TRACKING USER FLOW OF WEB PAGES OF A
WEB SITE
FIELD
The field of the present disclosure pertains to the management of Web pages on a
distributed computer network. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and
system for monitoring Web page flow through hyperlinked Web pages and efficiently
implementing Web page updates and changes on an Internet Web site. The present disclosure
describes a method and system for tracking a user flow of Web pages of a Web site to enable
efficient updating of the hyperlinks of the Web site.
BACKGROUND
One of the most important societal changes of recent times has been
the emergence of the Internet, more particularly, the World Wide Web (e.g.,
the Web), as a predominant communications medium. The Web presents a
navigable aggregation of Web page content of all the Web connected
computers. This navigable aggregation of content is linked in such a way as
to offer users access to information and documentation, typically in the form
of interactive hypermedia, or Web pages. Web pages describe documents in
which hypertext links are used for connecting a multitude of combinations of
graphics, audio, video, and text. Such combinations are often interlinked and
interconnected in nonlinear, nonsequential manners.
Web page authors use specialized software, for example, HTML
(hypertext markup language), Java, XML (extensible markup language), and
the like, to create Web pages and to format the various hyperlinks, objects,
fields, etc., within the Web pages. Web page authors also use a variety of
tools to track the structure of the links between the many Web pages that
comprise the Web site. The ability to define the interaction of many different
Web pages with one another through the use of the hyperlinks enable the
creation of powerful comprehensive Web sites directed towards particular
needs or particular purposes. Examples include news portal Web sites,
sports oriented Web sites, and particularly, electronic commerce oriented
Web sites. The creation and updating of such large Web sites, having many
hundreds of complex interlinked, interrelated Web pages, has become a very
technical and manpower intensive undertaking.
The most basic component of Web page creation is the HTML editor.
An HTML editor is a low-level Web site authoring tool that is essentially a
text editor, specialized for writing HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)
code. It assists the HTML author (e.g., the Web page author or Web site
designer) by cataloging all HTML tags and common structures in menus and
by being able to catch certain syntax errors. It often displays tags and
contents in colors so they pop out for easy reference. HTML editors comprise
the foundation of many different prior art Web authoring software tools.
Web authoring software (e.g., often synonymous with Web development
software ) generates the required HTML code for the pages. Trained
developers work with the HTML editors and the Web authoring software to
produce the many Web pages of the Web site. Within a given Web site,
collections of related Web pages are usually linked together using hypertext
links, or hyperlinks. The basic structure of hyperlinked Web pages is
designed to promote the process of browsing from one document to another
along hypertext links. A significant amount of effort is expended to ensure
the clarity and reliability of HTML code, the technical correctness of the Web
pages, and the reliability and technical correctness of the many hundreds of
hyperlinks embedded within the Web pages.
There exists a problem, however, in that site navigation for documents
(e.g., Web pages) is performed via hyperlinks that are embedded within the
HTML structure documents. These embedded hyperlinks can be static or
dynamic to some extent, in that the parameters they pass are different, but
the base URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the same. Site navigation is
therefore to some extent fixed. The nature of the hyperlinks leads users to
"flow" from one page to another, following the interconnected hyperlinks from
the original document (e.g., homepage) to the ultimate destination document.
The embedded nature of the hyperlinks results in little or no control of the
Web site author to change or alter the flow without having to rebuild Web
pages, add new hyperlinks, or embed logic in a given Web page to control the
flow.
Rebuilding Web pages is usually not a cost-effective option. To change
the hyperlinks of a document, as with changes to the color, tabs, buttons, or
the like, often requires completely rebuilding the page. With current Web
site authoring tools there exists very tight constraints with regard to the code
comprising the page. It is difficult to simply "cut and paste" changes into the
page. Any new hyperlinks have to be verified to ensure they link to the
correct Web pages. Changing hyperlinks introduces the possibility of
"breaking" existing hyperlinks for other connected documents. Thus, it
becomes expensive to implement changes to, for example, respond to
competitors. It becomes expensive to quickly modify a user flow in response
to changes in the products.
Thus, what is required is a way to simplify the process of maintaining
a Web site. What is required is a solution that renders the update and
maintenance process of a user flow of a Web site much easier than the prior
art. What is required is a solution that simplifies the changing and
maintaining of hyperlinks within Web pages of a Web site. The required
solution should improve the speed and responsiveness of the resulting site to
changing conditions, customers, and the like. The present invention provides
a novel solution to these requirements.
SUMMARY
The present invention provides a method and system for simplifying
the process of maintaining a Web site. The present invention provides a
solution that renders the update and maintenance process of a user flow of a
Web site much easier than the prior art. The present invention provides a
solution that simplifies the changing and maintaining of hyperlinks within
the Web pages of a Web site. The present invention improves the speed and
responsiveness of a Web site to changing conditions, customers, and the Like.
Additionally, the present invention streamlines the Web site maintenance
process while retaining reliable technical aspects (e.g., Java, HTML, etc.) of
the Web site.
In one embodiment, the present invention is implemented as a
computer implemented method for tracking a user flow of Web pages of a
Web site to enable efficient updating of the hyperlinks of the Web site, such
as, for example, an electronic commerce Web site. In this embodiment, for
each Web page of the Web site, a Web page is accessed and a set of actions
available to a user (e.g., add items to a shopping cart, remove items from
shopping cart, or the like) are determined for the Web page. Similarly, a set
of the next pages (e.g., product colors, features, customizations, etc.) linked to
the Web page are determined. A set of rules are defined that modify the set
of actions available to the user or the set of next pages linked to the Web
page in accordance with any predetermined conditions, such as, for example,
an identity of the user. For example, depending upon the identity of the user,
a different set of Web pages listing prices, products, customizations, etc.,
specific to the user can be linked as next pages.
The set of actions, the set of next pages, and the set of rules are stored
in a table data structure for the Web page to track a user flow of the Web
page. The table data structure enables the user flow of the Web page to be
changed by altering the corresponding set of rules in the table data structure
for the Web page. Similarly, the user flow can be changed by altering the set
of actions available to the user, or by altering the set of next pages linked to
the Web page in the table data structure for the Web page. A plurality of
Web pages can be stored within a single table data structures, or a plurality
of table data structures can be generated for each of the plurality of Web
pages of the Web site. The table data structures can be stored in a matrix to
track a user flow of the entire Web site.
A graphical user interface is presented to the Web site manager (e.g.,
on a workstation display) that visually depicts the matrix of table data
structures that characterize the flow of the Web site. Thus, the Web site
manager can alter, modify, redefine, and otherwise manage the user flow of
the entire Web site through the intuitive graphical user interface
representation of the matrix of table data structures. In this manner, the
present invention provides a solution that renders the update and
maintenance process of a user flow of a Web site much easier than the prior
art, and simplifies the changing and maintaining of hyperlinks within Web
pages of a Web site.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not by way
of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like
reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:
Figure 1 shows an exemplary user flow of a Web site in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 shows a diagram at a table data structure in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 shows a flowchart of the steps of a user flow tracking process
for a Web site in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 shows the components of a computer system platform in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the
invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred
embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the
invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended
to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included
within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present
invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a
thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious
to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced
without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods,
procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not
to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.
Embodiments of the present invention are directed towards a computer
implemented method for tracking a user flow of Web pages of a Web site to
enable efficient updating of the hyperlinks of the Web site. The present
invention provides a solution that renders the update and maintenance
process of a user flow of a Web site much easier than the prior art. the
present invention provides a solution that simplifies the changing and
maintaining of hyperlinks within Web pages of a Web site. The present
invention improves the speed and responsiveness of the resulting site to
changing conditions, customers, and the like. Additionally, the present
invention streamlines the Web site maintenance process while retaining
reliable technical aspects (e.g., java, HTML, etc.) of the Web site. The
present invention and its benefits are further described below.
Notation and Nomenclature
Some portions of the detailed descriptions which follow are presented
in terms of procedures, steps, logic blocks, processing, and other symbolic
representations of operations on data bits within a computer memory. These
descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the
data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to
others skilled in the art. A procedure, computer executed step, logic block,
process, etc., is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence
of steps or instructions leading to a desired result. The steps are those
requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not
necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals
capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise
manipulated in a computer system. It has proven convenient at times,
principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits,
values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like.
It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar
terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are
merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically
stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated
that throughout the present invention, discussions utilizing terms such as
"processing" or "computing" or "communicating" or "instantiating" or
"registering" or "displaying" or the like, refer to the action and processes of a
computer system (e.g., computer system 512 of Figure 4), or similar electronic
computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as
physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and
memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within
the computer system memories or registers or other such information
storage, transmission or display devices.
Method and System
Figure 1 shows an exemplary user flow 100 of a Web site in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention. As depicted in Figure 1, user
flow 100 includes the hyperlinked Web pages 101-122. In this case, user flow
100 depicts the sequence of pages presented to a user as in, for example, an
electronic commerce based Web site.
The first page the user visits is the Web site homepage 101. As with
many Web sites on the Internet, homepage 101 functions as the welcoming
front-end of the Web site. As such, most of the user flows possible in the Web
site begin with the homepage 101. As depicted in Figure 1, the user flow
continues from left to right, as the user hyperlinks to a sections page 102,
then to a product page 103, and so on. The user flow concludes on the right
hand side of Figure 1, with the user hyperlinking through a confirmation
page 120, a place order page 121, and ending at a credit card page 122.
Referring still Figure 1, user flow 100 functions in a manner familiar
to any person having experienced "Web surfing " on the Internet. As with
conventional Web sites, the Web pages 101-122 are hyperlinked to one
another via embedded hyperlinks within the structure of the Web pages
themselves. These hyperlinks can be either static or dynamic to some extent
depending upon the parameters they pass. However, in accordance with the
present invention, user flow 100 is not fixed by the embedded hyperlinks of
the Web pages 101-122. The interface of the present invention enables
efficient control of user flow 100, allowing a Web site designer to alter user
flow 100 without having to individually embed or change logic in a given
page to control the flow.
In the present embodiment, the control of user flow 100 is provided
through the use of an extended form of hyperlink in each of pages 101-122.
In this embodiment, each of the hyperlinks controlling user flow 100
comprises an extended URL that takes in addition to the normal URL
parameters, parameters that define the document presently viewed by the
user (e.g., a current page) and the action being performed (e.g., clicking on
objects in the Web page, adding to a shopping cart, removing from a shopping
cart, etc.). Given this information, it's possible to determine the next logical
flow by performing a lookup on a table that defines what the next Web page
ought to be based on the page being viewed and the action taken. The
information defined by the table and hence the flow of the Web site is
determined by the Web site manager (e.g., the merchant), and can be stored
in a database. The table(s) can also store additional information such as
whether the next page being viewed should be viewed with a secure
connection. Changing the user flow of an entire site therefore only requires
changing the corresponding information stored in the table(s).
Alternatively, instead of predefining what the next page is going to be
and storing this information in the table, a rule-based mechanism can be
implemented which dynamically selects the next page using, for example, an
inference engine, and also takes into account additional criteria such as the
identity of the user, account type, etc. This solution works well for both static
highly dynamic sites. The addition of the rule-based mechanism enables
powerful dynamic control of a Web site.
User flow control in accordance with present invention provides a
number of advantages. For example, user flow 100 can be managed via a
GUI that graphically depicts and allows editing of the information stored
within the one or more tables for the Web site. This is very much different
from the prior art methods of modifying individual Web page files. User flow
control in accordance with present invention facilitates the tracking and
management changes through an approval process. User flow 100 can be
changed in an instant without having to modify the files comprising Web
pages 101-122. In so doing, the Web site truly becomes dynamic in nature,
able to easily change and respond to different conditions and competitors of
the marketplace. The rule-based mechanism allows a merchant to easily
define the flow for different types of accounts and/or for different individual
customers. For example, a first-time customer would see a different set of
price lists (e.g., customer price lists 109-112) than a large high-volume
customer. Similarly, for example, and outside supplier would see a different
set of products (e.g., product descriptions 104-106) than a division within the
merchant's company.
Figure 2 shows a diagram of a table data structure 200 in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention. As depicted in Figure 2, table
data structure 200 (hereafter table 200) includes columns for the current
page 201, an action 202, next page 203, and rules 204.
In this embodiment, flow information for each of the Web pages within
the Web site are stored within the table 200 to present an overall view of the
user flow. A first row 210 of table 200 shows entries for the sections page 102
of Figure 1, as shown by the entry in the current page column 201. For the
sections page 102, the set of actions available to a user (e.g., add items to a
shopping cart, remove items from the shopping cart, or the like) are listed in
the actions column 202. Similarly, the set of the next pages (e.g., product
colors, features, customizations, etc.) linked to the sections page 102 are
listed in the next page column 203. A set of rules that define and/or modify
the set of actions available to the user or the set of next pages linked to the
sections page 102 are listed in the rules column 204.
In this manner, the set of actions, the set of next pages, and the set of
rules are stored in a table data structure 200 to enable a Web site manager to
intuitively track a user flow of the Web page. The table data structure
enables the user flow of the Web page to be changed by altering the
corresponding set of rules in the table data structure for the Web page.
Similarly, by using the table data structure for the Web page, the user flow
can be changed by altering the set of actions available to the user, or by
altering the set of next pages linked to the Web page. A number of Web
pages of the Web site can be stored on successive rows of table 200 in the
same manner as sections page 102. Similarly, a number of table data
structures can be generated to catalog all of the Web pages of the Web site,
and the table data structures can be stored in a matrix to track a user flow of
the entire Web site.
The tabular quality of table 200 is well suited for use with a graphical
user interface software application. For example, table 200 can be presented
to the Web site manager (e.g., on a workstation display), either alone or with
a set of such tables, to visually depict the flow of the Web site. Thus, for
example, the Web site manager can alter, create, redefine, and otherwise
manage the user flow of the entire Web site through the intuitive graphical
user interface representation of a matrix of table data structures. In this
manner, the present invention provides a solution that renders the update
and maintenance process of a user flow of a Web site much easier than the
prior art, and simplifies the changing and maintaining of hyperlinks within
Web pages of a Web site.
Referring now to Figure 3, a flowchart of the steps of a user flow
tracking process 300 for a Web site in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention is shown. Process 300 is a computer implemented method
for tracking a user flow of Web pages of a Web site to enable efficient
updating of the hyperlinks of the Web site, such as, for example, an electronic
commerce Web site. Process 300 shows steps involved in setting up a Web
site for use with tables and matrices as described above.
Process 300 begins in step 301, where a set of actions available to a
user are determined for each Web page of a Web site. For each Web page of
the Web site, the Web page is accessed and a set of actions available to a user
(e.g." add items to a shopping cart, remove items from shopping cart, or the
like) are determined for the Web page.
In step 302, a set of the next pages linked to the Web page is
determined for each Web page of the Web site. The set of the next pages
include, for example, product colors, features, customizations, etc.) linked to
the Web page.
In step 303, for each Web page, a set of rules are defined that modify
the set of actions available to the user or the set of next pages linked to the
Web page in accordance with, for example, an identity of the user. As
described above, the rule-based mechanism allows the customization of the
flow for different types of accounts and/or for different individual customers.
For example, a first-time customer would see a different set of price lists (e.g.,
customer price lists 109-112) than a large high-volume customer.
Referring still to process 300 of Figure 3, in step 304, for each Web
page, the set of actions, the set of next pages, and the set of rules are stored
in a table data structure. The table data structure (e.g., table 200 of Figure
2) includes columns for the current page, an action, a next page, and rules.
In step 305, the table data structure is presented to the Web site
manager using a GUI of a software application (e.g., on a desktop computer
system). The tabular attributes of the table data structure are well suited for
use with a GUI software application. For example, the table data structure
can be presented to the Web site manager (e.g., on a workstation display),
either alone or with a set of such tables, to visually depict the flow of the Web
site.
In step 306, the user flow of the Web page is changed/modified by
altering the information stored in the table data structure. Thus, as
described above, the Web site manager can alter, create, redefine, and
otherwise manage the user flow of the entire Web site through the intuitive
graphical user interface representation of the matrix of table data structures.
Computer System Platform
With reference now to Figure 4, a computer system 512 in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention is shown. Computer system
512 shows the components of a computer system in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention that provides the execution platform for
implementing certain software based functionality of the present invention.
As described above, certain processes and steps of the present invention are
realized, in one embodiment, as a series of instructions (e.g., software
program) that reside within computer readable memory units of a computer
system (e.g., system 512) and are executed by the processors) of system 512.
When executed, the instructions cause the computer system 512 to
implement the functionality of the present invention as described above.
In general, computer system 512 shows the basic components of a
computer system used to implement "server" machines and "client" machines.
Computer system 512 comprises an address/data bus 500 for communicating
information, one or more central processors 501 coupled with the bus 500 for
processing information and instructions, a computer readable volatile
memory unit 502 (e.g., random access memory, static RAM, dynamic, RAM,
etc.) coupled with the bus 500 for storing information and instructions for the
central processor(s) 501, a computer readable non-volatile memory unit (e.g.,
read only memory, programmable ROM, flash memory, EPROM, EEPROM,
etc.) coupled with the bus 500 for storing static information and instructions
for the processor(s) 501. System 512 also includes a mass storage computer
readable data storage device 504 such as a magnetic or optical disk and disk
drive coupled with the bus 500 for storing information and instructions.
Optionally, system 512 can include a display device 505 coupled to the bus
500 for displaying information to the computer user, an alphanumeric input
device 506 including alphanumeric and function keys coupled to the bus 500
for communicating information and command selections to the central
processor(s) 501, a cursor control device 507 coupled to the bus for
communicating user input information and command selections to the central
processor(s) 501, and a signal generating device 508 coupled to the bus 500
for communicating command selections to the processor(s) 501.
Thus, the present invention provides a computer implemented method
for tracking a user flow of Web pages of a Web site to enable efficient
updating of the hyperlinks of the Web site. The present invention provides a
solution that renders the update and maintenance process of a user flow of a
Web site much easier than the prior art. the present invention provides a
solution that simplifies the changing and maintaining of hyperlinks within
Web pages of a Web site. The present invention improves the speed and
responsiveness of the resulting site to changing conditions, customers, and
the like. Additionally, the present invention streamlines the Web site
maintenance process while retaining reliable technical aspects (e.g., java, HTML, etc.) of the
Web site.
This application discloses a method for tacking a user flow of Web pages of a Web site to
enable efficient updating of the hyperlinks of the Web site. A Web page is accessed
out 6f a plurality of Web pages of a Web site. A set of actions available to a
user are determined for the Web page. A set of the next pages linked to the
Web page are determined for the Web page. A set of rules are defined that
modify the set of actions available to the user or the set of next pages linked
to the Web page in accordance with an identity of the user. The set of
actions, the set of next pages, and the set of rules are stored in a table data
structure for the Web page to track a user flow of the Web page. The table
data structure enables the user flow of the Web page to be changed by
altering the corresponding set of rules in the table data structure for the Web
page. Similarly, the user flow can be changed by altering the set of actions
available to the user, or by altering the set of next pages linked to the Web
page in the table data structure for the Web page. A plurality of table data
structures can be generated for each of the plurality of Web pages of the Web
site, and the table data structures can be stored in a matrix to track a user
flow of the entire Web site.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present
invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description.
They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise
forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are
possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and
described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its
practical application, to thereby enableothers skilled in the art to best utilize
the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are
suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the
invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
All of the numerical and quantitative measurements set forth in this application
(including in the examples and in the claims) are approximations.
The invention illustratively disclosed or claimed herein suitably may be practiced in the
absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed or claimed herein. Thus, the
invention may comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the elements disclosed or claimed
herein.
The following claims are entitled to the broadest possible scope consistent with this
application. The claims shall not necessarily be limited to the preferred embodiments or to the
embodiments shown in the examples.
WE CLAIM
1. A method comprising the steps of:
a) accessing a Web page out of a plurality of Web pages of a Web
site;
b) determining a set of actions available to a user for Web page;
c) determining a set of the next pages linked to the Web page;
d) defining a set of rules that modify the set of actions available to the
user or the set of next pages linked to the Web page in accordance
with an identify of the user; and
e) storing the set of actions, the set of next pages, and the set of
rules in a table data structure for the Web page to track a user flow
of the Web page.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method comprises a
method for tracking a user flow of web pages of a Web site to enable
efficient updating of the hyperlinks of the Web site.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising the step of altering the
user flow of the Web page by altering the corresponding set of rules in
the table data structure for the Web page.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, 2 & 3, comprising the step of altering
the user flow of the Web page by altering the set of actions available to
the user in the table data structure for the Web page.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1,2, 3, or 4, comprising the step of
altering the user flow of the Web page by altering the set of next pages
linked to the Web page in the table data structure for the Web page.
6. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising the step of
defining the set of rules for the Web page to link a particular set of next
Web pages for a particular user, the particular user determined by the
identity.
7. The method as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 6, comprising the
steps of managing the user flow of the Web page using a graphical user
interface presenting a depiction of the table data structure.
8. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising the steps
of: generating a plurality of table data structure for each of the plurality of
Web pages of the Web site; and storing the table data structures in a
matrix to track a user flow of the Web site.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, comprising the step of altering a user
flow of the Web site by altering the matrix of table data structures.
10.The method as claimed in claim 8 or 9, comprising the step of managing a
user flow of the Web site using a graphical user interface presenting a
depiction of the matrix of table data structures.
11. An apparatus comprising a computer system having a processor for
executing computer readable instructions, which when executed cause the
computer system to implement a method comprising the steps of:
a) accessing a Web page out of a plurality of Web pages of a Web
site;
b) determining a set of actions available to a user for Web page;
c) determining a set of the next pages linked to the Web page;
d) defining a set of rules that modify the set of actions available to the
user or the set of next pages linked to the Web page in accordance
with an identity of the user; and
e) storing the set of actions, the set of next pages, and the set of
rules in a table data structure for the Web page to track a user flow
of the Web page.
12.The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said apparatus is an
apparatus for tracking a user flow of Web pages of a Web site to enable
efficient updating of the hyperlinks of the Web site.

A Web page is accessed out of a plurality of Web pages of a Web site. A set of actions available to a user (301) and a set of the next pages linked to the Web page (302) are determined for the Web page. A set of rules are defined (303) that modify the set of actions available to the user or the set of next pages linked to the Web page in accordance with an identity of the user. A table data structure (304) enables the user flow of the Web page to be changed by altering the corresponding set of rules in the table data structure (306) for the Web page, the set of actions available to the user, or the set of next pages linked to the Web page. A plurality of table data structures can be stored in a matrix (200) to track a user flow of the entire Web site.