Description of Internet user behavior

This paper presents a way to characterize the dynamic behavior of the Internet user. We use an information structure based on associative memory to store data related to the user's thematic and behavioral profile. To do so, we "follow" the user's activity on the Web using a regular network device called "proxy cache". The behavioral profile is related to the way that the user acquires knowledge when he/she surfs on the Web. This can help us to automatically distinguish, for example, experienced users from beginners one. Users may regularly need different and superficial information or on the contrary information that is more thorough and precise. This is why we want to study the regularity of the knowledge acquisition. By using mathematical tools, like Fourier or wavelet transform, we characterize and highlight symmetrical properties in the user's behavior. We also show that it is possible to give visual description of these symmetries in particular by using "Chryzode" as representation.