Auction tiering in online advertising auction exchanges

A method, implemented on at least one computer, of holding an auction for one or more impressions in an online advertising platform, the at least one computer comprising:

• at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions;
• and
• at least one processing unit for executing the instructions stored in the memory, wherein execution of the instructions results in the at least one computer performing the steps of:
• defining a plurality of auction tiers, each tier having associated tier attributes comprising:
• (i) a tier priority,
• (ii) an eligible bidder list, and
• (iii) a minimum bid threshold;
• receiving, from one or more impression buyers, at least one bid for the impressions, each bid having associated bid attributes comprising an impression bidder and a bid value;
• for each received bid, determining a highest priority tier for which the tier attributes are satisfied by at least the bid attributes and associating the determined tier with the bid;
• selecting, as an active auction tier, a highest priority tier having at least one associated bid;
• and
• determining a winner of the auction based on the bids in the active auction tier.