IP Library Granted Patent US 8,908,971
Granted Patent B2
US 8,908,971 · App. 14/036,404 · Granted Dec 9, 2014

Devices, systems and methods for transcription suggestions and completions

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,908,971
App. No.
14/036,404
Granted
Dec 9, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, devices and systems are described for transcribing text from artifacts to electronic files. A computer system is provided, wherein the computer system comprises a computer-readable storage device. An image of the artifact is received wherein text is present on the artifact. A first portion of the text is analyzed. Characters representing the first portion of the text are identified at a first confidence level equal to or greater than a threshold confidence level. The characters representing the first portion of the text are stored. A second portion of the text appearing on the artifact is analyzed. A plurality of candidates to represent the second portion of the text are identified at a second confidence level below the threshold confidence level. Finally, the plurality of candidates to a user for selection are presented.

Claims (70)

1. A method for transcribing text from an artifact to an electronic file, the method comprising:

providing a computer system, wherein the computer system comprises a non-transitory computer-readable storage device;

receiving, by the computer system, an image, wherein text is present on the image;

analyzing, by the computer system, a first portion of the text;

identifying, by the computer system, at a first confidence level equal to or greater than a threshold confidence level, characters representing the first portion of the text;

storing, by the non-transitory computer-readable storage device, the characters representing the first portion of the text;

analyzing, by the computer system, a second portion of the text;

identifying, by the computer system, at a second confidence level below the threshold confidence level, a plurality of candidates to represent the second portion of the text, wherein at least one candidate having a candidate threshold confidence level of the plurality of candidates to represent the second portion of text is identified based on related characters within a data category from two or more records of a plurality of records; and

presenting, by the computer system, the plurality of candidates to a user for selection based on the candidate threshold confidence level; wherein

the data category comprises compiling the two or more records of a plurality of records into a data category database; and

the two or more records of a plurality of records are chosen from a group consists individual records that stored for individual persons, places, and time periods.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the computer system, from the user a selection of one of the plurality of candidates to represent the second portion of the text; and

storing, by the non-transitory computer-readable storage device, the selection.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising creating, by the computer system, the electronic file comprising the digital characters representing the first portion of the text and the selection.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the characters comprise one or more of: letters, numbers, punctuation, or symbols.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing, by the computer system, a database, wherein the database comprises electronic text transcribed from physical documents;

determining, by the computer system, a link between at least one record of the database and the physical document; and

matching, at the computer system, at least a portion of the at least one record to a portion of imaged text of the physical document.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for transcribing text to an electronic file having sets of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive an image, wherein text is present on the image;

analyze a first portion of the text;

identify at a first confidence level equal to or greater than a threshold confidence level, characters representing the first portion of the text;

store the characters representing the first portion of the text;

analyze a second portion of the text;

identify at a second confidence level below the threshold confidence level, a plurality of candidates to represent the second portion of the text, wherein at least one candidate having a candidate threshold confidence level of the plurality of candidates to represent the second portion of text is identified based on related characters within a data category from two or more records of a plurality of records; and

present the plurality of candidates to a user for selection based on the candidate threshold confidence level; wherein

the data category comprises compiling the two or more records of a plurality of records into a data category database; and

the two or more records of a plurality of records are chosen from a group consists individual records that stored for individual persons, places, and time periods.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6 , wherein the sets of instructions further cause the computer system to:

provide a database, wherein the database comprises electronic text transcribed from physical documents;

determine a link between at least one record of the database and the physical document; and

match at least a portion of the at least one record to a portion of imaged text of the physical document.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the matching is used to identify at least one of the plurality of candidate strings of electronic text to represent portions of the imaged text.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the link between the at least one record of the database and the physical document is a common string of text.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the link between the at least one record of the database and the physical document is a common person's name.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6 , wherein the sets of instructions further cause the computer system to:

receive from the user a selection of one of the plurality of candidates to represent the second portion of the text; and

store the selection.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6 , wherein the sets of instructions further cause the computer system to:

identify a string of digitized text to represent a portion of the text;

determine a confidence level of the string of text;

compare the confidence level to a threshold confidence level;

determine that the confidence level is greater than or equal to the threshold confidence level;

store the string of text as part of the electronic document.

13. A system for transcribing text appearing in imaged documents to an electronic file, the system comprising:

a memory device having sets of instructions stored thereon; and

a computer processor in communication with the memory device, wherein the sets of instructions when executed by the computer processor, cause the computer processor to:

receive an image, wherein text is present on the image;

analyze a first portion of the text;

identify at a first confidence level equal to or greater than a threshold confidence level, characters representing the first portion of the text;

store the characters representing the first portion of the text;

analyze a second portion of the text;

identify at a second confidence level below the threshold confidence level, a plurality of candidates to represent the second portion of the text, wherein at least one candidate having a candidate threshold confidence level of the plurality of candidates to represent the second portion of text is identified based on related characters within a data category from two or more records of a plurality of records; and

present the plurality of candidates to a user for selection based on the candidate threshold confidence level; wherein

the data category comprises compiling the two or more records of a plurality of records into a data category database; and

the two or more records of a plurality of records are chosen from a group consists individual records that stored for individual persons, places, and time periods.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the sets of instructions further cause the computer processor to:

transcribe text from the image of the document, wherein the text is transcribed at a confidence level equal to or greater than the threshold confidence level; and

store transcribed text in the electronic document.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the threshold confidence level is configurable by the user.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the related characters within the record is determined based upon a common data element of the record and the document of one or more of the following: a name of a person, a date of birth of the person, a date of death of the person, a relative of the person, a location, an address, or a social security number.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the record and the document are members comprise one or more of: census documents, birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, or immigration records.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the characters comprise one or more of: letters, numbers, punctuation, or symbols.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the sets of instructions further cause the computer processor to:

receive from the user a selection of one of the plurality of candidates to represent the second portion of the text; and

store the selection.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the sets of instructions further cause the computer processor to:

create the electronic file comprising the digital characters representing the first portion of the text and the selection.

Assignments (9)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2020
From: ANCESTRY.COM DNA, LLC; ANCESTRY.COM OPERATIONS INC.; IARCHIVES, INC.; ANCESTRYHEALTH.COM, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 054627/0212 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: ANCESTRY.COM OPERATIONS INC.; IARCHIVES, INC.; ANCESTRY.COM DNA, LLC; ANCESTRYHEALTH.COM, LLC; ADPAY, INC.
Reel/Frame 054618/0298 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2020
From: ANCESTRY.COM DNA, LLC; ANCESTRY.COM OPERATIONS INC.; IARCHIVES, INC.; ANCESTRYHEALTH.COM, LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 054627/0237 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 26, 2020
From: JENSEN, LEE SAMUEL
To: ANCESTRY.COM OPERATIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 052753/0666 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 29, 2017
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
To: ANCESTRY.COM LLC; ANCESTRY US HOLDINGS INC.; ANCESTRY.COM INC.; ANCESTRY.COM OPERATIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 044529/0025 →
SECOND LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 24, 2016
From: ANCESTRY.COM OPERATIONS INC.; IARCHIVES, INC.; ANCESTRY.COM DNA, LLC; ANCESTRYHEALTH.COM, LLC; ADPAY, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040259/0978 →
FIRST LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 21, 2016
From: ANCESTRY.COM OPERATIONS INC.; IARCHIVES, INC.; ANCESTRY.COM DNA, LLC; ANCESTRYHEALTH.COM, LLC; ADPAY, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040449/0663 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ANCESTRY.COM OPERATIONS INC.; ANCESTRY.COM DNA, LLC; IARCHIVES, INC.
Reel/Frame 040424/0354 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 1, 2015
From: ANCESTRY.COM OPERATIONS INC.; IARCHIVES, INC.; ANCESTRY.COM DNA, LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 036519/0853 →