U.S. patent application number 14/731151 was filed with the patent office on 2015-10-15 for eye color paternity test.
The applicant listed for this patent is Identigene, L.L.C.. Invention is credited to Douglas R. Fogg, Adam R. Mansfield, Katrina R. Miller, Steven J. Smith.
Application Number | 20150294150 14/731151 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47880695 |
Filed Date | 2015-10-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150294150 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fogg; Douglas R. ; et
al. |
October 15, 2015 |
EYE COLOR PATERNITY TEST
Abstract
A method, system, and apparatus for determining paternity based
on eye color. Determining paternity may include accessing a color
digital image of at least one of a male parental candidate, a
female parental candidate, and a child candidate. An eye color of
each of the male parental candidate, the female parental candidate,
and the child candidate may be determined, wherein the eye color of
at least one of the male parental candidate, the female parental
candidate, and the child candidate is determined based on the
accessed color digital image. A paternity likelihood of the male
parental candidate with regard to the child candidate may be
determined based on the determined eye color of the male parental
candidate, the female parental candidate, and the child
candidate.
Inventors: |
Fogg; Douglas R.; (Sandy,
UT) ; Smith; Steven J.; (Mendon, UT) ; Miller;
Katrina R.; (Murray, UT) ; Mansfield; Adam R.;
(Salt Lake City, UT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Identigene, L.L.C. |
Salt Lake City |
UT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
47880695 |
Appl. No.: |
14/731151 |
Filed: |
June 4, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13233331 |
Sep 15, 2011 |
9111144 |
|
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14731151 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
382/117 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 9/4609 20130101;
G06T 2207/30201 20130101; A61B 3/0025 20130101; G06T 2207/30041
20130101; G06K 9/00617 20130101; G06T 7/90 20170101; G06T
2207/10004 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06K 9/00 20060101
G06K009/00; G06T 7/40 20060101 G06T007/40 |
Claims
1. A method of determining paternity based on eye color, the method
comprising: electronically accessing a color digital image of at
least one of a male parental candidate, a female parental
candidate, and a child candidate; digitally processing the color
digital image to determine an eye color of at least one of the male
parental candidate, the female parental candidate, and the child
candidate, wherein the eye color of at least one of the male
parental candidate, the female parental candidate, and the child
candidate is determined based on the accessed color digital image;
determining a paternity likelihood of at least one of the male
parental candidate and the female parental candidate with regard to
the child candidate based on the determined eye color of the at
least one of the male parental candidate, the female parental
candidate, and the child candidate; and displaying the paternity
likelihood of the male parental candidate and the female parental
candidate with regard to the child candidate on an electronic
device.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising electronically
accessing a color digital image of each of the male parental
candidate, the female parental candidate, and the child
candidate.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining the eye
color of each of the male parental candidate, the female parental
candidate, and the child candidate based on the accessed color
digital image of each of the male parental candidate, the female
parental candidate, and the child candidate respectively.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a set of
potential eye colors of the child candidate based on the determined
eye color of the at least one of the male parental candidate and
the female parental candidate.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the eye color of the at least one
of the male parental candidate, the female parental candidate, and
the child candidate is determined by comparing a portion of the
digital image to a set of predefined human eye colors.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the eye color of the at least one
of the male parental candidate, the female parental candidate, and
the child candidate is selected by a user from the set of
predefined human eye colors.
7. The method of claim 5, further comprising prompting the user
with a proposed color from the set of predefined human eye colors
in response to selection of a portion of the color digital image
with an input device.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the eye color of the at least one
of a male parental candidate, a female parental candidate, and a
child candidate is determined automatically by the electronic
device.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the eye color of the at least one
of a male parental candidate, a female parental candidate, and a
child candidate is determined automatically by the electronic
device based on a comparison of a color of one or more pixels of
the color digital image with a set of human eye colors.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the eye color of the at least
one of a male parental candidate, a female parental candidate, and
a child candidate is determined automatically by the electronic
device based on a comparison of a color of a plurality of pixels of
the color digital image with a set of human eye colors.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the eye color of the at least
one of a male parental candidate, a female parental candidate, and
a child candidate is determined by digitally averaging a plurality
of colors of the color digital image to determine an average eye
color based on the color digital image.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the eye color of at
least one of the male parental candidate, the female parental
candidate, and the child candidate based on the accessed color
digital image comprises: displaying the captured digital image of
the eye of the at least one of the male parental candidate, the
female parental candidate, and the child candidate on an electronic
display; receiving input from a user to select a portion of the
digital image that represents the eye color of the eye of the at
least one of the male parental candidate, the female parental
candidate, and the child candidate; and selecting a color that best
matches the color of the selected portion of the digital image.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an
advertisement on the electronic device for additional paternity
testing.
14. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a
location nearest to a user of the electronic device where
additional paternity testing may be obtained.
15. The method of claim 1, further comprising capturing the digital
image of at least one of the male parental candidate, the female
parental candidate, and the child candidate with a digital imaging
device associated with the electronic device.
16. The method of claim 1, further comprising digitally processing
the color digital image to determine an eye color of one or more
candidate grandparents, wherein determining a paternity likelihood
is at least partially based on the determined eye color of the one
or more candidate grandparents.
17. The method of claim 1, further comprising digitally processing
the color digital image to determine an eye color of one or more
candidate siblings, wherein determining a paternity likelihood is
at least partially based on the determined eye color of the one or
more candidate siblings.
18. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions
stored thereon to determine paternity based on eye color, the
computer readable medium comprising: a digital imaging module
configured to electronically access a color digital image of at
least one of a male parental candidate, a female parental
candidate, and a child candidate; an eye color module configured to
digitally process the color digital image to determine an eye color
of at least one of the male parental candidate, the female parental
candidate, and the child candidate, wherein the eye color of at
least one of the male parental candidate, the female parental
candidate, and the child candidate is determined based on the
accessed color digital image; and a paternity module configured to
determine a paternity likelihood of at least one of the male
parental candidate with regard to the child candidate based on the
determined eye color of the at least one of the male parental
candidate, the female parental candidate, and the child
candidate.
19. An electronic device for determining paternity based on eye
color, the electronic device comprising: a processor and a memory;
a display; and a digital imaging module configured to
electronically access a color digital image of at least one of a
male parental candidate, a female parental candidate, and a child
candidate; an eye color module configured to digitally process the
color digital image to determine an eye color of at least one of
the male parental candidate, the female parental candidate, and the
child candidate, wherein the eye color of at least one of the male
parental candidate, the female parental candidate, and the child
candidate is determined based on the accessed color digital image;
and a paternity module configured to determine a paternity
likelihood of at least one of the male parental candidate with
regard to the child candidate based on the determined eye color of
the at least one of the male parental candidate, the female
parental candidate, and the child candidate.
20. The electronic device of claim 19, further comprising a digital
imaging device in electronic communication with the electronic
device.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/233,331, filed Sep. 15, 2011, pending, the
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety
by this reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to paternity
testing and more particularly relate to determining paternity based
on eye color and the use of digital imaging to determine eye
color.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Paternity testing is used to determine whether two
individuals have a parent-child relationship. Today, accurate
paternity testing utilizes modern genetic analysis techniques based
on DNA. Previously, other types of paternity testing have been
performed based on physical characteristics such as eye color and
blood type. Even though such testing based on physical
characteristics is typically not as accurate as modern genetic
testing, such tests may still be used to provide preliminary
results before a more accurate genetic test is performed.
[0004] For example, conventional testing methods based on eye color
may include comparing the eye color of a candidate mother, father,
and child to determine whether the eye color of the mother and
father could have resulted in the eye color of the child. However,
such tests are often inaccurate because eye color often appears
much lighter at birth and may not darken to its true color for
several years. Furthermore, natural variations in human genes may
also influence eye color. Thus, even though an eye color paternity
test may offer some clues about paternity, it is not typically
consistent enough for definitive paternity test results.
Nevertheless, eye color paternity testing may still be useful as a
preliminary test to encourage more accurate genetic testing.
Furthermore, eye color paternity testing has value as a novelty
tool for parents wondering about the paternity of a child.
[0005] Some conventional eye color paternity tests can be performed
quickly using a programmed electronic computing device. However,
conventional devices rely on a user to input the eye color of the
mother, father, and child into the device. This often results in
inaccurate eye color determinations and subsequently inaccurate
paternity results. Conventional devices fail to utilize actual
digital images of candidate parents and children to more accurately
determine eye color. Furthermore, conventional devices lack the
entertainment value of capturing and comparing actual images of the
physical characteristics of candidate parents and children. Such
devices also lack the ability to provide advertisements and/or
information to a user about additional testing and where to obtain
additional paternity test products and services.
SUMMARY
[0006] There is a need in the art for a device that enables a user
to quickly determine eye color based on a digital image and to
perform a preliminary paternity test based on the determined eye
color. Furthermore, a device is needed that is configured to
provide advertisements and additional information to a user
regarding where and how to obtain more accurate paternity testing.
A method, system, and apparatus are provided herein for determining
likelihood of paternity based on eye color.
[0007] The method may include accessing a color digital image of at
least one of a male parental candidate, a female parental
candidate, and a child candidate. The method may further include
determining an eye color of each of the male parental candidate,
the female parental candidate, and the child candidate, wherein the
eye color of at least one of the male parental candidate, the
female parental candidate, and the child candidate is determined
based on the accessed color digital image. The method may also
include determining a paternity likelihood of the male parental
candidate and the female parental candidate with regard to the
child candidate based on the determined eye color of the male
parental candidate, the female parental candidate, and the child
candidate.
[0008] In one embodiment, the method includes accessing a color
digital image of at least one of the male parental candidate, the
female parental candidate, and the child candidate. In a further
embodiment, the method includes the eye color of each of the male
parental candidate, the female parental candidate, and the child
candidate and is determined based on the accessed color digital
image of each of the male parental candidate, the female parental
candidate, and the child candidate respectively. In some
embodiments, the eye color of the at least one of the male parental
candidate, the female parental candidate, and the child candidate
is determined by comparing the color digital image to a set of
predefined human eye colors. In a further embodiment, the eye color
of the at least one of the male parental candidate, the female
parental candidate, and the child candidate is selected by a user
from the set of predefined human eye colors. In yet a further
embodiment, a user may be prompted with a proposed color from the
set of predefined human eye colors in response to selection of a
portion of the color digital image with an input device.
[0009] In some instances, the eye color of the at least one of a
male parental candidate, a female parental candidate, and a child
candidate is determined automatically. The eye color of the at
least one of a male parental candidate, a female parental
candidate, and a child candidate is determined automatically based
on a comparison of a color of one or more pixels of the color
digital image with the set of human eye colors. In a further
embodiment, the eye color of the at least one of a male parental
candidate, a female parental candidate, and a child candidate is
determined automatically based on a comparison of a color of a
plurality of pixels of the color digital image with the set of
human eye colors. In yet another embodiment, the eye color of the
at least one of a male parental candidate, a female parental
candidate, and a child candidate is determined by averaging a
plurality of pixel colors of the color digital image to determine
an average eye color based on the color digital image
[0010] Determining the eye color of the eye of the at least one
parental candidate may include displaying the captured digital
image of the eye of the at least one parental candidate on an
electronic display; receiving input from a user to select a portion
of the digital image that represents the eye color of the eye of
the at least one parental candidate; and selecting a color that
best matches the color of the selected portion of the digital
image. In a further embodiment, the eye color of the at least one
parental candidate is determined by averaging a plurality of colors
of the color digital image to determine an average eye color based
on the color digital image.
[0011] In one embodiment, the method includes displaying the
captured color digital image of the eye of the at least one
parental candidate on an electronic display; receiving input from a
user to select a portion of the digital image that represents the
eye color of the eye of the at least one of the male parental
candidate, the female parental candidate, and the child candidate;
and selecting a color that best matches the color of the selected
portion of the digital image. The method may also include
displaying an advertisement for additional paternity testing and
determining a location nearest to a user where additional paternity
testing may be obtained. In some embodiments, the method includes
capturing the digital image of the at least one parental candidate
with a digital imaging device. In a further embodiment, the method
includes determining an eye color of one or more candidate
grandparents wherein determining a paternity likelihood is at least
partially based on the determined eye color of the one or more
candidate grandparents. In yet a further embodiment, the method
includes determining an eye color of one or more candidate siblings
wherein determining a paternity likelihood is at least partially
based on the determined eye color of the one or more candidate
siblings
[0012] An electronic device is provided for determining paternity
based on eye color that includes a processor, a memory, and a
display. The electronic device may further include a digital
imaging module, an eye color module, and a paternity module
configured to substantially perform the method acts described
above. In one embodiment, the digital imaging module, eye color
module, and paternity module may be stored on a non-transitory
computer readable medium.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one
embodiment of a system for performing a paternity test in
accordance with the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2A is a schematic block diagram illustrating one
embodiment of a paternity tool for performing a paternity test in
accordance with the present invention and FIG. 2B depicts a
spectrum of lighter to darker eye colors associated with
humans;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a simplified top view illustrating one embodiment
of an electronic device configured to perform paternity testing in
accordance with the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a simplified top view further illustrating one
embodiment of an electronic device configured to access a digital
image in accordance with the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a simplified top view further illustrating one
embodiment of an electronic device configured to perform paternity
testing in accordance with the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a simplified top view further illustrating one
embodiment of an electronic device configured to determine an eye
color from a digital image in accordance with the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a simplified top view further illustrating one
embodiment of an electronic device configured to display paternity
test results;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a simplified top view further illustrating one
embodiment of an electronic device configured to determine
paternity by using digital images of grandparents and or siblings
in accordance with the present invention; and
[0021] FIG. 9 is a flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment
of a method for performing a paternity test in accordance with the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Many of the functional units described in this specification
have been labeled as modules, in order to more particularly
emphasize their implementation independence. For example, a module
may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI
circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic
chips, transistors, or other discrete components. A module may also
be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field
programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable
logic devices or the like.
[0023] Modules may also be implemented in software for execution by
various types of processors. An identified module of executable
code may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical
blocks of computer instructions which may, for instance, be
organized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the
executables of an identified module need not be physically located
together, but may comprise disparate instructions stored in
different locations which, when joined logically together, comprise
the module and achieve the stated purpose for the module.
[0024] Indeed, a module of executable code may be a single
instruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed over
several different code segments, among different programs, and
across several memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be
identified and illustrated herein within modules, and may be
embodied in any suitable form and organized within any suitable
type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a
single data set, or may be distributed over different locations
including over different storage devices.
[0025] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment,"
"an embodiment," or similar language means that a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with
the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the
present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one
embodiment," "in an embodiment," and similar language throughout
this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the
same embodiment.
[0026] In the following detailed description, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which
is shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the
invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in
sufficient detail to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art
to practice the invention. However, other embodiments may be
utilized, and structural, logical, and electrical changes may be
made without departing from the scope of the invention. The
illustrations presented herein are not meant to be actual views of
any particular device or system, but are merely idealized
representations that are employed to describe embodiments of the
present disclosure. The drawings presented herein are not
necessarily drawn to scale. Additionally, elements common between
drawings may retain the same or have similar numerical
designation.
[0027] FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of a system 100 for performing
a paternity test based on physical characteristics and phenotype
information. The system 100 includes an electronic device 102 that
includes a memory 104 and a processor 106. As will be recognized by
one of skill in the art, the electronic device 102 may be a device
such as a personal computer, laptop, client, server, personal
digital assistant ("PDA"), cell phone, smart phone, or the like.
The electronic device 102 includes a paternity tool 108 that is
configured with the logic necessary to perform paternity testing
based on physical characteristics such as eye color. Although other
physical characteristics may be used in accordance with the
paternity tool 108, the present description will focus primarily on
eye color. Other characteristics that may be included for analysis
include, but are not limited to, ear lobe type, widow's peak type,
tongue type, blood type, and other characteristics that are useful
in determining paternity. Additionally, although the present
description may focus on human characteristics, it is contemplated
that the physical characteristics of other animal types may be used
in accordance with the present device. For example, a dog breeder
may use an embodiment of the tool described herein to analyze the
paternity of a puppy.
[0028] In various embodiments, the paternity tool 108 may be
installed on the electronic device 102, accessed on an external
device such as on a web server, stored on a computer readable
medium, or may be implemented on the electronic device 102 using
other computer processing techniques known in the art. Generally,
the paternity tool 108 is configured to perform the logic necessary
to utilize digital images to determine the eye color of one or more
parental candidates and a child candidate, and to make paternity
determinations based on the eye color determined from the digital
images. Preferably, color digital images are used in accordance
with the present invention, but other types of digital images are
contemplated if they include sufficient data for determining the
eye color of a subject depicted in the digital image. For example,
the user may capture a digital image of a candidate mother,
candidate father, and/or a candidate child, and the paternity tool
108 may be used to determine the eye color of each of the candidate
mother, candidate father, and candidate child. Once the eye color
of the candidate mother, candidate father, and candidate child is
determined, the paternity tool 108 may determine whether the
candidate child is potentially the biological offspring of the
candidate mother and the candidate father. The paternity tool 108
may then present the results to a user and display an advertisement
or instructions on how to obtain a more accurate paternity test.
The paternity tool 108 provides a preliminary paternity test and
may be used simply for entertainment purposes in some
instances.
[0029] In one embodiment, the system 100 includes a digital imaging
device 110 such as a digital camera, web-cam, digital video camera,
or the like. The digital imaging device 110 may be utilized to
capture digital images of candidate parents and/or candidate
children. As will be recognized by one of skill in the art, the
digital imaging device 110 may be integrated into a device such as
a cell phone or PDA. In the case where a portable device such as a
PDA or cell phone is used, the paternity tool 108 may be
implemented as an application or "app" installed on the device.
Such an implementation enables for the paternity tool 108 to be
portable and readily available to a user on the go. Furthermore,
the electronic device 102 may be configured to access the internet
or to communicate wirelessly with other devices such as through a
Wi-Fi or other communication means. Thus, additional information
may be retrieved by the paternity tool 108 from remote locations.
Such information may include, for example, stored digital images,
advertisements, or directions to a distributor that sells
additional paternity tests. As depicted, the system 100 may also
include a display 112 for displaying graphics, data, images, and
the like to the user.
[0030] FIG. 2 depicts one embodiment of the paternity tool 108 that
includes a plurality of logic modules. In the depicted embodiment,
the paternity tool 108 includes a digital imaging module 202, an
eye color module 204, a paternity determination module 206, and an
output module 208. Of course, in other embodiments the paternity
tool 108 may include one or more additional modules, and/or the
modules may be divided or combined to enable operation of the
paternity tool 108.
[0031] In the depicted embodiment, the digital imaging module 202
may be configured to access a digital image of at least one
parental candidate. In one embodiment, the digital image of a
parental candidate may be accessed by first capturing the digital
image with a digital imaging device 110 such as a digital camera.
In another embodiment, the digital image of the parental candidate
may be accessed by retrieving a previously stored digital image of
the parental candidate from a storage device. For example, the
digital image of the parental candidate may be retrieved by
accessing system memory, downloading the image from the internet,
receiving the image via email, or by similar means recognized by
those of skill in the art.
[0032] In certain embodiments, the digital imaging module 202
accesses digital images of each of a male parental candidate, a
female parental candidate, and a child candidate. In some
embodiments, the digital imaging module 202 may access digital
images for fewer than each of the male parental candidate, female
parental candidate and child candidate. For example, a digital
image of the male parental candidate may be unavailable, in which
case, digital images of the female parental candidate and the child
candidate may be accessed, and eye color information for the male
parental candidate may be input by a user.
[0033] The eye color module 204 may be configured to determine an
eye color of one or more of the parental candidates based on the
digital image. In one embodiment, the eye color module 204 may
display the digital image for user to examine. Cropping, zooming,
and other photo manipulation tools may be used to display a portion
of the digital image that includes the eye of a candidate parent or
child. A set of potential human eye colors may be displayed with
the digital image for comparison. Typically, human eye color is
classified into eight common color types including light-blue,
blue, blue-green, green, hazel, light-brown, brown, and dark brown.
However, in some instances eye color may be divided into more or
fewer color classifications. For the purposes of this description,
a set of eight human eye colors will be described. Thus, in one
embodiment, a set of eight human eye colors may be displayed next
to a digital image of a parental candidate for comparison with the
digital image. The set of eight human eye colors may be presented
so as to depict one or both of a name of the eye color and a sample
of the eye color. Display of a sample of each eye color enables
easier comparison with the digital image.
[0034] In one embodiment, a user may select the eye color of a
candidate parent from the set of colors that most closely matches
the color in the digital image. In another embodiment, digital
processing may be implemented to automatically detect an eye color
from the digital image and match it to a color from the set of eye
colors. In one embodiment, an input device such as a touch screen,
mouse, or other device, may be used to select the portion of the
digital image that depicts the iris, the part of the eye that is
associated with eye color. For example, a cursor may be directed
over the digital image so as to select one or more pixels that
depict the color of an eye from the digital image. The eye color
module 204 may suggest a matching eye color for the selected
portion of the iris as the cursor is moved over different portions
of the digital image. For example, as a cursor is moved over a
certain colored pixel or group of pixels, a pop-up box or other
display mechanism may be presented to a user that suggests a color
match for the pixel or group of pixels. In this manner a user may
determine a color from the set of eight eye colors that most
closely matches the iris color from the digital image.
[0035] In at least one embodiment, the eye color of the parental or
child candidate may be determined by averaging a plurality of pixel
colors of the color digital image to determine an average eye color
based on the color digital image. For example, a user may use a
cursor to select several sample pixel colors from the digital image
(e.g. several samples from the iris portion of the color digital
image). The several sample pixel colors may be averaged together to
determine an average eye color and/or to suggest an average color
for selection by a user. In at least one embodiment, selecting
sample colors may include using an input device to click (e.g. with
a mouse) or tap (e.g. with a touchscreen) on various parts of the
eye depicted in the color digital image to select corresponding
pixel colors for averaging. In some instances, the eye color
depicted in the digital image may not be uniform across the iris,
and in such instances averaging a sample of multiple selected eye
colors may improve accuracy of the test.
[0036] In a further embodiment, an input device may be used to
select the portion of the digital image that represents eye color
by encircling, cropping, selecting, and/or otherwise indicating the
iris portion of the color digital image. Digital processing may
then be used to determine an average color of all of the colors
(e.g. each pixel color) in the selected portion of the digital
image to determine an average eye color. For example, each pixel in
the selected portion of the color digital image may be examined to
determine a color of the pixel and ultimately to determine an
average eye color for the candidate depicted in the color digital
image.
[0037] In yet a further embodiment, a predetermined number of
samples of pixel colors from the encircled portion of the digital
image may be used to determine the average eye color, such that
each pixel need not be examined. In some instances, the
predetermined number of samples may correspond to predetermined
locations of the eye of the candidate parent or child. For example,
the eye color module 204 may be configured to select samples from
the inner part of the iris, the outer part of the iris, the middle
of the iris, in a uniform pattern across the iris, etc. In at least
one embodiment, the eye color module 204 may automatically detect a
plurality of sample pixel colors from the digital image and
automatically combine them to determine an eye color of the person
depicted in the color digital image or to suggest an eye color for
selection by a user. In some embodiments, the eye color module 204
may be configurable with settings that allow a user to select a
type of color identification methodology, such as using a single
color sample, using multiple color samples, using all pixels in a
selected portion of the digital image, automatically selecting an
eye color, presenting a proposed eye color to a user, or the
like.
[0038] In at least one embodiment, the electronic device 102 and/or
its display 112 may be calibrated to ensure a more accurate color
match. For example, conventional displays 112 may have settings
such as color, brightness, and contrast that allow for the
appearance of the display to be adjusted. The display 112 may be
adjusted accordingly to ensure that the colors are being accurately
displayed. Furthermore, the digital imaging device 110 may be used
to further calibrate the display 112 by capturing images of known
colors and ensuring that they are properly displayed on the display
112 of the electronic device. In some instances, capturing the
digital images of the candidate parents and candidate child with
the same digital imaging device 110 may result in more accurate eye
color determinations by eliminating display differences that may
result from disparate digital imaging devices.
[0039] Once eye color information for each of the candidate parents
and the candidate child is determined, the paternity determination
module 206 determines whether the selected eye color for the
parental candidates, if they mated, could result in the eye color
of the child candidate. This determination is made based on known
eye color inheritance patterns as will be recognized by one of
skill in the art. Generally, an eye color paternity test assumes
that light-eyed parents cannot have darker-eyed children. FIG. 2B
depicts a spectrum of lighter to darker eye colors associated with
humans.
[0040] Eye color follows a polygenic inheritance pattern.
Generally, these genes express themselves as one of the eight
depicted eye colors. "Dark" is dominant in the genes that determine
eye color, and the more dominant alleles present, the darker eye
color appears. From this information, the paternity determination
module 206 makes a reasoned predication regarding the likelihood of
paternity based on the known eye colors of the parental candidates
and child candidates. Generally, two "light-blue" eyed parents
cannot have a "blue" eyed (or darker eyed) child. Two "blue" eyed
parents can have a "blue-green" (or lighter) eyed child, but not
hazel or anything darker. Two "blue-green" eyed parents can have a
"light-brown" (or lighter) eyed child, but not brown or anything
darker. One "light-brown" eyed parent and one "blue-green" eyed
parent can have a child with any of the possible eye colors. Two
"dark-brown or black" eyed parents can have a child any of the
possible eye colors (but it is unlikely that they will have a light
eyed child, such as a light blue or blue).
[0041] The output module 208 outputs the results of the paternity
determination, such as by displaying "match", signifying possible
paternity, or "no match", signifying that paternity is not likely
based on the eye color analysis. The output module 208 may also
display advertisements for and provide instructions on how to
obtain a more accurate paternity test. Additional information may
also be presented to the user such as information about how eye
color genetics work and the eye color of the parents and child may
not be consistent with a biological relationship. In one
embodiment, a link may be provided to an information page further
explaining the eye color test and the results. In further
embodiments, the output module 208 may display a potential range of
eye color for a child based on the eye color of the two candidate
parents. For example, if the first candidate parent has light-brown
eyes and the second candidate parent has blue-green eyes, the
output module 208 may display information explaining that a
potential child may have any of the possible eye colors.
[0042] FIGS. 3-8 depict simplified top views of an electronic
device 302 configured to perform paternity testing based on eye
color in accordance with the present invention. Each of FIGS. 3-8
depict examples of what might be displayed by the electronic device
302 during operation of the paternity tool 108 as implemented on
the electronic device 302.
[0043] FIG. 3 is a simplified top view illustrating one embodiment
of the electronic device 302 configured to perform paternity
testing in accordance with the present invention. The electronic
device 302 as depicted includes a touch screen display 304 that is
configured to receive input from a user based on the location and
manner in which the touch screen display 304 is contacted by a
user. The touch screen display 304 in FIG. 3 depicts prompts for
accessing a digital image of a candidate mother 306, a candidate
father 308, and a candidate child 310. A "process" button 312 is
also depicted that initiates processing of the paternity test once
an eye color for each of the candidate mother 306, candidate father
308, and candidate child 310 have been determined. In one
embodiment, touching the candidate mother 306 portion of the touch
screen 304 results in a prompt to access a digital image of a
candidate mother as depicted in FIG. 4.
[0044] In response to selecting the candidate mother 306 portion of
the touch screen 304, FIG. 4 depicts a display that includes
buttons for picking a photo from a library 402, capturing a photo
from a camera 404, or canceling the operation 406. From this
display, a user may opt to access a photo of the candidate mother
that has already been stored, or to use an attached digital imaging
device 310 to capture a photo of the candidate mother. If a user
initiates the button to pick a photo from a library 402, a screen
will be presented to allow a user to navigate to a location of the
photo. If a user initiates the button to capture a photo from a
camera 404, the attached digital imaging device 310 will be
initiated. In one embodiment, the touch screen display 304 may
display a camera view when the digital imaging device 110 is
initiated. The digital imaging device 110 may then be used to
capture images of the candidate parents and/or candidate child. If
a user initiates the cancel button 406, the operation is ended.
[0045] As depicted in FIG. 5, once a digital image is accessed
either by retrieving the digital image from a storage location or
by capturing a new digital image with a digital imaging device 110,
the image is displayed in the candidate mother location of the
touch screen display 304. Once a digital image of the candidate
mother 306 is retrieved, a digital image for the candidate father
308 and candidate child 310 may be accessed in a similar manner. Of
course, the digital images for the candidate mother 306, candidate
father 308, and candidate child 310 may be accessed in any order as
preferred by the user.
[0046] In some instances, multiple candidate parents and children
may be considered. For example, if two candidate fathers are
available, a digital image of each of the candidate fathers may be
accessed and used in the paternity test. In such an embodiment, the
paternity test may indicate a preliminary paternity test result for
each of the considered fathers. Similarly, the paternity tool 108
may be configured to consider multiple candidate children and/or
multiple candidate mothers.
[0047] Once a digital image is obtained, the electronic device 302
may be configured with the logic to manipulate the digital image to
better determine the physical characteristics of the candidate
parent or child depicted in the digital image. For example, as
depicted in FIG. 6, a user may use touch screen controls to zoom in
on the eye portion 602 of the digital image. In the depicted
embodiment, a crop button 604 may be used to crop the picture
around the eye portion 602. In further embodiments, additional
image manipulating functions may be incorporated such as rotating
the image, reversing the image, or the like. As depicted, a user
may manipulate a cursor 606 to select the iris portion of the eye
602 that represents eye color. In one embodiment, as the cursor
moves over the digital image, a suggested color 608 may be
displayed for examination by a user. The suggested color 608 may
represent the color of the current selected pixel or group of
pixels. In a further embodiment, the suggested color 608 may
represent a closest match to a color from a set of possible human
eye colors 610. Based on the eye color from the digital image, a
best matching color from the set of possible human eye colors 610
is selected. This may be done by user selection based on a
comparison of the digital image with the set of human eye colors
610, or may be performed automatically by the paternity tool 108
using digital processing techniques.
[0048] In one embodiment, the paternity tool 108 may take a
sampling of a plurality of pixels from the eye portion 602 of the
digital image to determine the likely eye color of the candidate
parent or candidate child being examined. For example, the
paternity tool 108 may determine an average color based on a
sampling of many pixels from the iris portion of the digital image.
In a further embodiment, it is contemplated that the paternity tool
108 may automatically detect an eye portion of a digital image and
determine a closest matching eye color for the detected eye portion
of the digital image without substantial input from a user.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 5, once an eye color is determined for
each of a candidate mother, a candidate father, and a candidate
child, a user may initiate the process button 312. In response the
electronic device 302 performs operations to determine a paternity
result of the candidate child based on the determined eye color of
each of the candidate mother, father, and child. FIG. 7 depicts one
example of a display of the results of the paternity test. In the
depicted embodiment, the selected eye color 702 for each of the
candidate parents and the child are depicted, and a result 704 is
presented that indicates "NO MATCH." No match, in this case, means
that the eye colors selected for the candidate parents are not
consistent with a biological relationship with the candidate child.
In further embodiments, additional results may be presented
including, but not limited to, a listing of potential eye colors
for a child of the candidate mother and candidate father and a
likelihood of paternity based on the selected eye colors. In
further embodiments, the results may incorporate additional
information based on other characteristics of the candidate parents
and candidate child such as ear lobe type, widows peak type, tongue
shape type, blood type, etc. Furthermore, the paternity tool 108
may be configured to prompt the input of such information for each
candidate parent and/or child in a manner similar to eye color. In
some instances, a digital image may be used to identify additional
physical characteristics such as ear lobe type for a candidate
parent or child. This information may be used to provide more
accurate paternity test results.
[0050] As depicted in FIG. 7, an advertisement 706 for a company
that provides additional and/or more accurate paternity testing
products may be provided. Thus, the paternity tool 108 may be used
to initiate target marketing and advertising for paternity testing
companies. The paternity tool 108 may also include a link 708 to
"find a store" that carries paternity testing products. In one
embodiment, selecting the "find a store" button 708 may cause the
electronic device 302 to present a list of stores that provide
paternity test kits or services. Furthermore, the electronic device
302 may be configured to automatically determine a current location
of the electronic device 302 using GPS or other means, and may
provide directions or a map to a user for locating a particular
distributor of paternity testing products and services.
[0051] FIG. 8 is a simplified top view further illustrating one
embodiment of an electronic device configured to determine
paternity by using digital images of grandparents and or siblings
in accordance with the present invention. It is contemplated that
in addition to using information about candidate parents and
candidate children, the paternity tool 108 may incorporate
information about candidate grandparents 802 and candidate siblings
804 of the candidate child. This information may be utilized to
provide a more accurate paternity test result. In various
embodiments, digital images of candidate grandparents and/or
candidate siblings may be utilized to determine physical
characteristics such as eye color, ear lobe type, or the like. In
further embodiments, where digital images may not be conveniently
available, information about candidate grandparents and candidate
siblings may be input by a user using conventional means.
[0052] FIG. 9 is a flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment
of a method 900 for performing a paternity test in accordance with
the present invention. The method 900 substantially includes the
embodiments and configurations described above with regard to FIGS.
1-8. The method 900 begins by accessing 902 a digital image of a
parental candidate. As explained above, this may be accomplished by
accessing a stored image of the parental candidate or by capturing
a new digital image of the parental candidate using a digital
imaging device 110. From the digital image, an eye color of the
parental candidate is determined 904. Photo manipulation tools may
be used to zoom in on and crop the eye portion of the digital
image. Digital processing techniques may be used to suggest a color
of the eye portion of the digital image that corresponds to a known
human eye color. In some embodiments, the eye color may be selected
automatically using digital image processing performed by an
electronic device 102.
[0053] A digital image may be accessed and an eye color may be
determined for one or more additional candidate parents and/or
children. A paternity result is determined 906 for the candidate
parents based on the determined eye color of the candidate parents
and/or the candidate child. In some embodiments, additional
physical characteristics may be included in the paternity analysis
to provide a more accurate result. The paternity test results may
then be presented 908 to a user via a device such as a display 112,
a printout, or other output mechanisms recognized by one of skill
in the art.
[0054] In some embodiments, information may be provided 910 to a
user concerning how to obtain additional paternity testing such as
more accurate genetic testing or the like. For example, an
advertisement for a genetic testing company or product may be
displayed. An electronic device 102 may be used to automatically
determine 912 a nearest physical location where addition paternity
testing may be obtained. For example, GPS information, a mapping
tool, or similar device may be used to direct a user to a location
where additional paternity services or products may be obtained. In
some embodiments, the method 900 may include additional steps for
determining an eye color for candidate grandparents and
siblings.
[0055] These methods may be practiced in some embodiments with
fewer steps or in a different order than are shown. It is thus
apparent that a novel and unobvious market analysis method and
apparatus has been described in a variety of embodiments. Many
additions, deletions, and modifications to the preferred
embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the
invention as hereinafter claimed. Further, the present invention
may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its
spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are
to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not
restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by
the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All
changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of
the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
* * * * *