System and method for decoding an optically readable markable sheet and markable sheet therefor
First Claim
1. Apparatus for reading an optically readable markable sheet, the markable sheet having selection mark spaces and voiding mark spaces thereon, wherein each of the voiding mark spaces is associated with a corresponding one of the selection mark spaces, and wherein a selection mark space is markable for indicating a selection and the voiding mark space associated with that selection mark space is markable for voiding a selection marked in the corresponding selection mark space, the markable sheet also having a sheet identifier thereon that relates to a template defining the locations of the selection mark spaces and the voiding mark spaces on the markable sheet,said apparatus for reading an optically readable markable sheet comprising:
- a memory storing an image of the markable sheet including the selection mark spaces, the voiding mark spaces and the sheet identifier;
a processor decoding the sheet identifier from the image of the markable sheet for selecting the template and decoding the selection mark spaces and the voiding mark spaces from the image of the markable sheet in accordance with the selected template;
said processor determining marked selection mark spaces in the decoded selection mark spaces of the markable sheet and marked voiding mark spaces in the decoded voiding mark spaces of the markable sheet in accordance with the selected template, said processor voiding a selection marked in a selection mark space if the voiding mark space associated therewith is marked; and
wherein a record of at least the unvoided determined marked selection mark spaces is stored in said memory,whereby the selections marked on the markable sheet are recorded in accordance with a template corresponding to the sheet identifier for the markable sheet and are voided by marks in the associated voidable mark spaces of the markable sheet.
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Abstract
An optically readable markable sheet has selection mark spaces and has voiding mark spaces associated with the selection mark spaces. An apparatus and a method for reading the optically readable sheet may comprise a processor decoding a sheet identifier and the mark spaces from an image of the sheet and determining the mark spaces that are marked. Marking a voiding mark space voids a selection marked in the selection mark space with which the voiding mark space is associated. Sheet images and a record of marked mark spaces are stored in a memory, preferably a non-volatile memory. Sheet images may be provided by an optical imager that images the sheet and/or by an optical mark reader that reads the sheet.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. Apparatus for reading an optically readable markable sheet, the markable sheet having selection mark spaces and voiding mark spaces thereon, wherein each of the voiding mark spaces is associated with a corresponding one of the selection mark spaces, and wherein a selection mark space is markable for indicating a selection and the voiding mark space associated with that selection mark space is markable for voiding a selection marked in the corresponding selection mark space, the markable sheet also having a sheet identifier thereon that relates to a template defining the locations of the selection mark spaces and the voiding mark spaces on the markable sheet,
said apparatus for reading an optically readable markable sheet comprising: -
a memory storing an image of the markable sheet including the selection mark spaces, the voiding mark spaces and the sheet identifier; a processor decoding the sheet identifier from the image of the markable sheet for selecting the template and decoding the selection mark spaces and the voiding mark spaces from the image of the markable sheet in accordance with the selected template; said processor determining marked selection mark spaces in the decoded selection mark spaces of the markable sheet and marked voiding mark spaces in the decoded voiding mark spaces of the markable sheet in accordance with the selected template, said processor voiding a selection marked in a selection mark space if the voiding mark space associated therewith is marked; and wherein a record of at least the unvoided determined marked selection mark spaces is stored in said memory, whereby the selections marked on the markable sheet are recorded in accordance with a template corresponding to the sheet identifier for the markable sheet and are voided by marks in the associated voidable mark spaces of the markable sheet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for decoding an optically readable markable sheet, the markable sheet having selection mark spaces and voiding mark spaces thereon, wherein each of the voiding mark spaces is associated with a corresponding one of the selection mark spaces, and wherein a selection mark space may be marked for indicating a selection and the voiding mark space associated with that selection mark space may be marked for voiding the selection marked in the corresponding selection mark space, the markable sheet having a sheet identifier thereon that relates to a template defining the locations of the selection mark spaces and the voiding mark spaces on the markable sheet,
the method for decoding an optically readable markable sheet comprising: -
storing an image of the markable sheet including the selection mark spaces, the voiding mark spaces and the sheet identifier in a memory; decoding the sheet identifier from the image of the markable sheet for selecting the template and decoding the selection mark spaces and the voiding mark spaces from the image of the markable sheet in accordance with the selected template; determining marked selection mark spaces in the decoded selection mark spaces of the markable sheet and marked voiding mark spaces in the decoded voiding mark spaces of the markable sheet in accordance with the selected template, voiding a selection marked in a selection mark space if the voiding mark space associated therewith is marked; and storing a record of at least the determined marked selection mark spaces that are not voided in a memory, whereby the selections marked on the markable sheet are recorded in accordance with a template corresponding to the sheet identifier for the markable sheet and are voided by marks in the associated voidable mark spaces of the markable sheet. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An optically readable markable sheet comprising:
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a sheet of material having an identifier region with an optically readable sheet identifier therein and having selection mark spaces and voiding mark spaces thereon, wherein the selection mark spaces are markable for making selections and each of the voiding mark spaces is associated with a corresponding selection mark space and is markable for voiding the marking of the associated corresponding selection mark space, wherein marking a selection mark space indicates a selection and marking the voiding mark space associated with a corresponding selection mark space indicates not making that selection; and wherein the identifier region, the selection mark spaces and the voiding mark spaces are in defined locations on the optically readable markable sheet, and the sheet identifier, the selection mark spaces and the voiding mark spaces are optically readable. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification