Patents - 8503785

8,503,785 - Dynamic response bubble attribute compensation

Image data of a response form is processed. The response form has a plurality of response bubbles, including at least one filled and at least one unfilled response bubble. One or more baseline response bubble attributes for unfilled response bubbles are provided in a memory. Image data of a response form is processed to determine one or more response bubbles that are unfilled. One or more actual response bubble attributes of the one or more unfilled response bubbles is then calculated. A difference metric value is then calculated by comparing the one or more baseline response bubble attributes to the one or more actual response bubble attributes. The one or more baseline response bubble attributes are reset to a new set of one or more baseline response bubble attributes if the difference metric value exceeds a predetermined threshold. The one or more baseline response bubble attributes are maintained at their present value if the difference metric value does not exceed the predetermined threshold. The image data of the response form is then processed using either the reset or maintained one or more baseline response bubble attributes to determine the filled and unfilled response bubbles of the response form.