TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present subject matter relates, in general, to gemstone technology and, particularly but not exclusively, to gemstone processing.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Gemstones are naturally occurring deposits of minerals and can include, for example, diamonds, quartz, opals, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and topaz. Since the gemstones are rare, they are highly valued for use, say in ornamentation and jewellery. The value of these gemstones results from their color, luster, and the manner in which they transmit, refract, or reflect rays of light. For the enhancement of such properties, rough gemstones are processed, for instance, by cutting, faceting, shaping, and polishing. The processing of the gemstone imparts certain characteristics to a gemstone. For example, the value of a processed gemstone is generally determined by the 4Cs, i.e., carat (weight), clarity (transparency), color, and cut which are directly or indirectly affected by the processing techniques. Therefore, techniques for effective gemstone processing have been areas of active research.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0003] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components.

[0004] Figure l illustrates a schematic of a gemstone processing system for processing and verifying a batch of gemstones, in accordance with an example of the present subject matter.

[0005] Figure 2A, 2B, and 2C illustrate captured images of a gemstone from a table view direction superimposed with marking coordinates for matching for verification and processing of the batch of gemstones, in accordance with an example of the present subject matter.

[0006] Fig. 3 illustrates a method of creating index file, in accordance with an example of the present subject matter.

[0007] Fig. 4 illustrates a method of identifying the gemstone information, in accordance with an example of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] The present subject matter relates to aspects relating to processing of gemstones. As mentioned previously, in recent times techniques which facilitate effective processing of gemstones have been areas of active research. As part of gemstone processing, the gemstone is assessed for planning the cutting and polishing in order to obtain the best value gemstone, for example, in terms of size. Once the planning is done, the gemstone is marked on its surface to indicate the references for further processing the gemstone. The markings can include table cutting marking, girdle bruiting marking, etc. Conventionally, the planning is done manually and, on the basis of the planning, a laser is used for marking the gemstone. Subsequently, when the gemstone is to be processed further, the gemstone is mounted in a holder or a spindle in a laser cutting machine, and manually oriented based on the markings. Once mounted and oriented, the gemstone is processed further.

[0009] However, since the steps involved in gemstone processing are manual-skill-intensive, the entire process is low on productivity. In addition, the steps involve a substantial degree of skill on the manual labor and any absence of that skill may lead to low quality of processing of the gemstone. For example, the table line and its relative marking line detection is done manually by setting and rotating the gemstone at various degrees to fetch the starting point of cutting the table portion of the gemstone for initiating the cutting process. Such manual setting increases the setting time and hence the number of gemstones processed in a given period of time is substantially low. Also, this setting of gemstone requires a high level of expertise and any lack of it may lead to a loss in value of the processed gemstone. In addition, there is low consistency in centering and adjustment of the gemstone, since the assessment is subjective and varies from person to person. In addition, there is no verification as to whether the gemstone that is being mounted and processed is the same as the one for which the planning information is being used for mounting and processing.

[0010] Accordingly, various automated techniques have been developed for automatically identifying and verifying a gemstone to be processed using which the gemstone can be easily oriented, positioned, adjusted, and processed with accuracy and efficiency. However, these conventional techniques are limited to identifying and verifying a single gemstone at a time. In other words, the productivity of gemstone processing is still limited to receiving one gemstone at a time, performing the verification, orientation, and positioning of that gemstone, and then processing that gemstone. If the gemstone that was verified gets mixed-up with one or more gemstones, the entire process has to be repeated. In addition, if, however, the conventional techniques are to be used for processing a batch of gemstones, the conventional techniques fail at two levels - first, in differentiating one gemstone from another, and second, in identifying the correct gemstone from amongst the batch of gemstones.

[0011] To address the abovementioned problems, techniques are described that provide automatic identification and verification of a rough gemstone in a batch of rough gemstones. Such automatic identification and verification can be performed at the time of commencement of the gemstone processing operation, for example, before the cutting operation, such that the entire batch can be processed. The present subject matter relates to a system and a method for gemstone processing which involves gemstone identification and verification, and also includes within its purview a non- transitory computer readable media having instructions recorded thereon for gemstone processing. According to an aspect, the present subject matter involves a two-step approach for identifying and verifying the gemstone in a batch of rough gemstones. The two-step approach allows for accurately identifying the gemstone in the batch so that corresponding information that is used for processing the gemstone is correct and the gemstone is processed according to that correct information only. Therefore, the present subject matter provides a manner for processing a batch of rough gemstones without a user having to identify each gemstone and mounting it into, for example, the cutting machine, and at the same time, preventing any inaccuracies in identification which might otherwise lead to wastage. According to said aspect, the present subject matter uses information regarding a gemstone from a planning stage and an image taken in real-time in processing stage, and does a two-step matching, i.e., using the two-step approach, to identify and verify the gemstone. [0012] According to an example, in the planning stage, the present subject matter involves scanning each rough gemstone in the batch to measure basic geometry thereof. For example, shape, dimensions (such as length, width, height, and diameter) of each gemstone in the batch can be determined by scanning. Thereafter, the physical attributes of the gemstone can be estimated based upon the geometry of the gemstone and markings can be made on each gemstone. In an example, the markings can identify various cutting planes and angles for processing the gemstone. Further, the information associated with the marked and planned gemstone, such as marking coordinates, can be captured, and is referred to as gemstone information. Accordingly, the gemstone information can include the information regarding geometry of the gemstone, along with the coordinates of the markings. For the entire batch of gemstones, the gemstone information is stored in a single common file referred to as an index file. The index file can be employed when the batch of gemstones is to be processed further.

[0013] According to aspects of the present subject matter, the entire batch can then be collectively fed for being processed, for example, for faceting and/or cutting each gemstone in the batch. Any gemstone can be randomly picked up from the batch of gemstones and taken for further processing. The technique of the present subject matter can accurately identify the gemstone from the batch, retrieve the gemstone information, verify the gemstone, and process the gemstone further.

[0014] According to one aspect, the technique of the present subject matter employs two-step matching technique. In said aspect, in the first step, the gemstone information is used as a reference and a gemstone which has been randomly picked for processing is matched against the gemstone information. For example, the coordinates in the gemstone information for all the gemstones in the index file can be matched against an image of the randomly picked gemstone. In one case, the technique may involve first determining a primary parameter associated with the randomly picked gemstone and using the primary parameter to narrow the set of gemstone information to be matched against the image of the randomly picked gemstone. For instance, the primary parameter can include a diameter of the randomly picked gemstone. In the first step, using the gemstone information as the reference, one or more gemstone information can be shortlisted as a match. In an example, the match can be identified based on all features in the gemstone information being present in the gemstone. In other words, for a gemstone information to be shortlisted as a match, the features in the gemstone information should completely match with that of the randomly picked gemstone. Accordingly, as soon as a gemstone information has one or more features that do not match with the randomly picked gemstone, the gemstone information is rejected.

[0015] However, the gemstone may have additional features over and above the one or more gemstone information. In order to negate that possibility of incorrectly identifying the gemstone, a reverse matching technique is used for all the matched gemstone information, as the second step in the two-step analysis. In the reverse matching technique, the image of randomly picked gemstone can be used as reference and the plurality of matched gemstone information can be compared against the randomly picked gemstone. In the same manner as in the first step, it is determined whether all the features in the randomly picked gemstone are present in the gemstone information or not. Obviously, among the matched gemstone information, only one gemstone information will have the exact features as the randomly picked gemstone. The gemstone information so identified is retrieved and is used for further processing the gemstone. For example, from the selected gemstone information, the physical attributes and other coordinates required for the processing the gemstone can be retrieved and the gemstone can be further processed.

[0016] Accordingly, the present subject matter addresses the problems mentioned previously. In accordance with the present subject matter, the gemstones can be processed in batches, which provides for high production rate without compromising on the accuracy of processing the gemstones in the batch. As a result, there is an exponential increase in the productivity as well as the quality of gemstone processing.

[0017] These and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail in conjunction with the following figures. While aspects of gemstone processing and verification can be implemented in any number of different configurations, the embodiments are described in the context of the following device(s) and method(s).

[0018] Figure l illustrate schematics of a gemstone processing system loo for processing and verifying a batch of gemstones, such as a batch of rough gemstones, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The gemstone processing system 100, among other things, includes a controller (not shown) for the gemstone processing system loo, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. In said embodiment, the controller can be implemented as a microcontroller, a microcomputer, and/or any device that manipulates signals based on operational instructions.

[0019] According to said embodiment, the controller can include a processor and a device memory. The processor can be a single processing unit or a number of units, all of which could include multiple computing units. The processor may be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, state machines, logic circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulate signals, based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the processor(s) is provided to fetch and execute computer- readable instructions stored in the device memory. The device memory may be coupled to the processor and can include any computer-readable medium known in the art including, for example, volatile memory, such as static random-access memory (SRAM) and dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), and/or non-volatile memory, such as read only memory (ROM), erasable programmable rom, flash memories, hard disks, optical disks, and magnetic tapes.

[0020] Further, the controller may include module(s) and data. The modules and the data may be coupled to the processor. The modules, amongst other things, include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., which perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The modules may also, be implemented as, signal processor(s), state machine(s), logic circuitries, and/or any other device or component that manipulate signals based on operational instructions. In addition, the modules may include programs or coded instructions that supplement applications or functions performed by the controller.

[0021] Additionally, in said implementation, the data amongst other things, may serve as a repository for storing data that is processed, received, or generated, as a result of the execution of one or more modules in the module(s). Although the data is shown internal to the controller, it may be understood that the data can reside in an external repository (not shown in the figure), which may be operably coupled to the controller. Accordingly, the controller may be provided with input/output (i/o) interface(s) (not shown) to communicate with the external repository to obtain information from the data. The i/o interfaces may include a variety of software and hardware interfaces, which may enable the controller to communicate with the external repository and peripheral components of the gemstone processing system 100.

[0022] The controller, when deployed in the gemstone processing system loo, performs the functions of the gemstone processing system 100. For the sake of brevity and ease of understanding, the description, henceforth, is explained with reference to the gemstone processing system 100 and the operation and functions performed by it, it will be understood that the functions and operations are performed by the controller of the gemstone processing system 100, wherever and as appropriately understood by a person skilled in the art.

[0023] In operation, the gemstone processing system loo processes a batch of gemstones and generates a 3D profile and 3D markings or marking coordinates or both of each gemstone. This information is stored in a single file and is used for further processing the entire batch of gemstones, instead of having to manually feed the gemstones one-by-one to the gemstone processing system 100. According to the techniques of the present subject matter, the gemstone processing system 100 may pick up a gemstone randomly from the batch, identify and verify the gemstone, obtain information regarding the gemstone for processing it, and process the gemstone.

[0024] According to an aspect, the gemstone processing system 100 employs a two-step approach for identifying and verifying the gemstone from the batch of rough gemstones and then processes the identified gemstone. With the two-step approach, the gemstone processing system 100 can accurately identify the gemstone and match is to the corresponding information that is used for processing the gemstone. Accordingly, the information so matched with the gemstone is ensured to be correct. Therefore, the gemstone processing system 100 facilitates the processing of the batch of rough gemstones without any inaccuracies in identification which might otherwise lead to wastage.

[0025] The gemstone processing system loo includes a planning machine 102 and a cutting machine 104. According to the aspects of the present subject matter, the gemstone processing system 100 can first generate the information regarding each gemstone in the batch in the planning machine 102. Further, in the cutting machine 104, the two-step identification and verification of the gemstone is performed to match the gemstone to the correct information collected in the planning machine 102.

[0026] As part of the gemstone processing system 100, the planning machine 102 first receives the batch of gemstones having the plurality of gemstones. The planning machine 102 scans each rough gemstone to measure basic geometry and physical attributes of each of the gemstone. In another example, the planning machine 102 can estimate physical attributes of the gemstone based upon the geometry of the gemstone and can also generate a 3D profile of each gemstone.

[0027] At the planning machine 102 itself, based on the estimated attributes, the geometry, coordinates, the 3D profile of the gemstone etc., the gemstone undergoes a marking process. The planning machine 102 includes a marking laser where the marking laser forms various marking patterns on the surface of each gemstone. These marking patterns may be considered to be the reference marks of various portions of each gemstone for further processing of that rough gemstone. Accordingly, gemstone information for each gemstone can be stored by the planning machine. The gemstone information can include, for example, coordinates of the markings, 3D profile data and/or coordinates, for instance, the marking line and the table line. [0028] In one example, the planning machine 102 may include an image capturing device, such as a camera (not shown). The image capturing device can capture one or more images of the gemstone, for instance, for determining the orientation with respect to the markings, such as the marking line and the table line, of the gemstone. The image so captured can be later used by the cutting machine 104 for achieving an appropriate orientation of the gemstone when identifying and processing the gemstone.

[0029] In the manner explained above, the planning machine 102 generates an index file which stores gemstone information associates with all the individual gemstones in the batch. As mentioned previously, the gemstone information of a gemstone can include details regarding the geometry, the marking coordinates, the 3D profile, physical attributes associated with the gemstone. In another example, the gemstone information of the gemstone may also include the image of the markings of the gemstone. The planning machine 102 can store the index file in the database 106 from where the index file can be accessed or availed by the cutting machine 104 for processing the batch of gemstones. In another case, the planning machine 102 can directly share the index file with the cutting machine 104 for facilitating the cutting machine 104 in processing the batch of gemstones.

[0030] Accordingly, from the planning machine 102, the batch of gemstones may be sent to or fed into the cutting machine 104 which includes a laser cutting machine for cutting the gemstones as planned in the planning machine 102. In addition, the cutting machine 104 is configured to accurately identify a gemstone in the batch, match the correct gemstone information associated with it, and then process that gemstone based on that correct gemstone information.

[0031] As part of the gemstone processing, the cutting machine 104 can randomly select a gemstone for further processing and then identify and verify the gemstone by matching it against the gemstone information. As explained previously, the cutting machine 104 can be configured to perform a two-step analysis for identifying and matching the gemstone against the gemstone information for correctly identifying the gemstone information against the gemstone and vice-versa. Accordingly, the cutting machine 104 can obtain the gemstone information of all the gemstones in the batch from the index file and use the same to match against the randomly selected gemstone to identify the correct gemstone information that corresponds to the selected gemstone.

[0032] The randomly selected gemstone can be mounted on a holder in a rotation table and then the center detection of the gemstone takes place for proper alignment of the gemstone before the initialization of gemstone processing. The alignment mechanism of the gemstone processing system, in an automated manner, accurately and efficiently aligns the gemstone placed on the holder in the rotation table before the initialization of the gemstone cutting. In another example, the center alignment of the gemstone can be done manually.

[0033] Further, the cutting machine 104 can commence the process of identification of the gemstone. In an example, the cutting machine 104 can start by determining a primary parameter associated with the randomly selected gemstone. The cutting machine 104 may obtain the primary parameter from the gemstone information or may be determined on-the-fly, i.e., measure the diameter when the gemstone is mounted. For instance, the primary parameter can be a diameter of the gemstone. In another instance, the primary parameter can be in terms of a certain tolerance diameter range. The primary parameter of the gemstone can be undefined or pre-defmed. In an example, the cutting machine 104 may automatically determine the primary parameter associated with the gemstone. In said example, grouping of gemstones in the batch may be done on the basis of the measurements of gemstone’s primary parameter and, therefore, the diameter becomes a relevant parameter.

[0034] For example, in case the diameter is the primary parameter, the gemstone diameter may be initially unknown because the gemstones are not arranged in any particular sequence for being mounted in the cutting machine 104; instead the gemstones are randomly selected or picked for processing. The cutting machine 104 may identify a circular marking pattern from a live image of the randomly selected gemstone by image processing technique. The cutting machine 104 can then determine the diameter from the size of that circular marking pattern.

[0035] The primary parameter of the gemstone acts as a first level of filtering for obtaining the gemstone information which is to be matched against the gemstone. Accordingly, the cutting machine 104 may retrieve the records or gemstone information of only those gemstones from the index file which match the primary parameter. In the above example of the diameter being the primary parameter, the cutting machine 104 may fetch all the records from the index file of gemstones having a diameter almost the same as the determined diameter, i.e., with predefined tolerances.

[0036] For instance, the cutting machine 104 can obtain the gemstone information either by extracting from the database 106 in which the information was saved after obtaining from the planning machine 102 or the gemstone information can be obtained on the fly. For instance, the cutting machine 104 can obtain the gemstone information having all the coordinates of each marking and other physical attributes from planning machine 102 after the filtering as explained above. [0037] Subsequently, the cutting machine 104 can perform the two-step matching analysis to identify and verify the gemstone against the gemstone information and vice-versa. Accordingly, the cutting machine 104 can take each record one by one, match the marking coordinates pattern with the randomly selected gemstone, and determine the best matched gemstone information from the index file.

[0038] For matching the gemstone, in an example, the cutting machine 104 captures a real-time image of the mounted gemstone. The cutting machine 104 may include an image capturing device (not shown) to capture real-time image data for a desired surface of the gemstone. For example, the top surface or the side surface (for use in side view marking detection) of the gemstone, is captured by means of the scanning device or the image capturing device. The captured image is then analyzed by the cutting machine 104 to match the marking pattern on the captured image (i.e., the mounted gemstone) against the gemstone information for entire batch of gemstone information one by one.

[0039] The cutting machine 104 can then match the marking pattern in the captured image against the geometries in the gemstone information one by one, for example, using image processing techniques. In simpler terms, the cutting machine 104 compares real-time image of the gemstone against the gemstone information, one by one, filtered from the index file. In an example, the cutting machine may retrieve 3D coordinates from the live image of the selected gemstone and superimpose them over the 3D coordinates previously stored in each gemstone information. This marks the first step in the two-step identification analysis performed by the cutting machine 104.

[0040] In this first step, in an example, the cutting machine 104 can use the gemstone information as a reference and the selected gemstone which has been randomly picked for processing is matched against the gemstone information. For example, using the gemstone information as the reference, the cutting machine 104 can shortlist as a match one or more gemstone information from among the filtered gemstone information. In an example, the cutting machine 104 can identify the match based on all features in the gemstone information being present in the selected gemstone. In other words, for the cutting machine 104 to shortlist a gemstone information as a match, the features in the gemstone information should completely match with that of the randomly selected gemstone. Accordingly, as soon as the cutting machine 104 determines that a gemstone information has one or more features that do not match with the randomly selected gemstone, the cutting machine 104 can reject that gemstone information from being a match.

[0041] However, in certain cases, two gemstones may share almost all elements, such as markings, in common and may differ only in few. The shared elements may create enough inliers or confusing matches to declare a gemstone information as shortlisted, based on the pattern match in the manner explained above, for both the gemstones, while in reality the gemstone information matches only one of them. This may result in wrong identification of the gemstone information and the gemstone may get cut with the wrong gemstone information which ultimately increases the production loss and wastages.

[0042] To address this issue, the cutting machine 104, as the second step of the two-step analysis, performs a reverse matching between the shortlisted gemstone information and the gemstone. As per the reverse matching technique, the cutting machine 104 can match, on by one, the coordinates in the gemstone information against the pattern in the captured real-time image of the mounted gemstone, using the selected or mounted gemstone as the reference (instead of the gemstone information as the reference as in the first step). In other words, in the first step, the gemstone information is used as reference and shortlisted based on complete match of gemstone information with the selected gemstone, and then in the second step, the process is reversed and the features in the selected gemstone are matched against the shortlisted gemstone information to determine a complete match.

[0043] Accordingly, in first pass, those gemstone information which have all the features as that in the selected gemstone are shortlisted. But this may include some gemstone information that have fewer features than those in the selected gemstone but are shortlisted. This is so because all features, say h features, of the gemstone information are being checked against the selected gemstone, say having 9 features. If the 7 features in the gemstone information are present in the selected gemstone, then the gemstone information is shortlisted, notwithstanding that the selected gemstone has 2 additional features. To match these additional features, in the second pass, the reverse matching is done to identify that gemstone information which contains only those features that match exactly with the features in the selected gemstone. In the above example, the second pass is performed by using the selected gemstone as the basis for comparison and finding the gemstone information among the shortlisted which has exactly 9 features same as the 9 features of the selected gemstone.

[0044] Accordingly, the cutting machine 104 identifies the best match, i.e., the gemstone information that matches with the selected gemstone and based on which other gemstone information, such as cutting geometry and physical attributes, of the selected gemstone can be obtained from the database 106.

[0045] For example, the cutting machine 104, in the first step or the second step or both of the two-step analysis, can determine a percentage match of the real-time image of the selected gemstone when compared with each gemstone information, and the highest match is selected as the best match. In addition, the cutting machine 104 may also require that the match is beyond a predetermined threshold in addition to being highest. For example, the highest match, if beyond a threshold, say 90% or 95%, is selected as the best match. Accordingly, the gemstone information with that match is selected to correspond to the selected gemstone mounted in the cutting machine 104 at that moment, and that gemstone information, such as cutting parameters, is retrieved for processing that gemstone.

[0046] Further, in an example, in the first step or the second step or both, for matching the two images, the cutting machine 104 can rotate the gemstone information through 360 degrees while superimposed over the real-time captured image of the gemstone. For instance, in case the gemstone information is in the form of 3D coordinates, at each predetermined interval of relative rotation, say 1 degree or 0.5 degree of rotation, the real-time image and the 3D coordinates are matched to determine the percentage of match. Once the 360 degrees rotation of one relative to the other is completed, the best match, i.e., the match having the highest percentage is assessed as to whether it is above the predetermined threshold match or not. If the match is greater than the threshold, then the cutting machine 104 determines the gemstone information as verified against the gemstone and vice versa. Accordingly, as mentioned above, the gemstone information is retrieved for further processing the gemstone. If the match for the mounted gemstone is less than the threshold percentage for the entire index file, then the gemstone is rejected for further processing as being mismatched or unverified. Operator intervention may be required in such a case.

[0047] The following example is provided for illustrating the aspects of the present subject matter, and should not be construed as being limiting: [0048] Let us assume that gemstone A and gemstone B have same diameters and their data are stored in the index file during planning process. The gemstone A doesn’t have table line marking while gemstone B does, and both gemstone A and B have girdle markings. When gemstone B is sent to laser cutting machine for processing, the gemstone has to be identified against the gemstone information and the gemstone information has to be identified for gemstone B, before initializing the cutting process.

[0049] For identification, consider that the information of the gemstone A from the index file is extracted instead of gemstone B as they share a common primary parameter, for instance, the diameter as mentioned above. This is also because the sorting and filtering of the gemstone information in the index file is done on the basis of the primary parameter, as explained earlier, so the gemstone information is identified based on the diameter. The gemstone information of gemstone A is matched with the pattern of the image of mounted gemstone B. For example, the coordinates of gemstone A extracted from gemstone information are matched with the pattern of the image of gemstone B using image processing techniques. As mentioned above, gemstone information of gemstone A having girdle marking coordinates only will try matching to the pattern of the girdle marking only of image of gemstone B. Since both are present in gemstone information of gemstone A as well as in the real-time image of gemstone B, the match results will be positive i.e. required match percentage is obtained. Therefore, the gemstone information A is shortlisted for gemstone B.

[0050] But the identification is evidently wrong here as the gemstone information belongs to gemstone A and not to gemstone B. Hence, the cutting machine 104 performs reverse identification where the pattern of captured image of gemstone B is matched with the coordinates in the gemstone information of gemstone B. Hence, in this way the confusing or potentially error-causing cases can be eliminated resulting in accurate identification of the gemstone.

[0051] In brief, the following steps are performed by the components of the gemstone processing system loo:

[0052] At the planning machine 102:

[0053] Step l: Generate a 3D Model of rough gemstone.

[0054] Step 2: Plan processing of the gemstone in the 3D model.

[0055] Step 3: Mark the gemstone based on the plan using, say a laser (for example, marking table side, table top, girdle etc. on the gemstone)

[0056] Step 4: Store 3D co-ordinates of the marking on 3D profile or 3D model of the gemstone as gemstone information in an index file.

[0057] Step 5: Generate single index file with gemstone information for each gemstone in the entire batch of gemstones and store in database or pass to the cutting machine 104.

[0058] At the cutting machine 104:

[0059] Step 1: Randomly select a gemstone and mount on a holder on the rotation table base. The gemstone may be randomly mounted automatically by the cutting machine 104 or maybe manually mounted.

[0060] Step 2: Capture a real-time image of the mounted gemstone.

[0061] Step 3: Match captured image with each of the gemstone information, i.e., coordinates stored in index file to shortlist one or matching gemstone information. This step uses the gemstone information as the reference for comparison.

[0062] Step 4: Perform reverse matching where the shortlisted gemstone information is matched against the captured image to find the final matching gemstone information. This step uses the captured image of the mounted gemstone as the reference.

[0063] Although the techniques of the present subject matter have been explained with the gemstone information as being reference in one step and the image of the mounted gemstone being the reference in the subsequent step, the reference in each step can be reversed, i.e., the image of the mounted gemstone and the gemstone information can be the reference in the subsequent step. In other case, other parameters associated with the gemstone can be used as reference for identifying and verifying the gemstone. All such variations and implementations are understood to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0064] Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C show various images captured by the image capturing device from the table view or the top view of the gemstone and superimposed with the image of the marking coordinates. The line markings 202 and line marking 204 shown in Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C are the marking coordinates extracted from the gemstone information. The black line markings shown in the image are the marking patterns from the real-time image of the selected gemstone which are required to match with the marking coordinates. Further, the line marking 206 depict the match of the coordinates in the gemstone information with the patterns in the real-time image.

[0065] Using the example above, Figure 2A shows gemstone information for gemstone A being attempted to be matched with the pattern real-time image of gemstone B. As the diameters of both the stones are same, the girdle line marking 206 shows the matching. Further, line marking 202 can depict invisible points and, for instance, the line marking 202 can be the marking coordinates of other part of the gemstone that are not required to be considered. [0066] Further, Figure 2B shows the cutting machine 104 applying the reverse matching technique. Using the reverse matching technique, the cutting machine 104 attempts to find the other marking lines through image processing techniques which are missing in the coordinates in the gemstone information of gemstone A. With this analysis, the cutting machine 104 concludes that the markings on the gemstone B are different from the coordinates in the gemstone information of gemstone A and, hence, the gemstones are different.

[0067] Figure 2C shows the pattern of the captured real-time image of gemstone B matching with the coordinates in the gemstone information of gemstone A resulting in a maximum match. Further, the gemstone processing system 100 can perform reverse matching, i.e. match the real-time image of gemstone B against the gemstone information of all the gemstones in the batch to affirm the match.

[0068] The advantages of the present subject matter include high production rate, automatic gemstone correctness verification (i.e., whether the correct gemstone is received for cutting) is done in a batch of gemstones.

[0069] The present subject matter also relates to methods for processing and verifying a batch of gemstones, according to an implementation of the present subject matter. The order in which the method steps are described below is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method steps can be combined in any appropriate order to execute the method or an alternative method. Additionally, individual steps may be deleted from the method without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein.

[0070] The methods can be performed by programmed computing devices, for example, based on instructions retrieved from non-transitory computer readable media. The computer readable media can include machine-executable or computer-executable instructions to perform all or portions of the described method. The computer readable media may be, for example, digital memories, magnetic storage media, such as a magnetic disks and magnetic tapes, hard drives, or optically readable data storage media.

[0071] In the present example, the method may be performed by the gemstone processing system 100 and the controller of the gemstone processing system loo. For the sake of brevity of description, the components of the gemstone processing system 100 performing the various steps of the method are not described in detail below. Such details are provided in the description with reference to the above figures.

[0072] The method performed by the gemstone processing system loo may be explained with respect to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. Fig. 3 illustrates a method creating a 3D profile of the gemstone while Fig. 4 illustrates a method of identifying the gemstone information for the gemstone placed in the cutting machine 104 of the gemstone processing system 100. according to an example of the present subject matter. The method(s) may be described in the general context of computer executable instructions. Generally, computer executable instructions can include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, procedures, engines, functions, etc., that perform particular functions or employ particular abstract data types. The method may also be practiced in a distributed computing environment where functions are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, computer executable instructions may be located in both local and remote computer storage media, including memory storage devices.

[0073] The order in which the method is described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method blocks can be combined in any order to employ the method 1000, or an alternative method. Additionally, individual blocks may be deleted from the methods without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. Furthermore, the methods 1000 can be employed in any suitable hardware, software, firmware, or combination thereof. The method 1000 is explained with reference to the imaging device 102, however, the methods can be employed in other systems as well.

[0074] Referring to Fig. 3, at block 302, a batch of gemstones is planned in the planning machine 102 where the basic geometry of each gemstone in the batch is scanned. In one example, each of the plurality of the gemstone in batch may be mounted on a planner machine to generate to generate a 3D profile. For instance, the 3D profile may include physical attributes of each gemstone, such as a geometry of the gemstone and all the 3D coordinates of all the marking lines are generated along with the 3D profile of each gemstone.

[0075] At block 304, based on the 3D marking coordinates, the marking pattern on each gemstone may be made by the laser in the planning machine 102 itself.

[0076] Further, at block 306 the 3D profile and the coordinates of the marking pattern may be stored as a plurality of parameters to generate as the gemstone information of each gemstone.

[0077] Finally, at block 308, the generated gemstone information is stored as the index file for the batch of gemstone.

[0078] Accordingly, once the marking process is completed, the index file is stored in the database 106 by the planning machine 102 and the batch of gemstones is transferred to the cutting machine 104 for further processing [0079] Fig. 4 illustrates a method 400 that may be performed subsequent to the method 300. At block 402, in the cutting machine 104, one gemstone is randomly picked up for processing and mounted in the cutting machine and at least one image of the picked gemstone is captured by means of a scanning device or an image capturing device.

[0080] At block 404, the cutting machine 104 of the gemstone processing system 100 may obtain the index file from the database 106. In another case, the index file can be obtained from the planning machine 102 after the completion of the marking of the batch of gemstones.

[0081] At block 406, the captured image is processed to determine a plurality of parameters. In one example, the plurality of parameters may include a primary parameter and comparing the primary parameter with a corresponding parameter in gemstone information for each gemstone.

[0082] At block 408, the primary parameter may be compared against the gemstone information in the index file for all the gemstones to shortlist matching gemstone information. In another example, the gemstone information can be filtered using the primary parameter of the mounted gemstone. For the analysis, the marking lines on the captured image are matched with the marking coordinates in the gemstone information for each gemstone in the index file, one by one. In simpler terms, the coordinates in the gemstone information are used as reference and superimposed, one-by- one, over the actual markings or coordinates on the mounted gemstone to shortlist one or more matching gemstone information. Subsequent to the analysis, the shortlisted matching gemstone information are obtained.

[0083] At block 410, the cutting machine 104 may perform a first comparison in which each of the plurality of parameters is compared against the parameters of each of the shortlisted gemstone information and the gemstone information has a highest match is shortlisted.

[0084] At block 412, by reverse matching technique, the shortlisted matching gemstone information may be matched against the markings or coordinates of the mounted gemstone, the markings on the mounted gemstone being the reference in this step. Further, the gemstone information has a highest match is shortlisted.

[0085] At block 414, based on the highest percentage of match between the real-time image and gemstone information, the best match is selected. In addition, the best match is assessed as to whether it is above the predetermined threshold match or not. If the match is greater than the threshold, then the gemstone is verified, the gemstone information, including cutting parameters and markings, are retrieved, and is further processed. If the match is less than the threshold percentage, then the gemstone is rejected as being mismatched or unverified. In another example, the gemstone information is selected when the gemstone information identified based on first comparison is same as the gemstone information identified based on reverse comparison

[0086] Finally, the gemstone is further processed for cutting at the cutting machine 104. Accordingly, the entire batch of gemstones is processed in the manner as described.

[0087] FIG. 5 illustrates an example network environment 500 using a non-transitory computer readable medium 502 for processing and verifying a batch of gemstones, according to an example of the present subject matter. The network environment 500 may be a public networking environment or a private networking environment. In one example, the network environment 500 includes a processing resource 504 communicatively coupled to the non- transitory computer readable medium 502 through a communication link 506.

[0088] For example, the processing resource 504 may be a processor of a computing system, such as the imaging device 102. The non-transitory computer readable medium 502 may be, for example, an internal memory device or an external memory device. In one example, the communication link 506 may be a direct communication link, such as one formed through a memory read/write interface. In another example, the communication link 506 may be an indirect communication link, such as one formed through a network interface. In such a case, the processing resource 504 may access the non-transitory computer readable medium 502 through a network 508. The network 508 may be a single network or a combination of multiple networks and may use a variety of communication protocols.

[0089] The processing resource 504 and the non-transitory computer readable medium 502 may also be communicatively coupled to data sources 510 over the network 508. The data sources 510 may include, for example, databases and computing devices. The data sources 510 may be used by the database administrators and other users to communicate with the processing resource 504.

[0090] In one example, the non-transitory computer readable medium

502 includes a set of computer readable and executable instructions, such as the engines 210. The set of computer readable instructions, referred to as instructions hereinafter, may be accessed by the processing resource 504 through the communication link 506 and subsequently executed to perform acts for network service insertion.

[0091] For discussion purposes, the execution of the instructions by the processing resource 504 has been described with reference to various components introduced earlier with reference to description of FIG. l. On execution by the processing resource 504, the controller may actuate the actuator to pick up a gemstone from amongst a plurality of gemstone and capturing at least one image of the picked gemstone. In addition, the controller may obtain an index file. In one example, the index file including gemstone information for each of the plurality of gemstone in the batch of gemstone. Further, the controller may process the captured image to determine a plurality of parameters, the plurality of parameters including a primary parameter and comparing the primary parameter with a corresponding parameter in gemstone information for each gemstone.

[0092] Once processed, the controller may shortlist a set of gemstone information whose corresponding parameter matches with the primary parameter. Thereafter, the controller may perform a first comparison by comparing each of the plurality of parameters against the parameters of each of the shortlisted gemstone information and identifying gemstone information that has a highest match. Thereafter, the controller may perform a reverse comparison by comparing the parameters of each of the shortlisted gemstone information against the plurality of captured parameters and identifying a gemstone information based on the highest match. Finally, the controller may select the gemstone information for processing the gemstone when the gemstone information identified based on first comparison is same as the gemstone information identified based on reverse comparison

[0093] Although implementations for processing and verification of a batch of gemstones are described, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features of the systems or methods or other aspects described herein. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as implementations for processing and verification of a batch of gemstones.