FORENSIC SCIENCE SERVICE LTD. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140355847 | IDENTIFIER INVESTIGATION - A method of extracting data from a representation of an identifier, such as a fingerprint is provided. The method includes selecting a plurality of features, such as ridge ends or bifurcations, in the representation of an identifier, considering the positions of those features and generating a reference feature, such as a centre, from the positions of the plurality of features. The method then links one or more of the features to the reference feature and/or links one or more of the features to one or more of the other features in the plurality of features. From the result, the method extracts data including information on one or more of: one or more of the plurality of features; the reference feature; one or more of the links between a feature and the reference feature; one or more of the links between a feature and another feature. | 12-04-2014 |
20130034275 | METHODS FOR STIMULATING THE EFFECT OF DISTORTION ON REPRESENTATIONS OF MARKERS AND METHODS FOR ANALYZING REPRESENTATIONS OF MARKERS USING SIMULATIONS OF DISTORTION - A method of simulating the effect of distortion on a representation of a marker, such as a fingerprint is provided. The method is useful for generating data for use in various processes concerned with fingerprints and particularly avoids the need to manually generate and collect such data. The method includes obtaining a plurality of representations from an individual, the representations being subject to different distortions relative to one another. A function, such as a thin plate spline function, is then used to describe the effects of the different distortions on the plurality of representations obtained. This generic model of the effects of distortion can then be used to generate distortions for a further representation from an individual, preferably another individual. The simulated distorted representations can be used in a variety of ways. | 02-07-2013 |
20120123687 | ANALYSIS OF DNA SAMPLES - The invention provides an improved method for obtaining information about DNA analysis of samples of uncertain origin by establishing the likelihood that they arose in certain manners compared with other possible manners. In this way all of the analysis information is taken into account and likelihood ratios are provided to express the results. The invention is particularly useful in analysing small DNA samples or DNA samples where the contribution from one or more sources is small. | 05-17-2012 |
20120094292 | FORENSIC IDENTIFICATION - The invention provides allelic ladder mixtures and individual alleles suitable for use in such mixtures. The allelic ladder mixtures give improved identification and distinguishing capabilities, particularly suitable in forensic investigations. | 04-19-2012 |
20110269128 | FORENSIC IDENTIFICATION - The invention provides allelic ladder mixtures and individual alleles suitable for use in such mixtures. The allelic ladder mixtures give improved identification and distinguishing capabilities, particularly suitable in forensic investigations. | 11-03-2011 |
20110268324 | METHODS FOR STIMULATING THE EFFECT OF DISTORTION ON REPRESENTATIONS OF MARKERS AND METHODS FOR ANALYZING REPRESENTATIONS OF MARKERS USING SIMULATIONS OF DISTORTION - A method of simulating the effect of distortion on a representation of a marker, such as a fingerprint is provided. The method is useful for generating data for use in various processes concerned with fingerprints and particularly avoids the need to manually generate and collect such data. The method includes obtaining a plurality of representations from an individual, the representations being subject to different distortions relative to one another. A function, such as a thin plate spline function, is then used to describe the effects of the different distortions on the plurality of representations obtained. This generic model of the effects of distortion can then be used to generate distortions for a further representation from an individual, preferably another individual. The simulated distorted representations can be used in a variety of ways. | 11-03-2011 |
20110264379 | INVESTIGATIONS - A method of investigation a sample is provided, the sample being a mixture of DNA arising from more than one source. The method includes analysing the sample to obtain a genotype for the DNA present in the sample and assigning a prior probability distribution to the genotype. The likelihood function is considered and a posterior probability distribution for the genotype is established. In this way a probabilistic assessment of the genotype of the major or minor contributor to the sample can be obtained. This is beneficial over prior methods which use a deterministic method, and so involve the use of rule based methods. | 10-27-2011 |
20110262913 | MARKING - The invention provides a marking system, markers and methods of use of such marking systems and markers which enable unique marking of articles and subsequent detection of that marking. In particular the invention provides a marking system, the marking system comprising a plurality of different DNA fragment types, each of the plurality of different DNA fragment types comprising a plurality of different length DNA fragments and a method in which a sample of the DNA fragment type is taken, amplified and analysed to determine the identity of the marker for an article. | 10-27-2011 |
20100330559 | FORENSIC IDENTIFICATION - The invention provides allelic ladder mixtures and individual alleles suitable for use in such mixtures. The allelic ladder mixtures give improved identification and distinguishing capabilities, particularly suitable in forensic investigations. | 12-30-2010 |
20100216144 | ANALYSIS OF DNA SAMPLES - The invention provides an improved method for obtaining information about DNA analysis of samples of uncertain origin by establishing the likelihood that they arose in certain manners compared with other possible manners. In this way all of the analysis information is taken into account and likelihood ratios are provided to express the results. The invention is particularly useful in analysing small DNA samples or DNA samples where the contribution from one or more sources is small. | 08-26-2010 |
20090215039 | INVESTIGATIONS - A method of investigation a sample is provided, the sample being a mixture of DNA arising from more than one source. The method includes analysing the sample to obtain a genotype for the DNA present in the sample and assigning a prior probability distribution to the genotype. The likelihood function is considered and a posterior probability distribution for the genotype is established. In this way a probabilistic assessment of the genotype of the major or minor contributor to the sample can be obtained. This is beneficial over prior methods which use a deterministic method, and so involve the use of rule based methods. | 08-27-2009 |
20090209266 | Investigations - A kit and method of investigating the location of a portable telecommunications device used in making a call, includes obtaining information on the position of the receiver involved in the call. A location is surveyed by visiting the location and establishing the receiver a portable telecommunications device would use from that location. The method also compares the receiver involved in the call with the receiver that would be used from the surveyed location. | 08-20-2009 |
20090203022 | ANALYSIS - A method of analysing a sample includes providing a first part of the sample and a second part of the sample. A first analysis is conducted on the first part of the sample and the results of the first analysis are considered. A second analysis is conducted on the second part of the sample, the second analysis being conducted according to a procedure using a value for each of one or more characteristics of the procedure. The consideration of the results of the first analysis is used to determine whether the value for one or more of the characteristics of the procedure is changed to a different value. The second analysis is started before the results of the first analysis are obtained. | 08-13-2009 |
20090132173 | COMPUTING LIKELIHOOD RATIOS USING PEAK HEIGHTS - Methods for comparing a first DNA profile with a second DNA profile are provided. The likelihood ratio for one hypothesis relative to another, as to the sources of the DNA, is conditioned on quantity of DNA in the test sample providing the first DNA profile and/or another sample providing the second DNA profile. | 05-21-2009 |
20080234978 | MODELLING - The method provides for the fitting of a different distribution to the tail of a distribution of continuous data, than that distribution fitting to the rest of the distribution. By fitting a distribution to this set of occurrences only, better distributions shapes are obtained for that part of a distribution which might otherwise be overly sensitive to individual or small numbers of occurrences. Over sensitivity can make such distributions unreliable in situations where their value is compared with the value of another distribution. A distribution which does not decline quickly to zero is preferred for the tail, for instance a heavy tailed distribution. | 09-25-2008 |