Identifying recurring sequences of user interactions with an application

• US 10,467,225 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2017
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Rohde, Sonke
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, Huawen A
• Application Number:
  US15/711,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20180144022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2379 Updates performed during online database operations; commit processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

Disclosed are database systems, computing devices, methods, and computer program products for identifying recurring sequences of user interactions with an application. In some implementations, a server of a database system provides a user interface of the application for display at a computing device. The database system stores data objects identifying a first plurality of user interactions with the application. The server receives information representing a second plurality of user interactions with the application. The server updates the database system to further identify the second user interactions. The server identifies a recurring sequence of user interactions from the first and second user interactions as resulting in a first target state of the application. The server updates the database system to associate the recurring sequence of user interactions with the first target state of the application.

Claims

1. A system for identifying recurring sequences of user interactions with an application, the system comprising:

a database system implemented using a server system comprising one or more storage devices and one or more hardware processors, the database system configurable to cause;

identifying, through one or more of a plurality of data objects stored in a database, a first plurality of user interactions with an application;

identifying a second plurality of user interactions with the application, the second user interactions associated with a user device;

updating one or more of the data objects stored in the database to identify the second user interactions;

identifying, in the first user interactions and in the second user interactions, a recurring sequence of user interactions as at least partially causing the application to transition from an identifiable state to a first target state in a recurring sequence of states of the application, the recurring sequence of states corresponding to a recurring sequence of displayable presentations of the application in a user interface on a display device;

updating one or more of the data objects stored in the database to associate the recurring sequence of user interactions with the first target state of the application; and

configuring the application to display a graphical component corresponding to the identifiable state, the graphical component being selectable to cause the application to transition from the identifiable state to the first target state.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein identifying the recurring sequence of user interactions comprises:

identifying a number of occurrences of the recurring sequence of user interactions; and

determining that the number of occurrences meets or exceeds a designated threshold.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein identifying the recurring sequence of user interactions further comprises:

determining that each occurrence of the recurring sequence of user interactions occurs within a designated timeframe.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein identifying the recurring sequence of user interactions further comprises:

determining that the number of occurrences of the recurring sequence of user interactions occurs within a designated timeframe.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein identifying the recurring sequence of user interactions comprises:

determining that the recurring sequence of user interactions comprises a designated minimum number of user interactions.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the recurring sequence of user interactions comprises one or more of:

a selection of a link, a completion of a field, a request to perform a search, a keystroke, a sequence of keystrokes, a change in a scroll position of the user interface, a finger gesture, a sequence of finger gestures, a mouse gesture, a sequence of mouse gestures, or a change in a zoom level of the user interface.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first target state of the application is defined at least in part by one or more of:

an associated uniform resource locator (URL), a scroll position for the user interface, or a zoom level for the user interface.

8. The system of claim 1, the database system further configurable to cause:

processing a request to edit the first target state, the request comprising an update to the recurring sequence of user interactions; and

updating the first target state in accordance with the request to edit the first target state.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first target state is associated with a first user of the application, and the second target state is associated with a second user of the application.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the application is one of a cloud-based application, a mobile device application, or a desktop application.

11. A computer program product comprising program code capable of being executed by one or more processors when retrieved from a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the program code comprising instructions configurable to cause:

identifying, through one or more of a plurality of data objects stored in a database, a first plurality of user interactions with an application;

identifying a second plurality of user interactions with the application, the second user interactions associated with a user device;

updating one or more of the data objects stored in the database to identify the second user interactions;

identifying, in the first user interactions and in the second user interactions, a recurring sequence of user interactions as at least partially causing the application to transition from an identifiable state to a first target state in a recurring sequence of states of the application, the recurring sequence of states corresponding to a recurring sequence of displayable presentations of the application in a user interface on a display device;

updating one or more of the data objects stored in the database to associate the recurring sequence of user interactions with the first target state of the application; and

configuring the application to display a graphical component corresponding to the identifiable state, the graphical component being selectable to cause the application to transition from the identifiable state to the first target state.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the display device is one of:

a smartphone, a tablet, a wearable device, a touchscreen device, a laptop computer, or a desktop computer.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein identifying the recurring sequence of user interactions comprises:

identifying a number of occurrences of the recurring sequence of user interactions; and

determining that the number of occurrences meets or exceeds a designated threshold.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein identifying the recurring sequence of user interactions comprises:

determining that the recurring sequence of user interactions comprises a designated minimum number of user interactions.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, the instructions further configurable to cause:

processing a request to edit the first target state, the request comprising an update to the recurring sequence of user interactions; and

updating the first target state in accordance with the request to edit the first target state.

16. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the first target state is associated with a first user of the application, and the second target state is associated with a second user of the application.

17. A method comprising:

identifying, through one or more of a plurality of data objects stored in a database, a first plurality of user interactions with an application;

identifying a second plurality of user interactions with the application, the second user interactions associated with a user device;

updating one or more of the data objects stored in the database to identify the second user interactions;

identifying, in the first user interactions and in the second user interactions, a recurring sequence of user interactions as at least partially causing the application to transition from an identifiable state to a first target state in a recurring sequence of states of the application, the recurring sequence of states corresponding to a recurring sequence of displayable presentations of the application in a user interface on a display device;

updating one or more of the data objects stored in the database to associate the recurring sequence of user interactions with the first target state of the application; and

configuring the application to display a graphical component corresponding to the identifiable state, the graphical component being selectable to cause the application to transition from the identifiable state to the first target state.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein identifying the recurring sequence of user interactions comprises:

identifying a number of occurrences of the recurring sequence of user interactions; and

determining that the number of occurrences meets or exceeds a designated threshold.

19. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising:

processing a request to edit the first target state, the request comprising an update to the recurring sequence of user interactions; and

updating the first target state in accordance with the request to edit the first target state.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the first target state is associated with a first user of the application, and the second target state is associated with a second user of the application.