MACHINE-READABLE FORM CONFIGURATION AND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERPRETING AT LEAST ONE USER MARK

• US 20100091109A1
• Filed: 07/28/2009
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intralot, Inc. (Intralot SA)
• Original Assignee: Intralot Sa-Integrated Lottery Systems and Services
• Inventors: Pnevmatikakis, Aristodemos, Diamandis, Argiris
• Granted Patent: US 8,587,663 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/161
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/225 based on a marking or identifier characterising the area
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/066 with answer indicating cards, blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a machine-readable form configuration (and associated method). Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a system for interpreting at least one user mark (and associated methods). In one example, a plurality of user marks may be interpreted. In another example, the machine-readable form may be a lottery play slip, survey, test, or the like. In another example, the system may interpret user mark(s) made on a lottery play slip, survey, test or the like. In another example, the system may interpret user mark(s) made on a paper or the like having non-planar distortion(s).

Claims

1. A method for detecting user marks, comprising:

placing a form in a field of view of a camera, wherein the form includes thereon at least a first fiducial mark and a second fiducial mark, and wherein each of the first fiducial mark and the second fiducial mark has a measurable property that is essentially scale invariant;

utilizing the camera to generate an electronic image of at least a portion of the form;

calculating with a processor mechanism in operative communication with the camera, based at least in part upon the electronic image, a distance between at least the first fiducial mark and the second fiducial mark;

detecting with the processor mechanism at least a first user marking cell on the form, wherein the first user marking cell is bounded by at least one indicium that is visible to the camera, and wherein the first user marking cell is detected based at least in part upon the calculated distance between the first fiducial mark and the second fiducial mark;

calculating with the processor mechanism a displacement vector of the detected first user marking cell versus an ideal planar position of the detected first user marking cell;

detecting with the processor mechanism at least a second user marking cell on the form, wherein the second user marking cell is bounded by at least one indicium that is visible to the camera, and wherein the second user marking cell is detected based at least in part upon the displacement vector of the detected first user marking cell;

determining with the processor mechanism evidence of at least a first user mark in the detected first user marking cell based at least in part upon a degree of brightness similarity between;

(a) at least a portion of the electronic image surrounding the indicium bounding the first user marking cell; and

(b) at least a portion of the electronic image included inside the indicium bounding the first user marking cell; and

determining with the processor mechanism evidence of at least a second user mark in the detected second user marking cell based at least in part upon a degree of brightness similarity between;

(a) at least a portion of the electronic image surrounding the indicium bounding the second user marking cell; and

(b) at least a portion of the electronic image included inside the indicium bounding the second user marking cell.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating with the processor mechanism a displacement vector of the detected second user marking cell versus an ideal planar position of the detected second user marking cell; and

detecting with the processor mechanism at least a third user marking cell on the form, wherein the third user marking cell is bounded by at least one indicium that is visible to the camera, and wherein the third user marking cell is detected based at least in part upon at least one of;

(a) the displacement vector of the detected first user marking cell; and

(b) the displacement vector of the detected second user marking cell.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining with the processor mechanism evidence of at least a third user mark in the detected third user marking cell based at least in part upon a degree of brightness similarity between;

(a) at least a portion of the electronic image surrounding the indicium bounding the third user marking cell; and

(b) at least a portion of the electronic image included inside the indicium bounding the third user marking cell.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the third user marking cell is detected based at least in part upon at least both of:

(a) the displacement vector of the detected first user marking cell; and

(b) the displacement vector of the detected second user marking cell.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the third user marking cell is detected based at least in part upon interpolation between:

(a) the displacement vector of the detected first user marking cell; and

(b) the displacement vector of the detected second user marking cell.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting with the processor mechanism at least a third user marking cell on the form, wherein the third user marking cell is bounded by an indicium that is visible to the camera, and wherein the third user marking cell is detected based at least in part upon at least one of;

(a) a position of the detected first user marking cell; and

(b) a position of the detected second user marking cell.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining with the processor mechanism evidence of at least a third user mark in the detected third user marking cell based at least in part upon a degree of brightness similarity between;

(a) at least a portion of the electronic image surrounding the indicium bounding the third user marking cell; and

(b) at least a portion of the electronic image included inside the indicium bounding the third user marking cell.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the third user marking cell is detected based at least in part upon at least both of:

(a) the position of the detected first user marking cell; and

(b) the position of the detected second user marking cell.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the third user marking cell is detected based at least in part upon interpolation between:

(a) the position of the detected first user marking cell; and

(b) the position of the detected second user marking cell.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining with the processor mechanism when the form becomes essentially stationary after being placed in the field of view of the camera.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising decoding with the processor mechanism identification information on the form.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a first indicium bounding the first user marking cell forms a closed boundary and at least a second indicium bounding the second user marking cell forms a closed boundary.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein each indicium bounding each user marking cell is printed in ink.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein each indicium is visible to both the camera and a human.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor mechanism comprises a single processor.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor mechanism comprises a plurality of processors.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the form is selected from the group consisting of:

a lottery play slip;

a survey; and

a test.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera comprises at least one image sensor.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the camera comprises at least one lens.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the user marking cells are laid out in a grid pattern, with essentially uniform spacing between adjacent user marking cells in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the user marking cells are laid out in a grid pattern, with essentially uniform spacing between adjacent user marking cells in both a horizontal direction and a vertical direction.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the user marking cells are laid out in a non-grid pattern.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one indicium inside at least one user marking cell.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the indicium inside the user marking cell comprises at least one of a number and a letter, printed in ink invisible to the camera and visible to humans.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps are carried out in the order recited.

26. A system for detecting user marks, comprising:

a camera;

a processor mechanism in operative communication with the camera; and

at least one form, wherein the form includes thereon at least a first fiducial mark and a second fiducial mark, and wherein each of the first fiducial mark and the second fiducial mark has a measurable property that is essentially scale invariant;

wherein, when the form is placed in a field of view of the camera, the camera and the processor mechanism operate to carry out the following steps;

generating, with the camera, an electronic image of at least a portion of the form;

calculating with the processor mechanism, based at least in part upon the electronic image, a distance between at least the first fiducial mark and the second fiducial mark;

detecting with the processor mechanism at least a first user marking cell on the form, wherein the first user marking cell is bounded by at least one indicium that is visible to the camera, and wherein the first user marking cell is detected based at least in part upon the calculated distance between the first fiducial mark and the second fiducial mark;

calculating with the processor mechanism a displacement vector of the detected first user marking cell versus an ideal planar position of the detected first user marking cell;

detecting with the processor mechanism at least a second user marking cell on the form, wherein the second user marking cell is bounded by at least one indicium that is visible to the camera, and wherein the second user marking cell is detected based at least in part upon the displacement vector of the detected first user marking cell;

determining with the processor mechanism evidence of at least a first user mark in the detected first user marking cell based at least in part upon a degree of brightness similarity between;

(a) at least a portion of the electronic image surrounding the indicium bounding the first user marking cell; and

(b) at least a portion of the electronic image included inside the indicium bounding the first user marking cell; and

determining with the processor mechanism evidence of at least a second user mark in the detected second user marking cell based at least in part upon a degree of brightness similarity between;

(a) at least a portion of the electronic image surrounding the indicium bounding the second user marking cell; and

(b) at least a portion of the electronic image included inside the indicium bounding the second user marking cell.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the camera comprises at least one image sensor.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the camera comprises at least one lens.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the processor mechanism comprises a single processor.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the processor mechanism comprises a plurality of processors.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein the steps carried out by the camera and the processor mechanism are carried out in the order recited.

32. The system of claim 26, further comprising calculating, with the processor mechanism, the presence of an immobile form.