Wireless voting method

• US 20060242455A1
• Filed: 04/21/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Iml Ltd. (Computershare Limited)
• Original Assignee: Iml Ltd. (Computershare Limited)
• Inventors: Knowles, Anthony M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,533,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/6
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/124 moved rectilinearly, e.g. road-breaker apparatus with reciprocating tools, with drop-hammers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 13/00 Voting apparatus

Abstract

A wireless voting method is disclosed. The method comprises generating an optical voting indication (140), and controlling a plurality of handsets (112), capable of electromagnetically transmitting a vote input (150) by a user, and a vote registering arrangement (130), capable of receiving and registering transmitted votes, to register votes for handsets responding to the optical indication (140) in a predetermined manner.

Claims

1. A wireless voting method comprising:

generating an optical voting indication; and

controlling a plurality of handsets, capable of electromagnetically transmitting a vote input by a user, and a vote registering arrangement, capable of receiving and registering transmitted votes, to register votes for handsets responding to the optical indication in a predetermined manner.

2. A wireless voting method according to claim 1, wherein the optical indication is a designated input, and the step of controlling further comprises entering the designated input at a handset.

3. A wireless voting method according to claim 2, wherein the designated input includes a code.

4. A wireless voting method according to claim 3, wherein the code is an alphanumeric sequence.

5. A wireless voting method according to claim 2, further comprising generating the designated input.

6. A wireless voting method according to claim 5, wherein the designated input is generated in accordance with a random number algorithm.

7. A wireless voting method according to claim 5, wherein the designated input is generated in dependence on a determinable property of the system.

8. A wireless voting method according to claim 7, wherein the property is a measurement of time.

9. A wireless voting method according to claim 5, wherein the designated input is generated at the vote registering arrangement.

10. A wireless voting method according to claim 5, wherein the designated input is generated at each handset.

11. A wireless voting method according to claim 2, wherein the designated input is transmitted to each handset.

12. A wireless voting method according to claim 1, wherein the step of controlling further comprises transmitting the vote input from a handset to the vote registering arrangement in dependence on whether the appropriate designated input is entered at the handset.

13. A wireless voting method according to claim 1, wherein the step of controlling further comprises transmitting the designated input from a handset to the vote registering arrangement, and registering the vote input in dependence on whether the appropriate designated input is received at the vote registering arrangement.

14. A wireless voting method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying the optical voting indication.

15. A wireless voting system according to claim 14, wherein the step of displaying comprises displaying the optical voting indication at a plurality of locations.

16. A wireless voting method according to claim 1, wherein the step of controlling further comprises receiving the optical indication at a handset.

17. A wireless voting method according to claim 16, wherein the step of controlling further comprises transmitting the vote input in dependence on whether the optical indication is received at the handset.

18. A wireless voting method according to claim 1, further comprising outputting the optical voting indication.

19. A wireless voting method according to claim 1, wherein the step of outputting the optical voting indication further comprises outputting the optical voting indication during a voting period to which the vote input relates.

20. A wireless voting method according to claim 1, wherein the step of outputting the optical voting indication further comprises outputting the optical voting indication before the start of a voting period to which the vote input relates.

21. A wireless voting method according to claim 1, further comprising allowing voting functions to be performed by the user of a handset on receipt of the optical voting indication at the handset.

22. A wireless voting method according to claim 1, further comprising allowing non-voting functions to be performed by the user of a handset irrespective of receipt of the optical voting indication at the handset.

23. A wireless voting system comprising:

a voting controller having an interface to provide an output to generate an optical indication for voting validation, a reception device for receiving electromagnetically transmitted vote inputs, and a processor programmed to register vote inputs; and

a plurality of handsets, each handset comprising an input device for receiving the indication of voting validation, and a transmission device for electromagnetically transmitting the vote input;

the voting controller and each handset being adapted to cause the vote input to be registered by the voting controller if the indication of voting validation is received at the handset.

24. A wireless voting system according to claim 23, wherein the optical indication is a designated input, and the input device is adapted to allow the user to enter the designated input at the handset.

25. A wireless voting system according to claim 24, wherein the voting controller processor is further programmed to generate the designated input.

26. A wireless voting system according to claim 25, wherein the voting controller processor is programmed to generated the designated input in accordance with a random number algorithm.

27. A wireless voting system according to claim 25, the voting controller processor is programmed to generated the designated input in accordance with a determinable property of the system.

28. A wireless voting system according to claim 27, wherein the property is a measurement of time.

29. A wireless voting system according to claim 25, wherein each handset comprises a processor, the processor being programmed also to generate the designated input.

30. A wireless voting system according to claim 24, wherein the voting controller further comprises a transmission device for transmitting the designated input to each handset, and each handset further comprises a reception device for receiving the designated input.

31. A wireless voting system according to claim 23, wherein the transmission device at each handset is adapted to transmit the vote input to the vote registering arrangement in dependence on whether the appropriate designated input is entered at the handset.

32. A wireless voting system according to claim 23, wherein the transmission device at each handset is adapted to transmit the designated input to the voting controller, the reception device at the voting controller is adapted to receive the designated input, and the processor at the voting controller is programmed to register the vote input in dependence on whether the appropriate designated input is received by the reception device at the voting controller.

33. A wireless voting system according to claim 23, further comprising at least one display, provided in at least one location, for displaying the optical voting indication.

34. A wireless voting system according to claim 23, wherein each handset further comprises an optical reception device for receiving the optical indication at each respective handset.

35. A wireless voting system according to claim 34, wherein the transmission device at each handset is adapted to transmit the vote input to the vote registering arrangement in dependence on whether the optical indication is received at the handset.

36. A wireless voting system according to claim 23, wherein the voting controller is adapted to output the optical voting indication during a voting period to which the vote input relates.

37. A wireless voting system according to claim 23, wherein the voting controller is adapted to output the optical voting indication before the start of a voting period to which the vote input relates.

38. A wireless voting system according to any claim 23, wherein each handset is adapted to allow voting functions to be performed by the user on receipt of the optical voting indication.

39. A wireless voting system according to claim 23, wherein each handset is adapted to allow non-voting functions to be performed by the user irrespective of receipt of the optical voting indication.