Patent ID: 8150734

Claim:
One or more computer storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed by a processor, perform a method for determining an adjusted average position of a subject incumbent content provider within a ranking of incumbent customers competing to surface an ad impression on a page, the method comprising: receiving customer-history data from the incumbent content provider at an online publisher, wherein the customer-history data satisfies input criteria solicited at a UI display; executing a position-estimation procedure, wherein the position-estimation procedure comprises: (a) generating a corrected rank model simulating the ranking of the competing incumbent customers absent consideration of the incumbent content provider; (b) estimating a minimum position and a maximum position of the simulated ranking by identifying positions where a stored model deviates from a corrected rank model, wherein the stored model considers bid results supplied by the incumbent content provider; and (c) utilizing the corrected rank model to predict the adjusted average position of the incumbent content provider within the ranking without extracting bid results associated therewith from storage at the online publisher, wherein the adjusted average position is found within the simulated ranking, and wherein the adjusted average position is predicted as a function of the customer-history data, the minimum position, and the maximum position; and revealing the adjusted average position at the UI display.