Methods and systems to schedule online content delivery

Abstract

Methods and systems to schedule delivery of items of content selectively to online users are described. In various embodiments, a method of scheduling delivery of multiple items of content selectively to a plurality of online users is disclosed. The method includes determining expected values relating to each user being online during a given time period, and generating an ordered list of the multiple items of content to be selectively delivered to each of the plurality of online users based on the expected values. Other methods and systems are disclosed.

1 . A method of scheduling delivery of multiple items of content selectively to a plurality of online users, the method comprising:
 determining expected values relating to each of the plurality of online users being online during a given time period; and   generating an ordered list of the multiple items of content to be selectively delivered to each of the plurality of online users based on the expected values.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising prioritizing the ordered list to meet delivery requirements associated with the multiple items of content. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising periodically generating the ordered list based on prior content deliveries made to each of the plurality of online users. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a probability related to the expected value for each of the plurality of online users being online during the given time period. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a length of time related to the expected value that each of the plurality of online users is expected to be online during the given time period. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising estimating the expected values from observed behavior for each of the plurality of online users. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating individual lists of items of content to be delivered to each of the plurality of online users based on the ordered list. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein each of the individual lists of items is dynamically generated for each of the plurality of online users upon user login. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein each of the individual lists of items specifies items of content for which a particular user of the plurality of online users is qualified to receive based on user profile or user preference data. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein each of the individual lists of items excludes certain items of content based on one or more constraints. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more constraints includes a maximum number of times each of the items of content may be delivered to the user. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more constraints includes a time elapsed since a given item of the items of content was delivered to the user. 
     
     
         13 . A method of scheduling delivery of multiple items of content selectively to a plurality of online users, the method comprising:
 determining expected values relating to each of the plurality of online users being online using each of one or more devices during a given time period; and   generating an ordered list of the multiple items of content to be selectively delivered to each of the plurality of online users based on the expected values.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising determining a probability related to the expected value for each of the plurality of online users being online for each of the one or more devices during the given time period. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising determining a length of time related to the expected value that each of the plurality of online users is expected to be online for each of the one or more devices during the given time period. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising estimating the expected values from observed behavior for each of the plurality of online users for each of the one or more devices. 
     
     
         17 . A method of scheduling delivery of multiple advertisements selectively to a plurality of users, each of the multiple advertisements being associated with a delivery contract, the method comprising:
 determining expected values relating to each of the plurality of users being online during a given time period;   based on probability data and known prior advertisement deliveries to users, generating an ordered master list of advertisements to be selectively delivered to the users, said list being prioritized to generally fulfill said contracts; and   generating an individual list of advertisements to be delivered to each user on user login, said individual list specifying advertisements that said user is eligible to receive based on user profile data and in an order in accordance with said ordered master list.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising determining probabilities related to each of the expected values for each of the plurality of online users being online during the given time period. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the operation of determining expected values relating to each of the plurality of users being online during a given time period is performed for each of one or more devices for each of the users. 
     
     
         20 . A computer system to schedule delivery of multiple items of content selectively to a plurality of online users, the computer system comprising:
 a memory to store a program; and   a hardware processor being operative with the program to determine expected values relating to each of the plurality on online users being online during a given time period, and   generate an ordered list of the multiple items of content to be selectively delivered to the plurality of online users based on the expected values with the ordered list being prioritized to meet delivery requirements associated with each of the multiple items of content.