System and method for processing a form

• US 20060217821A1
• Filed: 03/14/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GTECH Rhode Island Corporation (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: GTECH Rhode Island Corporation (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Metayer, Frank, Meehan, Richard Sean, Collins, Chris, Abraitis, John, Bozzi, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,920,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

In a system and method for processing form markings, and, in particular, playslip markings, an area-array image sensor may sense an image of a form that is in free-space, and a processor may interpret a marking in the image.

Claims

1. A system for processing form markings, comprising:

an area-array image sensor configured to sense an image of a form that is in free-space; and

a processor configured to interpret at least one marking in the image.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one marking is interpreted according to its position with respect to the image.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one light source configured to emit light in a predefined pattern that indicates a predetermined position with respect to the image sensor for placement of the form.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one light source is a light emitting diode.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the predetermined position includes at least one of an abscissa position, an ordinate position, a distance, and an orientation.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein:

the processor is configured to correctly interpret the at least one marking upon a condition that the form is placed in one of (a) the predetermined position and (b) in any of a plurality of positions that are proximal by a predetermined amount to the predetermined position; and

the predetermined amount is based on an amount of space between markings of the form.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein:

the predetermined position includes a plurality of predetermined positions;

the plurality of predetermined positions includes an optimal position; and

the processor is configured to determine a difference between an actual placement position of the form and the optimal position, and interpret the at least one marking based on the determined difference.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to rotate the image to a predetermined orientation before the interpretation of the at least one marking.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the form includes a first alignment mark in a vicinity of a first edge of the form and a second alignment mark in a vicinity of a second edge of the form; and

the processor rotates the form according to the first and second alignment marks.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the area-array image sensor includes an array of light sensitive diodes.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the array of light sensitive diodes is configured to simultaneously sense light reflected by an entire surface of a portion of the form that includes all of the at least one marking.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the area-array image sensor is a charge coupled device (CCD).

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the area-array image sensor is a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS).

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to interpret the at least one marking as a set of numbers for a lottery drawing entry.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one marking includes an alpha-numeric character, and the processor is configured to decode the alpha-numeric character via optical character recognition (OCR).

16. A system for processing form markings, comprising:

an image sensor configured to sense an image of a form that is in free-space; and

a processor configured to interpret a marking in the image,

wherein the image sensor is configured to simultaneously sense a plurality of image lines that, when joined, form the image, and wherein the plurality of image lines includes a first line having first features and a second line having second features different than the first features.

17. A system for processing form markings, comprising:

a camera configured to sense an image of a form that is in free-space; and

a processor configured to interpret at least one marking in the image.

18. A method for processing form markings, comprising:

sensing with an area-array image sensor an image of a form that is in free-space; and

interpreting at least one marking in the image.

19. A lottery terminal, comprising:

a camera configured to sense an image of a lottery playslip that is in free-space; and

processor configured to process a lottery entry based on the image.

20. A method for facilitating play of a game, comprising:

aligning an entry form having entry markings and alignment markings so that the alignment markings are in a predetermined position in free space relative to a light source; and

reading the entry markings.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

processing the entry markings to determine player game entries.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the entry markings are processed in accordance with their relative positions within the entry form.

23. A system for processing lottery playslip markings, comprising:

a camera that includes an area-array image sensor configured to sense an image of a lottery playslip that is in free-space;

a processor configured to interpret at least one marking of the image; and

at least one light emitting diode configured to emit light in a predefined pattern that indicates a predetermined position with respect to the area-array image sensor for placement of the playslip,

wherein each of the at least one marking is interpreted according to its position with respect to the image,

wherein the predetermined position includes a plurality of predetermined positions, the plurality of predetermined positions includes an optimal position, and the processor is configured to determine a difference between an actual placement position of the playslip and the optimal position, and interpret the at least one marking based on the determined difference,

wherein the at least one marking is correctly interpreted by the processor upon a condition that the playslip is in one of the plurality of positions,

wherein the each of the plurality of positions includes at least one of an abscissa position, an ordinate position, a distance, and an orientation,

wherein the area-array image sensor is configured to simultaneously sense light reflected by an entire surface of the playslip, and

wherein the at least a portion of the at least one marking represents a set of numbers for a lottery drawing entry.

24. An article of manufacture comprising a computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions adapted to be executed by a processor, the instructions which, when executed, define a series of steps to be used to control a method for processing lottery playslip markings, the method comprising:

sensing with an area-array image sensor an image of a playslip that is in free-space; and

interpreting at least one marking in the image.