Distributing content

摘要

A framework for content delivery includes a content distribution manager operable to select content for distribution in response to a request for content. The selection of content may be made based in part on scheduling information associated with sources of available content and selected by content providers. The selection may further be based in part on a content selection policy selected by publishers who initiate requests for content.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving, from a user, a request for content; identifying content sources eligible to satisfy the request; determining index values for the content sources, each index value being an indication of an extent to which content provided by a content source has been delivered; determining that a content source may be selected to deliver content by determining that an index value for the content source is between first and second thresholds, the first threshold distinguishing between content sources that must be selected based on prior delivered content and content sources that may be selected based on prior delivered content, and the second threshold distinguishing between content sources that may be selected based on prior delivered content and content sources that may not be selected based on prior delivered content; assigning a relative value to the request for the content source based on at least one characteristic of the request, wherein the relative value is based on a historical rate of conversion of content from the content source and an average economic value to the content source realized by selection of content from the content source; selecting the content source when the relative value of the request for the content source is greater than a point on a threshold value function, the point corresponding to an intersection of an index value for the selected content source and the threshold value function; and transmitting an indication of a selected content source.