Automated detection of associations between search criteria and item categories based on collective analysis of user activity data
First Claim
1. In a database access system that provides access to a database in which items are arranged within item categories, a method for facilitating searches for items, the method comprising:
- monitoring actions performed by a plurality of users of the database access system over time to generate user activity data that identifies search criteria specified by the users to search the database of items, and identifies items selected from the database by the users;
programmatically analyzing the user activity data to identify correlations between specific sets of search criteria and specific item categories;
generating a mapping structure that maps specific sets of search criteria to specific item categories based at least in-part on the correlations identified by programmatically analyzing the user activity data; and
in response to a submission by a user of a search query that includes a set of search criteria, accessing the mapping structure to identify at least one item category that is related to the set of search criteria, and suggesting the at least one item category to the user in conjunction with results of the search query.
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Abstract
A web site or other database access system provides access to a database in which items are arranged within item categories, such as browse categories of a hierarchical browse tree. Actions of users of the system are monitored and recorded to generate user activity data reflective of searches, item selection actions, and possibly other types of actions. A correlation analysis component collectively analyses the user activity to automatically identify associations between specific search criteria, such as specific search strings, and specific item categories. The results of the analysis are stored in a mapping table that is used to suggest specific item categories on search results pages.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. In a database access system that provides access to a database in which items are arranged within item categories, a method for facilitating searches for items, the method comprising:
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monitoring actions performed by a plurality of users of the database access system over time to generate user activity data that identifies search criteria specified by the users to search the database of items, and identifies items selected from the database by the users;
programmatically analyzing the user activity data to identify correlations between specific sets of search criteria and specific item categories;
generating a mapping structure that maps specific sets of search criteria to specific item categories based at least in-part on the correlations identified by programmatically analyzing the user activity data; and
in response to a submission by a user of a search query that includes a set of search criteria, accessing the mapping structure to identify at least one item category that is related to the set of search criteria, and suggesting the at least one item category to the user in conjunction with results of the search query. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for detecting associations between sets of search criteria and categories of items, the system comprising:
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a server system that provides browsable and searchable access to an electronic catalog of items;
a monitoring component that monitors and records search query submissions and selection actions of users of the electronic catalog to generate user activity data; and
an analysis component that collectively analyzes the user activity data associated with a plurality of users to identify associations between specific sets of search criteria and specific item categories. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of processing query submissions, comprising:
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receiving a user submission of a set of search criteria for searching a database of items;
identifying a set of items within the database that are responsive to the set of search criteria;
accessing a mapping structure to look up at least one item category that, based on an automated analysis of user event histories, has been accessed relatively frequently by users who have previously submitted the set of search criteria; and
responding to the user submission by generating and returning a search results page that lists the responsive items and the at least one item category. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification