Method and apparatus for obtaining and reporting response data

Abstract

In an embodiment, a new action request is received by the data manager from any of the plurality of users and stored in the data store. The data manager provides multiple actions requests to at least some of the plurality of users and, thereafter, receives responses from responsive users. The data manager then stores the responses (optionally, with a time stamp) in the data store in a manner such that the responses are associated with corresponding ones of the responsive users. In response to receiving a request for information regarding the responses, the data manager can generate the requested information, which may comprise aggregated or individual data, and provide such information to a requesting user. The request for information may include geographic boundaries to be used in providing the requested information, which geographic boundaries may correspond to one or more electoral districts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . In a communication system comprising a publicly-accessible communication network, a plurality of devices operatively connected to the communication network and supporting communication between a corresponding plurality of users, and a data manager operatively connected to the communication network, the data manager implementing a data store comprising data corresponding to included users of the plurality of users and further comprising information concerning a plurality of action requests presented to at least some of the plurality of users, a method for obtaining responses from at least a portion of the plurality of users, the method comprising:
 receiving a new action request by the data manager, where the data manager receives the new action request via the communication network from a device of the plurality of devices corresponding to any of the plurality of users;   storing the new action request, by the data manager, in the data store;   providing the new action request, by the data manager, to at least some of the plurality of users, where the data manager provides the new action request via the communication network to devices of the plurality of devices corresponding to the at least some of the plurality of users;   receiving, by the data manager, from responsive users of the at least some of the plurality of users, responses to the new action request, where the data manager receives the responses via the communication network from devices of the plurality of devices corresponding to the responsive users;   storing, by the data manager in the data store, the responses received from the responsive users, where each of the responses is associated in the data store with a corresponding one of the responsive users;   receiving, by the data manager, a request for information according to geographic boundaries and regarding responses received from the responsive users, where the data manager receives the request via the communication network from a device of the plurality of devices corresponding to a requesting user of the plurality of users;   generating, by the data manager, the information regarding responses received from the responsive users based on the geographic boundaries; and   providing, by the data manager via the communication network to the device corresponding to the requesting user, the information regarding the responses received from the responsive users.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the geography boundaries correspond to at least one electoral district. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus operatively connected to a publicly-accessible communication network, a plurality of devices being operatively connected to the communication network and supporting communication between a corresponding plurality of users, and a data manager being operatively connected to the communication network, the data manager implementing a data store comprising data corresponding to included users of the plurality of users and further comprising information concerning a plurality of action requests presented to at least some of the plurality of users, the apparatus for use in obtaining responses from at least a portion of the plurality of users, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   machine-readable storage, operatively connected to the at least one processor and having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the at least processor cause the at least one processor to:   receive a new action request via the communication network from a device of the plurality of devices corresponding to any of the plurality of users;   store the new action request in the data store;   provide the new action request to at least some of the plurality of users via the communication network to devices of the plurality of devices corresponding to the at least some of the plurality of users;   receive, from responsive users of the at least some of the plurality of users via the communication network from devices of the plurality of devices corresponding to the responsive users, responses to the new action request;   store the responses received from the responsive users in the data store, where each of the responses is associated in the data store with a corresponding one of the responsive users;   receive, via the communication network from a device of the plurality of devices corresponding to a requesting user of the plurality of users, a request for information according to geographic boundaries and regarding responses received from the responsive users;   generate the information regarding responses received from the responsive users based on the geographic boundaries; and   provide, via the communication network to the device corresponding to the requesting user, the information regarding the responses received from the responsive users.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the geography boundaries correspond to at least one electoral district.