Web Analytics Custom Variable Extraction and Reporting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Web analytics systems struggle to generate reports based on custom variables defined by content providers, as operators lack knowledge of attribute-value pairs assigned to these variables, limiting their ability to provide detailed analytics to users.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that extract and store attribute-value pairs from custom variable tags in a database, allowing users to select and generate reports based on these pairs, including charts, graphs, and statistics, even if they are unaware of the initial assignments made by content providers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If custom variables are defined by content providers with specific attribute-value pairs, then the content providers can track detailed user traffic information, but the web site operators cannot generate reports based on these variables because they lack knowledge of the attribute-value pairs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveknowledge of attribute-value pairsVSAvoidability to generate reports

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary system (the web analytics server) that acts as a mediator between content providers and web site operators. The server automatically extracts attribute-value pairs from custom variable tags in web page requests, stores them in a database, and makes them available for reporting. This intermediary mechanism resolves the information asymmetry without requiring direct communication between content providers and operators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically extracting and storing attribute-value pairs from incoming web requests without manual intervention. The web analytics server autonomously processes custom variable tags, populates the database, and generates available values for reporting, eliminating the need for operators to manually collect or understand the attribute-value pairs defined by content providers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Quantity of substance

If operators purchase a specified number of custom variables, then they have a limited set of variables to work with, but they cannot effectively utilize these variables without knowing the attribute-value pairs assigned by content providers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of custom variablesVSAvoidability to generate diverse reports

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-extracting and storing all possible attribute-value pairs from custom variable tags in the database before reporting is needed. This advance preparation ensures that when operators need to generate reports, the available values are already populated and ready for selection, enabling versatile reporting across the purchased custom variables without delay.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If authors define custom variables with specific attribute-value pairs, then they can track precise content-related metrics, but this creates a knowledge gap that prevents operators from utilizing these variables for reporting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of traffic trackingVSAvoidinformation about attribute-value pairs

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by automatically capturing the attribute-value pairs defined by content providers and feeding this information back into the database. The web analytics server monitors incoming requests, extracts custom variable data, and makes it available for operators to use in reporting. This feedback loop ensures that precise tracking information is preserved and made accessible without loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8359313B2Extensible custom variables for tracking user traffic

Publication Date: 2013.01.22 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

A system and method for presenting custom variables to a user of a web analytics system. An activity file of a web server is received, wherein the activity file includes activity file hit records that provide information about respective requests for documents made by visitors of web sites. A custom variable tag of an activity file hit record in the activity file is identified. Attribute-value pairs of the custom variable tag are then extracted. The attribute-value pairs of the custom variable tag are stored in a database hit record of a database of the server. One or more attribute-value pairs of a plurality of custom variable tags assigned to the custom variable of the web site are then prepared to be presented to a user, wherein the user is separate and distinct from the authors of the documents of the web site.