REMOTE VOTING DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED CONTROL AND

MANAGEMENT KIT Technical Field

The present invention relates to a remote voting device and to the corresponding control and management kit. Background Art

Audience response is a method for transmitting information from a speaker to his audience and vice versa in real time that is based on an integrated software-hardware system. Apparatuses that provide for an interaction between an audience and a speaker who are in the same location combine wireless hardware with presentation software, while apparatuses for managing remote interaction can use telephone lines or Web connections and in this case the audience can follow the event via television broadcasts or Internet connections. The speaker uses a computer and a projector to show his presentation to the audience. The presentation slides, created by means of audience response software, show the questions with the various possible answers. The audience takes part by selecting the answer that it deems most appropriate by pressing a button on the voting device that has been given to it. The provided answers are then sent, by means of a transmitter, to the computer of the speaker. The audience response software collects and analyzes the data supplied by the audience, showing in real time the results, by means of charts or tables, and within the presentation of the speaker. According to the requirements of the speaker and of the type of presentation, the data can be gathered anonymously (for example in the case of voting with equal voting powers), can be weighted (if each individual voter can represent a specific number of shares) or it is possible to identify the author of a specific answer to a specific question (in case of prize quizzes or learning tests). The acquired data are also collected in a database that is also managed by the audience response software and can be used for

further analyses after the presentation has taken place.

One of the main benefits of the adoption of remote voting devices of the type being analyzed is the possibility to reduce the influence of the crowd on individual choices, since differently from a show of hands, for example, it is difficult for voters to guess what answers the remainder of the audience is providing.

The adoption of remote voting devices also allows faster organization and management of the results of the preference choices with respect to more traditional manual systems. Professional and school training events also use systems of this kind to manage the testing of learned notions, speeding up and simplify the gathering of data required for assessments.

Of course, this technology offers many benefits especially during meetings attended by a large number of people, since it allows large groups of people to express themselves regarding an issue or to answer a question.

Each person has a voting device (substantially shaped like a remote control or a mobile phone) by means of which he/she can select a choice. Every voting device communicates remotely with a computer via the receivers located at the site of the event. After a given time, or when all the participants have answered, the apparatus gathers and processes the results.

The results can be made available immediately to the participants by means of a chart displayed on the projector or can be supplied with a delay forced by specific requirements of the voting in progress.

Each voting device can comprise a small user interface screen, on which it is possible to provide information related to the voting in progress. However, the user has to pay the utmost attention to the exposition of the speaker, since the information on the display is insufficient to determine which voting is currently in progress and to identify which point of the schedule of planned voting operations has been reached. In practice, it is not possible for a user to ignore all the voting

operations that precede the one he is interested in (or avoid only some of them), but such user is forced to attend the event constantly up to the moments in which he is interested.

At the same time, for the organizers of the event it is not always possible to perform a detailed check of operation on each individual voting device: this would entail extremely long times and therefore would complicate enormously the distribution of the voting devices. The number of voting devices needed in given events is in fact extremely high (several hundreds) and therefore individual verification of each device is substantially impossible.

However, there are frequent cases in which an individual voter is enabled only to take part in some issues put to the vote and cannot take part in others: these cases occur whenever voters with proxies (i.e., representing other voters) can access the voting operations or when each individual vote must be weighted as a function of the shares held by the voter.

In all these cases, remote voting operations become complicated: in particular, the management of each individual voting device increases in complexity.

In order to make existing voting devices sufficiently customizable, voting devices are provided which have seats within which removable memory cards are inserted on which it is possible to load the data related to any information related to the voter to whom the specific voting device will be assigned.

The removable cards expose voting to risks of rigging, since a same card might (intentionally or as a consequence of accidental events) be swapped between two different voters, altering the parameters referred to the voter for whom it would actually be intended.

Further, by means of an apparatus for reading/writing on memory cards, it might be possible to access the data that are present on the card, with possible violations of privacy, or even to alter the preset data in order

to cause disadvantages and/or advantages to one or more voters.

These risks make known types of voting device substantially scarcely suitable for voting operations of this type, unless additional security blocks, designed to avoid tampering with the device and/or the memory card, are provided. These anti-tampering blocks of course entail an increase in the costs of the voting device.

In these known voting devices it is further necessary to associate the specific removable card with the serial identification number of the device, with the consequent need to identify immediately the serial number of the device: the replacement of components (due even to simple maintenance) of a voting device can alter its identification number, and it is therefore evident that maintaining a registry that gathers all the assigned identification numbers is complicated and onerous. Disclosure of the Invention The aim of the present invention is to provide a remote voting device that is adapted to store data of any kind temporarily and/or permanently.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a remote voting device that can be identified immediately by the data processing system that manages the voting operations. Another object of the present invention is to provide a control and management kit for a remote voting device that is adapted to transfer information from a data processing system to the device and vice versa.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control and management kit for a remote voting device that is adapted to check the correct operation and check the charging level of the batteries of the device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a remote voting device and a corresponding control and management kit that have low costs, are relatively simple to provide in practice and are safe in application.

This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by the present remote voting device of the

type that comprises a boxlike body provided with a display, at least one control and selection element, a transceiver, a processor and at least one battery of accumulators, characterized in that it comprises at least one integrated memory unit that is controlled by said processor and is connected to respective connection terminals that lead outside said box-like body for coupling to components of a respective kit for the control and management of the entire device. Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a remote voting device and of the associated control and management kit, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a remote voting device and of the corresponding control and management kit according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an operating container of a control and management kit for remote voting devices according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a schematic side view of an operating container of a control and management kit for remote voting devices according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus for presetting a control and management kit for remote voting devices according to the invention. Ways of carrying out the Invention

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a remote voting device and the reference numeral 2 generally designates the corresponding control and management kit.

The voting device 1 comprises a box-like body 3, which is provided with a display 4, at least one control and selection element 5 (constituted, in

the example shown in the accompanying figures, by three buttons, and providable in any case according to a plurality of different embodiments, a transceiver, a processor (this may be a simple electronic component or an actual microprocessor adapted to perform operations and calculations associated with the voting procedures), and at least one battery of accumulators (in this case it is possible to adopt rechargeable batteries of the standard type but also lithium batteries, these last being particularly suitable due to their long life for equal dimensions and weight).

It must be noted that by adopting simple and efficient management software for the device 1 it is possible to provide devices 1 that have a minimum number of control and selection elements 5 (the operating keys), since it is possible to display on the screen 4 lettering that is aligned with each element 5 and defines its function at that moment. In this manner, i.e., by adopting a context-sensitive function, a small number of keys (for example three but potentially even fewer) allow to control the device 1 completely.

Further, by adopting a display 4 of the backlit type, the user can have a clear view of the information provided on the display 4 only when needed, at other times the display 4 can be switched off or be scarcely lit to ensure minimum energy consumption.

The device 1 comprises at least one integrated memory unit 20 that is controlled by the processor and is connected to respective connection terminals 6 that lead outside the box-like body 3 for mating with components of the respective kit 2 for the control and management of the entire device 1.

The at least one memory unit 20 comprises at least two separate memory areas 20a, 20b. Of these two areas, a first memory area 20a is assigned to storing information of a general nature and a second memory area 20b is assigned to storing personal information related to the specific voter to whom the device 1 is assigned. In particular, it is possible to enter

in the first memory area 20a information of a general nature, such as the schedule of voting operations or the agenda of the meeting, as well as other information related to the operating instructions of the device 1 or charts and presentations related to the company, group or association that organizes the event where voting will take place.

On the second memory area 20b it is instead possible to record information related to any proxies (i.e., in representation of other voters) associated with the particular voter to whom the particular device 1 is assigned, or a complete file of such voter when each individual vote must be weighted as a function of the shares held by the voter.

Advantageously, the at least one memory unit 20 comprises a memory sector 20c that is assigned to storing a unique identification string, an identification code, of a temporary type assigned to each individual device 1 by way of the respective control and management kit 2. This means that regardless of the manufacturing identification number that is provided on each device 1 (i.e., assigned by punching or stamping on the components or, more frequently, stably associated with the processor or with a read-only memory component associated therewith), it is always possible in each instance to assign a temporary identification code that designates each device 1 throughout the voting operations. When the device 1 is switched off or stored in inactive conditions, the information related to the temporary identification code is deleted or optionally ignored during subsequent use. It is clear that having a device 1 that can be identified immediately by the receiving antennas arranged in the voting space simplifies the preliminary operations for preparing the devices 1 before such voting.

Instead of checking the fixed identification number of the device 1 and storing it in the receiving stations (connected to the antennas), it is in fact sufficient to assign a progressive identification code to the devices 1 during their distribution: codes are thus provided only in a number that is

equal to the number of voters and therefore the querying of the devices 1 at each vote, performed by the antennas, is performed only on the devices 1 to which a temporary identification code is assigned: the devices that are not in use will therefore not be queried and the verification operations subsequent voting will become shorter and more precise.

According to an embodiment of particular interest in practice and in application, the memory units are two, one constituting the first memory area 20a and one constituting the second memory area 20b; such second unit further comprises the memory sector 20c assigned to storing the unique temporary identification string (temporary identification or ID code).

For correct use and correct management of the device 1 , it is convenient to adopt a kit 2 that comprises at least one apparatus for interfacing between the voting device 1 and a data processing unit 7.

Such interfacing apparatus can be connected functionally to the connection terminals 6 of the device 1 and to a port for transferring the signal of the data processing unit 7 by means of suitable cables 8.

According to a possible embodiment, the interfacing apparatus is constituted by an operating container 9, which comprises a plurality of seats 10 for accommodating the voting devices 1. Internally, the operating container 9 comprises at least one circuit line for connection (not visible in the figure) between a portion of each seat 10 and at least one respective connection terminal 1 1 : by means of this connection terminal 1 1 it is possible to associate the operating container 9 with one data processing unit 7 or other equivalent apparatus adapted to set functions by means of a dedicated software.

The operating container 9 also comprises a power supply connector 12, which leads even indirectly to the internal circuit line, an output connector 13 for connection to other users, and an signaling interface 14 for the user. Each container 9 also has a switch 15 for switching it on or off.

The data processing unit 7, of the type of a computer according to the embodiment shown in Figures 3, 4, can be connected to the connection terminal 1 1 by means of a signal cable 8, optionally with the interposition of a specific interconnection apparatus 16: the interconnection apparatus 16 may be necessary in order to adapt the signals that arrive from the container 9 to the ones that can be managed by the data processing unit 7 and vice versa. These signals might in fact be mutually incompatible, and in this case the interconnection apparatus 16 converts them bidirectionally to allow communication from the data processing unit 7 to the container 9 and therefore to the voting devices 1 contained therein.

For this purpose, the signal cable 8 is of the bidirectional type, for the transfer of information from the data processing unit 7 to the voting devices 1 inserted in the respective seats 10 and vice versa: this is generally a multicore cable of the type that comprises only electrical conductors or of the type that also comprises optical fibers or other means for conveying light signals.

The portion connected to the circuit line of the seats 10 faces and is tangent to the connection terminals 6 of the respective seated voting device 1 : in particular, each voting device 1 comprises, generally on its lower end face, the connection terminals 6, which by making contact with the respective portion of the respective seat 10 ensures the correct electrical contact of the device 1 to the container 9 and therefore to the data processing unit 7.

According to an alternative embodiment, which can in any case be adopted and used in combination with the operating container 9, the interfacing apparatus is constituted by an apparatus 17 for presetting data on the voting device 1, which comprises a shell 18 for accommodating and connecting electrically to at least one respective connection terminal 6 one respective voting device 1 and an output connector 19 for connection to the data processing unit 7.

In any case, with reference to an operating container 9, each seat 10 has a shape and dimensions that are complementary to those of the region of the voting device 1 that it must accommodate, and the portion connected to the circuit line (of the seat 10) faces and is tangent to the connection terminals 6 of the respective accommodated voting device 1.

The circuit line of the container 9 comprises respective conducting elements that are intended to connect the electrical power supply of the voting device 1 inserted in one respective seat 10.

Such conducting elements are affected by respective functional blocks, optionally also only of the logic type, for detecting the charging level of the batteries of the voting devices 1 and for optionally interrupting the supply of electric power supply to completely charged batteries.

It should be noted that by means of a multicore cable 20 provided with respective end pins, the output connector 13 can be connected in sequence to the input connector 11 of one subsequent container 9, for the mutual connection of a plurality of containers 9, only the first one of the containers 9 being connected to the data processing unit 7.

In particular, it is possible to connect in sequence an unspecified number of successive containers 9 in order to manage them all by means of a single data processing unit 7, which is connected by means of the interconnection apparatus 16 and the cable 8 to the input connector 1 1 of the first container 9: by means of a single data processing unit 7 it is thus possible also to manage even several hundred voting devices 1.

The signaling interface 14 for the user is a screen (or more simply a display), arranged on an outer surface 21 of the container 9 and adapted to indicate information related to the status of each voting device 1 and to the flow of information between the voting devices 1 and the data processing unit 7.

In particular, on the screen 14 it is possible to indicate the faulty or blocked devices 1 (identified uniquely by means of the indication of the

location of the seat 10 in which there are accommodated) or it is also possible to indicate whether at that precise instant data originating from the data processing unit 7 are being transferred onto the voting devices 1 or whether the data are being downloaded from the devices 1 to the computer 7.

The operating container 9 further comprises a cover 22, which is suitable for the complete closure of the container 9 inside which multiple voting devices 1 are accommodated to transport them conveniently and safely. It should be noted that according to a particularly embodiment, the internal surface of the cover 22 comprises a layer of deformable material (such as form rubber or an expanded material of another kind), which contributes to keep the devices 1 flattened and locked in the respective seats 10. The operating container 9 is adapted to act on the first memory area intended to store information of a general nature and the presetting apparatus 17 is adapted to act on a second memory area intended to store personal information related to the specific voter to whom the device 1 is assigned. By analyzing in depth the components of the operating container 9, it is possible to verify that the circuit line is constituted by an actual circuit for the transfer of power and signal to each voting device 1 : such circuit can be provided by means of electrical cables, electrical and electronic components, and connecting elements, or can be constituted by a printed circuit on a respective supporting base provided with the necessary electronic components.

Advantageously, therefore, before the time when the voting devices 1 are used, it is thus possible to enter into each of them all the information related to the agenda of the day and the schedule of voting operations, as well as additional information related to the technical characteristics of the

device 1 itself and how to behave in case of malfunction (for example).

Conveniently, the container 9 according to the invention allows to upload and download information simultaneously, rapidly and securely from each voting device 1 by means of the data processing unit 7: it is possible to upload information regarding the subsequent voting operations that is useful for users of the devices 1 or to download all the stored data related to voting operations performed during a preset period of time.

Positively, the container 9 allows to recharge the batteries of each device 1 , checking their charging level and thus interrupting the connection to the electrical power supply independently at each seat 10 when the battery of the corresponding device 1 is completely charged.

The container 9 according to the invention allows to identify immediately and unequivocally the faulty or defective devices 1 accommodated within the respective seats 10: identification is possible directly, by using the indication provided on the interface screen 14, or indirectly, by using the data acquisitions of the data processing unit 7.

The correct operation of the voting devices 1 and of the respective kit 2 is allowed by adopting suitable management software on the data processing unit 7 through which the data that arrive from the devices 1 are implemented or by means of which preliminary information is entered on the devices 1 (regardless of whether they are inserted in the first memory area or in the second memory area).

It has thus been shown that the invention achieves the proposed aim and objects. The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent ones. In the exemplary embodiments shown, individual characteristics,

given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.

Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. BO2008A000048 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.