Household grouping based on public records

• US 8,938,434 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2005
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peopleconnect Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Intelius Incorporated
• Inventors: Jain, Naveen K., Arnold, John K., Marcus, Kevin R., Shah, Niraj Anil
• Primary Examiner(s): Kerzhner, Aleksandr
• Application Number:
  US11/285,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20060248048A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,346 Days
• Field of Search: 707/706, 707/999.101
• US Class Current: 707/706
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9024 Graphs; Linked lists G06F16/9027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

Records are obtained from various sources, including public records, and are then augmented and grouped. At least one augment key is applied to each of the records resulting in an augment key value for each record. The records are augmented based on the key value. Augmenting the records includes combining the fields of the common records into a single record and then removing the duplicate records. The augmented records are then grouped according to household. At least one household grouping key is applied to each of the augmented records resulting in a household grouping key value for each record. The records having the same household grouping key value are displayed as a household grouping.

Claims

1. A method executing on a processor of a computing device for grouping household members associated with an individual, comprising:

obtaining records from a search of public records that are available to the public that is based on at least one value associated with the individual, wherein the at least one value is an identifier of the individual;

applying augment keys to the obtained records and receiving an augment key value for the obtained records, wherein an augment key comprises one or more fields from the obtained records;

augmenting the obtained records based on the augment key value, wherein augmenting the obtained records comprises, identifying one or more records associated with the individual in the obtained records, combining fields associated with the individual in the obtained records into a record being augmented and removing duplicate records;

storing the record being augmented without storing the obtained records; and

performing household grouping on the stored augmented records, wherein the household grouping identifies household members within a household of the individual, wherein the household members are identified from the obtained records and wherein the obtained records include more than one household.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the records according to the household grouping.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the records further comprises obtaining at least a portion of the records from a public record source.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein augmenting the records further comprises removing duplicates from the obtained records.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein augmenting the records further comprises combining records when the records relate to the same individual.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein augmenting the records further comprises applying at least three-augment keys to each of the records to obtain the augment key value for each record.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising sorting the key values to determine records that relate to the same individual.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein performing the household grouping further comprises applying at least one household grouping key to each of the records to obtain a household key value for each record and grouping the household based on the household key value.

9. A system for or grouping household members associated with an individual, comprising:

at least one data store configured to store public records;

a first computer, including;

a first processor and a first computer-readable medium;

a first operating environment stored on the first computer-readable medium and executing on the first processor;

a first communication connection device operating under the control of the first operating environment and configured to connect to a network; and

a first application operating under the control of the first operating environment and operative to perform actions, including;

obtaining public records from the at least one data store based on at least one value associated with the individual;

wherein the obtained records include more than one household;

applying augment keys to each of the records and receiving an augment key value for each of the records, wherein an augment key comprises one or more fields from the obtained records;

augmenting the records based on the augment key value;

wherein augmenting the records comprises combining fields of each of the obtained records identified to be a same individual and removing duplicate records;

storing the augmented records without storing the obtained records used to augment the records; and

performing household grouping on the augmented records;

wherein the household grouping identifies household members within a household of the individual; and

a second computer, including;

a second processor and a second computer-readable medium;

a second operating environment stored on the second computer-readable medium and executing on the second processor;

a display;

a second communication connection device operating under the control of the operating environment and configured to connect to the network; and

a second application operating under the control of the operating environment and operative to perform actions, including;

receiving the household grouping; and

displaying the household grouping on the display.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein augmenting the records further comprises removing duplicates from the obtained records.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein augmenting the records further comprises combining records.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein augmenting the records further comprises applying at least three-augment keys to each of the records to obtain the augment key value for each record.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

comparing each of the key values to determine records that are associated with an individual.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein performing the household grouping further comprises applying at least one household grouping key to each of the records to obtain a household key value for each record and grouping the household based on the household key value.

15. A computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions for grouping household members associated with an individual, the instructions executing on a processor of a computing device comprising:

obtaining public records from a public data source based on at least one value associated with the individual;

wherein the obtained records include more than one household;

applying augment keys to each of the records and receiving an augment key value for each of the records, wherein an augment key comprises one or more fields from the obtained records;

augmenting the records based on the augment key value;

wherein augmenting the records comprises combining fields of each of the obtained records identified to be a same individual and removing duplicate records;

storing the augmented records without storing the obtained records used to augment the records;

performing household grouping on the augmented records;

wherein the household grouping identifies household members within a household of the individual; and

displaying the records according to the household grouping.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein augmenting the records further comprises removing duplicates from the obtained records.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein augmenting the records further comprises combining records.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein augmenting the records further comprises applying at least three-augment keys to each of the records to obtain the augment key value for each record.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, further comprising:

sorting the records based on their associated key values.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein performing the household grouping further comprises applying at least one household grouping key to each of the records to obtain a household key value for each record and grouping the household based on the household key value.