Address-based historical data research tool

• US 9,053,147 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2012
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Architectural Forensics LLC
• Original Assignee: Architectural Forensics LLC
• Inventors: Fairey, Wade B. Sr., Robinson, James I. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Leroux, Etienne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cindy
• Application Number:
  US13/632,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20130262506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 707/707
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing

Abstract

A method, device and computer program product for address-based historical records research includes receiving input of an address in researching history of persons. In response to receiving the address input, querying, using a computing device, a database to determine if any information is associated with the address, the database comprising information including, for example, names of people who were associated with the address, historical pictures of the address, and community information about the address. In response to locating address data about the inputted address in the database, retrieving the address data and outputting the address data.

Claims

1. A method for address-based research, comprising:

receiving, at a server, input of an address that (1) a user wishes to research and (2) was associated with at least one historical person;

in response to receiving the inputted address, querying using only the inputted address, from the server, a records database to determine if any data associated with the inputted address exists in the database, the database comprising;

names of the at least one historical who was associated with the address;

historical images and historical documents associated with real property at the address; and

community-related historical information about the address;

determining if any data associated with the inputted address exists in the records database based on the query using only the inputted address; and

in response to identifying a database entry containing the determined data associated with the inputted address in the database;

retrieving the determined data contained in the database entry; and

presenting an interactive graphical user interface so that the determined data about the inputted address from the database entry is presented to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the querying the records database comprises querying an index, wherein the index comprises a listing of addresses such that when an address is inputted, the inputted address is compared with addresses that are stored in the index.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, in response to locating an address in the index, identifying a database entry corresponding to the indexed address.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the querying the records database comprises searching the database with at least a portion of the inputted address with strings of text stored in entries of the database.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising in response to determining no data is associated with the inputted address exists in the database, allowing the user to create a new entry in the database.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving input from the user to create a new entry associated with the inputted address;

creating the new entry in the database;

presenting a graphical user interface to allow the user to upload data to the new entry; and

indexing the inputted address in the index.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting, from a server, a graphical user interface to allow a user to input one or more addresses in researching history of a person.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the address information from a GPS-enabled device such that while the user is located at the address, the GPS-enabled device obtains and transmits the location of the user to the server.

9. A system for address-based research comprising:

a records database;

a computer hardware processor in communication with the records database, the processor configured for;

receiving input of an address in researching history of historical persons;

in response to receiving the address input, querying, using only the inputted address, the records database to determine if any historical information is associated with the address exists in the records database, the database comprising;

names of any of the historical persons who were associated with the address;

historical pictures of the address;

or

historical community information about the address;

in response to locating address data about the inputted address in the database, retrieving the address data and outputting the address data.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein in response to determining no data is associated with the inputted address exists in the database, the processor is further configured for allowing the user to create a new entry in the database.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured for:

receiving input from the user to create a new entry associated with the inputted address;

creating the new entry in the records database;

presenting a graphical user interface to allow the user to upload data to the new entry; and

indexing the inputted address in the index.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured for receiving the address information from a GPS-enabled device such that while the user is located at the address, the GPS-enabled device obtains and transmits the location of the user to the server.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the querying the records database comprises querying an index, wherein the index comprises a listing of addresses such that when an address is inputted, the inputted address is compared with addresses that are stored in the index.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein, in response to locating an address in the index, the processor is further configured for identifying a database entry corresponding to the indexed address.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the querying the records database comprises searching the database with at least a portion of the inputted address with strings of text stored in entries of the database.

16. A method for address-based research, comprising:

receiving, at a computing device, only an input of an address that a user wishes to research and that has historical information associated therewith;

in response to receiving the inputted address, querying, using the inputted address, a records database to determine if any data associated with the inputted address exists in the database, the database comprising at least one of;

names of at least one historical person who was associated with the address;

historical images and historical documents associated with real property at the address; and

community-related historical information about the address;

determining if any data associated with the inputted address exists in the records database based on the query using only the inputted address; and

in response to identifying a database entry containing the determined data associated with the inputted address in the database;

retrieving the determined data contained in the database entry; and

presenting a graphical user interface so that the determined data about the inputted address from the database entry is presented to the user.