Video advertising system

Abstract

A video advertising system, methods, and apparatus are disclosed, which may include an advertising system, including an advertising server and advertising console, and a user device, which may cooperate to select video advertising campaigns and display video advertisements. In an example embodiment, a method includes playing a video on a display, overlaying markings on the video while the video plays, at a first time while the video plays, measuring a first refresh rate of the video, at a second time while the video plays, performing a first operation on the markings, measuring a second refresh rate of the video at the second time, and determining an estimated area of the video displayed on the display based on the first refresh rate and the second refresh rate. In an example embodiment, a prediction model is trained to output a viewability inference for a video.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 playing a video on a display of an electronic device, wherein the video has a height and a width, the video has an area based on the height and width;   overlaying markings, by a processor, on the video in the area while the video plays;   at a first time while the video plays on the display, measuring a first refresh rate of the video;   at a second time while the video plays on the display, performing, by the processor, a first processor-based operation on the markings;   while the video plays on the display at the second time, performing, by the processor, a refreshing operation, and the first processor-based operation slows down the refreshing operation of a viewable portion of the video;   measuring a second refresh rate of the video at the second time, wherein the second refresh rate is less than the first refresh rate based on the processor performing the first processor-based operation; and   estimating a viewability of the video by determining an estimated area of the video displayed on the display based on the first refresh rate and the second refresh rate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising comparing the estimated area of the video displayed on the display to a threshold area. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising responsive to the estimated area of the video displayed on the display being less than the threshold area, pausing the video. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first processor-based operation includes blurring, which slows down the refreshing operation of the viewable portion of the video. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing, by the processor, a second operation on the markings while the video plays; and   measuring a third refresh rate of the video at the third time, wherein the estimated area of the video displayed on the display at the third time is determined based on the first refresh rate, the second refresh rate, and the third refresh rate.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 comparing the estimated area of the video displayed on the display at the third time to the threshold area; and   responsive to the estimated area of the video displayed on the display being greater than the threshold area, resume playing the video.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the markings on the video in the area include at least one of alphanumeric characters and symbols. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the estimated area of the video displayed on the display includes comparing the first refresh rate to the second refresh rate. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first processor-based operation includes dithering, which slows down the refreshing operation of the viewable portion of the video. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the markings are substantially invisible to a user. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the estimated area of the video displayed on the display is based on a refresh rate slowdown. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first refresh rate is greater than the second refresh rate when at least a first area of the video is displayed on the display. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first refresh rate is measured in frames per second. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second time is at least 100 milliseconds after the first time. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video is played in an inline frame. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the video is displayed in native video player. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 executing a geometric determination of the estimated area of the video displayed in the inline frame.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video is displayed in a viewport, which includes a viewable portion of content that is adjustable through scrolling. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the estimated area of the video displayed on the display changes based on a user scrolling at least one of vertically and laterally within the viewport. 
     
     
         20 . A client comprising:
 an electronic display; and   a processor configured to control the display to:   play a video on the display, wherein the video has a height and a width, the video has an area based on the height and width;   overlay markings, by the processor, on the video in the area while the video plays;   at a first time while the video plays on the display, measure a first refresh rate of the video;   at a second time while the video plays on the display, perform, by the processor, a first processor-based operation on the markings;   while the video plays on the display at the second time, perform, by the processor, a refreshing operation, and the first processor-based operation slows down the refreshing operation of a viewable portion of the video;   measure a second refresh rate of the video at the second time, wherein the second refresh rate is less than the first refresh rate based on the processor performing the first processor-based operation; and   estimate a viewability of the video by determining an estimated area of the video displayed on the display based on the first refresh rate and the second refresh rate.   
     
     
         21 . The client of  claim 20 , wherein the processor sends the first refresh rate and the second refresh rate to a server. 
     
     
         22 . The client of  claim 21 , wherein the server determines the estimated area of the video displayed on the display based on the first refresh rate and the second refresh rate. 
     
     
         23 . The client of  claim 22 , wherein determining the estimated area of the video displayed on the display includes comparing the first refresh rate to the second refresh rate. 
     
     
         24 . The client of  claim 22 , wherein the server sends the estimated area of the video displayed on the display to the client. 
     
     
         25 . The client of  claim 22 , wherein determining the estimated area of the video displayed on the display is based on a refresh rate slowdown. 
     
     
         26 . A computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, are configured to:
 play a video on a display of an electronic device, wherein the video has a height and a width, the video has an area based on the height and width;   overlay markings, by the processor, on the video in the area while the video plays;   at a first time while the video plays on the display, measure a first refresh rate of the video;   at a second time while the video plays on the display, perform, by the processor, a first processor-based operation on the markings;   while the video plays on the display at the second time, perform, by the processor, a refreshing operation, and the first processor-based operation slows down the refreshing operation of a viewable portion of the video;   measure a second refresh rate of the video at the second time, wherein the second refresh rate is less than the first refresh rate based on the processor performing the first processor-based operation; and   estimate a viewability of the video by determining an estimated area of the video displayed on the display based on the first refresh rate and the second refresh rate.