# US 8,751,301 B1 · Banner advertising in spherical panoramas > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,751,301 B1 - Document ID: US8751301B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/229,341 - Filed: 2011-09-09 - Granted: 2014-06-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-09 - Assignees: Google Inc. - Applicants: Stephen Chau - Inventors: Stephen Chau - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751301B1 ## CPC - G06Q 30/0241: Advertisements - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Systems, methods, and computer storage mediums for placing advertisements on photographic images of geolocations. The method includes retrieving a photographic image associated with a geolocation, where the geolocation is based on a user action. An advertisement to place on the photographic image is also retrieved based on at least the geolocation. The photographic image is then analyzed to determine a position on the photographic image for placing the advertisement. Finally, the advertisement is placed at the determined position on the photographic image. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method for placing advertisements on photographic images of geolocations comprising: retrieving, by at least one computer processor, a photographic image associated with a geolocation, wherein the geolocation is based on a user action; retrieving, by the at least one computer processor, an advertisement to place on the photographic image, wherein the advertisement is retrieved based on at least the geolocation; analyzing, by the at least one computer processor, pixels of the photographic image to determine a position on the photographic image for placing the advertisement, wherein analyzing the pixels of the photographic image includes locating background pixels, the background pixels including pixels that represent a background of the photographic image; and placing, by the at least one computer processor, the advertisement at the determined position in the background of the photographic image. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: allowing the user to select the advertisement, wherein selecting the advertisement directs the user to information associated with the advertisement. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the advertisement is retrieved based on the outcome of an auction, wherein the auction allows a plurality of advertisers to compete to place an advertisement on the photographic image. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the advertisement is retrieved based on at least one target factor, the target factor including one or more of information associated with the user or information associated with an advertiser. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the geolocation is based on the user selecting a point on a virtual map. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the geolocation is based on the user selecting a point on an image of a geolocation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein background pixels include pixels that represent a street captured in the photographic image. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein background pixels include pixels that are above a horizon line captured in the photographic image. ### Claim 9 A system for placing advertisements on photographic images of geolocations comprising: a map-image module, implemented on at least one computer processor, configured to retrieve a photographic image associated with a geolocation, wherein the geolocation is based on a user action; an advertisement module, implemented on the at least one computer processor, configured to retrieve an advertisement to place on the photographic image, wherein the advertisement is retrieved based on at least the geolocation; and an advertisement placement module, implemented on the at least one computer processor, configured to: analyze pixels of the photographic image to determine a position on the photographic image for placing the advertisement, wherein analyzing the pixels of the photographic image includes locating background pixels, the background pixels including pixels that represent a background of the photographic image; and placing the advertisement at the determined position in the background of the photographic image. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, further comprising: a user interface module configured to allow the user to select the advertisement, wherein selecting the advertisement directs the user to information associated with the advertisement. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the advertisement module is further configured to retrieve the advertisement based on the outcome of an auction, wherein the auction allows a plurality of advertisers to compete to place an advertisement on the photographic image. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the advertisement module is further configured to retrieve the advertisement based on at least one target factor, the target factor including one or more of information associated with the user or information associated with an advertiser. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the geolocation is based on the user selecting a point on a virtual map. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the geolocation is based on the user selecting a point on an photographic image of a geolocation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein background pixels include pixels that represent a street captured in the photographic image. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein background pixels include pixels that are above a horizon line captured in the photographic image. ### Claim 17 An apparatus comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by a computing device, causes the computing device to perform operations comprising: retrieving a photographic image associated with a geolocation, wherein the geolocation is based on a user action; retrieving an advertisement to place on the photographic image, wherein the advertisement is retrieved based on at least the geolocation; analyzing pixels of the photographic image to determine a position on the photographic image for placing the advertisement, wherein analyzing the pixels of the photographic image includes locating background pixels, the background pixels including pixels that represent a background of the photographic image; and placing the advertisement at the determined position in the background of the photographic image. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, the apparatus further comprising: allowing the user to select the advertisement, wherein selecting the advertisement directs the user to information associated with the advertisement. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the advertisement is retrieved based on the outcome of an auction, wherein the auction allows a plurality of advertisers to compete to place an advertisement on the photographic image. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the advertisement is retrieved based on at least one target factor, the target factor including one or more of information associated with the user or information associated with an advertiser. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the geolocation is based on the user selecting a point on a virtual map. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the geolocation is based on the user selecting a point on an photographic image of a geolocation. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein background pixels include pixels that represent a street captured in the photographic image. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein background pixels include pixels that are above a horizon line captured in the photographic image.