JP2003531411A - Autonomous Browse Agent - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring user behavior during browsing and providing assistance and / or more information about the user's behavior with respect to a website. A method and system for implementing and supporting an autonomous software agent that assists a user during a web browsing or navigating session over a computer network is disclosed. The computer network includes at least one client computer associated with one or more users, at least one server associated with a provider of goods, services or information, and at least one browse agent associated with an autonomous browse agent. Including server. The method of the present invention comprises: (a) monitoring a click stream at the client computer; (b) transmitting click stream data derived from the click stream to the browse agent server; Receiving the control data corresponding to the click stream data, (d) providing a command option based on the control data to the user, and (e) executing the command option when the user selects it. including.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to computer networks. More particularly, the present invention provides a method and system for providing an autonomous software agent to assist a user during a browse session on a computer network.

[0002]

[Prior art]

The Internet is a worldwide network of millions of computers belonging to various commercial and non-profit organizations such as corporations, universities, and research organizations. The computer networks of the Internet are connected by gateways that handle the data transfer and conversion of messages from the sending network into the protocols used by the receiving network. The collection of Internet networks and gateways uses the TCP / IP protocol. TCP / IP is an acronym for Transfer Control Protocol / Interface Program, which is a software protocol developed by the Department of Defense.

The increasing use of wide area networks, such as the Internet, has resulted in a surge in the provision of online services. Computer users can access a vast amount of information and services by establishing a connection with other computers connected to the network using a wide area network.

Computers connected to a wide area network such as the Internet are typically identified as either services or clients. A server is a computer that stores files available to other computers connected to the network. A client is a computer attached to a network that accesses files and other resources provided by the server. To get information from the service, the client computer uses a particular protocol to request a file or information located on the server. Upon receiving the properly formatted request, the server downloads the file to the client computer.

The World Wide Web is a system of Internet servers that support specially formatted documents using specific Internet protocols. Hypertext Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”)
Is the underlying protocol used by the World Wide Web. HTTP is a method of formatting and sending messages, and web.
Defines what action the server and browser should take in response to various commands. Another major standard on the World Wide Web is Hyper-Text Markup Language ("HTML"), which deals with the way documents and files are formatted and displayed. HTML supports collaboration with other documents in addition to graphics, audio, and video files.

Users access content contained on the Internet and the World Wide Web with Internet browsers. Internet browsers are software applications used to set up and display web pages. Web pages are documents on the World Wide Web. Each web page on the web server is identified by a unique uniform resource locator. The Uniform Resource Locator ("URL") is the global address for files and other resources on the Internet. The address indicates the protocol used and the I / O where the file or resource is located.
Specify the P address or area name. The URL typically identifies the name of the server and the path to the desired file on the server. For example, a URL for a particular file on a web server may be constructed as follows. That is, "http: //: // <se
rever> / <filepath> ”. Here, <server> identifies the server in which the file is provided, and <filepath> identifies the path to the file on the server. Thus, with the exact name of the server and the exact path to the file, a properly formatted URL will access the desired file on the server connected to the World Wide Web.

[0007] The Internet has become a fast way to do business as well as obtain information. As one can imagine, there are a myriad of documents and files that correspond to the vast array of information and services available on the Internet. In fact, it is not possible for a user to exhaust all the resources available on the Internet. Thus, as the users of the World Wide Web of the Internet encounter ever-increasing amounts of web-delivered information and services, the user monitors user behavior while browsing the website and provides user assistance and There is a need for a method and system that provides more information about the page currently being viewed. For example, each transaction made on the Internet requires the consumer to provide the information necessary to complete the transaction. Regular web pages provide an interface for consumers to access more information or fill out, for example, to order a product. For example, a consumer may access a particular commercial website and order the products advertised on that website. To complete the transaction, the commercial web server serves the web page with an interface that requires specific information from the user, such as name, shipping address, and payment information.
Anyone who encounters such an interface recognizes that providing the requested information is often a tedious process.

Accordingly, there is a need for a method and system for automating the operation of web page-based interfaces, including, for example, input field data entries, and page-based information collection. Moreover, since each web page may include a different interface or otherwise be interacted in a unique way, such a method or system may be used to identify web pages that a user is navigating in their browser. Must be able to identify and what can be done there and how to achieve it.

As mentioned above, there are numerous resources available on the Internet. However, retrieving the desired information on the Internet requires knowledge of the relevant URL. Thus, for example, if a consumer wants to get information about a particular company's product or to order a product on the World Wide Web, the user must know the URL (data location) corresponding to the company's website. . However, as the user navigates to a particular website, the user may want to get more information about a particular subject. For example, a consumer may want to find out the price at which another store offers a particular book. In this case, the user has to manually browse other commercial sites. Specific U
If the RL or data location is unknown, the search engine is one way to locate the desired URL pointing to the desired information. Generally, a user inputs a keyword or search condition to a search engine, and the engine returns a list of URLs corresponding to the website or the USNET group in which the keyword or search condition is found.

[0010]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, using a search engine can be a time consuming process. Often, users want to deal with excessive search results, search for specific products or information, filter information, fill out web forms, or navigate complex or routine tasks such as navigating complex websites. . In general, users often desire intelligent agents who can assist the browser operator (user). In view of the above, there is a need for a method and system for monitoring a user's activity during browsing and providing assistance and / or more information regarding the activity the user is taking with a website. The present invention substantially fulfills the above needs.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

The present invention is directed to browsing or navigating the web over computer networks.
Methods and systems are provided for implementing and supporting autonomous software agents that assist users during sessions. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a computer network in which at least one client computer is associated with one or more users;・ It is considered to include an agent server. The method of the present invention comprises: (a) monitoring the click stream at the client computer; (b) sending click stream data derived from the click stream to the browse agent server; (c) ) Receive control data corresponding to the click stream data, (d) provide command options based on the control data to the user, and (e) execute the command option when the user selects. Be prepared.

As used herein, “control data” refers to any data or information sent by a browse agent server to an autonomous browse agent. As described in more detail below, the control data may include program support used by browse agents to operate on a page-based interface.
In another embodiment, the control data also relates to the results of internet searches sent to browse agents. As used herein, "click stream" relates to the sequence of events encountered by a user and the actions taken by the user when browsing a computer network. A click stream consists of a series of web pages, network addresses, any data that a user fills in a form, and / or anything that a user clicks.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the user can configure the browse agent to act or appear to the user only in certain specific states. In this embodiment, the method comprises: (a) receiving a browse agent configuration from a user, (b) monitoring a click stream at the client computer, and (c) a click stream derived from the click stream. Send the stream data and the agent configuration to the browse agent server,
(D) receiving the click stream data and control data corresponding to the agent configuration, and (e) providing command options to the user based on the control data.

The present invention also provides methods and systems for supporting browse agents residing on a user's computer. These methods generally (a) receive click stream data from a browse agent residing on the client computer, and (b) determine if control data is present for the click stream data. And (c) transmitting the control data to the browse agent when such control data exists. Another method is (a) receiving click stream data and browse agent configuration from the browse agent residing on the client computer, and (b) is control data present for the click stream data? And (c) sending the control data to the browse agent if such control data is present and the control data matches the browse agent configuration.

Additionally, one embodiment of the present invention provides a method and system for automating the operation of page-based interfaces over computer networks.
As the user is navigating to various web pages in their browser, the present invention automatically senses which page the user is navigating (i.e., without instructions issued by the user). Therefore, the present invention accesses a database that applies a set of rules that matches a pattern that the user's intent can be inferred. The browse agent server responds with a set of possible actions (command options) that the user may then choose to assist in managing the page.

The method of the present invention generally involves storing user information such as name, address, and preferred payment information. The method senses the computer network address of the currently viewed page, accesses a database containing the computer network address and an interface profile or support corresponding to the stored computer network address, and is currently viewed from the database. The method further includes receiving an interface profile corresponding to the opening page (if any). Finally, the method of the present invention involves operating on the interface of a particular page according to previously stored user information and interface profiles or instructions.

The present invention also provides a system for automating the operation of page-based interfaces over computer networks. The system generally corresponds to the means for storing user information, the means for sensing the computer network address of the currently viewed page, and the database currently accessed by accessing a database. Means for retrieving an interface profile or program instructions, and means for operating on the interface of the currently viewed page according to the stored user information and the interface profile or instructions.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1A shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The present invention generally includes at least one client computer 20, at least one merchant website 30, and a browse agent site 40, all connected to the Internet 60. Of course, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is applicable to any computer network. Further, FIG. 1B corresponds to FIG.
A modified example of the information flow shown in FIG. The system shown in FIG. 1B is
A communication path through a browse agent server as a proxy server is shown. Those skilled in the art know that any of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B are possible and the structures shown here provide different engineering tradeoffs.

As is conventional, the merchant website 30 is supported by a web or internet server 32, which receives requests made by users and returns files and other documents. As shown in FIG. 1A, in a preferred embodiment, the server 32 is connected to the internet 60.

As shown in FIG. 1A, one embodiment of the present invention is an Internet browser 2
2 and a conventional computer with a connection to the Internet. User's computer 20 may be any conventional personal computer known in the art. In the preferred form, user computer 20 includes at least one processor, a data storage system (including volatile and non-volatile media), a keyboard, a display, at least one input device and at least one output device. In a preferred embodiment, the user's computer is connected to the Internet via a modem dial-up connection or network line. Such communication could be wireless.

According to the present invention, client computer 20 also includes a browse agent 24. Browse agent 24 may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both. In the preferred form, browse agent 24 is a software application executing on client computer 20 in a conventional manner. Browse agent 24 operates in conjunction with browser 22, as described in more detail below. More specifically, the browse agent 24 monitors user activity on the browser 22 and sends data regarding such activity (click stream data) to the browse agent site 40.

Like the website 30, the browse agent site 40 is supported by a plurality of servers 42 connected to the Internet 60. The browse agent server 42 receives the click stream data from the browse agent 24 and sends control data in response. In one preferred embodiment, the browse agent site 40 includes a search engine server 44, a website profile database 46, and a master user database 48. Website profile database 46 and master user database 48 may be any known database. In the preferred form, each database is implemented in hardware that includes a collection of computer programs that enable the storage, modification, and extraction of information on the database. Database hardware may range from personal computers (for small systems) to mainframes (for large systems). In addition, the browse agent server 42 may be a hardware or software
It may be preferably carried out in a combination of both. In a preferred form, the server is programmable, each comprising at least one processor, a data storage system (including volatile and non-volatile media), at least one input device, and at least one output device. A computer running on a computer
Implemented in the program. Browse and browse as described in more detail below.
The agent server 42 receives the data from the browse agent 24, performs a certain predetermined action based on the transmitted data, and returns the browse agent 24. However, as those skilled in the art will appreciate, the database described above may reside on browse agent server 42, or may be physically separate but operatively connected to the server.

(Operation) In operation, the user starts the session by launching the Internet browser 22 on the client computer 20. In accordance with the present invention, browse agent 24 is also launched and runs within a separate small web page window maintained by internet browser 22. In the preferred form, the small window is obscured in the background by the window containing the page currently viewed on the main display of the Internet browser 22.

In a preferred embodiment, a user's session begins by logging into their account at the browse agent site 40. In this embodiment, the browse agent 24 appears in the foreground during login. More specifically, a user using client computer 20 has access to an account stored on master user database 48 operatively connected to server 42 of browse agent site 40. According to one embodiment, the user's account includes the user's name and a password for the name or its cipher.

The server 42 authenticates the user in a conventional manner. In one embodiment, the server 42 authenticates the user by requiring the user to enter a user name and password. Many authentication protocols are well known. The actual authentication protocol used is not critical to the invention. In one preferred embodiment, the record corresponding to each account is salted with the user's name and the user's password.
ted) Includes one-way hash. Therefore, each user is authenticated by hashing the entered password with "salt" and comparing the result with the hash value stored in the user's record. If there is a match, the user is considered authentic.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a user has provided browse agent site 40 with some standard information typically required to complete a transaction. Such user information includes, but is not limited to, name, address, shipping address, and payment information such as credit card, model, number and expiration date. This information can be stored locally by the browse agent 24 or remotely to an account on the browse agent server 42 or master user database 48, as described in more detail below. Further, other user information may be stored. For example, such information may assist users in interacting with personal preferences, medical history, financial information, demographic information, business history, school information, business information, and even the Internet or other computer networks. Other information that can be used by the present invention to do so can be included.

Upon proper authentication of the user, the browse agent 24 immediately becomes the background and the main browser window is displayed. The user then accesses the website 30 and requests a page or document as is conventional (see FIG. 1A, reference numeral 1). In response, the website 30 sends the requested page (Fig. 1
A, see reference number 2). In accordance with the present invention, browse agent 24, operating in the background, monitors user activity on browser 22 and sends click stream data relating to such activity to browse agent server 42. (See Figure 1A, reference numeral 3).

In a preferred embodiment, browse agent 24 obtains the address of the web page currently being viewed in internet browser 22 and places this address in a variable memory location within browse agent 24. It is stored (see FIG. 1A, reference numeral 3 and FIG. 2, step 102). The browse agent 24 sends the address of the currently viewed web page to the browse agent server 42, which compares it to the address or substring of addresses stored in the website profile database 46. To do. If the address of the currently viewed web page matches the address or substring stored in profile database 46, program instructions or control data for the matching address is obtained from profile database 46. And is delivered to the browse agent 24 via the Internet 60 (see steps 102 and 104 in FIG. 2). In another embodiment, the browse agent inserted a monitoring hook into the browser 22 using various techniques exposed by the browser's application program interface. The particular mechanism used is not critical to the invention.

In one preferred form, the browse agent 24 is currently viewed by the internet browser 22 by comparing it with the address stored in the variable memory location each time in cycles repeated many times per second. Get the address of the web page you are visiting. Thus, the browse agent 24 determines when the user has navigated to a new web page destination. As in the prior art, the user may enter webs other than the one currently viewed in the internet browser 22 by manually filling in the appropriate fields or by clicking on a link contained in the page currently viewed.・ Navigate to the page. The browser 22 connects to the web server 32 and requests the file corresponding to the address or URL specified by the user.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, when the user specifies a new page address, the browse agent 24 obtains the address of the new page and stores it at the variable memory location. Compare and determine that they are different. Browse agent 24 stores the address of the newly identified page in its variable memory location and sends it to browse agent server 42, which compares it with all the addresses stored in profile database 46. As described above, when the browse agent server 42 determines that the address of the new page matches the address stored in the profile database 46, the control data for the address of the page is stored in the profile database 4
6 and are distributed to the browse agent 24 via the Internet 60. If no matching address is found, the browse agent 24 simply continues its repeating period until the user identifies a new page (see step 104 in FIG. 2).

In one embodiment, the control data associated with the destination web page provides data to be inserted into a data field contained within the interface of the page currently being viewed by browse agent 24. To do. Browse agent 24 now appears in the foreground on the user's video display, given the program instructions for the page currently being viewed (see FIG. 2, step 106). The interface control for program instructions is made visible to the user by the browse agent 24. Using interface control
The user may instruct the browse agent 24 to insert data into the data fields appearing in the interface of the page currently being viewed (see FIG. 2, steps 108 and 110). Once the command option is executed, the browse agent 24 then goes to the background and resumes monitoring the click stream on the browser 22.

For example, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention has application to websites corresponding to online music stores. As is conventional, the user navigates an online music store and selects the compact discs and audio tapes he wishes to purchase. As mentioned above, as the user navigates through the various web pages provided by the online music store web server, the browse agent 24 will retrieve the corresponding address or other click stream data from the browse agent server. 42, the server searches the profile database 46 for a match. Upon indicating that the user wants to purchase the selection, the online music store provides a web page with an interface that includes certain data fields. These data fields are the user's full name,
It may include an address, phone number, credit card number and expiration date. According to the present invention, the address corresponding to this web page is communicated to the browse agent server 42 which finds the corresponding entry in the profile database 46. Next, the browse agent server 42 sends the master user
The database 48 is accessed and the data corresponding to the user's account is formatted by the web page profile stored in the profile database 46. The browse agent server 42 then sends the browse agent 24 the user's data formatted according to the program instructions or interface profile associated with the particular web page. The browse agent 24 appears in the foreground and allows the browse agent 24 to insert data into the data fields of the interface.
Interface controls that indicate command options that may be selected as appropriate for instructing (see FIG. 2, steps 108 and 110). Therefore, rather than having to manually enter information into the data fields, the user
Simply click the button in the interface control provided by Browse Agent 24 to enter the information required to complete the transaction.

In the preferred form, browse agent 24 executes the instructions and returns to the background on the user's video display. Next, the browse agent 24 repeatedly obtains the address of the currently viewed page from the browser 22 and compares it with the address stored in the variable memory each time to determine when the user navigates to the new page. To resume.

In another preferred embodiment, the browse agent 24 itself stores user-specific data. In the preferred form, such data is stored in encrypted form. In the present embodiment, when the user logs in to his account, the browse agent site 40 browses the encryption key.
4 to decrypt the user's data as needed, or use a secure communication protocol such as SSL. The interface profile associated with the page currently viewed in this preferred embodiment provides the browsing agent 24 with program instructions regarding the order and format of the data fields on that page. According to this embodiment, the profile database 4
The browse agent 24 inserts the locally stored user data into the data field according to the interface profile or program instructions provided by the browse agent server 42 from 6.

One aspect of the invention involves creating rules to express a user's intent and generating a profile representing a website. The web-site of a particular online store often includes, for example, one or more interfaces or formats. Thus, one embodiment of the present invention classifies interface profiles according to the domain name of a particular website. For example, a group of interface profiles corresponding to an online store website with four interfaces is Online Store. Com. Profile 1, online store. Com. The profile 2 may be named. These interface profiles are website profile profiles for the corresponding computer network address or URL.
It is stored in the database 46. In the preferred embodiment, the interface profile contains the computer network address or URL containing the particular interface, as the current URL or address often contains session-specific information.
Related to a particular subsequence of.

As mentioned above, in one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the database used in the present invention is arranged in a series of records. The record stores two types of information. That is, a merchant or website record and a user record that includes the interface profile corresponding to the merchant or website. The merchant or website record represents the merchant's website. The purpose of the merchant model is to map data from the user's data from a standard, canonical format (overview) to the particular format required by the merchant. Those skilled in the art know that the exact form of the merchant model can take many forms. In the preferred embodiment, the merchant model is interpreted as a stored program written in a scripting language such as Javascript. However, the above model can take the form of just a table of name-value mappings. Those skilled in the art will recognize the performance advantage of representing the mapping process as a direct program.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 3, the second preferred embodiment allows the user to configure the browse agent 24 before the session begins (see FIG. 3, step 202). The second preferred embodiment also features the ability to retrieve information about the page currently being viewed in the background at the same time as the user's browse session.

As with the first preferred embodiment, the user using the client computer 20 launches the browser 22 and browse agent 24.
In the preferred form, the user logs into the account as described above. As mentioned above, the second preferred embodiment allows the user to configure the agent to assist the user only in certain conditions when the agent is operating or appearing in the foreground. Thus, browse agent 24 displays a configuration interface that allows the user to configure the agent. For example, and in a preferred embodiment, the browse agent has the ability to operate automatically on a page-based interface (see above) and to search the Internet on the browser 22 based on user activity. (More detailed below). According to this embodiment, the configuration interface allows the user to turn off one or both command options.

After the browse agent 24 is configured, the agent recedes in the background and then monitors the user's activity (click stream) on the browser 22 (see step 204 in FIG. 3). Similar to the first preferred embodiment, such a monitor would allow the browse agent server 42 to view the URL and the currently viewed page if the profile database 46 indicates that a format exists on that page. Of the contents and receiving control data. However, in the second preferred embodiment, the browse agent 24 monitors other aspects of the user's activity and sends other click stream data to the server 42.

For example, the second embodiment of the present invention is applied to a typical online music store as described above. As is conventional, the user navigates through an online music store and selects various compact discs and audio tapes he wishes to purchase. As mentioned above, when the user navigates through the various web pages provided by the online music store web server, the browse agent 24:
It sends the corresponding address to the browse agent server 42, which searches the profile database 46 for a match. Upon indicating that the user wants to purchase the selection, the online music store provides a web page with an interface that includes certain data fields. These data fields may include the user's name, address, telephone number, credit card number and expiration date. According to the present invention, the address corresponding to this web page is communicated to the browse agent server 42 which finds the corresponding entry in the profile database 46. Next, browse agent
The server 42 is a master server, as described above in the description of the first preferred embodiment.
Access the user database 48 and format the data corresponding to the user's account. In addition, the browse agent 24 also scans the currently viewed page for fields that indicate the compact disc or other product the user intends to purchase. The above-mentioned agent then sends this product information (click stream data) to the browse agent server 4
Send to 2. In the preferred form, the Browse Agent sends a Uniform Product Code (“UPC”) number corresponding to each product to the Browse Agent Server 42.

With this click stream data, the browse agent server 42
Accesses the search engine server 44 (see FIG. 1A). Using the UPC number, product name, and other relevant information, the search engine server 44 may include information about other websites connected to the Internet 60 that the user intends to purchase. Search for a website that you don't know. In one preferred embodiment, for example, the browse agent 24 provides the user with an agent to assist the user in making comparison shopping or getting information about the product, such as consumer reports or manufacturer information. To configure. Search engine·
When the server finds information that matches the agent configuration, the server sends the information to the browse agent 24. If not, the browse agent 24 monitors the next user activity (see steps 204 and 206 in FIG. 3).

Once the relevant information is received from the browse agent server 42, a command option to display such information is provided to the user (FIG. 3, step 208).
reference). When the user selects the directive option, the search results are displayed. As mentioned above, the browse agent 24 appears in the foreground and displays, for example, a listing of other websites and the offer price of the retrieved product. In addition, the browse agent 24 may provide consumer reporting information when such information is available and found. As one of ordinary skill in the art can imagine, the search engine server 44 can perform such a search in a variety of ways. For the purposes of the present invention and the scope of the claims appended hereto, neither the configuration of the search engine server nor its method of operation is critical to the present invention. As mentioned above, the browse agent resumes monitoring the click stream after the user selects the command option.

Further, as FIG. 3 shows, the browse agent of the second preferred embodiment sends the agent configuration with click stream data (FIG. 3).
, Step 204). According to this embodiment, the browse agent server 42 simply returns control data or information that matches the particular agent configuration. For example, during agent configuration, if the user disables automatic page-based operation and enables the compare shopping mode, the browse agent nevertheless sends the URL of the currently viewed page. However, the browse agent server 42 that received the agent configuration does not send interface profiles or other control data for page-based interfaces.

On the other hand, FIG. 4 shows a third preferred method corresponding to the present invention. In step 304 of the third preferred method of the present invention, the browse agent 24 clicks
Send stream data to browse agent server 42 and receive control data replies (eg, interface profile or related information retrieval). However, unlike the third preferred method, the browse agent 24 does not send the agent configuration. Rather, when control data is received (step 306), the browse agent evaluates whether the control data matches the agent configuration (step 308). If the user disables the command option corresponding to such control data, the browse agent does not appear in the foreground to provide the command option to the user. However, in the fourth preferred embodiment, the user can invoke the browse agent 24 separately (step 314). When the browse agent 24 is invoked, the agent also provides the user with all available command options.

Overview In view of the above description, those skilled in the art will immediately recognize that the present invention has application in a variety of situations. The above description illustrates the principles of the present invention and provides embodiments thereof. For example, although the preferred embodiment is described as operating with an internet browser, the invention may be used with any suitable software application for accessing files over a computer network. Therefore, this description is not intended to limit the scope of the claims to the precise embodiments shown and described.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a schematic block diagram illustrating the operation of a preferred embodiment of the method and system of the present invention.

FIG. 1B   It is a schematic block diagram which shows other embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 2]   3 is a flowchart showing a first preferred method of the present invention.

[Figure 3]   6 is a flowchart showing a second preferred method of the present invention.

[Figure 4]   6 is a flowchart showing a third preferred method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 client computers 22 browsers 24 Browse Agents 30 merchant sites 46 Website Profile Database 48 Master User Database 44 Search Engine Server 42 Browse Agent Server 60 Internet

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (81) Designated countries EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, I T, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OA (BF, BJ , CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, K E, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG , ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AE, AG, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, C H, CN, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DZ , EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, K G, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT , LU, LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MZ, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, S D, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR , TT, TZ, UA, UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW (72) Inventor Matthew, Finver, Cassidy             Sanfu, California, United States             Lancisco, main, street, 221,             Suite, 1530 (72) Inventor Andrew, Jay, CELLS             Sanfu, California, United States             Lancisco, main, street, 221,             Suite, 1530 (72) Inventor William, Bradford, Chase             Sanfu, California, United States             Lancisco, main, street, 221,             Suite, 1530 F term (reference) 5B075 KK07 KK34 KK40 PP03 PP13                       PP30 PQ02 PR08 UU40                 5B085 AA01 BC01 [Continued summary] Providing a command option to the above user, and (e) If the above user selects, execute the command option Including that.

Claims (28)

[Claims] 1. A method for improving access to information on a computer network, the computer network carrying and forwarding data between computers connected thereto, the computer comprising one or more Including at least one client computer associated with a user, at least one server associated with a provider of goods, services or information, and at least one browse agent server associated with an autonomous browse agent; ) Monitoring the click stream at the client computer; (b) sending click stream data derived from the click stream to the browse agent server; (c) the click stream Receiving control data corresponding to the data; (d) providing a command option based on the control data to the user; and (e) executing the command option when the user selects. And a method comprising. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: (f) repeating steps (a) to (e) a desired number of times. 3. A method for improving access to information on a computer network, the computer network carrying and forwarding data between computers connected thereto, the computer comprising one or more Including at least one client computer associated with a user, at least one server associated with a provider of goods, services or information, and at least one browse agent server associated with an autonomous browse agent; ) Receiving a browse agent configuration from a user; (b) monitoring a click stream at the client computer; (c) click stream data derived from the click stream and the agent configuration. When To the browse agent server, (d) receiving control data corresponding to the click stream data and the agent configuration, and (e) command options based on the control data to the user. And a method comprising: 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: (f) executing the command option if selected by the user. 5. The method of claim 3, further comprising: (f) repeating steps (a)-(e) a desired number of times. 6. The method of claim 4, further comprising: (g) repeating steps (a)-(f) a desired number of times. 7. A method for improving access to information on a computer network, the computer network carrying and forwarding data between computers connected thereto, the computer comprising one or more Including at least one client computer associated with a user, at least one server associated with a provider of goods, services or information, and at least one browse agent server associated with an autonomous browse agent; ) Receiving a browse agent configuration from the user; (b) monitoring the click stream at the client computer; and (c) browsing the click stream data derived from the click stream. Age To a remote server, (d) receiving control data corresponding to the click stream data, and (e) if the command options match the agent configuration, based on the control data. Providing the command option to the user. 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: (f) executing the command option if selected by the user. 9. The method of claim 7, further comprising: (f) repeating steps (a)-(e) a desired number of times. 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising: (g) repeating steps (a)-(f) a desired number of times. 11. The transmitting step (b) includes: (b1) extracting the click stream data by separating search conditions from the currently viewed page transmitted from the server, and (b2) the step of extracting the click stream data. Click stream data from the browse agent
Sending to a server. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the control data is the result of a search on the computer network using the click stream data such as search criteria. 13. The executing step (e) includes: (e1) browsing the search request including the click stream data.
13. The method of claim 12, comprising: sending to an agent server; (e2) receiving control data corresponding to the request; and (e3) displaying the control data to the user. 14. A method for improving access to information on a computer network, the computer network carrying and forwarding data between computers connected thereto, the computer comprising one or more computers. Including at least one client computer associated with a user, at least one server associated with a provider of goods, services or information, and at least one browse agent server associated with an autonomous browse agent; ) Receiving click stream data from a browse agent residing on the client computer; (b) determining whether control data exists for the click stream data; (c) Such control data If present, sending the control data to the browse agent. 15. A method for improving access to information on a computer network, the computer network carrying and forwarding data between computers connected thereto, the computer comprising one or more Including at least one client computer associated with a user, at least one server associated with a provider of goods, services or information, and at least one browse agent server associated with an autonomous browse agent; ) Receiving click stream data and browse agent configuration from a browse agent residing on the client computer; and (b) determining if control data is present for the click stream data. If, (c) if such control data is present and the control data matches the browse Eijento structure, method and sending said control data to said browsing Eijento. 16. A device for automating the operation of a page-based interface on a computer network, the device having a list of click streams, the click stream corresponding to the click streams. A database for storing an interface profile, and a database connected to the database and receiving a click stream, accessing the database according to the click stream, the interface profile corresponding to the click stream. A processor connected to retrieve and further to transmit the interface profile. 17. A method for automating the operation of a page-based interface on a computer network, the method comprising: (a) identifying a computer network address corresponding to a page containing the interface; and (b) said interface. Analyzing the interface profile to develop an interface profile; and (c) associating the interface profile with the computer network address or a subsequence of the computer network address. 18. A method for automating the operation of a page-based interface on a computer network, said computer network carrying and forwarding data between computers connected thereto, wherein said computer Including at least one client computer associated with the above users, at least one server associated with the provider of goods, services or information, and at least one browse agent server associated with the autonomous browse agent, (A) identifying a computer network address corresponding to a page containing an interface or format on the server; (b) analyzing the interface to develop an interface profile; and (c) the computer. Storing the interface profile in a database in association with a subsequence of computer network addresses. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of: (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) a desired number of times. 20. (e) storing user information corresponding to the user; (f) receiving a computer network address from a browse agent residing on the client computer; (g) searching the database. And stored in step (c), step (f)
Determining the substring contained in the computer network address received in step (h), transmitting to the client computer the user information formatted according to an interface profile associated with the substring matching the computer network address. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: 21. (e) receiving a computer network address from a browse agent residing on the client computer; (f) searching the database and stored in step (c); step (e).
Determining the subsequence contained in the computer network address received in step (g), transmitting to the client computer the interface profile associated with the subsequence that matches the computer network address. 20. The method of claim 19 comprising. 22. A method for automating the operation of a page-based interface on a computer network, said computer network carrying and forwarding data between computers connected thereto, said computer network comprising: Including at least one client computer associated with one or more users, at least one server associated with a provider of goods, services or information, and at least one browse agent server associated with an autonomous browse agent (A) sensing the computer network address of the currently viewed page containing the interface, and (b) the computer network address or substring thereof and the corresponding code of the computer network address. Computer network address to a database that includes an interface profile for a computer network address and that stores user information corresponding to the user, and (c) the computer network address or the transmitted computer network address. Receiving, from the database, the user information formatted according to the interface profile associated with a substring matching the. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the sensing step (a) further senses the computer network address and the content of the currently viewed page. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the database includes interface profiles corresponding to computer network addresses and corresponding page content. 25. A method for automating the operation of a page-based interface on a computer network, the method comprising: (a) storing user information; and (b) the currently viewed page including the interface. Sensing a computer network address; (c) accessing a database containing an interface profile for a click stream or a subsequence thereof and a corresponding one of said click streams; and (d) from said database. Receiving an interface profile corresponding to the transmitted computer network address, and (e) creating on the interface of the page according to the user information and the interface profile. The method comprising the steps of, a. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein said sensing step (a) further senses said computer network address and the content of the currently viewed page. 27. A device for automating the operation of a page-based interface on a computer network for storing user information and sensing the computer network address of the currently viewed page. Means for accessing a database to retrieve an interface profile corresponding to the computer network address, and operating on the interface of the page according to the user information and the interface profile. apparatus. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the sensing means further comprises means for sensing the content of the currently viewed page.