Patent ID: 8825624

Claim:
A computer-implemented method to provide a set of candidate entities for entity resolution, based on a life arc, the method comprising: resolving a received data record into an existing entity, resulting in a conjoined entity representing a real-world entity; generating a life arc for the conjoined entity based on a life arc criterion and space and time data contained in the received data record, wherein the life arc represents that the real-world entity was at each of a specified plurality of distinct geographical areas during a respective, specified time period that is distinct; generating a set of candidate entities from a plurality of available entities by operation of one or more computer processors, wherein each of the plurality of available entities represents a distinct real-world entity, wherein the set of candidate entities includes a first candidate entity selected based on the first candidate entity having a life arc satisfying a predefined matching criterion when compared to the life arc generated for the conjoined entity; and determining whether the first candidate entity refers to the conjoined entity based on a comparison of at least one attribute of the first candidate entity and the conjoined entity, wherein the at least one attribute compared between the first candidate entity and the conjoined entity is not a life arc, wherein at least one of the first candidate entity and the conjoined entity are output responsive to a request from a requesting entity.