Abstract: A method for secure, electronic, distributed voting using existing automated teller machines (ATMs), comprising issuing each voter an access card that can be read by an ATM and a personal identification number (PIN); enabling the ATMs to read access cards and accept PINs; in response to the reading of an access card and appropriate PIN entry, displaying at the ATM information relating to the vote to be cast; allowing the user to cast votes using one or more ATM functions; identifying a particular ATM function as an indication of finalization of the vote; and in response, automatically tallying the finalized vote.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that use voting rights to make decisions and to trigger a transaction in response to that decision. To this end, the systems may provide a site capable of allowing individuals in the group to vote for one of a plurality of decisions. The votes are tallied to identify the decision of the group. Program logic executes to process the election result to determine a transaction authorized by the group, and executing program logic, in response to the determination of an authorized transaction, to perform the transaction authorized by the group. In one particular application of these technologies, the systems operate as investment clubs that may be associated with a brokerage firm. Specifically, a brokerage firm may provide to its existing customers a platform for setting up an investment club wherein individuals may go on-line, open an account with the brokerage service and set up an on-line investment club.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing campaign information, including a memory device for storing at least one of campaign information and campaign-related information, a receiver for receiving a request for information regarding at least one of a candidate, a campaign and an election, a processor for processing the request for information in conjunction with the at least one of campaign information and campaign-related information, wherein the processor generates an information report in response to the request for information, and a transmitter for transmitting the information report to a communication device associated with an individual.

Abstract: A secure election system provides a downloadable ballot viewer object for the casting of ballots. The ballot viewer object authenticates the user, permits user interaction in the casting of ballots, seals the cast ballot image by encryption, and transmits the cast ballot to election headquarters. The ballot viewer object may be used to perform secure voting on the Internet.

Abstract: An electronic voting system includes a controller and one or more voting stations. The voting stations each have a liquid crystal display that is electronically configurable to present voters with ballot information. A mobile ballot box includes memory storage that is used to transport electronic ballot data to and from an election headquarters. The visual display on the LCD at the casting of each ballot is checked against electronic records of votes, as they are stored. The electronic ballot information includes a plurality of ballot styles that the controller selectively provides to the voting stations depending upon voter authorization corresponding to a particular style. The voting stations may be retrofitted with access units that facilitate voting by disabled or physically challenged persons. A complete audit trail is maintained of all operator interaction with the controller.

Abstract: In an improved election process, a voter constructs his or her vote message (potentially padded with a random string) and encrypts it. The voter then signs the encrypted vote and posts the signed, encrypted, vote on a bulletin board. After the voting booths have closed, a set of talliers decrypt the encrypted votes with the aid of the mix network, to obtain the final tally, but without revealing or being able to notice the relationship between votes cast and votes in the tally.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allowing voting decisions to be determined through the use of a data communications network is provided. The process begins by sending consent email messages to each of the potential voters that may vote to determine the result of the voting decision. The consent email message includes a hyperlink (URL) to a consent website, where potential voters can access the consent website to provide consent information. Once the consent information for the potential voters has been gathered, a set of eligible voters is determined from the potential voters based on those which provided consent information. The consent information can include consent to receive electronic information regarding the voting decision as well as consent to vote electronically. Based on the set of eligible voters determined, a second email message is sent to each of these eligible voters, where the second email message provides notification of a voting website to these eligible voters.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for initiating communication between at least one seller of goods and/or services and at least one consumer through an electronic agent. The first step for the method is providing the electronic agent. The second step is making the electronic agent accessible to the consumers. The third step to the method is recording a access method for prospectively communicating with consumers who access the electronic agent. The final step is providing at least one seller with access to the access method through the electronic agent to communicate with consumers who accessed the electronic agent.

Abstract: A Direct Vote Recording System (DVRS) (10) has three primary components, Personal Computer (PC) (100) which runs an Election Management System (EMS), Direct Vote Recording Machine (DVRM) (300) and a Smart Card Activator Device (SCAD) (500). In addition, the DVRS includes Data Carriers (800), Voter Smart Cards (710) and Polling Office smart cards (720).

Abstract: A system for conducting surveys to voters in multiple different languages and registering voters is provided over a network, such as the Internet. The system includes a programmed computer system representing at least one network server which provides an addressable voting site and registration site on the network, and a database storing voting information for building surveys in multiple languages and recording the results of the surveys, and registration information for building registration questionnaires and recording the results of the questionnaires. The network server accesses and updates the records of multiple tables of the database through a transaction server connected to the database. In response to a computer of a voter connecting to the network server over the network, the network server determines the language and country of the voter, and then dynamically constructs a survey in the voter's language in accordance with the voting information stored in the database.

Abstract: A participant controlled mutual fund is directed by participants who make the investing decisions through an intricate nominating and voting process over the Internet. The voting process is flexible in that it adjusts to the changing positions in the financial markets, thereby allowing the mutual fund to quickly take advantage of good opportunities, while preventing haste decisions in volatile markets. An advisor executes the market orders generated by the participants and monitors the mutual fund to ensure that the fund complies with applicable law.

Abstract: Election automation systems are disclosed that allow plural entities, for example trustees, to ensure various properties of an election, including correctness of the outcome, by initially using confidential information to form printed ballots and transferring the ballots to voters. Later when voters electronically cast ballots, such as over networks, they use the confidential information and optionally physical ballot structures to authenticate information provided them, including information indicating whether their votes were received by the trustees. Voters can also use the information in ballots to ensure the secrecy of their vote while it is transmitted to the trustees. The trustees can tabulate results while preventing colluding subsets of trustees from being able to improperly modify the outcome of the election or violate the privacy of individual voters.

Abstract: A method and system for political advocacy is described that uses a nationwide voter registration database, rather than a zip code-to-district matching system, to link advocates to their elected officials. Thus, advocates can contact the appropriate elected officials, and the elected officials can be informed of the advocates' political relevance. Furthermore, a targeted political advocacy technique is described in which a grassroots coordinator can send action alerts to those advocates who are registered to vote in districts of a particular group of legislators.

Abstract: To enable low cost distribution of pictures from a mobile entity that incorporates digital camera functionality, the mobile entity (20) generates both a high resolution picture image (81) and a low resolution thumbnail (80). This thumbnail (80) is distributed via a mobile radio infrastructure to a service system (40) that then transfers the thumbnail to specified recipients (60). After viewing the thumbnail (80), each recipient (60) indicates to the service system (40) whether they wish to receive the high resolution image (81) and, if so, whether it is to be transferred immediately or at the next. The service system (40) effects transfer of the high resolution image (81) accordingly. In other embodiments, distribution of the high resolution image is effected independently of the service system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating electronic commerce between suppliers of predictions and consumers of predictions. Suppliers provide their predictions on the outcomes of future events in one or more categories, and each supplier's accuracy is tracked. Consumers interested in obtaining predictions for one of more of those categories are allowed to selectively choose which suppliers' predictions they wish to view. The suppliers are compensated based on the number of consumers who view their predictions. In one embodiment, the consumers pay for the predictions that they view while the suppliers are paid a portion of the revenue obtained from the consumers. In another embodiment the consumers are not charged and all revenue is derived from advertisers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system of publicly co-creating a narrative document by parallel and on-going communication of a plurality of signals comprising public reactions to portions of the document, the signals being generated via one or more repurposed signaling devices. A display illustrates an introductory portion of the document intended to engender a public interest in the document and an emotive or intellectual reaction thereto. The document can comprise a dependent set of associated document elements which are sequentially variable for variation of document content to evolve different document narratives. The public viewing the display communicates, via the device or devices, a signal indicative of their reactions and for effecting a prospective scene selection in the document content that, in turn will vary the narrative.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for aggregating and pooling information with feedback in a computer communication system. A communication system includes a server device and a set of client devices. Each client device collects information from an associated individual (whether by asking questions of those individuals, or accepting data input from peripheral devices), and transmits that data to a server device. The server device, or some other device at its behest, determines statistical information with regard to that data (such as aggregate, correlation, dispersion, or other measures), and provides that information to a communication channel for distribution to the individuals. The communication channel can include either (1) a broadcast communication channel that members of an affinity group can display, or (2) redistributing the determined statistical measures to associated individuals using the client devices.

Abstract: A system for determining whether items of evidence prove a conclusion based upon user input data. The software of the present invention interrogates a user to receive characteristic information about the user and for information about the items of evidence in a trial. In accordance with the present invention, a user inputs a probability for each item of evidence that the item of evidence is true and a probability that the item of evidence proves a conclusion. The software of the present invention then calculates the probability that each item of evidence individually proves the conclusion and the probability that all of the items of evidence combined prove the conclusion. The software of the present invention than performs statistical analysis of the data receive from several users to determine trends about the evidence and to model a jury or to select a jury from a pool of potential jurors.

Abstract: A number-theoretic based algorithm provides for secure receipt-free voting. A vote generating center generates a choice of votes for each voter or vote chooser. The votes are encrypted, shuffled, and conveyed to a vote chooser along with information regarding how the votes were shuffled without being intercepted en route. The information is preferably sent along untappable secure channels. The method can incorporate validation of generation and shuffling of the votes using chameleon commitment and interactive proofs. The invention can be realized by current-generation personal computers with untappable channels and access to an electronic bulletin board.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for improved electronic voting. The system optionally allows paper type ballots to be utilized. A plurality of cryptographic routines are utilized in a distributed data processing system to maximize the privacy of both the voter's identity and the content of completed ballots. An authentication server is utilized to interact with a voter to issue electronic ballots and receive completed electronic ballots in a manner which determines the authenticity of the identification of the voter, while maintaining the content of the completed ballot confidential. The distributed data processing system further includes a results server which tabulates the content of completed ballots in a manner which maintains the identity of the voters associated with the particular ballots confidential.

Abstract: A method for conducting transaction between first user and a remote second user interlinked through a communication network, by utilizing also a clearing office interlinked to the network. The clearing office storing the user privileged information. The method including the steps of the user and the clearing office establishing a cryptographic secured session, the user transmitting, via the session, a user privileged information and transaction specific data, the transaction specific data being indicative of a transaction identification data. The clearing office activating transaction validity checking procedure by utilizing a user privileged information and the transaction specific data. In response to affirmative result of the transaction validity checking, the clearing office producing a transaction validity indication being indicative of the transaction identification code.

Abstract: Meeting support objects for supporting meeting objectives for use in a freeform graphics system. Meeting support objects are representations of dynamic information that is used to support various common activities performed in meetings, such as decision making, assigning action items, agenda tracking, etc. Meeting support objects are defined by a domain object class. The domain object class defines attributes, a set of action rules and layouts. The attributes describe the information or data associated with the meeting support object. Further, the underlying attribute values represented by the icon may change, based on predefined spatial parameters, as the result of user actions performed on the icon (e.g. via a gesture) or upon the occurrence of a system event. The set of action rules map user actions and system events to operations that may be performed on the meeting support object. The layouts define how meeting support object information is displayed as an icon.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system that can be implemented in human and machine societies to control resources, services, and policy includes issuing tokens to originators in exchange for commissions to be performed by the originators. A commission can be a particular function in the society or it can represent a resource that an originator will make available to the society in exchange for the tokens. The originators may exchange their tokens for services performed by other participants in the society, in which case the performing participant obtains possession of the exchanged tokens. Auctions can be periodically declared to settle a point of policy, such as allocating one of the society's resources. The participants of the society may bid tokens (both as originators and possessors of tokens) in favor of one of several possible auction preferences.

Abstract: An automated collaborative filtering (ACF) system for recommending at least one item to a first user based on similarity in preference of the user as compared with other users. The ACF system stores rating data for items provided by users of the system. Upon request of the first user, the system determines similarity values for the first user as compared with other users that have provided rating data for items that the first user has also rated. Based on the similarity values, a subgroup of users is selected that is then used to provide recommendations to the first user.

Abstract: A computerized voting system has a central computer, regional computers and voting modules connected to a data transfer link for communication with one another. The voting modules access the central computer database under control of the central computer control center. Voter data is created at one of the voting modules and communicated to the database for storage. Input voter data for a given voter at any one of the plurality of voting modules during an election is compared to the stored data for the given voter to verify that the given voter is eligible to vote. Access to the stored voter data for the given voter during an election is restricted to prevent the given voter from voting more than once during the election.

Abstract: A computerized voting information system that encompasses one or more voting stations, at least one tabulation center and certification center, and a plurality of voters so as to automatically verify, manipulate, interchange, and manage all data and information that is needed by the voting stations to determine if a particular voting card is authentic and a voter is entitled to cast his/her vote, by tabulation centers to perform the tabulation of the casted votes, by certification centers to guarantee the authenticity of the voting cards and the legitimacy of the card holders, and by voters to prove their identity and voting eligibilities.

Abstract: An electronic voting system (20) includes a central judges station (22) having a detachable flash memory cartridge (42) for use in storing election data. The data contents of the memory cartridge (42) are shadowed by identical storage in a separate flash memory module (74). The memory cartridge (42) is retained by a password-protected solenoid lock mechanism (44) to preserve the integrity of election results. The station (22) is networked to a plurality of voting booths (24 and 26) that provide ballot selections to the judges' station (22).