Platform for management of internet based public communications and public comment

• US 7,548,930 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2003
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: INgage Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Neighborhood America
• Inventors: Bankston, David A., Kobza, Kim Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong; Cam Y T
• Application Number:
  US10/690,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20050240623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,066 Days
• Field of Search: 707/9, 707/10, 709/206, 705/9
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

An Internet-based integrated technology platform that simultaneously supports the management of Public Information Sites—Web sites used to both (1) inform the public; and (2) capture and manage public comment (including submission of images)—while at the same time providing support for electronic communication for project teams that manage public involvement projects. The support includes sharing of graphic, text and collaborative tasks. The system and method allow revisions to comments and dynamic feedback in agency decision making based on comments with greater responsiveness. The system is also suited for implementing charettes with a large number of participants.

Claims

1. A communications management network system for managing a public involvement project with a front end including a concurrent public feedback loop, the system comprising:

a server computer connected to a network;

a front end secure web portal to remotely access the server computer over the network for providing information regarding the public involvement project to public users at public-at-large and receiving a large number of public comment inputs regarding the public involvement project from the public users at the public-at-large;

a backend for project team members managing the public involvement project to access the server computer, wherein the backend includes an integration and collaboration of public feedback and the backend is suitable for managing one or more public involvement projects;

a communications manager application for receiving the large number of public comment inputs from the public users at the public-at-large and handling the large number of public comment inputs from the public users at the public-at-large for access by the project team members to use and respond to the large number of public comment inputs from the public users at the public-at-large regarding the public involvement project, wherein the communications manager application comprises;

an information module for welcoming a user and referencing permission level access, wherein the information module further comprises a project overview, project news and project status;

a project team tools module for coordinating and informing team members, wherein the project team tools module further comprises a task manager, calendar, team access management, team communications and image manager, and

a communications tools module for facilitating information transfer, wherein the communications tools module further comprises one or more message boards and web conferencing;

wherein the communications manager application further supports Web site maintenance by one or more of updating dynamic text areas, creating Web sites by using templates, handling multiple Web sites by using customizations of at least one shared feature, providing a separate address linked to a Web site for accepting the large number of public comment inputs, providing a separate address for accepting comments, providing automatic font and color adjustments, and supporting substantially unlimited number of active pages;

wherein the server computer provides access, following authentication, by the public users and the project team members to one or more of the information module, the project team tools module, the communications tools module, a site management tools module, and modules for;

searching the large number of public comment inputs;

organizing the large number of public comment inputs;

analyzing public comment inputs at the backend;

publishing the analyzed public comment inputs from the backend to enable the concurrent public feedback loop;

generating one or more reports by integrating the large number of public comment inputs or large number of searched public comment inputs; and

creating a modified rule based upon the analyzing and handling the large number of public comment inputs regarding the public involvement project, if the modified rule is not final, then questions are posted to invite further comments.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the information module provides one or more of project overview, recent project changes, and project status.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one software interface for receiving the large number of public comment inputs.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one software interface comprises:

a first sub-interface for creating and submitting authenticating an individual selected from the public users from the public-at-large; and

a second sub-interface for receiving information about the individual selected from the public users from the public-at-large.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first and second interfaces are presented to the individual selected from the public users from the public-at-large in a seamless manner.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the project team tools module provides one or more of a task manager, related links, a project calendar, an image manager, a document library, a project showcase, a directory, a listing of team members, and electronic communications with team members.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications tools module provides one or more of web conferencing and message board.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the site management tools module provides one or more of site maintenance, survey maintenance, web trend tools, survey reports, public comment and public comment reports.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the backend further comprises:

an option for uploading documents,

an option for one or more of sorting and searching the large number of public comment inputs and documents in accordance with a specified search criteria; and

an option for filtering the large number of public comment inputs and documents.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the site management tools module includes screening public submission to identify presence of inappropriate subject matter.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the identified presence of inappropriate subject matter is sequestered for detailed review.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the project team tools module includes searching for public submissions in accordance with one or more of a keyword, a time of submission, an identifier, an idea, a theme and a vision.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications manager application further comprises:

shared modular code; and

means for responding to different browser implementations by invoking corresponding code.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein work product is published on a Website concurrently with a generation to invite comments to complete a feedback loop.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications manager application accepts one or more of a public agency, a quasi public agency and an enterprise to manage the large number of public comment inputs, manage comments from a select audience, support one or more teams of consultants, agency staff, stakeholder organizations relevant to one or more public involvement projects at a same time.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications manager application provides one or more of a public agency, a quasi public agency, an enterprise electronic project management with work-flow, document and image management, content management, Web-site management, and reporting technologies.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein access is provided to one or more of the information module, the project team tools module, the communications tools module, and the site management tools module at a plurality of levels.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of access levels include User Manager for adding and assigning users to projects, Project Manager for creating new projects and having full access to a communications management module, and Team Member for having access to a limited number of modules with read/update privileges.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising a public website maintenance interface for providing access to one or more of a project overview, a timeline, a document repository, an events calendar, an image manager, a public comment manager module, and a survey module.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the communications manager application access the public website maintenance interface via a project site maintenance interface.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the public comment manager module includes providing a submitter with one or more of an option of being notified of additional developments and participating in at least one survey.

22. The system of claim 1 further comprising modules for one or more of general information about a project, project goals, a project team, public documents, public notices, an image resource library, a project calendar, a project showcase, and a public comment module with one or more of a notification and survey functionality.

23. A computer-implemented method of managing a public involvement project with a front end including a concurrent public feedback loop and a backend including an integration and collaboration of public feedback, the method comprising:

providing access over a network, via a front end secure web portal, to a server computer operatively connected to the network;

providing information regarding the public involvement project to public users at public-at-large and receiving a large number of public comment inputs regarding the public involvement project from the public users at the public-at-large;

managing, by project team members, via the backend, the public involvement project to access the server computer, wherein the backend is suitable for managing one or more public involvement projects;

receiving, via a communications manager application, the large number of public comment inputs regarding the public involvement project from the public users at the public-at-large,

handling the large number of public comment inputs from the public users at the public-at-large, wherein the handling includes responding, by the project team members, to the large number of public comment inputs from the public users at the public-at-large regarding the public involvement project;

searching the large number of public comment inputs;

organizing the large number of public comment inputs;

analyzing public comment inputs at the backend;

publishing the analyzed public comment inputs from the backend to enable the concurrent public feedback loop;

generating one or more reports by integrating the large number of public comment inputs or large number of searched public comment inputs;

creating a modified rule based upon the analyzing and handling the large number of public comment input regarding the public involvement project, if the modified rule is not final, then questions are posted to invite further comments;

wherein the generating, analyzing, publishing and the creating are executed by using the communications manager application, wherein the communications manager application comprises;

an information module for welcoming a user and referencing permission level access, wherein the information module further comprises a project overview, project news and project status,

a project team tools module for coordinating and informing team members, wherein the project team tools module further comprises a task manager, calendar, team access management, team communications and image manager, and

a communications tools module for facilitating information transfer, wherein the communications tools module further comprises one or more message boards and web conferencing;

wherein the communications manager application further supports Web site maintenance by one or more of updating dynamic text areas, creating Web sites by using templates, handling multiple Web sites by using customizations of at least one shared feature, providing a separate address linked to a Web site for accepting the large number of public comment inputs, providing a separate address for accepting comments, providing automatic font and color adjustments, and supporting substantially unlimited number of active pages;

accessing, following authentication, by the public users and the project team members, to the information module, the project team tools module, the communications tools module, and a site management tools module.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising generating a modified proposal based upon reviewing and handling the large number of public comment inputs regarding the public involvement project.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising recreating, reposting or revising the public involvement project.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the information module further comprises a project overview, recent project changes, and project status.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the project team tools module further comprises a task manager, related links, a project calendar, an image manager, a document library, a project showcase, a directory, a listing of team members, and electronic communications with team members.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the communications tools module further comprises web conferencing and one or more message boards.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the site management tools module further comprises site maintenance, survey maintenance, web trend tools, survey reports, public comment and public comment reports.