Modular school computer system and method

• US 20060022796A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Striemer, Bryan Lester
• Application Number:
  US11/241,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20060022796A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/7.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/10 together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A local wireless device serves as a unique identifier for students and teachers in a school system. The school is equipped with multiple stationary hubs for tracking the location of students and teachers. The school may also be equipped with multiple mobile hubs, such as hand-held hubs and hubs on school buses, which allow easily and quickly determining if a student or teacher is where he or she should be. The local wireless device may be used in conjunction with a pager, mobile phone, a voicemail device, and devices for storing, reviewing and sending audio and video files. The preferred embodiments also include a single device that provides all of the above-mentioned functions. The preferred embodiments thus disclose many different wireless devices that are all integrated into the school'"'"'s computer system to customize their function according to the needs of the school.

Claims

1. A method for exchanging information between a student and a teacher, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) providing the student a wireless identification module that comprises;

a wireless transmitter;

a wireless receiver;

an identification mechanism that uniquely identifies the wireless identification module; and

a memory coupled to the wireless transmitter and to the wireless receiver;

(B) automatically transferring from the memory of the wireless identification module via the wireless transmitter at least one communication from the student, and storing the student communication in a location accessible by the teacher;

(C) automatically transferring at least one communication from the teacher via the wireless receiver to the memory of the wireless identification module; and

wherein the at least one communication from the student comprises at least one student message stored in the memory that the student has marked for submission to the teacher.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one communication from the teacher comprises at least one assignment that the student is assigned to complete.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein step (B) is performed at a first predetermined time during a class period and step (C) is performed at a second predetermined time during the class period.

4. The method of claim 4 wherein the first predetermined time is the beginning of the class period and the second predetermined time is the end of the class period.