Use of various methods to reconstruct experiences of web site visitors

• US 20040205586A1
• Filed: 07/05/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ignite Enterprise Software Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: ClickFox Inc.
• Inventors: Cohen, Tal, Harel, Nissim, Krishnaswamy, Vijaykumar
• Granted Patent: US 7,152,106 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/513
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method of reconstruction of data gathered from Internet web sites and, more specifically, the reconstruction of data regarding the experiences of Internet users at particular web sites for determining the utilization of a respective web site.

Claims

1. A method of determining a travel path through a web site having a plurality of web pages, the method comprising the steps of:

defining a path as all steps taken by a web site user from web page to web page within a web site;

defining each step as a pair of web pages consisting of a source web page and a destination web page;

retrieving a data record containing a partial record of steps; and

reconstructing missing steps in the path through the application of logical sequences.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the logical sequences consists of:

comparing each step'"'"'s source web page to the destination web page of the immediately prior step; and

amending the data record to indicate that no step separates two steps in which a step'"'"'s source web page and the prior step'"'"'s destination web page are the same location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the logical sequences consists of:

comparing each step'"'"'s destination web page to the source web page of the immediate subsequent step for all pairs of steps when there is no indication that no step is missing between said step pairs in the data record;

amending the data record to insert a new step between compared step pairs consisting of the proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page as said new step'"'"'s source web page and the subsequent step'"'"'s source web page as said new step'"'"'s destination web page when in a compared step pair there is a one step path from the proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page to the subsequent step'"'"'s source web page; and

amending the data record to indicate that no other step separates said compared step pairs when a new step was inserted.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the logical sequences consists of:

comparing each step'"'"'s source web page to the source web page of the immediately subsequent step for all pair of steps when there is no indication that no step is missing between said step pairs in the data record;

amending the data record to insert a new step between compared step pairs consisting of the proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page as said new step'"'"'s source web page and the subsequent step'"'"'s source web page as said new step'"'"'s destination web page when in a compared step pair the source web pages are the same web page; and

amending the data record to indicate that no other step separates said compared step pairs when a new step was inserted.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises determining when said web site user utilized a device to return to a web page visited immediately prior to visiting a second web page;

and

amending the data record to show when said device was used.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the logical sequences consists of:

comparing each step'"'"'s destination web page to the source web page of the immediately subsequent step for all pair of steps when there is no indication that no step is missing between said step pairs in the data record;

examining steps proceeding each said compared pair of steps to determine whether inserting one of more of said proceeding steps, or said proceeding steps in which proceeding steps'"'"' destination web page and source web page are interchanged, would allow a path from the compared pair'"'"'s proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page to the subsequent step'"'"'s source web page;

determining a minimum number of said proceeding steps, and said proceeding steps in which proceeding steps'"'"' destination web page and source web page are interchanged, needed to complete the path between the steps of said compared pair and amending the data record to insert said minimum number of new steps between said compared step pairs when said examination shows steps that will allow a path between said compared steps; and

amending the data record to indicate that no other step separates said compared step pairs when any new steps are inserted.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the logical sequences consists of:

comparing each step'"'"'s destination web page to the source web page of the immediately subsequent step for all pair of steps when there is no indication that no step is missing between said step pairs in the data record;

examining steps subsequent to each said compared pair of steps to determine whether inserting one of more of said subsequent steps, or said subsequent steps in which subsequent steps'"'"' destination web page and source web page are interchanged, would allow a path from the compared pair'"'"'s proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page to the subsequent step'"'"'s source web page;

determining a minimum number of said subsequent steps, and said subsequent steps in which subsequent steps'"'"' destination web page and source web page are interchanged, needed to complete the path between the steps of said compared pair and amending the data record to insert said minimum number of new steps between said compared step pairs when said examination shows steps that will allow a path between said compared steps; and

amending the data record to indicate that no other step separates said compared step pairs when any new steps are inserted.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the logical sequences consists of:

comparing each step'"'"'s destination web page to the source web page of the immediately subsequent step for all pair of steps when there is no indication that no step is missing between said step pairs in the data record;

examining the structure of the web site to determine a minimum number of steps needed to complete a path between the compared pair'"'"'s proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page to the subsequent step'"'"'s source web page; and

amending the data record to insert said minimum number of new steps between said compared step pairs.

9. A method of determining a travel path through a web site having a plurality of web pages, the method comprising the steps of:

defining a path as all steps taken by a web site user from web page to web page within a web site;

defining each step as a pair of web pages consisting of a source web page and a destination web page;

retrieving a data record containing a partial record of steps;

reconstructing missing steps in the path through comparing each step'"'"'s source web page to the destination web page of the immediately prior step;

amending the data record to indicate that no step separates two steps in which a step'"'"'s source web page and the prior step'"'"'s destination web page are the same location;

then, reconstructing missing steps in the path through comparing each step'"'"'s destination web page to the source web page of the immediate subsequent step for all pairs of steps when there is no indication that no step is missing between said step pairs in the data record;

amending the data record to insert a new step between compared step pairs consisting of the proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page as said new step'"'"'s source web page and the subsequent step'"'"'s source web page as said new step'"'"'s destination web page when in a compared step pair there is a one step path from the proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page to the subsequent step'"'"'s source web page;

amending the data record to indicate that no other step separates said compared step pairs when a new step was inserted;

then, reconstructing missing steps in the path through comparing each step'"'"'s source web page to the source web page of the immediately subsequent step for all pair of steps when there is no indication that no step is missing between said step pairs in the data record;

amending the data record to insert a new step between compared step pairs consisting of the proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page as said new step'"'"'s source web page and the subsequent step'"'"'s source web page as said new step'"'"'s destination web page when in a compared step pair the source web pages are the same web page;

amending the data record to indicate that no other step separates said compared step pairs when a new step was inserted;

then, reconstructing missing steps in the path through comparing each step'"'"'s destination web page to the source web page of the immediately subsequent step for all pair of steps when there is no indication that no step is missing between said step pairs in the data record;

examining steps proceeding each said compared pair of steps to determine whether inserting one of more of said proceeding steps, or said proceeding steps in which proceeding steps'"'"' destination web page and source web page are interchanged, would allow a path from the compared pair'"'"'s proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page to the subsequent step'"'"'s source web page;

determining a minimum number of said proceeding steps and said proceeding steps in which proceeding steps'"'"' destination web page and source web page are interchanged needed to complete the path between the steps of said compared pair and amending the data record to insert said minimum number of new steps between said compared step pairs when said examination shows steps that will allow a path between said compared steps;

amending the data record to indicate that no other step separates said compared step pairs when any new steps are inserted;

then, reconstructing missing steps in the path through comparing each step'"'"'s destination web page to the source web page of the immediately subsequent step for all pair of steps when there is no indication that no step is missing between said step pairs in the data record;

examining steps subsequent to each said compared pair of steps to determine whether inserting one of more of said subsequent steps, or said subsequent steps in which subsequent steps'"'"' destination web page and source web page are interchanged, would allow a path from the compared pair'"'"'s proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page to the subsequent step'"'"'s source web page;

determining a minimum number of said subsequent steps, and said subsequent steps in which subsequent steps'"'"' destination web page and source web page are interchanged, needed to complete the path between the steps of said compared pair and amending the data record to insert said minimum number of new steps between said compared step pairs when said examination shows steps that will allow a path between said compared steps;

amending the data record to indicate that no other step separates said compared step pairs when any new steps are inserted;

then, reconstructing missing steps in the path through comparing each step'"'"'s destination web page to the source web page of the immediately subsequent step for all pair of steps when there is no indication that no step is missing between said step pairs in the data record;

examining the structure of the web site to determine a minimum number of steps needed to complete a path between the compared pair'"'"'s proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page to the subsequent step'"'"'s source web page; and

amending the data record to insert said minimum number of new steps between said compared step pairs.

10. A method of determining a travel path through a web site having a plurality of web pages wherein said web site user may access multiple web pages simultaneously through a single act, the method comprising the steps of:

defining a path as all steps taken by a web site user from web page to web page within a web site;

defining each step as a set of web pages consisting of a source web page and one or more destination web pages;

retrieving a data record containing a partial record of steps; and

reconstructing missing steps in the path through the application of logical sequences; and

amending the data record to show when said web site user accesses a destination web page that creates a path to multiple destination pages.

11. A method of determining a travel path through a web site having a plurality of web pages wherein the web site is structured so that web pages within it are designated in a particular hierarchy, the method comprising the steps of:

defining a path as all steps taken by a web site user from web page to web page within a web site;

defining each step as a pair of web pages consisting of a source web page and a destination web page;

retrieving a data record containing a partial record of steps;

reconstructing missing steps in the path through the application of logical sequences; and

applying the logical sequences such that the hierarchy of the web site is a element in determining which steps are inserted into the data record.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said logical sequences are applied such that a parent-child relationship between two web pages influences which steps are inserted into the data record when the particular hierarchy designates certain web pages as parent web pages of certain other web pages therein designated as child web pages, wherein the child web page is predominately reachable only through the parent web page.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the logical sequences are applied such that a step may include multiple destination web pages when said web site user accesses a destination web page that creates a path to multiple destination web pages.

14. A method of determining a travel path through a web site having a plurality of web pages wherein a web page may consist of one or more web pages displayed at once and framed in different parts of said web page, the method comprising the steps of:

defining a path as all steps taken by a web site user from web page to web page within a web site;

defining each step as two sets of one or more web pages consisting of a source web page set and a destination web page set;

retrieving a data record containing a partial record of steps; and

reconstructing missing steps in the path through the application of logical sequences.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein one of the logical sequences consists of:

comparing each step'"'"'s source web page set to the destination web page set of the immediately prior step; and

amending the data record to indicate that no step separates two steps in which a step'"'"'s source web page set and the prior step'"'"'s destination web page set are the same location.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein one of the logical sequences consists of:

comparing each step'"'"'s destination web page set to the source web page set of the immediate subsequent step for all pair of steps when there is no indication that no step is missing between said step pairs in the data record;

amending the data record to insert a new step between compared step pairs consisting of the proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page set as said new step'"'"'s source web page set and the subsequent step'"'"'s source web page set as said new step'"'"'s destination web page set when in a compared step pair there is a one step path from the proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page set to the subsequent step'"'"'s source web page set; and

amending the data record to indicate that no other step separates said compared step pairs when a new step was inserted.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein one of the logical sequences consists of:

comparing each step'"'"'s destination web page set to the source web page set of the immediately subsequent step for all pair of steps when there is no indication that no step is missing between said step pairs in the data record;

examining steps subsequent to each said compared pair of steps to determine whether inserting one of more of said subsequent steps would allow a path from the compared pair'"'"'s proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page set to the subsequent step'"'"'s set source web page;

determining a minimum number of said subsequent steps needed to complete the path between the steps of said compared pair and amending the data record to insert said minimum number of new steps between said compared step pairs when said examination shows steps that will allow a path between said compared steps; and

amending the data record to indicate that no other step separates said compared step pairs when any new steps are inserted.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein one of the logical sequences consists of:

comparing each step'"'"'s destination web page set to the source web page set of the immediately subsequent step for all pair of steps when there is no indication that no step is missing between said step pairs in the data record;

examining steps proceeding each said compared pair of steps to determine whether inserting one of more of said proceeding steps, or said proceeding steps in which proceeding steps'"'"' destination web page set and source web page set are interchanged, would allow a path from the compared pair'"'"'s proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page set to the subsequent step'"'"'s source web page set;

determining a minimum number of said proceeding steps, and said proceeding steps in which proceeding steps'"'"' destination web page set and source web page set are interchanged, needed to complete the path between the steps of said compared pair and amending the data record to insert said minimum number of new steps between said compared step pairs when said examination shows steps that will allow a path between said compared steps; and

amending the data record to indicate that no other step separates said compared step pairs when any new steps are inserted.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein one of the logical sequences consists of:

comparing each step'"'"'s destination web page set to the source web page set of the immediately subsequent step for all pair of steps when there is no indication that no step is missing between said step pairs in the data record;

examining the structure of the web site to determine a minimum number of steps needed to complete a path between the compared pair'"'"'s proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page set to the subsequent step'"'"'s source web page set; and

amending the data record to insert said minimum number of new steps between said compared step pairs.

20. A method of determining a travel path through a web site having a plurality of web pages wherein a web page may consist of one or more web pages displayed at once and framed in different parts of said web page, the method comprising the steps of:

defining a path as all steps taken by a web site user from web page to web page within a web site;

defining each step as two sets of one or more web pages consisting of a source web page set and a destination web page set;

retrieving a data record containing a partial record of steps;

reconstructing missing steps in the path through comparing each step'"'"'s source web page set to the destination web page set of the immediately prior step;

amending the data record to indicate that no step separates two steps in which a step'"'"'s source web page set and the prior step'"'"'s destination web page set are the same location;

then, reconstructing missing steps in the path through comparing each step'"'"'s destination web page set to the source web page set of the immediate subsequent step for all pair of steps when there is no indication that no step is missing between said step pairs in the data record;

amending the data record to insert a new step between compared step pairs consisting of the proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page set as said new step'"'"'s source web page set and the subsequent step'"'"'s source web page set as said new step'"'"'s destination web page set when in a compared step pair there is a one step path from the proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page set to the subsequent step'"'"'s source web page set;

amending the data record to indicate that no other step separates said compared step pairs when a new step was inserted;

then, reconstructing missing steps in the path through comparing each step'"'"'s destination web page set to the source web page set of the immediately subsequent step for all pair of steps when there is no indication that no step is missing between said step pairs in the data record;

examining steps subsequent to each said compared pair of steps to determine whether inserting one of more of said subsequent steps would allow a path from the compared pair'"'"'s proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page set to the subsequent step'"'"'s set source web page;

determining a minimum number of said subsequent steps needed to complete the path between the steps of said compared pair and amending the data record to insert said minimum number of new steps between said compared step pairs when said examination shows steps that will allow a path between said compared steps;

amending the data record to indicate that no other step separates said compared step pairs when any new steps are inserted

then, reconstructing missing steps in the path through comparing each step'"'"'s destination web page set to the source web page set of the immediately subsequent step for all pair of steps when there is no indication that no step is missing between said step pairs in the data record;

examining steps proceeding each said compared pair of steps to determine whether inserting one of more of said proceeding steps, or said proceeding steps in which proceeding steps'"'"' destination web page set and source web page set are interchanged, would allow a path from the compared pair'"'"'s proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page set to the subsequent step'"'"'s source web page set;

determining a minimum number of said proceeding steps and said proceeding steps in which proceeding steps'"'"' destination web page set and source web page set are interchanged needed to complete the path between the steps of said compared pair and amending the data record to insert said minimum number of new steps between said compared step pairs when said examination shows steps that will allow a path between said compared steps;

amending the data record to indicate that no other step separates said compared step pairs when any new steps are inserted;

then, reconstructing missing steps in the path through comparing each step'"'"'s destination web page set to the source web page set of the immediately subsequent step for all pair of steps when there is no indication that no step is missing between said step pairs in the data record;

examining the structure of the web site to determine a minimum number of steps needed to complete a path between the compared pair'"'"'s proceeding step'"'"'s destination web page set to the subsequent step'"'"'s source web page set; and

amending the data record to insert said minimum number of new steps between said compared step pairs.

21. A method of determining a travel path through a web site having a plurality of web pages wherein a web page may consist of one or more web pages displayed at once and framed in different parts of said web page and wherein the web site is structured so that particular web page sets within it are designated in a particular hierarchy, the method comprising the steps of:

defining a path as all steps taken by a web site user from web page to web page within a web site;

defining each step as two sets of one or more web pages consisting of a source web page set and a destination web page set;

retrieving a data record containing a partial record of steps;

reconstructing missing steps in the path through the application of logical sequences; and

applying said logical sequences such that the hierarchy of the web site is a element in determining which set of steps is inserted into the data record.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said logical sequences are applied such that a parent-child relationship between two web page sets influences which steps are inserted into the data record when the hierarchy of the web site designates certain web page sets as parent web page sets of certain other web page sets therein designated as child web page sets, wherein the child web page set is predominately reachable only through the parent web page set.