Method of analyzing marks made on a response sheet
AssigneeElection Systems & Software, LLC
InventorsSteve Bolton, Tim Cordes, Herb Deutsch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described is a method of determining a choice made by a user by analyzing marks made on a response sheet by the user. The method employs a response sheet having response areas in which a user is directed to make marks indicating choices. The marked response sheet is then scanned to produce a digital image and associated data of each response area. That data is analyzed for characteristics according to a set of predetermined principles. These principles are based on the form of the response areas on the response sheet. The presence of certain characteristics in the data determines whether a mark was made in the response area and whether the mark constitutes a choice by the user.
Claims12
A method of determining a choice made by a user by analyzing marks made on a response sheet by the user comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a response sheet;
- (b) providing to a user means for making at least one mark on the response sheet wherein said at least one mark indicates at least one choice made by the user;
- (c) providing means for scanning images of said response sheet on which said at least one mark has been made and for converting said scanned images into data;
- (d) scanning said response sheet on which said at least one mark has been made;
- (e) converting said data produced by said means for scanning into a response pixel value set;
- (f) providing a control pixel value set;
- (g) analyzing said response pixel value set in relation to said control pixel value set to determine characteristics of said response pixel value set;
- and
- (h) determining said at least one choice made by the user by analyzing said characteristics.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.