Patent ID: 8090835

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: simulating for each of a plurality of traffic allocation models, performance during each of a plurality of historical time segments to obtain a performance metric for each time segment, each performance metric characterizing a number of simulated response events occurring within the corresponding time segment; calculating, by at least one processor, an allocation value for each model based on the performance metrics and a source-sink conversion probability generated for each model, the allocation value differently weighting at least two of the time segments; auctioning allocations among the plurality of models during a plurality of auction rounds, each model having an initial bidding value based on the corresponding allocation value which is reduced upon each winning bid in each auction round; and serving traffic on at least one website using a best allocation among the models having winning bids, the best allocation being based on an estimation of how each corresponding model would have performed for a pre-determined historical time segment.