An entropy approach to unintrusive targeted advertising on the Web

This paper describes the formulation of a new model for unintrusive targeted advertising on the Web, extending the linear programming approach taken by Langheinrich et al. [M. Langheinrich, A. Nakamura, N. Abe, T. Kamba and Y. Koseki, Unintrusive customization techniques for Web advertising, in: Proc. of World Wide Web 8, 1999]. A feature of our model is that it avoids unrealistic solutions of the type which may show ads to only a too-narrow group of users. This is accomplished by using a statistically derived entropy maximization model, which incorporates a form of randomization in associating advertisements with targetable groups of users, as well as considering click-through probability. It is then shown that this nonlinear entropy model can be embedded in larger models for the purpose of optimal management of Web advertisement portfolios by agencies or brokerages.