Method for automatically reading electronic tickets
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for printing and reading electronic tickets, comprising the steps of:
- printing a graphic field on the ticket that will change in appearance when the ticket is either reproduced by either scanning/printing and/or photocopying, reading the graphic field while storing characteristics of printing settings that are printed on a ticket in the form of a bar code of a printer that printed the graphic field; and
interpreting the graphic field to determine whether or not the graphic field has been reproduced by scanning/printing and/or photocopying wherein the interpreting step further includes the steps of;
calculating ideal minimum and maximum ideal density values for the printer that printed the graphic field;
comparing the calculated values with the read values; and
determining if the read values are between the minimum and maximum ideal density values.
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Abstract
An automatic method for reading a graphic field on a ticket so that the ticket may be processed quickly without human error. The graphic field is designed to produce a “tell”, a visible known image (a large number of detectable halftone gray steps) when printed by a personal computer printer. Additionally, the graphic field will change in appearance when the ticket originally printed by the personal computer printer is digitally reproduced by either scanning or photocopying.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for printing and reading electronic tickets, comprising the steps of:
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printing a graphic field on the ticket that will change in appearance when the ticket is either reproduced by either scanning/printing and/or photocopying, reading the graphic field while storing characteristics of printing settings that are printed on a ticket in the form of a bar code of a printer that printed the graphic field; and
interpreting the graphic field to determine whether or not the graphic field has been reproduced by scanning/printing and/or photocopying wherein the interpreting step further includes the steps of;
calculating ideal minimum and maximum ideal density values for the printer that printed the graphic field;
comparing the calculated values with the read values; and
determining if the read values are between the minimum and maximum ideal density values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
a plurality of black spots on a white background.
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8. The method claimed in claim 7, wherein the reading step further includes the steps of:
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scanning the graphic field with an aperture;
collecting signals from the scanned graphic field; and
storing the collected signals.
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9. The method claimed in claim 8, wherein the width of the aperture includes a plurality of black spots and associated white background.
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10. The method claimed in claim 8, wherein the length of the aperture includes one black spot and associated white background.
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11. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the printing settings are printed on the ticket.
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12. The method claimed in claim 11, wherein the printing settings are encrypted.
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13. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the step of:
displaying a message indicating that the read values are between the minimum and maximum ideal density values.
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14. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the step of:
displaying a message indicating that most of the read values are between the minimum and maximum ideal density values.
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15. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the step of:
displaying a message indicating that the read values are not between the minimum and maximum ideal density values.
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16. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the step of:
displaying a message indicating that some of the read values are not between the minimum and maximum ideal density values.
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17. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the step of activating the opening of a turnstile if the read values are between the minimum and maximum ideal density values.
Specification