Method and system for selecting and delivering media content via the internet

Abstract

A system and method for selecting portions of content, and media content sets to be delivered over a packet based network is provided. The selected portions of content (such as a web page) may be keywords such as a word or a group of words. The media content sets may include one or more of video content (that may include an audio portion), audio content, graphics, images, or other multimedia or single media content. The media content set may include advertising, informational, business, educational, governmental, institutional, customized (e.g., personalized) content and/or other content. According to an example embodiment, the present invention provides a heuristic model employing a piece-wise linear optimization function to select keywords and the media content sets for delivery by a media delivery provider.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 determining, by a first computing device, a plurality of values for a plurality of keywords corresponding to a web page, wherein each of the plurality of values is based on a combination of variables including location, local time, and content being viewed;   receiving, by the first computing device from a second computing device, data associated with the second computing device;   determining, by the first computing device, a location of the second computing device, a local time at the second computing device, and content being viewed at the second computing device based on the data associated with the second computing device;   selecting, by the first computing device, a value from among the plurality of values for the plurality of keywords that corresponds to the location of the second computing device, the local time at the second computing device, and the content being viewed at the second computing device;   determining, by the first computing device, that the selected value meets a criterion, wherein the criterion is based, in part, on demographic information corresponding to a user of the second computing device;   responsive to determining that the selected value meets the criterion, selecting, by the first computing device, a keyword associated with the selected value;   transmitting, by the first computing device to the second computing device, a link that, when activated, causes a request for media content to be transmitted;   receiving the request for the media content to be transmitted; and   transmitting the media content to the second computing device for output.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein activation of the link further causes a media player configured to play the media content to be initiated by the second computing device. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the data associated with the second computing device is transmitted to the first computing device at least partially over a mobile telephone network. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least some of the data associated with the second computing device is included in a cookie stored on the second computing device. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the second computing device comprises a mobile telephone. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the second computing device comprises a plurality of mobile telephones. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the location of the second computing device is determined based on an IP address of the second computing device. 
     
     
         28 . A server computer comprising at least one processor and non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions stored thereon that are configured to, in response to execution by the server computer, cause the server computer to:
 determine a plurality of values for a plurality of keywords corresponding to a web page, wherein each of the plurality of values is based on a combination of variables including location, local time, and content being viewed;   receive, from a second computing device, data associated with the second computing device;   determine a location of the second computing device, a local time at the second computing device, and content being viewed at the second computing device based on the data associated with the second computing device;   select a value from among the plurality of values for the plurality of keywords that corresponds to the location of the second computing device, the local time at the second computing device, and the content being viewed at the second computing device;   determine that the selected value meets a criterion, wherein the criterion is based, in part, on demographic information corresponding to a user of the second computing device;   responsive to determining that the selected value meets the criterion, select a keyword associated with the selected value;   transmit, to the second computing device, a link configured to, upon activation, cause a request for media content to be transmitted;   receive the request for the media content to be transmitted; and   transmit the media content to the second computing device for output.   
     
     
         29 . The server computer of  claim 28 , wherein activation of the link further causes a media player configured to play the media content to be initiated by the second computing device. 
     
     
         30 . The server computer of  claim 28 , wherein the data associated with the second computing device is transmitted to the server computer at least partially over a mobile telephone network. 
     
     
         31 . The server computer of  claim 28 , wherein at least some of the data associated with the second computing device is included in a cookie stored on the second computing device. 
     
     
         32 . The server computer of  claim 28 , wherein the second computing device comprises a mobile telephone. 
     
     
         33 . The server computer of  claim 28 , wherein the second computing device comprises a plurality of mobile telephones. 
     
     
         34 . The server computer of  claim 28 , wherein the location of the second computing device is determined based on an IP address of the second computing device. 
     
     
         35 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that are configured to, in response to execution by one or more first computing devices, cause the one or more first computing devices to:
 determine a plurality of values for a plurality of keywords corresponding to a web page, wherein each of the plurality of values is based on a combination of variables including location, local time, and content being viewed;   receive, from a second computing device, data associated with the second computing device;   determine a location of the second computing device, a local time at the second computing device, and content being viewed at the second computing device based on the data associated with the second computing device;   select a value from among the plurality of values for the plurality of keywords that corresponds to the location of the second computing device, the local time at the second computing device, and the content being viewed at the second computing device;   determine that the selected value meets a criterion, wherein the criterion is based, in part, on demographic information corresponding to a user of the second computing device;   responsive to determining that the selected value meets the criterion, select a keyword associated with the selected value;   transmit, to the second computing device, a link configured to, upon activation, cause a request for media content to be transmitted;   receive the request for the media content to be transmitted; and   transmit the media content to the second computing device for output.   
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein activation of the link further causes a media player configured to play the media content to be initiated by the second computing device. 
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the data associated with the second computing device is transmitted to the one or more first computing devices at least partially over a mobile telephone network. 
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein at least some of the data associated with the second computing device is included in a cookie stored on the second computing device. 
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the second computing device comprises a mobile telephone. 
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the second computing device comprises a plurality of mobile telephones. 
     
     
         41 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the location of the second computing device is determined based on an IP address of the second computing device.