Modifying user experience using query fingerprints

• US 9,720,974 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sarmento, Luis Antonio Diniz Fernandes de Morais, Hinegardner, Lisa Jane, Hoover, Thomas Jay, Spinelli, Alexander Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Mahmoudi, Tony
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEWAN, KAMAL K
• Application Number:
  US14/217,036
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 707771, 707723, 707728, 707769, 707780, 707999003, 707999004, 707999005, 707999006, 707E17014, 707E17018, 713386, 713186, 382124
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2457 with adaptation to user needs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24573 using data annotations, e.g. user-defined metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3325 Reformulation based on results of preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/35 Clustering; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation

Abstract

A method and system for analyzing user behavior as users search for items within an electronic marketplace is provided. A query is submitted by a user of the electronic marketplace, the query is processed to identify a series of actions or behaviors performed by the user in relation to the query and fingerprint information for the query is determined based at least in part on analyzing the actions. A classification for a query is determined based on the fingerprint information. In one embodiment, an electronic marketplace receives a query from a user, accesses a query classification database having fingerprint information, determines a fingerprint for the query based on the fingerprint information and dynamically modifies a user experience for the user based at least in part on the fingerprint information.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving a query issued by a user of an electronic marketplace;

identifying a first action performed by the user in relation to the electronic marketplace;

accessing a query classification database having a fingerprint information, the fingerprint information comprising a number of correlations between the first action performed with respect to the electronic marketplace and one or more second actions performed with respect to the electronic marketplace by a plurality of users in relation to previous queries as well as a time information for each of the one or more second actions, wherein the time information comprises an average amount of time between the first action and the one or more second actions for the plurality of users;

determining a fingerprint for the query by comparing the fingerprint information in the query classification database to the first action performed by the user in relation to the query, the fingerprint comprising a sequence of actions performed in relation to the previous queries that includes at least the first action followed by a second action of the one or more second actions, wherein the fingerprint is determined based on a similarity measure between the first action and the sequence of actions;

identifying the second action based on the fingerprint, the second action being identified as a next action in the sequence of actions of the fingerprint information likely to be performed based on having been performed by a maximum number of the plurality of users in relation to previous queries;

generating one or more interactive regions configured to anticipate execution of the second action; and

modifying, after passage of the amount of time indicated in the time information for the second action, a user experience within the electronic marketplace for the user based at least in part on the second action by presenting the one or more interactive regions with respect to the electronic marketplace.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein generating one or more interactive regions comprises generating a drop down menu in the network page, the drop down menu including the second action.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising identifying one or more search terms in the query issued by the user, based at least in part on the first action.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein determining the fingerprint for the query further comprises comparing the fingerprint information of a plurality of queries in the query classification database to the one or more search terms identified in the query.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the fingerprint for the query comprises at least the first action and the second action stored as a vector, wherein each dimension of the vector represents an action of the fingerprint.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein modifying the user experience for the user comprises modifying a presentation to the user as if the user had taken the second action.

6. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving a query issued by a user of an electronic marketplace;

identifying a first action performed by the user in relation to the electronic marketplace;

accessing a query classification database having information on associations between various actions performed by a plurality of users in relation to previous queries, as well as a time information for each of the previous queries, wherein the time information comprises an average amount of time between the first action and one or more second actions for the previous queries;

determining a fingerprint for the query by comparing the information in the query classification database to the first action performed by the user in relation to the query, the fingerprint for the query comprising a sequence of actions performed in relation to a similar previous query of the previous queries;

identifying a second action of the one or more second actions based at least in part on the fingerprint for the query, the second action being one that is likely to be performed based on having been performed by a maximum number of the plurality of users in relation to the previous queries;

generating one or more interactive regions configured to anticipate execution of the second action; and

modifying, after passage of the amount of time comprising the time information, a user experience for the user based at least in part on the second action by presenting the one or more interactive regions in the electronic marketplace.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the fingerprint for the query comprises at least the first action and the second action and wherein the second action comprises at least one of a re-formulation of the query, a term swap, a term addition, a term deletion, an abandonment of the query, an item detail page click a refinement of the query or a scope change of the query.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising determining a classification for the query based at least in part on the fingerprint and modifying the user experience for the user is based at least in part on the classification.

9. A computerized system, comprising:

memory that stores computer-executable instructions; and

at least one processor configured to access the memory, the at least one processor configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to collectively at least;

identify a query submitted by one or more users of an electronic marketplace and at least one first action taken with respect to the query;

obtain a fingerprint information stored in a query classification database, the fingerprint information including information on relationships between actions performed in relation to a plurality of previous search sessions, as well as time information for each of the actions performed, wherein the time information comprises an average amount of time between the actions performed;

determine a fingerprint for the query based at least in part on the fingerprint information and the at least one first action taken with respect to the query, the fingerprint for the query comprising a sequence of actions performed in relation to at least one previous search session;

identify at least one second action from the determined fingerprint for the query, the at least one second action having been performed by a maximum number of the one or more users with respect to the query;

generate one or more interactive regions configured to anticipate execution of the at least one second action; and

modify, after passage of the average amount of time comprising the time information, a user experience to reflect the at least one second action by presenting the one or more interactive regions with the electronic marketplace.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to determine the fingerprint for the query by comparing the fingerprint information of a plurality of queries in the query classification database to one or more search terms identified in the query.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to determine a classification for the query based at least in part on the fingerprint.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to modify the user experience for the user is based at least in part on the classification.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to modify a user experience for the user based at least in part on the at least one second action.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second action comprises at least one of a re-formulation of the query, a term swap, a term addition, a term deletion, an abandonment of the query, an item detail page click a refinement of the query or a scope change of the query.

15. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media collectively storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more computer systems, configure the one or more computer systems to collectively perform operations comprising:

identifying a sequence of actions performed by a plurality of users of an electronic marketplace in relation to a query as well as time information that comprises an average amount of time between actions in the sequence of actions for the plurality of users;

determining a fingerprint for the query based at least in part on the sequence of actions;

storing the fingerprint for the query in a query classification database;

determining that at least one first action of the sequence of actions has been performed by a user that submitted the query;

generating an interactive region configured to anticipate execution of a second action of the fingerprint that is likely to be taken by the user, the second action identified based on the second action having been taken by a maximum number of the plurality of users in relation to the query; and

presenting, after passage of the average amount of time between actions in the sequence of actions, the interactive region to the user that submitted the query.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein modifying the search result further comprises changing an appearance of network content in a network page of the electronic marketplace, based at least in part on the fingerprint.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein changing the appearance of network content comprises generating a drop down menu in the network page, based at least in part on the fingerprint.