Correlating genealogy records systems and methods
View Patent ↗A method of consolidating genealogy records includes partitioning the records using at least one index file to form one or more partitions, sorting the records in a partition based on a data element in the records, comparing records within a sort range, based on the comparison, identifying same person records, consolidating information in the same person records, receiving a request from a user to view at least a portion of the consolidated information for a particular group of same person records, and sending a file that includes the portion to the user.
1. A method of consolidating genealogy records, comprising:
partitioning the records using at least one index file to form one or more partitions;
sorting the records in a partition based on a data element in the records;
comparing records within a sort range;
based on the comparison, identifying same person records, wherein identifying same person records comprises:
calculating a factor that represents the likelihood that two records represent the same individual;
comparing the factor to a predetermined threshold; and
based on the comparison, provisionally determining whether the records represent the same individual;
for each pair of records provisionally determined to represent the same individual:
calculating a factor that represents the likelihood that respective mother records for the pair of records represent the same mother;
calculating a factor that represents the likelihood that respective father records for the pair of records represent the same father;
using the factor that represents the likelihood that the two records represent the same individual, the factor that represents the likelihood that respective mother records for the pair of records represent the same mother, and the factor that represents the likelihood that respective father records for the pair of records represent the same father, calculating a revised factor representing the likelihood that the pair of records represent the same individual;
comparing the revised factor to a predetermined threshold; and
based on the comparison, determining that the two records represent the same individual;
consolidating information in the same person records;
receiving a request from a user to view at least a portion of the consolidated information for a particular group of same person records; and
sending a file comprising the portion to the user.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein partitioning the records using at least one index file comprises using a surname index to identify records having the same surnames and grouping those records into a surname partition.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein sorting the records in a partition based on a data element in the records comprises sorting the records based on birth date.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein sorting the records in a partition based on a data element in the records comprises sorting the records based on a selection from the group consisting of name, death data, death place, and birth place.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying same person records comprises calculating a score that represents the likelihood that a pair of compared records represent the same person.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portion comprises a family tree based on consolidated information from a plurality of records.
7. The method of claim 2 , further comprising using the surname index to identify records having similar surnames and grouping those records into the surname partition.
8. The method of claim 3 , wherein comparing records within a sort range comprises comparing records within a birth date range.
9. The method of claim 5 , further comprising comparing records related to pairs of same person records.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein using the surname index to identify records having similar surnames comprises using a phonetic algorithm to identify records having similar surnames.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein comparing records related to pairs of same person records comprises revising the score based on the comparison of related records.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the phonetic algorithm comprises double metaphone.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the phonetic algorithm comprises SOUNDEX.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein identifying same person records comprises comparing the score to a predetermined threshold and rejecting records as “same person” records if the score is below the threshold.
15. A system for consolidating genealogy records, comprising:
a processor programmed to:
partition the records using at least one index file to form one or more partitions;
sort the records in a partition based on a data element in the records;
compare records within a sort range;
based on the comparison, identify same person records, by:
calculating a factor that represents the likelihood that two records represent the same individual;
comparing the factor to a predetermined threshold;
based on the comparison, provisionally determining whether the records represent the same individual;
for each pair of records provisionally determined to represent the same individual:
calculating a factor that represents the likelihood that respective mother records for the pair of records represent the same mother;
calculating a factor that represents the likelihood that respective father records for the pair of records represent the same father;
using the factor that represents the likelihood that the two records represent the same individual, the factor that represents the likelihood that respective mother records for the pair of records represent the same mother, and the factor that represents the likelihood that respective father records for the pair of records represent the same father, calculating a revised factor representing the likelihood that the pair of records represent the same individual;
comparing the revised factor to a predetermined threshold; and
based on the comparison, determining that the two records represent the same individual;
consolidate information in the same person records;
receive a request from a user to view at least a portion of the consolidated information for a particular group of same person records; and
send a file comprising the portion to the user.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor, in being programmed to partition the records using at least one index file is further programmed to use a surname index to identify records having the same surnames and grouping those records into a surname partition.
17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor, in being programmed to sort the records in a partition based on a data element in the records is further programmed to sort the records based on birth date.
18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor, in being programmed to sort the records in a partition based on a data element in the records is further programmed to sort the records based on a selection from the group consisting of name, death data, death place, and birth place.
19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor, in being programmed to identify same person records is further programmed to calculate a score that represents the likelihood that a pair of compared records represent the same person.
20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the portion comprises a family tree based on consolidated information from a plurality of records.
21. The system of claim 16 , the processor is further programmed to use the surname index to identify records having similar surnames and group those records into the surname partition.
22. The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor, in being programmed to compare records within a sort window is further programmed to compare records within a birth date range.
23. The system of claim 19 , further the processor is further programmed to compare records related to pairs of same person records.
24. The system of claim 21 , wherein the processor, in being programmed to use the surname index to identify records having similar surnames is further programmed to use a phonetic algorithm to identify records having similar surnames.
25. The system of claim 23 , wherein the processor, in being programmed to compare records related to pairs of same person records is further programmed to revise the score based on the comparison of related records.
26. The system of claim 24 , wherein the phonetic algorithm comprises double metaphone.
27. The system of claim 24 , wherein the phonetic algorithm comprises SOUNDEX.
28. The system of claim 25 , wherein the processor, in being programmed to identify same person records is further programmed to compare the score to a predetermined threshold and reject records as “same person” records if the score is below the threshold.