Verifying ad requests

Abstract

A method for verifying an ad request includes verifying a signature including the ad request using symmetric or asymmetric keys. Using symmetric keys, after an ad request having a first signature is received, a signature generation algorithm is executed to generate a second signature. If the first signature matches the second signature, then the ad request is determined to be verified. Using asymmetric keys, after an ad request having a signature is received, a signature verification algorithm is executed to determine if the signature matches the ad request. If so, then the ad request is determined to be verified.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a first ad request including a first request for a first advertisement to be placed on a first ad space within a first piece of content;   receiving a first private key associated with a first publisher of the first piece of content;   executing a signature generation algorithm using the first ad request and the first private key to generate a first digital signature;   generating a first signed ad request that includes the first ad request and the first digital signature; and   transmitting the signed ad request to a downstream entity involved in transactions for sale of ad impressions.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first ad request comprises a Uniform Resource Location (URL), and wherein executing the signature generation algorithm using the first ad request and the first private key comprises applying the signature generation algorithm to at least a portion of the URL. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prior to executing the signature generation algorithm using the first ad request and the first private key:
 determining that the first publisher is associated with the first ad request; and 
 selecting the first private key, from a plurality of private keys, based on the first publisher. 
   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein executing a signature generation algorithm comprises executing an Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) algorithm. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the entity that receives the first ad request and the first private key receives the first ad request and the first private key from an upstream entity involved in the real-time transactions for sale of ad impressions. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first ad request is generated in response to a loading of the first piece of content, and a first set of code of the first piece of content indicates a presence of the first ad space. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first ad space is an ad space for an audio stream or a video stream. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first ad space is an ad space for a still image, an animated image, a video, or an audio track. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein executing a signature generation algorithm comprises applying the signature generation algorithm to a first portion of the first ad request without applying the signature generation algorithm to a second portion of the first ad request. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein executing the signature generation algorithm using the first ad request and the first private key is performed by a device executing one or more software modules associated with a Supply Side Platform (SSP). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein executing the signature generation algorithm using the first ad request and the first private key is performed by a device executing one or more software modules associated with an ad exchange. 
     
     
         12 . A nontransitory processor-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 receive a first ad request including a first request for a first advertisement to be placed on a first ad space within a first piece of content;   receive a first private key associated with a first publisher of the first piece of content;   execute a signature generation algorithm using the first ad request and the first key to generate a first digital signature;   generate a first signed ad request that includes the first ad request and the first digital signature; and   transmit the signed ad request to a downstream entity involved in transactions for sale of ad impressions.   
     
     
         13 . The nontransitory processor-readable storage medium of  claim 12  wherein the first ad request comprises a Uniform Resource Location (URL), and wherein, to execute the signature generation algorithm using the first ad request and the first private key, the instructions cause the one or more processors to apply the signature generation algorithm to at least a portion of the URL. 
     
     
         14 . The nontransitory processor-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to:
 prior to execution of the signature generation algorithm using the first ad request and the first private key:
 determine that the first publisher is associated with the first ad request; and 
 select the first private key, from a plurality of private keys, based on the first publisher. 
   
     
     
         15 . The nontransitory processor-readable storage medium of  claim 12  wherein, to execute a signature generation algorithm, the instructions cause the one or more processors to execute an Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) algorithm. 
     
     
         16 . The nontransitory processor-readable storage medium of  claim 12  wherein the entity that receives the first ad request and the first private key receives the first ad request and the first private key from an upstream entity involved in the real-time transactions for sale of ad impressions. 
     
     
         17 . The nontransitory processor-readable storage medium of  claim 12  wherein the first ad request is generated in response to a loading of the first piece of content, and a first set of code of the first piece of content indicates a presence of the first ad space. 
     
     
         18 . The nontransitory processor-readable storage medium of  claim 12  wherein the first ad space is an ad space for an audio stream or a video stream. 
     
     
         19 . The nontransitory processor-readable storage medium of  claim 12  wherein the first ad space is an ad space for a still image, an animated image, a video, or an audio track. 
     
     
         20 . The nontransitory processor-readable storage medium of  claim 12  wherein, to execute a signature generation algorithm, the instructions cause the one or more processors to apply the signature generation algorithm to a first portion of the first ad request without applying the signature generation algorithm to a second portion of the first ad request. 
     
     
         21 . The nontransitory processor-readable storage medium of  claim 12  wherein the execution of the signature generation algorithm using the first ad request and the first private key is performed by a device executing one or more software modules associated with a Supply Side Platform (SSP). 
     
     
         22 . The nontransitory processor-readable storage medium of  claim 12  wherein the execution of the signature generation algorithm using the first ad request and the first private key is performed by a device executing one or more software modules associated with an ad exchange.