Genealogy Data Inheritance Tracing via Matched Strings

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Identifying relatives in large-scale genealogy databases is challenging due to the sheer volume of data and the computational complexity of comparing datasets, especially when real-world events leading to data inheritance are not documented.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that receives a target data instance, scans for related instances with matched data strings, determines data group labels using a hidden Markov model, and stores data group information to estimate common real-life entities, including displaying geographical maps for matched data strings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a large-scale database with billions of data records is used to store genealogy information, then the database can accommodate more users and data, but the computational complexity and time required to identify relatives increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of data recordsVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the large-scale database into multiple data centers, each handling a portion of the genealogy data. The system divides the search space by distributing data across multiple centers and using coordinated search strategies, thereby reducing the computational burden on any single system while maintaining the ability to search through billions of records.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary components including proxy servers that manage search requests, coordinate between multiple data centers, and aggregate results. These intermediaries handle the complexity of distributed searching, allowing the system to scale to billions of records without proportionally increasing computational complexity at any single point.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If traditional dataset comparison methods are used to identify relatives, then the approach is straightforward, but the method becomes computationally infeasible when comparing large numbers of datasets with many data bits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of comparison methodVSAvoidsearch efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-processing and indexing genealogy data before actual relative searches. Data is organized into structured formats with pre-computed relationships and patterns stored, allowing the search system to quickly retrieve and compare only relevant portions of datasets rather than performing exhaustive comparisons of all data bits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by comparing only specific portions of datasets that are most relevant for identifying relatives, rather than comparing all data bits. The system identifies and focuses on key inheritance patterns and data segments, performing excessive searching in targeted areas while avoiding unnecessary comparisons elsewhere, thereby improving overall search efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If the system searches through all data instances to find relatives, then comprehensive results can be obtained, but the time and computational resources required become prohibitive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of relative identificationVSAvoidsearch time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the search system continuously evaluates results and adjusts its search strategy based on findings. As relatives are identified and their data patterns understood, the system refines its search criteria and focuses subsequent searches on promising areas, reducing the need to exhaustively search all data instances while maintaining comprehensive results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic search strategies that adapt during the search process. The system adjusts search parameters, data access patterns, and comparison criteria based on intermediate results and computational resource availability, allowing it to maintain reliability in identifying relatives while optimizing search time and resource usage throughout the process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20240078265A1Segment-specific shared data inheritance determination
Publication Date: 2024.03.07 ANCESTRY COM DNA LLC
  • US20240078265A1 patent drawing
  • US20240078265A1 patent drawing
  • US20240078265A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A computing server may receive a target data instance. The computing server may scan through a data store to identify a related data instance that shares one or more matched data strings with the target data instance. The computing server may determine one or more windows of data locality to which the one or more matched data strings belong. The computing server may determine one or more data group labels for the one or more windows of data locality that includes the one or more matched data strings. The computing server may store data group information of the matched data strings between the target data instance and the related data instance.