Identifying and graphically representing multiple parent nodes of a child node

1. A method for graphically illustrating a plurality of hierarchical records, the method comprising:

identifying, by a computer device, the plurality of hierarchical records based on a user request, wherein each current record in the plurality of hierarchical records includes at least one parent field, an entry in the parent field identifies a parent record of the current record, wherein the parent record is one level higher in hierarchy than the current record;

identifying, by the computer device, a child record among the plurality of hierarchical records having one or more parent fields identifying a first parent record and a second parent record of the child record, wherein the child record is related to the first parent record and the second parent record by ancestry such that the child record is a descendent of both the first parent record and the second parent record, wherein each of the plurality of hierarchical records represents a patent application record, wherein the child record claims priority to the first parent record and the second parent record;

determining a first x-y coordinate on a target output medium for rendering a first shape representing the child record at a first hierarchical level;

determining, based on the first x-y coordinate, a second x-y coordinate on the target output medium for rendering a second shape representing the first parent record at a second hierarchical level, wherein the first x-y coordinate and the second x-y coordinate are determined without considering the second parent record;

determining, based on the second x-y coordinate, a third x-y coordinate on the target output medium for rendering a third shape representing the second parent record at the second hierarchical level, wherein the first hierarchical level is a next hierarchical level below the second hierarchical level;

rendering, by the computer device, the first shape at the first x-y coordinate, the second shape at the second x-y coordinate and the third shape at the third x-y coordinate, wherein the first shape represents the child record, the second shape represents the first parent record and the third shape represents the second parent record such that the first parent record and the second parent record are rendered on same hierarchical level; and

graphically connecting, by the computer device, the first shape with the second shape and the third shape to illustrate the plurality of hierarchical records on the target output medium,

wherein the first x-y coordinate, the second x-y coordinate and the third x-y coordinate on a first target output medium having a first set of dimensions is different than the first x-y coordinate, the second x-y coordinate and the third x-y coordinate on a second target output medium having a second set of dimensions, wherein the first target output medium has a different size than the second target output medium,

wherein the target output medium includes a digital display.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein graphically connecting further comprises:

drawing a first line between the first shape and the second shape; and

drawing a second line between the first shape and the third shape, wherein no line exists between the second shape and the third shape.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second shape is rendered at a sibling level of the third shape such that the first parent record is represented as a sibling of the second parent record.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the plurality of hierarchical records based on the user request includes:

identifying, by the computer device, a list of records and a hierarchical relationship among the plurality of hierarchical records.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hierarchical records are graphically illustrated using a graphical tree.

6. A system comprising:

a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium coupled to the processor, the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

identify a plurality of hierarchical records based on a user request, wherein each current record in the plurality of hierarchical records includes at least one parent field, an entry in the parent field identifies a parent record of the current record, wherein the parent record is one level higher in hierarchy than the current record;

identify a child record among the plurality of hierarchical records having one or more parent fields identifying a first parent record and a second parent record of the child record, wherein the child record is related to the first parent record and the second parent record by ancestry such that the child record is a descendent of both the first parent record and the second parent record, wherein each of the plurality of hierarchical records represents a patent application record, wherein the child record claims priority to the first parent record and the second parent record;

determine a first x-y coordinate on a target output medium for rendering a first shape representing the child record at a first hierarchical level;

determine, based on the first x-y coordinate, a second x-y coordinate on the target output medium for rendering a second shape representing the first parent record at a second hierarchical level, wherein the first x-y coordinate and the second x-y coordinate are determined without considering the second parent record;

determine, based on the second x-y coordinate, a third x-y coordinate on the target output medium for rendering a third shape representing the second parent record at the second hierarchical level, wherein the first hierarchical level is a next hierarchical level below the second hierarchical level;

render the first shape at the first x-y coordinate, the second shape at the second x-y coordinate and the third shape at the third x-y coordinate, wherein the first shape represents the child record, the second shape represents the first parent record and the third shape represents the second parent record such that the first parent record and the second parent record are rendered on same hierarchical level; and

graphically connect the first shape with the second shape and the third shape to illustrate the plurality of hierarchical records on the target output medium,

wherein the first x-y coordinate, the second x-y coordinate and the third x-y coordinate on a first target output medium having a first set of dimensions is different than the first x-y coordinate, the second x-y coordinate and the third x-y coordinate on a second target output medium having a second set of dimensions, wherein the first target output medium has a different size than the second target output medium,

wherein the target output medium includes a digital display.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein graphically connecting further comprises:

drawing a first line between the first shape and the second shape; and

drawing a second line between the first shape and the third shape, wherein no line exists between the second shape and the third shape.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the second shape is rendered at a sibling level of the third shape such that the first parent record is represented as a sibling of the second parent record.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein identifying the plurality of hierarchical records based on the user request includes:

identifying a list of records and a hierarchical relationship among the plurality of hierarchical records.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of hierarchical records are graphically illustrated using a graphical tree.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

identify a plurality of hierarchical records based on a user request, wherein each current record in the plurality of hierarchical records includes at least one parent field, an entry in the parent field identifies a parent record of the current record, wherein the parent record is one level higher in hierarchy than the current record;

identify a child record among the plurality of hierarchical records having one or more parent fields identifying a first parent record and a second parent record of the child record, wherein the child record is related to the first parent record and the second parent record by ancestry such that the child record is a descendent of both the first parent record and the second parent record, wherein each of the plurality of hierarchical records represents a patent application record, wherein the child record claims priority to the first parent record and the second parent record;

determine a first x-y coordinate on a target output medium for rendering a first shape representing the child record at a first hierarchical level;

determine, based on the first x-y coordinate, a second x-y coordinate on the target output medium for rendering a second shape representing the first parent record at a second hierarchical level, wherein the first x-y coordinate and the second x-y coordinate are determined without considering the second parent record;

determine, based on the second x-y coordinate, a third x-y coordinate on the target output medium for rendering a third shape representing the second parent record at the second hierarchical level, wherein the first hierarchical level is a next hierarchical level below the second hierarchical level;

render the first shape at the first x-y coordinate, the second shape at the second x-y coordinate and the third shape at the third x-y coordinate, wherein the first shape represents the child record, the second shape represents the first parent record and the third shape represents the second parent record such that the first parent record and the second parent record are rendered on same hierarchical level; and

graphically connect the first shape with the second shape and the third shape to illustrate the plurality of hierarchical records on the target output medium,

wherein the first x-y coordinate, the second x-y coordinate and the third x-y coordinate on a first target output medium having a first set of dimensions is different than the first x-y coordinate, the second x-y coordinate and the third x-y coordinate on a second target output medium having a second set of dimensions, wherein the first target output medium has a different size than the second target output medium,

wherein the target output medium includes a digital display.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

draw a first line between the first shape and the second shape; and

draw a second line between the first shape and the third shape, wherein no line exists between the second shape and the third shape.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the second shape is rendered at a sibling level of the third shape such that the first parent record is represented as a sibling of the second parent record.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

receive a list of records and a hierarchical relationship among the plurality of hierarchical records.