System and method for authorizing polling selections

• US 8,037,148 B1
• Filed: 10/06/2009
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Csn-Ip LLC
• Original Assignee: Csn-Ip LLC
• Inventors: Cahlan, Albert E. II
• Primary Examiner(s): WANG, LIANG CHE A
• Application Number:
  US12/587,436
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/203, 709/204, 709/205, 709/206, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/226
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method and system for authorizing polling selections includes a polling server communicating to user terminals, optionally through the Internet, broadcast media, or the like. A polling account is created for each user. One or more issues are identified and the user is notified. The user'"'"'s identity and, optionally, membership in a polling pool are verified. The user'"'"'s polling input is stored and disseminated to the public. Optionally, the polling input, or a summary or graphical representation thereof, is disseminated along with a voting record or other objectively verifiable position of a representative of the users for comparison.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one user terminal;

a polling server in communication with said user terminal, said polling server including a data storage storing instructions executable by said polling server for authorizing and collecting polling selections comprising;

receiving user information through said user terminal at said polling server from a user;

creating a polling account for said user based on said user information, said polling account identified by an account identifier;

receiving input at said polling server identifying an issue;

said polling server formulating a poll question at said polling server based on said issue, said step of formulating comprising;

receiving an input of said issue;

transmitting said input issue to at least a portion of said users;

conducting a pre-poll comprising receiving pre-poll input from said portion of said users; and

formulating a multiple choice question based on said issue using at least a portion of said pre-poll input in the possible responses to said multiple choice question;

said polling server defining a polling pool based on said issue, said polling pool including a plurality of users based on said user information;

transmitting said poll question to each user terminal associated with a user in said polling pool;

receiving polling input at through user terminal at said polling server comprising a polling selection and account identifier;

verifying the user'"'"'s polling account based on said account identifier and verifying said user'"'"'s inclusion in said polling pool; and

recording said user'"'"'s polling selection if said user'"'"'s polling account and inclusion in said polling pool are verified; and

an output device in communication with said polling server adapted to output said polling selections from said polling server.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said instructions executable by said polling server further comprise:

receiving voting input based on said issue; and

comparing said voting input on said issue with said polling selections;

generating a graphical representation of said comparison; and

outputting said graphical representation of said comparison to said output device.

3. A system comprising:

at least one user terminal;

a polling server in communication with said user terminal, said polling server including a data storage storing instructions executable by said polling server for authorizing and collecting polling selections comprising;

receiving user information through said user terminal at said polling server from a user;

creating a polling account for said user based on said user information, said polling account identified by an account identifier;

receiving input at said polling server identifying an issue;

said polling server formulating a poll question at said polling server based on said issue, said step of formulating comprising;

receiving an input of said issue;

transmitting said input issue to at least a portion of said users;

conducting a pre-poll comprising receiving pre-poll input from said portion of said users; and

formulating a multiple choice question based on said issue using at least a portion of said pre-poll input in the possible responses to said multiple choice question;

said polling server defining a polling pool based on said issue, said polling pool including a plurality of users based on said user information;

transmitting said poll question to each user terminal associated with a user in said polling pool;

receiving polling input at through user terminal at said polling server comprising a polling selection and account identifier;

verifying the user'"'"'s polling account based on said account identifier and verifying said user'"'"'s inclusion in said polling pool;

recording said user'"'"'s polling selection if said user'"'"'s polling account and inclusion in said polling pool are verified;

receiving voting input based on said issue; and

comparing said voting input on said issue with said polling selections;

an output device in communication with said polling server adapted to output said comparison between said voting input and said polling selections from said polling server.