Voter Data Consolidation via Secure Electronic Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic voting systems face integrity issues during data transport and compatibility challenges due to the use of disparate voting machines and lack of standardization in software and memory devices, leading to risks of data damage, loss, or misidentification, and difficulties in initializing and consolidating vote data across different machines.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for secure vote data compilation and transmission that includes a vote data consolidation function to collect data from various machines, a secure transmission function to send data to a central tabulation headquarters, and a password-based authorization mechanism for enhanced security, allowing for initialization of voter access and validation of vote data integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If memory devices are physically transported from remote voting locations to central tabulation facilities, then vote data can be collected and tabulated, but data integrity is compromised due to risks of tampering, damage, loss, or misidentification during transport

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevote data collection efficiencyVSAvoiddata integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical physical transport of memory devices with an electronic digital transmission system. Vote data is transmitted electronically from remote voting locations to central tabulation facilities, eliminating the physical handling and transport risks associated with memory devices while maintaining data collection efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates digital copies of vote data that can be transmitted electronically. Instead of moving the original memory devices, the system generates and transmits copies of the vote data through secure electronic channels, allowing multiple copies to be distributed for backup and verification purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Ease of operation

If conventional manual control procedures are used for memory devices, then data can be managed and transported, but the process is time-consuming and prone to human errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata management capabilityVSAvoiddata preparation and transport time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements automated systems that perform data management tasks without requiring manual intervention. The electronic transmission system automatically handles data collection, validation, encryption, and transfer processes, eliminating the need for personnel to manually collect, identify, mark, pack, and transport memory devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual control procedures with automated electronic systems. The system automatically manages the entire data transmission process from voting locations to central facilities, substituting human operations with computerized protocols for data handling, validation, and secure transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If disparate voting machines from different vendors and generations are used, then existing inventory can be utilized, but compatibility and standardization issues arise in initializing and consolidating vote data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoting machine inventory utilizationVSAvoiddata consolidation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal data transmission interface that can accommodate multiple types of voting machines from different vendors and generations. The system uses standardized communication protocols and data formats that enable diverse voting machines to interface with the central electronic transmission system, allowing the system to handle various machine types through a common platform.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs parameter transformation to convert data from different voting machine formats into a standardized transmission format. The system adjusts data parameters, encoding schemes, and communication protocols to accommodate variations between machine types while maintaining consistent data integrity and security standards across all inputs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9092922B2Systems, methods, and programs for voter information initialization and consolidation

Publication Date: 2015.07.28 SMARTMATIC INT CORP

AI summary

Systems, methods, and programs allow for the secure compilation of vote data from electronic voting machines at a voting location. Systems, methods, and programs provide the secure electronic transmission of the vote data to a central location for tabulation. provide a vote data consolidation function that can collect and consolidate vote data from a plurality of types or generations voting machines. Systems, methods, and programs provide a vote data transmission function that can communicate with a server in a central tabulation headquarters to securely transmit vote data that has been consolidated from a plurality of voting machines. Systems, methods, and programs provide a voter initialization function, wherein, after establishing a voter's identity, a voter authorization card may be initialized for the voter to gain access to a voting machine.