US 12,235,879 B2
Graphically representing related record families using a phantom parent node
Mark P. Mathison, Walnut Creek, CA (US)
Assigned to Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Sep. 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/460,483.
Application 18/460,483 is a continuation of application No. 17/533,839, filed on Nov. 23, 2021, granted, now 11,829,393.
Application 17/533,839 is a continuation of application No. 16/054,822, filed on Aug. 3, 2018, granted, now 11,222,050, issued on Jan. 11, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0409612 A1, Dec. 21, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06F 16/31 (2019.01); G06F 16/34 (2019.01); G06F 16/93 (2019.01)
CPC G06F 16/322 (2019.01) [G06F 16/328 (2019.01); G06F 16/34 (2019.01); G06F 16/93 (2019.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for graphically illustrating a plurality of hierarchical records, the method comprising:
receiving, by a computer device, a user request for a record stored at a database;
identifying, by the computer device, a first group of hierarchical records associated with the record among the plurality of hierarchical records stored at the database in response to the user request, wherein each current record in the plurality of hierarchical records is associated with a parent record of the current record, wherein the parent record is higher in a hierarchy than the current record, wherein the first group of hierarchical records consists of a first family of records that includes a first apex record at a highest point in the hierarchy, wherein the first group of hierarchical records includes the record;
identifying a second group of hierarchical records among the plurality of hierarchical records as being related to the first group of hierarchical records including a second apex record at the highest point in the hierarchy, wherein the second group of hierarchical records includes at least a second family of records;
adding, by the computer device, a phantom apex record to the plurality of hierarchical records stored at the database, wherein the phantom apex record has zero parent records and zero children records;
inserting, by the computer device, a reference to the phantom apex record in each of the first apex record and the second apex record;
determining, by the computer device, a position for each of the plurality of hierarchical records based on the parent record associated with each record;
after determining the position for the each of the plurality of hierarchical records, deleting, by the computer device, the references to the phantom apex record in the first apex record and the second apex record while storing a second position determined for the phantom apex record; and
graphically representing, by the computer device, the plurality of hierarchical records excluding the phantom apex record based on the position for the each of the plurality of hierarchical records, wherein the first group of hierarchical records is rendered adjacent to and disconnected from the second group of hierarchical records, the first apex record being aligned with the second apex record based on the second position.