U.S. patent application number 16/741028 was filed with the patent office on 2020-05-14 for computing system with dynamic web page feature.
The applicant listed for this patent is Tribune Media Company. Invention is credited to Jason Greene, Ryan Philip McKenzie, Jerome Schulist.
Application Number | 20200151227 16/741028 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55749263 |
Filed Date | 2020-05-14 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200151227 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McKenzie; Ryan Philip ; et
al. |
May 14, 2020 |
COMPUTING SYSTEM WITH DYNAMIC WEB PAGE FEATURE
Abstract
An example method involves accessing web-traffic data associated
with a web page hosted by a first computing-device, wherein the web
page comprises meta-tag data; using the accessed web traffic data
to determine that the first computing-device received a threshold
amount of requests that are (i) for the web page and (ii)
associated with a search term; responsive to the determining,
modifying the meta-tag data based on the search term; and
transmitting the modified meta-tag data to a second
computing-device, wherein the second computing-device is configured
for (i) receiving the modified meta-tag data, (ii) receiving a
request for a list of search results based on a set of search
terms, (iii) responsive to receiving the request, using the set of
search terms and the modified meta-tag data to perform a web
search, thereby generating a list of search results, and (iv)
transmitting the list of search results to a third
computing-device.
Inventors: |
McKenzie; Ryan Philip;
(Orlando, FL) ; Schulist; Jerome; (Oviedo, FL)
; Greene; Jason; (Grand Island, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Tribune Media Company |
Chicago |
IL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55749263 |
Appl. No.: |
16/741028 |
Filed: |
January 13, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15353594 |
Nov 16, 2016 |
10579699 |
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16741028 |
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14826624 |
Aug 14, 2015 |
9529913 |
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15353594 |
|
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62065334 |
Oct 17, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 16/958 20190101;
G06F 16/215 20190101; G06F 16/9535 20190101; G06F 16/9577 20190101;
G06F 16/29 20190101; G06F 16/951 20190101; G06F 16/9537 20190101;
G06F 16/986 20190101; G06F 16/2358 20190101; G06F 16/211
20190101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 16/958 20060101
G06F016/958; G06F 16/23 20060101 G06F016/23; G06F 16/957 20060101
G06F016/957; G06F 16/9537 20060101 G06F016/9537; G06F 16/9535
20060101 G06F016/9535; G06F 16/951 20060101 G06F016/951; G06F
16/215 20060101 G06F016/215; G06F 16/21 20060101 G06F016/21; G06F
16/29 20060101 G06F016/29 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: accessing web-traffic data associated with
a web page hosted by a first computing-device, wherein the web page
comprises meta-tag data, wherein the meta-tag data of the web page
specifies a set of one or more meta-tag keywords related to content
of the web page and used by a search engine to locate the web page,
and wherein the web-traffic data comprises data relating to one or
more requests for accessing the web page; using the accessed
web-traffic data to determine that the first computing-device did
not receive a threshold amount of requests that are (i) for
accessing the web page and (ii) associated with a particular search
term; responsive to determining that the first computing-device did
not receive the threshold amount of requests that are (i) for
accessing the web page and (ii) associated with the particular
search term, modifying the meta-tag data based on the particular
search term, wherein modifying the meta-tag data based on the
particular search term comprises removing, from the set of meta-tag
keywords of the web page, a meta-tag keyword that specifies the
particular search term; receiving a request for a list of search
results based on a set of search terms; responsive to receiving the
request, using the set of search terms and the modified meta-tag
data to perform a web search, thereby generating a list of search
results; and transmitting the list of search results to a second
computing-device.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold amount of requests
that are (i) for accessing the web page and (ii) associated with
the particular search term comprises a threshold number of requests
that are (i) for accessing the web page, (ii) associated with the
particular search term, and (iii) received by the first
computing-device within a particular time period.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the meta-tag data based
on the particular search term further comprises modifying meta-tag
data associated with a title of the web page.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting the
modified meta-tag data to a second computing device.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: using the accessed
web-traffic data to determine that the first computing-device
received a threshold amount of requests that are (i) for accessing
the web page and (ii) associated with a second search term; and
responsive to determining that the first computing-device received
the threshold amount of requests that are (i) for accessing the web
page and (ii) associated with the second search term, modifying the
meta-tag data based on the second search term.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein modifying the meta-tag data based
on the second search term comprises adding, to the set of meta-tag
keywords of the web page, a meta-tag keyword that specifies the
second search term.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein modifying the meta-tag data based
on the second search term comprises increasing a priority level
assigned to a meta-tag keyword within the set of meta-tag keywords
of the web page, wherein the meta-tag keyword specifies the second
search term.
8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions
stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause
performance of a set of acts comprising: accessing web-traffic data
associated with a web page hosted by a first computing-device,
wherein the web page comprises meta-tag data, wherein the meta-tag
data of the web page specifies a set of one or more meta-tag
keywords related to content of the web page and used by a search
engine to locate the web page; using the accessed web-traffic data
to determine that the first computing-device did not receive a
threshold amount of requests that are (i) for accessing the web
page and (ii) associated with a particular search term; responsive
to determining that the first computing-device did not receive the
threshold amount of requests that are (i) for accessing the web
page and (ii) associated with the particular search term, modifying
the meta-tag data based on the particular search term, wherein
modifying the meta-tag data based on the particular search term
comprises removing, from the set of meta-tag keywords of the web
page, a meta-tag keyword that specifies the particular search term;
receiving a request for a list of search results based on a set of
search terms; responsive to receiving the request, using the set of
search terms and the modified meta-tag data to perform a web
search, thereby generating a list of search results; and
transmitting the list of search results to a second
computing-device.
9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the threshold
amount of requests that are (i) for accessing the web page and (ii)
associated with the particular search term comprises a threshold
number of requests that are (i) for accessing the web page, (ii)
associated with the particular search term, (iii) and received by
the first computing-device within a particular period of time.
10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein modifying the
meta-tag data based on the particular search term further comprises
modifying meta-tag data associated with a title of the web
page.
11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, the set of acts
further comprising: transmitting the modified meta-tag data to a
second computing device.
12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, the set of acts
further comprising: using the accessed web-traffic data to
determine that the first computing-device received a threshold
amount of requests that are (i) for accessing the web page and (ii)
associated with a second search term; and responsive to determining
that the first computing-device received the threshold amount of
requests that are (i) for accessing the web page and (ii)
associated with the second search term, modifying the meta-tag data
based on the second search term.
13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein modifying the
meta-tag data based on the second search term comprises adding, to
the set of meta-tag keywords of the web page, a meta-tag keyword
that specifies the second search term.
14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein modifying the
meta-tag data based on the second search term comprises increasing
a priority level assigned to a meta-tag keyword within the set of
meta-tag keywords of the web page, wherein the meta-tag keyword
specifies the second search term.
15. A computing device comprising: a communication interface,
wherein the computing device is configured for performing a set of
acts comprising: accessing web-traffic data associated with a web
page hosted by a first computing-device, wherein the web page
comprises meta-tag data, wherein the meta-tag data of the web page
specifies a set of one or more meta-tag keywords related to content
of the web page and used by a search engine to locate the web page;
using the accessed web-traffic data to determine that the first
computing-device did not receive a threshold amount of requests
that are (i) for accessing the web page and (ii) associated with a
particular search term; responsive to determining that the first
computing-device did not receive the threshold amount of requests
that are (i) for accessing the web page and (ii) associated with
the particular search term, modifying the meta-tag data based on
the particular search term, wherein modifying the meta-tag data
based on the particular search term comprises removing, from the
set of meta-tag keywords of the web page, a meta-tag keyword that
specifies the particular search term; receiving a request for a
list of search results based on a set of search terms; responsive
to receiving the request, using the set of search terms and the
modified meta-tag data to perform a web search, thereby generating
a list of search results; and transmitting, via the communication
interface, the list of search results to a second
computing-device.
16. The computing device of claim 15 wherein the threshold amount
of requests that are (i) for accessing the web page and (ii)
associated with the particular search term comprises a threshold
number of requests that are (i) for accessing the web page, (ii)
associated with the particular search term, (iii) and received by
the first computing-device within a particular period of time.
17. The computing device of claim 15, wherein modifying the
meta-tag data based on the particular search term further comprises
modifying meta-tag data associated with a title of the web
page.
18. The computing device of claim 15, the set of acts further
comprising: using the accessed web-traffic data to determine that
the first computing-device received a threshold amount of requests
that are (i) for accessing the web page and (ii) associated with a
second search term; and responsive to determining that the first
computing-device received the threshold amount of requests that are
(i) for accessing the web page and (ii) associated with the second
search term, modifying the meta-tag data based on the second search
term.
19. The computing device of claim 18, wherein modifying the
meta-tag data based on the second search term comprises adding, to
the set of meta-tag keywords of the web page, a meta-tag keyword
that specifies the second search term.
20. The computing device of claim 18, wherein modifying the
meta-tag data based on the second search term comprises increasing
a priority level assigned to a meta-tag keyword within the set of
meta-tag keywords of the web page, wherein the meta-tag keyword
specifies the second search term.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED DISCLOSURES
[0001] This disclosure is a continuation of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 15/353,594 filed on Nov. 16, 2016, which is a continuation
of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/826,624 filed on Aug. 14,
2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. App. No.
62/065,334 filed Oct. 17, 2014 and entitled "DYNAMIC WEB PAGE." The
disclosures of these prior applications are considered part of the
disclosure of this application and are hereby incorporated by
reference in their entireties.
[0002] This disclosure relates to U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/826,633 filed Aug. 14, 2015 and entitled "COMPUTING SYSTEM WITH
DYNAMIC WEB PAGE FEATURE", which is assigned to the assignee of the
present disclosure, and is hereby incorporated by reference herein
in its entirety.
USAGE AND TERMINOLOGY
[0003] Throughout this disclosure, unless otherwise specified
and/or unless the particular context clearly dictates otherwise,
each usage of "a" or "an" means at least one, and each usage of
"the" means the at least one.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0004] This disclosure relates generally to computing devices, and
more particularly, to computing devices configured for dynamically
modifying meta-tag data of a web page.
BACKGROUND
[0005] Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described
in this section are not prior art to the claims in this disclosure
and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this
section.
[0006] A web page may represent any type of electronic document,
file, or information that is suitable for distribution from a
server that hosts the web page, to a web browser running on a
client. In order to facilitate this distribution, the server and
the web browser may use the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP).
HTTP may be implemented as an application-layer request-response
protocol. In one example, the web browser may submit an HTTP
request message to the server, and the server may return a response
message to the web browser. The response message may include
content such as text, images, multimedia, style sheets, scripts,
and so on. The web browser may then render the web page for display
on an output component of the client.
[0007] In connection with publishing a web page, a publisher may
include metadata in the web page. A commonly used type of metadata
is meta-tag data, which may specify one or more keywords that
describe or otherwise relate to the web page's content. A web-based
search engine may consider a web page's meta-tag data when indexing
the web or performing a web search to assist in guiding a web user
to relevant web content. As such, by carefully determining meta-tag
data for a web page, a publisher may increase the likelihood that
the web page will be included in a list of search results, and that
the web page will have a high priority-ranking within the list of
search results (both, where logically appropriate).
SUMMARY
[0008] In one aspect, an example method is disclosed. The method
involves accessing web-traffic data associated with a web page
hosted by a first computing-device, wherein the web page includes
meta-tag data; using the accessed web-traffic data to determine
that the first computing-device received a threshold amount of
requests that are (i) for the web page and (ii) associated with a
particular search term; responsive to determining that the first
computing-device received the threshold amount of requests that are
(i) for the web page and (ii) associated with the particular search
term, modifying the meta-tag data based on the particular search
term; and transmitting the modified meta-tag data to a second
computing-device, wherein the second computing-device is configured
for (i) receiving the transmitted modified meta-tag data, (ii)
receiving a request for a list of search results based on a set of
search terms, (iii) responsive to receiving the request, using the
set of search terms and the modified meta-tag data to perform a web
search, thereby generating a list of search results, and (iv)
transmitting the list of search results to a third
computing-device.
[0009] In another aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable medium
is disclosed. The medium has stored thereon program instructions
that when executed by a processor cause performance of a set of
acts. The set of acts include accessing web-traffic data associated
with a web page hosted by a first computing-device, wherein the web
page includes meta-tag data; using the accessed web traffic data to
determine that the first computing-device received a threshold
amount of requests that are (i) for the web page and (ii)
associated with a particular search term; responsive to determining
that the first computing-device received the threshold amount of
requests that are (i) for the web page and (ii) associated with the
particular search term, modifying the meta-tag data based on the
particular search term; and transmitting the modified meta-tag data
to a second computing-device, wherein the second computing-device
is configured for (i) receiving the transmitted modified meta-tag
data, (ii) receiving a request for a list of search results based
on a set of search terms, (iii) responsive to receiving the
request, using the set of search terms and the modified meta-tag
data to perform a web search, thereby generating a list of search
results, and (iv) transmitting the list of search results to a
third computing-device.
[0010] In yet another aspect, another example method is disclosed.
The method involves accessing web-traffic data associated with a
web page hosted by a first computing-device, wherein the web page
includes meta-tag data; using the accessed web traffic data to
determine that the first computing-device did not receive a
threshold amount of requests that are (i) for the web page and (ii)
associated with a particular search term; responsive to determining
that the first computing-device did not receive the threshold
amount of requests that are (i) for the web page and (ii)
associated with the particular search term, modifying the meta-tag
data based on the particular search term; and transmitting the
modified meta-tag data to a second computing-device, wherein the
second computing-device is configured for (i) receiving the
transmitted modified meta-tag data, (ii) receiving a request for a
list of search results based on a set of search terms, (iii)
responsive to receiving the request, using the set of search terms
and the modified meta-tag data to perform a web search, thereby
generating a list of search results, and (iv) transmitting the list
of search results to a third computing-device.
[0011] In still another aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable
medium is disclosed. The medium has stored thereon program
instructions that when executed by a processor cause performance of
a set of acts. The set of acts include accessing web-traffic data
associated with a web page hosted by a first computing-device,
wherein the web page includes meta-tag data; using the accessed
web-traffic data to determine that the first computing-device did
not receive a threshold amount of requests that are (i) for the web
page and (ii) associated with a particular search term; responsive
to determining that the first computing-device did not receive the
threshold amount of requests that are (i) for the web page and (ii)
associated with the particular search term, modifying the meta-tag
data based on the particular search term; and transmitting the
modified meta-tag data to a second computing-device, wherein the
second computing-device is configured for (i) receiving the
transmitted modified meta-tag data, (ii) receiving a request for a
list of search results based on a set of search terms, (iii)
responsive to receiving the request, using the set of search terms
and the modified meta-tag data to perform a web search, thereby
generating a list of search results, and (iv) transmitting the list
of search results to a third computing-device.
[0012] These, as well as other aspects, advantages, and
alternatives, will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in
the art by reading the following detailed description, with
reference where appropriate to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an example
system;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an example computing
device;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting acts of an example method;
and
[0016] FIG. 4 is a flow chart depicting acts of another example
method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
I. Overview
[0017] As indicated above, in connection with publishing a web
page, a publisher (or another individual) may determine meta-tag
data and include such meta-tag data in the webpage. However, in
some instances, such meta-tag data may not accurately represent the
search terms that web users are likely to use in searching for the
content of the web page. This may occur for a variety of
reasons.
[0018] For example, this may occur because the publisher may
characterize the content of the web page differently from how a web
user seeking the content may characterize it. In addition, even if
the publisher does determine "appropriate" meta-tag data for the
web page, a web user's characterization of such content may change
over time. Since the publisher typically determines meta-tag data
of a web page when the web page is being published, the originally
determined meta-tag data may become outdated after the web page is
published.
[0019] This issue may be particularly common in connection with web
pages that include news-related content. To illustrate this,
consider the event of the major hurricane passing through New
Orleans, La. in August of 2005. When the hurricane was first
discovered, a publisher may have published a web page with content
related to this event and with meta-tag data specifying the
keywords HURRICANE, LOUISIANA, and AUGUST, for instance. After that
however, when the hurricane was formally recognized by the World
Meteorological Organization, the hurricane became commonly known as
hurricane "Katrina." But unless the publisher manually updated the
meta-tag data of the web page, the meta-tag data would not specify
this term as a keyword. As a result, a web user conducting a web
search based on the search term KATRINA, may have received a list
of search results that did not include an indication of the web
page (or perhaps that did include an indication of the web page,
but with a low-priority ranking assigned to it), despite the web
page being one that the web user would likely be interested in.
[0020] To help address this issue, according to the present
disclosure, a computing device may use data generated by a
data-logging system to dynamically modify meta-tag data. A
data-logging system may generate a variety of different types of
data. As one example, a data-logging service may generate
web-traffic data associated with a web page. Such web-traffic data
may include an indication of a web user's request for the web page,
an indication of a previous or referral web-page, such as a
search-result web-page, that directed the web user to the current
web-page, and an indication of a search term that the web user
provided to generate the search result page. The data-logging
system may transmit such data to one or more computing devices or
may store such web-traffic data in a data storage for later
retrieval (e.g., to generate reports based on the data).
[0021] By using web-traffic data to modify meta-tag data of a web
page, the meta-tag data may more accurately represent the search
terms that web users are likely to use in searching for the content
of the web page. As a result, the web page may become more easily
discoverable by another web user who is interested in such
content.
[0022] According to the present disclosure, in one example a method
involves a first computing-device accessing web-traffic data
associated with a web page hosted by a second computing-device,
where the web page includes meta-tag data. The method further
involves the first computing-device using the accessed web-traffic
data to determine that the second computing-device received a
threshold amount of requests that are (i) for the web page and (ii)
associated with a particular search term, and in response, the
first-computing device may modify the meta-tag data based on the
particular search term.
[0023] In one example, if the particular search term does not
already exist as a keyword specified by the meta-tag data, the
particular search term may be added as a keyword specified by the
meta-tag data. As such, modifying the meta-tag data may involve
adding, to a set of meta-tag keywords of the web page, a meta-tag
keyword that specifies the particular search term. As another
example, if the particular search term is already a keyword
specified by the meta-tag data, a level of priority (sometimes
referred to as a score, weight, or relevancy factor) of the
particular search term may be increased. As such, in another
example, modifying the meta-tag data may involve increasing a
priority level assigned to a meta-tag keyword within a group of
meta-tag keywords of the web page, where the meta-tag keyword
specifies the particular search term. Such an indication of
priority may be included as part of the meta-tag data.
[0024] According to the present disclosure, in another example a
method involves a first computing-device accessing web-traffic data
associated with a web page hosted by a second computing-device,
where the web page includes meta-tag data. The method further
involves the first computing-device using the accessed web-traffic
data to determine that the second computing-device did not receive
a threshold amount of requests that are (i) for the web page and
(ii) associated with a particular search term, and in response, the
first computing-device may modify the meta-tag data based on the
particular search term.
[0025] In one example, if the particular search term already exists
as a keyword specified by the meta-tag data, the particular search
term may be removed from being a keyword specified by the meta-tag
data. As such, modifying the meta-tag data may involve removing,
from a set of meta-tag keywords of the web page, a meta-tag keyword
that specifies the particular search term. Alternatively, a
priority of the particular search term specified as a keyword by
the meta-tag data may be decreased to have a lower level of
priority among the meta-tags keywords of the web page. As such, in
another example, modifying the meta-tag data may involve decreasing
a priority level assigned to a meta-tag keyword within a group of
meta-tag keywords of the web page, where the meta-tag keyword
specifies the particular search term.
[0026] As indicated above, by using web-traffic data to modify
meta-tag data of a web page, the meta-tag data may more accurately
represent the search terms that web users are likely to use in
searching for the content of the web page.
II. Example System
[0027] FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an example system
100 in which aspects of the present disclosure can be implemented.
As shown, the system 100 includes four computing devices, namely an
end-user device 102, a search-engine server 104, a web-page server
106, and a data-logging system 108. Further, the system 100
includes a first communication-network 110 and a second
communication-network 112.
[0028] FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an example
computing-device 200. The computing device 200 may take a variety
of forms, including for example, a workstation, laptop, tablet, or
mobile phone, among other possibilities. The computing device 200
may include various components, including for example, a user
interface 202, a communication interface 204, a processor 206, and
a data storage 208, all of which may be communicatively linked to
each other via a system bus, network, or other connection mechanism
210.
[0029] The user interface 202 may be configured for facilitating
interaction between the computing device 200 and a user of the
computing device 200, such as by receiving input from the user and
providing output to the user. Thus, the user interface 202 may
include input components such as a computer mouse, a keyboard, a
touch-sensitive panel, or perhaps a microphone for receiving voice
commands. In addition, the user interface 202 may include output
components such as a display screen (which, for example, may be
combined with a touch-sensitive panel) a sound speaker or other
audio output mechanism, and a haptic feedback system.
[0030] The communication interface 204 may be configured to allow
the computing device 200 to communicate with one or more devices
according to any number of protocols. The communication interface
204 may take a variety of forms. As one example, the communication
interface 204 may take the form of a wired interface, such as an
Ethernet interface. As another example, the communication interface
204 may take the form of a wireless interface, such as a cellular
or WI-FI interface.
[0031] The processor 206 may include a general purpose processor
(e.g., a microprocessor) and/or a special purpose processor (e.g.,
a digital signal processors (DSP)).
[0032] The data storage 208 may include one or more volatile,
non-volatile, removable, and/or non-removable storage components,
such as magnetic, optical, or flash storage, and may be integrated
in whole or in part with the processor 206. Further, the data
storage 208 may take the form of a non-transitory computer-readable
storage medium, having stored thereon program instructions (e.g.,
compiled or non-compiled program logic and/or machine code) that,
when executed by the processor 206, cause the computing device 200
to perform one or more acts, such as those described in this
disclosure. The data storage 208 may also be used to store various
types of data, such as those types described in this disclosure,
for processing and/or later retrieval.
[0033] Generally, the system 100 may be configured such that each
of the computing devices in the system 100 may communicate with one
or more of the other computing device via the first
communication-network 110 and/or the second communication-network
112. The communication networks 110, 112 may take a variety of
forms. For example, the first communication-network may take the
form of a packet-switched network such as the Internet. And the
second communication-network may take the form of a local-area
network (LAN).
III. Example Operations
[0034] To conduct a web search, a user may cause the end-user
device 102 to request from the search-engine server 104 a list of
search results based on a set of search terms. Responsive to
receiving the request, the search-engine server 104 may use the set
of search terms to perform a web search, thereby generating a list
of search results, which the search-engine server 104 may provide
to the end-user device 102 for display on an output component of
the end-user device 102.
[0035] As discussed above, the search-engine server 104 may
consider a web page's meta-tag data in connection with performing a
web search. For example, where a web page A hosted by the web-page
server 106 has meta-tag data that specifies the keywords HURRICANE,
LOUISIANA, and AUGUST, and where a user conducts a web search based
on the search terms HURRICANE and AUGUST, the search-engine server
104 may identify the appropriate matches, and as a result include
an indication of the web page A in the list of search results. The
search-engine server 104 may assign a level of priority to the web
page A based on a variety of factors, including for instance, the
degree of similarity between meta-tag keywords and the search terms
and/or any weighting factors associated with any of the particular
meta-tag keywords. The search-engine server 104 may use the
assigned priorities to order the indicated web pages within the
list of search results. In one example, to obtain the meta-tag data
of the web page A, the search-engine server 104 may transmit a
request to the web-page server 106, and in response, the web-page
server may transmit the meta-tag data, and/or other data relating
to the web page A, to the search-engine server 104.
[0036] After the end-user device 102 receives and displays the list
of search results, a user may cause the end-user device 102 to
select the web page A from the list of search results, which in
turn may cause the end-user device 102 to request from the web-page
server 106, the web page A. In response, the web-page server 106
may provide the web page A to the end-user device 102, which may
receive and display the web page A for the user.
[0037] The data-logging system 108 may monitor and log data, and
may generate reports related to such data. In one example, the
data-logging system 108 may generate web-traffic data associated
with a web page. Such web-traffic data may include, for example,
data relating to one or more requests for the web page, including
for instance, a date and time of the request, an identifier (e.g.,
an Internet Protocol (IP) address) associated with the computing
device from which the request originated, or an indication of the
manner in which the computing device was directed to the web page
(referred to herein as "referral data"). Referral data may
indicate, for instance, a referral web-page accessed by the
computing device that directed the computing device to the current
web-page via a hyperlink, for example. Referral data may also
indicate one or more associated search terms that were provided to
a search engine to generate the referral web-page (i.e., a list of
search results).
[0038] In one example, the data-logging system 108 may log data and
generate reports based on data that traverses the second
communication-network 112. This data may be web-traffic data
associated with the web page A, for instance. The data-logging
system 108 and/or another system may use various techniques to
monitor, log, and generate data as known in the art. As one
example, the web-page server 106 may log web-page requests that it
receives from the end-user device 102, and then may forward such
requests to the data-logging system 108. In addition, in response
to receiving such requests, the web-page server 106 may transmit a
"web bug" to the end-user device 102, which may cause the end-user
device 102 to transmit data regarding its activity to the
data-logging system 108. In some instances, it may be beneficial to
apply techniques that reduce the time between the occurrence of an
event and the time that the data-logging system reports such an
event. In the present disclosure, this may have the effect of the
meta-tag data of a web page being dynamically updated based on
web-user activity in real-time or near real-time.
[0039] As discussed above, a computing device may use data
generated by a data-logging system to dynamically modify meta-tag
data of a web page. FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting acts that can
be carried out in an example method to provide such a feature.
[0040] At block 302, the example method involves accessing
web-traffic data associated with a web page hosted by a first
computing-device, wherein the web page includes meta-tag data. For
example, this may involve the web-page server 106 accessing
web-traffic data associated with the web page A hosted by the
web-page server 106.
[0041] At block 304, the method involves using the accessed web
traffic data to determine that the first computing-device received
a threshold amount of requests that are (i) for the web page and
(ii) associated with a particular search term. For example, this
may involve the web-page server 106 using the accessed web-traffic
data to determine that the web-page server 106 received a threshold
amount of requests that are (i) for the web page A and (ii)
associated with the particular search term KATRINA. Such requests
may have originated from the end-user device 102 or from other
end-user devices.
[0042] In one implementation, the threshold amount of requests that
are (i) for the web page and (ii) associated with the particular
search term involves a threshold number of requests that are (i)
for the web page, (ii) associated with the particular search term,
and (iii) received by the computing device within a particular time
period. The threshold amount, threshold number, and/or the
particular time period may be determined by a publisher or another
individual or may be determined based on one or more rules.
[0043] In some instances, the particular time period may be
inversely proportional to the number of users for which activity is
being monitored by the data-logging system in connection with a
given web page. As such, where requests are being monitored for a
relatively large number of users, the particular time period may be
zero to three hours. Alternatively, where requests are being
monitored for a relatively small number of users (and perhaps even
for a single user), the particular time period may be zero to three
months. In another example, one or more thresholds may be defined
so as to identify a top n number of keywords requested during a
particular time period.
[0044] At block 306, the method involves responsive to determining
that the first computing-device received the threshold amount of
requests that are (i) for the web page and (ii) associated with the
particular search term, modifying the meta-tag data based on the
particular search term. For example, this may involve responsive to
the web-page server 106 determining that the web page-server
received the threshold amount of requests that are (i) for the web
page A (ii) associated with the search term KATRINA, modifying the
meta-tag data based on the search term KATRINIA.
[0045] In one example, if the particular search term does not
already exist as a keyword specified by the meta-tag data, the
particular search term may be added as a keyword specified by the
meta-tag data. As such, modifying the meta-tag data may involve
adding, to a set of meta-tag keywords of the web page, a meta-tag
keyword that specifies the particular search term. For example,
this may involve the web-page server 106 adding to a set of
meta-tag keywords of the web page A, a meta-tag keyword that
specifies KATRINA.
[0046] As another example, if the particular search term is already
a keyword specified by the meta-tag data, a level of priority of
the particular search term may be increased. As such, in another
example, modifying the meta-tag data may involve increasing a
priority level assigned to a meta-tag keyword within a group of
meta-tag keywords of the web page, where the met-tag keyword
specifies the particular search term. For example, this may involve
the web-page server 106 increasing a priority level assigned to a
meta-tag keyword within a group of meta-tag keywords of the web
page A, where the meta-tag keyword specifies the term KATRINIA. The
assigned priority level may be stored in a data storage of the
web-page server 106 as part of the meta-tag data, for instance.
[0047] Modifying the meta-tag data based on the particular search
term may involve modifying other types of meta-tag data included in
a web page, including for example a title of the web page, or
perhaps meta-tag data contemplated by the World Wide Web Consortium
(W3C) in connection with the Semantic Web movement.
[0048] As a result of modifying the meta-tag data in one or more of
these ways, search terms having a large number of requests may be
specified as meta-tag keywords (or have an increased priority
compared to the other meta-tag keywords), so that the meta-tag
keywords--and potentially the order of priority of the meta-tag
keywords--more accurately reflect web user's current
characterization of the web page's content. As such, continuing
with the example provided above, if a web user later conducts a web
search based on the search term KATRINA, the web user may receive a
list of search results that includes, with a high level of
priority, an indication of the web page A.
[0049] At block 308, the method involves transmitting the modified
meta-tag data to a second computing-device, wherein the second
computing-device is configured for (i) receiving the transmitted
modified meta-tag data, (ii) receiving a request for a list of
search results based on a set of search terms, (iii) responsive to
receiving the request, using the set of search terms and the
modified meta-tag data to perform a web search, thereby generating
a list of search results, and (iv) transmitting the list of search
results to a third computing-device.
[0050] In one example, this may involve the web-page server 106
transmitting the modified meta-tag data of web page A to the
search-engine server 104. Further, the search-engine server 104 may
receive the modified meta-tag data of web page A, and may receive a
request for a list of search results based on a set of search terms
that includes the term KATRINA. Responsive to receiving the
request, the search-engine server 104 may use the term KATRINA and
the modified meta-tag data of web page A to perform a web search,
thereby generating a list of search results, which includes a
reference to web page A. The search-engine server 104 may then
transmit the list of search results to the end-user device 102,
which in turn, may receive and output the list of search
results.
[0051] FIG. 4 is a flow chart depicting acts that can be carried
out in an another example method to provide the feature of a
computing device using data generated by a data-logging system to
dynamically modify meta-tag data of a web page.
[0052] At block 402, the example method involves accessing
web-traffic data associated with a web page hosted by a first
computing-device, wherein the web page includes meta-tag data. For
example, this may involve the web-page server 106 accessing
web-traffic data associated with the web page A hosted by the
web-page server 106.
[0053] At block 404, the method involves using the accessed web
traffic data to determine that the first computing-device did not
receive a threshold amount of requests that are (i) for the web
page and (ii) associated with a particular search term. For
example, this may involve the web-page server 106 using the
accessed web-traffic data to determine that the web-page server 106
did not receive a threshold amount of requests that are (i) for the
web page A and (ii) associated with a particular search term (i.e.,
a search term that web users once used to characterize the content
of the web page A, but which they no longer use as often).
[0054] At block 406, the method involves responsive to determining
that the first computing-device did not receive the threshold
amount of requests that are (i) for the web page and (ii)
associated with the particular search term, modifying the meta-tag
data based on the particular search term. For example, this may
involve responsive to the web-page server 106 determining that the
web page-server did not receive the threshold amount of requests
that are (i) for the web page A (ii) associated with the particular
search term, the web-page server 106 modifying the meta-tag data
based on the particular search term.
[0055] In another example, if the particular search term already
exists as a keyword specified by the meta-tag data, the particular
search term may be removed from being a keyword specified by the
meta-tag data. As such, modifying the meta-tag data may involve
removing, from a set of meta-tag keywords of the web page, a
meta-tag keyword that specifies the particular search term. For
example, this may involve web-page server 106 removing from a set
of meta-tag keywords of the web page A, a meta-tag keyword that
specifies the particular search term.
[0056] As another example, if the particular search term already
exists as a keyword specified by the meta-tag data, a priority of
the particular search term specified as a keyword by the meta-tag
data may be decreased to have a lower level of priority among the
meta-tag keywords of the web page. As such, in another example,
modifying the meta-tag data may involve decreasing a priority level
assigned to a meta-tag keyword within a group of meta-tag keywords
of the web page, where the meta-tag keyword specifies the
particular search term. For example, this may involve the web-page
server 106 decreasing a priority level assigned to a meta-tag
keyword within a group of meta-tag keywords of the web page, where
the meta-tag keyword specifies the particular search term.
[0057] At block 408, the method involves transmitting the modified
meta-tag data to a second computing-device, wherein the second
computing-device is configured for (i) receiving the transmitted
modified meta-tag data, (ii) receiving a request for a list of
search results based on a set of search terms, (iii) responsive to
receiving the request, using the set of search terms and the
modified meta-tag data to perform a web search, thereby generating
a list of search results, and (iv) transmitting the list of search
results to a third computing-device.
[0058] It should be noted that any combination of the preceding
operations or techniques may be combined in order to achieve a
desired result of modified meta-tag data. Further, the web-traffic
data may have been collected over an extended period of time, so
that modifying the meta-tag data may reflect a search trend over
that extended period of time.
IV. Example Variations
[0059] The variations described in connection with select examples
of the disclosed system and method may be applied to all other
examples of the disclosed system and method.
[0060] Further, while one or more acts have been described as being
performed by or otherwise related to certain devices or entities
(e.g., the web-page server 106), the acts may be performed by or
otherwise related to any device or entity.
[0061] In addition, it should be understood that numerous
variations of the disclosed system and method are possible. For
instance, structural elements and process steps can be rearranged,
combined, distributed, eliminated, or otherwise changed, while
remaining within the scope of the embodiments as claimed.
[0062] Further, the acts need not be performed in the disclosed
order, although in some examples, an order may be preferred. Also,
not all acts need to be performed to achieve the desired advantages
of the disclosed system and method, and therefore not all acts are
required.
[0063] While select examples of the disclosed system and method
have been described, alterations and permutations of these examples
will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Other
changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without
departing from the disclosed system and method in its broader
aspects as set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *