| 摘要 |
A computer-implemented system and method are provided for identifying popular nodes within a browse tree or other hierarchical browse structure based on historical actions of online users, and for calling such nodes to the attention of users during navigation of the browse tree. The system and method are particularly useful for assisting users in locating popular products and/or product categories within a catalog of an online merchant, but may be used in connection with browse structures used to locate other types of items. Node popularity levels are determined periodically (e.g., once per day) based on recent user activity data that represents users' affinities for such nodes. Such activity data may include, for example, the number of times each item was purchased, and/or the number of times each category was selected for display, within a selected period of time. Popular nodes are called to the attention of users by automatically "elevating" the nodes for display within the browse tree. For example, when a user selects a particular non-leaf category (a category that contains subcategories) for viewing, the most popular items corresponding to the selected category may be displayed (together with the immediate subcategories), allowing the user to view or directly access these items without having to navigate to lower levels of the browse tree (and particularly those associated with leaf categories). Subcategories may be elevated for display in a similar manner. The node elevation process may also be used to elevate items and/or categories that are predicted to be of interest to a user, regardless of popularity. In a preferred embodiment, both popular items are leaf categories are elevated on a user-specific basis using a combination of user-specific and non-user-specific activity data.
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