Machine-readable form configuration and system and method for interpreting at least one user mark

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, 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; 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.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

calculating with the processor mechanism a displacement vector of the detected second user marking cell versus an ideal planar position of the detected second user marking cell; and

detecting with the processor mechanism at least a third user marking cell on the form, wherein the third user marking cell is bounded by at least one third indicium that is visible to the camera, and wherein the third user marking cell is detected based at least in part upon at least one of: (a) the displacement vector of the detected first user marking cell; and (b) the displacement vector of the detected second user marking cell.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining with the processor mechanism evidence of at least a third user mark in the detected third 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 third indicium bounding the third user marking cell; and (b) at least a portion of the electronic image included inside the at least one third indicium bounding the third user marking cell.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the third user marking cell is detected based at least in part upon: (a) the displacement vector of the detected first user marking cell; and/or (b) the displacement vector of the detected second user marking cell.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the third user marking cell is detected based at least in part upon interpolation between: (a) the displacement vector of the detected first user marking cell; and (b) the displacement vector of the detected second user marking cell.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting with the processor mechanism at least a third user marking cell on the form, wherein the third user marking cell is bounded by at least one third indicium that is visible to the camera, and wherein the third user marking cell is detected based at least in part upon at least one of: (a) a position of the detected first user marking cell; and (b) a position of the detected second user marking cell.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

determining with the processor mechanism evidence of at least a third user mark in the detected third 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 third indicium bounding the third user marking cell; and (b) at least a portion of the electronic image included inside the at least one third indicium bounding the third user marking cell.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the third user marking cell is detected based at least in part upon: (a) the position of the detected first user marking cell; and/or (b) the position of the detected second user marking cell.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the third user marking cell is detected based at least in part upon interpolation between: (a) the position of the detected first user marking cell; and (b) the position of the detected second user marking cell.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining with the processor mechanism when the form becomes essentially stationary after being placed in the field of view of the camera.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising decoding with the processor mechanism identification information on the form.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first indicium bounding the first user marking cell forms a closed boundary and the at least one second indicium bounding the second user marking cell forms a closed boundary.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein each indicium bounding each user marking cell is printed in ink.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein each indicium is visible to both the camera and a human.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processor mechanism comprises a single processor.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processor mechanism comprises a plurality of processors.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the form is selected from the group consisting of: a lottery play slip; a survey; and a test.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the camera comprises at least one image sensor.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the camera comprises at least one lens.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user marking cells are laid out in a grid pattern, with essentially uniform spacing between adjacent user marking cells in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the user marking cells are laid out in a grid pattern, with essentially uniform spacing between adjacent user marking cells in both a horizontal direction and a vertical direction.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user marking cells are laid out in a non-grid pattern.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first indicium is inside the at least one first user marking cell and the at least one second indicium is inside the at least one second user marking cell and

wherein the at least one first indicium is inside the at least one first user marking cell or the at least one second indicium is inside the at least one second user marking cell.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the at least one first indicium and the at least one second indicium comprise at least one of a number and a letter, printed in ink invisible to the camera and visible to humans and

wherein the at least one first indicium or the at least one second indicium comprise at least one of a number and a letter, printed in ink invisible to the camera and visible to humans.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein each step is carried out in the order recited.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the form is non-planar.

27. A system for detecting user marks, comprising:

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; 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.

28. The system of claim 27 , wherein the camera comprises at least one image sensor.

29. The system of claim 27 , wherein the camera comprises at least one lens.

30. The system of claim 27 , wherein the processor mechanism comprises a single processor.

31. The system of claim 27 , wherein the processor mechanism comprises a plurality of processors.

32. The system of claim 27 , wherein the steps carried out by the camera and the processor mechanism are carried out in the order recited.

33. The system of claim 27 , further comprising calculating, with the processor mechanism, the presence of an immobile form.

34. The system of claim 27 , wherein the form is non-planer.