CONTENT RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON BROWSING INFORMATION

• US 20100064040A1
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wise, Angela S., Pai, Samarth S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,202,221 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/16 selectively restricting mobility data tracking

Abstract

Architecture for dynamically tracking information about a first-time or inactive user to a website and expeditiously presenting targeted content back to the user to maintain the user interest in the website. A visceral connection is created with the user based on immediately relevant content and functionality, and without requiring user-entered profile information about the user. Based on a few pieces of browsing information collected while at the website an action-oriented initial scenario is provided that is interesting to the user, and gets the user invested in the content (e.g., product) as a whole. Services can be recommended to users in the context of a social application or an online service provider, for example. The architecture also facilitates the up-selling, cross-selling of services, features, and products, for example, to users based on the current user browsing activity.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system, comprising:

a detection component for detecting an inactive subscriber in a session of a website portal, the session associated with session content;

a tracking component for tracking interaction of the inactive subscriber with the session content; and

a content component for obtaining and presenting new content targeted to the inactive subscriber during the session based on the tracked interaction of the inactive subscriber with the session content.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the website portal facilitates access to a web-based social application and the session content includes related entertainment application content and related social content.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the website portal facilitates access to a web-based business application and the session content includes related business application services and related business application features.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the content component surfaces step-by-step instructions based on interaction behavior of the subscriber to the session content.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an analysis component for analyzing subscriber browsing behavior, extrapolating subscriber experience level based on the analysis, and suggesting new content for presentation.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the content component submits new content as part of the session content based on the subscriber experience level.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the content component suggests session content popular with other subscribers of the website portal based at least in part on an origin of the inactive subscriber.

8. A computer-implemented system, comprising:

a detection component for detecting an inactive subscriber in a member page of a website portal, the member page presenting content that includes a service;

a tracking component for tracking subscriber browsing activity relative to the content and the service;

an analysis component for analyzing the subscriber browsing behavior on the member page and extrapolating subscriber experience level based on the analysis; and

a content component for submitting and presenting new content targeted to the inactive subscriber based on the subscriber experience level.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the website portal facilitates access to a web-based social application and the session content includes related social application content and related social application features.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the website portal facilitates access to a web-based business application and the content includes related business application services and related business application features.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the content component presents step-by-step instructions of a feature based on the subscriber experience level.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the content component suggests content popular with other subscribers of the website portal based at least in part on an origin of the inactive subscriber.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the analysis component further analyzes subscriber browsing behavior prior to access to the website portal and the content component suggests and presents the new content based on the prior subscriber browsing behavior and the subscriber behavior relative to the content and the service.

14. A computer-implemented method of making suggestions to a user, comprising:

detecting an inactive subscriber in a member page of a website portal, the member page presenting content that includes a service;

tracking subscriber browsing behavior relative to the content and the service;

analyzing the subscriber browsing behavior and extrapolating subscriber experience level based on the browsing behavior in the member page; and

suggesting and presenting new content targeted to the inactive subscriber based on the subscriber experience level.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the member page is associated with a web-based business application, and the content includes a service provided by the business application with which the inactive subscriber is unfamiliar.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising detecting the inactive subscriber based on reduced browsing activity in the member page.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising dynamically changing the content based on a computed increase in experience with an existing service by the inactive subscriber.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising up-selling and cross-selling features, services, and products to the subscriber based on the browsing behavior.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising analyzing the browsing behavior based on duration of exposure to pieces of the content and click-through data.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the member page is associated with a web-based social application, and the content includes a service provided by the social application with which the inactive subscriber is unfamiliar.