Abstract:
Devices, systems and methods facilitate communications, such as those for political organization, processes, and presence. For example, the devices, systems and methods allow individuals to participate or observe the formation of processes and groups to meet goals. When used in a political process, users or group organizers can search for topics that lead to specific information about legislation, movements, coalition, groups, and other concerns. Using this information the user can join the groups or form new groups and establish communications for the groups.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to Provisional Application No. 61/778,392, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention is related to a device, system and method for facilitating communications. Example embodiments contemplate facilitating a political process where the parties including the citizenry and/or governmental officials may form groups and provide related communications with such groups to meet desired goals. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Political systems have taken many forms over time leading to the rise of democracies and other forms of government. These governments and movements can form in any region of the world changing political systems in a region over a period of time. The people of a given region come together to form groups that can lead to political consensus to bring about change for a given cause or issue. In a paper entitled “Networking vs. Allying: The Decision of Interest Groups to Join coalition in the US and the EU”, by Dr. Christine Mahoney, she sites tradition methods for building consensus for a political movement. Traditional methods utilize advocacy coalitions, lobbyist, and interest groups that ally together to pursue a common agenda and lobby to governmental entities and others to for political or societal change.  FIG. 1  shows the traditional process for building a political process  100  to lobby against an issue. An event or cause  101  can cause an individual or entity to desire to build a political movement or process and establish goals. Often during this initial step there becomes a need to collect resources  102 . Obtaining resources in the traditional methodology necessitates the crossing of a boundary  108  (that can be physical or temporal) leads to expense. E.g., an inordinate amount of time may pass in an effort to collect resources and indeed time is a resource that can never be recovered or there may be difficulty in fund raising. To raise public awareness and sympathy  103  for the cause one must cross a boundary  109  and as before this leads to expense. Advertising costs, reaching out to the public, calling the public, spending time to write letters and email potential supporters requires office staff, office buildings, and time. The remaining steps of cataloging supporters and building a network  104 , lobbying decision makers  05 , and evaluating results  106  requires crossing expensive boundaries ( 110   111   112 ) and if the desired outcome is not obtained the process loops back and repeats. Rarely, this process meets its desired outcome on its first attempt. Crossing boundaries does not often lead to completing the organizations goals  107  without, in many cases, great expenditures of resources. Thus, lobbying and building coalitions for the most part has become an avenue for the most influential to project their thoughts and wishes upon the citizenry via the governmental officials. The most effective lobbying methodologies have placed barriers to the masses for creating the influence and advocacy for political or social action. These traditional methodologies have led to political systems where informal activities that lead to building coalitions and advocacy for major societal change are rare. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Devices, systems and methods are disclosed to facilitate communications. When used in a political process, citizens may create influence through communications, whether they are individuals, groups, large institutions, active lobbyists or other entities. 
         [0005]    Embodiments disclosed herein facilitate communications, such as communications within a political process, to reduce costs and reduce barriers associated with of traditional communication schemes. 
         [0006]    Some embodiments are directed to a device, system and method for political processes that is easily accessed and utilized, unique, ubiquitous, personalized, engaging and available to all. 
         [0007]    Some embodiments provide a device, system and method for political processes that is secure and may provide a secure separation of information when necessary for process anonymity. 
         [0008]    Some embodiments provide the capacity for everyone to build a political process or group, such as, a coalition, movement, or advocacy group. 
         [0009]    Some embodiments provide communications within political processes that can lead to political and social change at a faster pace than traditional processes. 
         [0010]    Some embodiments allow individuals or organizations with minimal resources to form coalitions, build interest groups, and, through this process and combined efforts, petition the government or other organizations with similar capability as traditional organizations with a reduced resource footprint. 
         [0011]    Some embodiments allow an individual or organization with an initial small network and very few contacts to build an expansive coalition to provide advocacy for an issue or cause. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts a tradition process for building advocacy coalitions which normally requires many resources and an existing network with access to lobbyist and interest group leaders. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary system, associated devices, and method for facilitating communications, such as those for political organization. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  depicts a user processing component of the system and method of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  depicts an exemplary method. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  depicts an exemplary method to personalize system action in the user processing component of the system. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  depicts an exemplary method for sending messages in the system. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  depicts an exemplary method for coalition building in the system. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  depicts an exemplary method for training coalition organizers to use the system. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  depicts an exemplary method of the system. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  depicts an exemplary method for showing and sharing support for a group or movement. 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  depicts an exemplary method for recommending bills and groups in the system. 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  depicts an exemplary method for multi-user bill summary and discussion an exemplary. 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  depicts an exemplary method for multi-user bill creation in the system. 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  depicts an exemplary method for holding officials accountable in the system. 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  depicts an exemplary method for using the think tank to provide feedback. 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  depicts an exemplary method for blogging. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    Embodiments described herein may operate in a computing environment composed of many devices connected to a network of devices composed of gateways, switching gear and storage. The devices may comprise and are not limited to hand held computers, phones, and devices that connect to the internet. The devices may include processing elements, display elements, input/output devices and network connections. These networks may comprise internets, intranets, and the Internet. The aforementioned devices may create a system and implement methods for facilitating communications, such as facilitating communications for political organization, processes, and presence. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The system  200  shown in  FIG. 2  is comprised of many components to process, store, control the flow of information. In this example, system  200  is implemented to facilitate communications within a political process, however, the invention is not limited thereto. In the political process networking is central to building relationships with others. In one embodiment, communications system  201  may comprise an internet, intranet, or the Internet for transporting messages and/or information when directed by the systems controls. The networks may utilize available protocols to send and receive information via connections  202  whether they are wireless, or wired network connections, from other components in the system. While this embodiment uses a distinct network, the system can be implemented on a general purpose computer where the communications system  201  can be the system bus of the computer. Connections  202   203   204   205   206   207   208   209  can be unidirectional or bidirectional and interface the networking elements within the communications system  201  and the networking elements within other components in the system. The communications system  201  is networked to the main processing component  210  of the system. The main processing component  210  also has a system interface  245  that may be local and accessed through the communications system  201  for maintenance of the system by administrators. The system interface  245  may also provide an interface for new users of the system. The public portion of the system interface  245  is informative and is used to report information stored by system  200 , such as aggregate information, which may include the number of coalitions, interest areas, responses to legislation, number of users, and most popular advocacy messages. 
         [0030]    As shown in this embodiment, the main processing component  210  has two control elements  211   212  with processors  213  and  214  and memory for storing user information  215  and  216 , profile information  217  and  218 , template information  219  and  220 , and messaging components, such as email and twitter  221  and  222 . The user information and profile information are used to set up security and permissions of a user account. In operation, the main processing component  210  can be implemented as a web server or any servelet container. The user profile information may contain links to coalitions that are managed and maintained by the user and links to other coalitions of interest. The main processing unit can access a plurality of storage media for representative information  223 , coalition information  224 , user information  225  and storage backup  226 . An additional memory area  227  is provided for storing summation and statistical information about the information maintained in the other storage area with regard to coalition membership, users, and correlated information pertaining to the data stored. The main processing component  210  has additional sources of information that can be accessed through the communications system  201 . These remote information sources include advertisement information  228 , news feeds  229 , video feeds  230 , and other sources  231 , such as documents. Exemplary components for the main processing component  210  include Microsoft web servers or Apache Tomcat web servers. The storage is presented as storage drums which may be typical storage media as RAID units, tape drives, internal and external hard drives storing information in flat files or computer databases. The remote data sources may provide streams of information in text, multi-media format and other formats. The main processing component  210  may interact with remote systems to provide information and facilitate the transmission and reception of information with these systems. 
         [0031]    The aforementioned remote systems provide processing and communications for users of the system. User processing component  232  is a lightweight version for devices having limited storage and processing capability such as a cellular phone or small hand held tablet computer. In this embodiment, the user processing component may provide a user access to a subset of the features otherwise available with system  200 . In this example, the limited version  232  allows a user can review coalition information  233 , advocacy information  234 , and a call log  235 . In this embodiment, a user can have phone calls directly logged into the system. Another more capable user processing component  336  provides additional functionality. This processing component  336  may implemented on devices that have more processing and memory capabilities and may be implemented on a general purpose computer with the capability to access remote systems through the communications system  201  via a browser or client/server software. In this example, processing component  336  includes coalition information  237  and advocacy information  238  similar to that in the lightweight user processing component  232 , an editor  239 , calendar  240  and documents  241 . Other features that are not shown may include components for displaying data, multi-media, and messages from the devices connected to the communications system  201  including the main processing system  210 . This processing system is capable of being configured to display presentations representative of information and data sources. Another user processing component  242  is shown for a limited user where email  243  and a postal mail log  244  are shown. The underlying processing device may range in capability from a limited system or high capability processing system. Limited capability processing systems may be for users with limited access or other users only needing limited capability for a particular interaction with the political organization system  200 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  illustrates exemplary details of a user processing component such as those described in this disclosure. As described above this user processing component can be customized, may comprise lightweight components for both devices such as cellular phones and lightweight versions for users desiring limit use. The user processing component  300  in  FIG. 3  is shown with components to implement a system and methods for political organization, such as, building interest groups and communication to the government or other officials. The user processing component  300  allows the user to create political organizations and processes with minimal boundary crosses and context changes. It provides a system where many political activities, such as, fund raising, membership drives, advertising, contacting constituents, and building coalitions can be accomplished in the same context. The system components and sub-component may operate on a general purpose computer or may operate on a computing device that is capable of processing computer coded instructions that controls and directs the operation of the central processing unit, input/output components, internal memory, secondary memory, display and other computer elements. These system components once read into the internal memory of the computing device and subsequently processed cause changes in the electromagnetic state of each component in the device to maintain and update the state of each component as directed. In one particular case, code computer instructions when activated cause the flow of electromagnetic signals through computer wiring to the secondary memory to change the atomic state of the memory to persist the storage of information. Other computer coded instructions when activated in the internal memory of the processing device cause changes in the computers display memory area to change what is presented on the computer&#39;s screen. In discussing the sub-components of the user processing system  300  some of the lower level details will be abstracted since they follow from the previous examples which discuss the operation of a general purpose processing device. 
         [0033]    In this example, a user must obtain a password or other type of token for access to a computing system and once access is obtained the features of the system may be utilized. The first sub-component of the user processing component  300  to discuss is the user information section or profile  301 . This sub-component  301  defines the scope of operations of a user, and allows for configuration of the user processing system  300 . This sub-component  301  may provide an initial default operation and may allow customization of each sub-component in the system. This customization may provide privacy settings and allow configuring of activities, visualizations, and system components. A user can perform functions that include hiding, sharing, blocking, and broadcasting information entering, leaving, and displayed in the system. The user information section  301  may provide notification options for other sub-components in the system that will be discussed as follows. A scratch pad area  302  is used for making notes, organizing thoughts, and planning of political processes. Available for use in the scratch pad  302  area are templates for building a political process that provide instructions for using the system to create a political process that may include the use of messaging sub-components  303 , television sub-components  305 , and email to provide an advertising campaign for a political process. Above the television sub-component  305  is a banner/link to add a coalition which may start a process to create a new coalition, input information about the coalition, store the coalition information in the system database, and use the information to publish a web page for the coalition that can be maintained by the user. Other sub-components having known functionality include instant or short text messaging  303 , an editor  304 , a video player as a television  305 , a calendar  311 , email  313 , and blog  310 . Other sources  306  of information are available to the system include web camera inputs, downloads from other sites, http links, subscription services and news channels. A status  307  area is include for maintaining the status of political activities and others of interest such as fundraising, and responses to activities. There is a sub-component for receiving messages from parties not designated in the watch  320  sub-component. This sub-component is known as the wall  308  where messages are received from sources designated by the user in addition to those in the watch  320  area and the user can post messages here in response to those messages. The watch  320  is depicted with coalition, legal, bills, and groups where each of these parameters are only indicative of lists of specific organizations, processes, entities or documents being observed. This area can receive messages from any source whether they are short text or long text messages and are received via the messaging service  303 . Message filtering is also available with the configuration of this available in the user information  301  sub-component and statistical information is available to ascertain what messages and subjects are creating the most interest. In some configurations the wall  308  may be combined with the watch sub-component  320 . A folders  312  sub-component is available to display file names and folders available in the system that are stored in secondary storage. This system is capable of storing files of many formats from text to full multi-media formats and displaying files available locally and remotely via the communications system. Information can be downloaded from the other sources  306  to the folder storage area or uploaded from the system using the folders directory structure. The user processing system  300  includes logs such as postal mail logs  315 , phone logs  314  and email logs  313  with usual features such as sorting and search. The sub-components of the user processing system  300  provide configuration, organization of thoughts, messaging, editing, presentation of information, storage of information, logs, events, and other sources. 
         [0034]    Other sub-components of the user processing system  300  may provide a user services inherent in the system, such as storage in the main processing component  210  or requested consulting. The watch  320  sub-component of the user processing system may allow a user to review and select from predefined information such as laws, legislation, events, activities, officials, corporations, and other services that may be provided by the system. This information is classified into divisions with respect to interest areas. In the government section, a user is provided information with regard to the individuals and their official positions whether elected are not. For example a user may be able to determine all of the mayors of cities within a particular country or get information about the representatives in a particular geographic area. This section also allows for the sorting of officials with regard to membership parties. Once an official is determined, a user may review his positions on many issues including legislation, laws, voting positions, and other activities. A user can also search for legislation based upon an interest area to determine who supports it and all of the proposals before a governing body for that interest area. A user may use the information obtained to send messages of support or concern to government officials, using the editor  304 , email  313 , or messaging services  303 . A user may also search for events and activities concerning a particular group to ascertain what legislation may be supported by the group. In addition to searching, the watch  320  sub-component in this example provides the predefined categories with regard to legislation, laws, people, interest groups, and activities. The user may select a category and review pertinent information in that category related to the activities or services desired. Once the user has selected a category, topic, interest area, legislation, individual, entity, corporations, or group, the watch  320  area may provide predefined information and be configured to receive information from other areas of the user processing system  300 , such as from television  305 , messaging service  303 , news feeds, or blogs  310 . The watch area is also updated with the latest available messages regarding a search category chosen when the user has requested to be notified in the user information  301  section. The user can also send out or broadcast messages about opinions regarding the chosen category from the search area in an effort to obtain opinions that can be presented on the wall  308  sub-component and summarized for presentation. In the example of  FIG. 3 , the wall  308  shows health, legislation, and commerce as interest areas for a user, where a multitude of interest areas can be designated. In an alternative implementation, the watch  320  and wall  308  may be combined into one component, which may be efficient since they work in conjunction to present information content from established sources along to with information from other users of the system and users who may message information to the user processing  300  subcomponent via short text, e-mail, and direct post to a user wall  408  if permitted. The coalitions  319  sub-component provides for an area for examining coalitions and for adding new coalitions to a user&#39;s information. The coalitions  319  sub-component may be incorporated in the watch  320  in some implementations. However, it is shown as a separate sub-component in  FIG. 3 . In the coalitions  319  sub-component, a user can, e.g., research coalitions within the system, request addition to coalitions, start new coalitions, start a new group, start a new movement, invite others to join a coalition, and broadcast coalition messages. The user is able to monitor coalitions that are maintained in the user&#39;s profile, is notified of new coalitions forming in selected interest areas, and is kept appraised of events, legislation or activities from the watch  320  that are related to a coalition. The user may have access to predefined information that can be further enhanced, commented on, added to, and projected to other users and non-user via the messaging services, emails, or traditional methods while assuring logs are maintained regarding these activities. 
         [0035]    The user can use the editor  304  and messaging  303  sub-components to send out messages individually or broadcast them. This capability is enhanced by the advocacy  316  sub-component which provides the user an area to work in conjunction with the watch  320  and coalitions  319  sub-components to show advocacy and support to groups, coalitions, entities, individuals, messages, causes, or interest whether predefined in the system or outside the system. The user can then provide links to the wall  308  by the title of an advocacy message, maintain a separate display area of advocacy messages, or store the advocacy message in the folder  312  for public or private retrieval. The advocacy  316  sub-component works with the editor  304  sub-component to facilitate the creation of new messages. Showing support for political processes and organizations may also be implemented. Receiving support related to the show of support, and the ability to organize new causes, groups, coalitions, send messages to all parties concerned, and utilize a trusted political process and organization framework may also be implemented. A feedback/thinktank sub-component is also provided for sending support message to the system&#39;s operational staff about the presence provided and this message of support can be posted to the user&#39;s wall  308  and broadcast through the messaging sub-components. 
         [0036]    A training and consulting  318  sub component is provided to help users get the most out of the system. The previously mentioned scratch pad  302  sub-component provides templates for using the system to build political organizations and processes. The user may also have access to training and consulting internal to the system and provided by the system&#39;s operation staff. Internal training inherent in the system is provided by training documentation and multi-media presentations that may be made available at any time. Further consulting can be scheduled with the system&#39;s operational staff to build complex new political organization, group, and processes by enhancing templates to direct the user using a script that demonstrates how to use the full extent of the user processing system  300  sub-components in to make a plan of action to create and enhance a process, activity, or formation of a group. 
         [0037]    The devices, systems and methods for facilitating communications, such as for political organization, processes, and presence can be utilized for execution of novel methods to accomplish the goals of the user. Discussions of exemplary methods that may be implemented by the systems and devices described herein follow: 
       FIG. 5. Personalize System Action  500   
       [0038]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Title 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Select one or all 
                 User selects topics of interest from a system 
               
               
                 topics of interest 
                 generated list. 
               
               
                 501 
               
               
                 Register for site 502 
                 Registration comprieses user input of legal name, 
               
               
                   
                 home address, age, gender and email address 
               
               
                 System generates 
                 A list of topic-related bills are published on all user 
               
               
                 topics bill list 503 
                 pages based 
               
               
                 User selects from 
                 User takes action by selecting from among bills 
               
               
                 topics bill list 504 
                 published on personalized topics-bill list 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0039]    The Personalize system action method described is for bills in the system. Instead of bills, the user can also choose movement, coalitions, or interest groups to join. 
         [0040]      FIG. 6 . Send a Message to Someone  600   
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Title 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 User selects from 
                 User takes action by selecting from among bills 
               
               
                 topics bill list 601 
                 published on personalized topics-bill list. 
               
               
                 System generates 
                 System generates information on bill including, 
               
               
                 multi-media bill 
                 but not limited to, the following formats: video, 
               
               
                 information 602 
                 podcast, audio, text, graphics, images. 
               
               
                 User reviews bill 
                 User utilizes one or more media formats to 
               
               
                 information 603 
                 review and understand bill. 
               
               
                 User selects 
                 User selects a position in support or opposition 
               
               
                 a position 604 
                 of the bill. 
               
               
                 System generates 
                 Based on user personal information provided in 
               
               
                 letter 605 
                 FIG. 5, Step 2, and the user&#39;s position in 
               
               
                   
                 FIG. 6, Step 4, the system generates a draft 
               
               
                   
                 letter to user&#39;s decision officials. 
               
               
                 User adds 
                 User customizes draft letter to include personal 
               
               
                 personal story 606 
                 story. 
               
               
                 User submits 
                 User selects submit button to send the user&#39;s 
               
               
                 letter 607 
                 position email to their deciding officials. 
               
               
                 System sends 
                 System processes email to user&#39;s deciding 
               
               
                 email 608 
                 officials. 
               
               
                 User shares (or does 
                 Users selects to share or not share position 
               
               
                 not share) letter 
                 email with social media websites including, but 
               
               
                 609 
                 not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, 
               
               
                   
                 MySpace, Pinterest. 
               
               
                 System generates 
                 Based on user&#39;s selection in FIG. 6, Step 4, 
               
               
                 position-related 
                 system generates a listing of groups with similar 
               
               
                 groups 610 
                 position. 
               
               
                 User selects to 
                 User can select to participate in group(s) that 
               
               
                 join similar group 611 
                 further bill or topic related action. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0041]      FIG. 7 . Build a Coalition  700   
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Title 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 User clicks on 
                 The system assigns this user as the organizer and 
               
               
                 “create a coali- 
                 requests a co-organizer to help lead. 
               
               
                 tion” button 701 
               
               
                 Organizer inputs 
                 The organizer selects keywords and with the named 
               
               
                 coalition title 702 
                 title, the system stores this information for the 
               
               
                   
                 recommend feature and the list features in the 
               
               
                   
                 database. 
               
               
                 Select bill to 
                 The organizer either chooses from the bill library one 
               
               
                 add to page 703 
                 or more bills to list on the coalition main page. By 
               
               
                   
                 default, the system will list the bill and position from 
               
               
                   
                 the organizer if the condition is that the organizer 
               
               
                   
                 selects to “create a coalition” button from the final 
               
               
                   
                 page of the letter writing process. 
               
               
                 Organizer uploads 
                 Organizer uploads content and assets to the coalition 
               
               
                 content and assets 
                 including, but not limited to: bylaws, mission, video 
               
               
                 704 
                 and audio assets, images, graphics, events, files and 
               
               
                   
                 folders, linked resources and online meetings. 
               
               
                 Determine the 
                 Organizer selects a default bill position for the 
               
               
                 message position 
                 coalition for all bills selected for the main page for all 
               
               
                 705 
                 members who click through to speak to their deciding 
               
               
                   
                 officials. 
               
               
                 Set up default 
                 If the condition is the organizer selects a bill to attach 
               
               
                 position message 
                 from the library database, the organizer creates has a 
               
               
                 706 
                 personalized position message of the coalition to the 
               
               
                   
                 deciding officials from its members. 
               
               
                 Publish group 707 
                 Organizer concludes group creation by clicking button 
               
               
                   
                 to publish. Published groups are added to system 
               
               
                   
                 database. 
               
               
                 Share coalition 
                 System generates share tools for organizers to 
               
               
                 information 
                 advertise coalition in social media including, but not 
               
               
                 (advertise) 
                 limited to, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, 
               
               
                 708 
                 Pinterest. 
               
               
                 Broadcast 
                 System generates broadcast tool for membership 
               
               
                 membership 
                 invites 
               
               
                 invitation 
               
               
                 email 709 
               
               
                 Coalition data 
                 System generates all coalition analytics. 
               
               
                 metrics 710 
                 System delivers report of coalition analytics to 
               
               
                 Analysis 
                 organizer. 
               
               
                 reports 711 
               
               
                 Organizer 
                 Organizer tool set includes all methods to grow 
               
               
                 tools 712 
                 coalition. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0042]      FIG. 8 . Training Coalition Organizers  800   
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Title 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Organizer publishes 
                 System generates participant default when 
               
               
                 coalition 801 
                 organizer publishes their coalition. 
               
               
                   
                 Publishing of page to web. 
               
               
                 Organizer takes multi- 
                 System generates participation in multi- 
               
               
                 media training courses 
                 media training of organizers as training 
               
               
                 802 
                 occurs. 
               
               
                 Organizer takes online 
                 System generates organizer assessments 
               
               
                 training assessments 
                 after organizer completes the multi- 
               
               
                 803 
                 media online training course tracks. 
               
               
                 System certifies organizer&#39;s 
                 System generates certification after 
               
               
                 successful completion of 
                 organizers successfully pass the assessment. 
               
               
                 training 804 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0043]      FIG. 9 . Build a Movement  900   
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Title 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Organizer publishes 
                 After coalition is created, system generates 
               
               
                 coalition 901 
                 list of groups and movements with related 
               
               
                   
                 bills and positions and provides a “build a 
               
               
                   
                 movement” and/or “join a movement” 
               
               
                   
                 button for organizer to establish movement 
               
               
                   
                 relationships. 
               
               
                 Organizer clicks 
                 The system sends join movement request 
               
               
                 “join a movement” 902 
                 to movement. 
               
               
                 Organizer clicks 
                 The system assigns this user as the 
               
               
                 “build a movement” 903 
                 organizer and requests a co-organizer to 
               
               
                   
                 help lead. 
               
               
                 Organizer inputs 
                 The organizer selects keywords and with 
               
               
                 movement title 904 
                 the named title, the system stores this 
               
               
                   
                 information for the recommend feature 
               
               
                   
                 and the list features in the database. 
               
               
                 Select bill to 
                 The organizer chooses from the bill library 
               
               
                 add to page 905 
                 one or more bills to list on the movement 
               
               
                   
                 main page. By default, the system will list 
               
               
                   
                 the bill and position from the organizer if 
               
               
                   
                 the condition is that the organizer selects to 
               
               
                   
                 “create a movement” button from the final 
               
               
                   
                 page of the letter writing process. 
               
               
                 Organizer uploads 
                 Organizer uploads content and assets to 
               
               
                 content and assets 906 
                 the movement including, but not limited to: 
               
               
                   
                 bylaws, mission, video and audio assets, 
               
               
                   
                 images, graphics, events, files and folders, 
               
               
                   
                 linked resources and online meetings. 
               
               
                 Determine the 
                 Organizer selects a default bill position for 
               
               
                 message position 907 
                 the movement for all bills selected for the 
               
               
                   
                 main page for all members who click 
               
               
                   
                 through to speak to their deciding officials. 
               
               
                 Set up default 
                 If the condition is the organizer selects a bill 
               
               
                 position message 908 
                 to attach from the library database, the 
               
               
                   
                 organizer has to create the personalized 
               
               
                   
                 position message of the coalition to the 
               
               
                   
                 deciding officials from its members. 
               
               
                 Publish group 909 
                 Organizer concludes group creation by 
               
               
                   
                 clicking button to publish. Published 
               
               
                   
                 groups are added to system database. 
               
               
                 Share movement 
                 System generates share tools for organizers 
               
               
                 information 
                 to advertise coalition in social media 
               
               
                 (advertise) 910 
                 including, but not limited to, Facebook, 
               
               
                   
                 Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, Pinterest. 
               
               
                 Broadcast membership 
                 System generates broadcast tool for 
               
               
                 invitation email 911 
                 membership invites 
               
               
                 Coalition data 
                 System generates all movement analytics. 
               
               
                 metrics 912 
               
               
                 Analysis 
                 System delivers report of movement 
               
               
                 reports 913 
                 analytics to organizer. 
               
               
                 Organizer 
                 Organizer tool set includes all methods to 
               
               
                 tools 914 
                 grow movement. 
               
               
                 System generates 
                 System generates lists of like-movements 
               
               
                 organizer movement 
                 that the organizer can select to invite and 
               
               
                 tools 915 
                 grow movement participation. System 
               
               
                   
                 offers social media tools for partner groups. 
               
               
                 Organizer invites 
                 Organizer selects from system generated 
               
               
                 movement partners 
                 movement process of similar movement list 
               
               
                 to join 916 
                 to invite and grow the movement. 
               
               
                 Partner groups 
                 Once the invited partner group accepts 
               
               
                 acceptance 917 
                 participation in the movement, the system 
               
               
                   
                 defaults all members from partner groups 
               
               
                   
                 to be listed as members of the movement 
               
               
                   
                 on their individual user profile wall. This 
               
               
                   
                 may be based on their selected user privacy 
               
               
                   
                 preferences that override the default 
               
               
                   
                 privacy preferences of the system. 
               
               
                 Shared content of 
                 System shares content from all partner 
               
               
                 the movement 918 
                 groups and movements among the 
               
               
                   
                 movement partners. 
               
               
                 Shared bill 
                 A system makes bill letters available from 
               
               
                 letter tracking 919 
                 one movement partner to all movement 
               
               
                   
                 partner members for sending to decision 
               
               
                   
                 officials. 
               
               
                 Partner group 
                 System provides an opportunity for 
               
               
                 members opt out 920 
                 movement member coalitions and 
               
               
                   
                 individuals to opt-out of participation in the 
               
               
                   
                 movement and movement partners. 
               
               
                 Shared analysis 
                 System provides analytics and reports to all 
               
               
                 and reports 921 
                 movement group members about the 
               
               
                   
                 activity of all movement group members. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0044]      FIG. 10 . Sharing Support for a Group, Movement, etc.  1000   
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Title 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Determining group 1001 
                 User chooses groups based on system 
               
               
                   
                 recommendations and user search. 
               
               
                 Determining deciding 
                 System aggregates data to determine 
               
               
                 officials 1002 
                 deciding officials for each user. 
               
               
                 Write messages 1003 
                 System provides pre-written position letters 
               
               
                   
                 in support or opposition of the bill selected 
               
               
                   
                 by the user. User may or may not customize 
               
               
                   
                 the pre-written position letter and add their 
               
               
                   
                 personal story. 
               
               
                 Send messages to deciding 
                 System processes email to user&#39;s deciding 
               
               
                 officials 1004 
                 officials. 
               
               
                 Add messages to wall 
                 Share deciding officials letter with, but not 
               
               
                 1005 
                 limited to, coalition and fellow members. 
               
               
                 Distribute messages to 
                 Users selects to share or not share position 
               
               
                 other social channels 
                 email with social media websites including, 
               
               
                 1006 
                 but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, 
               
               
                   
                 LinkedIn, MySpace, Pinterest. 
               
               
                 Review responses 1007 
                 System provides tools for posting comments 
               
               
                   
                 to user&#39;s deciding official&#39;s letter. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0045]      FIG. 11 . Process to Recommend Bills and Groups  1100   
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Title 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 User selects a bill 
                 User selects a position in support or 
               
               
                 position 1101 
                 opposition of the bill as in FIG. 6, Step 
               
               
                   
                 4. 
               
               
                 System generates letter 1102 
                 Based on user personal information 
               
               
                   
                 provided in FIG. 5, Step 2, and the 
               
               
                   
                 user&#39;s position in FIG. 6, Step 4, the 
               
               
                   
                 system generates a draft letter to user&#39;s 
               
               
                   
                 decision officials. 
               
               
                 User adds personal story 
                 User customizes draft letter to include 
               
               
                 1103 
                 personal story. 
               
               
                 User submits letter 1104 
                 User selects submit button to send the 
               
               
                   
                 user&#39;s position email to their deciding 
               
               
                   
                 officials. 
               
               
                 System sends email 1105 
                 System processes email to user&#39;s 
               
               
                   
                 deciding officials. 
               
               
                 System generates position- 
                 Based on user&#39;s selection in FIG. 6, 
               
               
                 related groups 1106 
                 Step 4, system generates a listing of 
               
               
                   
                 groups with similar position. 
               
               
                 User selects to join 
                 User can select to participate in group(s) 
               
               
                 similar group 1107 
                 that further bill or topic related action as 
               
               
                   
                 in FIG. 6, Step 11. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0046]      FIG. 12 . Multi-User (Wiki) Bill Summary Drafting  1200   
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Title 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 User reviews 
                 User selects bill to review from either 
               
               
                 selected bill 1201 
                 the library or bills listed in their topics. 
               
               
                 User selects the 
                 User chooses become a contributor and 
               
               
                 edit button 1202 
                 edit the bill summary in accordance with 
               
               
                   
                 system editing guidelines which include 
               
               
                   
                 but are not limited to neutrality, 
               
               
                   
                 balance, and accuracy. Partisan 
               
               
                   
                 perspectives are not allowed in the bill 
               
               
                   
                 summary wiki. 
               
               
                 User highlights 
                 System saves this edit and registers the 
               
               
                 section to edit 1203 
                 user&#39;s information for version control. 
               
               
                 User adds new text 1204 
                 System saves this change and registers 
               
               
                   
                 the user&#39;s information for version 
               
               
                   
                 control. 
               
               
                 System processes edit 1205 
                 System processes the edit for approval 
               
               
                   
                 before publishing. 
               
               
                 System has version 
                 Each edit is subject to other contributors 
               
               
                 and revision control 1206 
                 who can utilize version control and 
               
               
                   
                 revise utilizing this system process. 
               
               
                 Contributors check 
                 Contributors review edits made by other 
               
               
                 work 1207 
                 contributors to enforce system editing 
               
               
                   
                 guidelines which include but are not 
               
               
                   
                 limited to neutrality, balance and 
               
               
                   
                 accuracy. System process shows specific 
               
               
                   
                 prior contributing edits. 
               
               
                 Contributors revise, 
                 System processes version and revision 
               
               
                 add or otherwise amend 
                 control based on the current 
               
               
                 1208 
                 contributor&#39;s behavior. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0047]      FIG. 13 . Multi-User (Wiki) Bill Drafting  1300   
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Title 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 User reviews 
                 User selects topic or bill from either the 
               
               
                 bills or topics 1301 
                 library or bills listed in their topics. 
               
               
                 User selects the 
                 User chooses become a contributor and 
               
               
                 edit or add button 1302 
                 either edit the bill or create their own in 
               
               
                   
                 accordance with system editing guidelines 
               
               
                   
                 which include but are not limited to 
               
               
                   
                 neutrality, balance, and accuracy for decency 
               
               
                   
                 and a stronger argument. Partisan 
               
               
                   
                 perspectives are not allowed in the bill 
               
               
                   
                 summary wiki. 
               
               
                 User highlights 
                 System saves this edit and registers the user&#39;s 
               
               
                 section to edit 1303 
                 information for version control. 
               
               
                 User adds new text 1304 
                 System saves this change and registers the 
               
               
                   
                 user&#39;s information for version control. 
               
               
                 System processes 
                 System processes the edit for approval 
               
               
                 edit 1305 
                 before publishing. 
               
               
                 System has version 
                 Each edit is subject to other contributors who 
               
               
                 and revision control 1306 
                 can utilize version control and revise utilizing 
               
               
                   
                 this system process. 
               
               
                 Contributors check 
                 Contributors review edits made by other 
               
               
                 work 1307 
                 contributors to enforce system editing 
               
               
                   
                 guidelines which include but are not limited 
               
               
                   
                 to neutrality, balance and accuracy. System 
               
               
                   
                 process shows specific prior contributing 
               
               
                   
                 edits. 
               
               
                 Contributors revise, 
                 System processes version and revision 
               
               
                 add or otherwise amend 
                 control based on the current contributor&#39;s 
               
               
                 1308 
                 behavior. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0048]      FIG. 14 . Holding Deciding Officials Accountable  1400   
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Title 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 System documents 
                 System recognizes and documents user&#39;s 
               
               
                 user behavior 1401 
                 point of view in aggregate as they send 
               
               
                   
                 letters and build groups and movements 
               
               
                   
                 around bills and issues. 
               
               
                 System reports 
                 System reports data on trends in organizing 
               
               
                 a trending list 1402 
                 and deciding official communications from 
               
               
                   
                 users. 
               
               
                 Administrators 
                 Around trends reported by the system based 
               
               
                 build news stories 1403 
                 on user behavior and communications, 
               
               
                   
                 administrators build news stories and 
               
               
                   
                 compare activity happening with deciding 
               
               
                   
                 officials. 
               
               
                 Administrators 
                 Administrators produce a news show based 
               
               
                 produce news show 1404 
                 around top user trends in communication 
               
               
                   
                 and behavior. Deciding officials, journalists, 
               
               
                   
                 experts and others are invited to discuss 
               
               
                   
                 these trends in comparison to what deciding 
               
               
                   
                 officials are focusing on. 
               
               
                 Administrators 
                 Administrators broadcast the show via web 
               
               
                 broadcast the show 1405 
                 and TV. 
               
               
                 OTHER: Administrators 
                 This includes but is not limited to: blogs, 
               
               
                 produce multi-media 
                 podcasts, TV, cable, web series, other 
               
               
                 news programming 1406 
                 content and assets. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0049]      FIG. 15 . Think Tank Feedback Method  1500   
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Title 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Users select the 
                 System generates a template page for users to 
               
               
                 feedback button 1501 
                 comment on a variety of website issues 
               
               
                   
                 including but not limited to: bill summary 
               
               
                   
                 changes, site changes, site errors, content and 
               
               
                   
                 asset suggestions. 
               
               
                 Users join as 
                 System generates a list of contributing pods 
               
               
                 contributors 1502 
                 for the user to select from including but not 
               
               
                   
                 limited to: public policy, coalition admin, 
               
               
                   
                 movement admin, TV, social media, 
               
               
                   
                 innovation, mobile. 
               
               
                 Administrators 
                 Administrators grow the relationship with 
               
               
                 work with users and 
                 their user and contributor. This relationship 
               
               
                 contributors 1503 
                 can include but not limited to: wiki 
               
               
                   
                 contributing, content, asset, collaboration, 
               
               
                   
                 team building, 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0050]      FIG. 16 . Blogger Community Method  1600   
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Title 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Invite-only integrated 
                 Hand selected partisan-balanced group of 
               
               
                 blogger community 
                 bloggers are invited to engage with users on an 
               
               
                 1601 
                 integrated system. 
               
               
                 Engage with users 
                 Special bill related groups can be attached to 
               
               
                 1602 
                 each individual blogger and its community. 
               
               
                 Recommend of select 
                 Along with recommending groups who are of 
               
               
                 blogger 1603 
                 similar political positions, invited bloggers are 
               
               
                   
                 also recommended to users when they reveal 
               
               
                   
                 similar interests. 
               
               
                 Broadcast invited 
                 Share feature of users and invited blogger of the 
               
               
                 blogger in media 1604 
                 blogger community with social media including 
               
               
                   
                 but not limited to: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, 
               
               
                   
                 Pinterest, YouTube, MySpace, broadcast TV, 
               
               
                   
                 cable TV, originally produced shows. 
               
               
                 Participation on 
                 Invited bloggers are subject to guest panel roles 
               
               
                 media shows 1605 
                 on media shows and interviews based on their 
               
               
                   
                 position. Trending bloggers will be highlighted. 
               
               
                 Blogging metrics 
                 System provides metrics and analysis creating a 
               
               
                 and analysis 1606 
                 success metric of the community measuring user 
               
               
                   
                 engagement. 
               
               
                 Trending bloggers 
                 System provides published analysis of blogger 
               
               
                 1607 
                 communities related to user and coalition 
               
               
                   
                 engagement and growth measures.