Content selection using distribution parameter data

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for selecting content items for presentation along with publisher resources. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request for a content item for presentation at a user device with a publisher resource; receiving, from a content item provider a first selection value for each of a plurality of content items provided by the content item provider; determining, for each of the content items and using accessed distribution parameters, a second selection value distinct from the first selection value; and determining, for each of the content items and independent of a bid corresponding to the content item, a combined selection value based on the first selection value for the content item and the second selection value for the content item.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 receiving, by a content distribution system and from a user device, a first content item request, the first content item request comprising information about a resource with which a selected content item will be presented and information about the user device;   sending, by the content distribution system and to a content item provider, a second content item request comprising the information about the resource;   receiving, by the content distribution system and from the content item provider, one or more content item indicators for one or more content items and, for each content item, one or more sets of distribution criteria for the content item;   selecting, by the content distribution system, a given content item from a plurality of content items comprising the one or more content items based on the information about the resource, information about a user of the user device, and distribution criteria for each content item of the plurality of content items; and   sending the given content item to the user device.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the second content item request does not include the information about the user device. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , comprising generating the second content item request, the generating comprising precluding information about the user from being included in the second content item request. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , comprising generating the second content item request, the generating comprising withholding some information included in the first content item request from the second content item request. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the information about the resource comprises a URL for the resource, one or more keywords included in the resource, or both. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the first content item request comprises user interest information and the second content item request does not include the user interest information. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the first content item request comprises the information about the user of the user device. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more sets of distribution criteria for the content item comprises a selection value for the content item. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors of a content distribution system; and   one or more storage devices storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, by the content distribution system and from a user device, a first content item request, the first content item request comprising information about a resource with which a selected content item will be presented and information about the user device; 
 sending, by the content distribution system and to a content item provider, a second content item request comprising the information about the resource; 
 receiving, by the content distribution system and from the content item provider, one or more content item indicators for one or more content items and, for each content item, one or more sets of distribution criteria for the content item; 
 selecting, by the content distribution system, a given content item from a plurality of content items comprising the one or more content items based on the information about the resource, information about a user of the user device, and distribution criteria for each content item of the plurality of content items; and 
 sending the given content item to the user device. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the second content item request does not include the information about the user device. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the operations comprise generating the second content item request, the generating comprising precluding information about the user from being included in the second content item request. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the operations comprise generating the second content item request, the generating comprising withholding some information included in the first content item request from the second content item request. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the information about the resource comprises a URL for the resource, one or more keywords included in the resource, or both. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first content item request comprises user interest information and the second content item request does not include the user interest information. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first content item request comprises the information about the user of the user device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more sets of distribution criteria for the content item comprises a selection value for the content item. 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer readable medium carrying instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a content distribution system, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, by a content distribution system and from a user device, a first content item request, the first content item request comprising information about a resource with which a selected content item will be presented and information about the user device;   sending, by the content distribution system and to a content item provider, a second content item request comprising the information about the resource;   receiving, by the content distribution system and from the content item provider, one or more content item indicators for one or more content items and, for each content item, one or more sets of distribution criteria for the content item;   selecting, by the content distribution system, a given content item from a plurality of content items comprising the one or more content items based on the information about the resource, information about a user of the user device, and distribution criteria for each content item of the plurality of content items; and   sending the given content item to the user device.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the second content item request does not include the information about the user device. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the operations comprise generating the second content item request, the generating comprising precluding information about the user from being included in the second content item request. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the operations comprise generating the second content item request, the generating comprising withholding some information included in the first content item request from the second content item request.