WO2022207958A1

WO2022207958A1 - Allocating media players for advertisement campaigns

Info

Publication number: WO2022207958A1
Application number: PCT/FI2021/050240
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sami KÄYHKÖ; Juha-Matti AHO; Matti HEINONMÄKI; Petri Pulkkinen; Teemu KURRI; Panu POIKSELKÄ; Janne LOHVANSUU; Jukka Tiainen
Original assignee: Doohlabs Oy
Priority date: 2021-03-31
Filing date: 2021-03-31
Publication date: 2022-10-06

Abstract

There is provided running an advertisement campaign in a manner, where a target audience of the advertisement campaign may be reliably reached. A computer system stores media sales products comprising target audiences and reaches of the target audiences based on attributed business data comprising available customer segments at media player locations and reaches associated with the customer segments, wherein the target audiences are combinations of the available customer segments. The computer system determines a consumption of the reaches of the available customer segments based on at least one transaction of at least one media sales product and a reach of a target audience of the at least one transacted media sales product. The computer system determines availabilities of the stored media sales products based on the determined consumption. The method comprises at least one of displaying on a user interface of a user device, a product inventory of the stored media sales products based on the determined availabilities, and transmitting the product inventory to another computer system. The computer system allocates a set of media players of the network to at least one advertisement campaign generated based on the transacted at least one media sales product.

Description

ALLOCATING MEDIA PLAYERS FOR ADVERTISEMENT CAMPAIGNS

The present invention relates to allocating media players for advertisement campaigns.

BACKGROUND

This section is intended to provide a background or context to the invention that is recited in the claims. The description herein may include concepts that could be pursued, but are not necessarily ones that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, what is described in this section is not prior art to the description and claims in this application and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion In this section.

US20190340648A1 discloses displaying contents from advertisement campaigns on displays belonging to an OOH inventory, by an artificial intelligence module which is run by an allocation server and which is trained to optimally allocate displays and timing to advertisement campaigns. Campaign data is combined with audience data of the displays of the OOH inventory to determine an impact value for allocating the campaign to the displays. The campaign data includes a client target and system tries to find the displays that best match the client target of the campaign by using an impact value. The allocation is triggered based on receiving campaign data at an allocation module. After the campaign data is received at the allocation module, the allocation of the displays relies on an artificial intelligence module that is trained to optimally allocate displays and timing to campaigns based on a set of predetermined rules.

However, the artificial intelligence module cannot increase the number of displays or audience categories and therefore, the optimal allocation works until the booking level of the displays becomes too high. Once the booking level of the displays is high enough, the optimal allocation of displays may essentially become best effort allocation of the displays. In such a situation any campaign targets e.g. in terms of a date range, a targeted environment and a client target are likely not met by the allocation of the displays at least if there are no available displays to allocate to the campaign. Accordingly, the capability of the described system to deliver the requested campaign, e.g. a client target, decreases with increasing booking level of the displays.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The scope of protection sought for various embodiments of the invention is set out by the independent claims. The embodiments, examples and features, if any, described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the independent claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various embodiments of the invention.

The invention is defined by the features of the independent claims. Some specific embodiments are defined in the dependent ciaims. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for a computer system operatively connected to a network of media players and at least one of a user device and another computer system, the method comprising: * storing, by the computer system, media sales products comprising target audiences and reaches of the target audiences based on attributed business data comprising available customer segments at media player locations and reaches associated with the customer segments, wherein the target audiences are combinations of the available customer segments; * determining, by the computer system, a consumption of the reaches of the available customer segments based on at least one transaction of at least one media sales product of the stored media sales products and a reach of a target audience of the at least one transacted media sales product; * determining, by the computer system, availabilities of the stored media sales products based on the determined consumption; and at least one of o causing, by the computer system, to display on the user interface, a product inventory of the stored media sales products based on the determined availabilities, and/or o transmitting, by the computer system, the product inventory of the stored media sales products based on the determined availabilities to said another computer system; and * allocating, by the computer system, a set of media players of the network to at least one advertisement campaign generated based on the transacted at least one media sales product.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of any of the preceding claims.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer-readable medium having stored thereon the computer program of the second aspect.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer system operatively connected to a network of media players and at least one of a user device and another computer system, wherein the computer system is programmed to: * store, by the computer system, media sales products comprising target audiences and reaches of the target audiences based on attributed business data comprising available customer segments at media player locations and reaches associated with the customer segments, wherein the target audiences are combinations of the available customer segments; * determine, by the computer system, a consumption of the reaches of the available customer segments based on at least one transaction of at least one media sales product of the stored media sales products and a reach of a target audience of the at least one transacted media sales product; * determine, by the computer system, availabilities of the stored media sales products based on the determined consumption; and at least one of o cause, by the computer system, to display on the user interface, a product inventory of the stored media sales products based on the determined availabilities, and/or o transmit, by the computer system, the product inventory of the stored media sales products based on the determined availabilities to said another computer system; and * allocating, by the computer system, a set of media players to at least one advertisement campaign generated based on the transacted at least one media sales product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of example embodiments of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 illustrate an example of a computer system operatively connected to a network of media players and at least one of a user device and another computer system in accordance with at least some embodiments;

Fig. 2 illustrates an example of generating media sales products in accordance with at least some embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a transaction of a media sales product in accordance with at least some embodiments;

Fig. 4 illustrates an example of combinations of available customer segments into target audiences; Fig. 5 illustrates an example of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments;

Fig. 6 illustrates an example of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments;

Fig. 7 illustrates an example of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments; and Fig. 8 illustrates an example of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 illustrate an example of a computer system operatively connected to a network of media players and at least one of a user device and another computer system in accordance with at least some embodiments. The computer system 100 may comprise one or more processors 102 operatively connected to one or more memories 104 and data communications interfaces (DCIs) 106 for communications with the media players and one or more users 124. it should be noted that by a user it may be referred to a person using a user device and/or user computer system. The network of media players, or media player network, may comprise media players 108, 110, 112, 114 deployed at a plurality of locations, e.g. locations [1. 2, 3, ...L]. One or more media players may be deployed at each location. The locations may comprise indoor locations and/or outdoor locations. At each location one or more media players may be associated with one or more customer segments that may consume content played by the one or more media players. The media players may comprise DCls 116, 118, 120, 122 for communications with the computer system. At their respective deployment locations, the media players may play content based on their allocations, or bookings, to advertisement campaigns. When the media players play content at a given time, one or more customer segments may be 'within reach of each of the media players to consume the played content. it should be noted that the examples givers in the present application are given in the context advertising arid media analysis, where a reacts refers to the total number of different people exposed, at least once, to a medium during a givers period. Accordingly, a reacts may refer to a number of people ttsat is reached by a content played by a media player.

The memory 104 may store a computer program 105 that may comprise computer program code or computer program instructions that may be executed by the processor 102. The memory may further store a product inventory 107 that may comprise one or more media sales products. The media sales products may be used to generate one or more advertisement campaigns that are ran on the media players.

The one or more users 124 may comprise at least one of user devices and other computer systems, i.e. user computer systems. The users may comprise DCls 126 for communications with the computer system 100, content 130 to be played in advertisement campaigns ran on media sales products of the computer system and business data 132, it should be noted that in various embodiments described herein, input of information from the users to the computer system may be referred to user input and output of information from the computer system to the users may be referred to user output, A user device may refer to a device comprising a user interface 128 for interacting with a person using the user device via user interface actions performed by the person on the user interface. Accordingly, the user interface may provide output of information from the computer system to the person using the user device and/or input of information by the person using the user device to the computer system. The output of information to the person provides that the person may have up-to-date information from the computer system, e.g. about the product inventory. The input of information by the person to the computer system provides that the person may run one or more advertisement campaigns using the media sales products of the computer system. Examples of user devices comprise at least desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet computers and smart phones that are equipped with or connected to a user interface. A user computer system may refer to one or more computers that are configured to operate with the computer system 100 with a reduced need for human interaction compared with the user devices. The user computer system comprises an Application Programming Interface 129 (API) for communications with the computer system 100 by way of one or more application programming interface messages. The application programming messages may enable communications of the computer system 100 with the user computer system. .Accordingly, the API 129 may provide output of information from the computer system 100 to the user computer system and/or input of information by the user computer system to the computer system 100. The output of information to the user computer system provides that the user computer system may have up-to-date information from the computer system, e.g. about the product inventory. The input of information by the user computer system to the computer system provides that the user computer system may run one or more advertisement campaigns using the media saies products of the computer system, in an example, the user computer system may comprise a memory that may store a computer program. The computer program stored by the user computer system may comprise computer program code or computer program instructions that may be executed by a processor of the user computer system. In an example, the computer program stored by the user computer system provides interacting with the computer system 100 for running one or more advertisement campaigns. The one or more advertisement campaigns may be generated by the user computer system or they may pre-defined to the user computer system for running the advertisement campaigns by using the media sales products of the computer system 100, Accordingly, the user computer system may not necessarily have a user interface since the user computer system may comprise the computer program 'which may cause the user computer system to interact with the computer system 100 for running advertisement campaigns using the media saies products of the computer system.

It should be noted that a computer system or user computer system may be implemented by one or more physical computers and/or Infrastructure as a service (laaS). laaS refers to online services that provide high-level Application Programming Interfaces used to abstract various low-level details of underlying network infrastructure like physical computing resources, location, data partitioning, scaling, security, backup, etc.

Examples of the output of information by the computer system to a user device and/or a user computer system comprise a product inventory 130, confirmation of allocation of a set of media players, information indicating a transaction of a media sales product and a confirmation of allocation of a set of media players to deliver a transacted at least one media sales product. Examples of the input of information by the computer system to a user device and/or a user computer system comprise information indicating one or more campaign attributes, attributed business data, business data, content to be played in advertisement campaigns, and user interface actions or application programming interface messages that cause configuring at least one of a target audience and a reach for one or more user-defined media sales products. Examples of the content comprise media files or links to media locations in a data network, e.g. the internet. The content may comprise audio, video and/or still images. Examples of the media players comprise video players and audio players. A video player may be a display device that is an output device for presentation of information in visual or tactile form {the latter used for example in tactile electronic displays for blind people). When the input information that is supplied has an electrical signal the display may be called an electronic display. Examples of display devices comprise Electroluminescent (ELD) display, Liquid crystal display (LCD), Light-emitting diode (LED) backlit LCD, Thin-fiim transistor (TFT) LCD, Light-emitting diode (LED) display, OLED display, AMOLED display, Plasma (PDF) display and Quantum dot (QLED) display. An audio player may be an audio device, for example a speaker. The DCis 106, 116, 118, 120, 122, 126 may be configured for data communications over the internet. Accordingly, the DCI may support communications over the internet Protocol.

Fig, 2 illustrates an example of generating media sales products in accordance with at least some embodiments. The phases of Fig. 2 may be performed by a computer system described with Fig. 1 , The media sales products may be stored in the computer system described with Fig. 1. Phase 202 comprises obtaining by the computer system attributable business data.

Phase 204 comprises processing the obtained attributable business data based on customer segment attributes, media player location attributes and reach attributes. The customer segment attributes, (Customer segment 1 , 2,...C _S), may provide determining one or more customer segments from the business data. The media player location attributes, Microlocation = [1 , 2,...M_ CSP], may provide determining from the business data one or more customer segment profiles associated with locations of the media players. A customer segment profile may comprise one or more available customer segments at a location of a media player and a reach associated with each of the available customer segments.

Examples of the media player location attributes comprise locations of the media players. The locations may be defined based on labeling. Examples of labels may comprise information identifying one or more stores, one or more departments of stores, one or more shelves of stores and/or geographical coordinates.

Examples of the reach attributes may comprise a total number of different people exposed, at least once, to a medium during a given period.

Examples of the customer segment attributes comprise information indicating behavioral attributes, demography-based attributes and socioeconomical attributes.

Phase 206 comprises productization of the attributed business data obtained by phase 204. The productization may comprise generating one or more media sales products based on the available customer segments at the locations of the media players and associated reaches determined in phase 204.

Phase 208 comprises storing the generated media sales products (Product 1. 2, ...P_K). The stored media sales products comprise target audiences, or customer segment profiles (Customer segment profile 1 , 2 ...P_CSP), and reaches (Reach 1 , 2, ...P_R) of the target audiences based on attributed business data comprising available customer segments at media player locations and reaches associated with the customer segments. The target audiences are combinations of the available customer segments. Accordingly, the target audiences may be customer segment profiles that are combinations of the available customer segments.

FiG. 3 illustrates an example of a transaction of a media sales product in accordance with at least some embodiments. The phases of Fig, 3 may be performed by a computer system described with Fig. 1. Phase 302 comprises storing media saies products. The stored media sales products comprise target audiences, Target audience 1 , 2, ...P, and reaches (Reach 1 , 2,... P_1) of the target audiences at media player locations. Accordingly, the media sales products may be stored in accordance with phase 208, where target audiences may be customer segment profiles that are combinations of available customer segments.

Phase 304 comprises performing a transaction of a media sales product. The transaction may be performed in response to a user input received by the computer system. The user input may indicate that the user allocates the media sales product for running an advertisement campaign using the network of media players. The transaction comprises that an availability of the transacted media sales product and additionally one or more other media sales products is changed in a product inventory of the computer system in exchange of a payment of the media sales product.

In an example in accordance with at least some embodiments, phase 304 comprises the computer system determining a consumption of reaches of available customer segments at media player locations based on a reach of a target audience of the at least one transacted media sales product and determining availabilities of the stored media sales products based on the determined consumption.

In an example in accordance with at least some embodiments, phase 304 comprises the computer system receiving user input indicating one or more campaign attributes to the advertisement campaign, the one or more campaign attributes comprising at least one of a duration of campaign, time distribution of the reach of the transacted at least one media sales product. The campaign attributed may be used to determine the consumption of reaches for determining availabilities of the stored media sales products based on the determined consumption, in an example, the time distribution of the reach of the transacted at least one media sales product indicates a target speed of achieving the reach of the target audience of the at least one transacted media sales product.

In an example phase 304 comprises the computer system generating based on the determined transaction, a confirmation of allocation of the set of media players to deliver the transacted at least one media sales product, and the computer system storing the generated confirmation in a computer readable format for displaying on the user interface in response to a user input or for delivering to said another computer system. Accordingly, the computer system may deliver the generated confirmation to said another computer system, i,e. a user computer system. The delivering may be actuated automatically or in response to a request from the user computer system. On the other hand, the computer system may cause displaying the generated confirmation on the user interface of the user device, e.g, based on a person using the user device entering the user input.

Phase 306 comprises updating the product inventory of the stored media sales products, product 1, 2,...P, based on the determined availabilities. In this way the product Inventory displayed to the user may reflect the availability of the media sales products. In an example, If the consumption of one or more available customer segments is high, then one or more media sales products that have the one or more customer segments in their target audience, Target audience 1 , 2,...P, may become unavailable. Accordingly, the computer system may determine one or more media sales products of the product inventory that have target audiences which include the consumed available customer segments and determine, availabilities of the available customer segments. The availabilities of the available customer segments may be determined based on deducting reaches of the consumed available customer segments from the reaches, Reach 2 _ 1 , 2_2,... P_2, of the available customer segments. Availability of media sales products for the product inventory may be determined for each media sales product as follows. If the reaches of the available customer segments are sufficient for a target audience of a media sales product, the media sales product may be determined to be available. If the reaches of the available customer segments are not sufficient for a target audience of a media sales product, the media sales product may be determined to be unavailable, if a media sales product is available, the media sales product may be displayed differently in the product inventory than if the media sales product is not available. In an example, if a media sales product is not available, the media sales product may be displayed as faded or opaque.

Phase 308 comprises running the advertisement campaign using the allocated set of media players, in this way the campaign may reach the Target audience 1 and the campaign may have a reach X. The reach of the campaign may be determined based on the transaction of the media sales product, e.g. a price of the media sales product and/or campaign attributes of the campaign.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example of combinations of available customer segments into target audiences. The combinations of available customer segments may be used to generate media sales products, whereby the generated media sales products have target audiences that are combinations of available customer segments. The available Customer Segments may be R_A_ACS, R__B__ACS, R_C_ACS, R_C_ACS. Then the available Customer Segments may be used to generate media sales products. Accordingly, Product 1 may comprise a Target Audience R_A_ACS and R_G_ACS. Product 2 may comprise a Target Audience R_A_ACS and R_C_ACS. Product P may comprise a Target Audience R_C_ACS and R_D_ACS.

Fig. 5 illustrates an example of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments. The method may be performed by a computer system operatively connected to a network of media players and at least one of a user device and another computer system. The method provides running an advertisement campaign in a manner, where a target audience of the advertisement campaign may be reliably reached.

Phase 502 comprises storing, by the computer system, media sales products comprising target audiences and reaches of the target audiences based on attributed business data comprising available customer segments at media player locations and reaches associated with the customer segments, wherein the target audiences are combinations of the available customer segments.

Phase 504 comprises determining, by the computer system, a consumption of the reaches of the available customer segments based on at least one transaction of at least one media sales product of the stored media sales products and a reach of a target audience of the at least one transacted media sales product. Phase 506 comprises determining, by the computer system, avaiiabiiities of the stored media sales products based on the determined consumption.

Phase 508 comprises causing, by the computer system, to display on the user interface, a product inventory of the stored media sates products based on the determined avaiiabiiities, and/or transmitting, by the computer system, the product inventory of the stored media sales products based on the determined avaiiabiiities to said another computer system.

Phase 510 comprises allocating, by the computer system, a set of media players of the network to at least one advertisement campaign generated based on the transacted at ieast one media saies product.

In an example, phase 510 comprises receiving, by the computer system, user input indicating one or more campaign attributes, attributed business data, business data, content to be played in advertisement campaigns, and user interface actions or application programming interface messages that cause configuring at ieast one of a target audience and a reach for one or more user-defined media sales products.

In an example in accordance with at Ieast some embodiments, phase 510 comprises receiving, by the computer system, user input indicating one or more campaign attributes to the at Ieast one advertisement campaign, the one or more campaign attributes comprising at ieast one of a duration of campaign, time distribution of the reach of the transacted at ieast one media saies product, and allocating the set of media players of the network to the advertisement campaign based on the received user input, in this way media players may be selected by the computer system to the set of media players such that the campaign attributes may be satisfied. The user input may be received from a user device or a user computer system.

In an example in accordance with at ieast some embodiments, phase 510 comprises that the received user input is used to determine at Ieast one of o one or more media players of the network that have available customer segments according to the target audience and the reach of the target audience of the at Ieast one transacted media sales product, o one or more media players of the network that are available during the advertisement campaign, and o one or more media players of the network that have available customer segments according to the target audience, reach of the target audience and the time distribution of the reach of the transacted at ieast one media sales product.

In an example in accordance with at ieast some embodiments, phase 510 comprises that the time distribution of the reach of the transacted at Ieast one media sales product indicates a target speed of achieving the reach of the target audience of the at ieast one transacted media saies product. The time distribution of the reach enables controlling a speed at which the reach of the target audience is achieved. For example, the media players may be selected to the set of media players allocated to the advertisement campaign based on the time distribution of the reach, e.g. quick reach or even reach. The quick reach may refer to a time distribution of the reach that is short in time, e.g. over a time of the advertisement campaign. The even reach may refer to a time distribution of the reach that is even or at least substantially even over a time period, e.g. a time of the advertisement campaign. In an example of the quick reach, if the advertisement campaign has a duration of one week, the quick reach may cause that the advertisement campaign reaches the target audience within a shorter time, e.g. a single day. Using the quick reach may increase consumption of the reaches of the available customer segments, which may affect availabilities of the stored media sales products, the product inventory displayed on the user interface, the product inventory transmitted to said another computer system and media players that are selected to the set of media players allocated to the at least advertisement campaign, in accordance with phases 504 to 510. in an example of the even reach, if the advertisement campaign has a duration of one week, the even reach may cause that the advertisement campaign reaches the target audience substantially evenly over the whole week, e.g. a reach of the target audience on each day is at least a minimum and/or within a predetermined threshold value from the reach of the target audience distributed evenly over the whole week. Using the even reach consumption of the reaches of the available customer segments may be distributed over the week, whereby high consumption peaks rnay be avoided and availability of the media sales products rnay be supported.

In an example in accordance with at least some embodiments, phase 502 comprises that the stored one or more media sales products comprise one or more pre-defined media sales products and one or more user-defined media sales products, and the method comprises: generating, by the computer system, the one or more user-defined media sales products based on one or more of 1) user interface actions, and/or 2} application programming interface messages that cause configuring at least one of a target audience and a reach for the generated one or more user-defined media sales products, in this way the user-defined media-sales products may be added by a user, e.g, said another computer system or a person using the user device. Adding the media sales products provides the media sales products may be adapted to changes in the media player network and/or business data. For example, business data may be added and/or enriched, whereby the business data may be attributed based on customer segment attributes, media player location attributes and reach attributes.

In an example in accordance with at least some embodiments, phase 502 comprises obtaining, by the computer system, the attributed business data by processing business data based on customer segment attributes, media player location attributes and reach attributes. The attributed business data provides that one or more customer segments and their corresponding reaches may eb associated with each media player location.

Fig. 6 illustrates an example of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments. The method may be performed by a computer system operatively connected to a network of media players and at least one of a user device and another computer system. The method provides allocation of media players to advertisement campaign based on a spillover level. Phase 602 comprises determining, by the computer system, based on the attributed business data, available customer segments of the media players.

Phase 604 comprises determining, by the computer system, a spillover level based on reaches of the available customer segments of at least a part of the media players and the reach of the target audience of the transacted media sales product. A spillover may refer to one or more customer segments that are reached by the advertisement campaign at the media player locations allocated to the advertisement campaign, but which do not belong to the target audience. Therefore, the spillover may be used to measure effective use of the resources, such as the set of media players and the available customer segments at the media players.

Phase 606 comprises determining the set of media players allocated to the at least one advertisement campaign based on whether the determined spillover level meets a threshold value. In this way the media players may be allocated to the advertisement campaign such that the spillover may be controlled.

Fig. 7 illustrates an example of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments. The method may be performed by a computer system operatively connected to a network of media players and at least one of a user device and another computer system. The method provides running an advertisement campaign in a manner, where a target audience of the advertisement campaign may be reliably reached, 'when a computer system for running the campaign is a multi-user system. It should be noted that the multi-user system may refer to a scenario, where more than one user, i.e. a person using a user device and/or user computer system, is interacting with the computer systems for running advertisement campaigns, e.g. making transactions of media sales products, viewing the product inventory and/or running advertisement campaigns.

Phase 702 comprises determining, by the computer system, that the at least one transaction of the at least one media sales product is performed by one user.

Phase 704 comprises updating, by the computer system, product inventories of one or more other users based on the determined availabilities. Since, the product inventories are updated, the users know which products are available.

In an example phase 704 comprises that the computer system is caused to display or transmit each user a product inventory in accordance with phases 504 to 508.

Fig. 8 illustrates an example of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments. The method may be performed by a computer system operatively connected to a network of media players and at least one of a user device and another computer system. The method enables a user, i.e. a person using a user device and/or user computer system, to verify that an advertisement campaign has been booked. Phase 802 comprises determining, by the computer system, the transaction of the at least one media sales product. Phase 804 comprises generating, by the computer system, based on the determined transaction, confirmation of allocation of the set of media players to deliver the transacted at least one media sales product.

Phase 806 comprises storing, by the computer system, the generated confirmation by the computer system in a computer readable format for displaying on the user interface in response to a user input or for delivering to said another computer system. Accordingly, the computer system may deliver the generated confirmation to said another computer system, i.e. a user computer system. The delivering may be actuated automatically or in response to a request from the user computer system. On the other hand, the computer system may cause displaying the generated confirmation on the user interface of the user device, e.g, based on a person using the user device entering the user input.

The foregoing description has provided by way of exemplary and non-limiting examples a full and informative description of the exemplary embodiment of this invention. However, various modifications and adaptations may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view' of the foregoing description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. However, all such and similar modifications of the teachings of this invention will still fall within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A method for a computer system operatively connected to a network of media players and at least one of a user device and another computer system, the method comprising: o storing, by the computer system, media sales products comprising target audiences and reaches of the target audiences based on attributed business data comprising available customer segments at media player locations and reaches associated with the customer segments, wherein the target audiences are combinations of the available customer segments; o determining, by the computer system, a consumption of the reaches of the available customer segments based on at least one transaction of at least one media sales product of the stored media sales products and a reach of a target audience of the at least one transacted media sales product; o determining, by the computer system, availabilities of the stored media sales products based on the determined consumption; and at least one of a causing, by the computer system, to display on a user interface of the user device, a product inventory of the stored media sales products based on the determined availabiiities, and

' transmitting, by the computer system, the product inventory of the stored media sales products based on the determined availabilities to said another computer system; and o allocating, by the computer system, a set of media players of the network to at least one advertisement campaign generated based on the transacted at least one media sales product.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising: o determining, by the computer system, based on the attributed business data, available customer segments of the media players; o determining, by the computer system, a spillover level based on reaches of the available customer segments of at least a part of the media players and the reach of the target audience of the transacted media sales product; and o determining the set of media players allocated to the at least one advertisement campaign based on whether the determined spillover level meets a threshold value.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the computer system is a multi-user system, and the method comprising: o determining, by the computer system, that the at least one transaction of the at least one media sales product is performed by one user; and o updating product inventories of one or more other users based on the determined availabilities.

4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, comprising: o receiving, by the computer system, user input indicating one or more campaign attributes to the at least one advertisement campaign, the one or more campaign attributes comprising at least one of a duration of campaign, time distribution of the reach of the transacted at least one media sales product, and o allocating the set of media players of the network to the advertisement campaign based on the received user input.

5. The method of ciaim 4, wherein the received user input is used to determine at least one of o one or more media players of the network that have avaiiabie customer segments according to the target audience and the reach of the target audience of the at least one transacted media sales product, o one or more media players of the network that are available during the advertisement campaign, and o one or more media players of the network that have avaiiabie customer segments according to the target audience, reach of the target audience and the time distribution of the reach of the transacted at least one media sales product.

6. The method of claim 4 or 5, wherein the time distribution of the reach of the transacted at least one media sales product indicates a target speed of achieving the reach of the target audience of the at least one transacted media sales product.

7. The method according to any of the preceding claims, comprising: o determining, by the computer system, the transaction of the at least one media sales product; o generating, by the computer system, based on the determined transaction, confirmation of allocation of the set of media players to deliver the transacted at least one media sales product; and o storing, by the computer system, the generated confirmation by the computer system In a computer readable format for displaying on the user interlace in response to a user input or for delivering to said another computer system.

8. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the stored one or more media sales products comprise one or more pre-defined media sales products and one or more user-defined media sales products, and the method comprises: o generating, by the computer system, the one or more user-defined media sales products based on one or more of * user interface actions, and/or * application programming interface messages, o that cause configuring at least one of a target audience and a reach for the generated one or more user-defined media sales products.

9. The method according to any of the preceding claims, comprising: o obtaining, by the computer system, the attributed business data by processing business data based on customer segment attributes, media player location attributes and reach attributes.

10. A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of any of the preceding claims.

11. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon the computer program of claim 10.

12. A computer system operatively connected to a network of media players and a user device or another computer system, 'wherein the computer system is programmed to: o store, by the computer system, media saies products comprising target audiences and reaches of the target audiences based on attributed business data comprising available customer segments at media player locations and reaches associated with the customer segments, wherein the target audiences are combinations of the available customer segments; o determine, by the computer system, a consumption of the reaches of the available customer segments based on at least one transaction of at least one media saies product of the stored media saies products and a reach of a target audience of the at least one transacted media sales product; o determine, by the computer system, availabilities of the stored media saies products based on the determined consumption; and at least one of * cause, by the computer system, to display on a user interface of the user device, a product inventory of the stored media saies products based on the determined availabilities, and * transmit, by the computer system, the product inventory of the stored media sales products based on the determined availabilities to said another computer system; and o allocating, by the computer system, a set of media players to at least one advertisement campaign generated based on the transacted at least one media sales product.

13. The computer system according to claim 12, wherein the system is programmed to perform a method according to any of claims 2 to 9.