USO08095567B2
(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 8,095,567 B2 Cookson, Jr. et al. (45) Date of Patent: Jan. 10, 2012
(54) PROVIDING ALTERNATIVES WITHINA 6,658.412 B1 12/2003 Jenkins et al...... 1.1 FAMILY TREE SYSTEMIS AND METHODS 6,760,731 B2* 7/2004 Huff ...... 707/101 6,963,871 B1 * 1 1/2005 Hermansen et al...... 707/6 2002fOO32687 A1* 3, 2002 Huff ...... TO7 104.1 (75) Inventors: Bennett Cookson, Jr., Orem, UT (US); 2002fO112230 A1 8, 2002 Scott ... T17,169 Ken Boyer, Cedar Hills, UT (US); 2003/0009439 A1 1/2003 Lee ...... 707/1 James Mark Hamilton, Provo, UT 2003/00 14422 A1* 1/2003 Notargiacomo et al. ... 707/102 (US); Kendall J. Jefferson, Orem, UT 2003/0135512 A1* 7/2003 Morgan et al...... TO7,102 s icy. 2004/0083226 A1* 4/2004 Eaton ...... TO7/100 (US), Daren Thayne, Orem, UT (US); 2005.0114364 A1* 5, 2005 Tebbs et al. . TO7/100 Michael J. Wolfgramm, Pleasand 2005/01 16954 A1* 6/2005 Ripps et al...... 345,440 Grove, UT (US) FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS (73) Assignee: Myfamily.com, Inc., Orem, UT (US) WO WOOOf 57303 A 9, 2000 (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this OTHER PUBLICATIONS patent is extended or adjusted under 35 El Rosenbaum: "Name Permutation Generator” Computers in Gene U.S.C. 154(b) by 2346 days. alogy, vol. 7, No. 12, Dec. 2002, XP009046831 London, GB ISSN: O263-3248. (21) Appl. No.: 10/748,442 MH Kay: “Using a relational database for a one-name study” Com 1-1. puters in Genealogy, vol.7. No. 2, Jun. 2000, XP009046832 London, (22) Filed: Dec. 29, 2003 GB ISSN: 0263-3248. (65) Prior Publication Data * cited by examiner US 2005/O149497 A1 Jul. 7, 2005 Primary Examiner — Angela Lie (51) Int. Cl. (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Kilpatrick Townsend & G06F 7700 (2006.01) Stockton LLP (52) U.S. Cl...... 707f797 (57) ABSTRACT (58) Field of Classification Search ...... 707/100, 707/791,797 A method of creating a family tree includes receiving a See application file for complete search history. request from a user to return a file that includes the family tree and using a plurality of primary source records to construct (56) References Cited the family tree based on the request. The records indicate multiple alternatives for at least one branch of the family tree. U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS The method also includes sending a file that includes the 5,455,945 A * 10/1995 VanderDrift ...... 707/2 family tree to the user. The file includes the alternatives. 6,523,041 B1* 2/2003 Morgan et al. ... 707/102 6,570,567 B1 5/2003 Eaton ...... 345,428 19 Claims, 25 Drawing Sheets
202 204 2O6 208
200 COMPARENODE COMPARERELATED STORE DATAAS RECORDS RECORDS - RECEIVEDATA RECORDS INDIVIDUAL RELATIONSHIP CORRELATION) ORRELATION)
SEND FILE COMPLETREEFILE RECEIVE USER CONSOLIDATE TOUSER FOR USER REQUEST RECORDS
RECEIVE AND RECEIVE USER NOIFYUSER OF DRILLDOWN STORE PROVIDED ALTERNATIVES INFORMATION UPDATES
218 220 222 224 U.S. Patent Jan. 10, 2012 Sheet 1 of 25 US 8,095,567 B2
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U.S. Patent Jan. 10, 2012 Sheet 4 of 25 US 8,095,567 B2
John William JeffersOn
KA: John JeffersOn
Birth/Death irth 033 Dec 1870 Linevillela. Mercer COuntWMO. eath O9AUC 1951 Cannon Ci Fremont County CO Alternate Birth/Death
Birthirth O3 Dec 1870 L ineville, Mercer CO., MO D e at h O9AUC 1951 el Norte R O G a n d e C O C O 230 Relationshi OS onto Spouse: Dora Jane Grisamore Father: Henry Harrison Jefferson Mother Marv Elizabeth Thomas
Alternate Relationships SDOusere, Dora.Jane Grisamore E Father Henry Jefferson O t h e r Sources: AWT eieffers O12 14243 9571
684682 4387 880
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U.S. Patent Jan. 10, 2012 Sheet 7 Of 25 US 8,095,567 B2
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U.S. Patent Jan. 10, 2012 Sheet 9 Of 25 US 8,095,567 B2
1930 NDIVIDUAL 324 NODES 322
1930 INDIVIDUAL 326
LINKS 1930 SOURCE FILE DATA EXTRACTOR1930
FG.3E U.S. Patent Jan. 10, 2012 Sheet 10 of 25 US 8,095,567 B2
1880 U.S. Federal Census reCOrd for: John JEFFERSON
FG.3F U.S. Patent US 8,095,567 B2 U.S. Patent Jan. 10, 2012 Sheet 12 of 25 US 8,095,567 B2 SSD D SOURCE FILE DAASEctor FIG.3H U.S. Patent US 8,095,567 B2 U.S. Patent US 8,095,567 B2 (SEHOOS 919 SECTON U.S. Patent Jan. 10, 2012 Sheet 17 Of 25 US 8,095,567 B2 E?OOS'TOW ERHOOS E}{OOS EHOOS 979 li r O CD CVO SHOONSWEWWS U.S. Patent Jan. 10, 2012 Sheet 18 of 25 US 8,095,567 B2 eieffer - 083 ejeffer - 1012 eieffer - 010 a1423-19572 a 14243 - 1957.1 a1423-19568 Same ASNOdes-COrrelated individuals eefer 02 a4243 I957 CO 2684682 4387 0.8 3 a14243 1957 2684682 4387 1.0 54. a14243eieffer 0125 1880i 60.7 35 O 6 2684682 (4387 1880 08 FIG.3N U.S. Patent Jan. 10, 2012 Sheet 19 Of 25 US 8,095,567 B2 0.1% U.S. Patent US 8,095,567 B2 099 U.S. Patent US 8,095,567 B2 U.S. Patent Jan. 10, 2012 Sheet 24 of 25 US 8,095,567 B2 Co cN r U.S. Patent Jan. 10, 2012 Sheet 25 Of 25 US 8,095,567 B2 mos*uensp-moto=?),?2-a US 8,095,567 B2 1. 2 PROVIDING ALTERNATIVES WITHINA 55gcint.htm>, the content of which is entirely incorporated FAMILY TREE SYSTEMIS AND METHODS herein by reference for all purposes. Many genealogy inves tigation services now collect and distribute data using the CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED GEDCOM Standard. APPLICATIONS Despite the technological advances—or in some cases because of the technological advances—relating to geneal This application is related to co-pending, commonly ogy, the activity remains ripe for improvement. One signifi assigned and concurrently filed U.S. patent application Ser. cant limitation that exists in many "open’ genealogy investi No. 10/748,441, filed on Dec. 29, 2003, entitled, “GENEAL gation tools (i.e., those that allow independent users to Submit OGY INVESTIGATION AND DOCUMENTATION SYS 10 data), is a bias in favor of the information submitted by the TEMS AND METHODS”, by Bennett Cookson, Jr., et al., most recent submitter. Because of the way data is related and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/748,439, filed on within these systems, data conflicts are difficult to resolve. Dec. 29, 2003, entitled, “CORRELATING GENEALOGY The problem is rectified by allowing the latest submitter to RECORDS SYSTEMS AND METHODS.” by Bennett overwrite conflicting data submitted by a previous user. This Cookson, Jr., et al., the entire disclosure of each of which is 15 is but one example of the many limitations of presently herein incorporated by reference for all purposes. available genealogy investigation tools. Embodiments of the present invention address these and many other limitations. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to genealogy and more particularly to computer-based genealogy investigation Embodiments of the invention thus provide a method of tools. creating a family tree. The method includes receiving a Genealogy is an enjoyable hobby to some and an important request from a user to return a file that includes the family tree life's work to many. Whether for cultural, religious, recre and using a plurality of primary source records to construct ational or other reasons, many people wish to trace their 25 the family tree based on the request. The records indicate ancestry. multiple alternatives for at least one branch of the family tree. The process of genealogy investigation has evolved con The method also includes sending a file that includes the siderably over the years. In the past, the practice involved family tree to the user. The file includes the alternatives. keeping notes in family bibles handed down through the In some embodiments, an alternative results from a differ generations, and many continue to do this today. Not very 30 ence relating to spelling, place, date, event relationship, long ago, the process often required traveling to the home ancestor, spouse, and/or children. The method may include towns of ancestors to pore over public records, newspapers, providing an opportunity for the user to select among the and the like at courthouses, libraries, and such. Once found, alternatives. The method may include receiving a selection family information was written into journals and notebooks from among the alternatives from the user, storing the selec or onto index cards. Because of the geometric expansion of 35 tion, using the selection to revise the family tree, and sending information with each generation, analyzing the information a file comprising the revised family tree to the user. The became a daunting task. The advent of computers, however, selection may be used to provide an alternative to another has created significant opportunities for improving and sim user. The method also may include receiving a non-contem plifying the process. poraneous request from the user to view the family tree, using Many public records are now accessible using a computer 40 the stored selection to construct the family tree, and sending and the Internet, thus allowing investigators to search elec a file that includes the family tree to the user. The family tree tronically using keywords and Such without having to travel may include the revised family tree. The method also may to where the original records are kept. Additionally, several include thereafter, receiving additional genealogy data that public and private efforts to collect and catalog genealogy creates new alternatives in the family tree and notifying the data have resulted in publicly accessible databases with much 45 user of the new alternatives. Notifying the user may include of the work already complete. Further still, some companies sending the user an email and/or sending the user a file that have produced commercial web sites where individuals can includes the family tree. The file may include a new alterna cooperate to extend a common family tree. Some examples of tives symbol. The method also may include receiving a each include: Title Page (75) Inventors: Michael J. Wolfgramm, please delete “Pleasand and insert --Pleasant--. Signed and Sealed this Twenty-seventh Day of March, 2012 () David J. Kappos Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. : 8,095,567 B2 Page 1 of 1 APPLICATIONNO. : 10/7484.42 DATED : January 10, 2012 INVENTOR(S) : Bennett Cookson, Jr. et al. It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby corrected as shown below: Title page, item (73) Assignee: please delete “Myfamily.com, Inc., Orem, UT (US)' and insert --Ancestry.com Operations Inc., Provo, UT (US)-- Signed and Sealed this Fourteenth Day of August, 2012 () David J. Kappos Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office