Method for provision and use of a visual representation of website browsing history

• US 7,908,282 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Wilson, Jeffrey K., Naick, Indran
• Primary Examiner(s): FILIPCZYK, MARCIN R
• Application Number:
  US11/848,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20090063434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 6, 707/9, 707/10, 707/100, 707/101, 707/200, 707/751, 707/752, 707/758, 707/999.002, 707/999.003, 707/999.005, 707/999.102, 715/200
• US Class Current: 707/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9562 Bookmark management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide site browsing history information that pertains to a specified network site user. One embodiment, directed to a method, comprises the step of acquiring data for a database, wherein the acquired data identifies multiple sites that are accessed by the user in an order, during a specified period of time. The method further comprises accessing at least a portion of the data from the database. From the accessed data, a pictorial representation of a plurality of the websites accessed during the specified time period is generated. The pictorial representation further illustrates the order in which at least some of the websites of the plurality were accessed.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for providing site browsing history information pertaining to a specified network site user, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

acquiring data for a database, wherein said acquired data identifies multiple websites accessed by said user in an order during a specified period of time;

accessing at least a portion of the data from the database; and

generating from the accessed data a pictorial representation of a plurality of said websites accessed by said user during said specified time period, wherein said pictorial representation is displayed to said user and further illustrates the order in which at least some of the websites of said plurality were accessed, wherein a demarcated search area is applied to said displayed pictorial representation to form an area that includes two or more websites of said plurality of said websites, wherein a search text is applied to the websites collectively contained in the demarcated search area, in order to provide an information item associated with one of said contained websites, and wherein said pictorial representation further comprises a timeline that said plurality of said websites are positioned along to indicate their respective time and order of access.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said pictorial representation comprises a single view that indicates whether a website of said plurality was addressed independently of another accessed website, or was hyperlinked therefrom.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said demarcated search area includes one or more websites that were accessed proximate to a specified time that is included within said specified time period.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said pictorial representation illustrates the order in which each website of said plurality was respectively accessed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said pictorial representation illustrates the time at which selected websites of said plurality were respectively accessed.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

said selected websites comprise each website of said plurality that was addressed independently of another accessed website.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said displayed pictorial illustration indicates one or more paths between websites of said plurality, wherein said paths were respectively traversed by said user when accessing respective websites during said specified time period.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

one or more of said paths is selectively traversed, in order to locate and identify a particular website of said plurality of websites.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

each of said paths can be traversed in either of two opposing directions.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said visual display is generated by a specified software agent.

11. A computer program product embedded in a computer readable storage medium for providing site browsing history information pertaining to a specified network user, wherein said computer program product comprises:

first instructions for acquiring data for a database wherein said acquired data discloses multiple websites accessed by said user in an order during a specified period of time;

second instructions for accessing at least a portion of the data from the database; and

third instructions for generating from the accessed data a pictorial representation of a plurality of said websites accessed by said user during said specified time period, wherein said pictorial representation is displayed to said user and further illustrates the order in which respective websites of said plurality were accessed, wherein a demarcated search area is applied to said displayed pictorial representation to form an area that includes two or more websites of said plurality of said websites, wherein a search text is applied to the websites collectively contained in the demarcated search area, in order to provide an information item associated with one of said contained websites, and wherein said pictorial representation further comprises a timeline that said plurality of said websites are positioned along to indicate their respective time and order of access.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein:

said pictorial representation comprises a single view that indicates whether a website of said plurality was addressed independently of another accessed website, or was hyperlinked therefrom.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein:

said displayed pictorial illustration indicates one or more paths between websites of said plurality, wherein said paths were respectively traversed by said user when accessing respective websites during said specified time period, and one or more of said paths is selectively traversed, in order to locate and identify a particular website of said plurality of websites.

14. An apparatus for providing site browsing history information pertaining to a specified network site user, wherein said apparatus comprises:

a processor coupled to a memory;

first program instructions for acquiring data for a database, wherein said acquired data identifies multiple websites accessed by said user in an order, during a specified period of time;

second program instructions for accessing at least a portion of the data from the database; and

third program instructions for generating from the accessed data a pictorial representation of a plurality of said websites accessed by said user during said specified time period, wherein said pictorial representation is displayed to said user and further illustrates the order in which at least some of the websites of said plurality were accessed, wherein a demarcated search area is applied to said pictorial representation to form an area that includes two or more websites of said plurality of said websites, wherein a search text is applied to the websites collectively contained in the demarcated search area, in order to provide an information item associated with one of said contained websites, wherein said pictorial representation further comprises a timeline that said plurality of said websites are positioned along to indicate their respective time and order of access, and wherein the first, second and third program instructions are accessed from the memory and executable by the processor.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

said pictorial representation comprises a single view that indicates whether a website of said plurality was addressed independently of another accessed website, or was hyperlinked therefrom.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

said displayed pictorial illustration indicates one or more paths between websites of said plurality, wherein said paths were respectively traversed by said user when accessing respective websites during said specified time period, and one or more of said paths is selectively traversed, in order to locate and identify a particular website of said plurality of websites.