Automated web task procedures based on an analysis of actions in web browsing history logs

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to generating automated web task procedures from an analysis of web history logs. One aspect of the invention concerns a method that comprises identifying sequences of related web actions from a web log, grouping each set of similar web actions into an action class, and mapping the sequences of related web actions into sequences of action classes. The method further clusters each group of similar sequences of action classes into a cluster, wherein relationships among the action classes in the cluster are represented by a state machine, and generates automated web task procedures from the state machine.

1 . A method comprising:
 identifying sequences of related web actions from a web log;   grouping each set of similar web actions into an action class;   mapping the sequences of related web actions into corresponding sequences of action classes;   clustering each set of similar sequences of action classes into a cluster, wherein relationships among the action classes in the cluster are represented by a state machine; and   generating an automated web task procedure from the state machine.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein clustering each set of similar sequences of action classes comprises determining overlapped and contiguous action classes in the similar sequences of action classes. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the automated web task procedure comprises web actions from the action classes in the state machine. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the web log is a history of web interaction by a user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the web log captures activities in a web browser. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the web log comprises at least one of web links, web page selections, and input text. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the related actions are for a particular web domain. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying sequences of related web actions comprises segmenting the web log based on a time period. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 a memory for storing a web log;   a processor coupled to the memory and configured for:
 identifying sequences of related web actions from the web log; 
 grouping each set of similar web actions into an action class; 
 mapping the sequences of related web actions into corresponding sequences of action classes; 
 clustering each set of similar sequences of action classes into a cluster, wherein relationships among the action classes in the cluster are represented by a state machine; and 
 generating an automated web task procedure from the state machine. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a pre-processor for converting the web log into a form suitable for pattern detection. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a web action sequence generator for identifying the sequences of related web actions. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising an action class sequence mapper for mapping the sequences of related web actions. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a sequence clustering component for clustering the sequences of action classes. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a state machine component for representing the relationships among the action classes in the cluster as the state machine. 
     
     
         15 . A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising:
 computer readable program code configured to identify sequences of related web actions from the web log;   computer readable program code configured to group each set of similar web actions into an action class;   computer readable program code configured to map the sequences of related web actions into corresponding sequences of action classes;   computer readable program code configured to cluster each set of similar sequences of action classes into a cluster, wherein relationships among the action classes in the cluster are represented by a state machine; and   computer readable program code configured to generate an automated web task procedure from the state machine.   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the computer readable program code comprises computer readable program code configured to determine overlapped and contiguous action classes in the similar sequences of action classes. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the automated web task procedure comprises web actions from the action classes in the state machine. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the web log is a history of web interaction by a user. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the web log comprises at least one of web links, web page selections, and input text. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the computer readable program code comprises computer readable program code configured to segment the web log by day.