Method and apparatus for presenting linked life stories

• US 7,287,225 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Making Everlasting Memories, LLC (Service Corporation International)
• Original Assignee: Making Everlasting Memories, LLC (Service Corporation International)
• Inventors: Mindrum, Gordon Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu; Tadesse
• Application Number:
  US11/127,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20050204300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 715762-764, 715/733, 715/744, 715/716, 707/100, 707/102
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 13/003 Funeral monuments, grave sites curbing or markers not making part of vaults E04H13/008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

The user interface on a computer system displays information about an entity, such as a person, a business, a pet, a country, etc. The screen is associated with the entity. A plurality of recordations are associated with the entity. The recordations are of at least two different types and are associated with the period of time. A plurality of selection mechanisms are on the screen. Each of the selection mechanisms are associated with at least one type of recordation. A time selection mechanism is adapted for selecting a period of time. The time selection mechanism is associated with at least a portion of the plurality of recordations and is operative to present one or more recordations which correspond with the selected period of time. The user interface can be accessed over a computer, either as a stand-alone or over a network, whereas on a memorial such as in a headstone.

Claims

1. A method for presenting linked life stories, the method comprising:

(a) receiving biographical information relating to a deceased person;

(b) storing the received biographical information relating to the deceased person in a computer system, wherein the computer system further includes biographical information relating to a plurality of deceased persons;

(c) providing access to a user via a network to at least a portion of the biographical information relating to the deceased person;

(d) receiving biographical information relating to a living person, wherein the living person is associated with the deceased person;

(e) storing the received biographical information relating to the living person in the computer system, wherein the computer system includes biographical information relating to a plurality of living persons; and

(f) linking the biographical information relating to the deceased person to the biographical information relating to the living person, wherein the act of linking comprises providing a link configured to selectively direct the user to at least a portion of the biographical information relating to the living person.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising arranging at least a portion of the biographical information relating to the deceased person in one or more HTML files.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the accessible biographical information relating to the deceased person one or more video files.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the received biographical information relating to the deceased person is submitted by at least one of the user or a person associated with the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the received biographical information relating to the deceased person is embodied in at least one of a photograph, audio, or video.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the received biographical information relating to the deceased person is submitted by at least one of a family member or friend of the deceased person.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the received biographical information relating to the deceased person is received before the deceased person is deceased.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the biographical information relating to the deceased person, wherein the act of updating is performed after an act of providing access to a user via a network to at least a portion of the biographical information relating to the deceased person is performed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the received biographical information relating to the deceased person is received via the Internet.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the network comprises the Internet.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the received biographical information relating to the deceased person is in a first format, wherein the method further comprises converting the at least a portion of the received biographical information relating to the deceased person into a second format.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second format is an electronic format.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first format is a non-electronic format.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is associated with the deceased person.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) receiving biographical information relating to a second plurality of living persons, wherein each of the second plurality of living persons is associated with the deceased person;

(b) storing the received biographical information relating to the second plurality of living persons in the computer system;

(c) providing access to a user via a network to at least a portion of the biographical information relating to the second plurality of living persons; and

(d) linking the biographical information relating to the deceased person to the biographical information relating to the second plurality of living persons, wherein the act of linking the biographical information relating to the deceased person to the biographical information relating to the second plurality of living persons comprises providing a link configured to selectively direct the user to at least a portion of the biographical information relating the second plurality of living persons.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

(a) creating a list of persons associated with the deceased person, wherein the list comprises names of at least a portion of the second plurality of living persons;

(b) presenting the list of persons associated with the deceased person to the user; and

(c) providing an indication in the list indicating persons of the second plurality of living persons having biographical information in at least one of the one or more network accessible files.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the biographical information relating to a living person.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising permitting the user to submit additional biographical information relating to at least one of the deceased person or the living person.

19. A method for providing linked information related to a deceased person and a living person, the method comprising:

(a) storing biographical information relating to a deceased person on a computer system, wherein the information relating to the deceased person includes information relating to a plurality of deceased persons;

(b) providing access via a network to at least a portion of the stored biographical information relating to the deceased person;

(c) providing access via a network to biographical information relating to a living person, wherein the living person is related to the deceased person; and

(d) providing a link from at least a portion of the stored biographical information relating to the deceased person to at least a portion of the biographical information relating to a living person.

20. A method for providing linked life stories, the method comprising:

(a) creating one or more Internet pages having biographical information relating to a deceased person;

(b) creating one or more Internet pages having biographical information relating to a living person, wherein the living person is associated with the deceased person;

(c) providing a link in at least one of the one or more Internet pages having biographical information relating to the deceased person, wherein the link is operable to direct a user to at least one of the one or more Internet pages having biographical information relating to the living person.