Patents Assigned to Ancestry.com Operations Inc.
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Patent number: 9197525Abstract: A method for displaying information on a display screen of a user computer comprises sending a computer readable document from a server computer to the user computer for display on the display screen. The computer readable document includes links that are viewable on the display screen and are selectable to cause subsequent documents to be rendered on the display screen. The computer readable document further includes viewable information regarding selection of the links over a certain time.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2013Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: ANCESTRY.COM OPERATIONS INC.Inventors: Paul Allen, James Ivie, Greg Parkinson, Daren Thayne, Michael Wolfgramm
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Patent number: 9177266Abstract: According to the invention, a method for displaying genealogical records may include providing a plurality of genealogical records, providing a plurality of icons, and associating each genealogical record with an icon. The method may also include providing a genealogical display and positioning a first icon in a docking field of the genealogical display. The method may further include displaying on a display device the first icon in the docking field, information about the genealogical record associated with the first icon, and other icons that represent genealogical records linked to the genealogical record represented by the first icon, where the other icons are arranged according to their relationship with the first icon. The method may additionally include replacing the first icon in the docking field with a second icon representing a different genealogical record and updating the icons displayed on the display device without shifting focus from the displayed icons.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2011Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: ANCESTRY.COM OPERATIONS INC.Inventors: Matt Rasmussen, Harold Madsen, Gary Mangum
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Patent number: 9053362Abstract: A city directory, having a listing of names and associated information of residents in a city (or similar location), is digitized. Zones of text having information not useful to users of the digitized directory are removed, and lines of information corresponding to residents are reconstructed, to make the digitized directory more easily accessed and reviewed.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2014Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventors: Peter McCombs, Spence Koehler, Laryn Brown
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Patent number: 9030502Abstract: A system and method for organizing photos and other documents include a user interface for displaying photos and data nodes. A photo may be placed at a data node by selecting a facial image in the photo and then moving the facial image (e.g., using a drop and drag technique) to associate the facial image with the node. In alternative embodiments, a portion of a photo other than a facial image may be selected, or an entire photo may be selected, and then placed at the node. The user can identify nodes based on the person in the facial image and tag the photo with identifying information. In some embodiments, existing nodes (e.g., in a family tree) can be displayed in order to have photos placed therein. Relationship nodes can be suggested as facial images are associated with nodes.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2012Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventor: Chris Brookhart
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Patent number: 8949110Abstract: Lines of data that are from a historical document, such as a digitized city directory, have information extracted and stored in searchable data fields. Words and phrases within the lines of data are identified and tagged. Rendering rules are applied to the tagged words and phrases to extract names, addresses, occupations, spouse information and other data, and store that data in the searchable fields.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventors: Peter McCombs, Spencer Koehler, Laryn Brown
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Patent number: 8938439Abstract: Embodiments relate to methods and systems for building representations of related subjects. User instructions may be received via a computer system that relate identifying information relating to a subject (e.g., an individual, group and/or event) to a node being associated therewith. Nodes in different accounts may be compared and matched based on identifying information associated with the nodes. Characteristics of one of the matched nodes may be added or modified based on characteristics of another of the matched nodes. A user may be notified of a potential match, a match, and/or node characteristics additions and/or modifications.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2012Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventors: David Graham, Mark Allen, Mike Smeltzer, Barry Watts, Preston Thayne, Doug Reid, Grant Parkinson
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Publication number: 20140369606Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of linking a document image with indexed data is provided. The method may be performed by providing a document image, which is a digitized document having various information. Indexed data is also provided, which is a record that includes information extracted from the document image or a different document image. The process is further performed by identifying a feature of the indexed data and analyzing the document image to determine whether the feature is present within the information of the digitized document. The feature may be information or a characteristic defined by the information extracted from the document image or the different document image. If the feature is present within the information of the digitized document, a determination is made that the indexed data corresponds with the document image and the indexed data is linked with the document image.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2014Publication date: December 18, 2014Applicant: ANCESTRY.COM OPERATIONS INC.Inventors: Jack Reese, Shawn Reid, Laryn Brown, Randy Hansen, Mark Oswald
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Patent number: 8908971Abstract: Methods, devices and systems are described for transcribing text from artifacts to electronic files. A computer system is provided, wherein the computer system comprises a computer-readable storage device. An image of the artifact is received wherein text is present on the artifact. A first portion of the text is analyzed. Characters representing the first portion of the text are identified at a first confidence level equal to or greater than a threshold confidence level. The characters representing the first portion of the text are stored. A second portion of the text appearing on the artifact is analyzed. A plurality of candidates to represent the second portion of the text are identified at a second confidence level below the threshold confidence level. Finally, the plurality of candidates to a user for selection are presented.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2013Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventor: Lee Samuel Jensen
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Patent number: 8894027Abstract: Various methods and devices involving reprographic copy stands are described. A reprographic copy stand may include a first support element configured to support a first cover of a book at a first plurality of angles. The reprographic copy stand may also include a second support element configured to support a second configured to support a second cover of the book at a second plurality of angles. The reprographic copy stand may include a platform configured to couple with the first support element at a first plurality of positions and the second support element at a second plurality of positions. The distance between the support elements may be variable according to the position of the first support selected from the first plurality of positions and the position of the second support selected from the second plurality of positions such that a plurality of book binding thicknesses are accommodated by the distance.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2011Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventors: Jack Reese, Shawn Reid
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Patent number: 8837787Abstract: A system and method for identifying a photo displays the photo with a family tree. Facial recognition, photo date estimation, people age estimation and gender determination are used to associate the displayed photo with one or more identified nodes in the family tree. A user can enter tagging information for the photo based on the identified nodes.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2012Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventor: Chris Brookhart
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Publication number: 20140247988Abstract: A city directory, having a listing of names and associated information of residents in a city (or similar location), is digitized. Zones of text having information not useful to users of the digitized directory are removed, and lines of information corresponding to residents are reconstructed, to make the digitized directory more easily accessed and reviewed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2014Publication date: September 4, 2014Applicant: ANCESTRY.COM OPERATIONS INC.Inventors: Peter McCombs, Spence Koehler, Laryn Brown
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Patent number: 8824803Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of linking a document image with indexed data is provided. The method may be performed by providing a document image, which is a digitized document having various information. Indexed data is also provided, which is a record that includes information extracted from the document image or a different document image. The process is further performed by identifying a feature of the indexed data and analyzing the document image to determine whether the feature is present within the information of the digitized document. The feature may be information or a characteristic defined by the information extracted from the document image or the different document image. If the feature is present within the information of the digitized document, a determination is made that the indexed data corresponds with the document image and the indexed data is linked with the document image.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2012Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventors: Jack Reese, Shawn Reid, Laryn Brown, Randy Hansen, Mark Oswald
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Patent number: 8825709Abstract: According to the invention, a system for storing and displaying genealogical information is disclosed. The system may include a processor and a storage medium having processor instructions. The instructions may be for receiving information which identifies a first and second parent, receiving information which identifies a first and second child, and receiving an indication that the first child is a biological child of both parents, and that the second child is a biological child of only one parent. The instructions may further be for receiving a first instruction to display a first listing of children, and in response, causing the first child to be displayed in the first listing, but not the second child. The instructions may additionally be for receiving a second instruction to display a second listing of children, and in response, causing both the first child and the second child to be displayed in the second listing.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2011Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventors: Mark Anthoni LeMonnier, Robert Duffin Wilson
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Patent number: 8825705Abstract: Embodiments relate to methods and systems for building representations of related subjects. The representations may include a plurality of nodes, each being associated with a subject. Users may be able to access records and/or source documents related to a plurality of subjects and add or modify node characteristics based thereon. Users may interact with (e.g., by adding to or modifying) documents, files, and/or records and may also make other changes or additions to nodes in the system. A process may then identify what other users may be interested in such interaction and why. For example, a score may be associated with the interaction and other users based on factors such as whether the users have linked to the document, file or record and/or the node the interaction may apply to. Interacting users, identified users, and interaction details may be stored in a database. Identified users may be notified of the interaction.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2009Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.Inventors: Preston Thayne, Mike Smeltzer, Barry Watts, Tobin Fullmer, Danny Darais, David Graham, Scott Echols
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Patent number: 8801201Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for facilitating the imaging of books are presented. A first transparent plate and a second transparent plate may be positioned at approximately a 45 degree angle to the first transparent plate. A dual-sided mirror may be configured to be positioned substantially parallel with the first transparent plate and to be positioned substantially parallel with the second transparent plate. The first side of the dual-sided mirror may be configured to reflect a first image of a first page of a book, the first image being received by the dual-sided mirror through the first transparent plate. The second side of the dual-sided mirror may be configured to reflect a second image of a second page of the book, the second image being received by the dual-sided mirror through the second transparent plate.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2011Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventors: Jack Reese, Shawn Reid
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Patent number: 8793574Abstract: Systems and methods for receive one or more document comprising genealogical or ancestral information and generating an electronic version of the document. Extracting genealogical or ancestral information from one or more documents and associate information extracted from the document(s) with one or more data fields of a genealogical record. Displaying the electronic document simultaneously with a plurality of genealogical or ancestral records that includes information about individuals, and a hierarchical structure describing a relationship between individuals.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2011Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventor: Donald B. Curtis
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Patent number: 8786603Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for implementing an interactive display of ancestor-to-ancestor relationships are presented. The method includes displaying on a display device of a computer system, a user interface for displaying one or more genealogical charts including one or more nodes. The method further includes receiving, from an input device of the computer system, a selection of a first node and a second node. Then, in response to receiving the selection of the first and second nodes, the method includes calculating a sequence of relationships connecting the first node to the second node. Finally, the method includes organizing the sequence of relationships into one or more steps, wherein each step contains a sequential subset of nodes and relationships that can be displayed at the same time, and sequentially displaying the nodes and relationships in each step on the display device.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2011Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventors: Matt Rasmussen, Harold Madsen, Gary Mangum
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Patent number: 8768970Abstract: A method of creating a family tree includes receiving a request from a user to return a file that includes the family tree and using a plurality of primary source records to construct the family tree based on the request. The records indicate multiple alternatives for at least one branch of the family tree. The method also includes sending a file that includes the family tree to the user. The file includes the alternatives.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventors: Bennett Cookson, Jr., Ken Boyer, James Mark Hamilton, Kendall J. Jefferson, Daren Thayne, Michael J. Wolfgramm
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Patent number: 8769438Abstract: The present invention discloses an air fan turbine positioned horizontally or vertically in close proximity to the exhaust fan system of air handler systems. These turbine units catch the exhausted air flow from the exhaust ports of these air handler units to drive the turbine blades which are attached to a generator. As the propellor blades spin, they generate electricity. Thus, the man made air flow known as exhaust from the air handler systems is used to produce electricity. This invention not only uses man made air flow, but also repositions the air turbine 90° from a horizontal position to a vertical position to receive wind air from the atmosphere. When the air handler unit is turned off, a signal is sent to mechanically move the air turbine to the vertical position to redirect itself to then catch natural wind airflow on both roof top and ground mounted units.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventors: Gary Mangum, Josh Bryant
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Patent number: 8731336Abstract: The present invention provides a method of correcting alignment of an image. The method includes identifying an image of a document, and detecting a plurality of lines within the image. The method also includes classifying at least a subset of the plurality of lines as either horizontal or vertical lines, and determining whether a variance exists within a subset of the plurality of lines. Furthermore, the method includes applying a corrective transformation to adjust the image, where the variance within the subset of the plurality of lines is at least partially reduced as compared to the variance prior to the application of the corrective transformation.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2011Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventors: Jack Reese, Shawn Reid