Patents by Inventor Gann Bierner
Gann Bierner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240134865Abstract: A genealogy online system may cause to display, at a graphical user interface associated with a genealogy online system, a search box, the genealogy online system configured to provide functions comprising family-tree building and historical record search. The genealogy online system may receive a query from a user entered at the search box. The genealogy online system may use a machine learning language model to determine an intent of the user associated with the query. The genealogy online system may cause to display, at the graphical user interface as a result of the query, one or more links to one or more functions of the genealogy online system based on the intent determined by the machine learning language model.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2023Publication date: April 25, 2024Inventors: Gann Bierner, Robert Weis
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Patent number: 11797774Abstract: Systems, methods, and other techniques for extracting data from obituaries are provided. In some embodiments, an obituary containing a plurality of words is received. Using a machine learning model, an entity tag from a set of entity tags may be assigned to each of one or more words of the plurality of words. Each particular tag from the set of entity tags may include a relationship component and a category component. The relationship component may indicate a relationship between a particular word and the deceased individual. The category component may indicate a categorization of the particular word to a particular category from a set of categories. The extracted data may be stored in a genealogical database.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2022Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventors: Carol Myrick Anderson, Gann Bierner, Philip Theodore Crone, Tyler Folkman
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Publication number: 20230109073Abstract: Systems, methods, and other techniques for extracting data from obituaries are provided. In some embodiments, an obituary containing a plurality of words is received. Using a machine learning model, an entity tag from a set of entity tags may be assigned to each of one or more words of the plurality of words. Each particular tag from the set of entity tags may include a relationship component and a category component. The relationship component may indicate a relationship between a particular word and the deceased individual. The category component may indicate a categorization of the particular word to a particular category from a set of categories. The extracted data may be stored in a genealogical database.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2022Publication date: April 6, 2023Applicant: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventors: CAROL MYRICK ANDERSON, GANN BIERNER, PHILIP THEODORE CRONE, TYLER FOLKMAN
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Publication number: 20230086791Abstract: Search-result explanation systems, methods, and computer-program products receive a user search query, expand the search query into a plurality of sub-queries, perform a database search using the expanded user search query, and determine which sub-queries of the plurality of sub-queries matched with a particular search result. Results from the database search are re-indexed in an index generated on-the-fly and in-memory, within which the results are searched using the sub-queries to determine matching fields and match types. A score is determined based on the type of match(es) with a particular search result based on one or more predefined weights and normalized using a denominator comprising a fictitious, on-the-fly record configured to receive a perfect score according to the received user search query. A user interface showing ranked results and explanations for the ranking, including a score for the result based on the expanded user search query.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Applicant: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventors: GANN Bierner, Robert Weis, Kevan Craig McGowan, Joel Edward Hobson
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Publication number: 20230023202Abstract: Image-faceted search systems and/or methods are described. Image-faceting embodiments receive genealogy records certain of which are imaged genealogy records associated with an image. Metadata of the imaged genealogy records are determined or extracted and used to assign the image genealogy records to one or more categories and optionally subcategories. Machine learning may be used to extract the metadata and/or to categorize the records, along with in embodiments a translation algorithm. A user faceted search query is received, with pertinent search results filtered according to a selected facet, such as an image facet, and according to filtering criteria. The filtered search results, including images matching the faceted search query, are presented to a user.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Gann Bierner, Robert Weis
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Publication number: 20230021868Abstract: Data-sharding systems and/or methods for cost- and time-efficient record search are described. Data-sharding embodiments utilize a name-sharding dimension, optionally in combination with one or more additional dimensions such as record type and year, to reduce latency and reduce search-associated costs. The data-sharding systems and methods embodiments utilize an optimization algorithm to determine a distribution of records related to names. The optimization algorithm may use a three-character prefix for surnames in records to distribute shards across documents, with specific shards relating to no-name and multi-name records allocated.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Gann Bierner, Robert Weis
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Patent number: 11537816Abstract: Systems, methods, and other techniques for extracting data from obituaries are provided. In some embodiments, an obituary containing a plurality of words is received. Using a machine learning model, an entity tag from a set of entity tags may be assigned to each of one or more words of the plurality of words. Each particular tag from the set of entity tags may include a relationship component and a category component. The relationship component may indicate a relationship between a particular word and the deceased individual. The category component may indicate a categorization of the particular word to a particular category from a set of categories. The extracted data may be stored in a genealogical database.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2020Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventors: Carol Myrick Anderson, Gann Bierner, Philip Theodore Crone, Tyler Folkman
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Patent number: 11500884Abstract: A search system performs a federated search across multiple databases and generates a ranked combined list of found genealogical records. The system receives a user query with one or more specified characteristics. The system may determine expanded characteristics derived from the specified characteristics. The system searches the various databases with the characteristics retrieving records according to the characteristics. The system combines the retrieved records and ranks them using a machine learning model. The machine learning model is configured to assign a weight to the records returned from each of the genealogical databases based on the characteristics specified in the user query. The machine learning model may be trained by any combination of one or more of: a Nelder-Mead method, a coordinate ascent method, and a simulated annealing method. The ranked combined results are provided in response to the user query.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventors: Yingrui Yang, Fengjie Alex Li, Gann Bierner
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Patent number: 11416501Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 18, 2020Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventors: Peng Jiang, Gann Bierner, Lei Wu
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Publication number: 20210019569Abstract: Systems, methods, and other techniques for extracting data from obituaries are provided. In some embodiments, an obituary containing a plurality of words is received. Using a machine learning model, an entity tag from a set of entity tags may be assigned to each of one or more words of the plurality of words. Each particular tag from the set of entity tags may include a relationship component and a category component. The relationship component may indicate a relationship between a particular word and the deceased individual. The category component may indicate a categorization of the particular word to a particular category from a set of categories. The extracted data may be stored in a genealogical database.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2020Publication date: January 21, 2021Applicant: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventors: Carol Myrick Anderson, Gann Bierner, Philip Theodore Crone, Tyler Folkman
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Patent number: 10896189Abstract: An information entropy-based metric is used to represent a degree of diversity of a search result of genealogical records. In response to a query, a data query server locates a set of multiple records that match the query. The records are classified into different record types based on the records' attributes. One or more distributions of numbers of records classified into each record type are determined. Each distribution corresponds to one of the subsets the records. For each distribution, an entropy value is determined. A cumulative entropy that corresponds to a sum of the entropy values of those distributions is then determined. The cumulative entropy may serve as the entropy-based metric of the search result. The cumulative entropy may also be normalized by an ideal cumulative entropy. The normalized metric allows the diversity of different search results to be compared across different queries that may generate different numbers of records.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2018Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventors: Peng Jiang, Ruhan Wang, Gann Bierner, Azadeh Moghtaderi
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Publication number: 20200250197Abstract: A search system performs a federated search across multiple databases and generates a ranked combined list of found genealogical records. The system receives a user query with one or more specified characteristics. The system may determine expanded characteristics derived from the specified characteristics. The system searches the various databases with the characteristics retrieving records according to the characteristics. The system combines the retrieved records and ranks them using a machine learning model. The machine learning model is configured to assign a weight to the records returned from each of the genealogical databases based on the characteristics specified in the user query. The machine learning model may be trained by any combination of one or more of: a Nelder-Mead method, a coordinate ascent method, and a simulated annealing method. The ranked combined results are provided in response to the user query.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2020Publication date: August 6, 2020Inventors: Yingrui Yang, Fengjie Alex Li, Gann Bierner
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Publication number: 20200218727Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2020Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventors: Peng Jiang, Gann Bierner, Lei Wu
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Patent number: 10635680Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 5, 2018Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.Inventors: Peng Jiang, Gann Bierner, Lei Wu
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Publication number: 20190391975Abstract: An information entropy-based metric is used to represent a degree of diversity of a search result of genealogical records. In response to a query, a data query server locates a set of multiple records that match the query. The records are classified into different record types based on the records' attributes. One or more distributions of numbers of records classified into each record type are determined. Each distribution corresponds to one of the subsets the records. For each distribution, an entropy value is determined. A cumulative entropy that corresponds to a sum of the entropy values of those distributions is then determined. The cumulative entropy may serve as the entropy-based metric of the search result. The cumulative entropy may also be normalized by an ideal cumulative entropy. The normalized metric allows the diversity of different search results to be compared across different queries that may generate different numbers of records.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2018Publication date: December 26, 2019Inventors: Peng JIANG, Ruhan WANG, Gann BIERNER, Azadeh MOGHTADERI
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Publication number: 20190391983Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2018Publication date: December 26, 2019Inventors: Peng JIANG, Gann BIERNER, Lei WU
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Patent number: 9904436Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention further provide systems and methods for allowing users in an online consultation system to create, edit and follow information feeds related to a subject matter category, topic, person or a combination thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2013Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: PEARL.COM LLCInventors: Ashkan Gholam Zadeh, Gann Bierner
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Patent number: 9747390Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for applying one or more information retrieval technologies is disclosed for resolving a query. In one embodiment, an exemplary system generates a response using a language analysis module configured to parse a query into elements. This system can also include a rules engine configured to compare a condition of a rule against the elements, where the rule is configured to perform an action to retrieve information. Further, a response generator coupled to said rules engine receives the rule and retrieves the information for presentation to a querier in a portion of a display that adjusts proportionately to the degree of importance of said information.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2013Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: ORACLE OTC SUBSIDIARY LLCInventors: Edwin Riley Cooper, Gann Bierner, Deniz Yuret, James Charles Williams, Filippo Beghelli, Laurel Kathleen Graham
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Patent number: 9646079Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention further provide systems and methods for automatically identifying questions on topics similar to a newly submitted question to an online the consultation system.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2012Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Pearl.com LLCInventors: Gann Bierner, Edwin Cooper
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Patent number: 9275038Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide for a method of identifying customer service and duplicate questions submitted by a user to a consultation system by creating a model from features extracted from questions previously identified as customer service questions, extracting features from a newly submitted question by performing phrasal analysis of the question, comparing the extracted features of the newly submitted question to the extracted features of the model, and determining whether the newly submitted question is a customer service question.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2012Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Pearl.com LLCInventors: Gann Bierner, Edwin Cooper