A classroom attendance and roll call system

Abstract

This application relates to a classroom attendance system, comprising a control panel and an attendance machine, with data connection between the control panel and the attendance machine. The attendance machine includes a base, a bracket, an electric slide rail, a support platform, a pressure sensor, a movable baffle, an electric telescopic rod, an infrared ranging sensor, and a clamping plate. This invention uses the support platform, movable baffle, electric telescopic rod, and clamping plate to form a clamping device, serving as a mobile phone storage device. Students quickly clock in by swiping their campus cards. During the clocking-in process, a camera captures and compares images to confirm whether proxy clocking has occurred. Before clocking in, students are required to place their phones on the support platform for storage. This invention can quickly complete attendance taking while effectively preventing proxy clocking, and it can also encourage students to attend the entire class, preventing them from immediately skipping class after roll call. Furthermore, it can improve students' concentration during class and reduce the phenomenon of students using their phones in class.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of classroom attendance and roll call technology, specifically to a classroom attendance and roll call system. Background Technology

[0002] University final grades consist of exam scores and participation grades, with participation grades primarily derived from class attendance. Therefore, university professors frequently need to take attendance during class. Traditionally, attendance is recorded by the professor calling out names one by one, with students responding. However, university courses are often organized by major or department, with several classes attending together, resulting in a large number of students. Taking attendance one by one is time-consuming and prone to proxy responses. To improve efficiency, professors can use QR code scanning or location-based attendance tracking. However, QR code scanning can be cheated by remotely scanning the QR code, and location-based attendance tracking can be done by using virtual locations or switching accounts. Neither method effectively achieves the purpose of attendance tracking and fails to provide reliable data for professors to assign participation grades, thus compromising the fairness and objectivity of the final grade. Furthermore, these three attendance methods do not prevent students from leaving the classroom immediately after attendance is recorded, still failing to prevent students from skipping class. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a classroom attendance and roll call system that can quickly complete attendance and roll call while effectively preventing students from taking attendance on behalf of others. It can also ensure that students listen to the entire class, preventing students from skipping class immediately after roll call. Furthermore, it can improve students' concentration during class and reduce the phenomenon of students playing with their mobile phones in class.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by this invention is: a classroom attendance system, including a control panel and an attendance machine, wherein the control panel and the attendance machine are connected by data and can transmit and interact with data via network signals; the attendance machine includes a base, a bracket, an electric slide rail, a support platform, a pressure sensor, a movable baffle, an electric telescopic rod, an infrared ranging sensor, and a clamping plate; the base is provided with a card swiping area and a camera, and a control module is provided inside the base, wherein the card swiping area and the camera are connected to the control module; one end of the bracket is connected to the base, and the other end is connected to the support platform; the electric slide rail is provided on both sides of the front of the support platform, the electric slide rail extends to the base, and the pressure sensor is provided on the bottom surface of the support platform. The electric slide rail and pressure sensor are connected to the control module; the movable baffle is slidably connected to the electric slide rail and can move along the electric slide rail. The height of the movable baffle matches the height of the support platform. When the movable baffle moves to the highest point of the electric slide rail, the movable baffle and the support platform form a top opening for placing the mobile phone; the electric telescopic rod is set on the back of the support platform, and the clamping plate is set at the top of the electric telescopic rod. The infrared ranging sensor is set on the side of the clamping plate facing the support platform and is used to detect the distance between the clamping plate and the mobile phone. The electric telescopic rod and the infrared ranging sensor are connected to the control module, and the control module controls the retraction length of the electric telescopic rod according to the detection result of the infrared ranging sensor.

[0005] Furthermore, the height of the support platform and the movable baffle shall not exceed the height of the power button on the mobile phone, nor be less than 1 cm above the power button on the mobile phone.

[0006] Furthermore, the height of the bracket is greater than the height of the movable baffle.

[0007] Furthermore, the control panel can obtain the current classroom's timetable information, including the time corresponding to each class and the roster of students attending the class. When the mobile phone is placed into the chamber formed by the movable baffle and the support platform and fixed in place by the clamp, the control panel will lock the electric slide rail and the electric telescopic rod. Before the end of the class, the movable baffle and the electric telescopic rod can no longer be moved or extended.

[0008] Furthermore, it also includes a cover. When the cover is provided, the top surface of the base is provided with a groove around which the cover is placed. A locking device is also provided inside the base. The locking device is connected to the control module. Locking holes are provided at corresponding positions on the bottom side of the cover and the side of the groove. The locking device can move within the locking holes to fix or separate the cover from the base.

[0009] Furthermore, the locking device includes a drive motor, a lead screw, a movable block, and a bolt; the drive motor is connected to the control module; one end of the lead screw is connected to the shaft of the drive motor, the movable block is threadedly connected to the lead screw, and the bolt is disposed on the movable block; when the bolt is inserted into the locking holes on the bottom side of the cover and the side of the groove, the cover and the base are fixed; when the bolt is removed from the locking holes on the bottom side of the cover and the side of the groove, the cover can be separated from the base.

[0010] The beneficial technical effects of this invention are as follows:

[0011] (1) This invention connects to the academic affairs system through the control panel to read the timetable information, which can obtain the time corresponding to each class and the roster of students attending the class. The student's campus card is read through the card reader to complete the attendance check. The real-time image captured by the camera is compared with the photo registered on the campus card to determine whether there is a proxy attendance check. If the image information does not match, the attendance check is deemed invalid and the student is recorded as absent from the class. The campus card swiping method can quickly complete the attendance check, effectively improving the attendance check efficiency. Since the student's photo is already recorded when the campus card is issued, there is no need to collect the student's photo data again. It can be directly used for image comparison to prevent proxy attendance check and ensure that the attendance data is true and valid.

[0012] (2) After the teacher takes attendance, the present invention requires students to place their mobile phones in the chamber formed by the movable baffle and the support platform. The pressure sensor detects whether a mobile phone is actually placed in the chamber. The mobile phone is clamped and fixed by the electric telescopic rod and the clamp before the card reader can be used to swipe the card. After the mobile phone is clamped and fixed, the control panel will lock the electric slide rail and the electric telescopic rod. Before the end of the class, the movable baffle and the electric telescopic rod can no longer move or extend, so that students cannot take out their mobile phones before the end of the current class, thereby preventing students from skipping class immediately after completing the attendance check-in.

[0013] (3) Since the height of the support platform and the movable baffle does not exceed the height of the phone's power button, nor is it lower than 1cm away from the phone's power button, the power button is not blocked during class, and students can still turn on the screen to check the time. However, the lower half of the phone screen is always blocked, and students cannot unlock the phone by entering a password or fingerprint recognition. Even if they can unlock the phone screen by facial recognition, they cannot operate the phone normally because they cannot use the input method and function keys. This reduces the phenomenon of students playing with their phones during class and improves students' concentration.

[0014] (4) The present invention is also provided with a cover and a locking device. The locking device is controlled by a control panel. The control panel is set at the podium and operated by the teacher. The teacher can fix the cover to the base through the locking device and enclose the mobile phone inside the cover. This invention can not only be used for taking attendance in class, but also for taking attendance during the final exam. In this case, in addition to being used as an attendance device, the present invention can also be used as a mobile phone storage locker. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the system structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the time attendance machine in an embodiment of the present invention; wherein, (a) is a front view of the time attendance machine in the registered state, (b) is a front view of the time attendance machine in the non-registered state, and (c) is a side view of the time attendance machine in the registered state;

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cover and the base in an embodiment of the present invention; wherein, (a) is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cover and the base in an unlocked state, and (b) is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cover and the base in a locked state.

[0019] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached diagram: 1-Control panel, 2-Base, 3-Bracket, 4-Electric slide rail, 5-Support platform, 6-Pressure sensor, 7-Movable baffle, 8-Electric telescopic rod, 9-Infrared range sensor, 10-Clamping plate, 11-Card swiping area, 12-Camera, 13-Control module, 14-Cover, 15-Groove, 16-Keyhole, 17-Drive motor, 18-Lead screw, 19-Movable block, 20-Pin. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To better understand the above-described objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the invention; however, the invention may be practiced in other ways different from those described herein, and therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0021] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used herein shall have the ordinary meaning as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art described herein. The terms “first,” “second,” and similar terms used in this patent application specification and claims do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Similarly, the terms “an” or “a” and similar terms do not indicate a quantity limitation, but rather indicate the presence of at least one. The terms “connected” or “linked” and similar terms are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. The terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” etc., are used only to indicate relative positional relationships, which change accordingly when the absolute position of the described object changes.

[0022] like Figures 1-3 As shown, a classroom attendance and roll call system includes a control panel 1 and attendance machines. The control panel 1 is located at the podium and is controlled by the teacher, who can initiate roll call operations through the control panel 1. Attendance machines are placed on desks, with the number matching the number of desks in the classroom, one machine per desk. The control panel 1 and the attendance machines are connected via a network signal for data transmission and interaction. In this embodiment, the control panel 1 can connect to the school's academic affairs system to obtain the current classroom's timetable information, including the time of each class and a roster of students attending. The teacher can retrieve the roster corresponding to the current timetable through the control panel 1 to perform roll call operations.

[0023] The attendance machine includes a base 2, a bracket 3, an electric slide rail 4, a support platform 5, a pressure sensor 6, a movable baffle 7, an electric telescopic rod 8, an infrared distance sensor 9, and a clamping plate 10. The base 2 is equipped with a card reader 11 and a camera 12. The card reader 11 is used to recognize campus cards for attendance tracking and can also retrieve student photos by swiping the campus card. The camera 12 is used to capture real-time images of the person swiping the card. A control module 13 is installed inside the base 2. The card reader 11 and camera 12 are connected to the control module 13. The control module 13 compares the images captured by the camera 12 with the photos recorded on the campus card to determine if there is any substitution of attendance records. One end of the bracket 3 is connected to the base 2, and the other end is connected to the support platform 5. The support platform 5 has electric slide rails 4 on both sides of its front side, which extend to the base 2. The support platform 5 has a pressure sensor 6 on its bottom surface, which is used to detect whether a mobile phone is placed on the support platform 5. The electric slide rails 4 and the pressure sensor 6 are connected to the control module 13. The movable baffle 7 is slidably connected to the electric slide rails 4 and can move along the electric slide rails 4. The height of the movable baffle 7 matches the height of the support platform 5. When the movable baffle 7 moves to the highest point of the electric slide rails 4, the movable baffle 7 and the support platform 5 form a top opening for placing the mobile phone. The electric telescopic rod 8 is located on the back of the support platform 5, and the top of the electric telescopic rod 8 has a clamping plate 10. The support platform 5, the movable baffle 7, the electric telescopic rod 8, and the clamping plate 10 together constitute a clamping device to fix the mobile phone and serve as a storage device for the mobile phone. The infrared ranging sensor 9 is disposed on the side of the clamping plate 10 facing the support platform 5, and is used to detect the distance between the clamping plate 10 and the mobile phone. The electric telescopic rod 8 and the infrared ranging sensor 9 are connected to the control module 13. The control module 13 controls the retraction length of the electric telescopic rod 8 according to the detection result of the infrared ranging sensor 9.

[0024] This invention enables quick attendance tracking by swiping a campus card. During the tracking process, camera 12 captures and compares images to verify if proxy attendance is being used. Before attendance, students are required to place their phones on the support platform 5 for safekeeping; otherwise, the attendance process cannot be completed. Given modern people's dependence on mobile phones, students cannot retrieve their phones before the end of class, effectively controlling the phenomenon of students skipping class after checking in. Furthermore, the attendance machine restricts the phone's interface during phone storage, effectively preventing students from using their phones during class and improving their concentration.

[0025] The working principle of this invention embodiment is as follows:

[0026] When the teacher needs to take attendance, the teacher issues the attendance command through the control panel 1 set at the podium, sets the time period for attendance, and the control panel 1 automatically retrieves the roster corresponding to the current timetable as the attendance list, and prompts the teacher to tell the students to place their mobile phones on the support table 5 to complete the mobile phone storage, and to swipe their cards to sign in after the mobile phones are stored.

[0027] After receiving notification from the teacher, students must swipe their cards to sign in within the specified time. When a student places their phone on the support platform 5, the pressure sensor 6 detects the pressure of the phone on the support platform 5 and sends a signal to the control module 13 of the attendance machine. The control module 13 controls the electric slide rail 4 to move the movable baffle 7 to its highest point. Simultaneously, the control module 13 controls the electric telescopic rod 8 to retract, so that the clamping plate 10 stably holds the phone. During the retraction of the electric telescopic rod 8, the infrared distance sensor 9 detects the distance between the clamping plate 10 and the phone. When the infrared distance sensor 9 detects that the distance between the clamping plate 10 and the top of the phone is 0, it indicates that the clamping plate 10 has held the phone, the electric telescopic rod 8 stops retracting, and the phone is fixed in the cavity formed by the movable baffle 7 and the support platform 5 for storage. At this time, the attendance machine is in the following state: Figure 2 As shown in (a) and (c) in the figure. In this embodiment of the invention, the height of the support platform 5 and the movable baffle 7 does not exceed the height of the phone's power button, nor is it lower than 1 cm above the power button. This ensures that the power button is not obstructed during class, allowing students to still turn on the screen to check the time. However, the lower half of the phone screen remains obstructed, preventing students from unlocking the phone by entering a password or fingerprint recognition. Even if the phone screen can be unlocked by facial recognition, the inability to use the input method and function keys prevents normal operation of the phone. This reduces the phenomenon of students playing with their phones during class and improves students' concentration.

[0028] After the mobile phone is deposited, the card reader 11 will be activated. Students will swipe their cards to sign in. Simultaneously, camera 12 will capture the student's image and compare it to the photo registered on their campus card. If the real-time image captured by camera 12 matches the photo registered on the campus card, the student is considered to have successfully checked in and completed the attendance check for that period. If the real-time image captured by camera 12 does not match the photo registered on the campus card, the student is considered to have failed to check in and will be marked absent for that class. Using campus cards allows multiple students to check in simultaneously, eliminating the need for teachers and students to call out names one by one, thus quickly completing attendance checks and effectively improving efficiency. Since students' photos are already recorded when they apply for campus cards, there is no need to collect additional student photo data; it can be directly used for image comparison, preventing proxy check-ins and ensuring the authenticity and validity of attendance data. Attendance data can be generated in real time. Teachers can retrieve the list of students who failed to check in on the spot through control panel 1. Students who have doubts about the check-in results can verify with the teacher on the spot. After confirmation, the teacher can manually modify the check-in results through control panel 1 to ensure the accuracy of the attendance data.

[0029] After the phone is placed into the chamber formed by the movable baffle 7 and the support platform 5 and secured by the clamp 10, the control panel 1 will lock the electric slide rail 4 and the electric telescopic rod 8. Before the end of each class, the movable baffle 7 and the electric telescopic rod 8 cannot move or extend. This means that students cannot remove their phones before the end of the class, thus preventing students from skipping class immediately after clocking in. After the class ends, the control panel 1 will automatically unlock the electric slide rail 4 and the electric telescopic rod 8 and control their movement to reset the movable baffle 7 and the clamp 10. The movable baffle 7 will move to the bottom of the electric slide rail 4, and the electric telescopic rod 8 will extend, allowing students to remove their phones. The attendance machine will then return to its non-registered state. Figure 2 The state shown in (b) is as follows. In this embodiment of the invention, the height of the bracket 3 is greater than the height of the movable baffle 7, so that the movable baffle 7 can be completely detached from the support platform 5, exposing the mobile phone completely.

[0030] In addition to its use for classroom attendance tracking, this invention, through the inclusion of a cover 14 and a locking device, can also be used to verify examinee identity and store mobile phones during examinations. When the cover 14 is present, grooves 15 are provided around the top surface of the base 2 to accommodate the cover 14, forming a closed space with the base 2. The locking device is located within the base 2 and is connected to the control module 13. Locking holes 16 are provided at corresponding positions on the bottom side of the cover 14 and the side of the grooves 15, allowing the locking device to move within these holes, thus fixing or separating the cover 14 from the base 2. The cover 14, base 2, and locking device together form a closed mobile phone storage cabinet, preventing examinees from accessing their phones during examinations.

[0031] In this embodiment of the invention, the locking device includes a drive motor 17, a lead screw 18, a movable block 19, and a bolt 20; the drive motor 17 is connected to the control module 13; one end of the lead screw 18 is connected to the shaft of the drive motor 17, the movable block 19 is threadedly connected to the lead screw 18, and the bolt 20 is disposed on the movable block 19; when the bolt 20 is inserted into the locking hole 16 on the bottom side of the cover 14 and the side of the groove 15, the cover 14 and the base 2 are fixed; when the bolt 20 is removed from the locking hole 16 on the bottom side of the cover 14 and the side of the groove 15, the cover 14 can be separated from the base 2.

[0032] Teachers can access the current exam roster via control panel 1 for roll call. Each student completes attendance tracking and verification of their information using the same steps as described above to confirm whether proxy testing is occurring. Teachers export and verify the attendance results, checking for errors. If errors are found, they are manually corrected, and proxy testing and absences are recorded based on the attendance results. After attendance is completed, the cover 14 is placed in the groove 15 of the base 2, aligning the bottom side of the cover 14 with the locking hole 16 on the side of the groove 15. The invigilator operates the control panel 1, sending a signal to the control module 13 of each attendance machine. The control module 13 controls the drive motor 17, causing the lead screw 18 to rotate. The movable block 19 moves along the lead screw 18 under the action of the thread, inserting the pin 20 into the locking hole 16 on the bottom side of the cover 14 and the side of the groove 15, thus fixing the cover 14 and the base 2. Figure 3 As shown in (b), the cover 14 and the base 2 form a closed mobile phone storage cabinet. Whether the drive motor 17 operates can only be controlled by the control panel 1. After the exam, the teacher operates the control panel 1, sending a signal to the control module 13 to control the drive motor 17 to reverse, causing the pin 20 to move out of the locking hole 16 on the bottom side of the cover 14 and the side of the groove 15, i.e. Figure 3 As shown in (a), the lock between the cover 14 and the base 2 is released, and the movable baffle 7 and the clamp 10 are reset, allowing the student to take the phone.

[0033] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A classroom attendance and roll call system, characterized in that, The system includes a control panel and a time attendance machine, which are connected via a data link and can transmit and interact with each other through a network signal. The time attendance machine includes a base, a support, an electric slide rail, a support platform, a pressure sensor, a movable baffle, an electric telescopic rod, an infrared distance sensor, and a clamping plate. The base has a card reader and a camera, and a control module is located inside the base. The card reader and camera are connected to the control module. One end of the support is connected to the base, and the other end is connected to the support platform. The electric slide rails are located on both sides of the front of the support platform, extending to the base. The pressure sensor is located on the bottom surface of the support platform, and the electric slide rails and pressure sensor are connected to the control module. The movable baffle is connected to the electric slide rails. The sliding connection allows movement along the electric slide rail. The height of the movable baffle matches the height of the support platform. When the movable baffle moves to the highest point of the electric slide rail, it and the support platform form a top opening for placing the mobile phone. The electric telescopic rod is located on the back of the support platform, and the clamping plate is located at the top of the electric telescopic rod. The infrared distance sensor is located on the side of the clamping plate facing the support platform to detect the distance between the clamping plate and the mobile phone. The electric telescopic rod and the infrared distance sensor are connected to the control module. The control module controls the retraction length of the electric telescopic rod based on the detection result of the infrared distance sensor. The height of the support platform and the movable baffle does not exceed the height of the mobile phone's power button, nor is it lower than 1 cm above the distance to the mobile phone's power button.

2. The classroom attendance and roll call system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The height of the bracket is greater than the height of the movable baffle.

3. The classroom attendance and roll call system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control panel can obtain the current classroom's timetable information, including the time of each class and the roster of students attending the class. When the mobile phone is placed into the chamber consisting of the movable baffle and the support platform and fixed in place by the clamp, the control panel will lock the electric slide rail and the electric telescopic rod. Before the end of the class, the movable baffle and the electric telescopic rod can no longer be moved or extended.

4. A classroom attendance and roll call system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, It also includes a cover. When the cover is provided, the top surface of the base is provided with a groove around the perimeter for placing the cover. A locking device is also provided inside the base. The locking device is connected to the control module. Locking holes are provided at corresponding positions on the bottom side of the cover and the side of the groove. The locking device can move within the locking holes to fix or separate the cover from the base.

5. A classroom attendance and roll call system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The locking device includes a drive motor, a lead screw, a movable block, and a bolt; the drive motor is connected to the control module; one end of the lead screw is connected to the shaft of the drive motor, the movable block is threadedly connected to the lead screw, and the bolt is mounted on the movable block; when the bolt is inserted into the locking holes on the bottom side of the cover and the side of the groove, the cover and the base are fixed; when the bolt is removed from the locking holes on the bottom side of the cover and the side of the groove, the cover can be separated from the base.

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