Software system and associated methods for facilitating the analysis and management of web sites
First Claim
1. An extensible software architecture for facilitating the mapping and analysis of web sites, comprising, on a computer-readable medium:
- a mapping component which has executable code for scanning a web site and for generating a graphical site map of the web site, the graphical map represented by the mapping component as a map data structure which comprises a collection of node objects and link objects, the node objects representing content objects of the web site and the link objects representing links within the web site between the content objects, the node and link objects stored within the map data structure in association with display attributes which specify how the content objects and links are graphically displayed on a display screen within the graphical map; and
an application program interface (API) which includes methods that enable plug-in applications of the mapping component to access the node and link objects of the map data structure to obtain information about the web site, and which includes methods that enable the plug-in applications to modify the display attributes of at least the node and link objects to convey site-related information to a user via the graphical site map.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A visual Web site analysis program, implemented as a collection of software components, provides a variety of features for facilitating the analysis and management of Web sites and Web site content. A mapping component scans a Web site over a network connection and builds a site map which graphically depicts the URLs and links of the site. Site maps are generated using a unique layout and display methodology which allows the user to visualize the overall architecture of the Web site. Various map navigation and URL filtering features are provided to facilitate the task of identifying and repairing common Web site problems, such as links to missing URLs. A dynamic page scan feature enables the user to include dynamically-generated Web pages within the site map by capturing the output of a standard Web browser when a form is submitted by the user, and then automatically resubmitting this output during subsequent mappings of the site. The Web site analysis program is implemented using an extensible architecture which includes an API that allows plug-in applications to manipulate the display of the site map. Various plug-ins are provided which utilize the API to extend the functionality of the analysis program, including an action tracking plug-in which detects user activity and behavioral data (link activity levels, common site entry and exit points, etc.) from server log files and then superimposes such data onto the site map.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An extensible software architecture for facilitating the mapping and analysis of web sites, comprising, on a computer-readable medium:
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a mapping component which has executable code for scanning a web site and for generating a graphical site map of the web site, the graphical map represented by the mapping component as a map data structure which comprises a collection of node objects and link objects, the node objects representing content objects of the web site and the link objects representing links within the web site between the content objects, the node and link objects stored within the map data structure in association with display attributes which specify how the content objects and links are graphically displayed on a display screen within the graphical map; and an application program interface (API) which includes methods that enable plug-in applications of the mapping component to access the node and link objects of the map data structure to obtain information about the web site, and which includes methods that enable the plug-in applications to modify the display attributes of at least the node and link objects to convey site-related information to a user via the graphical site map. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An extensible software package for facilitating the management and analysis of web sites, comprising, on a computer-readable medium:
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a mapping component which has executable code for scanning a web site over a network connection and for generating a graphical site map of the web site, and which includes a graphical user interface which provides controls for allowing a user to navigate and analyze the graphical map, the graphical map including visual representations of content objects and links of the web site detected during scanning of the web site; an application program interface (API) which allows other executable components to communicate with the mapping component, the API including methods for at least (i) accessing web site information retrieved by the mapping component, and (ii) selectively modifying the visual representations of the content objects and links within the graphical map; and an application which runs in conjunction with the mapping component and communicates with the mapping component via the API, the application configured to superimpose information onto the graphical site map by using the API methods to modify the visual representations of the content objects and/or the links. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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- 27. A plug-in application for extending the functionality of a software package that provides web site scanning and mapping capabilities, the software package including executable code for scanning a web site and for generating a graphical site map of the web site, the plug-in application configured to run in conjunction with the software package and to communicate with the software package via an application program interface (API) of the software package, the plug-in application including executable code for displaying web-site-related data on the site map via the API, the plug-in application further including executable code for adding at least one menu option to a graphical user interface (GUI) of the software package via the API to allow a user to invoke the plug-in application from within the software package.
Specification