Description: Detailed Description
Title of Invention: Computer-Implemented Measurement System for Ethics
The present invention relates to a computer-implemented system for measuring and accrediting ethical governance within organizations using a structured, weighted index framework. The system enables standardized, scalable, and quantifiable assessment of ethical attributes across diverse sectors including corporate, governmental, and academic institutions.
System Overview
The system comprises six core modules:
a) Benchmark Module
Stores a curated set of ethical assessment questions mapped to attributes such as Conflict of Interest, Confidentiality of Information, Corruption Avoidance and Integrity Building, Grievance Redressal, etc. Questions may be tailored by sector, geography, or organizational type.
b) Secure User Interface
Enables stakeholders to submit responses anonymously to several questions related to each of the attributes. Respondents are tagged by role (e.g., employee, manager, executive) to support stratified analysis. The interface supports multilingual inputs, secure authentication, and prevents duplicate submissions.
c) Scoring Engine
The Scoring Engine is the computational core of the system. It performs the following operations:
Attribute Mapping: Each benchmark question is linked to an ethical attribute.
Response Aggregation: Stakeholder responses are collected and grouped by attribute and respondent role.
Weight Assignment: Each attribute is assigned a configurable weight (e.g., Confidentiality of Information = 6%, Grievance Redressal = 8%). These weights may be adjusted by an administrator based on sectoral relevance or organizational priorities.
Score Normalization: Raw scores are normalized to a common scale (0–100) to ensure comparability across attributes.
Weighted Average Score (WAS): The final ethical score is computed using the formula:
WAS = (∑ W1.A1 + ∑ W2.A2+ -----------------∑W16.A16)/100
Wherein:
A is the Attribute (e.g. Conflict of Interest, Handling of Assets, etc.).
Here, for explanation purposes, 16 attributes have been considered.
W is the Weightage assigned to the respective Attribute.
The engine may also support longitudinal analysis, comparing scores across time periods or organizational units.
d) Rating Module
Receives the WAS from the Scoring Engine and assigns a tiered ethics rating.
The WAS is mapped to a predefined rating tier (e.g., AAA, AA, A, B, C, D) using threshold bands stored in the system.
The rating logic is configurable and may include override conditions (e.g., automatic downgrade if compliance score falls below a threshold).
e) Audit Trail Logger
Ensures traceability and compliance by recording all system interactions. It logs:
• Assessment Metadata: Assessment ID, timestamp, version of benchmark set used, and scoring configuration.
• User Actions: Login events, response submissions, administrative overrides, and rating assignments.
• System Events: Score computation, dashboard generation, and data exports.
Logs are stored in a secure, tamper-proof format and may be exported for regulatory audits or internal reviews. The logger supports role-based access aligned with data protection standards.
f) Output Dashboard
The Output Dashboard is the system’s visualization layer. It presents:
• Attribute-Level Scores: Displayed using pie charts, bar graphs, or heatmaps.
• Overall Ethics Rating: Shown as a badge (e.g., AAA) with contextual interpretation.
• Comparative Views: Allows filtering by department, geography, or time period.
• Interactive Features: Users can drill down into attribute scores, view anonymized response distributions, and export reports in PDF or CSV format.
• Accessibility: Designed primarily for portable and desktop interfaces, with support for multilingual display.
The dashboard may also include alerts or recommendations based on score trends, such as flagging low-performing attributes or suggesting follow-up assessments.
Operational Flow
In operation, the system performs the following steps:
• An administrator configures the benchmark questions and weightages.
• Stakeholders access the secure interface and submit responses.
• The scoring engine processes the data and computes attribute scores.
• The WAS is calculated and mapped to an ethics rating.
• Results are displayed on the dashboard.
• All interactions and scoring events are logged for audit purposes.

Technical Implementation
The present invention is implemented using a client–server architecture, wherein the ethical measurement and accreditation system operates across two primary computing environments: a portable client device and a remote server.

A) Client Device Configuration
The client device is a portable computing terminal (typically a high-end laptop) carried by the auditor during on-site visits to institutional entities. It serves as the primary interface for data collection, stakeholder interaction, and scoring visualization.
Hardware Requirements
• Processor: Quad-core 3.0 GHz or higher
• Memory (RAM): 8–16 GB
• Storage: 256 GB SSD or higher
• Display: Full HD (1920×1080)
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11n/ac) and mobile hotspot support
• Battery: Minimum 8-hour operational capacity
• Ports: USB-A, USB-C, HDMI (for external display or projector)
Software Requirements
• Operating System: Windows 11, Linux (Ubuntu ≥18.04)
• Client Application: Web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)
• Security Tools: VPN client, local encryption utility, and role-based access control
• Data Handling: Local caching mechanism for offline operation and synchronization

B) Server Configuration
The server hosts the Ethical Measurement platform and performs centralized processing, data storage, computations and accreditation logic execution. It is deployed at the office premises of the Accreditation Agency or hosted on a secure cloud infrastructure.
Hardware Requirements
• Processor: Minimum 8-core CPU
• Memory (RAM): Minimum 16 GB; scalable based on concurrent user load
• Storage: Minimum 512 GB SSD; expandable for archival and analytics
• Network Interface: Gigabit Ethernet or cloud-based virtual network
• Redundancy: RAID configuration or cloud-based failover support
Software Requirements
• Operating System: Linux (Ubuntu Server ≥20.04), Windows Server 2019+, or equivalent
• Backend Framework: Python (Flask/Django), Node.js
• Database: PostgreSQL, MySQL, with encryption-at-rest
• Authentication & Access Control: OAuth 2.0, JWT, LDAP integration
• Logging & Audit Trail: ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana)
• Deployment Environment: Docker containers, Kubernetes
• Security Protocols: SSL/TLS encryption, firewall configuration, and intrusion detection
C) Internet and Communication Requirements
The client device communicates with the server over a secure internet connection to transmit data, retrieve scoring results, and synchronize records.

Connectivity Parameters
• Minimum Bandwidth: ≥10 Mbps
• Protocol: HTTPS over SSL/TLS (TLS 1.2 or higher)
• Authentication: Token-based access or VPN tunnelling
• Data Integrity: Input validation, checksum verification, and retry logic
• Offline Mode: Local data storage with deferred synchronization upon reconnection
Optional Enhancements
• Mobile Hotspot: 4G/5G LTE device for independent connectivity
• Cloud Integration: AWS EC2, Azure App Services, or Google Cloud Run for scalability
• Monitoring Tools: Real-time dashboard for system health and usage metrics

This client–server configuration ensures that ethical measurement and accreditation can be conducted securely and efficiently across geographically distributed organizations. It supports real-time data exchange, centralized scoring logic, and robust auditability, thereby enabling scalable deployment of the Ethical Measurement System.

Description of attached Drawings
• Figure 1: Flow Diagram
• Figure 2: Attributes and Weightages
• Figure 3: Ethics Measurement Methodology
• Figure 4: WAS Computation
• Figure 5: Client-Server Architecture
, Claims:CLAIMS

Title of Invention: Computer-Implemented Measurement System for Ethics
Number of Claims: 8
1. A computer-implemented system for ethics measurement and accreditation of organizations, comprising:
a benchmark module configured to present a plurality of ethical assessment questions to stakeholders;
a scoring engine configured to compute weighted scores based on stakeholder responses and predefined ethical attributes;
a secure user interface configured to collect, and tag stakeholder inputs;
an output dashboard configured to display ethics ratings and visual analytics; and
an audit trail logger configured to record metadata associated with each assessment case.
2. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the benchmark questions are grouped into a predefined set of ethical attributes including, but not limited to, Corruption Avoidance, Integrity Building, Conflict of Interest, Confidentiality of Information, Grievance Redressal, etc.
3. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the scoring engine can apply weightages that are configurable by an administrator based upon organizational context or sectoral relevance.
4. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the secure user interface collects stakeholder responses and tags each respondent by role, such as employee, manager, or executive. Complete data privacy is ensured.
5. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the output dashboard includes visual depictions such as pie charts, heatmaps, and tiered rating badges.
6.The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the audit trail logger records metadata including assessment ID, timestamp, scoring version, and user access logs.
7. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the ethics rating is selected from a tiered set comprising of ratings such as AAA, AA, A, B, C, and D, based upon predefined score thresholds.
8. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the computer implementation is via a Client-Server architecture comprising a remote server, a client device (typically a high-end laptop) operated by the auditor, and multiple participant devices (office laptops). The devices are networked via Wi-fi/internet.