Dynamic Navigation Path Weighting for Content Discovery

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional indexing methods for online content are static and fail to capture dynamic user behavior and transient content, often excluding new or less popular sources due to their inability to account for real-time interaction patterns and user interest.

Innovation Solution

A system that determines content interest based on user access patterns, specifically using a method to calculate navigation path weights and interest weights by analyzing the frequency and rate of change in content request traffic, allowing for dynamic representation of content relevance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional static indexing methods are used to organize online content, then the system structure is simple and easy to implement, but the system cannot capture dynamic user behavior and transient content, resulting in exclusion of new or less popular sources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to capture dynamic user behaviorVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic weighting of navigation paths based on real-time user traversal patterns. Instead of static indexing, the system continuously updates path weights according to observed user behavior, allowing the indexing structure to adapt dynamically to changing content popularity and user interests while maintaining a relatively simple underlying architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback loops where user navigation patterns are continuously monitored and fed back into the indexing mechanism. This feedback drives automatic adjustment of path weights and content prioritization, enabling the system to self-optimize based on actual user behavior without requiring complex manual reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Speed

If conventional search engines crawl web pages over periods of days or weeks, then the indexing process is thorough and comprehensive, but the system cannot capture fast-moving or transient content in real time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindexing speedVSAvoidcontent relevance accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary indexing of navigation paths and structures before content becomes popular or transient. By pre-establishing the navigation path framework and weight calculation mechanisms, the system is ready to immediately capture and respond to emerging content trends as soon as user interactions begin, without requiring lengthy crawling periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuous monitoring and updating of navigation path weights based on ongoing user traversal patterns. This continuous action allows the system to maintain current, accurate indexing of content relevance without interruption or delay, capturing fast-moving content as it emerges and maintaining real-time accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If search engines use absolute number of visitors or inbound links to determine indexing priority, then the indexing process is straightforward and efficient, but new or less popular content sources are excluded from indexing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindexing efficiencyVSAvoidability to include new content sources

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different weighting criteria to different navigation paths based on their local characteristics and user traversal patterns. Instead of using a single global metric like absolute visitor numbers, the system evaluates each path's local quality through relative traversal frequency and user behavior patterns, allowing new content sources to be discovered and indexed based on their specific local engagement metrics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the parameters used for indexing priority from static metrics (absolute visitor counts) to dynamic metrics (relative traversal frequencies and path weights). This parameter transformation enables the system to efficiently identify and prioritize new or emerging content sources based on real-time user behavior patterns rather than historical accumulation metrics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS7660815B1Method and system for occurrence frequency-based scaling of navigation path weights among online content sources

Publication Date: 2010.02.09 AMAZON TECH INC

AI summary

A method and system for scaling navigation path weights among online content sources. A method may include determining a first probability of users traversing a first navigation path from a first to a second online content source, dependent upon a ratio of traversals of the first navigation path and traversals of all navigation paths to the second online content source. The method may also include determining a second probability of users traversing navigation paths from the first online content source to any of the online content sources, dependent upon a ratio of the plurality of online content sources to which navigation paths from the first online content source exist and a total number of the plurality of online content sources. The method may further include generating from the probabilities a scaling factor indicative of a strength of the first navigation path relative to other navigation paths among the online content sources.