Patent Publication Number: US-2018033082-A1

Title: System and Method for Automatically Crossing Platforms to Perform Shareholder Voting

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application No. 105124258, filed on Jul. 29, 2016, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     I. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a voting system and a method thereof, and in particular, to an electronic voting platform to carry out a method of shareholder voting. 
     II. Description of the Prior Art 
     Recently, the development of Internet applications has become more and more diverse with rapid advances. Some impossible things of the past have been gradually realized with the help of Internet applications. In the conventional voting systems, there is a variety of voting mechanisms, and shareholder meetings will consume a lot of times for a shareholder who owns a variety of different stocks, which will reduce the willingness of the shareholder to vote. In addition, shareholder voting for each stock is carried out independently and a paper notice is used for each share meeting, which not only increase the total cost for holding the shareholder meetings but also makes shareholders less willing to vote. 
     Accordingly, it is necessary to have a better solution to resolve the above-mentioned issues. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One object of the present invention is to provide a system to carry out a method of voting by a shareholder so that the shareholder can use a broker&#39;s trading platform to link to a shareholder voting platform for shareholder to vote, wherein shareholder voting platform is associated with a total number of a stock of the shareholder obtained from different sources so that the shareholder can vote based on the total number of the stocks, thereby reducing the total cost and increasing the efficiency of the shareholder voting. 
     In one embodiment, the present invention discloses a method to carry out a shareholder voting by automatically crossing different platforms, the method comprising: using a first platform on a mobile device of a user to connect with a first server, wherein the first server communicates with the first platform on the mobile device and obtains the authentication information of the user associated with a first brokerage account of a first brokerage firm to enable the user to perform stock transactions with the first brokerage firm; using a command of the first platform on the mobile device of the user to connect the mobile device of the user to a second platform on the mobile device of the user; and using a second server to communicate with the second platform on the mobile device of the user, wherein the second server is associated with a total number of a first stock of the user obtained from different sources, wherein the second server obtains identifying information of the authentication information of the user to identify the user and communicates with the second platform on the mobile device to enable the user to perform a shareholder voting through the second platform based on the total number of the first stock of the user. 
     In one embodiment, the different sources includes all of the sources to obtain the first stock of the user, wherein the different sources comprise a plurality of brokerage accounts and an issuance company of the first stock. 
     In one embodiment, the first platform is provided by the first brokerage firm, and the mobile device of the user accesses the first platform through a first application. 
     In one embodiment, the first platform is provided by the first brokerage firm, and the mobile device of the user accesses the first platform through a first webpage. 
     In one embodiment, the second platform is provided by a financial institution managing the transaction information of the plurality of brokerage firms, and the mobile device of the user accesses the second platform through a second application, wherein a command of the first platform initiates the second application. 
     In one embodiment, wherein the first platform transmits the identifying information to the second server. 
     In one embodiment, the first server transmits the identifying information to the second server. 
     In one embodiment, the first platform transmits the identifying information to the second platform, and the second platform transmits the identifying information to the second server. 
     In one embodiment, the second platform is provided by a financial institution managing the transaction information of the plurality of stock brokerage firms, and the mobile device of the user accesses the second platform through a second web page, wherein a command of the first platform initiates the second webpage. 
     In one embodiment, the second platform further comprises providing an interface for displaying subjects and selective options of each subject associated with the first stock for voting. 
     In one embodiment, the second platform further comprises an interface to display a confirmation message to confirm a success of the voting. 
     In an embodiment, the method further comprises a module for generating a voting file based on the subjects and the selective options of each subject. 
     In one embodiment, the method further comprises providing an operation interface comprising at least one voting subject; selecting a first subject of the at least one voting subject; providing a voting interface for the first subject and multiple selective options of the first subject for the user to vote. 
     In one embodiment, the method further comprises providing an interface for entering passwords for logging into the second platform. 
     The present invention discloses a system of carrying out a shareholder voting by automatically crossing different platforms, said system comprising: a first server, wherein the first server communicates with a first platform of the mobile device of the user and obtains the authentication information of the user associated with a first brokerage account of a first brokerage firm to enable the user to perform stock transactions with the first brokerage firm; and a second server, wherein the second server is associated with a total number of a first stock of the user obtained from different sources; wherein the mobile device is connected to a second platform through a command on the first platform on mobile device, wherein the second server obtains identifying information of the authentication information of the user to identify the user and communicates with the second platform on the mobile device to enable the user to perform a first shareholder voting through the second platform based on the total number of the first stock of the user. 
     In one embodiment, the different sources includes all of the sources to obtain the first stock of the user, wherein the different sources comprise a plurality of brokerage accounts and an issuance company of the first stock. 
     In one embodiment, the second server is provided by a depository and clearing house, and the plurality of brokerage accounts are associated with the depository and clearing house. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing aspects and many of the accompanying advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating a system of carrying out a shareholder voting by automatically crossing different platforms; 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating of a method for carrying out a shareholder voting by automatically crossing different platforms; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are schematic views of a mobile platform to carry out shareholder voting; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view illustrating the hardware architecture of the system of carrying out a shareholder voting by automatically crossing different platforms in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view illustrating the software architecture of the system of carrying out a shareholder voting by automatically crossing different platforms in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is described in detail below. The aforementioned preferred embodiments are for illustrative and descriptive purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a system of carrying out a shareholder voting by automatically crossing different platforms. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a system of carrying out a shareholder voting by automatically crossing different platforms comprises a first server  122  connected to a first platform  114  on a mobile device  110  of a user  112 , wherein the first server  122  communicates with the first platform  114  of the mobile device  110  of the user  112  and obtains the authentication information of a first account  136  of a first stock brokerage firm  120  of the user  112  to enable the user perform stock transactions with the brokerage firm  120 ; and a second server  132  connected to the first server  122 , wherein the second server  132  can be associated with a plurality of brokerage accounts  138  owned by the user  112 , wherein the plurality of brokerage accounts  138  comprise the first account  136  of the first brokerage firm  120 . 
     In one embodiment, the identifying information obtained from the authentication information includes an identity card number or a social security code. 
     In one embodiment, the different sources includes all of the sources to obtain the first stock  146  of the user, wherein the different sources comprise a plurality of brokerage accounts and an issuance company of the first stock. The user  112  may have at least two brokerage accounts, wherein the second server  132  enables the user  112  to carry out shareholder voting on the relevant subjects of the first stock  146  of the at least two brokerage accounts via the second platform  116 , and the second server  132  does not need to perform another authentication procedure to verify the identity of user  112  for the brokerage accounts other than the first account  136 . In one embodiment, please refer to  FIG. 1 , the first stock  146  is a TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) stock, wherein the TSMC shares owned by the user  112  comprise 10,000 shares in the first account  136  of the first brokerage firm,  120 , 20,000 shares in the brokerage account (A) and 5,000 shares in the brokerage account (B). Thus, the total number of shares of the first stock  146  owned by the user from all of the sources is 10,000 shares+20,000 shares+5,000 shares=35,000 shares. 
     In one embodiment, the first platform  114  is provided by the first stock brokerage firm  120 , and the mobile device  110  of the user  112  accesses the first platform  114  through a first application. 
     In one embodiment, the first platform  114  is provided by the first stock brokerage firm  120 , and the mobile device  110  of the user  112  accesses the first platform  114  through a first webpage. 
     In one embodiment, the second platform  116  is provided by a financial institution that manages the transaction information of the stocks of the plurality of brokerage firms, the mobile device  110  of the user  112  accesses the second platform  116  through a second application, wherein a command of the first platform  114  initiates the second application. 
     In one embodiment, the second platform  116  is provided by a financial institution that manages the transaction information of the stocks of the plurality of brokerage firms, the mobile device  110  of the user  112  accesses the second platform  116  through a second application, wherein a command of the first platform  114  initiates the second webpage. 
     In one embodiment, the second platform  116  further comprises the step of providing an interface for displaying subjects associated with the first stock  146  and selective options of each subject for the user to choose. 
     In one embodiment, the second platform  116  further comprises an interface for displaying a voting confirmation message to notify the user that the voting is successfully carried out. 
     In one embodiment, the method further comprises a module for generating a voting file based on the subjects and selective options of each subject for the user to choose. 
     In one embodiment, the method further comprises providing an operation interface comprising at least one voting subject; selecting a first subject of the at least one voting subject; providing a voting interface for the first subject and multiple selective options of the first subject. 
     In one embodiment, the method further comprises providing an interface for a password for logging into the second platform  116 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a method for carrying out a shareholder voting by automatically crossing different platforms. Please refer to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . The a method for carrying out a shareholder voting by automatically crossing different platforms comprises the following steps: in a step  211 , the first platform is connected to the first server  122  through a first platform on the mobile device  110  of the user  112  to enable the user to perform stock transactions with a first brokerage firm  120 , wherein the user  112  communicates with the first server  122  through the first account of the first brokerage firm  120  of the mobile device  110  and obtains the authentication information of the user  112 ; in a step  212 , the mobile device  110  of the user  112  is connected to a second platform through a command on the first platform  114  on the mobile device  110  of the user  112 ; and in a step  213 , a second server communicates with the user  112  through the second platform on the mobile device  110  to carry out shareholder voting, wherein the second server  132  has a total number of shares of a first stock  146  owned the user from all different sources, wherein the second server  132  obtains the identifying information from the authentication information of the user  112  through the first platform  114 , wherein the second server enable the user to vote on the relevant subjects based on the total number of shares of a first stock  146  through the second platform  116 . 
     In one embodiment, all of the different sources comprise a plurality of brokerage accounts and subscription shares issued by the first stock issuance company. The user  112  may have at least two brokerage accounts, wherein the second server  132  enables the user  112  to vote on all the relevant subjects of the first stock  146  of the at least two brokerage accounts through the second platform  116 , and the second server  132  does not need to perform another authentication procedure with the user  112  for the shareholder voting. 
     In one embodiment, the first platform  114  is provided by the first brokerage firm  120 , and the mobile device  110  of the user  112  accesses the first platform  114  through a first webpage. 
     In one embodiment, the first platform  114  is provided by the first brokerage firm  120 , and the mobile device  110  of the user  112  accesses the first platform  114  through a first webpage. 
     In one embodiment, the second platform  116  is provided by a financial institution that manages the transaction information for the plurality of brokerage firms, and the mobile device  110  of the user  112  accesses the second platform  116  through a second application on the mobile device, wherein a command of the first platform  114  initiates the second application. 
     In one embodiment, the second platform  116  is provided by a financial institution that manages the transaction information for the plurality of brokerage firms, and the mobile device  110  of the user  112  accesses the second platform  116  through a second webpage, wherein a command of the first platform  114  initiates the second webpage. 
     In one embodiment, the first platform  114  transmits identifying information to the second server  132 , wherein said identifying information is obtained from said authentication information of the user. 
     In one embodiment, the first server  122  transmits identifying information to the second server  132 , wherein said identifying information is obtained according to authentication information of the user. 
     In the embodiment, the first platform  114  transmits the identifying information to the second platform  116 , and the second platform  116  transmits the identifying information to the second server  132 , wherein said identifying information is obtained according to authentication information of the user. 
     In one embodiment, the second platform  116  further comprises the step of providing an interface for displaying subjects associated with the first stock  146  and selective options of each subject for the user to choose. 
     In one embodiment, the second platform  116  further comprises displaying a voting confirmation interface to verify that the vote is successfully carried out. 
     In one embodiment, if an electronic vote and a paper vote are both present, then the electronic vote will not be counted. 
     In one embodiment, the method further comprises a module for generating a voting file based on the subjects and selective options of each subject for the user to choose. 
     In one embodiment, the method further comprises providing an operation interface comprising at least one voting subject; selecting a first subject of the at least one voting subject; providing a voting interface for the first subject and multiple selective options of the first subject. 
     In one embodiment, the method further comprises providing an interface for a password for logging into the second platform  116 . 
       FIG. 3A  is a schematic view of a mobile platform for carrying out shareholder voting. As shown in  FIG. 3A , the first platform  114  displayed on the mobile device is a platform for the first brokerage firm  120  to buy and sell shares, and the user  112  may access the first platform  114  on the mobile device to trade stocks. The first platform  114  displays the command  115  as an icon  115 . When the user presses the icon  115 , the mobile platform displays the second platform  116  to carry out shareholder voting. As shown in  FIG. 3B , the second platform  116  displays all the brokerage accounts of the user  112 , the stock type and the number of shares of all the brokerage accounts of the user  112 . The first platform  114  may also display the total number of a particular stock in all brokerage accounts of the user  112  for the user  112  to vote on subjects associated with the particular stock. If the second platform  116  indicates that the user  112  owns 50,000 shares TSMC stock  318  and 60,000 shares of MediaTek stock  319 , wherein the user  112  can press the icon  317  to select TSMC shares to vote on the subjects associated with the TSMC stock. In one embodiment, the mobile device  110  of the user is the only device that can be used by the user  112  to communicate with the at least one server to trade stocks with a brokerage firm through the first platform  114  on the mobile device  110 . After the user  112  is authenticated by the at least one server, the user can connect the mobile device  110  to the second platform  116  through a command  115  on the first platform  114  on the mobile device  110  to carry out shareholder voting. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the hardware structure of the shareholder voting system is divided into a L2 Switch  420  and a core switch. The L2 Switch  420  is connected to a primary server  430  and a firewall. The primary server  430  is connected to a SAN switch  432 . The SAN switch  432  is connected to a disk array server  436  via a virtual disk controller  434 . The core switch and the L2 Switch  420  are connected to a database through the firewall of a network. The primary server  430  uses a virtual disk controller  434  to bridges all demands from the internal and external network. The voting system can use the disk array server  436  to store data. Two or more disk array servers  436  can be used to make the voting system highly reliable. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic view illustrating the software architecture of a shareholder voting system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a client module  520  is disposed on a spring framework  510  to enable the user to vote, a collective depository module  530  to manage electronic voting, a cross-platform module  541  to connect the first platform  114  on the mobile device  110  to the second platform  116  to vote electronically, a polling file generation module  543  for generating a voting file based on the voting subjects, an information display module  545  to display relevant information about electronic voting, a format conversion module  547  to convert various electronic voting formats and an electronic voting report module  570  to print the results of electronic voting. The spring framework  510  is also provided with an application server  550  with an advanced interactive execution system  560  of International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) to make the system more versatile and efficient to support diversified applications. 
     The hardware and software architecture of the shareholder voting system of present invention can use load balancing architecture with multiple servers to achieve high availability. Through this mechanism, the traffic load can be distributed equally to each server to achieve load balancing. If one server is shut down in the group, the load balancing will direct the load of the failed server to other servers, thereby providing uninterrupted network services. The use of a server load balancing architecture provides the following benefits: increased reliability, improved server service performance, easier server management, and independence of hardware architecture or operating systems. 
     While the present invention has been described above with reference to the aforementioned preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. One person skilled in the art will appreciate a few alterations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is subject to the scope of the patent application as set forth in this specification.