User Preference Correlation for Web-Based Selection

• US 20120089590A1
• Filed: 10/12/2010
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jolly Seven, Series 70 of Allied Security Trust I (Allied Security Trust)
• Original Assignee: Robert Osann Jr
• Inventors: Osann, Robert Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,429,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/709
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking

Abstract

A database of user preference information is extracted and compiled from multiple websites by web-crawling robots without cooperation or specific participation by users. Users who interact with a website are frequently required to register and create a login or userID name that uniquely identifies them. Thereafter, when an individual rates an item, it is often recorded and published under their userID name such that other users can see how a specific individual rated the item. Although there is no requirement that a specific user register on different websites utilizing the identical userID, it is extremely common that this practice occurs and the use of identical userIDs on multiple sites is used herein to expand preference analysis beyond a single site. Once the database exists, user'"'"'s can request or be passively offered suggestions that result from preference associations across multiple websites as performed by a preference analysis and suggestion function.

Claims

1. A system for assisting users with the selection of items on the Internet, comprising:

at least one web robot for crawling multiple websites to determine userIDs and associated preferences;

a database for storing the userIDs and associated preferences; and

software for performing an analysis and suggestion function;

wherein the system initially assumes that a userID used on a first website represents the same user as the same userID used on a second website;

wherein associated preferences stored for a particular userID include preferences for items available from a plurality of websites; and

wherein the system provides a particular user with specific preference association information for a first item based on the expressed preferences of other users across multiple websites relative to the first item and items that the other users have previously reviewed.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the specific preference association information includes that users in aggregate who rated the first item with a positive rating also rated a second item with a positive rating.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the specific preference association information includes that users in aggregate who rated the first item with a negative rating also rated a second item with a negative rating.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein when a first user requests suggestions relative to a specific product or service category, providing suggestions for items shown on multiple websites based on preferences of users who had similar preferences to each other for items offered on multiple websites and who also had a specified level of preference for said specific product or service category.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of the system includes the steps of:

recording preferences published on a first set of websites for a specific first userID that correlate consistently with those of a first group of other users registered on the first set of websites;

recording preferences published on a second set of websites for the specific first userID that correlate consistently with those of a second group of other users registered on the second set of websites;

determining that preferences of the first group of other users do not correlate with those of the second group of other users; and

determining that the person utilizing the first userID on the first set of websites is a different person than the person utilizing the first userID on the second set of websites and treating the first userID as two different userIDs respective of the first and second set of websites.

6. The system of claim 4 further including a widget or plugin operating on a user'"'"'s computer that responds to a selection action of a user respective of a particular item and whereby the selection action causes the user to receive said suggestions for items shown on multiple websites.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the selection action includes a right mouse click while the cursor is placed over the item.

8. A method for enabling users to receive suggestions relative to items shown on one or more websites based on preference associations across multiple websites, comprising:

crawling a first website and recording in a database a first set of login names and associated preferences for said first set of login names;

crawling a second website and recording in said database a second set of login names and associated preferences for said second set of login names; and

under the initial assumption that identical login names used on multiple websites represent the same user, associating preferences for items published on multiple websites under a specific login name with a specific user.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

when a first user requests suggestions relative to a specific product or service category, providing suggestions for items shown on multiple websites based on preferences of users who previously indicated similar preferences to each other for items offered on multiple websites and who also had a specified level of preference for said specific product or service category.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

when a first user requests suggestions relative to a specific item on a first website, providing suggestions for items shown on multiple websites based on preferences of users who previously indicated similar preferences to each other for items offered on multiple websites and who also had a specified level of preference for said specific item.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said specified level of preference is a positive preference level.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said specified level of preference is a negative preference level.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

when a first user requests suggestions for a specific product or service from a first website, providing suggestions for items available on said first website based on preferences of users who had similar preferences to the first user for items offered on at least a second website.

14. The method of claim 8, further including the steps of:

recording preferences published on a first set of websites for a specific first userID that correlate consistently with those of a first group of other users registered on the first set of websites;

recording preferences published on a second set of websites for the specific first userID that correlate consistently with those of a second group of other users registered on the second set of websites;

determining that preferences of the first group of other users do not correlate with those of the second group of other users; and

determining that the person utilizing the first userID on the first set of websites is a different person than the person utilizing the first userID on the second set of websites and treating the first userID as two different userIDs respective of the first and second set of websites.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein preferences for the first group of other users are similar to each other and preferences for the second group of other users are similar to each other.

16. A method for enabling users to receive suggestions relative to items shown on one or more websites based on preference associations across multiple websites, comprising:

crawling a first website and recording in a database a first set of login names and associated preferences for said first set of login names;

crawling a second website and recording in said database a second set of login names and associated preferences for said second set of login names;

under the initial assumption that identical login names used on multiple websites represent the same user, associating preferences for items published on multiple websites under a specific login name with a specific user;

recording preferences published on a first set of websites for a specific first userID that correlate consistently with those of a first group of other users registered on the first set of websites;

recording preferences published on a second set of websites for the specific first userID that correlate consistently with those of a second group of other users registered on the second set of websites;

determining that preferences of the first group of other users do not correlate with those of the second group of other users;

determining that the person utilizing the first userID on the first set of websites is a different person than the person utilizing the first userID on the second set of websites and treating the first userID as two different userIDs respective of the first and second set of websites; and

when a user requests suggestions relative to a specific item on a first website, providing suggestions for items shown on multiple websites based on preferences of users who previously indicated similar preferences to each other for items offered on multiple websites and who also had a specified level of preference for said specific item.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein a plurality of specific persons are identified as using the same specific userID with respect to a plurality of sets of websites, and wherein within a particular set of websites the same specific userID is used by the same person.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said specified level of preference is a positive preference level.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said specified level of preference is a negative preference level.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said users need provide no preference information beyond selecting an item in order to receive the suggestions.