on the advertising inventory by the owners of the inventory. However, inefficient allocation of the advertising inventory can affect the value of the advertising inventory to advertisers and, in turn, revenue received by the owners of the advertising inventory. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In general, this document describes analyzing a content-requesting media item. In a first aspect, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a first input from a publisher who has established an account with a content-distributing entity to publish content from others, the first input being generated based on a publisher media item configured to present at least part of the content and including code from the publisher media item for requesting the content. The method further includes obtaining the content from the content-distributing entity, including using the code to generate a request for the content. The method further includes generating an analysis view available to the publisher, the analysis view generated using the content. 
         [0006]    Implementations can include any, all, or none of the following features. The analysis view can include information from the content-distributing entity regarding the request. The content can include at least one winning advertisement resulting from an advertisement placement selection process for placement on the publisher media item. The method can include receiving a second input from the publisher changing a parameter that results in at least one new winning advertisement from the advertisement placement selection process for the publisher media item. Generating the analysis page can include providing information to the publisher regarding the one or more winning advertisements and one or more non-winning advertisements from the advertisement placement selection process. Providing the information to the publisher can include presenting at least one of a reason why the one or more winning advertisements won the advertisement placement selection process or a reason why the one or more non-winning advertisements lost the advertisement placement selection process. The code from the publisher media item for requesting the content can include an identifier of the publisher, and using the code to generate the request for the content can include submitting the identifier of the publisher to the content-distributing entity. The code from the publisher media item for requesting the content can include an identifier of a content location within the publisher media item for presenting the at least part of the content, and using the code to generate the request for the content can include submitting the identifier of the content location to the content-distributing entity. The method can include providing a menu of one or more input controls to the publisher, at least one of the input controls configured to generate the first input from the publisher. The method can include receiving a request for the menu from the publisher including an address of the publisher media item and a parameter indicating the request for the menu. Providing the menu can include identifying within the code from the publisher media item for requesting the content one or more identifiers of content locations. Providing the menu can include altering the publisher media item to can include a link to the analysis view. Providing the menu can include providing a menu view separate from the publisher media item, the menu view can include a link to the analysis view. 
         [0007]    In a second aspect, a computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, generate on a display device a graphical user interface including an input control configured to generate a first input from a publisher who has established an account with a content-distributing entity to publish content from others, the first input being generated based on a publisher media item configured to present at least part of the content and includes code from the publisher media item for requesting the content. The computer program product further includes an analysis area generated using the code and includes information from the content-distributing entity regarding the request. 
         [0008]    In a third aspect, a computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, generate on a display device a frontend tool including a scheduling component where a publisher who has established an account with a content-distributing entity can schedule delivery of content from others for publication. A publisher media item is configured to present at least part of the content and includes code for requesting the content. The computer program product further includes a content analysis component using the code to request the content from the content-distributing entity and present an analysis area to the publisher, the analysis view generated using the content and the request. 
         [0009]    The systems and techniques described here may provide one or more of the following advantages. First, a system can provide navigation from a publisher media item to an analysis of content presented with the publisher media item. Second, a system can provide for real-time analysis of content selection for presentation with a publisher media item. Third, a system can present a reason why particular content was or was not selected for presentation with a publisher media item. Fourth, a system can simulate runtime targeting parameters for selection of content to be presented with a publisher media item. 
         [0010]    The details of one or more embodiments of the content-requesting media item analysis feature are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the content-requesting media item analysis feature will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is block diagram showing an example of a system for analyzing an advertisement-requesting web page. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2A-C  are examples of user interfaces for analyzing an advertisement-requesting web page. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing an example of a process for analyzing a content-requesting media item. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a generic computing system that can be used in connection with computer-implemented methods described in this document. 
       
    
    
       [0015]    Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    This document describes examples of systems and techniques for analyzing a content-requesting media item. In some of these examples, a content-distributing entity receives content such as advertisements (ads) from a content provider such as an advertiser. The content-distributing entity provides the content to a publisher. The publisher presents or publishes the received content in association with a media item, such as text, video, audio, an image, or combinations of these. The publisher can request from the content-distributing entity an analysis of some aspect of the content publication and/or the media item, such as why the content-distributing entity provides a particular content for presentation with the media item and/or why other content is not provided for presentation with the media item. While the following examples describe an Internet advertisement distributing system, other systems can be used, such as a system that provides search results to publishers for presentation with a media item. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is block diagram showing an example of a system  100  for analyzing content such as a web page configured for requesting other content such as an advertisement. The system  100  includes a publisher server  102 , an ad server  104 , multiple advertisers  106   a - b , and a client  108  in communication through a network  110 . The network  110  can include one or more networks, such as wired or wireless networks, wide area networks, and the Internet. 
         [0018]    The publisher server  102  provides a media item, such as a publisher page  112 , to clients on the network  110 . For example, the client  108  can send a request  113  for the publisher page  112  to the publisher server  102  (step A in  FIG. 1 ). In response, the publisher server  102  provides the publisher page  112  to the client  108  (step B in  FIG. 1 ). In some implementations, the publisher page  112  is a web page. The publisher page  112  can be written in a language such as HyperText Markup Language (HTML) or another web presentation language. 
         [0019]    The publisher page  112  includes code  114 . The code  114  identifies slots in the publisher page  112  in which advertisements can be placed. In some implementations, the code  114  can be written in a language such as JavaScript or another client-side web scripting language. The client  108  includes a browser  116  for processing the publisher page  112  and presenting the publisher page  112  to a user. The browser  116  receives the publisher page  112  and executes the code  114 . In some implementations, executing the code  114  results in a request for additional code from a server, such as the ad server  104 . For example, the code  114  can include a link to an external JavaScript file on the ad server  104 . The code  114  (and/or the additional code) sends a request  118  to the ad server  104  for one or more advertisements to be presented with the publisher page  112  (step C in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0020]    The ad server  104  includes multiple ads  120   a - b  from the advertisers  106   a - b , respectively. The advertisers  106   a - b  have an account or contract with the ad server  104  to distribute the ads  120   a - b  to publishers. In some implementations, the advertisers  106   a - b  provide the ads  120   a - b  to the ad server  104  over the network  110 . The publisher server  102  has an account or contract with the ad server  104  to provide one or more ad slots in which ads such as the ads  120   a - b  can be placed. The ads  120   a - b  can be targeted to particular publishers and to particular clients. For example, a country and a language of the client  108  can be determined using an Internet Protocol (IP) address lookup, using a JavaScript command on the client, or by examining the header fields in the HTML request for ads. In addition, the publisher server  102 , a network domain associated with the publisher page  112 , and/or the publisher page  112  can be associated with keywords, a country, and/or a language for targeting ads. Further, the advertisers  106   a - b  can submit bids to the ad server  104  for placement of ads in the publisher page  112 . 
         [0021]    The ad server  104  includes an ad selection module  122 . The ad selection module  122  determines which of the ads  120   a - b  are sent to the client  108  for presentation with the publisher page  112 . For example, the ad selection module  122  can compare targeting information from the client  108  and the publisher page  112  to the ads  120   a - b . If the ad selection module  122  finds a match, then the ad selection module  122  schedules the matching ad for delivery to the requesting publisher page. In addition, the ad selection module  122  can compare the bids submitted by the advertisers  106   a - b  as well as other information, such as the advertiser&#39;s remaining budget or the frequency with which an advertiser&#39;s ads are placed. The ad selection module  122  determines one or more winners of an ad placement selection process. 
         [0022]    In some implementations, the ad placement selection process can include criteria targeting and/or an ad slot auction. For example, the ad  120   a  may be targeted to the country “Nigeria” and the language “English.” The publisher page  112  and/or the client  108  may have a country property of “Nigeria” and a language of “English” matching the properties of the ad  120   a . In addition, the ad  120   a  may have an associated bid that is higher than the ad  120   b . The ad selection module  122  provides the ad  120   a  which won the ad placement selection process to the client  108  (step D in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0023]    In some implementations, the ad selection module  122  can use a process other than an auction or competition to select ads to be sent to the client  108 . For example, the ad selection module  122  can accept reservations for ad placement. For example, the ad selection module  122  can receive reservations from the advertisers  106   a - b  on a first-come-first-served basis for ad placements in the publisher page  112 . In another example, the ad reservation module can apply a fixed priority to the advertisers  106   a - b . That is, the advertiser  106   a  may have a first-right-of-refusal for ad placements in the publisher page  112  over the advertiser  106   b.    
         [0024]    A user can send a request  124  (step E in  FIG. 1 ) to the ad server  104  for an analysis of ads that won or lost an ad selection process for a particular ad slot in the publisher page  112 . For example, such an analysis can be useful to, and be generated specifically for, the publisher who controls the publisher page  112 . In particular, the ad server  104  here includes a front-end module  126  for generating an analysis of an ad slot in the publisher page  112 . The ad server  104  stores information such as budgets, bids, limits, and/or targeting properties as ad slot information  128 . The front-end module  126  uses the ad slot information  128  to generate an ad slot analysis page  130 . For example, the front-end module  126  can use advertiser bids in the ad slot information  128  to determine that a particular ad lost an ad placement selection process due to another ad having the highest bid. In another example, the front-end module  126  can use an advertiser budget in the ad slot information  128  to determine that a particular ad lost an ad selection process due to the remaining budget being less than the cost of the placement in the ad slot. In another example, the front-end module  126  can use an advertiser frequency cap in the ad slot information  128  to determine that a particular ad lost an ad placement selection process due to the ad having been placed in the ad slot a threshold number of times during a particular time interval. The front-end module  126  provides the ad slot analysis page  130  to the browser  116  (step F in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0025]    In some implementations, the user sends the request  124  for ad slot analysis by selecting an item in an ad slot menu  132  for the publisher page  112 . In one example, the ad server  104  provides the ad slot menu  132  or a portion of the ad slot menu  132  to the client  108 . In another example, the code  114  determines the ad slots included in the publisher page  112  and presents the ad slot menu  132  to the user of the client  108 . The code  114  can determine the ad slots using JavaScript to traverse the nodes of the HTML in the publisher page  112 . In traversing the nodes, the code  114  can locate identifiers of ad slots included in the publisher page  112 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 2A  is an example of a graphical user interface (GUI)  200  that includes a publisher page  202 . In some implementations, the GUI  200  can be generated by the browser  116  and the publisher page  202  can be provided by the publisher server  102  ( FIG. 1 ). The publisher page  202  is an Internet web page for an “AfricaInfo” publisher. The publisher page  202  includes multiple ad slots  204   a - j . Each of the ad slots  204   a - j  participate in an ad placement selection process at an ad server, such as the ad server  104 . A user, such as an employee of the company that owns the publisher server  102 , may be interested in analyzing ads placed in the ad slots  204   a - j  by the ad selection module  122 . 
         [0027]    In one example, the user can request an ad slot menu by adding a parameter to a web address  206  or Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of the publisher page  202 , such as the parameter “ad_slot_analysis.” In another example, the user can select a button in a toolbar  208  of the GUI  200  to request the ad slot menu. The button can be provided, for example, by a plug-in application to the browser  116 . In some implementations, the toolbar plug-in parses the publisher page  202  for ad slot identifiers and inserts an additional button into the toolbar  208  for each of the ad slots. The user can select one of the additional buttons to request an ad slot analysis for the corresponding ad slot. In some implementations, the toolbar plug-in can add or change portions of the publisher page  202  to highlight the ad slots  204   a - j  and to provide a menu of ad slots. For example, a plug-in application can add a bold border or color to each of the ad slots  204   a - j . The toolbar plug-in application can modify links on ads in the ad slots to direct a user, such as a user associated with the publisher, to an ad slot analysis page. Alternatively, the toolbar plug-in application can add or overlay objects on the publisher page  202  on top of or near each of the ad slots  204   a - j . The menu of added overlay objects can include links to ad slot analysis pages for the corresponding ad slots. 
         [0028]      FIG. 2B  is an example of a graphical user interface (GUI)  230  that includes an ad slot menu  232  for requesting an ad slot analysis page. In some implementations, the GUI  230  can be generated by the browser  116  and the ad slot menu  232  can be provided by the code  114  and/or the front-end module  126  ( FIG. 1 ). The ad slot menu  232  includes multiple ad slot identifiers  234  (or names) and multiple links  236  for requesting an ad slot analysis page for each of the ad slots  204   a - j . For example, the user can select a link  236   a  to request an ad slot analysis page for the ad slot  204   a . The browser  116  sends the request to the ad server  104 . In some implementations, selecting the link  236   a  results in the ad selection module  122  performing a real-time determination of ads that win and ads that do not win the ad placement selection process for the ad slot associated with the link  236   a . In some implementations, the processing performed by the ad selection module  122  in response to a request for an ad slot analysis page is substantially the same as a typical runtime request to the ad server  104  to place an ad in an ad slot. In some implementations, the link  236   a  for requesting the ad slot analysis page includes substantially the same URL as the code  114  for requesting an ad placement. The link  236   a  can include an additional parameter identifying the request as an ad slot analysis request. 
         [0029]    In some implementations, the ad slot menu  232  is generated locally at the client  108 , such as by the code  114 . For example, the code  114  can detect the “ad_slot_analysis” URL parameter and in response parse the publisher page  202  and present the ad slot menu  232  to the user. In some implementations, the ad server  104  provides the ad slot menu  232  or a portion of the ad slot menu  232  to the client  108 . For example, the code  114  can detect the “ad_slot_analysis” URL parameter and, in response, send a request to the ad server  104  for ad slot menu information, such as one or more ad debug messages  238 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 2C  is an example of a graphical user interface (GUI)  260  that includes an ad slot analysis page  262 . In some implementations, the GUI  260  can be generated by the browser  116  and the ad slot analysis page  262  can be provided by the front-end module  126  ( FIG. 1).The  ad slot analysis page  262  includes one or more lists  264   a - c  of rejected ads (e.g., ads that did not win the ad placement selection process for that particular ad placement) as well as an indication  266  of an ad that won the ad placement selection process. The ad slot analysis page  262  also includes an ad slot properties area  267 . The ad slot properties area  267  includes the type of the ad slot and other properties such as an identifier and a size. The lists  264   a - c  of rejected ads as well as the indication  266  of the winning ad present start and end dates for each advertisers ad campaign, a cost (e.g., cost per million impressions), a type of ad, a requested quantity of impressions, a number of impressions delivered, a percentage of impression delivered, and an indication of whether or not targeting criteria exist. A user can hover a pointing device cursor over a targeting criteria indicator (the target symbol) to open a pop-up window with the corresponding ad targeting criteria. The lists  264   a - c  of rejected ads and the indication  266  also include a link to the actual creative for the ad (e.g., “ValuClik_Box”). 
         [0031]    The lists  264   a - c  are grouped by the reason for the rejection. For example, the list  264   a  includes ads that were rejected as being ahead of schedule. That is, for this point in time in the span of the campaign (e.g., 50% through the campaign) the ads have all been delivered more than 50% of the requested number of impressions. The list  264   b  was rejected as having a priority that is lower than the winning ad or ads. For example, ads can have different types such as “Standard,” “Public Service Announcement,” or “Remaining” and each ad type can have an associated priority that is lower or higher than the other ad types. Other reasons for rejection can include, for example, an ad is not active, an error occurred in processing the ad, a delivery goal (e.g., quantity) of the ad has been reached, a limit to the frequency of impressions for the ad was reached, current time outside of dayparting window for the ad (e.g., different ads are presented at different times of the day), a limit by a number of ads per page, a filter applied by the publisher (e.g., a filter that prevents a competitor&#39;s ads from being presented or a filter that prevents objectionable or unrelated ads from being presented), or an indication that another type of ad placement selection process provided a better return (e.g., automatic ad placement based on keywords versus advertiser selected ad placement). 
         [0032]    The user can select the header line for each of the lists  264   a - c  to expand of contract the selected list. The header of each list also includes an indication of how many ads were rejected in the grouping. The user can select a “view more related line items” to see additional groups of ads that were rejected during the ad placement selection process. 
         [0033]    The ad slot analysis page  262  includes multiple input controls  268  for modifying the browsing environment parameters (e.g., basic criteria) of the user and user specific parameters (e.g., custom criteria). For example, if the user is located in the United States, but the user wants to see an ad slot analysis for users having a country location of Nigeria or West Africa, then the user can input the country locations and request a rerun of the ad placement selection process. The front-end module  126  and the ad selection module  122  will perform the ad placement selection process again as if the user had custom criteria of Nigeria and West Africa. Correspondingly, if there are ads in the ad server  104  that target Nigeria or West Africa, then a newly generated ad slot analysis page may include an updated real-time analysis of ad placements in the selected ad slot that includes different ads than the previous analysis that did not target Nigeria and West Africa. In addition to country parameters, the user can modify other ad targeting parameters, such as the language of the user or the client  108  and keywords associated with the user. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing an example of a process  300  for analyzing a content-requesting media item. The process  300  may be performed by a processor executing instructions in a computer-readable storage medium, for example by a system such as the system  100  and/or in user interfaces such as the user interfaces  200 ,  230 , and  260 . For clarity of presentation, the description that follows uses the system  100  and the user interfaces  200 ,  230 , and  260  as the basis of examples for describing the process  300 . However, another system, user interface, or combination of systems and user interfaces, may be used to perform the process  300 . In addition, the logic flows depicted in the process  300  do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. One or more other steps may be provided, or eliminated, from the process  300 , and other components may be added to, or removed from, the described systems. 
         [0035]    The process  300  begins with receiving ( 302 ) a request for one or more content placements in one or more corresponding content slots in a publisher media item. For example, the ad server  104  receives the request  118  from the client  108  for ad placements in the publisher page  112 . In some implementations, the process  300  also receives a request for a content slot analysis menu. For example, the code  114  in the publisher page  112  can generate a request for an ad slot menu. 
         [0036]    The process  300  obtains ( 304 ) content from a content placement selection process using code included in the publisher media item. For example, the ad selection module  122  uses the publisher and ad slot identifiers from the code  114  in the publisher page  112  to determine that the ad  120   a  is a winner of the ad placement selection process and obtains the ad  120   a.    
         [0037]    The process  300  provides ( 306 ) the obtained content to the requester. For example, the ad server  104  provides the ad  120   a  to the browser  116  at the client  108 . In some implementations, the process  300  provides the content slot menu to the requester. For example, the ad server  104  can provide the ad slot menu  232  to the client  108 . Alternatively, the code  114  executed in the browser  116  at the client  108  can parse the publisher page  112  to locate the ad slot identifiers and generate the ad slot menu  232 . 
         [0038]    The process  300  receives ( 308 ) a request for a content slot analysis. For example, the client  108  sends the request  124  for an ad slot analysis page to the front-end module  126 . 
         [0039]    The process  300  authenticates ( 310 ) the requester. For example, the front-end module  126  can provide a login page to the browser  116  and in response, receive a user name and password for authenticating the user who made the request for the ad slot analysis. Alternatively, credentials may be retrieved from a storage, such as a browser cookie, and provided to the front-end module  126  without user intervention. 
         [0040]    The process  300  generates ( 312 ) the content slot analysis information. For example, the front-end module  126  can use the ad slot information  128  to generate the ad slot analysis page  262 . 
         [0041]    The process  300  provides ( 314 ) the content slot analysis information to the requester. For example, the front-end module  126  provides the ad slot analysis page  262  to the client  108  over the network  110 . 
         [0042]    If the process  300  receives ( 316 ) an updated request for content analysis, then the process  300  generates content slot analysis information again. For example, the user can make an input in the ad slot analysis page  262  to change a browsing environment criterion or a user specific criterion. The new criteria can result in a different set of ads from the ad selection module  122  due, for example, to ad targeting. In response to new ad placement selection process results, the front-end module  126  generates and provides an updated ad slot analysis for the publisher page  202  and the selected ad slot. 
         [0043]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a generic computing system  400 . The generic computing system  400  can be used for the operations described in association with any of the computer-implement methods described previously, according to one implementation. The generic computing system  400  includes a processor  410 , a memory  420 , a storage device  430 , and an input/output device  440 . Each of the processor  410 , the memory  420 , the storage device  430 , and the input/output device  440  are interconnected using a system bus  450 . The processor  410  is capable of processing instructions for execution within the generic computing system  400 . In one implementation, the processor  410  is a single-threaded processor. In another implementation, the processor  410  is a multi-threaded processor. The processor  410  is capable of processing instructions stored in the memory  420  or on the storage device  430  to display graphical information for a user interface on the input/output device  440 . 
         [0044]    The memory  420  stores information within the generic computing system  400 . In one implementation, the memory  420  is a computer-readable medium. In one implementation, the memory  420  is a volatile memory unit. In another implementation, the memory  420  is a non-volatile memory unit. 
         [0045]    The storage device  430  is capable of providing mass storage for the generic computing system  400 . In one implementation, the storage device  430  is a computer-readable medium. In various different implementations, the storage device  430  may be a floppy disk device, a hard disk device, an optical disk device, or a tape device. 
         [0046]    The input/output device  440  provides input/output operations for the generic computing system  400 . In one implementation, the input/output device  440  includes a keyboard and/or pointing device. In another implementation, the input/output device  440  includes a display unit for displaying graphical user interfaces. 
         [0047]    The features described can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them. The apparatus can be implemented in a computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., in a machine-readable storage device or in a propagated signal, for execution by a programmable processor; and method steps can be performed by a programmable processor executing a program of instructions to perform functions of the described implementations by operating on input data and generating output. The described features can be implemented advantageously in one or more computer programs that are executable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. A computer program is a set of instructions that can be used, directly or indirectly, in a computer to perform a certain activity or bring about a certain result. A computer program can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. 
         [0048]    Suitable processors for the execution of a program of instructions include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and the sole processor or one of multiple processors of any kind of computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memories for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to communicate with, one or more mass storage devices for storing data files; such devices include magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and optical disks. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits). 
         [0049]    To provide for interaction with a user, the features can be implemented on a computer having a display device such as a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse or a trackball by which the user can provide input to the computer. 
         [0050]    The features can be implemented in a computer system that includes a back-end component, such as a data server, or that includes a middleware component, such as an application server or an Internet server, or that includes a front-end component, such as a client computer having a graphical user interface or an Internet browser, or any combination of them. The components of the system can be connected by any form or medium of digital data communication such as a communication network. Examples of communication networks include, e.g., a LAN, a WAN, and the computers and networks forming the Internet. 
         [0051]    The computer system can include clients and servers. A client and server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a network, such as the described one. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other. 
         [0052]    Although a few implementations have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. In addition, the logic flows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In addition, other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be added to, or removed from, the described systems. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.