Visualizing object behavior

• US 8,234,582 B1
• Filed: 02/03/2009
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Haynes, Jeremy S., Friedman, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuyetlien
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUONG, TRUC T
• Application Number:
  US12/365,063
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 715/745, 715/764, 715/811, 715/736
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A visualization service generates a graphical representation or visualization of each user'"'"'s behavior within a network resource, such as a website. In one example, the visualization service provides a dynamic visualization of each user accessing the network resource. Each user is graphically represented in the visualization with an indicium, such as a point or dot. The visualization (and thus, the position of each indicium representing a user) is dynamically updated as each user accesses data files from the network resource and thus, moves from state to state (or page to page) over time. The effect is similar to watching cars move along a complex highway system.

Claims

1. A system for graphically representing user behavior while users are accessing files from a network resource, the system comprising:

a data source that identifies files accessed by users from the network resource and times at which the files were accessed by said users; and

a computing device, having one or more processors, that executes;

a first processing component operative to generate a path record for each user of a plurality of users,

the path record generated using the identification of files and times identified by the data source, and

the path record identifying the user, each file accessed by the user from the network resource, the time at which each file was accessed by the user from the network resource, and at least one attribute associated with the user; and

a second processing component operative to generate a graphical representation of the path records of the users for display, wherein each of two or more users are graphically represented in the graphical representation, the graphical representation comprising;

a first indicium representing one of the two or more users, wherein the first indicium is highlighted to graphically represent at least one attribute associated with the one of the two or more users;

a second indicium representing a first file accessed by the one of the two or more users from the network resource; and

a third indicium representing a second data file accessed by the one of the two or more users from the network resource,

the first indicium graphically migrating from the second indicium to the third indicium to graphically represent the transition of the one of the two or more users from the first file accessed from the network resource to the second file accessed from the network resource over a time period between the time at which the first file was accessed by the one of the two or more users from the network resource and the time at which the second file was accessed by the one of the two or more users from the network resource, wherein the first indicium graphically migrates from the second indicium to the third indicium at a velocity based at least in part on the time period between the time at which the first file was accessed by the one of the two or more users and the time at which the second file was accessed by the one of the two or more users.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one attribute associated with the one of the two or more users is related to an aspect of the one of the two or more users or the behavior of the one of the two or more users.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first indicium is highlighted with at least one of color, prominence and marking.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the attribute is selected manually.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a third processing component operative to generate at least one statistic based on the path records of the users.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one statistic is generated for display with the graphical representation.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one statistic is displayed in proximity to at least one of the first indicium, the second indicium and the third indicium.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one statistic is generated based on the at least one attribute.

9. A computer-implemented method for graphically representing user behavior while users are accessing files from a network resource, the computer-implemented method comprising:

as implemented by one or more computing devices configured with specific executable instructions,

generating a path record for each user of a plurality of users, the path record generated using an identification of files accessed by the plurality of users from the network resource and times at which the files were accessed by said users,

wherein the path record identifies the user, each file accessed by the user from the network resource, the time at which each file was accessed by the user from the network resource, and at least one attribute associated with the user; and

generating a graphical representation of the path records of the users for display, wherein each of two or more users are graphically represented in the graphical representation, the graphical representation comprising;

a first indicium representing one of the two or more users, wherein the first indicium is highlighted to graphically represent at least one attribute associated with the one of the two or more users;

a second indicium representing a first file accessed by the one of the two or more users from the network resource; and

a third indicium representing a second data file accessed by the one of the two or more users from the network resource,

the first indicium graphically migrating from the second indicium to the third indicium to graphically represent the transition of the one of the two or more users from the first file accessed from the network resource to the second file accessed from the network resource over a time period between the time at which the first file was accessed by the one of the two or more users from the network resource and the time at which the second file was accessed by the one of the two or more users from the network resource, wherein the first indicium graphically migrates from the second indicium to the third indicium at a velocity based at least in part on the time period between the time at which the first file was accessed by the one of the two or more users and the time at which the second file was accessed by the one of the two or more users.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the at least one attribute associated with the one of the two or more users is related to an aspect of the one of the two or more users or the behavior of the one of the two or more users.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the first indicium is highlighted with at least one of color, prominence and marking.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the attribute is selected manually.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising generating at least one statistic based on the path records of the users.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the at least one statistic is generated for display with the graphical representation.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the at least one statistic is displayed in proximity to at least one of the first indicium, the second indicium and the third indicium.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the at least one statistic is generated based on the at least one attribute.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable components, the computer executable components comprising:

a first component operative to generate a path record for each user of a plurality of users,

the path record generated using an identification of files accessed by the plurality of users from a network resource and times at which the files were accessed by said users, and

the path record identifying the user, each file accessed by the user from the network resource, the time at which each file was accessed by the user from the network resource, and at least one attribute associated with the user; and

a second component operative to generate a graphical representation of the path records of the users for display, wherein each of two or more users are graphically represented in the graphical representation, the graphical representation comprising;

a first indicium representing one of the two or more users, wherein the first indicium is highlighted to graphically represent at least one attribute associated with the one of the two or more users;

a second indicium representing a first file accessed by the one of the two or more users from the network resource; and

a third indicium representing a second data file accessed by the one of the two or more users from the network resource,

the first indicium graphically migrating from the second indicium to the third indicium to graphically represent the transition of the one of the two or more users from the first file accessed from the network resource to the second file accessed from the network resource over a time period between the time at which the first file was accessed by the one of the two or more users from the network resource and the time at which the second file was accessed by the one of the two or more users from the network resource, wherein the first indicium graphically migrates from the second indicium to the third indicium at a velocity based at least in part on the time period between the time at which the first file was accessed by the one of the two or more users and the time at which the second file was accessed by the one of the two or more users.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the at least one attribute associated with the one of the two or more users is related to an aspect of the one of the two or more users or the behavior of the one of the two or more users.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first indicium is highlighted with at least one of color, prominence and marking.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the attribute is selected manually.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising a third component operative to generate at least one statistic based on the path records of the users.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the at least one statistic is generated for display with the graphical representation.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the at least one statistic is displayed in proximity to at least one of the first indicium, the second indicium and the third indicium.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the at least one statistic is generated based on the at least one attribute.