Method for carrying out votes, referendums and polls and system for the implementation thereof

• US 6,935,561 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2000
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sergei Alexandrovich Chernomorov
• Original Assignee: Sergei Alexandrovich Chernomorov
• Inventors: Chernomorov, Sergei Alexandrovich
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, APRIL ALICIA
• Application Number:
  US10/168,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20020194060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,708 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/386, 705/12, 705/16, 705/18, 705/21
• US Class Current: 235/386
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 13/00 Voting apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/211 Software architecture within ATMs or in relation to the ATM network

Abstract

Method and apparatus with data collection and preprocessing subsystems interconnected by a network, carry out open and secret votes, referenda and public opinion polls. A payment system with communication environment is used with the subsystems and network. A poll data processing center for final processing of the data is connected to the subsystems by the communication environment. Software of the payment system includes functions for carrying out votes, referenda and public opinion polls, for preprocessing the data, for encrypting and decrypting the data, and for placing the data into information blocks to carry out the votes, referenda and polls. To exchange electronic messages containing these information blocks between the subsystems and the processing center, the software of the center includes functions for exchanging the messages, for decrypting the blocks and for accumulating and analyzing the data in the blocks.

Claims

1. A system for carrying out votes, referenda and public opinion polls, the system including an integrated system for collecting data on arrangements being carried out, said integrated system consisting of a data collection subsystem and data preprocessing subsystem interconnected by means of a data network, characterized in that a payment system of any level—

international, national, regional, local, or a combination of such payment systems is used as the integrated system for collecting the data on arrangements being carried out, and a communication environment of said payment system is used as the data network, said system for carrying out votes, referenda and public opinion polls comprising further a poll data processing center for a final processing of said data, the center being connected to said data collection and data preprocessing subsystems via said communication environment, a software of said payment system including an additional set of functions for carrying out votes, referenda and public opinion polls, for preprocessing the data on arrangements being carried out, for encrypting and decrypting those data, and for placing the data into information blocks to carry out both open and secret votes, referenda and public opinion polls, to exchange electronic messages containing said information blocks between said data collection and data preprocessing subsystems and the poll data processing center, and the software of the poll data processing center including a set of functions for exchanging said electronic messages with said subsystems, for decrypting the information blocks included into the messages, for accumulating and analyzing the data on votes, referenda and public opinion polls contained in the information blocks.

2. The system by the claim 1, characterized in that the poll data processing center consists of a communication computer with a communication device connected to the communication computer, a central computer with a long-term data storage device connected to the central computer, and personal computers, all said computers being coupled via a local area network, and said communication device being connected with said communication environment.

3. A method for carrying out votes, referenda and public opinion polls, the method including steps of:

identifying voters and respondents in accordance with individual electronic key cards;

receiving information on the choice made by the voters and respondents;

transmitting the information via telecommunication networks, and processing subsequently the accumulated information;

characterized in that the step of identifying the voters and respondents is performed by means of POS terminals and automatic teller machines operated by the payment system, and payment instruments of said payment system being at the disposal of the voters and respondents are used as the individual electronic key cards, and information about the voters and respondents as well as the choice made by the voters and respondents in the form of electronic messages consisting of encrypted information blocks are directed from said POS terminals and automatic teller machines to the processing centers of said payment system, wherefrom the electronic messages after preprocessing are directed to the poll data processing center for decrypting said information blocks and final processing the data on votes, referenda and public opinion polls.