Web Site Usability Testing via Navigation and Search Metrics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing web sites lack an efficient method to automatically test and determine usability, particularly for customer support or help sections, which affects user navigation and search engine effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A program tool that assesses web site usability by determining the number of hyperlinks required to navigate through the site, conducting keyword searches, and evaluating the search engine's performance to generate scores for ease of navigation and search effectiveness, using a distributed computer system with a web site test server and client computers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If automated testing is implemented to evaluate web site usability, then measurement precision of usability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated testing system is segmented into distinct functional modules: navigation testing module that traverses web pages and counts hyperlinks, search engine testing module that executes keyword searches and evaluates results, and scoring module that generates usability scores. Each module independently performs specific testing functions and contributes to the overall usability assessment, making the complex system manageable and maintainable while achieving precise measurements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary automated testing program that acts as a mediator between the tester and the web site under evaluation. This program automatically navigates through web pages, conducts searches, and collects data without requiring direct human intervention in the testing process, thereby enabling precise automated measurement while simplifying the operational complexity through standardization
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive search engine testing is conducted with multiple keyword searches, then measurement precision of search effectiveness is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The testing system performs a comprehensive set of keyword searches that may exceed the minimum necessary for basic evaluation. Multiple search terms are executed against the search engine, and all results are collected and analyzed. This excessive action ensures thorough measurement of search effectiveness across different query types and scenarios, achieving high measurement precision at the cost of increased testing time
Solution Approach 2:
The automated testing program continuously executes search queries and processes results without interruption. The navigation testing and search testing operations run in a continuous automated sequence, eliminating idle time between test operations and maximizing the efficiency of the testing process while maintaining comprehensive measurement coverage
3Ease of operation
If manual usability testing is performed by human testers, then ease of operation is maintained, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The testing system is designed to be self-service in its execution. Once configured with the web site URL and test parameters, the automated program independently performs all navigation testing, search engine testing, data collection, and score generation without requiring ongoing human operation. This self-service capability dramatically increases productivity while maintaining ease of operation through simple initial setup and automated execution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual human testing with an automated computational system. The automated program uses computer algorithms to navigate web pages, execute searches, and analyze results, substituting human physical actions with electronic automation. This substitution increases productivity by eliminating manual labor constraints while maintaining operational simplicity through standardized automated procedures
Data Source
AI summary
Computer system, method and program product for testing a web site are disclosed. Numbers of hyperlinks required to navigate from one web page of the web site to other, respective web pages on the web site are determined. A score for ease of navigation though the web site based at least in part on the numbers is generated, such that lower numbers correlate to easier navigation through the web site. Another computer system, method and program product for testing a web site are disclosed. First keyword searches are conducted in the web site, using a search engine in the web site, based on sets of search terms ANDed together. Second keyword searches are conducted in the web site, using the search engine at the web site, based on respective subsets of the sets of search terms. Each subset is either a single term within the respective set or two or more terms within the respective set ANDed together. A score for effectiveness of the search engine is determined based at least in part on the frequency at which search results of the first keyword searches are contained in search results for the respective second keyword searches.