Absentee Ballot System and Method Using Codes for Minimizing Pandemic Exposure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transaction methods, especially in the context of online and brick-and-mortar commerce, lack secure authentication of individuals and parties, leading to potential security concerns and exposure to infectious diseases.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing multiplex codes, which are optically scannable tags with encrypted/hashed messages, enabling secure authentication through biometric verification and dynamic generation of unique codes for each transaction, ensuring secure and efficient data transfer without the need for password entry or credit card information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional transaction methods (cash, cards, PayPal) are used, then transactions can be conducted, but security concerns arise and exposure to infectious diseases occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical cash and card-based mechanical transaction systems with a contactless optical code scanning system. Users scan multiplex codes displayed by vendors using their mobile devices, eliminating the need for physical hand-to-hand transfers of money or cards, thus reducing exposure to infectious diseases while maintaining transaction security through encrypted code verification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces multiplex codes as an intermediary between buyer and seller. Instead of direct cash exchange or password entry, the code serves as a secure mediator that carries encrypted transaction information. The code can be scanned and verified without requiring the parties to be physically present together or share sensitive information directly, reducing disease transmission risk
2Ease of operation
If QR codes are used for transactions, then ease of operation improves, but security becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses multiplex codes that combine multiple encoding characteristics within a single optical code structure. These codes integrate various types of information (identification, authentication, transaction data) in a composite format that is both easily scannable and securely encrypted, overcoming the limitations of simple QR codes while maintaining ease of use
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enhances the security parameters of optical codes by implementing encryption and hashing mechanisms within the multiplex code structure. The codes maintain their scannability and ease of operation while changing the security parameters through advanced cryptographic methods, making them resistant to spoofing and unauthorized access
3Reliability
If biometric verification is required, then authentication security improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service authentication where the mobile device automatically performs biometric verification (fingerprint, facial recognition) without requiring manual intervention or complex user input. The system handles the authentication process autonomously in the background, improving security while minimizing the perceived complexity to the user
Data Source
AI summary
The inventive apparatus for printing, sending, receiving and counting absentee ballots, comprises a printer for creating a plurality of ballots, each of the ballots bearing a unique code device containing a unique identification code and a would-be voter personal computing device for sending a communication from a would be voter requesting a ballot and for sending personal identification information. The personal computing device must receive a biometric to become activated. A board of elections computing device receives a communication from a would-be voter requesting a ballot, the board of elections computing device being operated by software which causes it to execute a number of program steps comprising verifying that the personal computing device must receive a biometric to become activated, receiving personal identification information from the would-be voter personal computing device, and comparing the received personal identification information with voter record information contained in the database of registered voter information a board of elections to determine whether the would-be voter is registered to vote. A balloted voter database is adapted for storing a notation of a positive identification of the would-be voter as a registered voter, and for storing in the balloted voter database a notation that the would be voter is to be sent one of the ballots. A scanning device is adapted for scanning the unique code device on one of the ballots. A sent ballots database stores the identification of the one ballot in the sent ballots database. A voted ballots database receives an indication that a communication has been received from the registered voter personal computing device of the would be voter, the communication comprising the output of a scan of the unique code device on the ballot sent to the would-be voter, the information including the unique identification code, whereby returned voted ballots may be assessed for authenticity, wherein the program of steps comprises assessing authenticity of return ballots by determining that each ballot is included in the sent ballots database and is included in the voted ballots database, whereby the ballots that are included in the sent ballots database and in the voted ballots database are identified as verified ballots, and the election choices in the verified ballots may be counted.