TV Ad Slot Prioritization via Strategic Targeting Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current demand-side platforms for advertising campaigns on traditional TV lack advanced targeting capabilities beyond basic demographics, such as age and gender, and require improved planning and analysis tools to optimize ad placements and viewer reach effectively.

Innovation Solution

A computerized system that utilizes processors to analyze ad slot opportunities based on past viewership data and desired targeting characteristics, providing a prioritized list of placement opportunities and enabling strategic targeting, including demographic, strategic, and combined targeting, to optimize ad campaigns for cost and reach, using user interfaces for planning, execution, and reporting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If basic demographic targeting (age and gender) is used for TV ad campaigns, then campaign setup is simple and quick, but targeting precision and campaign effectiveness are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecampaign setup simplicityVSAvoidtargeting precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the targeting process into multiple independent modules: basic demographic targeting, strategic characteristic targeting, and combined targeting. Each module can be selected and configured separately, allowing users to start with simple demographic targeting and progressively add strategic characteristics (income, education, ethnicity, etc.) to enhance precision without overwhelming the initial setup process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a new dimension to traditional TV advertising by integrating digital media's strategic targeting capabilities into TV campaign planning. This creates a multi-dimensional targeting framework that combines traditional demographic data with strategic characteristics, transforming the single-dimensional age/gender targeting into a multi-factor targeting system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If advanced strategic targeting characteristics are implemented, then campaign effectiveness and audience reach are improved, but system complexity and data processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetargeting effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal planning tool that handles multiple targeting approaches (basic demographic, strategic characteristics, and combined) within a single system. The system can process different data sources, apply various targeting methodologies, and generate unified campaign plans, eliminating the need for separate tools for each targeting type and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary planning layer between ad buyers and TV advertisers. This planning tool acts as a mediator that processes complex strategic characteristics data, performs automated analysis, and translates sophisticated targeting requirements into executable ad buying strategies, shielding users from the underlying complexity while delivering precise targeting results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If comprehensive viewership data analysis is performed, then ad placement optimization is improved, but data processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvead placement optimizationVSAvoiddata processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-processing and pre-analyzing viewership data before the actual ad buying process. The system pre-calculates targeting scores, pre-identifies optimal ad slots, and pre-ranks placement opportunities based on strategic characteristics. This preliminary analysis reduces the computational burden during real-time ad buying and accelerates the overall process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of data analysis by focusing on the most relevant strategic characteristics and weighting them according to campaign objectives. Rather than analyzing all possible data points equally, the system dynamically adjusts analysis parameters to prioritize the most impactful factors, reducing processing time while maintaining optimization quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Loss of information

If detailed planning and analysis tools are provided, then campaign performance visibility is improved, but user interface complexity and learning curve increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecampaign visibilityVSAvoiduser interface simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing detailed planning and analysis tools selectively in specific sections of the user interface, rather than overwhelming the entire interface with complexity. The user interface presents simplified views for basic operations while offering access to detailed analytical tools and data when users need them, allowing simplicity and comprehensiveness to coexist in different parts of the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10531163B2Planning and executing a strategic advertising campaign
Publication Date: 2020.01.07 ADOBE INC
  • US10531163B2 patent drawing
  • US10531163B2 patent drawing
  • US10531163B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods are disclosed for planning, executing, reviewing, and reporting the results of an advertising campaign to be run on TV. A demand-side platform receives ad slot opportunities from TV programming sources, and analyzes the ad slots to produce a prioritized list of placement opportunities for the advertising campaign to be presented to advertiser/clients. Each ad slot is analyzed with respect to past viewership data and with respect to desired targeting characteristics that may include conventional age and gender targeting, or additionally strategic targeting characteristics. Scores are established for each ad slot with respect to numbers of projected on-target impressions and/or a cost for projected on-target impressions. The scores are sorted to produce the prioritized list. Projected results can be viewed with respect to any or all of network, day, and daypart. After a campaign has completed, viewership data representing actual results is acquired, processed, and reported.