Patent Application
20110295628
The following relates to electronic content delivery and more specifically relates to systems and methods for audience targeting based on a performance history of invitational content, such as advertisements.
Computer applications, websites, or other electronic content including offers for products and services generally require a user to explicitly select and/or interact with one or more portions of the content being presented to generate a conversion (e.g., completion a sale or purchase, submission of information to a content provider, causing delivery of additional information to the user or any other pre-defined response for the content). For example, an advertisement for a product or service can require the user to select the advertisement content and navigate to the online store offering the product for sale. At the online store, the user can then enter information to purchase or obtain additional information regarding the product or service.
In many types of electronic content maintained by (primary) content providers, invitational content (i.e., the portions of the content offering products and services) is generally provided other (secondary) content providers. That is, primary content providers typically offer portions for inserting such invitational content, directly or via an agent, for use by one or more other secondary content providers. Accordingly, the invitational content in these portions varies over time, depending on the various arrangements between the primary content provider and the various secondary content providers. For example, each of the secondary content providers may arrange for a number of impressions of their invitational content. Further, secondary content providers may also arrange to have their invitational content associated only with a particular context.
The present technology provides systems and methods for audience targeting based on a performance history of invitational content from secondary content providers, such as advertisements. In operation, responsive to request from a user for content package associated with a context, a queue of invitational content is retrieved. Such a queue can be, for example, the queue established according to the predefined arrangement between a primary content provider and a group of secondary content providers. This queue is then adjusted to generate an adjusted queue for requesting user. The invitational content for content package can then be selected based on this adjusted queue. In some embodiments, a premium pricing or bidding process can be used to select the invitational content.
The adjusted queue can be generated by applying queue adjustment factors to adjust the positions of the invitational content in the queue. In particular, at least one of overall rank scores, content rank scores, and covariance scores can be computed and combined to generate the queue adjustment factors. These factors can then be used to adjust a position of invitational content in the retrieved queue. In some cases, the queue adjustment factors consist of weighted or un-weighted sums of these scores.
In the present technology, the overall rank scores specify an overall performance of the invitational content in the queue with respect to other invitational content previously presented to users. Effectively, the overall rank scores specify an overall performance of users' responsiveness in regards to the invitational content in the queue, based on a correlation between the behavior of all users and the requesting user with respect to previously presented invitational content. The content rank scores specify a performance of the invitational content in the queue, in the context of the request, with respect to other invitational content previously presented to users. The covariance scores specify an interest in the invitational content in the queue, based on a correlation between the behavior of all users and the requesting user with respect to previously presented invitational content.
Various embodiments of the disclosed methods and arrangements are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components, configurations, and steps may be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
With reference to
Although the exemplary environment described herein employs a hard disk, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of computer readable media which can store data that is accessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, cartridges, random access memories (RAMs), read only memory (ROM), a cable or wireless signal containing a bit stream and the like, may also be used in the exemplary operating environment.
To enable user interaction with the computing device 100, an input device 190 represents any number of input mechanisms, such as a microphone for speech, a touch-sensitive screen for gesture or graphical input, keyboard, mouse, motion input, speech and so forth. The device output 170 can also be one or more of a number of output mechanisms known to those of skill in the art. For example, video output or audio output devices which can be connected to or can include displays or speakers are common. Additionally, the video output and audio output devices can also include specialized processors for enhanced performance of these specialized functions. In some instances, multimodal systems enable a user to provide multiple types of input to communicate with the computing device 100. The communications interface 180 generally governs and manages the user input and system output. There is no restriction on the disclosed methods and devices operating on any particular hardware arrangement and therefore the basic features may easily be substituted for improved hardware or firmware arrangements as they are developed.
For clarity of explanation, the illustrative system embodiment is presented as including individual functional blocks (including functional blocks labeled as a “processor”). The functions these blocks represent may be provided through the use of either shared or dedicated hardware, including, but not limited to, hardware capable of executing software. For example the functions of one or more processors presented in
The logical operations of the various embodiments are implemented as: (1) a sequence of computer implemented steps, operations, or procedures running on a programmable circuit within a general use computer, (2) a sequence of computer implemented steps, operations, or procedures running on a specific-use programmable circuit; and/or (3) interconnected machine modules or program engines within the programmable circuits.
The present system and method is particularly useful for assembling and delivering content packages to the user terminals, where an invitational content from secondary content providers, such as advertisements, announcements, and other types of propaganda and inducements, is selected for the content package is based on past user interactions with invitational content. A system 200 is illustrated in
In system 200, a content package is delivered to user terminals 2021 . . . 202n (collectively “202”) connected to a network 204 by direct and/or indirect communications with a content delivery system 206. In particular, the content delivery system 206 receives a request for an electronic content, such as a web page, from one of user terminals 202. Thereafter, the content delivery system 206 assembles a content package in response to the request and transmits the assembled content package to the requesting one of user terminals 202. The content in the assembled content package can include text, graphics, audio, video, or any combination thereof. Further, the assembled content packages can includes invitational content designed to inform or elicit a pre-defined response from the user and that can vary over time, such as advertisements. The content delivery system can include a communications interface 207 to facilitate communications with the user terminals 202 and any other components in system 200.
The content delivery system 206 includes a content management module 208 that facilitates generation of the assembled content package that includes invitational content. Specifically, the content management module can combine content from one or more one or more primary content providers 2101 . . . 210n (collectively “210”) and content from one or more secondary content providers 2141 . . . 214n (collectively “214”) to generate the assembled content package for the user terminals 202.
Although, primary and secondary providers 210, 214 are presented herein as discrete, separate entities, this is for illustrative purposes only. In some cases, the primary and secondary providers 210, 214 can be the same entity. Thus, a single entity may define and provide both static and time-varying content.
For example, in the case of a web page being delivered to a requesting one of user terminals 202, the content management module 208 can assemble a content package by requesting the data for the web page from one of the primary content providers 210 maintaining the web page. For the time-varying invitational content on the web page provided by the secondary content providers 214, the content management module 208 can request the appropriate data generally according to the arrangement between the primary and secondary content providers 210 and 214. For example, the invitational content from the secondary providers 214 can be selected based on a guaranteed number of impressions. Alternatively, the invitational content from the secondary providers 214 can also be selected based on the context of the web page. However, any other arrangements and configuration for selecting invitational content from the secondary providers 210 can also be used.
Although the content management module 208 can be configured to request that data be sent directly from content providers 210 and 214, a cached arrangement can also be used to improve performance of the content delivery system 206 and improve overall user experience. That is, the content delivery system 206 can include a content database 212 for locally storing/caching content maintained by content providers 210 and 214. The data in the content database 212 can be refreshed or updated on a regular basis to ensure that the content in the database 212 is up to date at the time of a request from a user terminal. However, in some cases, the content management module 208 can be configured to retrieve data directly from content providers 210 and 214 if the metadata associated with the data in content database 212 appears to be outdated or corrupted.
In the various embodiments, the one or more databases described herein can be implemented any type of data structures. Such data structures include, but are not limited to data structures for relational databases, key/value stores, graph databases, hierarchical databases, and distributed or columnar stores. Accordingly, although the various embodiments described herein may refer to specific data structures in some embodiments, in other embodiments such data structures can be substituted for any other type of database structure.
In the various embodiments, the content delivery 206 can also include a unique user identifier (UUID) database 215 that can be used for managing sessions with the various user terminal devices 202. The UUID database 215 can be used with a variety of session management techniques. For example, the content delivery system 206 can implement an HTTP cookie or other conventional session management methods (e.g., IP address tracking, URL query strings, hidden form fields, window name tracking, authentication methods, and local shared objects) for user terminals 202 connected to content delivery system 206 via a substantially persistent network session. However, other methods can be used as well. For example, in the case of mobile devices or other types of user terminals connecting using multiple or non-persistent network sessions, multiple requests for content from such devices may be assigned to a same entry in the UUID database 215. Such an assignment can be provided by analyzing requesting device attributes in order to determine whether such requests can be attribute to a same device. Such attributes can include device or group-specific attributes.
As described above, content maintained by the content providers 210 and 214 can be combined and/or presented according a predefined arrangement between the two content providers, which can be embodied as a set of rules. In an arrangement where the content delivery system assembles the content package from multiple content providers, these rules can be stored in a rules database 216 in content delivery system 206 and content management module 208 can be configured to assemble the content package for user terminals 202 based on these rules. The rules can specify how to select content from secondary content providers 214 and the primary content providers 210 in response to a request from one of user terminals 202. For example, in the case of a web page maintained by one of primary providers 210 and including variable advertisement portions, the rules database 216 can specify rules for selecting one of the secondary providers 214. The rules can also specify how to select specific content from the selected one of secondary providers 214 to be combined with the content provided by one of primary providers 210. Once assembled, the assembled content package can be sent to a requesting one of user terminals. However, the content package is not limited to the content from content providers 210 and 214. Rather, the content package can include other data generated at the content delivery system 206.
As described above, arrangements between the content providers 210 and 214 can result in content from one of primary content providers 210 being combined with invitational content from multiple ones of secondary content providers 214, based on the rules database 216. Although the rules database 216 can be accessed each time a request is received from one of user terminals 202, such a configuration can limit performance. Therefore, in many cases, the rules in rules database 216 are used to define at least one queue of invitational content from the secondary providers 214. Thus, when a content package is being assembled by the content management module 208, the content management module 208 first constructs and/or retrieves the queue. Thereafter, the content management module 208 can select an invitational content from one of the secondary content providers according to the queue and form the assembled content package. For example, in one configuration, an invitational content at the top of the queue can be selected. In another configuration, an invitational content associated with a set of contextual characteristics and that is highest positioned in the queue can be selected.
As used herein, the term “contextual characteristics” refers to the characteristics of a particular audience in the network 204 associated with one or more of user terminals 202. Contextual characteristics can include channel characteristics, demographic characteristics, behavioral characteristics, and spatial-temporal characteristics. Channel characteristics can define the specific delivery channel being used to deliver a content package. For example, channel characteristics can include a type of electronic content, a type of device or user terminal, a carrier or network provider, or any other characteristic that defines a specific delivery channel for the content package. Spatial-temporal characteristics can define a location, a date, a time, or any other characteristic that defines a geographic location and/or a time for delivery of the content package. Demographic characteristics can define personal and/or socio-economic characteristics of the user requesting the content package. Behavioral characteristics can define user behaviors for one or more different types of content, separately or in combination with any other contextual characteristics. That is, different behavioral characteristics may be associated with different channel, demographic, or spatial temporal characteristics. For example, users may be associated with higher conversion or response rates for some types of delivery channels.
One concern with the arrangements typically entered into by secondary content providers 214 is that they can result in invitational content of little or no interest being presented to users at many times. As a result, even though a desired number of impressions can be achieved, the rate of response to such invitational content may be low and/or the resulting targeted audience may be incorrect or suboptimal. As a result, content providers 210 and 214 can be negatively impacted. For example, if the primary content providers 210 receive compensation based a number or rate of conversions of advertisements provided by secondary content providers 214, the resulting low conversion rate will result in lower revenues for the primary content providers 210. At the same time, the lower number or rate of conversions of advertisements can result in lower exposure or sales for the secondary content provider 214. In the case of an arrangement based on the number of impressions, the primary content provider 210 would be compensated, but the lower number or rate of conversions of advertisements can result in lower exposure or sales for the secondary content provider 214, as described above. As a result, such secondary content providers 214 may opt to pursue relationships with other primary content providers 210, resulting in potential loss of revenues for primary content providers 210.
The various embodiments therefore provide systems and methods for improving audience targeting by managing the presentation of invitational content from such secondary content providers 214. In particular, systems and methods are provided for adjusting a queue of invitational content at content delivery system 206 in order to provide invitational content at a user terminal that is of greater interest to an associated user. As a result, improved targeting of users is provided, which generally correlates to an increase in desired responses or conversions. In the various embodiments, the positions of invitational content in the queue are adjusted based on the performance history of previously invitational content. As a result, an adjusted queue is generated in which invitational content that is likely of greater interest to the requesting user or is more likely to elicit a response from the requesting user is pushed towards the top.
In operation, system 200 can provide a queue processing module 222 for providing such an adjustment of the queue. In operation, a queue processing module 222 receives the queue, a context associated with the request, and identifying information for the user associated with the request. For example, such information can be received from the content management module 208 or other components in system 200. Thereafter, the queue processing module can access a performance history database 224 to retrieve a performance history of previously presented invitational content and adjust the queue accordingly. The updated queue can then be provided, for example, to the content management module 208, which can thereafter assemble and deliver a content package to the requesting user terminal. Such a method is described in greater detail below with respect to
In the various embodiments, the performance history database 224 can be updated using a performance history update module 226. In some cases, the performance history update module 226 can be configured to add additional history data to the history database 224. However, in other cases, an extended history of user interactions with invitational content may not accurately reflect a current interest of users. Accordingly, update module 226 can also be configured to maintain the history database 224 to include only more recently acquired data. For example, the update module 226 can be configured to maintain in the history database 224 to include only data from the last two to three months. However, the update module 226 can be configured to adjust the data in history database 224 to cover any span of time.
After the request is received at step 304, a user associated with the user terminal is identified at step 306. This identification can be performed in a variety of ways. For example, as described above, the request can include some identifying information, associated with the requesting user terminal or the associated user, which can then be correlated to an entry in the UUID database 215 to retrieve an identity of the user. In other configurations, the user can be identified based analyzing requesting device attributes in order to determine whether such requests can be attribute to a same device, also as described above. Other methods can also be used.
Together or separately with step 306, a context for the content package can be determined by the content management module 208. Thereafter, based on the context identified at step 308, a queue of available invitational content from secondary providers 214 can be obtained at step 310. For example, as described above, a queue can be constructed from the rules database 216 by the content management module 208. However, in some embodiments, the queue can be generated a priori for specific contexts. For example, for specific devices, electronic content from a particular network location, or other known or common contexts, the queue can be generated beforehand and stored. Thereafter, the content management module 208 can access the queue as needed.
Once the queue is obtained at step 310, a user-specific queue can be generated and used for assembling a content package for the user starting at step 312. At step 312, queue adjustment factors can be calculated for the invitational content in the queue. The queue adjustment factors can specify a value for adjusting a position of an invitational content in the queue. In some cases, the queue adjustment factor can specify an absolute amount of change in position in the queue. For example, the queue adjustment factor can specify a minimum number of positions that a secondary content should be moved up or down in the queue. In other cases, the queue adjustment factor can specify a relative position or portion of the queue to which an invitational content should be moved. For example, the queue adjustment factor can specify that a particular invitational content should be moved to the top or bottom of the queue. In yet another example, the queue adjustment factor can be used to categorize the invitational content in the queue into one a plurality of queue groups, each with different priority or positions in the adjusted queue. Thereafter, the invitational content in these groups can be ordered according to the relative order they had in the original queue or using a different order based on other factors.
In the various embodiments, the queue adjustment factor for invitational content is calculated based on at least one of an overall rank score, a context rank score, and covariance score for the invitational content. The overall rank score is a score related to the likelihood of the invitational content resulting in a conversion as compared to other invitational content, irrespective of other factors. Thus, the overall rank score is provided by constructing a model or table of values that correlates performance of previously presented invitational content to specific scores in a range. For example, the previously presented invitational content in the performance history database 224 can be arranged in a table according to the increasing number or rate of responses or conversions in the performance history. Thereafter, increasingly larger scores can be associated with the ordered entries in the table. An overall rank score for an invitational content of interest can then be obtained by a lookup operation to retrieve an associated score. In another example, a model or lookup table can be generated that associates different score values to different numbers or rates of responses or conversions. Thus, the overall rank score can be obtained by retrieving a performance history of an invitational content of interest to obtain some measure of the relative number or rate of conversions or responses for the invitational content as compared to other invitational content in the performance history. Such a measure can be a total number of responses, conversions, and/or impressions. This total number can then be used to retrieve or compute the overall rank score from the model or lookup table.
The context rank score is a score related to the likelihood of an invitational content resulting in a conversion as compared to other invitational content. Specifically, the content rank score is related to the likelihood of conversion for particular contexts. In some cases, the content rank scores can be separated by behavioral contextual characteristics. For example, a content rank score can be related to the likelihood of conversion with respect to a group of users generally associated with high or low conversion rates. In another example, the content rank score can be related the likelihood of conversion with respect to a group of users generally associated with high or low conversion rates for a specific context.
Thus, the context rank score can be provided by constructing a model or table of values that correlates performance of invitational content, previously presented in a particular context and/or presented to specific groups of users, to specific scores in a range. For example, the previously presented invitational content in the performance history database 224 can be arranged in a table according to the increasing number or rate of responses or conversions in the performance history for a particular context and/or group of users. Thereafter, increasingly larger scores can be associated with the ordered entries in the table. Thus, the context rank score can be obtained by looking up the invitational content of interest in the table and retrieving the associated score. In another example, a model or lookup tables can be generated that associates different score values for different numbers or rates of responses or conversions, depending on the context and/or group of users. Thus, the context rank score can be obtained by retrieving a performance history of an invitational content of interest to obtain some measure of the relative number or rate of conversions or responses for the invitational content as compared to other invitational content. Such a measure can be a total number of responses, conversions, and/or impressions. This total number can then be used to retrieve or compute the context rank score from the model or lookup table.
The covariance score is a score related to the likelihood of an invitational content resulting in at conversion when presented to user based on the performance of invitational content previously presented to the user and other users. More generally, the covariance score can be used to identify invitational content which may be of interest to the user. The covariance score is provided by first generating a covariance matrix that indicates the overall relationship or covariance between different invitational content previously presented to all users based on the performance history. Thereafter, the performance history associated with the requesting user is used to perform lookups against the covariance matrix to determine the covariance score.
For example, the performance history for the requesting user can be analyzed to determine invitational content associated with a response or conversion. Thereafter, if the covariance matrix indicates that there is a strong relationship between an invitational content in the queue and invitational content previously presented to the requesting user and resulting in a response or conversion, a high score can be provided. In contrast, if the covariance matrix indicates that there is a weaker or no relationship between an invitational content in the queue and invitational content previously presented to the requesting user and resulting in a response or conversion, a lower score can be provided. For example, in one configuration, the covariance values for the invitational content in the user performance history can be combined to estimate an overall covariance with the invitational content of interest. Thereafter, based on a model or table, a covariance score can be generated.
In another example, the covariance matrix can be analyzed to determine previously presented content strongly associated with the invitational content in the queue. Thereafter, the performance history for the requesting user can be analyzed to determine whether the requesting user also converted or otherwise responded to such previously presented content. If the requesting user generally converted or responded to such previously presented content, a higher score can be provided. In contrast, if the requesting user generally failed to convert or respond to such previously presented content, a low score can be provided. For example, a score can be generated on the proportion of responses or conversions or any other measure of the requesting user's response to the previously presented invitational content associated with invitational content in queue.
Once the scores described above are computed, these scores can be combined to obtain the queue adjustment factors. In the various embodiments, these scores can be combined in a variety of ways. For example, weights can be defined for each of the scores and the weighted sum of the scores can be used to obtain the queue adjustment factor for an invitational content of interest. In another example, an un-weighted sum (i.e., no weights or weights equal to 1) of these scores can be used to obtain the queue adjustment factors.
In some embodiments, one or more of the scores can be excluded for the queue adjustment factor based on the goal for the invitational content. For example, some advertisers may be more interested in delivering impressions than obtaining conversions for their advertisements. Therefore, content and context rank scores may be irrelevant with respect to determining the basic interest of the user in the products or services being advertised. Accordingly, the queue adjustment factor can be based simply on the covariance score. Accordingly, such a queue adjustment factor is indicative of the basic interest of the user in the goods in services in the advertisement, based on the user's past performance and the relationship with different invitational content.
Referring back to
In the systems and methods and methods described above, the queue processing module 222, the history database 224, and the update module 226 are shown to be incorporated into content delivery system 206, as shown in
During, before, and after such processes, the content delivery system 206 can be configured to forward raw performance history data to the queue reordering system 400. Such a process can occur as a continuous background process, allowing the update module 226 to continuously update the history database 224. Alternatively, the update module 226 can request the raw data as needed or according to a pre-defined schedule. Further, although the update module 226 and the history database 224 are shown as being incorporated in to system 400, these components can be deployed in separate systems as queue processing module 222.
As shown above, the systems and method described herein provide a means for delivering targeted invitational content to requesting users. However, the reverse occurs. That is, the systems and methods described herein also provide an identification of an audience for specific types of invitational content. That is, the systems and methods described herein are essentially generating leads and identifying potential customers for the goods and services. Accordingly, a bidding or premium pricing process can be used in conjunction with the various method described above to generate additional revenues for an operator of a content delivery system. Accordingly, referring back to
Alternatively, the engine 228 can send a request for bids to the various content providers offering the same goods or services and selected the invitational content for the content package from the highest bidding content provider. Thus, the engine 228 facilitates the generation of additional revenue for the content delivery system 206.
In the various embodiments, content delivery system 206 can be configured to permit users to adjust the operation and configuration of the various components of content delivery system 206. Accordingly, a user interface can be provided for communicating with a user interface (UI) module 230 for performing such tasks. Further, the UI module 230 can be configured to provide different levels of access based on authenticating different types of users. For example, administrative users can utilize the user interface and UI module 230 for specifying and/or modifying information regarding the primary content providers 210, the secondary content providers 214, user terminals 202, and end users. Administrative users can also utilize the user interface and UI module 230 for specifying operating parameters for the various interfaces, modules, engines, or databases of content delivery system 206. Further, administrative users can also utilize the user interface and UI module 230 for manually or directly adjusting any of the entries in the databases of content delivery system 206.
In addition to providing access to administrative users, the user interface and UI module 230 can also be configured to provide access to end users associated with primary content providers 210 and end users associated with secondary content providers. In the case of end users associated with primary content providers 210, the user interface and UI module 230 can be configured to allow such end users to, for example, update existing content from primary content providers 210 with the content delivery system 206, register new content or new primary content providers with the content delivery system 206, and/or specify preferences for selecting content from secondary content providers 214. In another example, the user interface and UI module 230 can include analysis tools for evaluating performance of content from the primary content providers 210, such as the performance of content with respect to the user terminals and/or content from the secondary content providers 214. In the case of end users associated with secondary content providers 214, the user interface and UI module 230 can be configured to allow these end users to, for example, update existing content from secondary content providers 214 with the content delivery system 206, register new content or new secondary content providers with the content delivery system 206, or specify preferences for selecting primary content providers 214. In another example, the user interface and UI module 230 can include analysis tools for evaluating performance of content from the secondary content providers 214, such as the performance of content with respect to the user terminals 202 and/or content from the primary content providers 210.
In the various embodiments, the user interface for the UI module 230 can be accessed via an end user terminal in communication with the content delivery system 206. For example, the end user terminal can be one of user terminals 202, a user interface device associated with any of content providers 210 and 214, or any user interface device or system locally or remotely connected to content delivery system 206. The user interface and UI module 230 can be configured to operate in a variety of client modes, including a fat client mode, a thin client mode, or a hybrid client mode, depending on the storage and processing capabilities of the content delivery system 206 and/or the end user terminal. Therefore, a user interface for UI module 230 can be implemented as a standalone application operating at the end user terminal in some embodiments. In other embodiments, web browser-based portal can also be used to provide the user interface for UI module 230. Any other configuration to remotely or locally accessing content delivery system 206 can also be used in the various embodiments.
Although the user interface and UI interface 230 are described above as providing specific types of functionality for specific types of end users, the user interface and UI module 230 can also be configured to allow other interactions between end users and the content delivery system 206. For example, the user interface and UI module 230 can be used to specify any of the parameters, weights, or any other variables for the systems and methods described herein. In another example, the user interface can also be user to view, analyze, and/or modify any final or intermediate results or data generated by any of the systems and methods described herein. In yet another example, the user interface and UI module 230 can also provide a reporting/analysis interface area designed for mining/analyzing performance of content from the secondary providers in terms of CTR, eCPM, cost measures, revenue measures, etc. Additionally, UI module 230 can be configured to sends notifications and alerts to users associated with primary content providers 210 (via email, messaging, etc.) when a campaign runs low, a budget runs low, or any other event of interest occurs. Additionally, the UI module 230 can also send daily/weekly/monthly reports of campaign delivery performance and suggestions for optimization to the content providers 210 and 214.
Other implementations according to these examples include non-transitory computer-readable media for carrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such tangible computer-readable media can include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structures.
Computer-executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions. Computer-executable instructions also include program modules that are executed by computers in stand-alone or network environments. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, and data structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Computer-executable instructions, associated data structures, and program modules represent examples of the program code means for executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executable instructions or associated data structures represent examples of corresponding acts for implementing the functions described in such steps.
Those of skill in the art will appreciate that other embodiments of the invention may be practiced in network computing environments with many types of computer system configurations, including personal computers, hand-held devices, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Embodiments may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by local and remote processing devices that are linked (either by hardwired links, wireless links, or by a combination thereof) through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.
Communication at various stages of the described system can be performed through a local area network, a token ring network, the Internet, a corporate intranet, 802.11 series wireless signals, fiber-optic network, radio or microwave transmission, etc. Although the underlying communication technology may change, the fundamental principles described herein are still applicable.
The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting. Those skilled in the art may recognize various modifications and changes that may be made while following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
