Method for establishing and maintaining a digital family and friends tree

Abstract

The present web-based system and methods enabled by an application executable on a computing device of the system allow subscribers to develop a private circle and interactive digital family & friends tree within a private social network, and to schedule delivery of selected content to a designated recipient, either on a future date or upon occurrence of a future event having a date unknown to the subscriber. The system may determine a delivery date for the selected content, even if no date is specified by the subscriber, based on data obtained from other subscribers to the private circle and/or machine learning analysis, and may validate the delivery date before delivering the content.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for establishing and maintaining a digital family and friends tree, comprising:
 providing a private social network operating on a system that comprises:
 a cloud-based server having a memory and programmed instructions stored therein, 
 a plurality of computing devices in operative connection and communication with the cloud-based server, each computing device in the plurality comprising a display, a processor and a memory, wherein the computing device is configured to access the memory and programmed instructions stored in the cloud-based server and execute at least some of the programmed instructions; 
   enabling a user to subscribe to the private social network to become a subscriber,   wherein the private social network comprises other subscribers and wherein the subscribers can execute the programmed instructions using a computing device in the plurality of computing devices;   wherein the subscriber accesses the programmed instructions with a computing device and actuates the accessed programmed instructions to perform:   establishing a private circle comprising the subscriber and of some of the other subscribers to the private social network, wherein the private circle is enabled to include both current subscribers and future subscribers who are not yet born, or are newborn, but are identified by relationship with the subscriber;   building, by at least one subscriber of the private circle, the digital family and friends tree formed of members who are also subscribers of the private circle;   validating, by at least two subscribers of the private circle, the identities of one or more additional subscribers to the private circle;   for each of the one or more additional subscribers, after validating the identity of the additional subscriber:
 granting the additional subscriber access to the digital family and friends tree and adding a digital profile of the additional subscriber to the digital family & friends tree; and 
 creating and storing digital content associated with the additional subscriber's digital profile in a data library located in the memory of the cloud-based server of the system; 
   for each of one or more ancestors of at least one of the subscribers of the private circle:
 adding a digital profile of the ancestor to the digital family and friends tree; and 
 creating and storing digital content associated with the ancestor's digital profile in a data library located in the memory of the cloud-based server of the system, 
   wherein the digital profile of each subscriber and ancestor added to the digital family and friends tree is represented on an interactive digital map as a pin in a geographic location associated with the subscriber or ancestor.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital content stored in association with each subscriber and ancestor added to the family and friends tree comprises at least one of a generational profile, life story, media gallery, and a list of answered questions provided by the subscriber or ancestor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital family and friends tree is configured to display the digital content stored in association with each subscriber and ancestor added to the family and friends tree when a user accesses the subscriber or ancestor's pin on the interactive digital map. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the subscribers added to the digital family and friends tree accessing the programmed instructions with a computing device and actuating the accessed programmed instructions to perform editing of the digital profile of an ancestor added to the digital family & friends tree. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least two subscribers collaboratively build the digital family and friends tree. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein subscribers outside of the established private circle are not allowed to see any digital content that is viewable only to subscribers within the established private circle. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter tool whereby a subscriber with access to the family and friends tree can view one or more subsets, and one or more members in the one or more subsets, of the family and friends tree. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a subscriber with access to the family and friends tree invites one or more subscribers to the private circle to join the family and friends tree. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a subscriber to the private circle requests access to the family and friends tree. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a subscriber to the private circle with access to the family and friends tree creates a digital profile within the family and friends tree for one or more of the group consisting of: a child, an unborn child, a deceased ancestor, a deceased friend, a living person who is not capable of creating his or her own digital profile, and a pet. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the family and friends tree is developed and maintained by one or more of the subscribers of the private circle with access to the family and friends tree after the occurrence of an event affecting the family and friends tree. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the family and friends tree is developed and maintained by modifying the family and friends tree after the occurrence of one or more of the events consisting of: a birth, a marriage, and a death. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the subscribers with access to the family and friends tree are matched with next of kin who are also subscribers with access to the family and friend tree. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the matched subscribers designate release of stored digital and/or physical content stored within the system to one or more matched subscribers. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the matched subscribers designate release of stored digital and/or physical content stored within the system to an intended future user. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one subscriber with access to the family and friends tree invites a connection to at least one other subscriber with access to the family and friends tree and wherein a resulting connection is displayed on a display screen. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one subscriber with access to the family and friends tree sends and/or receives messages from at least one other subscriber with access to the family and friends tree. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein notifications of changes to the family and friends tree, or to the digital profiles of a subscriber with access to the family and friends tree are provided to each subscriber with access to the family and friends tree. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a chronological timeline view of the life of a subscriber with access to the family and friends tree or ancestor, accessible only to other subscribers with access to the family and friends tree, wherein the chronological timeline comprises at least some of the digital content stored in association with each subscriber or ancestor with access to the family and friends tree. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a subscriber with access to the digital family and friends tree actuating the programmed instructions to schedule delivery of selected digital and/or physical content to a designated recipient, either on a future date or upon occurrence of a future event having a date unknown to the subscriber. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the designated recipient is a subscriber with access to the family and friends tree. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising a subscriber with access to the digital family and friends tree actuating the programmed instructions to determine a delivery date for the selected digital and/or physical content. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising a subscriber with access to the digital family and friends tree actuating the programmed instructions to schedule delivery of the selected digital and/or physical content, wherein no future date is specified by the subscriber. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a subscriber with access to the digital family and friends tree actuating the programmed instructions to wherein the scheduled delivery date is based on data obtained from other subscribers to the private circle and/or machine learning analysis. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the scheduled delivery date is validated before the designated digital and/or physical content is delivered.