Identifying recurring sequences of user interactions with an application

• US 9,798,764 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2014
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Rohde, Snke
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, Huawen A
• Application Number:
  US14/571,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20150178348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2379 Updates performed during online database operations; commit processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

Disclosed are database systems, computing devices, methods, and computer program products for identifying recurring sequences of user interactions with an application. In some implementations, a server of a database system provides a user interface of the application for display at a computing device. The database system stores data objects identifying a first plurality of user interactions with the application. The server receives information representing a second plurality of user interactions with the application. The server updates the database system to further identify the second user interactions. The server identifies a recurring sequence of user interactions from the first and second user interactions as resulting in a first target state of the application. The server updates the database system to associate the recurring sequence of user interactions with the first target state of the application.

Claims

1. A database system for identifying recurring sequences of user interactions with an application, the database system comprising:

at least one database storing a plurality of data objects, at least one of the data objects identifying a first plurality of user interactions with an application;

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions configurable to cause;

processing information identifying a second plurality of user interactions with the application, the second user interactions being through a user interface displayed at a computing device;

updating, using the information, at least one of the data objects stored in the at least one database to identify the second user interactions;

identifying a recurring sequence of user interactions from the first user interactions and the second user interactions as causing the application to transition from an identifiable state to a first target state in a recurring sequence of a subset of a plurality of states of the application, the recurring sequence of the subset of states corresponding to a recurring sequence of displayable presentations of pages of the application;

updating at least one of the data objects stored in the at least one database to associate the recurring sequence of user interactions with the first target state of the application; and

configuring the application to display a graphical component in a presentation of a page corresponding to the identifiable state, the graphical component being selectable to cause the application to transition from the identifiable state to the first target state.

2. The database system of claim 1, wherein identifying the recurring sequence of user interactions comprises:

identifying a number of occurrences of the recurring sequence of user interactions; and

determining that the number of occurrences meets or exceeds a designated minimum number of occurrences.

3. The database system of claim 2, wherein identifying the recurring sequence of user interactions further comprises:

determining that each occurrence of the recurring sequence of user interactions occurs within a designated timeframe.

4. The database system of claim 2, wherein identifying the recurring sequence of user interactions further comprises:

determining that the number of occurrences of the recurring sequence of user interactions occurs within a designated timeframe.

5. The database system of claim 1, wherein identifying the recurring sequence of user interactions comprises:

determining that the recurring sequence of user interactions comprises a designated minimum number of user interactions.

6. The database system of claim 1, the user interactions comprising at least one of:

a selection of a link, a completion of a field, a request to perform a search, a keystroke, a sequence of keystrokes, a change in a scroll position of the user interface, a finger gesture, a sequence of finger gestures, a mouse gesture, a sequence of mouse gestures, or a change in a zoom level of the user interface.

7. The database system of claim 1, the first target state of the application defined at least in part by at least one of:

an associated uniform resource locator (URL), a scroll position for the user interface, or a zoom level for the user interface.

8. The database system of claim 1, the instructions further configurable to cause:

providing for display in the user interface a prompt to display a user interface element associated with the first target state of the application;

receiving a request to display the user interface element; and

generating an update to the user interface for displaying the first target state.

9. The database system of claim 8, wherein the update is in the form of the user interface element provided for display in a navigation user interface component of the user interface.

10. The database system of claim 9, the instructions further configurable to cause:

receiving a selection of the user interface element; and

providing for display in the user interface the first target state of the application.

11. The database system of claim 8, the instructions further configurable to cause:

receiving a request to edit the first target state, the request comprising an update to the recurring sequence of user interactions; and

updating the first target state in accordance with the request to edit the first target state.

12. The database system of claim 1, wherein identifying the recurring sequence of user interactions comprises:

identifying the recurring sequence as one of a plurality of recurring sequences each having a respective count of user interactions; and

determining, based on the identification of the recurring sequence as one of the plurality of recurring sequences, a usability level for the application.

13. The database system of claim 1, the first target state being associated with the first user of the application, the at least one database including data objects associating a second target state with a second user of the application.

14. The database system of claim 1, the application being one of a web application, a mobile application, a tablet application, or a desktop application.

15. A computing device comprising:

a display device;

at least one storage medium storing a plurality of data objects, at least one of the data objects identifying a first plurality of user interactions with an application; and

one or more processors configurable to cause;

processing information identifying a second plurality of user interactions with the application, the second user interactions being through a user interface displayed on the display device;

updating, using the information, at least one of the data objects stored in the at least one storage medium to identify the second user interactions;

identifying a recurring sequence of user interactions from the first user interactions and the second user interactions as in causing the application to transition from an identifiable state to a first target state in a recurring sequence of a subset of a plurality of states of the application, the recurring sequence of the subset of states corresponding to a recurring sequence of displayable presentations of pages of the application;

updating at least one of the data objects stored in the at least one storage medium to associate the recurring sequence of user interactions with the first target state of the application; and

configuring the application to display a graphical component in a presentation of a page corresponding to the identifiable state, the graphical component being selectable to cause the application to transition from the identifiable state to the first target state.

16. The computing device of claim 15, the computing device being one of:

a smartphone, a tablet, a wearable device, a touchscreen device, a laptop computer, or a desktop computer.

17. The computing device of claim 15, the computing device being configured to receive input via a touchscreen, a pointing device, a mouse, a stylus, a gesture or motion input, or a voice command.

18. A method comprising:

providing a database system associated with at least one database storing a plurality of data objects at least one of which identifies a first plurality of user interactions with an application;

processing information identifying a second plurality of user interactions with the application, the second user interactions being through a user interface displayed at a computing device;

causing updating, using the information, of at least one of the data objects stored in the at least one database to identify the second user interactions;

identifying a recurring sequence of user interactions from the first user interactions and the second user interactions as causing the application to transition from an identifiable state to a first target state in a recurring sequence of a subset of a plurality of states of the application, the recurring sequence of the subset of states corresponding to a recurring sequence of displayable presentations of pages of the application;

causing updating of at least one of the data objects stored in the at least one database to associate the recurring sequence of user interactions with the first target state of the application; and

configuring the application to display a graphical component in a presentation of a page corresponding to the identifiable state, the graphical component being selectable to cause the application to transition from the identifiable state to the first target state.

19. The method of claim 18, the method further comprising:

generating, in a navigation user interface component of the user interface, a user interface element associated with the first target state of the application;

receiving a selection of the user interface element; and

providing for display in the user interface the first target state of the application.

20. A computer program product comprising program code to be executed by at least one processor when retrieved from a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the program code comprising instructions configurable to cause:

accessing at least one database storing a plurality of data objects, at least one of the data objects identifying a first plurality of user interactions with an application;

processing information identifying a second plurality of user interactions with the application, the second user interactions being through a user interface displayed at a computing device;

updating, using the information, at least one of the data objects stored in the at least one database to identify the second user interactions;

identifying a recurring sequence of user interactions from the first user interactions and the second user interactions as causing the application to transition from an identifiable state to a first target state in a recurring sequence of a subset of a plurality of states of the application, the recurring sequence of the subset of states corresponding to a recurring sequence of displayable presentations of pages of the application;

updating at least one of the data objects stored in the at least one database to associate the recurring sequence of user interactions with the first target state of the application; and

configuring the application to display a graphical component in a presentation of a page corresponding to the identifiable state, the graphical component being selectable to cause the application to transition from the identifiable state to the first target state.