Patent ID: 7870139

Claim:
A method of consolidating genealogy records, comprising: partitioning the records using at least one index file to form one or more partitions; sorting the records in a partition based on a data element in the records; comparing records within a sort range; based on the comparison, identifying same person records, wherein identifying same person records comprises: calculating a factor that represents the likelihood that two records represent the same individual; comparing the factor to a predetermined threshold; and based on the comparison, provisionally determining whether the records represent the same individual; for each pair of records provisionally determined to represent the same individual: calculating a factor that represents the likelihood that respective mother records for the pair of records represent the same mother; calculating a factor that represents the likelihood that respective father records for the pair of records represent the same father; using the factor that represents the likelihood that the two records represent the same individual, the factor that represents the likelihood that respective mother records for the pair of records represent the same mother, and the factor that represents the likelihood that respective father records for the pair of records represent the same father, calculating a revised factor representing the likelihood that the pair of records represent the same individual; comparing the revised factor to a predetermined threshold; and based on the comparison, determining that the two records represent the same individual; consolidating information in the same person records; receiving a request from a user to view at least a portion of the consolidated information for a particular group of same person records; and sending a file comprising the portion to the user.