Mobile Device Activity Detection for Ad Impression Accuracy

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Advertisers are charged for impressions even when advertisements on mobile devices are not visible due to viewport zoom levels or dimensions, leading to illegible content and potential spamming-related illegitimate selections, which skew impression statistics.

Innovation Solution

A system determines impressions based on display thresholds such as proportional measurement, zoom level, and display duration, distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate selections, and provides alternative representations at low zoom levels to maintain brand recognition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the viewport is zoomed-in to display only a portion of the web page, then the advertisement may be visible to the user, but the advertisement may still be placed on a portion not in the viewport and not visible to the user

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of advertisementVSAvoidaccuracy of impression measurement

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces simple binary visibility detection with a computational geometry system that calculates proportional measurements and zoom level measurements. The system uses display data to determine the proportion of the advertisement displayed in the viewport and the zoom level, substituting mechanical visibility checks with mathematical calculations to achieve more precise impression measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces new measurement parameters including proportional measurement (ratio of advertisement portion displayed to total advertisement size) and zoom level measurement (measure of viewport zoom level). These parameters enable the system to accurately determine whether an impression occurred by evaluating multiple dimensions of display state rather than relying on simple visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Area of stationary object

If the viewport is zoomed-out to display the entire web page, then the entire page can be displayed in the viewport, but the contents of the web page including advertisements become illegible or difficult to discern

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveportion of web page displayedVSAvoidlegibility of advertisement content

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces visual legibility assessment with computational measurement of display parameters. By calculating the proportional measurement and zoom level measurement from display data, the system objectively determines whether the advertisement was displayed in a manner that constitutes an impression, eliminating the need for subjective assessment of legibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Quantity of substance

If advertisers are charged for impressions when the advertisement is placed on a rendered web page, then advertisers receive compensation for placement, but advertisers are charged even when the advertisement is not visible or illegible to the user

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of impressions chargedVSAvoidaccuracy of impression charging

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by using display data to continuously monitor and evaluate the actual display state of advertisements. The proportional measurement and zoom level measurement are calculated from display data to provide feedback on whether the advertisement was actually displayed in a visible and legible manner, enabling accurate determination of whether an impression occurred and should be charged.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Ease of manufacture

If the advertisement is placed on a portion of the web page not in the viewport, then the advertisement may not be visible to the user, but the advertiser may still be charged for an impression

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of impression determinationVSAvoidaccuracy of visibility determination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces simple placement detection with a comprehensive measurement system that calculates proportional measurement (how much of the advertisement is displayed) and zoom level measurement (how much the viewport is zoomed). This substitution enables accurate determination of visibility by measuring the actual display state rather than relying on simple placement information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11354699B2Mobile device activity detection

Publication Date: 2022.06.07 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

Methods, systems and apparatus for identifying illegitimate selections of content items. In some implementations, one or more servers can receive display data specifying a display state of a web page in a viewport. The web page includes a content item. Display instances are identified. A display instance is a display of at least a portion of the content item in the viewport. Selection instances of the content item are identified. A selection instance is a selection of the content item. The server(s) determines whether a selection of the content item occurred during a display of at least a portion of the content item in the viewport based on the display instances and the selection instances. A selection of the content is defined as an illegitimate selection if the selection did not occur during a display of at least a portion of the content item in the viewport.