CA2425217A1 - Method and system for single-action personalized recommendation and display of internet content - Google Patents
Method and system for single-action personalized recommendation and display of internet content Download PDFInfo
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- CA2425217A1 CA2425217A1 CA002425217A CA2425217A CA2425217A1 CA 2425217 A1 CA2425217 A1 CA 2425217A1 CA 002425217 A CA002425217 A CA 002425217A CA 2425217 A CA2425217 A CA 2425217A CA 2425217 A1 CA2425217 A1 CA 2425217A1
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
- G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
- G06F16/95—Retrieval from the web
- G06F16/953—Querying, e.g. by the use of web search engines
- G06F16/9535—Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
- G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
- G06F16/95—Retrieval from the web
- G06F16/953—Querying, e.g. by the use of web search engines
- G06F16/9536—Search customisation based on social or collaborative filtering
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
- G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
- G06F16/95—Retrieval from the web
- G06F16/953—Querying, e.g. by the use of web search engines
- G06F16/9538—Presentation of query results
Abstract
A method and system for single-action personalized recommendation and display of content via the internet. The recommendation is given by a server system and received by a client system. The content itself has been previously recommended to the server system by the users of the client system. Client system recommendations to the server system are also invoked with a single-action. Recommended content is referred to by a URL. Users can rate content to the server system using a single-action. The server system performs recommendation calculations using user-specific information such as user preferences, demographic data, content rating history, and content-specific information. The content rating history of other users may also influence these calculations. Client systems display recommended content directly to the user in response to only a single-action.
Description
1 "METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SINGLE-ACTION PERSONALIZED
2 RECOMMENDATION AND DISPLAY OF INTERNET CONTENT.' The present invention relates to a computer method and system far 11 recommending content over the Internet.
14 The Internet comprises a vast number of computers and computer networks that are interconnected through communications links. Many different 16 services and protocols operate over the Internet, including email, the world-wide-17 web (WWW), file transfer, and chat services.
18 The WWW service consists of server systems and client systems 19 exchanging documents via the Hyper-Text Transport Protocol (HTTP). Server systems are generally permanently dedicated computers with high bandwidth 21 connections to the Internet. They host the Internet content, run the server 22 software, and perform many types of calculations. Client systems are generally 23 personal computers being controlled by an individual. They display a Graphical 24 User Interface (GUI) to the user, and run applications, such as browsers, which allow users to send requests for Internet content to the server systems, and then 26 view the content.
1 Internet content is any publicly available content accessible via the 2 Internet. Content accessible via the Internet may consist of Hyper-Text-Mark-up-3 Language (HTML) documents, images, portable document files (PDF), flash, 4 video, audio, animation, etc. Typically, a client requests and displays these documents using a browser. All Internet content can be identified via a Uniform 6 Resource Locater (URL), a string of text including a protocol name, machine 7 name (expressed in text, but translated to lP address via a system called Domain 8 Name System (DNS)), remote directory name, and file name. It is these URLs 9 which allow the powerful "linking" behavior which is a prominent feature of browsers.
11 Many of the early innovations on the WWW consisted of means of 12 finding high quality Internet content.
13 For instance, search engines are server side applications which 14 accept keyword input from clients, and attempt to find Internet content to which those words are relevant. They generally do this by downloading large numbers 16 of documents, and indexing them in a sophisticated database. When keyword 17 queries are received, these databases are used to locate Internet content which 18 contains the specified keywords, whereupon the URLs which refer to this Internet 19 content are returned to the client. The user reviews any information provided about each URL to determine which selections) of Internet content, if any, are of 21 interest. The user then indicates to the browser, typically by clicking a link, to 22 retrieve the Internet content referenced by the selected URL. The browser then 23 retrieves and displays this content. Thus search engines involve multiple steps 24 for users: typing in keywords, submitting the query, reviewing summaries, and clicking on links to the actual Internet content. Some search engines have a 1 feature which involves redirecting the browser directly to the first result of a 2 keyword search. This reduces the number of steps that the user must perform.
It 3 is important to recognize, however, that this is not a single-action method.
The 4 effectiveness of this feature is often a matterof luck, as the relevance and quality of the search engine's first selection may not be significantly different from that of 6 further selections.
7 Another Internet content service, typically known as a "portal,"
8 consists of dynamically generated web pages with content tailored for the user.
9 For instance, via a simple questionnaire, a server may discover that the client is interested in a particular subject matter. Future visits from that client (which can 11 be determined by any number of existing technologies) can be rewarded with 12 pages containing links to Internet content about that subject matter. The user 13 may review these links for an indication of content that may be of interest. The 14 user then indicates to the browser, typically by clicking a link, to retrieve the Internet content referenced by the selected link. The browser then retrieves and 16 displays this content. As in the case of search engines, this is a multiple-action 17 method. It also requires that the user visit the portal site on a regular basis, to 18 check for new links of interest. I
19 There are also many services on the Internet designed to locate highly specific types of data, based upon user preferences. Match making 21 services are an example. These services attempt to match people, based on 22 shared interests, user-specified preferences, and so forth. Another common 23 example is online stock portfolios. These services allow users to view financial 24 market information assembled in a customized fashion. In general, such services present the user with relevant information specific to the domains to which they 1 apply. These domains are often quite small and highly specialized. The content 2 which they present typically is provided only by the service in question, or its 3 affiliates and partners. Of particular importance is to note that recommendations 4 made by such services are, in fact, recommendations for objects in that domain as opposed to recommendations of Internet content. For example, match making 6 services recommend people. Investment services recommend investments.
7 Online bookstores recommend books. in a sense, recommendations received 8 from these services present users with more specific information in the domain of 9 the service provider but do not present users with information that they would not have known to look for. In this respect, these services operate almost as a 11 domain-specific search engine supporting complex queries. The personalization 12 and recommendation technologies used by such services tend to be very specific 13 to their respective domains. These technologies are not extensible to the full 14 scope of Internet content.
Personal bookmark systems, embedded as a part of most major 16 browsers, are essentially ways to remember URLs on the client side. Since 17 finding quality Internet content can be difficult, it is convenient to remember URLs 18 specifying the location of that content. Many people use their bookmarks in more 19 public ways as well; making them publicly available via their own web pages, sending them to friends, or otherwise essentially using shared bookmarking 21 behavior to locate good Internet content. This method requires extensive user 22 action, but is often the source of recommendations superior to any automated 23 system yet in existence.
24 The system and method detailed herein describe a new and innovative method of locating high quality Internet content, where an essential 1 feature is single-action convenience. For a browser-based client, the indication of 2 this single-action is always available regardless of the currently displayed 3 content. Equally important, all of the content recommended by the server system 4 has been recommended to the server system by its users. Users are preferably human beings, but may potentially be any automated system that interfaces with 6 the server system in the same way as would an individual person.
Potentially, this 7 could include systems that find andJor rate content, such as web spiders.
The present invention involves single-action personalized 11 recommendation of Recommended Content. Recommended Content is arbitrary 12 Internet content recommended by any user of the system. Arbitrary Internet 13 content is any publicly available content accessible via the Internet.
14 An embodiment of the present invention provides a method and system for requesting recommendations of Internet content via a client system.
16 The client system implements a user intertace, which contains an indication of an 17 action (e.g., a single action such as clicking a mouse button) that a user is to 18 perform to obtain content recommended by the server system. In response to the 19 indicated action being performed, the client system sends to a server system the client identifier and a request to obtain an URt_(s) which references content 21 recommended by the server system. The server system uses the client identifier 22 to locate additional information needed to generate a recommendations) for the 23 user. The server system generates the recommendation(s), and then returns it 24 (them) to the client. The client then interfaces with a browser, directing it to retrieve and display the content recommended by the server system, referenced 1 by the obtained URL(s). Thus, the user of the client system has to perform only a 2 single action to view content recommended by the server system.
3 The present invention also involves single-action submission of 4 recommendations by the client system to the server system. The client system contains an indication of an action that a user is to perform to rate the quality or 6 directly recommend Internet content currently displayed in the web browser.
In a 7 preferred embodiment, the single-action is clicking a mouse button. There may 8 be multiple indications of actions to distinguish the quality rating. In a preferred 9 embodiment, the indications are buttons labeled "good," "bad" and "great".
In response to the indicated action being performed, the client 11 system sends to the server system the client identifier, the URL
referencing the 12 currently displayed content and the indicated rating. The server system records 13 the client identifier, URL and rating. This new information is used to refine 14 recommendations of content made to the user. It is also used to refine recommendations made to other users both by making available the newly 16 Recommended Content to future recommendations and by establishing 17 relationships with the current user. Each time a rating is submitted, potentially, 18 recommendation calculations are made to determine content to recommend both 19 to the current user and other users. These calculations refine previous calculations, potentially determining new content to recommend, determining that 21 content determined by a prior calculation is no longer a good selection, or 22 determining that the relative priority of selected recommendations should be 23 adjusted. The selection of content determined to be the best recommendation by 24 these calculations is recommended to the user the next time the user performs 1 the indication of an action to view content recommended by the server. Thus, the 2 user of the client system has to perform only a single action to rate content.
3 in a broad aspect of the invention, a method is provided for 4 automatically obtaining a recommendation, and then displaying the Internet content associated with that recommendation. The method consists of, under 6 control of the client system, a method enabling a user interface for controlling the 7 recommendation system; in response to only a single action being performed, 8 sending a request for recommendations) from the client system to a server 9 system, along with an identifier of the user of the client system. Then;
under control of the server system, receiving a request for a recommendation, 11 dynamically choosing Recommended Content to recommend to the client, based 12 on data associated with the client identifier, such as user preferences, 13 demographic data, content rating history, and content-specific information such 14 as subject matter, content quality, complexity of language, and general aesthetics as well as content rating and preferences of other users, determining the URL(s) 16 which refer to the above content, and finally issuing a response from a server 17 system containing those URL(s) and associated information. Then, under control 18 the client system, receiving the URL(s) and associated information, interfacing 19 with a web browser application, and directing it to retrieve and display the content recommended by the server system referred to by the URL{s).
21 In a preferred aspect of the invention, the method above wherein 22 enabling a user intertace includes displaying a graphical user interface with a 23 method for invoking the single action. Also, the method above wherein enabling a 24 user interface includes the use of a browser toolbar. Also, the method above wherein the single action is clicking a button. Also, the method above wherein a 1 user of the client system does not need to explicitly identify themselves when 2 requesting a recommendation. Also, the method above wherein the client system 3 and server system communicate via the Internet. Also, the method above 4 wherein the single action is clicking a mouse button when a cursor is positioned over a predefined area of the user intertace. Also, the method above wherein the 6 single action is a sound generated by a user, such as speech. Also, the method 7 above wherein the single action is selection using a television remote control.
8 Also, the method above wherein the single action is depressing of a key on a key 9 pad. Also, the method above wherein the single action is selecting using a pointing device. Also, the method above wherein the single action is selection of 11 a user interface component.
12 In a broad aspect of the invention, a client system is provided for 13 obtaining a recommendation, and then displaying the content recommended by 14 the server system associated with it. The client system consists of an identifier that identifies a user, a display component for displaying a user interface, a 16 single-action user interface component that in response to performance of only a 17 single action, sends a request to a server system to obtain a recommendation, 18 the request including the identifier so that the server system can locate additional 19 information needed to complete the request, and so that the server system can fulfill the request for a recommendation. The client system also includes a 21 component which receives the recommendation from the server, in the form of 22 URL(s}, and a component which interfaces with web browser software, and 23 instructs that software to retrieve the content identified by an URL, and display it 24 to the user.
1 In a preferred aspect of the client system, the display component is 2 a browser. Also, the client system above wherein the display component is a 3 browser toolbar. Also, the client system above wherein the display component is 4 a browser plug-in. Also, the client system above wherein the display component is a browser component. Also, the client system above wherein the single action 6 is the clicking of a mouse button.
7 In a broad aspect of the invention a server system is provided for 8 generating recommendations of Recommended Content. The server system 9 consists of a client identifier storage component, a content rating storage component, a user preference storage component, a demographic data storage 11 component, a Recommended Content data storage component, a single-action 12 recommending component. The single-action recommendation component itself 13 consists of a receiving component for receiving requests to obtain a 14 recommendations, the request including the client identifier, the request being sent in response to only a single action being performed; and a personalized 16 recommendation component that uses data from storage components specific to 17 the client and specific to Recommended Content, and perform calculations in 18 order to choose Recommended Content to recommend. The server system also 19 contains a component which determines the URL(s) Which refer to the above Recommended Content, and a sending component, which sends to the client 21 system, the URL(s) determined above, along with associated information:
22 In a preferred aspect of the server system, the request is sent by a 23 client system in response to a single action being performed.
24 In a broad aspect of the invention, a client system is provided for the submission of recommendations of Internet content. The client system 1 consists of a client identifier that identifies a user, a display component for 2 displaying a user interface, a single-action user interface component that in 3 response to performance of only a single action, sends a message to a server 4 system containing details of the recommendation, including URL, and potentially the quantitative value (e.g. rating) of the recommendation, and a component 6 which receives confirmation from the server, and displays this confirmation to the 7 user.
8 in a preferred aspect of the client system the single-action to be 9 performed is the pushing of a button. Also, the client system above wherein the 'recommend' button is part of a rating interface. In this case, the client may have 11 many buttons each triggered by a single-action.
12 In a broad aspect of the invention, a server system is provided for 13 the receiving of ratings and recommendations of Internet content. This server 14 system consists of a Recommended Content data storage component, a recommendation storing component; a receiving component for receiving 16 recommendations from clients, the request including the client identifier, the 17 request being sent in response to only a single action being performed; a 18 Recommend Content storage component, which stores the recommendation from 19 the client, along with any associated data sent by the client; a sending component, which sends to the client system a confirmation of submission.
21 In a preferred aspect of the above server system the single-action is 22 the push of a button. Also, the system above wherein in addition to the 23 Recommended Content data storage component there is a rating storage 24 component responsible for storing ratings of Internet content. The ratings are those sent with the above client system 1 In a broad aspect of the invention, a method is provided for 2 receiving recommendations from client systems. This method consists of;
under 3 control of the client system, a method enabling a user interface for controlling the 4 recommendation system; in response to only a single action being pertormed, sending a recommendation from the client system to a server system, in the form 6 of a URL referring to the Internet content, along with an identifier of the user of 7 the client system. Under control of the server system, receiving a 8 recommendation, storing the recommendation in the Recommended Content 9 data database, issuing a response from a server system containing a confirmation, Under control the client system, receiving the confirmation, 11 optionally, interfacing with a web browses application, and directing it to display 12 success to the user.
Figure 1a is a block diagram illustrating single-action server-16 recommendation in one embodiment of the present invention;
17 Figure 1b is a block diagram illustrating single-action user-18 recommendation in one embodiment of the present invention;
19 Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the - present invention;
21 Figure 3a is a flow diagram of one potential routine that enables 22 single-action recommendation and display of content recommended by the server 23 system;
1 Figure 3b is a flow diagram of another potential routine that enables 2 single-action recommendation and display of content recommended by the server 3 system;
4 Figure 4 is a flow diagram of one potential routine that enables the server system to respond to requests for content recommended by the server 6 system;
7 Figure 5 is a flow diagram of one potential routine that enables the 8 server system to generate recommendations;
9 Figure 6 is a flow diagram of one potential routine that enables the collection of user preferences;
11 Figure 7 is a flow diagram of one potential routine that enables 12 rating submission;
13 Figure 8 is a flow diagram of one potential routine that creates a 14 client system;
Figure 9 is a view of a web screen shot introducing one 16 embodiment of the invention according to the Example, and in which a new user 17 is invited to install a custom interface for personalized web surfing to the standard 18 tool bar as illustrated;
19 Figure 10 is partial web screen shot of an example of a standard web security warning prior to modification of the user's web browser;
21 Figure 11 is a view of a web screen shot illustrating the successful 22 additional of a custom toolbar added to the standard tool bar, now providing 23 single-click action buttons for implementing the invention including:
personalized 24 search action initiator, rating (bad, good, great and administration access;
1 Figure 12 is a partial screen shot illustrating a preliminary form for 2 selecting categories of the user's interests;
3 Figure 13 is a partial screen shot illustrating a more comprehensive 4 form for selecting categories of the user's interests;
Figure 14 is a partial screen shot illustrating acknowledgment of the 6 recordal of the user's prefen-ed categories of the user's interests;
7 Figure 15 illustrates the user's option to select a category of interest 8 to which the system will select and apply personalized recommendations of web 9 content wherein, selection of the search initiation button "Stumble" will retrieve the recommended content;
11 Figure 16 illustrates a web screen shot of an initial result of the 12 personalized search in the user's preferred category of "Science and 13 Technology". Further the user has selected the "good" button for rating the 14 recommended content;
Figure 17 illustrates a partial web shot of the implementation of one 16 administration button on the custom toolbar enabling various housekeeping 17 functions for the user's account including altering category preferences;
18 Figure 18 illustrate a web screen shot of a rating information button 19 which demonstrates how others have rated the recommended content, if any;
Figures 19a-19f are screen shots of the help system for the 21 embodiment of Fig. 9, for describing the action initiators or buttons and options.
2 The present invention provides a method and system for single-3 action personalized recommendation of Internet content in a clientlserver 4 environment, as well as the immediate display of this content to the user.
The single-action recommendation system of the present invention minimizes the 6 number of user interactions needed to obtain and view content recommended by 7 the server system.
8 In order to enable the system, the client must register for the 9 recommendation service. In one embodiment of the present invention, the client system is installed by a user simply by directing a web browser to a specified 11 hyperlink. On initial use, the client is provided with a unique identifier, such as a 12 cookie. Additionally, the client system directs the web browser to a form where 13 users are asked to select from a broad range of interests and, optionally, to 14 supply demographic data. Upon completion of this form, the registration process is complete. See Fig. 8, and further description; below. After the sign up process, 16 the single-action recommendation process can be affected at any time.
17 When a user wants to view recommended content, the user uses a 18 client system to submit the request for recommendations along with a client 19 identifier to the server system. The user need only perform a single action (e.g., click a mouse button) to obtain the recommendation, and view the content 21 recommended by the server system. When the user performs that single action, 22 the client system sends a request for recommendation to the server system.
This 23 request may be sent directly from client to server or via the browser. The server 24 system then uses real-time Web personalization software, such as Macromedia Likeminds, to generate personalized recommendations. In general, these 1 systems incorporate into their recommendation calculations user-specific 2 information such as user preferences, demographic data, content rating history, 3 and content-specific information such as subject matter, content quality, 4 complexity of language, and general aesthetics. See Fig. 5, and further description, below. The database of content from which recommendations are 6 chosen is itself built from content recommended to the system by users (see 7 below for detailed description). Once the content to recommend has been 8 chosen, the server system determines the URL(s) which refer to that 9 Recommended Content. If the original request was submitted directly by the client, this URL(s) is then sent back to the client, along with associated 11 information. The client system then interfaces with a browser application, 12 instructing it to retrieve and display the content recommended by the server 13 system, referenced by the URL. Otherwise, the server instructs the browser to 14 retrieve and display the content recommended by the server system, referenced by the URL. Thus, after completion of the registration process, the user has only 16 to perform a single action in order to view content recommended by the server 17 system.
18 Herein, recommended content is associated with indexing 19 information, the form of which may be dictated by the persanalization software or supporting applications. Such indexing information may include the URL, key 21 words, an identifier of a network user who has expressed an interest in the 22 content and other identifiers. The system manages recommendations which are 23 associated with the indexing information for the content and which may further 24 include user ratings about the content. Recommendations are thereby 1 associated with the recommended content. The system would not typically 2 manage content as that is the territory of the content provider.
3 When a user want to express feelings regarding the quality of 4 content, which has been recommended by the server system or which the user has discovered independently, the user uses a client system to submit the rating 6 along with a client identifier and URL of the rated content to the server system.
7 The client system contains an indication of an action that a user is to perform to 8 rate the quality or directly recommend Internet content currently displayed in the 9 web browser: In a preferred embodiment, the single-action is clicking a mouse button. There may be multiple indications of actions to distinguish the quality 11 rating. In a preferred embodiment, the indications are buttons labeled "good,"
12 "bad" and "great". The server stores the recommendation in the Recommended 13 Content Data Database. The server also stores the rating in the Rating Database.
14 See Fig. 7, and further description, below.
The present invention, thus, has a dual-recommendation nature 16 whereby users recommend content to the server system, and the server system, 17 through personalization calculations, recommends that same content back to 18 those other users predicted to find it of particular interest. This dual 19 recommendation nature of the present invention allows it to deal with many problems that the recommendation of Internet content presents. Many systems 21 smaller in breadth, such as the investment recommendation and match making 22 services mentioned above, do not have the first of these steps (i.e.
23 recommendation from users to the system). This step is of vital importance in that 24 it accomplishes the collection of high quality Internet content. Instead, such systems have either data feeds, or often onerous, extensive user questionnaires.
1 The second step of this dual-recommendation process (i.e. personalized 2 recommendation of content to users from the server system) is more similar to 3 the calculations that these systems perform, although the types of data available 4 from users for personalization may be different.
From the perspective of a user, the present invention is most 6 valuable for the recommendation of content that the user would never have 7 thought to search for. The single-action nature of the rating interface encourages 8 frequent user feedback as to quality of recommendations (i.e. ratings). This 9 facilitates improved quality of recommendations over time. In essence, the present invention automates what has become known as "surfing the web," and 11 in a way that yields consistently better results.
12 Fig. 1a is a block diagram illustrating single-action server-13 recommendation in one embodiment of the present invention. Section 101a 14 illustrates a browser, which is the Internet content display application.
Section 102a is an illustration of the single-action button with which the user can obtain 16 content recommended by the server system. Section 103a is an illustration of the 17 browser after the single-action: it now displays content recommended by the 18 server system.
19 Fig. 1 b is a block diagram illustrating single-action user-recommendation in one embodiment of the present invention. Section 101 b 21 illustrates a browses, which contains the to-be-recommended Internet content.
22 Section 102b is an illustration of the single-action button with which the user can 23 recommend content to the server system. Section 103b is an illustration of the 24 browses after the single-action; it now displays an indication of success.
1 Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present 2 invention. This embodiment supports the single-action recommendation of 3 content over the Internet using the World Wide Web. The server system 210 4 includes four handlers, 211-214, which interface with the client. A handler is a software component responsible for communications between the server and 6 client systems. The Recommend Request handler 211 receives requests from 7 the client for recommendations, and is further explained in Fig. 4. The rating 8 handler 212 receives ratings from the client, and stores them in the Rating 9 Database. This rating data is used by the Personalized Recommendation Component. The Submit Recommended Content handler 213 receives, from the 11 client, URLs referring to Internet content that the user wishes to have 12 recommended to other users. It triggers the addition of data to the 13 Recommended Content data database 217. The Preference handler 214 enables 14 users to specify their preferences, demographic data and other pertinent information. It is further explained in Fig. 6. The server has four or more 16 databases 215-217. The Client ID database 215 is responsible for maintaining 17 client identifier and authentication information. The database grouping 216 has 18 many databases of client-specific data. These data may consist of user-specified 19 preference, demographics, content rating history, as well as other types of data.
The Recommended Content Data database 217 stores data about 21 Recommended Content (not the Recommended Content itself). These databases 22 are used by the Personalized Recommendation Component. The Personalized 23 Recommendation Component 218 performs personalized recommendation 24 calculations given data in the above databases, to determine recommendations 1 of content for particular users. The Personalized Recommendation Component 2 218 is further explained in Fig. 5.
3 The client system 220 contains a browser 221 and its assigned 4 client identifier 222. The browser 221 contains an embodiment of the client user interface as a toolbar 223. In one embodiment, the server system assigns and 6 sends the client identifier to the client system when the client system first 7 interacts with the server system. From then on, the client system includes its 8 client identifier in all communication with the server system so that the server 9 system can identify the client. For the shown embodiment, the browser toolbar 223 contains an indication of the single-action to be performed: 224, a button 11 labeled "Stumble!" The shown embodiment also contains an indication of a 12 single-action rating and recommendation interface 225, whereby the client can 13 send ratings and recommendations to the server system pertaining to the 14 currently displayed Internet content. In another embodiment, the buttons may be part of an HTML document in a frame. Those skilled in the art will be aware that 16 the indication of the single-action to be preformed could be generated in many 17 different ways. The server and client systems interact by exchanging information 18 via communications fink 230, which may include transmission over the Internet.
19 Fig. 3a is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a routine that enables single-action recommending of Internet content, along with immediate 21 retrieval and display of this content. The flow diagram is initiated when the user 22 performs the single-action. In step 301a, the client system performs a check for 23 cached recommended URLs. Cached recommendations are simply 24 recommendations previously provided by the server system but not yet displayed to the user. If the there are no (or too few) cached recommendations, the client 1 system continues to step 302a. Otherwise, the client system continues at step 2 305a. In step 302a, the client system sends a request to the server system for 3 Recommended Content, along with its client identifier. In step 303a, the client 4 system receives a list of one or more recommended URL(s) and associated information from the server. This associated information may consist of a 6 predicted rating, categorization data, or other useful information about the 7 Recommended Content. In step 304a, this list is stored in the client's cache of 8 recommended URLs. In step 305a, the client retrieves one URL from the cache.
9 In step 306a, the client interfaces with a browser, and instructs that application to retrieve and display the content referenced by the chosen URL.
11 Fig. 3b is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a routine that 12 enables single-action recommending of Internet content, along with immediate 13 retrieval and display of this content. The flow diagram is initiated when the user 14 performs the single-action. In step 301 b, the client system sends a request to the server system for content recommended by the server system, along with its 16 client identifier. In step 302b, the client system receives a recommended URL
17 from the server. In step 303b, the client interfaces with a browser, and instructs 18 that application to retrieve and display the content recommended by the server 19 system, referenced by the URL returned by the server system. In a preferred embodiment, steps 302b and 303b would be accomplished together using an 21 HTTP redirect as the server response, requiring no action from the client in order 22 to make the browser behave properly.
23 Fig. 4 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a routine that 24 enables the server system to respond to requests for Recommended Content.
It further explains the Recommend Request hander described in 211. The flow 1 diagram is initiated when the server system receives a request for 2 recommendation from a client. In step 401, the server system checks for existing 3 recommendations for the user represented by the client identifier of the request, 4 as described above. If such recommendations are found, then the server system continues at step 403. Otherwise, the server system proceeds to step 402. In 6 step 402, the server system generates recommendations for the user. This step 7 is further explained in Fig. 5. In step 403, the server returns the URL(s) referring 8 to the Recommended Content, along with associated information, to the client 9 system. Associated information, if present, may consist of a predicted rating, categorization data, or other useful information about the Recommended 11 Content. In the case that the client is embodied as in Fig. 3b, the server system 12 will return only a single URL, possibly embedded in an HTML document 13 containing an HTTP redirect to the chosen URL.
14 Fig. 5 is a flow diagram of the Personalized Recommendation Component. It depicts a routine that determines the Recommended Content to 16 recommend to a given user. The flow diagram is initiated when the Personalized 17 Recommendation Component receives a command to generate 18 recommendations. In step 501, the Personalized Recommendation Component 19 loads user-specific data such as user preferences, demographic data and content rating history. In step 502, the Personalized Recommendation Component loads 21 content-specific data such as subject matter, content quality, complexity of 22 language and general aesthetics. In step 503, these data are used by a 23 calculation engine. Such calculations may involve algorithms found in literature 24 on the subject as well as licensed third party software. An example of such literature is 'An Algorithmic Framework for Performing Collaborative Filtering' by 1 Heriocker, Konstan, Borchers, Riedl. An example of such third party software is 2 Macromedia Likeminds. The result of these calculations is the selection of 3 Recommended Content deemed to be of specific interest to the client, and 4 therefore suitable for recommendation. In step 504, the URL attribute of the selected Recommended Content is retrieved from the Recommended Content 6 Data database. Finally, in step 505, the URL is returned to the server system for 7 further processing, see Fig. 4. If more recommendations are required, the 8 process may be repeated.
9 Fig. 6 is a flow diagram of one potential routine that enables the collection of user preferences. It further details the Preference handler 214 11 previously mentioned. The flow diagram is initiated when the server system 12 receives a request to set or update user-specific preferences or other user-13 specific data. In step 601, the system receives the client identifier from the client 14 system. In step 602, user-specific data is loaded from the databases based on the client ID, and formatted into a document suitable for transmission to the 16 client. If this is a new client identifier, a blank template is generated.
In step 603, 17 this document is sent to the client system. In step 604, updated user-specific data 18 is received from the client system. In step 605, this update is saved to the 19 appropriate databases; including the preference database, the demographic database and so forth, based on the client identifier. In step 606, the server 21 notifies the client of the success of the update.
22 Fig. 7 is a flow diagram of one potential routine that enables 23 submission of content ratings, and the recommendation of Internet content.
The 24 flow diagram is initiated when the user activates the rating interface for the currently displayed Internet content, perhaps by a single-action pushing of a 1 button. In step 701, the client sends the rating, client identifier, and URL
referring 2 to the rated Internet content to the server. In step 702, the server receives the 3 data from the client. In step 703, the server stores the received data in the Rating 4 database, and in the Recommended Content data database, if the rating was of sufficient magnitude. In step 704, the server sends a confirmation message back 6 to the client indicating success. In step 705, the client displays success to the 7 user. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other routines and user interfaces 8 for submission of recommended content are possible.
9 Fig. 8 is a flow diagram of one potential routine that creates a client system. The flow diagram is initiated when a potential user requests to become a 11 user. In step 801, the user downloads and installs the client software. The nature 12 of this download, and the associated software, will vary depending on the client 13 system requested (see Figs. 3a and 3b). In step 802, the client obtains a unique 14 client identifier from the server system. In step 803, the user fills out completes a form to indicate a selection of broad interests. In step 804, the server system 16 stores the preference data in the Preference database associating it with the 17 unique client identifier generated in step 802.
As shown in Figs. 19a-19f, one embodiment of the invention is 21 illustrated for interacting with a network user. A network user configures their 22 browser for incorporation a custom interface and then becomes a user known to 23 the system. The figures illustrate the configuration of a new network user's 24 browser, selection of the user's categories of preferred content, operation and options thereof.
1 Although the present invention has been described in terms of 2 various embodiments, it is not intended that the invention be limited to these 3 embodiments. Modification within the spirit of the invention will be apparent to 4 those skilled in the art. For instance, various different single actions can be used to effect the placement of a request. For example, a voice command may be 6 spoken by the user, a key may be depressed by the user, a button on a television 7 remote control device may be depressed by the user, or selection using any 8 pointing device may be effected by the user. Although a single action may be 9 preceded by multiple physical movements of the user (e.g., moving a mouse so that a mouse pointer is over a button), the single action generally refers to a 11 single event received by a client system that indicates a desire to receive content 12 recommended by the server system, or to rate or recommend Internet content.
13 Details of additional actions and options available are detailed in the 14 textual portions and icons illustrated in Figs. 19a-19f.
14 The Internet comprises a vast number of computers and computer networks that are interconnected through communications links. Many different 16 services and protocols operate over the Internet, including email, the world-wide-17 web (WWW), file transfer, and chat services.
18 The WWW service consists of server systems and client systems 19 exchanging documents via the Hyper-Text Transport Protocol (HTTP). Server systems are generally permanently dedicated computers with high bandwidth 21 connections to the Internet. They host the Internet content, run the server 22 software, and perform many types of calculations. Client systems are generally 23 personal computers being controlled by an individual. They display a Graphical 24 User Interface (GUI) to the user, and run applications, such as browsers, which allow users to send requests for Internet content to the server systems, and then 26 view the content.
1 Internet content is any publicly available content accessible via the 2 Internet. Content accessible via the Internet may consist of Hyper-Text-Mark-up-3 Language (HTML) documents, images, portable document files (PDF), flash, 4 video, audio, animation, etc. Typically, a client requests and displays these documents using a browser. All Internet content can be identified via a Uniform 6 Resource Locater (URL), a string of text including a protocol name, machine 7 name (expressed in text, but translated to lP address via a system called Domain 8 Name System (DNS)), remote directory name, and file name. It is these URLs 9 which allow the powerful "linking" behavior which is a prominent feature of browsers.
11 Many of the early innovations on the WWW consisted of means of 12 finding high quality Internet content.
13 For instance, search engines are server side applications which 14 accept keyword input from clients, and attempt to find Internet content to which those words are relevant. They generally do this by downloading large numbers 16 of documents, and indexing them in a sophisticated database. When keyword 17 queries are received, these databases are used to locate Internet content which 18 contains the specified keywords, whereupon the URLs which refer to this Internet 19 content are returned to the client. The user reviews any information provided about each URL to determine which selections) of Internet content, if any, are of 21 interest. The user then indicates to the browser, typically by clicking a link, to 22 retrieve the Internet content referenced by the selected URL. The browser then 23 retrieves and displays this content. Thus search engines involve multiple steps 24 for users: typing in keywords, submitting the query, reviewing summaries, and clicking on links to the actual Internet content. Some search engines have a 1 feature which involves redirecting the browser directly to the first result of a 2 keyword search. This reduces the number of steps that the user must perform.
It 3 is important to recognize, however, that this is not a single-action method.
The 4 effectiveness of this feature is often a matterof luck, as the relevance and quality of the search engine's first selection may not be significantly different from that of 6 further selections.
7 Another Internet content service, typically known as a "portal,"
8 consists of dynamically generated web pages with content tailored for the user.
9 For instance, via a simple questionnaire, a server may discover that the client is interested in a particular subject matter. Future visits from that client (which can 11 be determined by any number of existing technologies) can be rewarded with 12 pages containing links to Internet content about that subject matter. The user 13 may review these links for an indication of content that may be of interest. The 14 user then indicates to the browser, typically by clicking a link, to retrieve the Internet content referenced by the selected link. The browser then retrieves and 16 displays this content. As in the case of search engines, this is a multiple-action 17 method. It also requires that the user visit the portal site on a regular basis, to 18 check for new links of interest. I
19 There are also many services on the Internet designed to locate highly specific types of data, based upon user preferences. Match making 21 services are an example. These services attempt to match people, based on 22 shared interests, user-specified preferences, and so forth. Another common 23 example is online stock portfolios. These services allow users to view financial 24 market information assembled in a customized fashion. In general, such services present the user with relevant information specific to the domains to which they 1 apply. These domains are often quite small and highly specialized. The content 2 which they present typically is provided only by the service in question, or its 3 affiliates and partners. Of particular importance is to note that recommendations 4 made by such services are, in fact, recommendations for objects in that domain as opposed to recommendations of Internet content. For example, match making 6 services recommend people. Investment services recommend investments.
7 Online bookstores recommend books. in a sense, recommendations received 8 from these services present users with more specific information in the domain of 9 the service provider but do not present users with information that they would not have known to look for. In this respect, these services operate almost as a 11 domain-specific search engine supporting complex queries. The personalization 12 and recommendation technologies used by such services tend to be very specific 13 to their respective domains. These technologies are not extensible to the full 14 scope of Internet content.
Personal bookmark systems, embedded as a part of most major 16 browsers, are essentially ways to remember URLs on the client side. Since 17 finding quality Internet content can be difficult, it is convenient to remember URLs 18 specifying the location of that content. Many people use their bookmarks in more 19 public ways as well; making them publicly available via their own web pages, sending them to friends, or otherwise essentially using shared bookmarking 21 behavior to locate good Internet content. This method requires extensive user 22 action, but is often the source of recommendations superior to any automated 23 system yet in existence.
24 The system and method detailed herein describe a new and innovative method of locating high quality Internet content, where an essential 1 feature is single-action convenience. For a browser-based client, the indication of 2 this single-action is always available regardless of the currently displayed 3 content. Equally important, all of the content recommended by the server system 4 has been recommended to the server system by its users. Users are preferably human beings, but may potentially be any automated system that interfaces with 6 the server system in the same way as would an individual person.
Potentially, this 7 could include systems that find andJor rate content, such as web spiders.
The present invention involves single-action personalized 11 recommendation of Recommended Content. Recommended Content is arbitrary 12 Internet content recommended by any user of the system. Arbitrary Internet 13 content is any publicly available content accessible via the Internet.
14 An embodiment of the present invention provides a method and system for requesting recommendations of Internet content via a client system.
16 The client system implements a user intertace, which contains an indication of an 17 action (e.g., a single action such as clicking a mouse button) that a user is to 18 perform to obtain content recommended by the server system. In response to the 19 indicated action being performed, the client system sends to a server system the client identifier and a request to obtain an URt_(s) which references content 21 recommended by the server system. The server system uses the client identifier 22 to locate additional information needed to generate a recommendations) for the 23 user. The server system generates the recommendation(s), and then returns it 24 (them) to the client. The client then interfaces with a browser, directing it to retrieve and display the content recommended by the server system, referenced 1 by the obtained URL(s). Thus, the user of the client system has to perform only a 2 single action to view content recommended by the server system.
3 The present invention also involves single-action submission of 4 recommendations by the client system to the server system. The client system contains an indication of an action that a user is to perform to rate the quality or 6 directly recommend Internet content currently displayed in the web browser.
In a 7 preferred embodiment, the single-action is clicking a mouse button. There may 8 be multiple indications of actions to distinguish the quality rating. In a preferred 9 embodiment, the indications are buttons labeled "good," "bad" and "great".
In response to the indicated action being performed, the client 11 system sends to the server system the client identifier, the URL
referencing the 12 currently displayed content and the indicated rating. The server system records 13 the client identifier, URL and rating. This new information is used to refine 14 recommendations of content made to the user. It is also used to refine recommendations made to other users both by making available the newly 16 Recommended Content to future recommendations and by establishing 17 relationships with the current user. Each time a rating is submitted, potentially, 18 recommendation calculations are made to determine content to recommend both 19 to the current user and other users. These calculations refine previous calculations, potentially determining new content to recommend, determining that 21 content determined by a prior calculation is no longer a good selection, or 22 determining that the relative priority of selected recommendations should be 23 adjusted. The selection of content determined to be the best recommendation by 24 these calculations is recommended to the user the next time the user performs 1 the indication of an action to view content recommended by the server. Thus, the 2 user of the client system has to perform only a single action to rate content.
3 in a broad aspect of the invention, a method is provided for 4 automatically obtaining a recommendation, and then displaying the Internet content associated with that recommendation. The method consists of, under 6 control of the client system, a method enabling a user interface for controlling the 7 recommendation system; in response to only a single action being performed, 8 sending a request for recommendations) from the client system to a server 9 system, along with an identifier of the user of the client system. Then;
under control of the server system, receiving a request for a recommendation, 11 dynamically choosing Recommended Content to recommend to the client, based 12 on data associated with the client identifier, such as user preferences, 13 demographic data, content rating history, and content-specific information such 14 as subject matter, content quality, complexity of language, and general aesthetics as well as content rating and preferences of other users, determining the URL(s) 16 which refer to the above content, and finally issuing a response from a server 17 system containing those URL(s) and associated information. Then, under control 18 the client system, receiving the URL(s) and associated information, interfacing 19 with a web browser application, and directing it to retrieve and display the content recommended by the server system referred to by the URL{s).
21 In a preferred aspect of the invention, the method above wherein 22 enabling a user intertace includes displaying a graphical user interface with a 23 method for invoking the single action. Also, the method above wherein enabling a 24 user interface includes the use of a browser toolbar. Also, the method above wherein the single action is clicking a button. Also, the method above wherein a 1 user of the client system does not need to explicitly identify themselves when 2 requesting a recommendation. Also, the method above wherein the client system 3 and server system communicate via the Internet. Also, the method above 4 wherein the single action is clicking a mouse button when a cursor is positioned over a predefined area of the user intertace. Also, the method above wherein the 6 single action is a sound generated by a user, such as speech. Also, the method 7 above wherein the single action is selection using a television remote control.
8 Also, the method above wherein the single action is depressing of a key on a key 9 pad. Also, the method above wherein the single action is selecting using a pointing device. Also, the method above wherein the single action is selection of 11 a user interface component.
12 In a broad aspect of the invention, a client system is provided for 13 obtaining a recommendation, and then displaying the content recommended by 14 the server system associated with it. The client system consists of an identifier that identifies a user, a display component for displaying a user interface, a 16 single-action user interface component that in response to performance of only a 17 single action, sends a request to a server system to obtain a recommendation, 18 the request including the identifier so that the server system can locate additional 19 information needed to complete the request, and so that the server system can fulfill the request for a recommendation. The client system also includes a 21 component which receives the recommendation from the server, in the form of 22 URL(s}, and a component which interfaces with web browser software, and 23 instructs that software to retrieve the content identified by an URL, and display it 24 to the user.
1 In a preferred aspect of the client system, the display component is 2 a browser. Also, the client system above wherein the display component is a 3 browser toolbar. Also, the client system above wherein the display component is 4 a browser plug-in. Also, the client system above wherein the display component is a browser component. Also, the client system above wherein the single action 6 is the clicking of a mouse button.
7 In a broad aspect of the invention a server system is provided for 8 generating recommendations of Recommended Content. The server system 9 consists of a client identifier storage component, a content rating storage component, a user preference storage component, a demographic data storage 11 component, a Recommended Content data storage component, a single-action 12 recommending component. The single-action recommendation component itself 13 consists of a receiving component for receiving requests to obtain a 14 recommendations, the request including the client identifier, the request being sent in response to only a single action being performed; and a personalized 16 recommendation component that uses data from storage components specific to 17 the client and specific to Recommended Content, and perform calculations in 18 order to choose Recommended Content to recommend. The server system also 19 contains a component which determines the URL(s) Which refer to the above Recommended Content, and a sending component, which sends to the client 21 system, the URL(s) determined above, along with associated information:
22 In a preferred aspect of the server system, the request is sent by a 23 client system in response to a single action being performed.
24 In a broad aspect of the invention, a client system is provided for the submission of recommendations of Internet content. The client system 1 consists of a client identifier that identifies a user, a display component for 2 displaying a user interface, a single-action user interface component that in 3 response to performance of only a single action, sends a message to a server 4 system containing details of the recommendation, including URL, and potentially the quantitative value (e.g. rating) of the recommendation, and a component 6 which receives confirmation from the server, and displays this confirmation to the 7 user.
8 in a preferred aspect of the client system the single-action to be 9 performed is the pushing of a button. Also, the client system above wherein the 'recommend' button is part of a rating interface. In this case, the client may have 11 many buttons each triggered by a single-action.
12 In a broad aspect of the invention, a server system is provided for 13 the receiving of ratings and recommendations of Internet content. This server 14 system consists of a Recommended Content data storage component, a recommendation storing component; a receiving component for receiving 16 recommendations from clients, the request including the client identifier, the 17 request being sent in response to only a single action being performed; a 18 Recommend Content storage component, which stores the recommendation from 19 the client, along with any associated data sent by the client; a sending component, which sends to the client system a confirmation of submission.
21 In a preferred aspect of the above server system the single-action is 22 the push of a button. Also, the system above wherein in addition to the 23 Recommended Content data storage component there is a rating storage 24 component responsible for storing ratings of Internet content. The ratings are those sent with the above client system 1 In a broad aspect of the invention, a method is provided for 2 receiving recommendations from client systems. This method consists of;
under 3 control of the client system, a method enabling a user interface for controlling the 4 recommendation system; in response to only a single action being pertormed, sending a recommendation from the client system to a server system, in the form 6 of a URL referring to the Internet content, along with an identifier of the user of 7 the client system. Under control of the server system, receiving a 8 recommendation, storing the recommendation in the Recommended Content 9 data database, issuing a response from a server system containing a confirmation, Under control the client system, receiving the confirmation, 11 optionally, interfacing with a web browses application, and directing it to display 12 success to the user.
Figure 1a is a block diagram illustrating single-action server-16 recommendation in one embodiment of the present invention;
17 Figure 1b is a block diagram illustrating single-action user-18 recommendation in one embodiment of the present invention;
19 Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the - present invention;
21 Figure 3a is a flow diagram of one potential routine that enables 22 single-action recommendation and display of content recommended by the server 23 system;
1 Figure 3b is a flow diagram of another potential routine that enables 2 single-action recommendation and display of content recommended by the server 3 system;
4 Figure 4 is a flow diagram of one potential routine that enables the server system to respond to requests for content recommended by the server 6 system;
7 Figure 5 is a flow diagram of one potential routine that enables the 8 server system to generate recommendations;
9 Figure 6 is a flow diagram of one potential routine that enables the collection of user preferences;
11 Figure 7 is a flow diagram of one potential routine that enables 12 rating submission;
13 Figure 8 is a flow diagram of one potential routine that creates a 14 client system;
Figure 9 is a view of a web screen shot introducing one 16 embodiment of the invention according to the Example, and in which a new user 17 is invited to install a custom interface for personalized web surfing to the standard 18 tool bar as illustrated;
19 Figure 10 is partial web screen shot of an example of a standard web security warning prior to modification of the user's web browser;
21 Figure 11 is a view of a web screen shot illustrating the successful 22 additional of a custom toolbar added to the standard tool bar, now providing 23 single-click action buttons for implementing the invention including:
personalized 24 search action initiator, rating (bad, good, great and administration access;
1 Figure 12 is a partial screen shot illustrating a preliminary form for 2 selecting categories of the user's interests;
3 Figure 13 is a partial screen shot illustrating a more comprehensive 4 form for selecting categories of the user's interests;
Figure 14 is a partial screen shot illustrating acknowledgment of the 6 recordal of the user's prefen-ed categories of the user's interests;
7 Figure 15 illustrates the user's option to select a category of interest 8 to which the system will select and apply personalized recommendations of web 9 content wherein, selection of the search initiation button "Stumble" will retrieve the recommended content;
11 Figure 16 illustrates a web screen shot of an initial result of the 12 personalized search in the user's preferred category of "Science and 13 Technology". Further the user has selected the "good" button for rating the 14 recommended content;
Figure 17 illustrates a partial web shot of the implementation of one 16 administration button on the custom toolbar enabling various housekeeping 17 functions for the user's account including altering category preferences;
18 Figure 18 illustrate a web screen shot of a rating information button 19 which demonstrates how others have rated the recommended content, if any;
Figures 19a-19f are screen shots of the help system for the 21 embodiment of Fig. 9, for describing the action initiators or buttons and options.
2 The present invention provides a method and system for single-3 action personalized recommendation of Internet content in a clientlserver 4 environment, as well as the immediate display of this content to the user.
The single-action recommendation system of the present invention minimizes the 6 number of user interactions needed to obtain and view content recommended by 7 the server system.
8 In order to enable the system, the client must register for the 9 recommendation service. In one embodiment of the present invention, the client system is installed by a user simply by directing a web browser to a specified 11 hyperlink. On initial use, the client is provided with a unique identifier, such as a 12 cookie. Additionally, the client system directs the web browser to a form where 13 users are asked to select from a broad range of interests and, optionally, to 14 supply demographic data. Upon completion of this form, the registration process is complete. See Fig. 8, and further description; below. After the sign up process, 16 the single-action recommendation process can be affected at any time.
17 When a user wants to view recommended content, the user uses a 18 client system to submit the request for recommendations along with a client 19 identifier to the server system. The user need only perform a single action (e.g., click a mouse button) to obtain the recommendation, and view the content 21 recommended by the server system. When the user performs that single action, 22 the client system sends a request for recommendation to the server system.
This 23 request may be sent directly from client to server or via the browser. The server 24 system then uses real-time Web personalization software, such as Macromedia Likeminds, to generate personalized recommendations. In general, these 1 systems incorporate into their recommendation calculations user-specific 2 information such as user preferences, demographic data, content rating history, 3 and content-specific information such as subject matter, content quality, 4 complexity of language, and general aesthetics. See Fig. 5, and further description, below. The database of content from which recommendations are 6 chosen is itself built from content recommended to the system by users (see 7 below for detailed description). Once the content to recommend has been 8 chosen, the server system determines the URL(s) which refer to that 9 Recommended Content. If the original request was submitted directly by the client, this URL(s) is then sent back to the client, along with associated 11 information. The client system then interfaces with a browser application, 12 instructing it to retrieve and display the content recommended by the server 13 system, referenced by the URL. Otherwise, the server instructs the browser to 14 retrieve and display the content recommended by the server system, referenced by the URL. Thus, after completion of the registration process, the user has only 16 to perform a single action in order to view content recommended by the server 17 system.
18 Herein, recommended content is associated with indexing 19 information, the form of which may be dictated by the persanalization software or supporting applications. Such indexing information may include the URL, key 21 words, an identifier of a network user who has expressed an interest in the 22 content and other identifiers. The system manages recommendations which are 23 associated with the indexing information for the content and which may further 24 include user ratings about the content. Recommendations are thereby 1 associated with the recommended content. The system would not typically 2 manage content as that is the territory of the content provider.
3 When a user want to express feelings regarding the quality of 4 content, which has been recommended by the server system or which the user has discovered independently, the user uses a client system to submit the rating 6 along with a client identifier and URL of the rated content to the server system.
7 The client system contains an indication of an action that a user is to perform to 8 rate the quality or directly recommend Internet content currently displayed in the 9 web browser: In a preferred embodiment, the single-action is clicking a mouse button. There may be multiple indications of actions to distinguish the quality 11 rating. In a preferred embodiment, the indications are buttons labeled "good,"
12 "bad" and "great". The server stores the recommendation in the Recommended 13 Content Data Database. The server also stores the rating in the Rating Database.
14 See Fig. 7, and further description, below.
The present invention, thus, has a dual-recommendation nature 16 whereby users recommend content to the server system, and the server system, 17 through personalization calculations, recommends that same content back to 18 those other users predicted to find it of particular interest. This dual 19 recommendation nature of the present invention allows it to deal with many problems that the recommendation of Internet content presents. Many systems 21 smaller in breadth, such as the investment recommendation and match making 22 services mentioned above, do not have the first of these steps (i.e.
23 recommendation from users to the system). This step is of vital importance in that 24 it accomplishes the collection of high quality Internet content. Instead, such systems have either data feeds, or often onerous, extensive user questionnaires.
1 The second step of this dual-recommendation process (i.e. personalized 2 recommendation of content to users from the server system) is more similar to 3 the calculations that these systems perform, although the types of data available 4 from users for personalization may be different.
From the perspective of a user, the present invention is most 6 valuable for the recommendation of content that the user would never have 7 thought to search for. The single-action nature of the rating interface encourages 8 frequent user feedback as to quality of recommendations (i.e. ratings). This 9 facilitates improved quality of recommendations over time. In essence, the present invention automates what has become known as "surfing the web," and 11 in a way that yields consistently better results.
12 Fig. 1a is a block diagram illustrating single-action server-13 recommendation in one embodiment of the present invention. Section 101a 14 illustrates a browser, which is the Internet content display application.
Section 102a is an illustration of the single-action button with which the user can obtain 16 content recommended by the server system. Section 103a is an illustration of the 17 browser after the single-action: it now displays content recommended by the 18 server system.
19 Fig. 1 b is a block diagram illustrating single-action user-recommendation in one embodiment of the present invention. Section 101 b 21 illustrates a browses, which contains the to-be-recommended Internet content.
22 Section 102b is an illustration of the single-action button with which the user can 23 recommend content to the server system. Section 103b is an illustration of the 24 browses after the single-action; it now displays an indication of success.
1 Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present 2 invention. This embodiment supports the single-action recommendation of 3 content over the Internet using the World Wide Web. The server system 210 4 includes four handlers, 211-214, which interface with the client. A handler is a software component responsible for communications between the server and 6 client systems. The Recommend Request handler 211 receives requests from 7 the client for recommendations, and is further explained in Fig. 4. The rating 8 handler 212 receives ratings from the client, and stores them in the Rating 9 Database. This rating data is used by the Personalized Recommendation Component. The Submit Recommended Content handler 213 receives, from the 11 client, URLs referring to Internet content that the user wishes to have 12 recommended to other users. It triggers the addition of data to the 13 Recommended Content data database 217. The Preference handler 214 enables 14 users to specify their preferences, demographic data and other pertinent information. It is further explained in Fig. 6. The server has four or more 16 databases 215-217. The Client ID database 215 is responsible for maintaining 17 client identifier and authentication information. The database grouping 216 has 18 many databases of client-specific data. These data may consist of user-specified 19 preference, demographics, content rating history, as well as other types of data.
The Recommended Content Data database 217 stores data about 21 Recommended Content (not the Recommended Content itself). These databases 22 are used by the Personalized Recommendation Component. The Personalized 23 Recommendation Component 218 performs personalized recommendation 24 calculations given data in the above databases, to determine recommendations 1 of content for particular users. The Personalized Recommendation Component 2 218 is further explained in Fig. 5.
3 The client system 220 contains a browser 221 and its assigned 4 client identifier 222. The browser 221 contains an embodiment of the client user interface as a toolbar 223. In one embodiment, the server system assigns and 6 sends the client identifier to the client system when the client system first 7 interacts with the server system. From then on, the client system includes its 8 client identifier in all communication with the server system so that the server 9 system can identify the client. For the shown embodiment, the browser toolbar 223 contains an indication of the single-action to be performed: 224, a button 11 labeled "Stumble!" The shown embodiment also contains an indication of a 12 single-action rating and recommendation interface 225, whereby the client can 13 send ratings and recommendations to the server system pertaining to the 14 currently displayed Internet content. In another embodiment, the buttons may be part of an HTML document in a frame. Those skilled in the art will be aware that 16 the indication of the single-action to be preformed could be generated in many 17 different ways. The server and client systems interact by exchanging information 18 via communications fink 230, which may include transmission over the Internet.
19 Fig. 3a is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a routine that enables single-action recommending of Internet content, along with immediate 21 retrieval and display of this content. The flow diagram is initiated when the user 22 performs the single-action. In step 301a, the client system performs a check for 23 cached recommended URLs. Cached recommendations are simply 24 recommendations previously provided by the server system but not yet displayed to the user. If the there are no (or too few) cached recommendations, the client 1 system continues to step 302a. Otherwise, the client system continues at step 2 305a. In step 302a, the client system sends a request to the server system for 3 Recommended Content, along with its client identifier. In step 303a, the client 4 system receives a list of one or more recommended URL(s) and associated information from the server. This associated information may consist of a 6 predicted rating, categorization data, or other useful information about the 7 Recommended Content. In step 304a, this list is stored in the client's cache of 8 recommended URLs. In step 305a, the client retrieves one URL from the cache.
9 In step 306a, the client interfaces with a browser, and instructs that application to retrieve and display the content referenced by the chosen URL.
11 Fig. 3b is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a routine that 12 enables single-action recommending of Internet content, along with immediate 13 retrieval and display of this content. The flow diagram is initiated when the user 14 performs the single-action. In step 301 b, the client system sends a request to the server system for content recommended by the server system, along with its 16 client identifier. In step 302b, the client system receives a recommended URL
17 from the server. In step 303b, the client interfaces with a browser, and instructs 18 that application to retrieve and display the content recommended by the server 19 system, referenced by the URL returned by the server system. In a preferred embodiment, steps 302b and 303b would be accomplished together using an 21 HTTP redirect as the server response, requiring no action from the client in order 22 to make the browser behave properly.
23 Fig. 4 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a routine that 24 enables the server system to respond to requests for Recommended Content.
It further explains the Recommend Request hander described in 211. The flow 1 diagram is initiated when the server system receives a request for 2 recommendation from a client. In step 401, the server system checks for existing 3 recommendations for the user represented by the client identifier of the request, 4 as described above. If such recommendations are found, then the server system continues at step 403. Otherwise, the server system proceeds to step 402. In 6 step 402, the server system generates recommendations for the user. This step 7 is further explained in Fig. 5. In step 403, the server returns the URL(s) referring 8 to the Recommended Content, along with associated information, to the client 9 system. Associated information, if present, may consist of a predicted rating, categorization data, or other useful information about the Recommended 11 Content. In the case that the client is embodied as in Fig. 3b, the server system 12 will return only a single URL, possibly embedded in an HTML document 13 containing an HTTP redirect to the chosen URL.
14 Fig. 5 is a flow diagram of the Personalized Recommendation Component. It depicts a routine that determines the Recommended Content to 16 recommend to a given user. The flow diagram is initiated when the Personalized 17 Recommendation Component receives a command to generate 18 recommendations. In step 501, the Personalized Recommendation Component 19 loads user-specific data such as user preferences, demographic data and content rating history. In step 502, the Personalized Recommendation Component loads 21 content-specific data such as subject matter, content quality, complexity of 22 language and general aesthetics. In step 503, these data are used by a 23 calculation engine. Such calculations may involve algorithms found in literature 24 on the subject as well as licensed third party software. An example of such literature is 'An Algorithmic Framework for Performing Collaborative Filtering' by 1 Heriocker, Konstan, Borchers, Riedl. An example of such third party software is 2 Macromedia Likeminds. The result of these calculations is the selection of 3 Recommended Content deemed to be of specific interest to the client, and 4 therefore suitable for recommendation. In step 504, the URL attribute of the selected Recommended Content is retrieved from the Recommended Content 6 Data database. Finally, in step 505, the URL is returned to the server system for 7 further processing, see Fig. 4. If more recommendations are required, the 8 process may be repeated.
9 Fig. 6 is a flow diagram of one potential routine that enables the collection of user preferences. It further details the Preference handler 214 11 previously mentioned. The flow diagram is initiated when the server system 12 receives a request to set or update user-specific preferences or other user-13 specific data. In step 601, the system receives the client identifier from the client 14 system. In step 602, user-specific data is loaded from the databases based on the client ID, and formatted into a document suitable for transmission to the 16 client. If this is a new client identifier, a blank template is generated.
In step 603, 17 this document is sent to the client system. In step 604, updated user-specific data 18 is received from the client system. In step 605, this update is saved to the 19 appropriate databases; including the preference database, the demographic database and so forth, based on the client identifier. In step 606, the server 21 notifies the client of the success of the update.
22 Fig. 7 is a flow diagram of one potential routine that enables 23 submission of content ratings, and the recommendation of Internet content.
The 24 flow diagram is initiated when the user activates the rating interface for the currently displayed Internet content, perhaps by a single-action pushing of a 1 button. In step 701, the client sends the rating, client identifier, and URL
referring 2 to the rated Internet content to the server. In step 702, the server receives the 3 data from the client. In step 703, the server stores the received data in the Rating 4 database, and in the Recommended Content data database, if the rating was of sufficient magnitude. In step 704, the server sends a confirmation message back 6 to the client indicating success. In step 705, the client displays success to the 7 user. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other routines and user interfaces 8 for submission of recommended content are possible.
9 Fig. 8 is a flow diagram of one potential routine that creates a client system. The flow diagram is initiated when a potential user requests to become a 11 user. In step 801, the user downloads and installs the client software. The nature 12 of this download, and the associated software, will vary depending on the client 13 system requested (see Figs. 3a and 3b). In step 802, the client obtains a unique 14 client identifier from the server system. In step 803, the user fills out completes a form to indicate a selection of broad interests. In step 804, the server system 16 stores the preference data in the Preference database associating it with the 17 unique client identifier generated in step 802.
As shown in Figs. 19a-19f, one embodiment of the invention is 21 illustrated for interacting with a network user. A network user configures their 22 browser for incorporation a custom interface and then becomes a user known to 23 the system. The figures illustrate the configuration of a new network user's 24 browser, selection of the user's categories of preferred content, operation and options thereof.
1 Although the present invention has been described in terms of 2 various embodiments, it is not intended that the invention be limited to these 3 embodiments. Modification within the spirit of the invention will be apparent to 4 those skilled in the art. For instance, various different single actions can be used to effect the placement of a request. For example, a voice command may be 6 spoken by the user, a key may be depressed by the user, a button on a television 7 remote control device may be depressed by the user, or selection using any 8 pointing device may be effected by the user. Although a single action may be 9 preceded by multiple physical movements of the user (e.g., moving a mouse so that a mouse pointer is over a button), the single action generally refers to a 11 single event received by a client system that indicates a desire to receive content 12 recommended by the server system, or to rate or recommend Internet content.
13 Details of additional actions and options available are detailed in the 14 textual portions and icons illustrated in Figs. 19a-19f.
Claims (20)
1. A method for retrieving content from a distributed network which is personalized to one or more network users comprising:
presenting an user interface to each of one or more network users including an action initiator;
receiving input at the action initiator which is indicative of a request from a requesting user of the one of more network users for the retrieval of content recommended to the requesting user;
retrieving recommendations for content for the requesting user;
displaying content at the user interface for the requesting user, content being associated with the recommendations.
presenting an user interface to each of one or more network users including an action initiator;
receiving input at the action initiator which is indicative of a request from a requesting user of the one of more network users for the retrieval of content recommended to the requesting user;
retrieving recommendations for content for the requesting user;
displaying content at the user interface for the requesting user, content being associated with the recommendations.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
presenting a rating initiator at each of the user interface;
receiving input from at least one of the rating initiators, each of which is indicative of a rating from a rating user of the one or more network users, each rating being associated with the rating user's preference for the content currently displayed at the rating user's user interface; and storing information comprising an identity of the rating user, a pointer to the current content, and a rating for content; and establishing recommendations for content which is preferred by at least one of the one or more network users based on the ratings received.
presenting a rating initiator at each of the user interface;
receiving input from at least one of the rating initiators, each of which is indicative of a rating from a rating user of the one or more network users, each rating being associated with the rating user's preference for the content currently displayed at the rating user's user interface; and storing information comprising an identity of the rating user, a pointer to the current content, and a rating for content; and establishing recommendations for content which is preferred by at least one of the one or more network users based on the ratings received.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the information stored further comprises a category of interest, the method further comprising:
receiving input at the user interface from one of the one of more network users which is indicative of a category of interest;
retrieving recommendations for content associated with the category of interest;
displaying content at the user interface for the requesting user, the content being associated with the recommendations.
receiving input at the user interface from one of the one of more network users which is indicative of a category of interest;
retrieving recommendations for content associated with the category of interest;
displaying content at the user interface for the requesting user, the content being associated with the recommendations.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the information stored further comprises storing demographics for the requesting user; and establishing recommendations for content which is preferred by at least one of the one or more network users based on the demographic information.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
storing recommendations on a server system, each recommendation being associated with recommended content and values indicative of content preference information for a known network user;
presenting an user interface to the known network user including an action initiator;
receiving input at the action initiator and which is indicative of a request from the known network user for the retrieval of the recommendations;
retrieving recommendations for the known network user using the values indicative of preference information for the known user;
displaying the recommended content associated with the recommendations.
storing recommendations on a server system, each recommendation being associated with recommended content and values indicative of content preference information for a known network user;
presenting an user interface to the known network user including an action initiator;
receiving input at the action initiator and which is indicative of a request from the known network user for the retrieval of the recommendations;
retrieving recommendations for the known network user using the values indicative of preference information for the known user;
displaying the recommended content associated with the recommendations.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein the recommended content is further associated with a rating, further comprising:
accepting a value from the known network user, the value being indicative of the preference information and for establishing a rating of the recommended content displayed; and submitting the value of the rating to the server system for dynamically adjusting the recommendations for the known network user.
accepting a value from the known network user, the value being indicative of the preference information and for establishing a rating of the recommended content displayed; and submitting the value of the rating to the server system for dynamically adjusting the recommendations for the known network user.
7. The method of claim 4 further comprising:
accepting a value from the known network user, the value being indicative of the preference information and for establishing a rating of the recommended content displayed; and submitting the value of the rating to the server system for dynamically adjusting the recommendations for the known network user.
accepting a value from the known network user, the value being indicative of the preference information and for establishing a rating of the recommended content displayed; and submitting the value of the rating to the server system for dynamically adjusting the recommendations for the known network user.
8. The method of claim 5 wherein the value of the rating is assigned based upon a passive response by the known network user.
9. The method of claim 5 further comprising:
providing one or more rating initiators at the user interface; and receiving input at the one or more rating initiators wherein the value of the content rating indicator is assigned based upon actuation of the one or more rating initiators.
providing one or more rating initiators at the user interface; and receiving input at the one or more rating initiators wherein the value of the content rating indicator is assigned based upon actuation of the one or more rating initiators.
10. The method of claim 4 wherein the recommended content is stored through association with at least a uniform resource locator for the recommended content.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the recommendations are stored through association with attributes for the recommended content.
12. The method of claim 4 wherein the recommendations are associated with a rating, further comprising establishing one or more categories of interests accepting values indicative of preference information from each of a plurality of network users and for establishing a rating for the recommendations associated with the recommended content;
submitting the ratings to the server system for dynamically adjusting the recommendations for the category;
receiving input from the known network user for the retrieval of recommendations related to a category;
retrieving recommendations far the category based on values indicative of preference information for the plurality of users; and displaying the recommended content associated with the recommendations to the known network user as requested.
submitting the ratings to the server system for dynamically adjusting the recommendations for the category;
receiving input from the known network user for the retrieval of recommendations related to a category;
retrieving recommendations far the category based on values indicative of preference information for the plurality of users; and displaying the recommended content associated with the recommendations to the known network user as requested.
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
accepting a rating from the known network user for the recommended content displayed; and submitting the rating to the server system for dynamically adjusting the recommendations for the known network user.
accepting a rating from the known network user for the recommended content displayed; and submitting the rating to the server system for dynamically adjusting the recommendations for the known network user.
14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
providing one or more rating initiators at the user interface; and receiving input at the one or more rating initiators wherein the rating is assigned based upon actuation of the one or more rating initiators.
providing one or more rating initiators at the user interface; and receiving input at the one or more rating initiators wherein the rating is assigned based upon actuation of the one or more rating initiators.
15. A system for displaying content which is recommended to a network user comprising:
a server for storing, retrieving and adjusting recommendations associated with recommended content, the recommendations being associated with values indicative of preference information for a known network user;
a client system for providing a user interface to the known network user; and an action initiator in the user interface which, when actuated, is indicative of a request from the known network user for the retrieval of recommended content from the server system and display at the client system.
a server for storing, retrieving and adjusting recommendations associated with recommended content, the recommendations being associated with values indicative of preference information for a known network user;
a client system for providing a user interface to the known network user; and an action initiator in the user interface which, when actuated, is indicative of a request from the known network user for the retrieval of recommended content from the server system and display at the client system.
16. The system of claim 14 further comprising a rating indicator in the user interface which, when actuated, is indicative of a rating for the recommended content retrieved and displayed.
17. A system for displaying content which is recommended to a network user comprising:
a server for storing, retrieving and adjusting recommendations associated with recommended content, the recommendations being associated with values indicative of preference information for one or more network users;
a client system for providing a user interface to the one or more network users; and an action initiator in the user interface which, when actuated, is indicative of a request from the one or more network users for the retrieval of recommended content from the server system and display at the client system.
a server for storing, retrieving and adjusting recommendations associated with recommended content, the recommendations being associated with values indicative of preference information for one or more network users;
a client system for providing a user interface to the one or more network users; and an action initiator in the user interface which, when actuated, is indicative of a request from the one or more network users for the retrieval of recommended content from the server system and display at the client system.
18. The system of claim 16 further comprising a rating indicator in the user interface which, when actuated, is indicative of a rating value indicative of preference information for the recommended content retrieved and displayed.
19. The system of claim 16 further comprising a rating indicator in the user interface which, when actuated, is indicative of a rating value indicative of preference information for any independent content located and displayed to the one or mare network users at the client system, the independent content and rating value being added to the recommendations in the server.
20. The system of claim 18 further comprising categories for recommended content and the rating indicators for recommended content is one or more network users at the client system, the independent content and rating value being added to the recommendations in the server.
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-
2003
- 2003-04-11 US US10/411,341 patent/US8078615B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2003-04-11 CA CA2425217A patent/CA2425217C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20130204833A1 (en) * | 2012-02-02 | 2013-08-08 | Bo PANG | Personalized recommendation of user comments |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US8078615B2 (en) | 2011-12-13 |
| CA2425217C (en) | 2013-06-25 |
| US20030195884A1 (en) | 2003-10-16 |
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