The present invention relates to an apparatus for conducting a vote, a computer system, a carrier medium, and a method of conducting a vote in which a visual representation of at least one voting option is displayed. The invention finds particular application in the field of electronic voting.

An example of an electronic voting system is given in EP 1 535 487, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. In this system, a base station communicates with a plurality of wireless voting handsets. When a vote is called, the base station transmits information about the current vote to each handset, including information on voting inputs (such as numbers on the voting handset keypad) which are to be used for the vote. The handsets allow the user to select one of the voting inputs, and then transmit a voting response back to the base station, including an indication of the selected voting input.

Typically each vote is prepared in advance of the voting session (which may be a conference or classroom session, annual general meeting and the like) by specifying for each vote a list of voting options and corresponding voting inputs. This can be done, for example, by using active 'vote' objects embedded in word processors, presentation software and the like, which can be triggered to conduct a vote based on the voting option and voting input information and to track the corresponding vote results. Thus once the vote has been prepared, a vote can be conducted and the results displayed with as little as a single mouse click or key press.

The system also allows 'ad-hoc' voting, where a vote is cast on a topic for which voting information has not been pre-prepared as described above. In this case, some form of visual representation of the voting options (such as a page from a word processing or other document displayed on a computer screen) may be provided, and a vote is then conducted and the results computed. In these circumstances, the vote results are not clearly linked to the voting options to which they relate, since a relationship between the

two has not been formally defined. However, in many cases it is not desirable to delay a vote until the voting option and voting input information has been entered as described above.

The present invention provides a method of conducting a vote in which a visual representation of at least one voting option is displayed, the method comprising: selecting for the or each voting option a respective position on the visual representation which is associated with the voting option; assigning to the or each voting option a respective voting input; and overlaying the or each voting input on the visual representation at the position associated with the or each respective voting option.

The visual representation of the voting option(s) may be any medium on which voting inputs may be overlaid (such as an image displayed on a computer screen, a projected image, or printed image, for example). The voting inputs may be symbols corresponding to symbols which may be selected by voting handsets used in the voting system (such as numbers or letters, which may be entered on a keypad, or other symbols, for example). The overlaying may be permanent (such as printing, embossing, and the like) or temporary (such as the overlaying of graphical data on a computer display, a projection of an image, or the like).

By overlaying voting inputs on a visual representation of voting options at positions associated with the voting options, a context is provided for the vote, associating the voting choices and voting inputs. This method, moreover, allows this to be done more quickly than previously, allowing 'ad-hoc' voting to be carried out with fewer restrictions, and thus improving the user interface presented to the user(s). Additionally, overlaying voting inputs on existing representations of voting choices can remove the need manually to enter details of the available voting choices.

The method may further comprise recording a visual representation (such as a screenshot or image captured with a camera or similar device, for example) of the or each voting input overlaid on the visual representation of the or each voting option. Thus the context of the vote can be referred to later on when the vote results are reviewed. The visual representation of the voting input(s) overlaid on the voting

option(s) may be stored in conjunction with the vote result, for example, for improved efficiency and usability. The visual representation may include, or have overlaid on it, identification data (such as any of a date, time, user name, and unique identifier, for example) for ease of reference.

The method may further comprise receiving at least one voting response, each voting response including a voting input; computing a vote result in dependence on the or each received voting response; and outputting the vote result. Thus the voting process may be integrated with the display of the voting choices and inputs.

To provide an improved context for the vote result, the method may further comprise overlaying the vote result on the visual representation of the or each voting option. The vote result may be computed and/or displayed in a number of different ways, such as indicating an outright winner, displaying ranked options, displaying a rating scale, histogram, or prioritisation, and so on. The vote result(s) and/or voting input(s) overlaid on the visual representation of ihe voting choice(s) may be displayed in various colours (which may be user-selected or chosen to complement the colour(s) underneath the voting input, for example), shapes (such as circular, rectangular, or complex), and styles (such as partially transparent, masked or fully opaque, and so on).

The method may further comprise overlaying the vote result for the or each voting option at the or each respective position on the visual representation of the or each voting options (that is, it may be displayed in the place of the voting input associated , with a particular voting choice), providing a more efficient use of data, or the method may further comprise overlaying the vote result for the or each voting option at a respective position on the visual representation of the or each voting options which is proximate to the previously selected position (that is, the vote result associated with a voting choice may be displayed beside, or otherwise close to, the voting input associated with the voting choice), providing more data in respect of the vote. In this case, the position where the vote result is overlaid may be offset from the previously selected position in at least one of a predetermined direction and a predetermined distance. It may be displayed at a certain offset to the left, right, up or down of the voting input.

The step of overlaying the vote result may further comprise overlaying at least one of the number and proportion of votes cast for the or each voting option, or it may further comprise overlaying an indication of the rank of a voting option within the vote result, for example.

The method may further comprise recording a visual representation (such as a screenshot, as before) of the vote result overlaid on the visual representation of the or each voting option. Thus a more complete record of the context of the vote can be made. Again, the recorded visual representation may include, or have overlaid on it, identification data for ease of reference.

The step of selecting positions for the or each voting option may further comprise selecting a first position, and computing any subsequent positions in dependence on the first position (and optionally also in accordance with a second selected position). This is effective when the voting option(s) are equally and/or predictably spaced apart, and can reduce the input required from the user, for example. Furthermore, the step of selecting positions for the or each voting option may further comprise processing the visual representation of the voting options to select portions of the visual representation which appear to represent specific voting options, and selecting the positions in dependence on the position of the selected portions. Thus, the positions of the voting option(s) may be determined within the visual representation based on the data content of the visual representation, again reducing the input required from the user(s).

As mentioned above, the visual representation of the voting option(s) may take many forms, such as projections, printed matter, and so on. In particular, the visual representation of the or each voting option may be generated by a computer display, and may be displayed within a window in a windowing system. In this case, the step of overlaying the or each voting input may further comprise displaying the or each voting input on top of a window containing the visual representation of the or each voting option. The voting inputs may be displayed in a transparent or partially transparent, window (all displayed in one window, or each in their own window, for example) in the foreground of the window containing the voting option(s), for example. Thus the

display of the voting inputs may be performed independently of application programs which are displaying the window containing the voting option(s). This can furthermore allow the method to be performed without access to or knowledge of an application program generating the visual representation of the voting option(s).

In one example, the visual representation of the or each voting option may be the input from a camera (such as a webcam or other camera producing still or moving images). Accordingly, voting inputs can be assigned to visible parts of an object external to a computer system which is performing the method, for example. Thus the method can provide an efficient way of conducting and recording a vote where voters (such as students) have to identify which part of an object or image corresponds to a part described or defined by the vote conductor (such as a teacher). It will be appreciated that this aspect of the invention may have many different applications, and may be provided independently.

The step of selecting a position for the or each voting option may further comprise receiving an input indicating that a position is to' be selected, and selecting the position to correspond to a position indicated by a pointing device associated with the computer. Thus a mouse or similar device may be used to select positions for displaying the voting inputs. The method may further comprise carrying out the step of selecting positions for the or each voting option in response to a predefined user input, such as a hot key combination (or single predefined key press) or a mouse click or other input (which may be provided remotely).

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of conducting a vote in which a visual representation of at least one voting option is displayed, the method comprising: selecting for the or each voting option a respective position on the visual representation which is associated with the voting option; for the or each voting option overlaying a voting result on the visual representation at the position associated with the voting option; and recording a visual representation of the voting results overlaid on the visual representation of the or each voting option.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of conducting a vote in which a visual representation of at least one voting option is displayed, the method comprising: assigning voting inputs to the or each voting option; and overlaying the voting inputs on the visual representation at positions associated with the or each respective voting option.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of conducting a vote in which a visual representation of a voting subject is displayed, the method comprising: selecting at least one position on the visual representation; for the or each position, overlaying a positional indicator (such as a circular or other shaped symbol, which may be of similar or identical design to the voting input symbols mentioned elsewhere) on the visual representation at the selected position; and conducting a vote based on the positioning of the positional indicators. The method may further comprise recording a visual representation (such as a screenshot) of the positional indicators overlaid on the visual representation of the voting subject, and may also further comprise storing a result of the vote (which may be overlaid on or otherwise associated with the recorded visual representation, to provide a context for the vote result). This can allow a more efficient vote based on one or more position identified with respect to a voting subject matter (for example, to carry out a straw poll on whether the position indicated by one or more positional indicators corresponds to a particular named feature or set of features).

In a yet further aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for conducting a vote, comprising: a data memory operable to store data to be processed; an instruction memory storing processor implementable instructions; a processor operable to read and process the data in accordance with instructions stored in the instruction memory; wherein the instructions stored in the instruction memory comprise instructions for controlling the processor to perform a method as aforesaid.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a computer system comprising: a windowing system; a first executable code component adapted to display voting options in a window in the windowing system; and a second executable code component adapted to: record user clicks on points within the window displayed by the first

executable code component; display voting input symbols at the points where the user clicks, the voting input symbols being overlaid on the window; and take a screenshot of the voting input symbols and the window (although the clicks and displayed voting input symbols may fall outside the region of the window, and the screenshot may be a screenshot of the entire windowing display). The functionality of the executable code components may of course be combined or divided in any appropriate fashion. The computer system may further comprise a camera input (from a webcam or other camera as mentioned above, for example), where the first (or other) executable code component is adapted to display an image received from the camera input in the window.

The computer system may further comprise a third executable code component adapted to receive voting responses, and to compute a vote result in dependence on the received voting responses. Furthermore, at least one of the second and third executable code components may be adapted to display the vote result overlaid on the window displayed by the first executable code component. Other features of the computer system may of course be provided in accordance with any method as aforesaid, or any other features described herein.

In another aspect of the invention there may be provided at least one signal tangibly embodying data (or sets of data) generated in accordance with any method as aforesaid.

The present invention can be implemented in any convenient form, for example using dedicated hardware, or a mixture of dedicated hardware and software. The present invention is particularly suited to implementation as computer software implemented by a workstation or laptop computer. The invention may be provided in relation to any suitably programmable apparatuses such as a general purpose computer, personal digital assistant, mobile telephone (such as a WAP or 3G-compliant phone) and so on. Aspects of the present invention encompass computer software implementable on a programmable device. The computer software can be provided to the programmable device using any conventional carrier medium. The carrier medium can comprise a transient carrier medium such as an electrical, optical, microwave, acoustic or radio frequency signal carrying the computer code. An example of such a transient medium is a TCP/IP signal carrying computer code over an IP network, such as the Internet.

The carrier medium can also comprise a storage medium for storing processor readable code such as a floppy disk, hard disk, CD ROM, magnetic tape device or solid state memory device.

Although each aspect and various features of the present invention have been defined hereinabove independently, it will be appreciated that, where appropriate, each aspect can be used in any combination with any other aspect(s) or features of the invention (including features described below).

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a flowchart illustrating a process undertaken by a voting system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating a voting process in which the steps illustrated in Figure 1 form part;

Figure 3 is an example screenshot of the operation of the voting system;

Figure 4 is a further example screenshot of the operation of the voting system;

Figure 5 is another example screenshot of the operation of the voting system; and

Figure 6 is a further example screenshot of the operation of the voting system.

The operation of a voting system in accordance with the present invention will now be described.

The voting system allows votes to be cast by a plurality of voters in respect of a particular voting subject chosen by the voting operator. Any appropriate mechanism for casting votes may be used, such as a combination of wireless voting handsets and a base station, of the types described in EP 1 535 487, for example.

The system allows votes to be cast in respect of pre-prepared voting subjects. These voting subjects are prepared by entering information about the available voting choices and corresponding voting inputs in an active 'vote' object which can be embedded in applications such as Microsoft PowerPoint (RTM). The vote objects are integrated with the voting system, whereby the voting system can retrieve details of the voting options and corresponding voting inputs without input from the user. Vote results may also be stored in the vote objects once the relevant vote has been conducted.

A further class of votes, 'ad hoc' votes, may also be cast. In this situation, the voting operator (such as a teacher giving a class, or a speaker in a conference) may decide to organise a vote on the spur of the moment, or it may be impractical to prepare the vote in advance (for example if it is desired to obtain audience input in relation to a set of choices displayed by a computer program which does not permit the use of voting active objects and the like, such as a single-person training program offering multiple choice options).

To allow 'ad hoc' votes to be cast, an 'ad hoc' vote preparation tool is provided by the voting controller computer system, as described in more detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 6.

Figure 1 is a flowchart illustrating the principal operation of the vote preparation tool. Before the tool is activated, the operator of the computer on which the tool is executing brings up on screen the subject-matter of the vote (the list of voting options). This may be a list of bullet point items, a set of multiple choice options, an image of an item having several constituent parts (such as a view of an automobile engine), and so on, and may be presented in a window displayed within a windowing system, or may be a single-tasking (full-screen) application, for example.

The tool is activated (step SlOO) by pressing a predefined hot-key combination to bring up a menu on screen. The user then left-clicks at a point on or adjacent to the first voting option (a line of text or constituent part of a drawing, for example) to select (step S 102) a position associated with the voting option. A voting input is assigned (step

S 104) to the voting option. In the case where voting inputs are numerical (corresponding to keys on a keypad on voting handsets, for example), the first voting input is chosen to be '1', and any subsequent voting inputs increment the current voting input number by one ('2', '3', and so on). A corresponding process may be used for alphabetical voting input symbols ('A', 'B' and so on), although other symbols (such as shapes of animals) may be used, and the selection of voting input may be made manually by the user after each click.

The assigned/selected voting input is then displayed (step S 106) at the location chosen by the user, by overlaying a symbol corresponding to the voting input (such as a solid circular region of colour with a masked/transparent central portion in the shape of the relevant number or letter, although other types of display are possible). The voting input placement process repeats (step S 108) until the user presses an appropriate hot-key or clicks on the appropriate control button to finish the placement of voting inputs and to start conducting the vote (step Sl 10).

The colour of the voting input symbols displayed on-screen may be selected by the user, or may be automatically chosen to provide a contrast with the underlying display/window. The display of the voting input symbols is performed independently of the window containing the voting options, and thus without requiring the intervention of, or communication with, the application which has generated the display of the voting options. Properties of the voting input symbols (such as their size, shape and style) may be altered during or after their placement by accessing a menu and/or by use of hot keys.

As an additional step, voting input symbols may be removed once they are placed, by right-clicking on the symbol to be removed. The tool will then automatically renumber the remaining voting input symbols to ensure a continuous voting input range (for example, if voting input '2' is removed, voting input '3' will be renumbered as voting input '2', and so on). Voting input symbols may also be moved by click-dragging them.

Options may also be provided to analyse a particular window or screen to identify voting option candidates and automatically to assign positions to them, for example by

pattern matching or assuming a simple spatial relationship between voting options (such as that they are equally spaced, and so on).

In Figure 2, the 'ad hoc' voting process of which the vote preparation tool forms part is shown. In step S200, the voting operator commences the voting process. The voting inputs are then assigned to voting options and displayed in step S202, as shown in more detail in Figure 1. The vote is then opened, with the voting inputs enterable at voting handsets being limited as appropriate to the list of voting inputs selected by the user, and votes are received (step S204) from the voters, indicating preferences with regard to the voting inputs. The voting controller computer then calculates a vote result (S206), and displays the vote results (S208) in place of the displayed voting inputs (although an option is provided to display them beside the voting inputs). The vote results may also be displayed in a separate region, for example as a bar chart or suchlike.

In step S210, a screenshot is taken of the current screen, including the display of the voting options and the voting input and/or vote result information overlaid on top. The screenshot is then stored (step S212) in conjunction with the vote result information, so that the vote result may be recalled at any time, and the vote context (the options to which the vote tallies relate) can be viewed. The screenshots have a date and time imprinted on them (and optionally also a user name or other identifying data) when they are stored, to allow the vote records to be more easily browsed.

An example of the use of the vote preparation tool is illustrated in Figures 3 to 6.

In Figure 3, a software application unrelated to the vote preparation tool and voting controller system has displayed a list of three types of fruit in the full screen window 302 (equally, there may instead be displayed graphical representations of the fruit, or a webcam picture image of real examples of the fruit, and so on).

In Figure 4, the user has activated the vote preparation tool, and has already placed one voting input symbol 404 at a first position in the window 402. The user is about to click at a second position 406 to place a second symbol. For the next voting input, the tool will automatically choose the next available voting input symbol (the letter 'B ⁵ ).

In Figure 5, the placement of voting input symbols A 504, B 506, and C 508 in the window 502 is complete, and the user has ended the symbol placement operation. The voters are now able to vote on their favourite fruit (for example) by pressing any of buttons A, B or C on their handset.

In Figure 6, the vote has been closed, and the vote results are displayed on the screen 602 in place of the voting inputs to which the voting options (the types of fruit) relate. A first result 604, second result 606 and third result 608 are shown, corresponding to the number of people who have voted for each fruit (totalling 46 votes). A screenshot is then taken of the entire screen, clearly recording the context of the vote and its result (oranges being the favourite fruit of the audience, out of apples, oranges and bananas).

Screenshots may also be taken of the voting options overlaid with the voting inputs, either before, during or after the vote has been taken, to provide an alternative context for the vote.

Other displays of the vote result may be provided, either in place of (or beside) the voting input symbols or in another portion of the display (or elsewhere), such as histograms, rankings, pie charts, bar charts, and so on. The vote may also be conducted with only one vote input displayed, where a vote result is determined based on the number of people voting (using the specified voting input) compared, for example, to the number of voters who are abstaining.

The example shown in Figures 3 to 6 may, as mentioned above, be undertaken with reference to a non-full screen window, in which case the screenshot will only be taken of the window in question (not the entire screen, containing unrelated data).

A 'history book' function can be provided to allow the browsing of previous votes (and accompanying screenshot) by various categories, times, and so on.

The system may also be used in combination with webcams and other cameras attached to (or in communication) with the voting controller (or other) system. The voting

system can be instructed to grab an image from the webcam, and voting inputs are then placed (as described above) as overlays on the image. Questions can thus be posed, for example, regarding constituent parts of an object or set of objects being imaged by the webcam.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the voting input symbols are replaced by positional indicators, and a vote is conducted on the basis of the positions of the positional indicators. In this case, the voting inputs used in the vote are predefined (such as T for yes and '2' for no) or communicated visually or orally, separate to the visual representation of the subject matter of the vote. For example, a single symbol (such as a plain circle, star shape, or any other style of symbol which may or may not be numbered for convenience) is placed at a point on an anatomical diagram (of car engine, and so on) using the vote preparation tool as described above, and the voters are asked to provide one voting input if they think that the indicated point corresponds to a particular organ (or engine part, and so on). The voters are asked to provide a second voting input if they disagree (although their disagreement may alternatively be registered by failing to provide the first voting input). The vote result is then computed, and the result (such as a percentage of voters who believe that the indicated point does correspond to the named organ) is displayed, either at the selected point, or elsewhere.

This embodiment can also be used to carry out a quick 'straw poll' on a topic with the positional indicator being used only to indicate the topic on which the poll is to be conducted (the context of the poll being communicated otherwise, for example orally). Other voting configurations are of course possible by appropriate modification of the system described above.

Whilst the embodiments described above relate to the display of voting options within a voting controller computer, it will be appreciated that the system has a wider application. The voting system could be used, for example, in the context of an interactive whiteboard, where voting options are drawn or displayed on the board and voting inputs may be set, for example, by using a dedicated 'voting input' pen, which places voting inputs when tapped on the board.

Other uses of the voting system include two- or three-dimensional projection of voting inputs, to provide an optical overlay on voting choices (which may be flat surfaces or three-dimensional objects, for example). The system can also be extended to printing or otherwise marking voting inputs on written or drawn voting options, and then scanning and storing the result. The system may also incorporate and (optionally) store audio and other non-visual inputs. Manual implementation of the method is also possible, for example using manual inscription of voting inputs and/or voting results, and/or manual recording (hand- writing, typing up or photographing) the vote context.

Another use of the system is to adapt single-person Computer Based Training (CBT) designed for use with a plurality of people. Whenever a multiple choice question is presented to the user, the vote preparation tool can be used to carry out a quick vote on the favoured response. The operator can then select whichever response was chosen by the most voters (or similar criteria). Furthermore the performance of the audience can be recorded, if desired, with an additional screen capture step.

Further modifications lying within the spirit and scope of the present invention will be apparent to a skilled person in the art.