Patents by Inventor Ross E. Curtis

Ross E. Curtis 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).

  • Patent number: 11887697
    Abstract: A user may select one or more potential common ancestors with a DNA match to view the target individual's relationship with them. The process may include identifying, from a first genealogical profile of the target individual. A first individual has a first linkage that connects the target individual towards the selected potential common ancestor. The process may also include identifying, from a second genealogical profile of the DNA match, a second individual who has a second linkage that connects the DNA match towards the selected potential common ancestor. The process may further include connecting the first linkage and the second linkage with the selected potential common ancestor by adding one or more individuals whose profiles are retrieved from other searchable genealogical profiles stored in the online system. With the nodes and connections available, the process may generate a map of visual connections between the target individual and the DNA match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Ancestry.com DNA, LLC
    Inventors: Shiya Song, Neal Craig Varner, Ross E. Curtis, Brian Jerel Kerr, Kelly McCloy Becker, Brett Frederick Jorgensen, Bryce Damon Ririe, Michael Joseph Mulligan, Justin Matthew Robert Van Dyke, Michaela Black Bonkemeyer
  • Publication number: 20230116793
    Abstract: A user may select one or more potential common ancestors with a DNA match to view the target individual's relationship with them. The process may include identifying, from a first genealogical profile of the target individual. A first individual has a first linkage that connects the target individual towards the selected potential common ancestor. The process may also include identifying, from a second genealogical profile of the DNA match, a second individual who has a second linkage that connects the DNA match towards the selected potential common ancestor. The process may further include connecting the first linkage and the second linkage with the selected potential common ancestor by adding one or more individuals whose profiles are retrieved from other searchable genealogical profiles stored in the online system. With the nodes and connections available, the process may generate a map of visual connections between the target individual and the DNA match.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Shiya Song, Neal Craig Varner, Ross E. Curtis, Brian Jerel Kerr, Kelly McCloy Becker, Brett Frederick Jorgensen, Bryce Damon Ririe, Michael Joseph Mulligan, Justin Matthew Robert Van Dyke, Michaela Black Bonkemeyer
  • Publication number: 20230102326
    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: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Eunjung Han, Ross E. Curtis, Peter Carbonetto
  • Patent number: 11538551
    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: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Ancestry.com DNA, LLC
    Inventors: Eunjung Han, Ross E. Curtis, Peter Carbonetto
  • Publication number: 20220365934
    Abstract: The disclosed system links an individual dataset to a database. The system receives a target individual dataset associated with a target individual and identifies candidate individual datasets that are potentially related to the target individual dataset. The system identifies a related individual dataset that has data bits that match some data bits in the target individual dataset. The system then identifies a parent node that is a common parent node to both the target individual dataset and the related individual dataset. The system retrieves a data tree that the parent node belongs to with the data tree containing information describing inter-relationships among datasets in the data tree. A node in the data tree is identified to assign the target individual dataset based on strings of matched data bits and number of the matched strings between the target individual dataset and the datasets in the data tree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Shiya Song, Jingwen Pei, Brett Frederick Jorgensen, Aaron James Stern, Ross E. Curtis
  • Patent number: 11482306
    Abstract: A user may select one or more potential common ancestors with a DNA match to view the target individual's relationship with them. The process may include identifying, from a first genealogical profile of the target individual. A first individual has a first linkage that connects the target individual towards the selected potential common ancestor. The process may also include identifying, from a second genealogical profile of the DNA match, a second individual who has a second linkage that connects the DNA match towards the selected potential common ancestor. The process may further include connecting the first linkage and the second linkage with the selected potential common ancestor by adding one or more individuals whose profiles are retrieved from other searchable genealogical profiles stored in the online system. With the nodes and connections available, the process may generate a map of visual connections between the target individual and the DNA match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Ancestry.com DNA, LLC
    Inventors: Shiya Song, Neal Craig Varner, Ross E. Curtis, Brian Jerel Kerr, Kelly McCloy Becker, Brett Frederick Jorgensen, Bryce Damon Ririe, Michael Joseph Mulligan, Justin Matthew Robert Van Dyke, Michaela Black Bonkemeyer
  • Patent number: 11429615
    Abstract: The disclosed system links an individual dataset to a database. The system receives a target individual dataset associated with a target individual and identifies candidate individual datasets that are potentially related to the target individual dataset. The system identifies a related individual dataset that has data bits that match some data bits in the target individual dataset. The system then identifies a parent node that is a common parent node to both the target individual dataset and the related individual dataset. The system retrieves a data tree that the parent node belongs to with the data tree containing information describing inter-relationships among datasets in the data tree. A node in the data tree is identified to assign the target individual dataset based on strings of matched data bits and number of the matched strings between the target individual dataset and the datasets in the data tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Ancestry.com DNA, LLC
    Inventors: Shiya Song, Jingwen Pei, Brett Frederick Jorgensen, Aaron James Stern, Ross E. Curtis
  • Publication number: 20220076789
    Abstract: A computing server generates a graph such as an identity-by-descent (IBD) network. The graph includes a plurality of nodes. Each node represents one of the individuals. Two or more nodes are connected through edges. Each edge connecting two nodes and associated with a weight that is derived from affinity between the genetic data of the two individuals represented by the two nodes. The computing system filters the graph based on features that are associated with the edges or the nodes. The filtered graph includes a subset of nodes. The computing system divides the filtered graph into a plurality of clusters to identify genetic communities that may not be discoverable without filtering. The computing server may also perform a multi-path hierarchical community detection process to assign an individual represented by a node to more than one community.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Ross E. Curtis, Ahna R. Girshick, Ariel Hippen Anderson
  • Patent number: 11232854
    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. Ethnicity heterogeneity and age information may be tabulated and provided based on community membership information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Ancestry.com DNA, LLC
    Inventors: Ariel Hippen Anderson, Ahna R. Girshick, Ross E. Curtis, Benjamin Wilson, David A. Turissini
  • Patent number: 11211149
    Abstract: A computing server generates a graph such as an identity-by-descent (IBD) network. The graph includes a plurality of nodes. Each node represents one of the individuals. Two or more nodes are connected through edges. Each edge connecting two nodes and associated with a weight that is derived from affinity between the genetic data of the two individuals represented by the two nodes. The computing system filters the graph based on features that are associated with the edges or the nodes. The filtered graph includes a subset of nodes. The computing system divides the filtered graph into a plurality of clusters to identify genetic communities that may not be discoverable without filtering. The computing server may also perform a multi-path hierarchical community detection process to assign an individual represented by a node to more than one communities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Ancestry.com DNA, LLC
    Inventors: Ross E. Curtis, Ahna R. Girshick, Ariel Hippen Anderson
  • Publication number: 20210257060
    Abstract: A computing server generates a graph such as an identity-by-descent (IBD) network. The graph includes a plurality of nodes. Each node represents one of the individuals. Two or more nodes are connected through edges. Each edge connecting two nodes and associated with a weight that is derived from affinity between the genetic data of the two individuals represented by the two nodes. The computing system filters the graph based on features that are associated with the edges or the nodes. The filtered graph includes a subset of nodes. The computing system divides the filtered graph into a plurality of clusters to identify genetic communities that may not be discoverable without filtering. The computing server may also perform a multi-path hierarchical community detection process to assign an individual represented by a node to more than one communities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Ross E. CURTIS, Ahna R. GIRSHICK, Ariel Hippen ANDERSON
  • Publication number: 20210216556
    Abstract: The disclosed system links an individual dataset to a database. The system receives a target individual dataset associated with a target individual and identifies candidate individual datasets that are potentially related to the target individual dataset. The system identifies a related individual dataset that has data bits that match some data bits in the target individual dataset. The system then identifies a parent node that is a common parent node to both the target individual dataset and the related individual dataset. The system retrieves a data tree that the parent node belongs to with the data tree containing information describing inter-relationships among datasets in the data tree. A node in the data tree is identified to assign the target individual dataset based on strings of matched data bits and number of the matched strings between the target individual dataset and the datasets in the data tree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Shiya Song, Jingwen Pei, Brett Frederick Jorgensen, Aaron James Stern, Ross E. Curtis
  • Publication number: 20200273542
    Abstract: A user may select one or more potential common ancestors with a DNA match to view the target individual's relationship with them. The process may include identifying, from a first genealogical profile of the target individual. A first individual has a first linkage that connects the target individual towards the selected potential common ancestor. The process may also include identifying, from a second genealogical profile of the DNA match, a second individual who has a second linkage that connects the DNA match towards the selected potential common ancestor. The process may further include connecting the first linkage and the second linkage with the selected potential common ancestor by adding one or more individuals whose profiles are retrieved from other searchable genealogical profiles stored in the online system. With the nodes and connections available, the process may generate a map of visual connections between the target individual and the DNA match.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Shiya Song, Neal Craig Varner, Ross E. Curtis, Brian Jerel Kerr, Kelly McCloy Becker, Brett Frederick Jorgensen, Bryce Damon Ririe, Michael Joseph Mulligan, Justin Matthew Robert Van Dyke, Michaela Black Bonkemeyer
  • Publication number: 20190267109
    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: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Mathew J. Barber, Ross E. Curtis, Catherine Ann Ball, Kenneth Gregory Chahine
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20190147973
    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: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Eunjung Han, Ross E. Curtis, Peter Carbonetto
  • 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: 20190034587
    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. Ethnicity heterogeneity and age information may be tabulated and provided based on community membership information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Ariel Hippen Anderson, Ahna R. Girshick, Ross E. Curtis, Benjamin Wilson, David A. Turissini
  • Patent number: 9940433
    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: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: ANCESTRY.COM DNA, LLC
    Inventors: Eunjung Han, Ross E. Curtis, Peter Carbonetto
  • Publication number: 20170242957
    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: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Eunjung Han, Ross E. Curtis, Peter Carbonetto