Expandable Content Slot Expansion Direction Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for presenting expandable content items, such as advertisements, often result in undesirable effects like clipping or shifting of publication content due to inadequate expansion direction management, requiring complex logic and manual involvement from content sponsors and resource providers.
Innovation Solution
A system that determines expansion information for slots on publications, allowing for the selection and serving of uni-directional expandable content items based on slot properties, which automatically detects slot positions and expansion directions, reducing the need for manual definition and ensuring proper expansion without clipping or shifting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multi-directional expandable content items are used, then content sponsors have more flexibility in expansion options, but complex logic is required to determine the best expansion direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the expansion capability into two independent components: (1) the content item itself with its inherent expansion properties, and (2) the slot with its expansion constraints and permissions. This segmentation allows the system to handle expansion decisions systematically by matching content capabilities with slot constraints, reducing the complexity of determining best expansion directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining slot expansion properties in advance, before the content item is actually served. The system pre-establishes which expansion directions are permitted for each slot based on the publication layout and other slots' positions. This preliminary determination eliminates the need for complex real-time logic when selecting and rendering expandable content items.
2Adaptability or versatility
If expandable content items are served without predefined expansion directions, then content sponsors have more creativity, but clipping or shifting of publication content may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by proactively identifying and preventing potential clipping or shifting problems before they occur. The system determines slot expansion properties by analyzing the publication layout and identifying directions that would cause harm to other content. By pre-establishing permitted expansion directions that avoid clipping and shifting, the system enables content creativity while protecting against harmful effects.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual definition of slot positions and expansion directions is required, then precise control is achieved, but resource providers and content sponsors must become involved in defining these parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the system to automatically determine slot positions and expansion directions without requiring manual intervention from resource providers or content sponsors. The system autonomously analyzes the publication layout, identifies available expansion spaces, and determines permitted directions based on objective criteria such as avoiding overlap with other content. This self-service approach maintains precise control while eliminating the need for human involvement in parameter definition.
4Ease of manufacture
If expandable content items are loaded without predetermined expansion directions, then loading simplicity is improved, but complex logic is needed after loading to determine expansion direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining slot expansion properties before the content item is loaded and served. The system pre-calculates which expansion directions are permitted for each slot based on the publication layout and other slots' positions. This preliminary determination ensures that when the expandable content item is loaded, the expansion direction is already known and can be applied immediately without requiring complex real-time logic or delaying the loading process.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for displaying expandable content by maintaining a content database of slot identifier entries, each entry identifying a respective content slot and a respective resource identifier of a corresponding electronic publication on which the respective content slot is positioned. A data processing system receives a request to provide content for a content slot, the request identifying a slot identifier and a resource identifier, and determines, by accessing the content database, one or more permitted expansion directions for the content slot. The data processing system selects an expandable content item for publication based on the one or more determined permitted expansion directions.