Patent ID: 7689458

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for determining bid values for content items to be placed on a page rendered according to a given context, comprising: receiving at a search engine accommodated on a computer a plurality of bids each associated with a content item, at least one of the plurality of bids being based upon a plurality of pricing models, wherein at least one of the plurality of pricing models is different from at least one other of the plurality of pricing models; accepting one or more bids, of the plurality of bids, for consideration from those content providers, of the plurality of content providers, having a reliable expected sales rate with the search engine; utilizing a processing unit included in the computer to determine a bid value for each of the accepted one or more bids, wherein each bid value is determined, at least in part, utilizing an estimated probability of selection; comparing each of the accepted one or more bids against each other based upon the respective determined bid values to determine a comprehensive ranking; displaying on a monitor one or more of the content items based upon the determined comprehensive ranking; collecting user access data associated with the displayed one or more content items; utilizing the processing unit to determine that a sufficient amount of user access data is collected to confidently predict the expected sales rate for at least one bid, of the plurality of bids; graduating a content provider submitting the at least one bid to accept each bid received therefrom; utilizing the processing unit to determine that an insufficient amount of user access data is collected to confidently predict the expected sales rate for at least one other bid, of the plurality of bids; disallowing from consideration the at least one other bid, of the plurality of bids from a content provider; and storing a graduated status in association with the content provider upon determining the at least one bid collected the sufficient amount of user access data or a disallowed status in association with the content provider upon determining the at least one other bid collected the insufficient amount of user access data.