US Patent 11222050 Graphically representing related patent families using a phantom parent node

Embodiments use a phantom apex node to graphically illustrate a plurality of hierarchical records. Each record includes a parent field, and an entry in the parent field identifies a parent record of a given record. The parent record is higher in hierarchy than the given record. Embodiments identify record(s) that have no entry in the parent field. A phantom apex record is added to the database. A reference to the phantom apex record is inserted for each record that did not have an entry in the parent field. An x-y coordinate position is determined for all hierarchical records based on the parent field in each record. Once the positions are determined, all references to the phantom apex record are removed from all of the parent fields, and the phantom apex record itself is removed from the database. The plurality of records are then graphically rendered on a target output medium.