Machine-readable form configuration and system and method for interpreting at least one user mark
First Claim
Patent Images
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;
wherein the first fiducial mark comprises an outline portion and an interior portion;
distinguishing, by the camera, the outline portion of the first fiducial mark from the interior portion of the first fiducial mark based at least in part on the outline portion of the first fiducial mark being sufficiently different from the interior portion of the first fiducial mark;
calculating a scale and orientation of the first fiducial mark based at least in part on;
1) the ratio of an area of the outline portion of the first fiducial mark and an interior area of the interior portion of the first fiducial mark, and2) a first distance between the camera and the first fiducial mark;
wherein the second fiducial mark comprises an outline portion and an interior portion;
distinguishing, by the camera, the outline portion of the second fiducial mark from the interior portion of the second fiducial mark based at least in part on the outline portion of the second fiducial mark being sufficiently different from the interior portion of the second fiducial mark; and
calculating a scale and orientation of the second fiducial mark based at least in part on;
1) the ratio of an area of the outline portion of the second fiducial mark and an interior area of the interior portion of the second fiducial mark and2) a second distance between the camera and the second fiducial mark;
calculating a distance between at least the first fiducial mark and the second fiducial mark with a processor mechanism in operative communication with the camera, based at least in part upon;
1) the scale and the orientation of the first fiducial mark, and2) the scale and the orientation of the second fiducial mark;
detecting with the processor mechanism at least a first user marking cell on the form based at least in part upon the calculated distance between the first fiducial mark and the second fiducial mark, wherein the first user marking cell is bounded by at least one first indicium that is visible to the camera;
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 second 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 at least one first indicium bounding the first user marking cell; and
(b) at least a portion of the electronic image included inside the at least one first 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 at least one second indicium bounding the second user marking cell; and
(b) at least a portion of the electronic image included inside the at least one second indicium bounding the second user marking cell.
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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).
29 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for detecting user marks, comprising:
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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; wherein the first fiducial mark comprises an outline portion and an interior portion; distinguishing, by the camera, the outline portion of the first fiducial mark from the interior portion of the first fiducial mark based at least in part on the outline portion of the first fiducial mark being sufficiently different from the interior portion of the first fiducial mark; calculating a scale and orientation of the first fiducial mark based at least in part on; 1) the ratio of an area of the outline portion of the first fiducial mark and an interior area of the interior portion of the first fiducial mark, and 2) a first distance between the camera and the first fiducial mark; wherein the second fiducial mark comprises an outline portion and an interior portion; distinguishing, by the camera, the outline portion of the second fiducial mark from the interior portion of the second fiducial mark based at least in part on the outline portion of the second fiducial mark being sufficiently different from the interior portion of the second fiducial mark; and calculating a scale and orientation of the second fiducial mark based at least in part on; 1) the ratio of an area of the outline portion of the second fiducial mark and an interior area of the interior portion of the second fiducial mark and 2) a second distance between the camera and the second fiducial mark; calculating a distance between at least the first fiducial mark and the second fiducial mark with a processor mechanism in operative communication with the camera, based at least in part upon; 1) the scale and the orientation of the first fiducial mark, and 2) the scale and the orientation of the second fiducial mark; detecting with the processor mechanism at least a first user marking cell on the form based at least in part upon the calculated distance between the first fiducial mark and the second fiducial mark, wherein the first user marking cell is bounded by at least one first indicium that is visible to the camera; 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 second 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 at least one first indicium bounding the first user marking cell; and
(b) at least a portion of the electronic image included inside the at least one first indicium bounding the first user marking cell; anddetermining 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 at least one second indicium bounding the second user marking cell; and
(b) at least a portion of the electronic image included inside the at least one second indicium bounding the second user marking cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for detecting user marks, comprising:
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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; wherein the first fiducial mark comprises an outline portion and an interior portion; wherein the outline portion of the first fiducial mark is sufficiently different from the interior portion of the first fiducial mark so as to result in the camera being capable of distinguishing between the outline portion and the interior portion; wherein the second fiducial mark comprises an outline portion and an interior portion; wherein the outline portion of the second fiducial mark is sufficiently different from the interior portion of the second fiducial mark so as to result in the camera being capable of distinguishing between the outline portion and the interior portion; and wherein, when the form is placed in a field of view of the camera, the camera and the processor mechanism are adapted to carry out the following steps; calculating a scale and orientation of the first fiducial mark based at least in part on; 1) the ratio of an area of the outline portion of the first fiducial mark and an interior area of the interior portion of the first fiducial mark and 2) a first distance between the camera and the first fiducial mark; calculating a scale and orientation of the second fiducial mark based at least in part on 1) the ratio of an area of the outline portion of the second fiducial mark and an interior area of the interior portion of the second fiducial mark and 2) a second distance between the camera and the second fiducial mark; calculating a distance between at least the first fiducial mark and the second fiducial mark with the processor mechanism in operative communication with the camera, based at least in part upon; 1) the scale and the orientation of the first fiducial mark, and 2) the scale and the orientation of the second fiducial mark; detecting with the processor mechanism at least a first user marking cell on the form based at least in part upon the calculated distance between the first fiducial mark and the second fiducial mark, wherein the first user marking cell is bounded by at least one first indicium that is visible to the camera; 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 second 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 at least one first indicium bounding the first user marking cell; and
(b) at least a portion of the electronic image included inside the at least one first indicium bounding the first user marking cell; anddetermining 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 at least one second indicium bounding the second user marking cell; and
(b) at least a portion of the electronic image included inside the at least one second indicium bounding the second user marking cell. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification