Patent ID: 7930384

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: a) encoding, with a computer system including at least one computer, ad properties of an ad and including the encoded ad properties in a click URL, wherein the encoded ad properties include all of (A) a topic or concept associated with a Web page with which the ad was served, (B) a time the ad was served or rendered, (C) information about other ads that were rendered along with the ad, (D) a geolocation to which the ad was served, (E) an identity of a server that chose the ad, and (F) a digital signature generated based on the other ad properties included in the click URL; b) serving, with the computer system, the ad together with the click URL; c) in response to a user selection of the ad, i) decoding, with the computer system, the encoded ad properties at an intermediate URL server, and ii) forwarding, with the computer system, a content rendering facility of the user to an ad landing page; and d) using the encoded ad properties to perform, with the computer system, at least one of (1) tracking the performance of the ad and (2) determining advertiser charges for serving the ad.