Method for visualizing user path through a web site and a path's associated information scent

• US 7,043,702 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2001
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Chi, Ed H., Pirolli, Peter L. T., Pitkow, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ke, Peng
• Application Number:
  US09/809,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20020130907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,881 Days
• Field of Search: 715/848, 715/854, 715/853, 715/782, 715/734, 345/440, 345/419, 345/420, 345/848, 345/854, 345/853, 345/782, 345/834
• US Class Current: 715/853
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing

Abstract

A method and system for visualizing actual and predicted usage patterns through a web site is provided. A plurality of web pages may be represented as a node and visualized on a dome tree. The dome tree is a three-dimensional image of a dome, with a portion of the outer wall removed, displayed on a two-dimensional monitor. Paths into and out of each node are displayed using a variety of colors and patterns and information relating to the nodes and paths may also be accessed. By designating a web page as the root node each of the associated pages are laid out within the dome tree radially based on actual usage information. Predicted information for each node is displayed as a bar near the node, thereby assisting a user in understanding the relationship between actual and predicted usage patterns.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a dome-tree structure having a root node, a plurality of first level nodes, and a plurality of second level nodes, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning the root node on a two dimensional plane;

positioning the plurality of first level nodes in the dome-tree structure radially outward a first distance from the root node;

positioning the plurality of second level nodes in the dome-tree structure radially outward a second distance from the root node; and

,

shilling the plurality of first level nodes a third distance relative to the plane, and

shifting the plurality of second level nodes a fourth distance relative to the plane, thereby creating a three dimensional effect of a dome between the root node and the plurality of first level nodes and the plurality of second level nodes;

wherein the dome is displaying having an outside surface and an inside surface and wherein the plurality of first level nodes and the plurality of second level nodes are displayed on the inside surface of the dome-tree structure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fourth distance is greater than the third distance.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein the step of shifting the plurality of first level nodes is performed such that it appears that the first level is a step down onto the dome away from the root node.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein the root node is the parent of the plurality of first level nodes, and the plurality of first level nodes are the parents of the plurality of second level nodes.

5. The method of claim 4,

wherein the layout angle for each node is measured from its parent.

6. The method of claim 1,

wherein the step of placing the plurality of first level nodes of the tree structure radially about the root node is performed by placing the plurality of first level nodes radially about the root node between approximately 0 and approximately 270 degrees.

7. The method of claim 1,

wherein the step of placing the plurality of first level nodes of the tree structure radially about the root node is performed by placing the plurality of first level nodes radially about the root node between approximately 0 and approximately 270 degrees;

and,

wherein the step of placing the plurality of second level nodes on the plane radially about the root node is performed by placing the plurality of second level nodes radially about the root node between approximately 0 and approximately 270 degrees.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

displaying a bar, near at least one of the plurality of first level nodes, representing a predicted probability that the node will be accessed.

9. A method for displaying information related to a node within a dome-tree structure, comprising the steps of:

displaying the dome-tree structure having an outside surface and an inside surface and wherein at least a portion of the outside surface and at least a portion of the inside surface of the dome-tree structure are not displayed, thereby creating a gap in the displayed dome-tree;

selecting the node;

displaying a first set of paths, representing paths into the node, responsive to selecting the node;

displaying a second set of paths, representing paths out of the node, responsive to selecting the node;

shifting the node a distance relative to a two dimensional plane, wherein the node is displayed on the inside surface of the dome-tree structure, and wherein the dome-tree is displayed having an outside surface and an inside surface; and

,

displaying a list of information related to the selected node.

10. The method of claim 9,

wherein the list of information includes keywords, representing information goals.

11. The method of claim 9,

wherein the list of information includes information related to the first set of paths.

12. The method of claim 9,

wherein the list of information includes information related to the second set of paths.

13. An article of manufacture including an information storage medium wherein is stored information for programming a computer to perform a method of displaying a tree structure having a root node, a plurality of first level nodes, and a plurality of second level nodes, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning the root node on a two dimensional plane;

positioning the plurality of first level nodes in the free structure radially outward a first distance from the root node;

positioning the plurality of second level nodes in the tree structure radially outward a second distance from the root node; and

,

shifting the plurality of first level nodes a third distance relative to the plane, and shifting the plurality of second level nodes a fourth distance relative to the plane, thereby creating a three dimensional effect of a dome between the root node and the plurality of first level nodes and the plurality of second level nodes;

wherein the dome is displayed having an outside surface and an inside surface and wherein the plurality of first level nodes and the plurality of second level nodes are displayed on the inside surface of the dome-tree structure.

14. An article of manufacture wherein information is stored for programming as in claim 13, wherein the fourth distance is greater than the third distance.

15. An article of manufacture wherein information is stored for programming as in claim 14,

wherein the step of shifting the plurality of first level nodes is performed such that it appears that the first level is a step down onto the dome away from the root node.

16. An article of manufacture wherein information is stored for programming as in claim 13,

wherein the root node is the parent of the plurality of first level nodes, and the plurality of first level nodes are the parents of the plurality of second level nodes.

17. An article of manufacture wherein information is stored for programming as in claim 16,

wherein the layout angle for each node is measured from its parent.

18. An article of manufacture wherein information is stored for programming as in claim 13,

wherein the step of placing the plurality of first level nodes of the tree structure radially about the root node is performed by placing the plurality of first level nodes radially about the root node between approximately 0 and approximately 270 degrees.

19. An article of manufacture wherein information is stored for programming as in claim 13,

wherein the step of placing the plurality of first level nodes of the tree structure radially about the root node is performed by placing the plurality of first level nodes radially about the root node between approximately 0 and approximately 270 degrees;

and,

wherein the step of placing the plurality of second level nodes on the plane radially about the root node is performed by placing the plurality of second level nodes radially about the root node between approximately 0 and approximately 270 degrees.

20. An article of manufacture wherein information is stored for programming as in claim 13, the method further comprising the step of:

displaying a bar, near at least one of the plurality of first level nodes, representing a predicted probability that the node will be accessed.

21. An article of manufacture including an information storage medium wherein is stored information for programming a computer to perform a method of displaying information related to a node within a dome-tree structure, comprising the steps of:

displaying the dome-tree structure having an outside surface and an inside surface and wherein at least a portion of the outside surface and at least a portion of the inside surface of the dome-tree structure are not displayed, thereby creating a gap in the displayed dome-tree;

selecting the node;

displaying a first set of paths, representing paths into the node, responsive to selecting the node;

shifting the node a distance relative to a two dimensional plane, wherein the node is displayed on the inside surface of the dome-tree structure, and wherein the dome-tree is displayed having an outside surface and an inside surface; and

,

displaying a list of information related to the selected node.

22. An article of manufacture wherein information is stored for programming as in claim 21,

wherein the list of information includes keywords, representing information goals.

23. An article of manufacture wherein information is stored for programming as in claim 21,

wherein the list of information includes information related to the first set of paths.

24. An article of manufacture wherein information is stored for programming as in claim 21,

wherein the list of information includes information related to the second set of paths.

25. An apparatus for displaying a tree structure having a root node, a plurality of first level nodes, and a plurality of second level nodes, comprising:

a processor;

a display device in communication with the processor; and

,

a processor readable storage medium in communication with the processor, containing process readable program code for programming the apparatus to perform a method of displaying the tree structure, the method comprising the steps of;

positioning the root node on a two dimensional plane;

positioning the plurality of first level nodes in the tree structure radially outward a first distance from the root node;

positioning the plurality of second level nodes in the tree structure radially outward a second distance from the root node; and

,

shifting the plurality of first level nodes a third distance relative to the plane, and shifting the plurality of second level nodes a fourth distance relative to the plane, thereby creating a three dimensional effect of a dome between the root node and the plurality of first level nodes and the plurality of second level nodes;

wherein the dome is displayed having an outside surface and an inside surface and wherein the plurality of first level nodes and the plurality of second level nodes are displayed on the inside surface of the dome-tree structure.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the fourth distance is greater than the third distance.

27. The apparatus of claim 26,

wherein the step of shifting the plurality of first level nodes is performed such that it appears that the first level is a step down onto the dome away from the root node.

28. The apparatus of claim 25,

wherein the root node is the parent of the plurality of first level nodes, and the plurality of first level nodes are the parents of the plurality of second level nodes.

29. The apparatus of claim 28,

wherein the layout angle for each node is measured from its parent.

30. The apparatus of claim 26,

wherein the step of placing the plurality of first level nodes of the tree structure radially about the root node is performed by placing the plurality of first level nodes radially about the root node between approximately 0 and approximately 270 degrees.

31. The apparatus of claim 25,

wherein the step of placing the plurality of first level nodes of the tree structure radially about the root node is performed by placing the plurality of first level nodes radially about the root node between approximately 0 and approximately 270 degrees;

and,

wherein the step of placing the plurality of second level nodes on the plane radially about the root node is performed by placing the plurality of second level nodes radially about the root node between approximately 0 and approximately 270 degrees.

32. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising the step of:

displaying a bar, near at least one of the plurality of first level nodes, representing a predicted probability that the node will be accessed.

33. An apparatus for displaying information related to a node within a dome-tree structure, comprising:

a processor;

a display device in communication with the processor; and

,

a processor readable storage medium in communication with the processor, containing process readable program code for programming the apparatus to perform the method displaying information related to a node, the method comprising the steps of;

displaying the dome-tree structure having an outside surface and an inside surface and wherein at least a portion of the outside surface and at least a portion of the inside surface of the dome-tree structure are not displayed, thereby creating a gap in the displayed dome-tree;

selecting the node;

displaying a first set of paths, representing paths into the node, responsive to selecting the node;

shifting the node a distance relative to a two dimensional plane, wherein the node is displayed on the inside surface of the dome-tree structure, and wherein the dome-tree is displayed having an outside surface and an inside surface; and

,

displaying a list of information related to the selected node.

34. The apparatus of claim 33,

wherein the list of information includes keywords, representing information goals.

35. The method of claim 33,

wherein the list of information includes information related to the first set of paths.

36. The apparatus of claim 33,

wherein the list of information includes information related to the second set of paths.