Device for vote collection and processing

p0001Device for capturing and processing of votes

p0002The present invention relates to a gripping device and processing votes. Such a device is particularly intended â be used for meetings or seminars, to allow participants to express their opinions on various topics.

p0003Each participant has a voting housing with keys and votes by pressing a key. Votes are collected by a collector circuit to provide to all participants an indication by visual example of the distribution of votes.

p0004Known devices using connections between the son of voting keypads and the collector circuit are a little flexible use.

p0005To overcome this disadvantage, it has been proposed in FR-A-2266227 to use a radio link between the collector circuit and the ballot boxes. Each voting unit comprises a memory in which is stored a representative infor- mation of the vote cast by key press housing. The content of the memory is read and transferred to the collector circuit in response to receiving an interrogation signal transmitted by the latter.

p0006The connections by radio are the source of disruption, and are exposed to disturbances, which limit employment and are the cause of erroneous results.

p0007In addition, with this known device, the votes are collected without being associated ê identification of cases, so the participants which they originated, which limits the possibilities of using the results of votes.

p0008Also, the present invention does is to provide a device that is free of the aforementioned disadvantages of known devices, in particular a flexible user device, not sensitive to disturbance. and providing maximum opportunities for the exploitation of results of votes. This object is achieved by a device of the type comprising:

p0009- A plurality of ballot boxes each having a plurality of keys being selectively operated to cast a vote, a receiver circuit for receiving an interrogation signal and a transmitter circuit for transmitting a signal to vote in response to the signal reception questioning and

p0010- A vote of manifold having transmission means for transmitting interrogation signals to the voting boxes, and receiving means for receiving polling signals from the voting boxes, the vote of each collector being connected to housing voting by a wireless link, in which device, according to the invention, - the bonds between the collector of votes and the ballot boxes are formed by infrared radiation,

p0011- Each polling housing further includes means providing an identification code of the housing and an information processing circuit connected to the keys of the housing, to the identification means and the receiver circuits and infrared transmitter, and

p0012- The votes collector is connected to an information processing unit comprising means for storing information to vote and processing means of voting information for controlling the display of results of votes, each voting information including code Identification of case where voting is coming and a code representing the key pressed to express the vote.

p0013Advantageously, each polling housing includes an indicating means for providing visual information in response to a receipt acknowledgment signal from the collector of votes after transmission of the information of outcome vote voting box.

p0014According to a feature of the device according to the invention, the keys of each vote housing comprise a plurality of colored keys and processing means voting information are arranged to control the display of results of several sessions of votes in a matrix of pixels in which each element represents a vote from a box. Other features and advantages of the device according to the invention appear on reading the description given below, for information, but not limited by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

p0015- Figure 1 is a general diagram of a device according to an embodiment of the invention;

p0016- Figure 2 shows in more detail a voting box of the Figure 1 device;

p0017- Figures 3A to 3C show different visual représen¬ tions voting results obtained by means of the device of Figure 1,

p0018- Figure 4 is a diagram of votes collector forming part of the device of Figure 1,

p0019- Figure 5 is a schematic of a voting box forming part of the device of Figure 1, and - Figures 6A to 6D are flow charts describing the operation of the device of Figure 1.

p0020An embodiment of the device according to the invention will be described below in the context of its application to the implementation of the method known as the "Abacus Regnier". Under this method, each person in a group to rule on a question by choosing a color. The color scale extends for example from green (positive) to red (negative) through the light green (more favorable), orange (shared opinion) and the red light (rather unfavorable). White and black can be used to indicate that one does not know or does not answer. All replies to a group of people and a series of questions or items, form a colorful array. The elements of the matrix may be arranged in different ways. As shown in Figure 1, a device for implementation of this method comprises a plurality of voting keypads 10, a vote of manifold 50 and an information processing unit including a microcomputer 80.

p0021Each voting compartment (figure 2) has on its front a set of keys 12A to 12E forming a color scale, two 12F keys and black and white 12G, two 14A and 14B keys "yes" and "no," and a touch 16 canceled. The front of the case also carries two light indicators 18 and 19, for example constituted by LEDs. These indicators could be replaced by any other display device, for example a liquid crystal display or by audio indicators.

p0022The collector of votes 50 is essentially constituted by a transmission casing 52 connected to the microcomputer 80 by a serial link 82, for example type RS 232.

p0023As described below in detail, each housing 10 is arranged to enable storing information representing cabinet button activated by the person to whom the case is assigned as the collector did not ask the housing issuance of this information, and as all the communication exchange between the collector and the case has not concluded satisfactorily.

p0024Enabling the voting box by the collector, the beginning of a voting session, passed the indicator 18 in a first state indicating that the holder housing can vote, and the touch of a button moves the indicator 18 in a second state, indicating the holder of the case that his vote has been taken into account by the housing. The transmission of the vote by a housing is performed in response to an interrogation signal emitted by the collector and votes received by the housing. In response to receiving the voting, the vote of collector produces an acknowledgment signal which is received by the housing.

p0025Transmissions between collector votes and vote housing are formed by infrared radiation. The indicator 19 as a viewfinder function by allowing a user to know if the housing which is assigned to it is correctly oriented towards the transmission housing of votes collector, condition for communication between the latter and the housing.

p0026Each enclosure can be designed to operate at multiple predetermined operating modes. Selecting a mode of operation may be effected by transmission by the collector of an appropriate code to the housing.

p0027The colored matrix representing all the votes for a group of people and a series of questions displayed on a video screen 84 under the control of microcomputer 80.

p00281 shows a colored matrix as obtained by assigning each line to an item, starting with item 1 to item n, during a voting session, and assigning each column at a housing. Of course, conversely, the lines could be assigned to the boxes and columns to items.

p00293A to 3C show colored matrices obtained after rearrangement of the matrix elements shown in Figure 1. These rearrangements are realized by program by means of the microcomputer 80. In the case of Figure 3A, a diagonalization is performed tion items by changing the order of the lines to move the item that received the highest number of positive responses to that receiving the greatest number of adverse responses, allowing to reach consensus. In the case of Figure 3B performs diagonalization sation participants by changing the column order to get housing, that is to say, the participant that issued the more favorable responses than that issued the more unfavorable response. Finally, in the case of Figure 3C, a cross-diagonalization is performed by rearranging the items couples / boxes according to color scale. The resulting image shows three zones; a favorable end area, unfavorable end zone and a diagonal "fuzzy"; this allows to highlight marginal opinions that often reveal information relevant it is useful to express.

p0030Of course, other arrangements of the colored matrix are possible, the treatment of the voting information pertaining to the implementation method and not in itself an original element of the invention. In addition, the voting results can be presented differently as a colored matrix, such as histograms.

p00314 shows one embodiment of the constituent circuit of the transmission case 50 forming the votes collector.

p0032The housing 50 contains an infrared transmitter 54 and an infrared receiver 56. The information to be transmitted as binary sequences are from the microcomputer 80 via the link 82 and is received by an interface circuit 58. The output thereof is connected to an input of a gate 60 of AND type with two inputs. The second input of gate 60 receives a clock signal from an oscillator 62 through a frequency divider "64. The output of gate 60 is connected to the input of the transmitter 50 so that the signal light produced by it is modulated with the binary sequence representing the information to be transmitted. An indicator light such as a luminescent diode électro¬ 66 is also connected to the output of gate 60 to indicate the transmission phase by the housing 50.

p0033The voting information is received by the housing 50 in the form of a modulated sensed by the infrared radiation receiver 56. The output thereof is connected to a monostable circuit 68 which converts the received information into a binary pulse sequence . A gate 70 AND type with two inputs has a first input connected to the output of the monostable circuit 68 and a second input connected to the output of a monostable circuit 72. The latter has its input connected to the output of the interface circuit 58 for producing a pulse in response to start of a program by the Box- "50. The pulse produced by the monostable circuit has a length defining the duration of an interrogation cycle of a voting box. This period (eg, 2.5 ms) is very greater than that (for example 0.02 ms) pulses produced by the monostable circuit 68. The output of gate 70 is connected to the interface circuit 58 to enable routing in memory of the microcomputer 80 of the voting information received by the housing 50.. An indicator light such as a luminescent diode électro¬ 74 is also connected to the output of gate 70 to indicate the information receiving voting phase by the housing 50.

p0034Figure 5 shows the constituent circuit of a voting box 10.

p0035This circuit includes a processing unit 20 to micro¬ processor connected by a bus 22 to a ROM 24 program, a data RAM 26 and a circuit I / O 28. The set of keys forming the keyboard housing is connected to the circuit 28, of^' even a set of microswitches 30, the combination of open and closed states is a binary code identifying the housing 10.

p0036The signals transmitted by the housing 50 are received by an infrared receiver 32, while the voting information developed through the housing 10 are transmitted to the vote of manifold by an infrared transmitter 34.

p0037The output of receiver 32 is connected to a permanent mono¬ circuit 36 ​​which converts the signals received from the housing 50 in bit sequences transmitted to the processing unit 20.

p0038The voting information are produced in serial form by the processing unit 20 and transmitted to the transmitter 34 through 40 door type with two inputs. The other input of gate 40 receives a signal produced by a sequencer 38 receiving microprocessor internal clock of the processing unit. The output of sequencer 40 is also connected to a frequency divider 42 which supplies the processing unit 20 a voting information transmission trigger signal.

p0039According to a feature of the device, each ballot box can be automatically placed in one of several modes different predetermined operation: manual vote, conference mode or boot mode.

p0040Voting mode, the keypad voting box is active, the indicator 18 blinks. When a key is pressed by the participant holds the housing and the corresponding voting information was taken into account by the case, the indicator 18 becomes fixed. If the holder of the case wants to change his vote, the^' cancel key 16 remains active. The striking it again move the indicator 18 to the flash status, allowing a new choice in the time period allotted for the vote.

p0041Conference mode, the keyboard keys are all active and the 18 indicator lights continuously. The holder of the housing may at any time submit to the vote collector a message asking to intervene. The transmission of this message is controlled by hitting any key.

p0042In boot mode, the current operating mode of the unit is off. The keyboard is not active and the indicator 18 is extinguished. 6A shows the progress of a vote by auscultation housings from the collector of votes under the control of microcomputer 80.

p0043The previously activated housings are interviewed sequentially (100 phase), questioning, or addressing, a case being made by sending its identification code (case number). If no polling transmission request is received from a housing (test 102), the following case is addressed. If a request for transmission to vote is received, a transmission permission signal is transmitted to the vote housing (stage 104). In the latter case, the receipt of voting is monitored for a predetermined period (test 106). If no vote esjt received during this period, the following case is addressed. If a vote is received during this period, an acknowledgment signal is transmitted to the housing (stage 108), the voting information is stored in the memory of the microcomputer 80 (Stage 110), then the following case is addressed. Sequential auscultation of active cases is repeated until the end of session detection (test 112).

p0044The device may be designed to operate with a number N of predetermined fixed housings, the housings being auscultated all sequentially, whether assigned or not. Preferably, the number or the identifications of active enclosures are secured in early trading of votes, based on the number of participants and possibly their authorization to vote and are registered in the memory of the microcomputer 80.

p0045The voting information memorized by the microcomputer 80 includes the identification code of the housing where voting is transmitted and a code representative of that vote. The storage is done for example in a table, the voting code received from a case being stored at an address corresponding to the identification code of the case.

p0046During a vote, a holder of a participating housing may change his vote by acting on the key cancellation. In this case, a new transmission request is transmitted to vote votes collector as soon as the box is sent again. The code representing the new vote is then stored in place of the previous code.

p0047Several successive polling sessions are performed to obtain an image such as that of Figure 1 or Figures 3A to 3C. For each case, the representative codes of votes cast during the various sessions are stored next to the ID code of the case.

p0048During a voting session, recording the number of active cases and controls the beginning and the end of the session are made by the moderator of the session. To this end, the facilitator may have a remote control with a structure similar to that of a polling box, but whose operation is particularized. The facilitator's housing is recognized in time as such by the collector votes by their identification code. Lès 6B to 6D show flow diagrams relating to the operation of a voting box, especially for the transmission of a vote, the processor housing operated by interruption. After commissioning, eg actionπement an on / off switch (not shown), and possibly test the state of its autonomous power supply, the case is in a state of waiting-'interruption infrared reception auscultation or keyboard. In case of reception of a message consisting of a housing identification code and an activation control signal (step 120, Figure 6B), the received identification code is compared with the internal identification code of the housing (test 122). If the result is positive, the case is on (stage 124) and the flashing of the indicator 18 is controlled, meaning that the holder of the case is allowed to vote by action on the keyboard. Otherwise the housing returns to standby status.

p0049When the case is active, if the operation of a key is detected on auscultation of the keyboard (test 130, Figure 6C), and if there is a button other than the cancel button ( test 132), the key code is stored in the memory box (step 134) and the keyboard is made iπactif (stage 136), the indicator 18 becoming fixed, meaning the inclusion of ote by the housing. The flow chart of transmitting a voting is shown in Figure 6D. After receipt of a housing identification code (step 140), the received code is compared with the identification code inerne the housing (test 142). If the comparison has a negative result, the housing returns .to the standby state. Otherwise, storing a key code in the box is checked (test 144). If a key code has been stored, a request for transmission of polling is issued (step 146); otherwise, the housing returns to the standby state.

p0050After issuing a request for transmission, reception of the transmission permission signal is monitored (Test 148). In the absence of such receipt, the housing returns to the standby state. By cons if the authorization signal is received, the. code stored key, that is to say the voting is transmitted (stage 150). After casting of the vote, receiving the acknowledgment signal is monitored (test 152). In the absence of such receipt, the housing returns to the standby state. If the acknowledgment signal is received, the keyboard is activated again (step 154). At a subsequent addressing housing, a new application for transmission to vote is not issued until a new key code is not saved in the memory of the case.

p0051The owner of housing can change their vote by acting on the cancel button, which clears the previously stored key code (step 136, Figure 6C) and the flashing of the indicator 18 (step 137), authorizing a new vote to be transmitted during the next addressing the housing.

p0052Changes of operation modes of the housing are made in response to receipt of specific message passing in voting mode or conference, or initialization.