System And Method For A Voting Controller Interface For An Electronic Voting Network
A local electronic voting network configured as a daisy chain network is provided. Each network device may include a switch for routing and propagating voting network communications. A TCP/IP protocol over Ethernet based connections may be used. Voting devices may include a relay configured such that in case of power down of a voting device the relay shunts the communications down the network. Multiple input/output ports may be provided on network devices and a physical port blocker is provided to block unused ports. A network controller may include a display screen which utilizes a graphical user interface to display status information regarding individual ones of the voting devices that are coupled to the voting network.
1 . A networked election voting system comprising:
a plurality of voting devices, the voting devices being network connectable and being configured to process a voter's ballot selections;
a voting network controller, the controller network being connectable to at least one of the plurality of voting devices, the voting network controller providing control over the plurality of voting devices;
a communication network coupling the voting devices and the network controller;
a voting network controller display screen including a graphical user interface; and
a plurality of icons presentable on the graphical user interface, individual icons of the plurality of icons representative of status information of individual ones of the plurality of voting devices.
2 . The networked election voting system of claim 1 , each of the individual icons providing multiple levels of the status information.
3 . The networked election voting system of claim 1 , wherein each of the individual icons providing a first level of status information, the first level of status information being indicative of a presence of one of the voting devices.
4 . The networked election voting system of claim 3 , wherein the first level of status information further including a voting device identifier.
5 . The networked election voting system of claim 4 , wherein the voting device identifier is one or more numbers, letters or combination thereof.
6 . The networked election voting system of claim 3 , further comprising a second level of status information, the second level of status information being indicative of the voting status of the one of the voting devices.
7 . The networked election voting system of claim 6 , wherein the status information indicative of the voting status of the one of the voting devices being at least one of voting device ready status or voting device in use status.
8 . The networked election voting system of claim 6 , wherein the status information indicative of the voting status of the one of the voting devices is presented in a color format, textual format or both.
9 . The networked election voting system of claim 6 , further comprising a third level of status information, the third level of status information providing high importance information regarding the one of the voting devices.
10 . The networked election voting system of claim 6 , the high importance information being one of at least an error alert message, a voting device network disconnection message, or a help request message.
11 . The networked election voting system of claim 10 , the high importance information being presented as a banner across one of the plurality of icons.
12 . The networked election voting system of claim 3 , further comprising a second level of status information, the second level of status information providing high importance information regarding the one of the voting devices.
13 . The networked election voting system of claim 12 , the high importance information being presented as a banner across one of the plurality of icons.
14 . A method of monitoring a networked election voting system, comprising:
providing a plurality of voting devices, the voting devices being network connectable and being configured to process a voter's ballot selections;
providing a voting network controller, the controller network being connectable to at least one of the plurality of voting devices, the voting network controller providing control over the plurality of voting devices;
coupling the voting devices and the network controller with a communication network;
providing a voting network controller display screen including a graphical user interface; and
generating a plurality of icons presentable on the graphical user interface, individual icons of the plurality of icons indicative of the presence status of individual ones of the plurality of voting devices when individual ones of the plurality of voting devise are coupled to the communication network.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of icons are individually added to the graphic user interface as individual voting devices are coupled to the communication network.
16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising indicating on individual icons of the plurality of icons secondary status information for corresponding individual ones of the voting devices.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the secondary status information is indicative of which voting devices are ready for voting
18 . The method of claim 16 wherein the secondary status information is indicative of which voting devices are in use.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the secondary status information is indicative of a voting device error message, a voting device network disconnection message or a help request message.
20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein individual icons of the plurality of icons provide multiple levels of information regarding corresponding individual voting devices of the plurality of voting devices.
21 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising configuring the communication network being as a serial daisy chain connection of the voting network controller and the plurality of voting devices.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the communication network provides Ethernet communications.