Method for integrating user models to interface design

• US 7,836,405 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2009
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rakuten, Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Labs Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Deelman, Thomas, Mauney, Jennifer M., Bushey, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bautista; X. L
• Application Number:
  US12/405,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20090177983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 715/700, 715741-748, 715/762, 715/764, 715/765, 715/866, 705/26, 705/40, 705/42, 705/43, 717/174, 717/176, 717/177, 717/178, 725/45, 725/46, 725/47, 725/132
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]

Abstract

Designing user interfaces for users in a user population includes modeling behaviorally distinct groups of the users and customizing the user interfaces based on either or both interactive testing by the users and modeling the behaviorally distinct groups of the users. The user population is categorized into the behaviorally distinct groups of the users based on predetermined characteristics and behaviors for the users.

Claims

1. A method for designing user interfaces for users in a user population, comprising:

modeling behaviorally distinct groups of the users; and

customizing the user interfaces based on at least one of interactive testing by the users and the modeling,

wherein the user population is categorized into the behaviorally distinct groups of the users based on predetermined characteristics and behaviors of the users.

2. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the users individually customize an implementation of the user interfaces.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

integrating selected user customization into a design for the user interfaces.

4. The method according to claim 3,

wherein the selected user customization comprises navigation preferences and information display choices.

5. The method according to claim 4,

wherein the navigation preferences and the information display choices are stored in a user profile.

6. The method according to claim 4,

wherein the navigation preferences and information display choices are provided for selection by the users based on at least one of the predetermined characteristics and behaviors for the behaviorally distinct groups of the users and business decisions.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining prototypical navigation behavior.

8. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the users are service agents.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

re-categorizing the behaviorally distinct groups of the users when the predetermined characteristics and behaviors do not accurately describe the users.

10. The method according to claim 1,

wherein design implementations for the user interfaces are tracked on either a micro level or a macro level.

11. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the behaviorally distinct groups of the users are modeled using at least one of quantitative and qualitative models.

12. The method according to claim 11,

wherein the at least one of quantitative and qualitative models is revised when the at least one of quantitative and qualitative models does not accurately describe the behaviorally distinct groups of the users.

13. A system for designing user interfaces for users in a user population, comprising:

a modeler, implemented on at least one processor, that models behaviorally distinct groups of the users; and

a customizer, implemented on at least one processer, that customizes the user interfaces based on at least one of interactive testing by the users and the modeling,

wherein the user population is categorized into the behaviorally distinct groups of the users based on predetermined characteristics and behaviors of the users.

14. The system according to claim 13,

wherein the behaviorally distinct groups of the users are modeled using at least one of quantitative and qualitative models.

15. The system according to claim 13,

wherein the predetermined characteristics and behaviors are validated.

16. The system according to claim 13,

wherein the user interfaces are customized based on emergent behaviors and preferences for the behaviorally distinct groups of the users,

wherein the emergent behaviors and preferences are distinct from the predetermined characteristics and behaviors.

17. The system according to claim 13,

wherein an output obtained from the at least one of quantitative and qualitative models is used to customize the user interfaces.

18. The system according to claim 13,

wherein the user interfaces are rated based on a degree to which a quantitative model is accommodated.

19. The system according to claim 13,

wherein customizing the user interfaces improves efficiency for responding to an incoming communication at a service center.