System and method for decoding marks on a response sheet
First Claim
1. A ballot tabulation device for analyzing one or more voter response areas on a paper ballot, comprising:
- a scanner operable to obtain an image of at least a portion of the paper ballot that includes a voter response area;
a processor operable to analyze the image by;
identifying an initial reference point that approximates a location of a reference point for the voter response area;
determining the location of the reference point for the voter response area using the initial reference point and a virtual template applied to the image;
using the reference point for the voter response area to define a response window; and
analyzing the response window to determine if the voter response area is marked by a voter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A ballot tabulation device includes a scanner operable to obtain an image of at least a portion of a paper ballot that includes a voter response area. A processor applies a virtual template to the image to identify a center point for the voter response area. The virtual template comprises a set of characteristic points positioned in predetermined locations in relation to the center point of the voter response area, wherein the characteristic points comprise points that are common to a plurality of sample ballot images. The processor also defines a response window that is centered on the center point of the voter response area, and analyzes the response window to determine if the voter response area is marked by a voter.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A ballot tabulation device for analyzing one or more voter response areas on a paper ballot, comprising:
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a scanner operable to obtain an image of at least a portion of the paper ballot that includes a voter response area; a processor operable to analyze the image by; identifying an initial reference point that approximates a location of a reference point for the voter response area; determining the location of the reference point for the voter response area using the initial reference point and a virtual template applied to the image; using the reference point for the voter response area to define a response window; and analyzing the response window to determine if the voter response area is marked by a voter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for analyzing one or more voter response areas on a paper ballot, comprising:
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a scanner operable to obtain an image of at least a portion of the paper ballot that includes a voter response area, wherein the voter response area includes a printed outline that defines an outer boundary of the voter response area; a processor operable to analyze the image by; identifying an initial center point that approximates a location of a center point for the voter response area; determining the location of the center point for the voter response area using the initial center point and a virtual template, wherein the virtual template comprises a set of characteristic points positioned in predetermined locations in relation to the center point of the voter response area; defining a response window that is centered on the center point of the voter response area; and analyzing the response window to determine if the voter response area is marked by a voter. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system for analyzing one or more response areas on a response sheet, comprising:
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a scanner operable to obtain an image of at least a portion of the response sheet that includes a response area; a processor operable to analyze the image by; identifying an initial reference point that approximates a location of a reference point for the response area; determining the location of the reference point for the response area using the initial reference point and a virtual template, wherein the virtual template comprises a set of characteristic points positioned in predetermined locations in relation to the reference point of the response area; using the reference point for the response area to define a response window; and analyzing the response window to determine if the response area is marked. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification