Traffic Flow Visualization via Node Clustering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Generating visualizations of Internet traffic flow is challenging due to the complexity and variability of user paths, making it difficult for advertisers and website administrators to understand user interactions and optimize their strategies effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for displaying Internet traffic data by receiving selections of steps in an online process and source types, retrieving data on nodes and traffic paths, determining levels for each node, and generating visualization data to display nodes and traffic paths on an electronic device, allowing for aggregation and clustering of URLs and other information to simplify traffic flow visualization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If detailed traffic path data is tracked for each user interaction, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual user traffic paths into aggregated flow visualizations that show collective user behavior patterns. Instead of tracking and displaying each unique URL path separately, the system combines similar paths into unified flow representations, reducing complexity while preserving essential traffic analysis capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the complex traffic data into hierarchical levels (e.g., entry points, category pages, product pages, checkout steps) and represents them as discrete nodes in a visualization. This segmentation allows the system to manage complexity by breaking down continuous traffic flows into manageable, visualizable units.
2Loss of information
If multiple URL paths are tracked to understand user behavior, then information completeness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines information from multiple URL paths into unified flow visualizations that preserve comprehensive traffic data while presenting it in an easily interpretable format. The merging process maintains information completeness by aggregating all user journeys into a cohesive visual representation rather than requiring separate analysis of each path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary visualization layer that translates complex raw traffic data into intuitive graphical representations. This intermediary layer (the flow visualization) acts as a mediator between the detailed URL path data and the user, making the information both complete and easy to interpret simultaneously.
3Measurement precision
If granular traffic data is collected for analysis, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary aggregation and organization of traffic data into structured flow visualizations before analysis is needed. By pre-processing and visualizing the data in an organized manner, the system reduces the time required for subsequent analysis while maintaining measurement precision, as the data is already structured and ready for interpretation.
Data Source
AI summary
System and method for visualizing network traffic data. Webpage visits are grouped into nodes connected by traffic paths. Steps in an online process are used to assign nodes to levels in the visualization.