Method and system for optimizing the viewing of advertising

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and systems for controlling the frequency that a user views an advertisement. In particular, the systems monitor the number of times an advertisement is played to a user. Once the advertisement has been played a predetermined number of times, the advertisement is replaced by another advertisement.

1 . A method comprising:
 determining, by one or more processors of a machine, a reference number of times for playing a first media item to a viewer, the reference number of times corresponding to a data stream that provides media that includes the first media item;   communicating, by one or more processors of the machine and to the client device, the data stream that provides the media that includes the first media item;   updating, by one or more processors of the machine in response to a change in volume of a playback of the first media item by the client device, the reference number of times during the playback of the first media item; and   communicating, by one or more processors of the machine and to the client device, the updated reference number of times to play the first media item, the communicating of the updated reference number causing the client device to replace the first media item with a second media item based on the first media item having been played at least the updated reference number of times by the client device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting the change in the volume of the playback of the first media item.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the reference number of times is expressed as a numerical value.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the reference number times is expressed as a viewing frequency that identifies a quantity of viewings of the first media item within a time period.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the updating of the reference number is further based on a viewer profile that specifies at least one of an age of the viewer, and income of the viewer, a location of the viewer, and interest of the viewer, or a number of children of the viewer.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing the second media item to the client device prior to the control unit communicating to the client device the updated reference number of times to play the first media item to the viewer.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the change in the volume of the playback of the first media item includes an increase in the volume of the first media item during the playback of the first media item; and   the updating of the reference number of times for playing the first media item includes increasing the reference number of times based on the increase in the volume of the first media item during the playback of the first media item.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the change in the volume of the playback of the first media item includes a decrease in the volume of the first media item during the playback of the first media item; and   the updating of the reference number of times for playing the first media item includes increasing the reference number of times is based on the decrease in the volume of the first media item during the playback of the first media item.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting initiation of a shutdown of the client device during the playback of the first media item; and wherein   the updating of the reference number of times for playing the first media item includes decreasing the reference number of times based on the initiation of the shutdown of the client device during the playback of the first media item.   
     
     
         10 . A server system comprising:
 a memory storing instructions; and   a control unit comprising one or more processors and configured by the instructions to perform operations comprising:   determining a reference number of times for playing a first media item to a viewer, the reference number of times corresponding to a data stream that provides media that includes the first media item;   communicating, to the client device, the data stream that provides the media that includes the first media item;   updating, in response to a change in volume of a playback of the first media item by the client device, the reference number of times during the playback of the first media item; and   communicating, to the client device, the updated reference number of times to play the first media item, the communicating of the updated reference number causing the client device to replace the first media item with a second media item based on the first media item having been played at least the updated reference number of times by the client device.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the operations of the control unit further comprise:
 detecting the change in the volume of the playback of the first media item.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the reference number of times is expressed as a numerical value.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the reference number times is expressed as a viewing frequency that identifies a quantity of viewings of the first media item within a time period.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the updating of the reference number is further based on a viewer profile that specifies at least one of an age of the viewer, and income of the viewer, a location of the viewer, and interest of the viewer, or a number of children of the viewer.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the operations of the control unit further comprise:
 providing the second media item to the client device prior to the control unit communicating to the client device the updated reference number of times to play the first media item to the viewer.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the change in the volume of the playback of the first media item includes an increase in the volume of the first media item during the playback of the first media item; and   the updating of the reference number of times for playing the first media item includes increasing the reference number of times based on the increase in the volume of the first media item during the playback of the first media item.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the change in the volume of the playback of the first media item includes a decrease in the volume of the first media item during the playback of the first media item; and   the updating of the reference number of times for playing the first media item includes increasing the reference number of times is based on the decrease in the volume of the first media item during the playback of the first media item.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 detecting initiation of a shutdown of the client device during the playback of the first media item; and wherein   the updating of the reference number of times for playing the first media item includes decreasing the reference number of times based on the initiation of the shutdown of the client device during the playback of the first media item.   
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:
 determining a reference number of times for playing a first media item to a viewer, the reference number of times corresponding to a data stream that provides media that includes the first media item;   communicating, to the client device, the data stream that provides the media that includes the first media item;   updating, in response to a change in volume of a playback of the first media item by the client device, the reference number of times during the playback of the first media item; and   communicating, to the client device, the updated reference number of times to play the first media item, the communicating of the updated reference number causing the client device to replace the first media item with a second media item based on the first media item having been played at least the updated reference number of times by the client device.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the change in the volume of the playback of the first media item includes an increase in the volume of the first media item during the playback of the first media item; and   the updating of the reference number of times for playing the first media item includes increasing the reference number of times based on the increase in the volume of the first media item during the playback of the first media item.