Platform for management of internet based public communications and public comment

Abstract

An Internet-based integrated technology platform that simultaneously supports the management of Public Information Sites—Web sites used to both (1) inform the public; and (2) capture and manage public comment (including submission of images—while at the same time providing support for electronic communication for project teams that manage public involvement projects. The support includes sharing of graphic, text and collaborative tasks. The system and method allow revisions to comments and dynamic feedback in agency decision making based on comments with greater responsiveness. The system is also suited for implementing charettes with a large number of participants.

1 .- 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A communications manager contained in a computer-readable storage medium comprising:
 an information module further comprising a project overview, project news and project status;   a project team tools module further comprising a task manager, calendar, team access management, team communications and image manager;   a communications tools module further comprising one or more message boards and web conferencing;   a site management tools module further comprising web site content updating, document library, image library, project directory, event calendar and internal maintenance; and   wherein the communication manager provides access, following authentication, to one or more of the information module, the project team tools module, the communications tools module, and the site management tools module.   
     
     
         25 . The communications manager module of  claim 24  further comprising a plurality of access levels including User Manager for adding and assigning users to projects, Project Manager for creating new projects and having full access to the communications management module, and Team Member for having access to a limited number of modules with read/update privileges. 
     
     
         26 . An interface for a Web site coupled to the communications manager of  claim 24  comprising a plurality of links selected from links to general information about a project, project goals, a project team, documents, notices, an image resource library, a project calendar, a project showcase, and a comment module. 
     
     
         27 . The interface of  claim 26 , wherein the comment module further includes one or more of a notification and survey functionality. 
     
     
         28 . The interface of  claim 26 , wherein the single point of entry is provided by requiring authentication of one or more of a username, a password, an encrypted session, and a challenge-response protocol. 
     
     
         29 . A method of using updated comments from a Web site coupled to the communications manager of  claim 24 , comprising:
 authenticating a submitter;   receiving a plurality of comments from the submitter;   storing the plurality of comments from the submitter with other comments received at the Web site;   retrieving comments by the submitter by carrying out a search;   organizing the retrieved comments chronologically to prepare an updated comment; and   using the updated comment in a comment report.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein a proposed rule is modified in response to the comment report. 
     
     
         31 . A method of updating a posted issue inviting comments at a public Web site coupled to the communications manager of  claim 24 , comprising:
 posting an issue at the public Web site with a specified date for receiving responses;   reviewing submissions received on the posted issue at the public Web site; and   modifying the posted issue in response to the comments prior to the expiry of the specified date for receiving responses, whereby subsequent responses are directed to the modified posted issue.   
     
     
         32 . A communications manager contained in a computer-readable storage medium comprising:
 an information module for welcoming a user and referencing permission level access, wherein the information module further comprises a project overview, project news and project status,   a project team tools module for coordinating and informing team members, wherein the project team tools module further comprises a task manager, calendar, team access management, team communications and image manager,   a communications tools module for facilitating information transfer, wherein the communications tools module further comprises one or more message boards and web conferencing,   a site management tools module for updating communications work environments and global settings, wherein the site management tools module further comprises web site content updating, document library, image library, project directory, event calendar and internal maintenance; and   wherein the communication manager provides access to one or more of the information module, the project team tools module, the communications tools module, and the site management tools module.   
     
     
         33 . The communications manager of  claim 32 , wherein the communications manager provides access, following authentication to the information module, the project team tools module, the communications tools module, and the site management tools module. 
     
     
         34 . The communications manager of  claim 32 , wherein the communications manager facilitates public communication and public comment. 
     
     
         35 . A method of dispensing public information and processing comments from a public comment procedure comprising:
 creating and posting a proposal of interest to the public-at-large on a server computer connected to a network,   receiving one or more comments from the public-at-large through the server computer connected to the network,   searching the one or more comments from the public-at-large,   organizing the one or more comments from the public-at-large,   generating a summary of the one or more comments, and   generating a report based upon the summary of the one or more comments.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising modifying the report. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising modifying the proposal of interest based upon the report. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising modifying the one or more comments. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising allowing dynamic feedback in agency decision making based on the one or more comments. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the dispensing public information and processing comments from a public comment procedure pertains to a charette. 
     
     
         41 . A method for managing a public information site comprising:
 providing information to a public-at-large at a front end, wherein the providing information to the public-at-large comprises uploading information to the public information site,   handling a large number of inputs regarding the information, wherein the large number of inputs are received from the public-at-large at the front end,   transferring the large number of inputs from the public-at-large from the front end to a backend, wherein the back-end receives the large number of inputs from the public-at-large,   characterizing the large number of inputs from the public-at-large at the backend,   filtering the large number of inputs from the public-at-large at the backend,   analyzing the large number of inputs from the public-at-large at the backend,   providing multiple levels of access to team members at the backend to access the analysis from the backend, and   responding to the large number of inputs from the public-at-large based upon the analysis from the backend.   
     
     
         42 . The method of claim  48 , further comprising generating reports integrating the large number of inputs from the public-at-large and the analysis from the backend. 
     
     
         43 . The method of claim  48 , further comprising publishing the analysis from the backend to enable a concurrent public feedback loop. 
     
     
         44 . The method of claim  48 , further comprising enabling a discussion forum.