Patents Assigned to Ancestry.com
  • Patent number: 10635680
    Abstract: A method for ranking genealogical records includes using a machine learning model to rank multiple searched records based on relevancy. The relevancy may be determined by identifying features included in a record and scaling each feature by a corresponding weight factor. In addition, a method for training a machine learning model and increasing the convergence speed of the training is described. To train the model, a machine learning process is used to optimize a ranking performance metric. A set of weights corresponding to multiple features are used to rank multiple past search records in a training set. An initial set of the weights are set by the expectation values of the weights. The weights are incrementally changed to optimize the ranking performance metric. The step size of the increment is determined based on the sensitivity of the ranking performance metric relative to the step size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.
    Inventors: Peng Jiang, Gann Bierner, Lei Wu
  • Publication number: 20200117951
    Abstract: Techniques for training a machine-learning (ML) model for captioning images are disclosed. A plurality of feature vectors and a plurality of visual attention maps are generated by a visual model of the ML model based on an input image. Each of the plurality of feature vectors correspond to different regions of the input image. A plurality of caption attention maps are generated by an attention model of the ML model based on the plurality of feature vectors. An attention penalty is calculcated based on a comparison between the caption attention maps and the visual attention maps. A loss function is calculcated based on the attention penalty. One or both of the visual model and the attention model are trained using the loss function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: Ancestry.com Operations Inc. (019404) (019404)
    Inventors: Jiayun Li, Mohammad K. Ebrahimpour, Azadeh Moghtaderi, Yen-Yun Yu
  • Patent number: 10621693
    Abstract: Systems and methods for registering documents. A two-dimensional document image and one or more form images may be obtained. The document image may be projected onto a horizontal axis and a vertical axis to create a horizontal document projection and a vertical document projection. The form images may be projected onto the horizontal axis and the vertical axis to create a horizontal form projection and a vertical form projection. The horizontal document projection may be correlated with the horizontal form projection of the form images and the vertical document projection may be correlated with the vertical form projection of the form images. Correlation scores may be calculated based on the correlations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: ANCESTRY.COM OPERATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Laryn Brown, Michael Murdock, Jack Reese, Shawn Reid
  • Publication number: 20200097723
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to a methodology of efficient object classification within a visual medium. The methodology utilizes a first neural network to perform an attention based object localization within a visual medium to generate a visual mask. The visual mask is applied to the visual medium to generate a masked visual medium. The masked visual medium may be then fed into a second neural network to detect and classify objects within the visual medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad K. Ebrahimpour, Yen-Yun Yu, Jiayun Li, Jack Reese, Azadeh Moghtaderi
  • Patent number: 10558930
    Abstract: An input sample SNP genotype is divided into a plurality of windows, each including a sequence of SNPs. For each window, a diploid hidden Markov Model (HMM) is built and from a haplotype Markov Model (MM). The diploid HMM for a window is used to determine the probability that the window corresponds to a pair of labels (e.g., ethnicity labels). An inter-window HMM, with a set of states for each window, is built based on the diploid HMMs for each window. Labels are assigned to the input sample genotype based on the inter-window HMM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ancestry.com DNA, LLC
    Inventors: Keith D. Noto, Yong Wang
  • Patent number: 10552418
    Abstract: Systems and methods for retrieving a set of ordered items from a distributed database. A plurality of ordered items may be stored at a cache. The plurality of ordered items may have a length of N+B at a first instant in time. A first instruction to delete a first item of the plurality of ordered items may be received. A second instruction to add a second item to the plurality of ordered items may be received. The first instruction and the second instruction may be stored in a change log. A request for the first N items of the plurality of ordered items may be received. The first instruction may be executed by deleting the first item from the plurality of ordered items. The second instruction may be executed by adding the second item to the plurality of ordered items. The first N items of the plurality of ordered items may be sent in response to the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: ANCESTRY.COM OPERATIONS INC.
    Inventor: Jeff Phillips
  • Patent number: 10504611
    Abstract: Described are computational methods to reconstruct the chromosomes (and genomes) of ancestors given genetic data, IBD information, and full or partial pedigree information of some number of their descendants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Ancestry.com DNA, LLC
    Inventors: Julie M. Granka, Keith D. Noto
  • Publication number: 20190347511
    Abstract: Systems and methods for training a machine learning (ML) ranking model to rank genealogy hints are described herein. One method includes retrieving a plurality of genealogy hints for a target person, where each of the plurality of genealogy hints corresponds to a genealogy item and has a hint type of a plurality of hint types. The method includes generating, for each of the plurality of genealogy hints, a feature vector having a plurality of feature values, the feature vector being included in a plurality of feature vectors. The method includes extending each of the plurality of feature vectors by at least one additional feature value based on the number of features of one or more other hint types of the plurality of hint types. The method includes training the ML ranking model using the extended plurality of feature vectors and user-provided labels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.
    Inventors: Peng Jiang, Tyler Folkman, Tsung-Nan Liu, Yen-Yun Yu, Ruhan Wang, Jack Reese, Azadeh Moghtaderi
  • Publication number: 20190251392
    Abstract: Systems and methods for classifying historical images. A feature extractor may create feature vectors corresponding to a plurality of images. A first classification of the plurality of images may be performed based on the plurality of feature vectors, which may include assigning a label to each of the plurality of images and assigning a probability for each of the assigned labels. The assigned probability for each of the assigned labels may be related to a statistical confidence that a particular assigned label is correctly assigned to a particular image. A subset of the plurality of images may be displayed to a display device. An input corresponding to replacement of an incorrect label with a corrected label for a certain image may be received from a user. A second classification of the plurality of images based on the input from the user may be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.
    Inventors: Laryn Brown, Michael Murdock, Jack Reese, Shawn Reid
  • Patent number: 10318846
    Abstract: Systems and methods for classifying historical images. A feature extractor may create feature vectors corresponding to a plurality of images. A first classification of the plurality of images may be performed based on the plurality of feature vectors, which may include assigning a label to each of the plurality of images and assigning a probability for each of the assigned labels. The assigned probability for each of the assigned labels may be related to a statistical confidence that a particular assigned label is correctly assigned to a particular image. A subset of the plurality of images may be displayed to a display device. An input corresponding to replacement of an incorrect label with a corrected label for a certain image may be received from a user. A second classification of the plurality of images based on the input from the user may be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.
    Inventors: Laryn Brown, Michael Murdock, Jack Reese, Shawn Reid
  • Patent number: 10296710
    Abstract: Described embodiments enable identification of family networks using combinations of DNA analysis and genealogical information. Genealogical data is provided by users of a genealogical research service or collected from other sources and used to create family trees for each user. DNA samples are also received from the users. By analyzing the DNA samples, potential genetic relationships can be identified between some users. Once these DNA-suggested relationships have been identified, common ancestors can be sought in the respective trees of the potentially related users. Where these common ancestors exist, an inference is drawn that the DNA-suggested relationship accurately represents a familial overlap between the individuals in question. People descended from the same common ancestor are each members of a family network. Members of a family network not in a user's tree may be identified for the user, enabling the user to discover additional ancestors that might otherwise have remained unknown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Ancestry.com DNA, LLC
    Inventors: Mathew J. Barber, Ross E. Curtis, Catherine Ann Ball, Kenneth Gregory Chahine
  • Patent number: 10262042
    Abstract: A data record management system develops person match scores for data records that may relate to the same person or subject. In a genealogical system where the data records are represented as nodes in a family tree, and where multiple data records may relate the same person in question, the data record management system evaluates not only two data records to determine if they relate to the same person, but also individually evaluate various data records pertaining to people that are related to the person in question. Person match scores are calculated by combining sub-scores based on the comparison of corresponding nodes. Sub-scores for nodes pertaining to related people may be adjusted higher even if those notes do not match, to reflect circumstances such as remarriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Scott Slinker, Eugene Greenwood, Ian Stiles, Rey Furner
  • Patent number: 10223498
    Abstract: Described are techniques for determining population structure from identity-by-descent (IBD) of individuals. The techniques may be used to predict that an individual belongs to zero, one or more of a number of communities identified within an IBD network. Additional data may be used to annotate the communities with birth location, surname, and ethnicity information. In turn, these data may be used to provide to an individual a prediction of membership to zero, one or more communities, accompanied by a summary of the information annotated to those communities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: ANCESTRY.COM DNA, LLC
    Inventors: Eunjung Han, Ross E. Curtis, Peter Carbonetto
  • Publication number: 20180329911
    Abstract: A data record management system develops person match scores for data records that may relate to the same person or subject. In a genealogical system where the data records are represented as nodes in a family tree, and where multiple data records may relate the same person in question, the data record management system evaluates not only two data records to determine if they relate to the same person, but also individually evaluate various data records pertaining to people that are related to the person in question. Person match scores are calculated by combining sub-scores based on the comparison of corresponding nodes. Sub-scores for nodes pertaining to related people may be adjusted higher even if those notes do not match, to reflect circumstances such as remarriage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Scott Slinker, Eugene Greenwood, Ian Stiles, Rey Furner
  • Patent number: 10114922
    Abstract: Identification of inheritance-by-descent haplotype matches between individuals is described. A set of tables including word match, haplotypes and segment match tables are populated. DNA samples are received and stored. A word identification module extracts haplotype values from each sample. The word match table is indexed according to the unique combination of position and haplotype. Each column represents a different sample, and each cell indicates whether that sample includes that haplotype at that position. The haplotypes table includes the raw haplotype data for each sample. The segment match table is indexed by sample identifier, and columns represent other samples. Each cell is populated to indicate for each identified sample pair which position range(s) include matching haplotypes for both samples. The tables are persistently stored in databases of the matching system. As new sample data is received, each table is updated to include the newly received samples, and additional matching takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Ancestry.com DNA, LLC
    Inventors: Jake Kelly Byrnes, Aaron Ling, Keith D. Noto, Jeremy Pollack, Catherine Ann Ball, Kenneth Gregory Chahine
  • Publication number: 20180189287
    Abstract: Systems and methods for retrieving a set of ordered items from a distributed database. A plurality of ordered items may be stored at a cache. The plurality of ordered items may have a length of N+B at a first instant in time. A first instruction to delete a first item of the plurality of ordered items may be received. A second instruction to add a second item to the plurality of ordered items may be received. The first instruction and the second instruction may be stored in a change log. A request for the first N items of the plurality of ordered items may be received. The first instruction may be executed by deleting the first item from the plurality of ordered items. The second instruction may be executed by adding the second item to the plurality of ordered items. The first N items of the plurality of ordered items may be sent in response to the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Applicant: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.
    Inventor: Jeff Phillips
  • Publication number: 20180189379
    Abstract: Methods and systems for creating a cluster view person for genealogical studies. Methods may include obtaining a plurality of genealogical trees. Each of the genealogical trees may include a plurality of interconnected nodes representing individuals that are related to each other. Methods may also include identifying one or more of the genealogical trees that contain a similar individual. Whether two individuals are grouped may depend on similarity and/or quality thresholds. Methods may include creating an aggregate individual including each of the similar individuals in each of the identified genealogical trees. The aggregate individual may combine information from each of the similar individuals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Applicant: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.
    Inventor: Jeff Phillips
  • Publication number: 20180182112
    Abstract: Systems and methods for registering documents. A two-dimensional document image and one or more form images may be obtained. The document image may be projected onto a horizontal axis and a vertical axis to create a horizontal document projection and a vertical document projection. The form images may be projected onto the horizontal axis and the vertical axis to create a horizontal form projection and a vertical form projection. The horizontal document projection may be correlated with the horizontal form projection of the form images and the vertical document projection may be correlated with the vertical form projection of the form images. Correlation scores may be calculated based on the correlations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.
    Inventors: Laryn Brown, Michael Murdock, Jack Reese, Shawn Reid
  • Patent number: D831057
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Ancestry.com DNA, LLC
    Inventors: John Wayne Hill, Jory Hemmelgarn
  • Patent number: D831688
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ancestry.com DNA, LLC
    Inventors: Landon Larsen, Jory Hemmelgarn, Josh Callaway