TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an all in one biometric capturing machine with multiple coupled devices. An electronic data capturing machine linked to a computerized network for ballots, voting, and census or other registration and information gathering purposes.

BACKGROUND ART

In this description the invention can be referred to as a "Kit", "machine" or "Biometric Kit".

From ancient times of voting, census or registration methods; in the form of various ballot and mechanical voting implementations; voting systems were used and invented for the sole purpose of registering votes accurately and in the most stringent ways to prevent fraud and maladministration.

Whether voting stations were set up in more rural or more urban vicinities the same ballot systems were implemented as far as possible. In the last decades up to the 2000 s and in some countries until today's age paper and mechanical system ballots are still used.

However, voting with software on computers became more and more popular in the last two decades and many first world and third world countries embrace an electronic computer ballot capturing voting program. Whether the requirements of data gathering are for ballots or census or a general field study of an organisations or governments choice; computers are a reliable method to orchestrate data capturing for various reasons such as safety, real-time feedback, analytical procedures and intelligent comparison analysis.

The biggest reasons for governments and organisations switching to computer driven ballots and registration software systems is because previous methods are simply cumbersome and the result turn out can be less timeous. For example many persons needed to register a single person in the older days can now be reduced to one person or much fewer, that oversee and record via a computer system. Prior systems could require one person to record each voter that casts a vote, a second to oversee cheating by any means, a third or rather many people counting the votes, a fourth to liaison the outcome to the parties, a fifth to take a finger print or biometric eye scan, a sixth person to temporarily stamp a person in order not to vote again etc.

The challenge of administration and security will always be there in any new or old voting or ballot system but at least an improved and alleviated method of administration, security, timeous result and capturing in real time and cost saving by means of staff reduction and paperless voting is implemented. In this invention a "Biometric registration machine" (patent one) is presented to function with "A computer registration software system" (patent two) as a family of patents. The "Biometric registration machine" is an all in one voting "Kit".

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Voting, ballot and registration stations are usually operated in a manual manner and with various people needed for managing such a system. With this machine, data capturing information is possible through one person. Information gathering can also take place securely in remote locations and with ease; as the casing(44) is light enough to be hand carried and operated without standby power as an onboard rechargeable battery is present. Al capturing can be send via live server connections with secured advanced software and firewalls required in private voting or registration practises by governments.

The insert(A) of the case Kit is made up with the configuration and combination of several electronic devices functioning as one entity, forming part of a Biometric registration kit; called the "kit case inserf(A). This is a ballot, voting, census or any data capturing etc. machine. The insert is designed in such a way that it fits into the case (44) without any installation requirement. The components are all attached to the insert (A) and are all permanently connected. There is no requirement for any assembly, the Operator simply opens the case and powers on the printer (60), laptop (70) and other devices mentioned in the next paragraph.

The Kits are supplied with the following capturing components and are also integrated into the registration software. The main functions of the registration software are, Operator biometric logon and related permissions; Biometric Data Capture - Ten Fingerprints; Facial Image Capture; Signature Capture ; Demographic Data Capture; Form Scanning ; Fingerprint processing and verification (Mini AFIS) ; Edit and update captured data; Receipt printing; Data transfer and data backup; Various reports, backup and Audit functions.

These devices in the Kit above enable on site field capturing and data information to compile personal profiles such as capturing births and printing birth certificates, ID documents, Doctor certificates, area census reports and whatever the need or criteria entails.

Firstly for the Kit operator to log on via biometric logon for extra security can either proceed through the Camera Eye scanner (50), Signature capture device (111), Facial image capture (50), Fingerprint slap scanner (90) logon or a combination of these devices and software.

Next a ballot procedure can start for a community to vote on the biometric Kit. One or many machines can be used depending the predetermined estimated number of voters to be expected or the general population size of an area can be predetermined through prior census records and population papers. The voter/ballot registration is now underway and according to the particulars needed; people cast their votes on the Biometric Kit's registration software. Fingerprint processing (90) and verification, data transfer, audit and backup functions, together with various reports are achieved in real time through the satellite system linked to the Kit's BGAN Satellite. AFIS "Fingerprint Identification System" is also linked through the "Broadband Global Area Network" (BGAN). BGAN portable satellite terminals work for high-speed Internet and phones from anywhere on the planet. These terminals are small enough to be carried inside of a Kit case. The BGAN terminal is mounted on the bottom side of the insert (A) and can't be seen from the outside of the case (44). The case side's (B) protect and hide the insert and its components.

The Biometric kit is made tough and to solid rigid construction of all its combined components to suite the rural World standard, technology needs, like: Weather, Climate, Environmental factors, Knowledge and skills levels, System acceptability, Organizational politics, Political factors, Vendor Interference, Socio-cultural factors, Infrastructures, Technical factors and Initial capital and maintenance.

The Biometric kit technology system meets the following requirements: Scalability, Robustness, Ease of Integration, Reliability, Accuracy, Productivity, Ease of use, Demand Driven rather than supply driven.

In the Biometric kits all the hardware components are fixed to the insert (A) and cannot be removed even when you are transporting the kits. The insert is made from solid state material not sponge. However a sponge (100) layer protects the insert (A) and the sponge is fixed to the upside shell (100) of the case (44). For extra protection a support holder or mechanical stop (66) is used to ensure no extra force on the outside of the case can make pressure on the components inside the case.

The Biometric kit contains a Laptop (70), Printer (60), Slap Fingerprint scanner (90), A4 scanner (60) (which is also the printer), Signature Pad (111), Camera (50), Barcode reader (55), External Battery socket (10), and external backup device or USB Key etc. plugged in at USB port (77). A G PS and the BGAN satellite transmitter are found in an Additional Compartment (285) on the underside of the insert (A).

The Biometric kit paper output (88) receives paper (282) from the printer/scanner (60) from under the laptop (70). A ramp (280) is placed from the printer, extending under the laptop to the paper output mouth (88). The external battery socket (10) is to connect the battery to AC 220V power wherever there are power grids available. The laptop and printer can get charged by a separate external battery. The laptop and printer also have their own onboard batteries.

For extra protection a support holder or mechanical stop (66) is used to ensure no extra force on the outside of the case can make pressure on the components inside the case.

The typical process of a candidate ready to cast a vote at the Operations site (602) on a Biometric Kit (602) would be to present his ID book or card to the ballot's Biometric Kit operator. The person's data is captured from their ID card and verified with the central server (603) through the administration house (605) who upon request retrieves information from the police, government or tax office servers through a linked interface. The candidate's finger prints also verifies through the AFIS software linked through the BGAN satellite transmitter. If for some reason a candidate doesn't have any means to identify himself or herself through an ID card the Biometric Kit is ideal to capture a "new" entry. Provisional identification of the unidentified person is captured by means of a birth certificate, school certificate, address, police, tax or banking particulars or whatever the case might be.

Each Capture site or Operations site must achieve the following features: Alphanumeric data recording; Biometric data recording (facial photo capture and fingerprint capture) ; embarks the last electoral database containing the last voters list (this save capturing time); Printing and delivery of precipices to the candidate after registration and then Transferring of data to the central site.

This data is send to the central server and also backed-up in real time. System administration of documents and document inventory management also provide an interface with the police and tax services. Processing verification and validation of the requests published comes to litigation and publishing of the final provisional voters list. Production of temporary voters list (606), litigation processing and production of the final electoral list are then personalized on each of the voter cards. Distribution (607) and delivery of voter cards finally takes place.

Through this process unregistered voters may now use their new ID cards to either go and vote at manual voter ballot points, or again use the Biometric Kit to cast their vote. It depends on how the government set up their means of voting that could be either through manual ballot stations or computerized systems such as a Biometric registration machine or kit.

BRI EF DESCRI PTIO N O F DRAWI NGS

This invention will now be described, by way of example as portrayed in the "Summary of the Invention", with reference to the following drawing(s):

Figure 1: Perspective view of a Biometric registration machine

Figure 2: Perspective side view showing additional compartment and paper output

Figure 3: Side view of insert only without the case

Figure 4: Dimensional width, height and length embodiment of a typical Biometric Kit

Figure 5: The Biometric kit schematic explained in an electrical flow diagram

Figure 6: A data flow diagram of a Biometric Kit communicating with the central server site in a voting cycle. DETAI LED DESCRI PTION OF DRAWI NGS

This invention will now be described in detail, by way of example as portrayed in the "Summary of the Invention", with reference to the following drawing(s):

Figure 1: Perspective view of a Biometric registration machine consisting of the following components: 220V power input (10), Laptop (70), A4 scanner (20), USB insert port (77), LED light (30), Printer paper output (88), Insert Hand lift holder (44), Finger print slap scanner (90), Webcam camera (50), Camera level adjustment (99), Barcode reader (55), Scanner and Printer (60), Signature Pad (111), Support holder (66), A4 Scanner lights (22), Insert plastic surface (A), Sides of insert panel (B).

Figure 2: Perspective side view showing the additional compartment (285) where the GPRS and BGAN satellite receiver may be housed or stored, including other devices that may be useful. The paper output (280) pushes the paper (282) to the mouth of the Printer paper output ((88) Figure 1)).

Figure 3: Side view of insert only without the case shows paper flow from printer to paper output.

Figure 4: Dimensional 528mm (width), 175mm (110mm + 65mm) (height) and 652mm (length) embodiment of a typical Biometric Kit. Although this Kit fit above dimensions a Biometric Kit may be smaller or bigger but the typical embodiment would be above dimensions.

Figure 5: The Biometric Kit schematic explained in an electrical flow diagram with below points:

(501) 220v AC - DC 16.8v 5A Lithium ion Changer is for charging the Lithium battery

(502) 220V AC-DC 12V 8.4A Power supply is for supplying power to the Laptop and Printer batteries without using lithium battery pack

(503) Battery meter is the gauge for checking lithium battery is low or high

(504) Lithium battery is a power bank for changing Printer and laptop batteries.

(505) Battery output Protection Switch is for protecting the Lithium battery that it must not be drained out

(506) Relay switch is for opening and closing the lithium battery or the AC-DC power supply automatically

(507) 12v- 5v 10A voltage regulator is for converting and supplying power to the USB hub

(508) 12v-19v 3A voltage regulator is for converting and supplying power to the printer

(509) 12v-19v 2A voltage regulator is for converting and supplying power to the laptop

(510) GPS modem is for tracking the position of the biometric kit (511) USB hub is for data connection of the Slap Scanner, Barcode reader, Signature pad, Webcam, External USB hard drive, GSM or 36 internet modem

(512) Laptop is the brain of all the external components which use our biometric system

(513) Printer is for printing out and scanning the documents

(514) Connectors is for connecting all the power to complete the circuit.

Figure 6: A data flow diagram of a Biometric Kit communicating with the central server site in a voting cycle.

(GOO) Existing data are inserted in our Biometric Kit/s retrieved from an existing server or file server. Biometric Kits communicate with a given server to extract data to start the voting or data capturing cycle.

(601) A server or file server provides existing data.

(602) One or more Biometric Kits operate as Operation sites handling voter capturing.

(603) Existing data are transferred and imported or exported to the central site, currently in Abidjan.

(604) The Back-up site is always the copy of the central site.

(605) The Centralization of all data is handled through document inventory management on the software system and processed by the management team of the system software administration. The system software provides an interface with the police and tax services that process verification and validation of the requests published by the provisional list. After litigation the publishing of the final provisional list is executed.

(606) Production of temporary voters list begins. Thereafter a final electoral list is produced and voter cards are prepared.

(607) Completed voter cards are distributed to the Operations sites.

(608) Operation sites receive delivery of the voter cards and can now begin the actual voting.