Use of various methods to reconstruct experiences of web site visitors

• US 7,152,106 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2002
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ignite Enterprise Software Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: ClickFox Inc.
• Inventors: Krishnaswamy, Vijaykumar, Cohen, Tal, Harel, Nissim
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiley, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOUTAH, ALINA A
• Application Number:
  US10/190,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20040205586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,628 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-224, 709/225, 709/226, 709/227, 709/238, 709/239, 709203-205, 709218-219, 715/513, 715/736, 707/102
• US Class Current: 709/224
• 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 user navigation path through a web site having a plurality of web pages, the user navigation path comprising one or more steps taken by a web site user from web page to web page within a website, each step comprising a source web page and a destination web page, the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving web site usage data containing a user navigation path record identifying a path taken by a web site user that navigated from a first web page to a second web page;

retrieving web site structural data identifying potential navigation paths for navigating from the first web page to the second web page;

reconstructing missing steps in the user navigation path record using the web site usage data and the web site structural data;

wherein the user navigation path record and the potential navigation paths identify one or more steps between a source web page and a destination web page, the method further comprising the steps of;

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

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

2. A method of determining a user navigation path through a web site having a plurality of web pages, the user navigation path comprising one or more steps taken by a web site user from web page to web page within a website, each step comprising a source web page and a destination web page, the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving web site usage data containing a user navigation path record identifying a path taken by a web site user that navigated from a first web page to a second web page;

retrieving web site structural data identifying potential navigation paths for navigating from the first web page to the second web page;

reconstructing missing steps in the user navigation path record using the web site usage data and the web site structural data;

wherein the user navigation path record and the potential navigation paths identify one or more steps between a source web page and a destination web page, the method further comprising the steps of;

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

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

3. The method of claim 2, 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 user navigation path record to show when said device was used.

4. A method of determining a user navigation path through a web site having a plurality of web pages, the user navigation path comprising one or more steps taken by a web site user from web page to web page within a website, each step comprising a source web page and a destination web page, the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving web site usage data containing a user navigation path record identifying a path taken by a web site user that navigated from a first web page to a second web page;

retrieving web site structural data identifying potential navigation paths for navigating from the first web page to the second web page;

reconstructing missing steps in the user navigation path record using the web site usage data and the web site structural data;

wherein the user navigation path record and the potential navigation paths identify one or more steps between a source web page and a destination web page, the method further comprising the steps of;

comparing each step'"'"'s destination web page to the source web page of the immediately subsequent step for all pair of steps in the user navigation path record when there is no indication that no step is missing between said step pairs in the user navigation path 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 user navigation path 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 user navigation path record to indicate that no other step separates said compared step pairs when any new steps are inserted.

5. A method of determining a user navigation path through a web site having a plurality of web pages, the user navigation path comprising one or more steps taken by a web site user from web page to web page within a website, each step comprising a source web page and a destination web page, the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving web site usage data containing a user navigation path record identifying a path taken by a web site user that navigated from a first web page to a second web page;

retrieving web site structural data identifying potential navigation paths for navigating from the first web page to the second web page;

reconstructing missing steps in the user navigation path record using the web site usage data and the web site structural data;

wherein the user navigation path record and the potential navigation paths identify one or more steps between a source web page and a destination web page, the method further comprising the steps of;

comparing each step'"'"'s destination web page to the source web page of the immediately subsequent step for all pair of steps in the user navigation path record when there is no indication that no step is missing between said step pairs in the user navigation path 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 user navigation path 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 user navigation path record to indicate that no other step separates said compared step pairs when any new steps are inserted.

6. A method of determining a user navigation path through a web site having a plurality of web pages, the user navigation path comprising one or more steps taken by a web site user from web page to web page within a website, each step comprising a source web page and a destination web page, the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving web site usage data containing a user navigation path record identifying a path taken by a web site user that navigated from a first web page to a second web page;

retrieving web site structural data identifying potential navigation paths for navigating from the first web page to the second web page;

reconstructing missing steps in the user navigation path record using the web site usage data and the web site structural data;

wherein each step comprises a two sets of one or more web pages comprising a source web page set and a destination web page set and wherein the step of reconstructing missing steps in the user navigation path further comprises;

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

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

7. A method of determining a user navigation path through a web site having a plurality of web pages, the user navigation path comprising one or more steps taken by a web site user from web page to web page within a website, each step comprising a source web page and a destination web page, the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving web site usage data containing a user navigation path record identifying a path taken by a web site user that navigated from a first web page to a second web page;

retrieving web site structural data identifying potential navigation paths for navigating from the first web page to the second web page;

reconstructing missing steps in the user navigation path record using the web site usage data and the web site structural data;

wherein each step comprises a two sets of one or more web pages comprising a source web page set and a destination web page set and wherein the step of reconstructing missing steps in the user navigation path further comprises;

comparing each step'"'"'s destination web page set to the source web page set of the immediately subsequent step for each 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.

8. A method of determining a user navigation path through a web site having a plurality of web pages, the user navigation path comprising one or more steps taken by a web site user from web page to web page within a website, each step comprising a source web page and a destination web page, the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving web site usage data containing a user navigation path record identifying a path taken by a web site user that navigated from a first web page to a second web page;

retrieving web site structural data identifying potential navigation paths for navigating from the first web page to the second web page;

reconstructing missing steps in the user navigation path record using the web site usage data and the web site structural data;

wherein each step comprises a two sets of one or more web pages comprising a source web page set and a destination web page set and wherein the step of reconstructing missing steps in the user navigation path further comprises;

comparing each step'"'"'s destination web page set to the source web page set of the immediately subsequent step for each 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.

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 one or more steps taken by a web site user in navigating 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 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 one or more steps taken by a web site user in navigating 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.