Attendance tracking system

• US 20060035205A1
• Filed: 08/16/2004
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Janis Fay West, Michael Paul West
• Original Assignee: InCom Corporation
• Inventors: Ahlers, Douglas, DiDario, Bernie, Dobson, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,353,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/350
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F

Abstract

An automated attendance monitoring system is disclosed. The system includes (i) identification tags, with wireless communication capabilities, for each potential attendee, (ii) scanners for detecting the attendees'"'"' tags as they enter a given room, (iii) at least one server in communication with the scanners, (iv) handheld computing devices for use by attendance trackers, such as teachers, to verify a provisional attendance report generated by the scanners and server, and (v) software running on the server for receiving and managing the attendance data received from the scanners, and for generating attendance reports. Although particularly well-suited for tracking attendance in schools, the present invention can also be used in variety of other setting where there is a need to track the whereabouts of a number of individuals.

Claims

1. A method for tracking attendance of potential attendees, comprising:

providing an attendance tracker with a handheld computing device;

transmitting a provisional attendance report to the attendance tracker; and

accepting said provisional attendance report based on visual inspection by the attendance tracker, thereby generating a final attendance report.

2. The method according to claim 1, additionally comprising modifying said provisional attendance report based on visual inspection by the attendance tracker.

3. The method according to claim 1, additionally comprising printing and signing said final attendance report.

4. The method according to claim 1, additionally comprising:

providing identification tags to each potential attendee;

providing a scanner for detecting identification tags as they enter or exit a particular area; and

generating said provisional attendance report based on data from scanner.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said identification tags are integrated into a student ID card.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said handheld computing device has a panic button.

7. The method according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, wherein said attendance tracker is a teacher.

8. The method according to claims 4, 5, or 6 wherein said scanner is in a school classroom.

9. The method according to claims 4, 5, or 6 wherein said scanner is on a school campus, but not in a school classroom.

10. The method according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 wherein said provisional attendance report has color coded signals indicative of the attendance status of potential attendees.

11. The method according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, additionally comprising generating attendance reports in diverse formats for various recipients.

12. A system for tracking attendance of potential attendees, comprising:

an identification tag for each potential attendee;

data associated with each tag, wherein said data allows identification of the potential attendee who is associated with that tag;

a scanner for detecting identification tags as they enter or exit a particular area;

a server with software in communication with said scanner, for receiving attendance data from said scanner; and

a handheld computing device for use by an attendance tracker in said particular area, wherein said handheld computing device has means for receiving a provisional attendance report from said server, and wherein said handheld computing device has means for allowing said attendance tracker to accept or modify said provisional attendance report.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said data is encrypted identification data.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said identification tags are integrated into a student ID card.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said attendance tracker is a teacher.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said scanner is in a classroom.

17. The system according to claim 16, additionally comprising software for generating attendance reports in diverse formats.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said handheld computing device has a panic button.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said provisional attendance report has color coded signals indicative of the attendance status of potential attendees.

20. A system for tracking attendance, comprising:

means for automatically detecting attendees as they enter an area;

first report generation means for generating a provisional attendance report;

inspection means for verifying said provisional attendance report;

modification means for modifying said provisional attendance report;

acceptance means for accepting said provisional attendance report, thereby creating a final attendance report; and

second report generation means for generating summary attendance reports in diverse formats.