Machine-readable form configuration and system and method for interpreting at least one user mark
View Patent ↗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).
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, and wherein each of the first fiducial mark and the second fiducial mark has a measurable property that is essentially scale invariant;
utilizing the camera to generate an electronic image of at least a portion of the form;
calculating with a processor mechanism in operative communication with the camera, based at least in part upon the electronic image, a distance between at least the first fiducial mark and the second fiducial mark;
detecting with the processor mechanism at least a first user marking cell on the form, wherein the first user marking cell is bounded by at least one indicium that is visible to the camera, and wherein the first user marking cell is detected based at least in part upon the calculated distance between the first fiducial mark and the second fiducial mark;
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 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 indicium bounding the first user marking cell; and (b) at least a portion of the electronic image included inside the 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 indicium bounding the second user marking cell; and (b) at least a portion of the electronic image included inside the indicium bounding the second user marking cell.