V-life matching and mating system

• US 7,599,802 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2004
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evan Harwood, Ian Grody
• Original Assignee: Evan Harwood, Ian Grody
• Inventors: Harwood, Evan, Grody, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Clow; Lori A
• Application Number:
  US10/865,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20050278125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,944 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 702/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 20/00 ICT specially adapted for functional genomics or proteomics, e.g. genotype-phenotype associations
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 20/20 Allele or variant detection, e.g. single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] detection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis

Abstract

A system for producing virtual offspring including means for acquiring genetic material from users. The system further includes means for analyzing the acquired genetic material for determining at least one trait corresponding to the genetic material. A user database stores user data representing the at least one trait for each respective one of the users. A search mechanism allows the users to search the stored user data for users having at least one desirable trait. The system also includes means for virtually combining genetic material of a first user with genetic material of a selected second user for producing a virtual offspring. The first user inputs the at least one desirable trait into the searching mechanism and the searching mechanism retrieves users having the at least one input desired trait. The virtual combining means combines said genetic material from said first user and a selected one of the users having the at least one input desired trait to produce a virtual offspring from genetic material of each of the first and second users.

Claims

1. A computer implemented system for producing virtual offspring comprising:

a) a source of genetic material physically acquired from a plurality of different users;

b) an analysis processor for analyzing said acquired genetic material for determining at least one trait corresponding to said genetic material;

c) a user database electrically coupled to said analysis processor for storing user data representing said at least one trait for each respective one of said users;

d) a search mechanism electrically coupled to said analysis processor for enabling said at least one user to input data representing a desirable trait and search said user data stored in said user database for users having said at least one desirable trait and retrieve data representing users having said at least one input desirable trait; and

e) a combination processor, electrically coupled to said search mechanism and said user database for combining data representing a sample of genetic material from a first user with data representing a sample of genetic material of a selected second user including said at least one input desired trait for producing data representing an offspring of said first and second user, said combination processor combines data representing said genetic material from said first user with data representing a selected one of said users having said at least one input desired trait to output data representing an offspring including data representing genetic material from each of said first and second users, said data representing an offspring being displayed on a display device.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said source of genetic material is populated by a kit that is selectively received by a user, said kit comprises:

a) a swab having a cotton tip at a distal end thereof for rubbing along an inner side of a user'"'"'s cheek and retaining epithelial cells thereon;

b) a selectively sealable vile for receiving said cotton tip therein; and

c) means for transferring said selectively sealable vile having said cotton tip therein to a remote location, wherein upon receipt of said vile, genetic material is eluted from said epithelial cells retained on said tip.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said acquired genetic material is DNA.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein said analysis processor includes:

a) a DNA sequencer for sequencing said acquired DNA;

b) a second database having data representing previously identified traits that correspond to particular DNA sequences stored therein; and

c) a comparator for receiving said sequenced acquired DNA and comparing said received sequence with said known sequence data stored in said second database, and upon said comparator determining that said received sequence matches a respective one of said known sequence, said comparator provides said previously identified trait corresponding to said known sequence to said user database for storage therein.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein said user database includes a unique record representing each respective user of said system, and each unique record includes at least one sub-record for storing data representing said at least one previously identified traits.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein said second database is selectively updateable to include previously unknown traits that correspond to DNA sequences.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein said analysis processor re-analyzes said data representing acquired DNA at pre-determined intervals for determining if said sequence corresponds to a sequence of a previously unknown trait, said analyzing means selectively updates said user database upon completion of said re-analyzing.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said search mechanism is a web-based search tool using at least one of a keyword search and a Boolean search technique.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein upon said at least one trait being identified and stored in said user database, said user database produces a trait list having all identified traits for each user.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein said combination processor retrieves said trait lists from said user database for each one of said users whose genetic material is to be combined and combines data representing said user trait lists into an offspring trait list using a combination algorithm.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein said combination algorithm selectively determines which trait from each of said user trait lists will be present in said offspring trait list, said combination algorithm includes a plurality of external factors associated with each respective one of said traits in said trait lists and assigns a numerical value to each respective external factor for summation thereof, the trait present in said offspring list is the trait in the user list having the highest sum of external factors.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein external factors include dominance, recessiveness, randomness, and sex-linkage.

13. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein said analysis processor analyzes said data representing acquired genetic material to derive data representing a chromosomal map for each respective user and derive data representing gametes from said chromosomal map using a meiotic division algorithm.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein said meiotic division algorithm manipulates said chromosomal map data to undergo a meiotic division by manipulating said chromosomal map data through all phases of a meiotic division.

15. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a user feedback processor enabling a user to input user feedback data representing at least one characteristic of said user.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said at least one characteristic is at least one of physical characteristics, mental characteristics, emotional characteristics, talents, likes and dislikes of said respective user.

17. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said search mechanism allows users to search at least one of said stored user data and said user feedback data to obtain a list of users having at least one of a desired trait and a desired characteristic.

18. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a modification processor conditioned to selectively modify data representing said offspring using time-dependent instructions to selectively modify said offspring data being output on said display.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, further comprising a database for receiving data representing said offspring, and wherein said processor automatically implements an algorithm for modifying offspring data according to said time dependent instructions.

20. The system as recited in claim 18, further comprising a portable communication device selectively communicating with said processor for selectively modifying said offspring data and enabling said users to input instructions for modifying said offspring data using said portable device.

21. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a probability processor for determining a probability that a trait possessed by one of said first user and said selected one of said users will be expressed in said virtual offspring.

22. A method implemented by a computer processing device for matching users with one another comprising the steps of:

a) physically acquiring genetic material from users;

b) analyzing the acquired genetic material for determining at least one trait corresponding to the genetic material using an analysis processor;

c) storing user data representing the at least one trait for each respective ones of the users in a user database electrically coupled to the analysis processor;

d) searching the user database for users having at least one desirable trait in response to user input data representing a desirable trait and retrieving data representing users having said at least one input desirable train with a search mechanism electrically coupled to the analysis processor and the user database;

e) combining data representing a sample of genetic material from a first user with data representing a sample of genetic material of a selected second user including said at least one input desired trait for producing data representing an offspring of said first and second user including data representing genetic material from each of said first and second users; and

f) displaying data representing the offspring on a display device.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising the step of raising the virtual offspring produced by said combining step in at least one of an automated world and an interactive world.