Abstract:
A system for making and maintaining connections and providing and transmitting information between governmental persons or candidates and the audience, comprising a processor connected to a network; a database connected to the processor; a governmental person user interface operable to interact with the processor and the database; an audience user interface operable to interact with the processor and the database; wherein the processor is able to obtain information associated with a governmental person from the governmental person user interface; obtain information associated with a governmental person from a third party source; obtain information associated with an audience user; store the information obtained in the database.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This disclosure claims priority from U.S. Provisional App. Ser. No. 61/756,163, entitled “METHOD FOR MAKING AND MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS AND PROVIDING AND TRANSMITTING INFORMATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENTAL PERSONS OR CANDIDATES AND THE AUDIENCE,” filed Jan. 24, 2013, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    This present invention relates to a system and method for making and maintaining connections and providing and transmitting information between governmental persons and candidates and the audience. More particularly, the present invention includes website, portal, interface, mobile app, software program that allows governmental persons and candidates to connect and communicate with users of the website, portal, interface, mobile app, or software program. 
         [0005]    It is a challenge for governmental officials or persons holding elected office (along with candidates for the same offices, collectively “governmental persons” or “GP”) to connect to their constituents and the public at large (collectively “Audience”). There is no central place for elected officials to post information to be consumed by the public. In today&#39;s digital age of the Internet and social media, there are many channels for governmental persons to publish information and broadcast messages. But most elected officials lack the resources to know all the channels that exist or to utilize all the channels even if the channels are known to them. Further complicating the matter, different channels require different technical knowledge and requirements. Governmental persons may not have the necessary personnel to perform the technical tasks in order to publish their information and broadcast their messages to those channels. Additionally, there is generally no reliable way to know if the recipients of the information or messages are indeed the same people that the governmental persons intended to reach. For example, if a state representative in Pennsylvania maintains a blog or Facebook page, but most of the visitors or viewers are from California, then the visitor stats may be misleading and vastly overestimating the effectiveness of the efforts to reach the senator&#39;s intended or targeted audience. 
         [0006]    Governmental persons also cannot rely on the news media to get their message out. Many news stories are biased and do not accurately convey the governmental person&#39;s message. Yet others are reported out of context and only reflect the author&#39;s view of the governmental person&#39;s stance. It is even more difficult for candidates, especially at the state and local level. 
         [0007]    It is also difficult for any member of the public to obtain information about persons they can cast votes for in any given election. Although there are places where the public can find information regarding the contenders, most sources of information only contain basic information and do not allow the public to thoroughly learn about the candidates (here and thereafter including incumbents and challengers). Those sources also usually do not allow the candidates themselves to choose what messages are published about them. Generally, candidates can only publish their messages through their own means (i.e. their own websites, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.). 
         [0008]    When the election is over, after all the campaign ads are finished, it is even more difficult for the public to obtain up to date information about the persons they elected or other persons in office. This present invention aims to also serve as a portal that will connect the elected and lost candidates with the public between elections. The governmental persons can publish updates from the offices they hold and respond to hot topics. The lost candidate can keep in contact with the voting public by doing the same. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention aims to provide a convenient central place, system, or platform, with a dedicated purpose, for governmental persons to publish information and messages to their constituents, electorate, or public in general. 
         [0010]    This present invention also aims to provide a central place, system, or platform, with a dedicated purpose, to allow all members of the public to easily and conveniently find out which candidates they can vote for and the information and messages the candidates wish to convey to the public (they can also find out about other candidates as well). The invention can further provide analysis and other information about the candidates. It will lower search cost for the public and provide useful information regarding governmental persons without the need to sort through endless useful information that clogs the web and social networks. 
         [0011]    The present invention can further help governmental persons learn more about the voting public, devise a strategy for another run later, and help carry out that strategy ahead of future elections. The present invention aims to improve the communication between governmental persons and the public, persons, or parties they serve. 
         [0012]    The present invention thus has multiple objectives. The principle objective is to provide a central place or system for governmental persons to maintain constant contact with the public. The governmental persons can publish a variety of information and messages for the public to consume. For example, they can publish text, articles, images, videos, audio, interactive modules, actions or interactions with other forms mentioned here, or other forms of media suitable for transmittal through the Internet, or a combination thereof. A further objective of the present invention is to provide a central place or system for the public to provide feedbacks to the governmental persons so they can learn more about the public and what&#39;s more important to them. The feedback can take the form of text, articles, images, videos, audio, interactive modules, actions or interactions with other forms mentioned here, or other forms of media suitable for transmittal through the Internet, or a combination thereof. A further objective of the present invention is to track data and information both by governmental persons and the public so the governmental persons can have meaningful analysis that can help them enact policy, make decisions, advocate for a position, succeed in future elections, or more. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of an example implementation of a system that embodies the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a diagram showing an example of how a user to the system claiming to be a GP is verified. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing an example of how GP can publish information to the system and to the Audience. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing an example of how Audience can access information associated with a GP in the system. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a chart showing an example of how an example of a topics and responses system works. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a chart showing an example of how GP can view Audience information in the system. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a chart showing an example of how the system can gather and display Audience stats. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a chart showing an example of how the system can gather and display GP stats. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The invention relates to a system and method for providing and transmitting information between governmental persons or candidates (GP) and the Audience. 
         [0022]    GP include any person holding a governmental position or any person who obtains his or her position through the process of an election. Examples of GP include politicians, public officials, school board representatives, union officials, and other such persons. GP can also include an organization or other legal entities such as a group, political party, organizations, companies, unions, and other such entities. GP further includes candidates who include any persons or parties who are candidates for the above mentioned positions. 
         [0023]    The Audience includes any persons or parties who utilize the invention to view information published by GP. Any member of Audience may utilize the invention as a member of GP, and any member of GP may utilize the invention as a member of Audience, provided that all conditions prescribed by the invention are met. 
         [0024]    This invention can be implemented in different embodiments. (“System”)
       All aforementioned parties are users of the method or any embodiment. User of the invention can refer to a single user, any number of users, a group of users, or groups of users. Thus users can take both the role of Icons and Audience. The functionality of the system available to the user is dependent upon the role the user is assuming when using the system.       
 
         [0026]    A GP must be verified by the System. A GP, after being verified as the person he or she claims to be, may subscribe to the system to gain certain functionalities as a subscriber. 
         [0027]    This invention can be used by GP and Audience on any of a variety of devices, e.g., desktop computers, notebook computers, tablet computers, network terminals, mobile computers, smart phones, mobile phones, music or multimedia player devices, and more. 
         [0028]    Information that can be transmitted through this invention include images, videos, messages, articles, releases, opinions, ideas, attributes, and any other information that can be transmitted through this method. The information can be transmitted between any and all parties, in all directions. The information can be transmitted through a variety of mediums, including the internet, extranet, intranet, wireless networks, cellular networks, local area networks, or any other public or private networks. 
         [0029]    The infrastructure components of the invention that is used to facilitate the transmission, storage, and processing of the information can include a variety of servers, databases, systems, and more. 
         [0030]    Referring to the figures,  FIG. 1  is an illustration of an example implementation a system that embodies the present invention. Users of the system contained in  FIG. 1  include GP  101  or Audience type  102  users. All users can access the system using access devices  103 . Access devices  103  can include mobile phones  104 , smart phones  105  (including iPhones, Android phones, smart phones running on other operating systems, and any future smart phone devices), computers  106  (including personal computers, desktop computers, all-in-one computers, workstations, or any other kind of computers), tablets  107  (including, iPads, Android tablets, tablets running other operating systems, and any future tablet computers), laptops  108  (including laptops, notebooks, mobile computers running any operating systems, and any other mobile computers), or other internet capable devices  109  (including television sets, internet access devices, DVD/Blue Ray players, Internet viewers, video game systems, or any other device that is capable of accessing the Internet). The information being transmitted by the system can be transmitted via a variety of channels  110  utilizing a variety of Internet technologies. The transmitting or access channels  110  can include mobile apps  111  on any platforms, web sites or applications  112  developed with any technology, API implementations  113  on any platforms, or any other Internet technologies  114  past, present, or future. The system itself can be located or housed on a number of backend technologies  115 . The system can use web server  117 ,  118  or server systems or farms  116 , or the system can be housed in the Cloud  119 . The system can utilize a combination of appropriate web server technologies to run. The system and any other embodiments can also run in a distributed service form or as a SAAS. There are numerous implementation possibilities,  FIG. 1  is intended to help understand the example system implementation, not to limit or define the invention. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of the process where a user to the system claiming to be a GP is verified. When a user access the GP control interface  220 , the user will undergo an authentication process  221 . If a user has registered GP credentials, the system will attempt to allow the user to log in. Only when a user has been authenticated as a GP, can the user be treated as a GP and be able to interact with the system to use its GP interactions or functionalities  222 . GP interactions and functionalities can include the other processes described in  FIG. 3-8  and more. If the user is not authenticated, or if the user was not a registered GP, the user will be given the chance to subscribe to the system  223 —so the user can take on a GP role in the system. To subscribe, the user must undergo a verification process  224 , where the system will ensure that the user is in fact a legitimate GP through a series of background checks. If verified, GP will be given options for subscription levels, which will determine the level of access/functionality the system will make available to the GP. The different levels can carry different prices or costs. Once GP is able to access GP publishing functionalities  222 , GP will have the choices to perform a number of tasks. GP can input, save, update, or modify biographical and other information  225  to be saved in the GP information database  227 . (Please note that the system would have already generated system-defined information  226  about the GP before the GP was verified. The goal is that the system has information or data about every possible GP in the country or in the world, even before they come to the system and be verified. Thus, even when a GP has not come forward to be verified as a GP in the system, the Audience can still obtain system-defined information about the GP  226 .) GP can also publish topics and responses  228  to be saved in the topics and responses database  229 . (The process will be further explained in  FIG. 5 .) GP can also access and publish  230  to other databases  231 . The other databases  231  can include feedback database (example in  FIG. 6 ), Audience stats database (example in  FIG. 7 ), GP stats database (example in  FIG. 8 ), and/or any other database being able store information. All the aforementioned databases ( 227 ,  229 ,  231 ) are all available for Audience query and display  232 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is flowchart showing how GP can publish to the system and to the Audience. Once authenticated, GP starts by accessing the GP publisher interface  333 . GP has the chance to select and define a number of visibility, privacy, delivery, and other options  334 . GP will select a source for the information to be published  335 . GP can upload information  336 ; GP can link to external information  337  (such as web pages, websites, blogs, posts, articles, photos, videos, audio files, and more); GP can generate, produce, or input information  338  using a variety of formats; GP can also choose from system generated information  339  made available to them by the system. System generated information  339  can include uploaded, external, system generated, produced, or inputted information. After the information source is set, the system will process the designated information for storage and delivery  340 . The designated information can be saved in a variety of databases, including GP information database  341 , topics and responses database  342 , and other database  343 . Once saved, the designated information can then be available for Audience query and display  344 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing how Audience can access the information in the system. Audience can be authenticated or not. The system can allow more functionality and options to authenticated users. GP can also determine if authenticated users can have more options and functionalities when it comes to the GP&#39;s information in the system. Authentication means that Audience registered with the system by providing certain personal information and received credentials to log in and out of the system. The authentication process will be defined by the system and can employ a number of ways to register and authenticate the users. When Audience access the system&#39;s information portal for Audience users  445 , a number of possible options to search for GP information are presented to Audience  446 . If the Audience is a registered and authenticated user of the system, the system may present some preset or saved searches to the Audience so they do not have to repeat the searches and can view the GP information faster. Even in such a case, Audience can still search for GP information  446  using all available options. Three examples of search for GP information is presented here, although other ways to search or filter. GP information can be incorporated as well. Audience can search GP information based on manual location input  447 . Audience can manually input their current locations or any other location by using address, zip, telephone number, etc. either individually or in any combinations. Audience can also search GP information based on their current location  448 , as automatically determined by their device, their ISP, the system, or any other means of determining their current location. Audience can also search for GP information by browsing or searching through a list of GPs, jurisdictions, offices, positions, either individually or in any combination. With search criteria determined, the system will query GP information database  450  and provide the appropriate GP information to display to Audience  454 . As previously mentioned, the GP databases can include general GP information database  451 , topics and responses  452 , and any other databases  453 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is a chart showing how an example of a topics and responses system works. After being authenticated, GP can access the publisher interface  555 . To provide address or respond to a topic, GP review and select from trending topics  556 . The trending topics  556  can be presented and sorted by popularity  558  or be presented and sorted in any other order defined by GP or the system. GP can respond to any of the trending topics directly  560  using any of the methods or functions available to publish information (such as explained in  FIG. 3 ). GP can also create a new topic and respond to it  561  if the list of trending topics does not include GP&#39;s desired topic. After GP designate information for publishing in respond to any of the topics (existing or new), the information will be saved in the GPs&#39; topics and responses database  562 . The topics and responses database is available for searches by Audience  564 , for example using the methods described in  FIG. 4 . The search results can be displayed to Audience  565 . Audience can perform interactions and provide information to topics and responses  566 , and the information provided by Audience can be saved in the topics and responses database  562 . The type of interactions can include, for example, “likes,” votes, comments, recommends, forwards/referrals, and more. These interactions should be governed by GP-generated, Audience-generated, and system generated privacy, visibility, and other delivery rules. 
         [0035]    Again referring to  FIG. 5 , the trending topics presented to GP  556  are generated as follows: the system will analyze the topics and responses database  563 , either periodically, dynamically, or on-demand, and generate a list of topics available to GP to respond to  559 . The system will define the parameter and algorithm of the analysis. The system may provide system-generated topics  557  to be added to the topics available to GP  559 . Additionally, Audience can request new topics  567  to be added to the topics available to GP  559 . The available topics  559  then can be analyzed based on system-defined criteria or GP-defined criteria  558  to arrive at the trending topics list for GP to review  556 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  is a chart showing how Audience can provide feedback to GP. Feedback can be in many forms, for example, including polls, surveys, votes, comments, and more. After being authenticated, GP access publisher interface  668 . GP can solicit a certain type of feedback  669 . The feedback can be accompanied by other published information, such as GP information such as described in  FIG. 3 , and topics and responses as described in  FIG. 5 . GP can choose from system defined feedback requests  670  or generate custom feedback requests  671 . Feedback requests can be stored in one database  676  or individual databases separating different requests types such as GP generated  677 , system defined  678 , and Audience generated  679 . The overall feedback database  676  can encompass all three types mentioned above. The GP generated feedback requests can be saved in GP generated feedback database  677 . System generated requests can be stored in system defined feedbacks database  678 . Audience generated feedbacks can be saved in Audience generated feedbacks database  679 . When Audience access the Audience interface or information portal  683 , Audience can be prompted to provide feedback  682 . Audience can be prompted by a list of feedback requests available to the specific Audience  680 , as determined by querying the feedback databases  676  (including  677 ,  678 ,  679 ). When Audience provides the requested feedback  680 , the response is recorded in feedback database  676 . Audience can also provide feedback if no requests match Audience&#39;s desire, in which Audience will generate their own requests and feedback  681 . The response then is recorded in the feedback database  676  (or  679  if separately organized). For GP&#39;s viewing, the system will query the feedback database  675  to determine the available requests and responses to be displayed to GP. Feedback can be automatically selected for display  673  based on system defined parameters or criteria, or can be selected for display based on GP determined parameters, criteria, or searches  674 . The resulting feedback requests and responses are then displayed to GP  672 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 7  is a chart showing a process on how to gather and display Audience stats. After being authenticated, GP access the publisher interface  784 . GP has the option to view stats reports  785 . The reports available to be seen can include system generated stats reports based on the specific GP&#39;s jurisdiction or other criteria  786 . GP can also have the option to build custom reports based on a number of factors  787 . The stats data will be housed in an Audience stats database  788 . When Audience interacts with the system, their interactions generate data that can be tracked  790 ,  791 ,  792 . All kind of interactions can be tracked. For example, viewing GP data, searching GP data, providing feedbacks, reviewing topics and responses, etc are actions that can be tracked. All the Audience interaction data will be processed for storage and analysis  89  and then stored in the audience stats database  788 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 8  is a chart showing a process on how to gather and display GP stats. After being authenticated, GP access the publisher interface  893 . GP has the option to view stats reports  894 . The reports available to be seen can include system generated stats reports based on the specific GP&#39;s jurisdiction or other criteria  895 . GP can also have the option to build custom reports based on a number of factors  896 . The stats data will be housed in a GP stats database  897 . The stats database can be separate from or the same as the Audience stats database  788 . When GP interact with the system, their interactions generate data that can be tracked  801 ,  802 ,  803 . All kind of interactions can be tracked. For example, publishing GP information, generating and responding to topics, soliciting feedbacks, etc. All the GP interaction data will first be process and filtered  899  based on privacy settings and rules  800 . The privacy settings and rules  800  can be set by the GP after GP access the publisher interface  893  and can also be based on system defined rules and policies. After the privacy filtering  899 , the interaction data can then be processed for storage and analysis  898  and then stored in the audience stats database  897 . 
         [0039]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.