Session Viewer: Visual
Exploratory Analysis of Web Session Logs
Proceedings of the IEEE Symposium on
Visual Analytics Science and Technology (VAST), p 147-154, 2007.
PDF | Abstract
| Videos | Figures | Talk
Paper
Abstract
Large-scale session log analysis typically
includes statistical methods and detailed log examinations. While both methods
have merits, statistical methods can miss previously unknown subpopulations in
the data and detailed analyses may have selection biases. We therefore built Session
Viewer, a visualization tool to facilitate and bridge between statistical and
detailed analyses. Taking a multiple-coordinated view approach, Session Viewer
shows multiple session populations at the Aggregate, Multiple, and Detail data
levels to support different analysis styles. To bridge between the statistical
and the detailed analysis levels, Session Viewer provides fluid traversal between
data levels and side-by-side comparison at all data levels. We describe an analysis
of a large-scale web usage study to demonstrate the use of Session Viewer, where
we quantified the importance of grouping sessions based on task type.
Video
MOV (zipped)
Figures
Fig 1: A sample web session log from the user study
Fig 2: A schematic diagram showing the multiple coordinated
views in Session Viewer
Fig 3: The main screen of Session Viewer showing user study data
Fig 4: State Transitions Panel
Fig 5: The State Counts Panel is a bar char t with event ordinality on the x-axis and event counts
Fig 6: Distribution/Filter Panel
Fig 7: Sessions Panel
Fig 8: Expanded sessions in the Sessions Panel showing three search
patterns
Fig 9: Examples to show how the Session Attributes Panel reveals trends and correlations
Fig 10: Interaction coordination scheme between the
three data levels
Fig 11: Dialog for users to specify event sequences in a pattern
Fig 12: Sessions Panels for two task types
Fig 13: Confirming a hypothesis formed by exploration in Session Viewer
Talk
presentation
PDF
Fig 1: A sample web session log from the user study
Fig 2: A schematic diagram showing the multiple coordinated
views in Session Viewer
Fig 3: The main screen of Session Viewer showing user study data
Fig 4: State Transitions Panel
Fig 5: The State Counts Panel is a bar char t with event ordinality on the x-axis and event counts
Fig 6: Distribution/Filter Panel
Fig 7: Sessions Panel
Fig 8: Expanded sessions in the Sessions Panel showing three search
patterns
Fig 9: Examples to show how the Session Attributes Panel reveals trends and correlations
Fig 10: Interaction coordination scheme between the
three data levels
Fig 11: Dialog for users to specify event sequences in a pattern
Fig 12: Sessions Panels for two task types
Fig 13: Confirming a hypothesis formed by exploration in Session Viewer