System and method for processing a form

• US 8,233,181 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2011
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• 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: Abraitis, John, Bozzi, Steve, Collins, Chris, Meehan, Richard Sean, Metayer, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Worku, Negussie
• Application Number:
  US13/026,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20110176180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 358/474, 358/471, 358/488, 358/482, 358/1.15, 235/454, 235/462.13, 235/487, 235/486, 235/449, 382/232, 382/209, 382/217, 382/218, 382/100
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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 a form comprising a plurality of entry markings, an area-array image sensor may capture an image of the form in free-space without requiring relative movement of the sensor and the form. A processor may interpret the captured image to determine at least a first entry selection based, at least in part, on the position of at least one of the plurality of entry markings with respect to at least one other marking in the image.

Claims

1. A method for processing entry markings of a form having at least one alignment marking and a plurality of entry markings, comprising;

capturing an image of the form with an area-array image sensor when the form is within a predetermined range of positions in free-space relative to the sensor without requiring relative movement of the sensor and the form; and

interpreting the image of the form, with a processor, to determine a first entry selection based at least in part on the position of a first entry marking with respect to the at least one alignment marking in the image.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

interpreting the image of the form, with a processor, to determine a second entry selection based at least in part on the position of a second entry marking with respect to the first entry marking in the image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of entry markings on the form indicates a set of numbers for a lottery drawing.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one alignment marking is printed on the form and the plurality of entry markings are handwritten on the form.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the predetermined range of positions includes an optimal position; and

the processor is configured to determine a difference between an actual placement position of the form within the predetermined range of positions when the image was captured and the optimal position, and to interpret the image to decode the entry markings based, at least in part, on the determined difference.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a message indicating the first entry selection determined from the first entry marking.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a receipt indicating the first entry selection determined from the first entry marking.

8. 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 a lottery playslip, the method comprising:

capturing, with an area-array image sensor, an image of the playslip in free-space without requiring relative movement of the sensor and the playslip, wherein the playslip comprises at least one form marking and a plurality of playslip markings; and

interpreting the image of the playslip, with a processor, to determine at least a first entry selection based on the position of a first playslip marking with respect to the at least one form marking in the image.

9. The article of claim 8, further having stored thereon instructions adapted to be executed by a processor, the instructions which, when executed, further comprise the step of:

interpreting the image of the playslip, with a processor, to determine a second entry selection based at least in part on the position of a second playslip marking with respect to the first playslip marking in the image.

10. The article of claim 8, further having stored thereon instructions adapted to be executed by a processor, the instructions which, when executed, further comprise the step of:

transmitting a message indicating the entry selections determined from the plurality of playslip markings in the image.

11. The article of claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of playslip markings in the image of the playslip is interpreted to determine entry numbers for a lottery drawing.

12. The article of claim 8, further having stored thereon instructions adapted to be executed by a processor, the instructions which, when executed, further comprise the step of:

generating a receipt indicating the entry selections determined from the plurality of playslip markings in the image.

13. The article of claim 8, wherein the entry numbers are indicated in the playslip image by the positions of the plurality of playslip markings that are handwritten on the playslip.

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

sensing an entry form having entry markings and at least one alignment marking in free space;

capturing a digital image of the entry form with an area-array image sensor when the at least one alignment marking is within a predetermined range of positions in free-space relative to the area-array image sensor, without requiring relative movement of the area-array image sensor and the entry form; and

interpreting the digital image, with a processor, to decode the entry markings on the entry form based, at least in part, on the positions of the entry markings with respect to the at least one alignment marking in the digital image.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the entry markings are decoded to determine player game entries.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the entry markings are handwritten.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the-entry markings indicate a set of numbers for a lottery drawing.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the entry markings are decoded in accordance with their relative positions within the image of the entry form.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

emitting a pattern of light that indicates a predetermined range of positions with respect to the area-array image sensor for placement of the entry form in free space.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the predetermined range of positions includes an optimal position; and

the processor is configured to determine a difference between an actual placement position of the form within the predetermined range of positions when the image was captured and the optimal position, and to interpret the digital image to decode the entry markings based, at least in part, on the determined difference.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

transmitting a message indicating the player game entries determined from the entry markings on the entry form.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

generating a receipt indicating the player game entries determined from the entry markings on the entry form.

23. A method for processing form markings, comprising:

emitting light that when reflected on the surface of a form forms a pattern that indicates an optimal position, within a predetermined range of positions in five space for placement of the form with respect to an image sensor;

capturing an image of the form with the area-array image sensor, when the form is within the predetermined range of positions in free-space, without requiring relative movement of the area array image sensor and the form;

determining a difference between an actual placement position of the form when the image was captured and the optimal position;

interpreting the image of the form based on the determined difference, and

decoding at least one marking in the image based on a position of the at least one marking in the interpreted image.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein emitting light further comprises emitting light with a light emitting diode.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein:

determining a difference between an actual placement position of the form when the image was captured and the optimal position further comprises identifying a first alignment mark in a vicinity of a first edge of the form in the image and a second alignment mark in a vicinity of a second edge of the thrm in the image; and

interpreting the image of the form based on the determined difference further comprises rotating the form to an orientation of the optimal position based on the first and second alignment marks.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein capturing an image of the form with the area-array image sensor further comprises simultaneously capturing an image of an entire surface of the form.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein decoding at least one marking in the image based on a position of the at least one marking in the interpreted image further comprises decoding the at least one marking as at least one selection for a set of numbers for a lottery drawing entry.