TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates to information processing.

BACKGROUND

The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked documents, or web pages, accessible through the Internet. Generally, web pages can be accessed by a client device running a browser application. A Web cookie containing text information can be sent by a web page server to a browser accessing the web page and the cookie can be sent back each time the browser accesses the web page. Some web page owners and other publishers include advertising content on their pages.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect, a computer-implemented method for controlling content distribution includes forwarding information associated with a user to a device operated by the user, the information being configured for use in selecting content from any of multiple content providers for a content distribution to the user. The method includes receiving, in response to the information, an edit of the information forwarded from the device. The edit identifies a first content provider and including a first modification of the content distribution regarding the first content provider. The method includes storing the edit in association with the information such that the first modification is taken into account in the content distribution. The method can be implemented using a computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium.

Implementations can include any, all or none of the following features. The content distribution can take place under an arrangement where the content providers provide advertising content for publication in connection with content from any of a plurality of publishers, the plurality of publishers can receive compensation from the content providers in return for publication, and the edit can permit the user to exercise control over which of the advertising content is included in the content distribution. The information can further identify at least one interest that has been associated with the user for selecting the content for the content distribution, the edit can further include a second modification of the content distribution regarding the interest, and the edit can be stored such that the second modification also is taken into account in the content distribution. The first modification can include altering the plurality of content providers to add or delete the first content provider; and the second modification can include altering the content distribution to add or delete the interest as being associated with the user. The edit can further include a user-defined modification of the content distribution regarding an interest, and the edit can be stored such that the user-defined modification also is taken into account in the content distribution.

The first content provider may have retargeted the user in response to the user accessing content associated with the first content provider, and the information can identify the first content provider to the user as having retargeted the user. The edit can specify that the first content provider is to be blocked from retargeting the user but that the first content provider can provide content to the user in the content distribution based on the information taking into account the first modification. The edit can further include a user preference specification regarding the content distribution, and the edit can be stored such that the user preference specification also is taken into account in the content distribution. The user preference specification can define that the user prefers at least one of a text format and a graphic format for the content distribution.

The user preference specification can define that the user prefers at least one of multiple attributes for the content distribution. The method can further include receiving a user identifier associated with the user and accessible on the device for any of the multiple content providers to obtain the information for selecting the content for the content distribution. The user identifier can be forwarded from the device to obtain the information, and the information can be forwarded to the device in response to receiving the user identifier. The method can further include providing to the device executable instructions for execution on the device, and the information can be forwarded to the device in response to receiving a request for the information from the device. The request can be generated using the executable instructions, and the executable instructions can be configured for the user to define the edit to be forwarded. The device can have stored thereon a cookie including an identifier associated with the user, and wherein the executable instructions are configured for generating a cookie viewer application on the device. The cookie can include essentially only the user identifier.

The method can further include identifying a predetermined number of content portions as having been most recently presented to the user in the content distribution; causing at least part of each of the predetermined number of content portions to again be presented on the device; and receiving an input generated by the user from the device, the input identifying at least one of the content portions and including another edit of the information regarding the identified content portion. The other edit can include that the identified content portion is to be blocked from being presented on the device. The method can further include causing at least part of the information to be presented on the device, wherein the first content provider is referred to as anonymous in the presented information.

In a second aspect, a graphical user interface for controlling content distribution includes an information edit area generated on a device for a user to specify an edit of information configured for use in selecting content from any of multiple content providers for a content distribution to the user. The edit identifies a first content provider and includes a first modification of the content distribution regarding the first content provider. The graphical user interface causes the edit to be stored in association with the information such that the first modification is taken into account in the content distribution.

Implementations can include any, all or none of the following features. A predetermined number of content portions can be identified as having been most recently presented to the user in the content distribution and the graphical user interface can cause at least part of each of the predetermined number of content portions to again be presented on the device, and receive an input generated by the user identifying at least one of the content portions and including another edit of the information regarding the identified content portion. The device can have stored thereon a cookie including an identifier associated with the user, and the graphical user interface can include a cookie viewer application configured for generating a request for the information from the device and defining the edit.

In a third aspect, a computer-implemented method for controlling content distribution includes presenting information associated with a user on a device operated by the user, the information received from another device and being configured for use in selecting content from any of multiple content providers for a content distribution to the user. The method includes registering an edit of the information made by the user, the edit identifying a first content provider and including a first modification of the content distribution regarding the first content provider. The method includes forwarding the edit to the other device such that the first modification is taken into account in the content distribution. The method can be implemented using a computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium.

Implementations can include any, all or none of the following features. The information can further identify at least one interest that has been associated with the user for selecting the content for the content distribution, the edit can further include a second modification of the content distribution regarding the interest, and the edit can be stored such that the second modification also is taken into account in the content distribution. The first content provider may have retargeted the user in response to the user accessing content associated with the first content provider, and the information can identify the first content provider to the user as having retargeted the user. The method can further include presenting each of a predetermined number of content portions on the device, the predetermined number of content portions being identified as having been most recently presented to the user in the content distribution; and registering that the user identifies at least one of the content portions, wherein the edit includes another edit of the information regarding the identified content portion. The other edit can include that the identified content portion is to be blocked from being presented on the device. The method can further include receiving at the device executable instructions for execution, the device may have stored thereon a cookie including an identifier associated with the user and the executable instructions can be configured for generating a cookie viewer application on the device, the cookie viewer application configured for requesting the information from the other device and for registering the edit to be forwarded.

Implementations can provide any, all or none of the following advantages. User control over content distribution can be improved. A cookie viewer application can be provided for a user to view and/or edit registered information that is used for selecting content for distribution. Improved user-targeted content distribution can be provided.

The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

