Method for click-stream analysis using web directory reverse categorization
View Patent ↗A method can be used to profile a user using network addresses, category information, and corresponding temporal information when the user requested or received information from those network addresses. A table can be created that includes the user identifier, category information, and temporal information. The user profile can be generated and based at least in part on the user identifier, category information, and at least some of the temporal information. In a specific embodiment, the user identifier, network addresses, and timestamps may be the only source of user information. Embodiments can also include data processing system readable media having code to perform at least part of the methods. The methods and data processing system media can be implemented without having to generate complex code or rely on user provided information.
1. A method of profiling a user comprising:
accessing first data including a first identifier associated with the user, network addresses accessed by the user, and temporal information related to the user identifier and the network addresses, wherein the first data is determined at a first location remote from the user;
accessing second data at a second location remote from the user and the network addresses, wherein accessing the second data further comprises sending at least some of the network addresses to the second location and receiving corresponding category information for each of the at least some network addresses, the corresponding category information including at least one meta tag;
generating a user profile based at least in part on the first identifier, corresponding category information, and at least some of the temporal information by creating a table that includes a first column for user identifiers including the first identifier, a second column for the corresponding category information including at least one meta tag, and a third column for the at least some of the temporal information;
comparing data for the user within the table to existing profiles including a first profile; and
associating the user with the first profile.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
selecting a first marketing information regarding an item, wherein selecting is based at least in part on the user profile; and
sending the first marketing information to the user.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:
selecting is performed by a network access provider; and
the first marketing information includes a banner advertisement that is to be displayed near a periphery of a view.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein:
at least one of the network addresses corresponds to a network site is owned or controlled by a company that sells the item; and
the first marketing information comprises an offer to sell the item.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein:
selecting comprises selecting the first marketing information and a second marketing information; and
the method further comprises applying a filter, wherein:
the second marketing information is filtered out and the first marketing information passes; and
applying the filter is performed before sending.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selling the user profile.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
accessing the second data comprises accessing the corresponding category information from a third-party source; and
the corresponding category information includes meta tags for the network addresses.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one meta tag is included in code associated with at least one of the network addresses.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the category information is sorted in chronological order.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing data for the user within the table to existing profiles includes performing click stream analysis.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing data for the user within the table to existing profiles includes:
applying data mining rules to the data for the user to determine characteristics of the user; and
comparing the characteristics of the user to characteristics included in the existing profiles.
12. A data processing system readable medium having code embodied therein, the code including instructions executable by a data processing system, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the data processing system to perform a method of profiling a user, the method comprising:
accessing first data including a first identifier associated with the user, network addresses accessed by the user, and temporal information related to the user identifier and the network addresses, wherein the first data is determined at a first location remote from the user;
accessing second data at a second location remote from the user and the network addresses, wherein accessing the second data further comprises sending at least some of the network addresses to the second location and receiving corresponding category information for each of the at least some network addresses, the corresponding category information including at least one meta tag;
generating a user profile based at least in part on the first identifier, corresponding category information, and at least some of the temporal information by creating a table that includes a first column for user identifiers including the first identifier, a second column for the corresponding category information including at least one meta tag, and a third column for the at least some of the temporal information;
comparing data for the user within the table to existing profiles including a first profile; and
associating the user with the first profile.
13. The data processing system readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises:
selecting a first marketing information regarding an item, wherein selecting is based at least in part on the user profile; and
sending the first marketing information to the user.
14. The data processing system readable medium of claim 13 , wherein:
selecting is performed by a network access provider; and
the first marketing information includes a banner advertisement that is to be displayed near a periphery of a view.
15. The data processing system readable medium of claim 13 , wherein:
at least one of the network addresses corresponds to a network site is owned or controlled by a company that sells the item; and
the first marketing information comprises an offer to sell the item.
16. The data processing system readable medium of claim 13 , wherein:
selecting comprises selecting the first marketing information and a second marketing information; and
the method further comprises applying a filter, wherein:
the second marketing information is filtered out and the first marketing information passes; and
applying the filter is performed before sending.
17. The data processing system readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises selling the user profile.
18. The data processing system readable medium of claim 12 , wherein:
accessing the second data comprises accessing the corresponding category information from a third-party source; and
the corresponding category information includes meta tags for the network addresses.
19. The data processing system readable medium of claim 12 , wherein comparing data for the user within the table to existing profiles includes performing click stream analysis.
20. The data processing system readable medium of claim 12 ,
wherein comparing data for the user within the table to existing profiles includes applying data mining rules to the data for the user to determine characteristics of the user; and
comparing the characteristics of the user to characteristics included in the existing profiles.
21. The data processing system readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the at least one meta tag is included in code associated with at least one of the network addresses.
22. The data processing system readable medium of claim 21 , wherein the category information is sorted in chronological order.