Method for performing real-time click fraud detection, prevention and reporting for online advertising
AssigneeValidclick, Inc.
InventorsJohn Linden, Tobias Teeter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a method of detecting fraudulent clicks in an online environment to reduce fraudulent paid clicks for online advertisers. The method includes server side and client side code which combined enables a click verification web site to identify valid and invalid clicks and in real-time prevents advertisers from getting billed for fraudulent activity.
Claims22
A method for a processor based server programmed to detect click fraud, to determine disposition of a payment for a clicked advertisement, and to direct a response to said click, comprising the steps of:
- in response to a request originating from a network-connected user device for delivery of content, delivering to the requesting device client-side scripting code for tracking user actions, a tracking ID, and delivery instruction for displaying at least one clickable advertisement, said tracking ID associated with said advertisement;
- upon a user action relative to said advertisement, said server receiving from said device data prepared by said scripting code indicating said action and said tracking ID;
- said processor analyzing said action and said tracking ID against a set of rules relative to click fraud detection;
- and
- based on said analysis, said processor identifying a recommended response to said action, to direct an internet-connected element to deliver said response and to determine disposition of a payment for said click;
- wherein click fraud is directed to fraudulent use based on intent to increase a click count without interest in a target advertisement associated with said clickable advertisement.
A method for a processor based server programmed to detect click fraud and to filter responses to advertisement clicks based on said detection of click fraud, comprising the steps of:
- delivering client-side scripting code to a user device for tracking user actions, a tracking ID, and delivering instruction for displaying at least one clickable advertisement, said tracking ID associated with said advertisement;
- upon a user action relative to said advertisement, said server receiving indication of said user action and said tracking ID from said device, said indication being prepared by said scripting code;
- and
- analyzing said received indication and said received tracking ID against a set of rules regarding click fraud so as to determine any fraudulent use;
- and
- based on said analysis, said processor identifying a recommended response to said action and to direct an internet-connected element to deliver said response;
- wherein click fraud is fraudulent use based on intent to increase a click count without interest in a target advertisement associated with said clickable advertisement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.