Database systems and methods for integrating data items collected from multiple data sources
First Claim
1. A database computing system comprising a plurality of databases for facilitating transmission of campaign information between a campaign manager and a large plurality of voters via a campaign supporter who has an association with the voters for a given campaign, the system preventing access by the campaign manager to voter communication information for privacy purposes, the system comprising:
- a network interface that is coupled to the internet network for receiving and transmitting one or more packet flows among the components of the system;
a population dataset comprising public information about the voters including at least the name of each voter for a given campaign;
a plurality of contact datasets, wherein the supporter gives the system access to at least one of the plurality of contact datasets, wherein that contact dataset contains at least one contact comprising data items associated with at least one type of contact information;
a plurality of campaign databases, at least one of the campaign databases corresponding to the campaign;
a plurality of upgraded contact databases, at least one of the upgraded contact databases corresponding to the supporter;
a large plurality of voter computing devices;
a plurality of supporter computing devices, wherein at least one of the supporter computing devices is used by the supporter;
a campaign manager computing device used by the campaign managera database system server comprising at least one computer processor; and
a computer readable storage medium storing program instructions configured for execution by the computer processor in order to cause the computing system to;
receive, over the network, the contact dataset and a request from the supporter to match the contact in the contact set with the voters for the given campaign;
access the contact dataset to retrieve the contact;
determine a relationship between the supporter and the contact;
receive, over the network, the population dataset;
access the population dataset to retrieve the voters; and
perform a matching process between the contact and the voters from the population dataset without human intervention, the matching process comprising;
determining a set of contact information available in the contact, the set of contact information including the at least one type of contact information of the contact;
comparing the set of contact information with the public information for the voters in the population dataset to determine a matching voter;
upon determining a matching voter, determining the relationship between the contact and the matching voter;
storing in the campaign database for that campaign matching voter information including the matching voter name; and
assigning within the campaign database the matching voter to a virtual precinct corresponding to the supporter by appending to the stored voter information a supporter identification configured to identify the supporter, wherein the virtual precinct comprises a plurality of matched voters from the supporter'"'"'s contact dataset, each matched voter within the virtual precinct having appended to it the supporter identification, the supporter identification comprising a virtual precinct association;
store within the campaign database for that campaign and other campaigns matching voter information for other matched voters generated from contact datasets received from other supporters other than the supporter, wherein the other matched voters have virtual precinct associations other than the supporter'"'"'s virtual precinct association;
store in the upgraded contact database for the supporter the contact from the contact dataset including the at least one type of contact information;
append to the stored contact in the upgraded contact database a campaign identification configured to identify the given campaign, the campaign identification comprising a virtual precinct association; and
prevent access by the campaign manager to the stored contact in the upgraded contact database;
allow access by the supporter to the campaign database, based on the supporter'"'"'s virtual precinct association, only to the matching voter information of the supporter'"'"'s matched voters;
prevent access by the supporter to the other matched voters in the campaign database;
receive a message template from the campaign manager and a request to send a message to at least some of the voters in the virtual precinct of the supporter, wherein the message is sent by the supporter or on behalf of the supporter and not by the campaign manager;
generate a message recipient list using the campaign database and the upgraded contact database;
transmit the message template and the message recipient list to the supporter; and
transmit the message to the voters without human intervention or access by the campaign manager.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a database system for collecting and integrating electronic data items from multiple data sources. Embodiments of the present disclosure also relate to a database system for determining the relationships between related data items from multiple data sources, so that the related data items may be integrated in a way that protects the privacy of those data items. The system may, for example, identify related data items by matching data items between the multiple data sources according to a pre-defined matching process. The related data items may be selectively integrated and stored across one or more databases. The relationship between the related data items may be preserved by generating associations between the related data items and storing those associations with those data items. This allows related data items to be easily located through the associations, which essentially allows for the grouping of data items to be performed across multiple databases. The associations may also be used to restrict user access to data items that are relevant to the user, which can be used to prevent unauthorized access to certain data items and secures their privacy.
15 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A database computing system comprising a plurality of databases for facilitating transmission of campaign information between a campaign manager and a large plurality of voters via a campaign supporter who has an association with the voters for a given campaign, the system preventing access by the campaign manager to voter communication information for privacy purposes, the system comprising:
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a network interface that is coupled to the internet network for receiving and transmitting one or more packet flows among the components of the system; a population dataset comprising public information about the voters including at least the name of each voter for a given campaign; a plurality of contact datasets, wherein the supporter gives the system access to at least one of the plurality of contact datasets, wherein that contact dataset contains at least one contact comprising data items associated with at least one type of contact information; a plurality of campaign databases, at least one of the campaign databases corresponding to the campaign; a plurality of upgraded contact databases, at least one of the upgraded contact databases corresponding to the supporter; a large plurality of voter computing devices; a plurality of supporter computing devices, wherein at least one of the supporter computing devices is used by the supporter; a campaign manager computing device used by the campaign manager a database system server comprising at least one computer processor; and a computer readable storage medium storing program instructions configured for execution by the computer processor in order to cause the computing system to; receive, over the network, the contact dataset and a request from the supporter to match the contact in the contact set with the voters for the given campaign; access the contact dataset to retrieve the contact; determine a relationship between the supporter and the contact; receive, over the network, the population dataset; access the population dataset to retrieve the voters; and perform a matching process between the contact and the voters from the population dataset without human intervention, the matching process comprising; determining a set of contact information available in the contact, the set of contact information including the at least one type of contact information of the contact; comparing the set of contact information with the public information for the voters in the population dataset to determine a matching voter; upon determining a matching voter, determining the relationship between the contact and the matching voter; storing in the campaign database for that campaign matching voter information including the matching voter name; and assigning within the campaign database the matching voter to a virtual precinct corresponding to the supporter by appending to the stored voter information a supporter identification configured to identify the supporter, wherein the virtual precinct comprises a plurality of matched voters from the supporter'"'"'s contact dataset, each matched voter within the virtual precinct having appended to it the supporter identification, the supporter identification comprising a virtual precinct association; store within the campaign database for that campaign and other campaigns matching voter information for other matched voters generated from contact datasets received from other supporters other than the supporter, wherein the other matched voters have virtual precinct associations other than the supporter'"'"'s virtual precinct association; store in the upgraded contact database for the supporter the contact from the contact dataset including the at least one type of contact information; append to the stored contact in the upgraded contact database a campaign identification configured to identify the given campaign, the campaign identification comprising a virtual precinct association; and prevent access by the campaign manager to the stored contact in the upgraded contact database; allow access by the supporter to the campaign database, based on the supporter'"'"'s virtual precinct association, only to the matching voter information of the supporter'"'"'s matched voters; prevent access by the supporter to the other matched voters in the campaign database; receive a message template from the campaign manager and a request to send a message to at least some of the voters in the virtual precinct of the supporter, wherein the message is sent by the supporter or on behalf of the supporter and not by the campaign manager; generate a message recipient list using the campaign database and the upgraded contact database; transmit the message template and the message recipient list to the supporter; and transmit the message to the voters without human intervention or access by the campaign manager. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification