US 8959146

US Patent 8959146: Media Properties Selection Method and System Based on Expected Profit from Profile-Based Ad Delivery

Patent Number: US8959146B2

Title: Media properties selection method and system based on expected profit from profile-based ad delivery

Assignee: Almondnet Inc.

Inventor: Roy Shkedi

Filing Date: March 7, 2014 (for application US14/201,494)

Issue Date: February 17, 2015

Abstract: The patent describes an automatic system designed to help select which media properties (like websites or TV channels) should display an advertisement. This selection is made based on a profile of an electronic visitor, which is gathered from their activity on a first media property. A behavioral-targeting (BT) company calculates the anticipated profit from showing an ad that is relevant to the visitor's profile. If this calculated profit is positive, the BT company then arranges for the visitor to be electronically "tagged" with a unique identifier that the selected media property can read. The profit is determined by subtracting at least the cost of the advertising space from the expected revenue generated by the ad based on the collected profile.

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Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

This patent includes three independent claims (Claims 1, 17, and 21), which cover a method, a computer-server device, and a system, respectively.

1. Claim 1 (Method Claim): This claim describes a computer-implemented method for directing online advertisements. For each of many different internet users visiting a first online location, a computer system automatically sends information (called "indicia of a condition") to a separate company's server that manages advertising space on a second online location. This condition specifically relates to the user and dictates whether an ad will be shown to them when they later visit the second online location. The decision to send this information is based on specific characteristics or interests (profile attributes) gathered from the user's visit to the first online location, and the advertisement displayed is matched to these attributes.

2. Claim 17 (Device Claim): This claim protects a physical computer-server device, equipped with a processor and memory, which is programmed to carry out the method outlined in Claim 1. This device automatically sends the "indicia of a condition" (information about a user's characteristics) to a third-party server controlling advertising space on a second online location. This process is intended to enable the display of an advertisement to the user on the second media property at a later time, provided the specified condition is met. The device's actions are based on the user's profile attributes, which were collected from their visit to the first media property, and the advertisement is correlated with these attributes.

3. Claim 21 (System Claim): This claim covers a system, comprising one or more computers, which is programmed to implement the method described in Claim 1. Similar to the device and method, this system automatically directs "indicia of a condition" (user-specific information) to a third-party server that manages advertising space on a second online location. The purpose is to display a targeted advertisement to the user when they visit the second media property after having visited the first, contingent on the condition being met. The system's action is based on profile attributes gathered from the user's visit to the first media property, and the ad is correlated with these attributes.

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Legal Status and Litigation:

US Patent 8959146B2 is currently Active, with an anticipated expiration date of June 14, 2027.

The patent family associated with US8959146 has been involved in extensive litigation. The Google Patents entry indicates multiple US district court cases filed in the Texas Western District Court, Delaware District Court, California Northern District Court, and New York Eastern District Court, with some filings as recent as 2025 and 2026. Additionally, several PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) cases, including IPRs (Inter Partes Reviews) and CBMs (Covered Business Method Reviews), were filed in 2017, 2022, and 2025.

Regarding CAFC 2026 dockets, search results indicate ongoing litigation involving Almondnet Inc., the current assignee of US8959146. For example, "ALMONDNET, INC. v. RAMOT AT TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY LTD." (Docket Number 24-1726) was noted on April 13, 2026, and "ALMONDNET, INC. v. AMAZON.COM, INC." (Docket 25-1967) had a nonprecedential order published on April 6, 2026, by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. While these cases confirm active Federal Circuit involvement for Almondnet Inc. in 2026, the provided search snippets do not explicitly state that US8959146 is the specific patent at issue in these particular CAFC dockets. However, the extensive related litigation across various courts suggests that this patent family is actively asserted and challenged.