Attendance management system, management server, attendance management method, and program

Abstract

To make it possible to manage the attendance status of users even at a place where an output device is not installed and to prevent fraudulent attendance registration, in an attendance management system that manages the attendance status of the users using sound waves.SOLUTION: A terminal device is used by a user, and includes: a sound wave acquisition unit that acquires a sound wave containing an audible sound and predetermined identification information, output by an information terminal; an extraction unit that extracts the predetermined identification information from the sound wave; and an information transmission unit that, when the predetermined identification information can be extracted from the sound wave, transmits a registration request for attendance information including the predetermined identification information, user identification information identifying the user, and time information indicating time at which the predetermined identification information is extracted to a management server that manages attendance information on the user. The predetermined identification information is invalidated in processes other than a process in which the information transmission unit transmits the registration request to the management server.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal device, an attendance management system, an attendance management method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Attendance management systems that manage the attendance status of attendees who attend lectures, classes, training sessions, and the like are known.

[0003] For example, an attendance management system is known in which an output device that outputs sound waves representing predetermined identification information is installed at a location where a lecture, class, training session, etc. is held, and the attendance status of attendees is managed based on the predetermined identification information acquired by the attendees' terminal devices (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The attendance management system disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that it cannot manage the attendance status of users in classrooms etc. where no output device is installed. In addition, there is a demand for such attendance management systems to prevent users who are not actually present from fraudulently registering attendance using a terminal device by recording sound waves containing predetermined identification information or transmitting them over a communication line.

[0005] One embodiment of the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and is an attendance management system that uses sound waves to manage user attendance status, making it possible to manage user attendance status even in places where no output device is installed, and preventing fraudulent attendance registrations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, a terminal device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a terminal device used by a user, and comprises: a sound wave acquisition unit that acquires sound waves output by an information terminal, the sound waves including audible sound and predetermined identification information; an extraction unit that extracts the predetermined identification information from the sound waves; and an information transmission unit that, if the predetermined identification information is extracted from the sound waves, sends a registration request for attendance information to a management server that manages the attendance information of the user, the registration request including the predetermined identification information, user identification information that identifies the user, and time information indicating the time when the predetermined identification information was extracted; and the predetermined identification information is invalidated in any process other than the process in which the terminal device sends the registration request to the management server. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, in an attendance management system that uses sound waves to manage user attendance, it is possible to manage user attendance even in places where no output device is installed, and to prevent fraudulent attendance registrations. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of an attendance management system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a usage scene of an attendance management system according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a computer according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an information terminal and a terminal device according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an attendance management system according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of information managed by a management server according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of processing when an application is started according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8]FIG. 1 is a diagram (1) showing an example of a display screen according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an attendance confirmation process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a diagram (2) showing an example of a display screen according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a viewing process of attendance data according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an attendance confirmation process according to the second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an image of sound wave output information according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] <System configuration> 1 is a diagram showing an example of the system configuration of an attendance management system according to an embodiment. The attendance management system 100 includes, for example, a management server 110, an information terminal 120, a PC (Personal Computer) 130, and terminal devices 140a, 140b, etc. In the following description, when referring to any terminal device among the terminal devices 140a, 140b, etc., the term "terminal device 140" is used.

[0011] The management server 110 is, for example, an information processing device such as a PC, or a system including multiple information processing devices, and is connected to the communication network 101. The management server 110 manages the attendance status of, for example, participants, students, etc. (hereinafter referred to as students) attending lectures, classes, training, etc. (hereinafter referred to as lectures). Note that students are an example of users who use the terminal devices 140.

[0012] The information terminal 120 is an information terminal such as a smartphone or tablet terminal used by instructors, lecturers, and other teachers who give lectures, classes, etc., and is capable of communicating with the management server 110 via the communication network 101. Furthermore, the information terminal 120 can output sound waves 121 including audible sound and predetermined identification information (hereinafter referred to as a sound wave ID) notified from the management server 110 by executing an application (hereinafter referred to as an app) corresponding to the attendance management system 100. Note that audible sound is a sound wave including sound (e.g., music, environmental sound, voice, etc.) in the frequency range audible to humans (e.g., 20 Hz to 20 kHz).

[0013] Preferably, the sound waves 121 output by the information terminal 120 include music on which a sound wave ID is superimposed as a digital watermark. However, without being limited to this, the sound waves 121 may also be environmental sounds (for example, the sound of waves, birdsong, babbling brook, etc.) on which a sound wave ID is superimposed as a digital watermark, or voice announcements.

[0014] The PC 130 is an information processing device such as a notebook PC or desktop PC used by a teacher, and is capable of communicating with the management server 110 via the communication network 101. The teacher can access the web page provided by the management server 110 using, for example, a web browser provided in the PC 130, and view the attendance information managed by the management server 110.

[0015] The terminal device 140 is an information terminal such as a smartphone or tablet terminal carried by a student attending a lecture, class, or the like, and is capable of communicating with the management server 110 via a communication network 101. By executing an app corresponding to the attendance management system 100, the terminal device 140 can acquire sound waves 121 output by the information terminal 120 and extract a sound wave ID contained in the sound waves 121. The terminal device 140 also transmits to the management server 110 a request to register attendance information including the extracted sound wave ID, user identification information (hereinafter referred to as a student ID) that identifies the user using the terminal device 140, and time information indicating the time when the sound wave ID was extracted.

[0016] In this embodiment, for ease of explanation, an information terminal that executes a teacher's application is called an information terminal 120, and an information terminal that executes a student's application is called a terminal device 140.

[0017] (Example of usage scenario) 2 is a diagram showing an example of an attendance management system according to an embodiment. At any time during a lecture, a teacher 202 launches a teacher's app on the information terminal 120 and performs an attendance confirmation operation. This causes the information terminal 120 to output music 203 (an example of sound waves 121) onto which a sound wave ID has been superimposed as a digital watermark, using a speaker or the like provided on the information terminal 120. For example, in this state, the teacher 202 instructs students attending the lecture to perform attendance confirmation.

[0018] In response to this, the student 201 attending the lecture launches the student app on the terminal device 140 that he or she owns and performs an attendance registration operation. As a result, the terminal device 140 acquires the music 203 output from the information terminal 120 and extracts the sound wave ID superimposed on the music 203. The terminal device 140 also transmits to the management server 110 a request to register attendance information, which includes the extracted sound wave ID, the student ID of the student 201, and time information indicating the time when the sound wave ID was extracted.

[0019] Similarly, a request to register attendance information of each student 201 attending the lecture is sent from the terminal device 140 possessed by each student 201 to the management server 110. Based on the attendance information registration requests received from the multiple terminal devices 140, the management server 110 manages the attendance status of the multiple students 201 attending the lecture.

[0020] For example, the management server 110 stores in advance the correspondence between the sound wave ID and the teacher ID of the teacher 202, and identifies the teacher ID of the teacher 202 that corresponds to the sound wave ID included in the attendance information. The management server 110 also associates the identified teacher ID with the student ID of the student 201 included in the attendance information registration request, and time information, and stores and manages them in a storage unit or the like.

[0021] With the above configuration, the attendance management system 100 can manage the attendance status of students 201 who use terminal devices 140 even in places where an output device that outputs sound waves including a sound wave ID is not installed.

[0022] (About digital watermarks) Digital watermarking is a technology for superimposing (embedding) watermark information such as a sound wave ID into content such as music. Various methods have been proposed for superimposing watermark information into content, and the robustness of the digital watermark can be selected depending on the method for superimposing the watermark information (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

[0023] A digital watermark that allows the watermark data to be extracted even if the content is altered is called a highly resistant or robust digital watermark, whereas a digital watermark that loses the watermark data and cannot be extracted if the content is altered is called a low-resistant or fragile digital watermark.

[0024] Table 1 shows the requirements for the digital watermark used in this embodiment.

[0025] [Table 1] The digital watermark used in this embodiment is preferably highly resistant to partial clipping of the music, as shown in 1) of Table 1. This is to ensure that the sonic ID can be obtained even if the terminal device 140 of the student 201 starts the attendance information registration process after the information terminal 120 of the teacher 202 starts outputting the music 203 with the sonic ID embedded therein.

[0026] Furthermore, the digital watermark used in this embodiment may have low (or high) resistance to changes in musical tempo and pitch, as shown in 2) of Table 1. This is because changes in musical tempo and pitch are not made during the attendance information registration process, in which a sound wave ID is used.

[0027] Furthermore, the digital watermark used in this embodiment is a fragile digital watermark that has low resistance to perceptual coding of music, as shown in 3) of Table 1, and loses the sound wave ID when such processing is performed.

[0028] As a result, the sound wave ID included in the sound wave 121 output by the information terminal 120 is lost (invalidated) when, for example, the sound wave 121 is recorded or transmitted over a communication line.

[0029] For example, when recording, transmitting, etc., music, perceptual coding is generally performed on sound wave signals (or sound wave data) captured by a microphone or the like. Perceptual coding is a coding method that performs lossy compression of sound wave data by utilizing the characteristics of human perception to omit detailed information that is difficult to perceive or to express it using fewer bits. When perceptual coding is performed, data embedded in areas that are difficult for humans to hear, such as the frequency range above 16 kHz within the human audible frequency range, or before and after loud sounds, is lost. Therefore, for example, by embedding a sound wave ID in an area that is difficult for humans to hear, it is possible to realize a fragile digital watermark in which the sound wave ID is lost when recording, transmitting, etc., music.

[0030] Note that processing such as recording, transmission over a communication line, and perceptual coding of the sound wave 121 is an example of predetermined processing of the sound wave 121.

[0031] Furthermore, the digital watermark used in this embodiment is one that is highly resistant to D / A (Digital to Analog) conversion and A / D (Analog to Digital) conversion of music, as shown in 4) of Table 1. This is to prevent the sound wave ID from being lost in the D / A conversion that is performed when the information terminal 120 outputs the sound wave 121 in which the sound wave ID is embedded, and in the A / D conversion that is performed when the terminal device 140 acquires the sound wave 121.

[0032] In the following description, a digital watermark that satisfies the conditions in Table 1 will be called a fragile digital watermark.

[0033] In this embodiment, the information terminal 120 outputs a sound wave 121 on which a sound wave ID is superimposed as a fragile digital watermark. The terminal device 140 acquires the sound wave 121, and if the terminal device 140 can extract the sound wave ID from the sound wave 121, it transmits a registration request for attendance information including the sound wave ID to the management server 110.

[0034] In this way, the sonic ID is configured to be valid within the scope of the process in which the terminal device 140 transmits a registration request for attendance information including the extracted sonic ID to the management server 110. For example, the sonic ID is invalidated in processes other than the process in which the terminal device 140 transmits a registration request for attendance information including the extracted sonic ID to the management server 110, such as recording sound waves including the sonic ID or transmitting them over a communication line. Therefore, the attendance management system 100 according to this embodiment is expected to be effective in preventing fraudulent registration of attendance information by students 201 who are not attending a lecture.

[0035] As described above, according to this embodiment, the attendance management system 100, which uses sound waves to manage the attendance status of users, can manage the attendance status of users even in places where no output device is installed, and can prevent fraudulent attendance registrations.

[0036] <Hardware configuration> (Management server and PC hardware configuration) The management server 110 and the PC 130 have, for example, the configuration of a computer 300 as shown in FIG.

[0037] 3 shows an example of the hardware configuration of a computer according to an embodiment. The computer 300 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) 301, a read-only memory (ROM) 302, a random access memory (RAM) 303, a hard disk (HD) 304, a hard disk drive (HDD) controller 305, a display 306, an external device connection interface (I / F) 307, a network I / F 308, a keyboard 309, a pointing device 310, a digital versatile disk rewritable (DVD-RW) drive 312, a media I / F 314, and a bus line 315.

[0038] Of these, the CPU 301 controls the overall operation of the computer 300. The ROM 302 stores programs used to start up the CPU 301, such as an IPL (Initial Program Loader). The RAM 303 is used as a work area for the CPU 301. The HD 304 stores various data such as programs. The HDD controller 305 controls reading and writing of various data from and to the HD 304 under the control of the CPU 301.

[0039] The display 306 displays various types of information such as a cursor, menus, windows, characters, or images. The external device connection I / F 307 is an interface for connecting various types of external devices. In this case, the external device includes, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. The network I / F 308 is an interface for data communication using the communication network 101.

[0040] The keyboard 309 is a type of input means equipped with multiple keys for inputting characters, numbers, various instructions, etc. The pointing device 310 is a type of input means for selecting and executing various instructions, selecting a processing target, moving a cursor, etc. The DVD-RW drive 312 controls reading and writing of various data from a DVD-RW 311, which is an example of a removable recording medium. Note that the DVD-RW 311 is not limited to a DVD-RW, and may be a DVD-R or the like. The media I / F 314 controls reading and writing (storing) of data from a medium 313 such as a flash memory. The bus line 315 includes an address bus, a data bus, various control signals, and the like for electrically connecting the above components.

[0041] (Hardware configuration of information terminals and terminal devices) 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of an information terminal and terminal device according to an embodiment. Here, the hardware configuration of the terminal device 140 will be described, but it is assumed that the information terminal 120 also has a similar hardware configuration to the terminal device 140.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 4, the terminal device 140 includes a CPU 401, a ROM 402, a RAM 403, a storage device 404, a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor 405, an image sensor I / F 406, an acceleration / direction sensor 407, a media I / F 409, and a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiving unit 410.

[0043] Of these, the CPU 401 controls the overall operation of the terminal device 140. The ROM 402 stores programs used to drive the CPU 401, such as an IPL. The RAM 403 is used as a work area for the CPU 401. The storage device 404 is realized by, for example, an SSD (Solid State Drive), a flash ROM, or the like, and is a large-capacity storage device that stores an OS (Operating System), applications, various data, and the like.

[0044] The CMOS sensor 405 is a type of built-in imaging means that captures an image of a subject (mainly a self-portrait) under the control of the CPU 401 to obtain image data. Note that the terminal device 140 may have an imaging means such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor instead of the CMOS sensor 405. The imaging element I / F 406 is a circuit that controls the driving of the CMOS sensor 405. The acceleration / azimuth sensor 407 is one of various sensors, such as an electronic magnetic compass or gyrocompass that detects geomagnetism, and an acceleration sensor. The media I / F 409 controls the reading or writing (storage) of data from or to a recording medium 408, such as a flash memory. The GPS receiver 410 receives GPS signals from GPS satellites.

[0045] The terminal device 140 also includes a long-distance communication circuit 411, an antenna 411a of the long-distance communication circuit 411, a CMOS sensor 412, an image sensor I / F 413, a microphone 414, a speaker 415, an audio input / output I / F 416, a display 417, an external device connection I / F 418, a short-distance communication circuit 419, an antenna 419a of the short-distance communication circuit 419, and a touch panel 420.

[0046] Of these, the long-distance communication circuit 411 is a circuit that communicates with other devices via the communication network 101. The CMOS sensor 412 is a type of built-in imaging means that captures an image of a subject and obtains image data under the control of the CPU 401. The image sensor I / F 413 is a circuit that controls the driving of the CMOS sensor 412. The microphone 414 is a built-in circuit that converts sound into an electrical signal. The speaker 415 is a built-in circuit that converts an electrical signal into physical vibrations to generate sound such as music or voice. The sound input / output I / F 416 is a circuit that processes the input and output of sound signals between the microphone 414 and the speaker 415 under the control of the CPU 401.

[0047] The display 417 is a type of display means such as a liquid crystal display or organic electroluminescence (EL) display that displays an image of a subject, various icons, etc. The external device connection I / F 418 is an interface for connecting various external devices. The short-range communication circuit 419 is a communication circuit such as NFC (Near Field Communication) or Bluetooth (registered trademark). The touch panel 420 is a type of input means that allows a user to operate the terminal device 140 by pressing the display 417.

[0048] The terminal device 140 also includes a bus line 421. The bus line 421 includes an address bus, a data bus, and the like for electrically connecting the components such as the CPU 401 shown in FIG.

[0049] <Functional configuration> FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an attendance management system according to an embodiment.

[0050] (Management Server Functional Configuration) 3, the management server 110 realizes a communication unit 501, an authentication unit 502, an acoustic data providing unit 503, an attendance information management unit 504, an attendance information providing unit 505, a lecture information management unit 506, etc. Note that at least a part of the above functional configurations may be realized by hardware.

[0051] 5, the management server 110 can access storage units such as a user information storage unit 511, a sound wave data storage unit 512, an attendance information storage unit 513, and a lecture information storage unit 514. These storage units may be realized by the HD 304 and HDD controller 305 provided in the management server 110, or may be realized by an external server (for example, a storage server).

[0052] The communication unit 501 connects the management server 110 to the communication network 101 using, for example, the network I / F 308 in FIG. 3, and communicates with the information terminal 120, the PC 130, the terminal device 140, and the like.

[0053] The authentication unit 502 performs authentication processing for users such as the teacher 202 and the student 201 who request login to the management server 110. For example, the authentication unit 502 stores and manages user information 601 as shown in FIG. 6(A) in the user information storage unit 511.

[0054] In the example of FIG. 6(A), user information 601 includes items such as user ID, password, user type, and name. User ID includes, for example, a teacher ID for identifying teacher 202 and a student ID for identifying student 201. Password is an example of authentication information corresponding to user ID. User type is information indicating the type of user (for example, teacher, student, etc.). Name is, for example, name information such as the user's name.

[0055] Furthermore, the authentication unit 502 permits the user to log in if, for example, the user ID and password included in a login request received from the information terminal 120, the PC 130, the terminal device 140, or the like are registered in the user information 601. Note that the password is an example of user authentication information, and other authentication information may be used, for example, biometric information such as a fingerprint or voice, a card ID of an IC card, an electronic certifier, or the like.

[0056] The sonic data providing unit 503 provides, for example, sonic data such as music data and a sonic ID to the information terminal 120. For example, when the sonic data providing unit 503 receives a music data acquisition request from the information terminal 120, the sonic data providing unit 503 transmits music data that has been stored in advance in the sonic data storage unit 512 or the like to the information terminal 120.

[0057] Furthermore, when the sonic data providing unit 503 receives a request to acquire a sonic ID from the information terminal 120, the sonic data providing unit 503 assigns multiple sonic IDs to the teacher ID included in the request to acquire a sonic ID, and notifies the information terminal 120 of the assigned sonic IDs. Furthermore, the sonic data providing unit 503 stores and manages, for example, sonic ID management information 602 as shown in Fig. 6(B) in the sonic data storage unit 512. The sonic ID management information 602 stores, for example, as shown in Fig. 6(B), a correspondence between a teacher ID and multiple sonic IDs assigned to the teacher ID.

[0058] The attendance information management unit 504 stores and manages, for example, attendance information 603 as shown in FIG. 6C in the attendance information storage unit 513. For example, when the attendance information management unit 504 receives a registration request for attendance information including a sonic ID, a student ID, and time information from the terminal device 140, the attendance information management unit 504 refers to the sonic ID management information 602 and identifies the teacher ID corresponding to the sonic ID included in the registration request for attendance information. The attendance information management unit 504 also stores the identified teacher ID and the student ID and time information included in the attendance information in the attendance information 603.

[0059] In the example of FIG. 6(C), the attendance information 603 includes items such as a teacher ID, a student ID, and time information. The teacher ID is identification information for identifying a teacher. The student ID is identification information for identifying a student. The time information is information indicating the time when the terminal device 140 extracted the sound wave ID.

[0060] The attendance information providing unit 505 functions as a web server that provides, for example, the PC 130 of the teacher 202 or the like with a web page for viewing attendance information managed by the management server 110. For example, the attendance information providing unit 505 searches for attendance information 603 stored in the attendance information storage unit 513 according to search conditions specified from the PC 130 or the like, and displays the search results on the PC 130 or the like.

[0061] The lecture information management unit 506 stores and manages, for example, lecture information 604 as shown in FIG. 6(D) in the lecture information storage unit 514. In the example of FIG. 6(D), the lecture information 604 includes information such as a lecture ID, lecture name, classroom name, teacher ID, period, date and time as items. The lecture ID is identification information that identifies a lecture. The lecture name is information indicating the name of the lecture. The classroom name is information indicating the name of the classroom where the lecture is held. The teacher ID is identification information that identifies the teacher 202. The period and date and time are information indicating the date and time of each period.

[0062] Based on this lecture information 604 and the attendance information 603 in FIG. 6C, the management server 110 can identify the lectures, periods, etc. that the student 201 attended.

[0063] (Functional configuration of information terminal) 4 executes an app for a teacher, thereby realizing a communication unit 521, a sound wave data acquisition unit 522, a sound wave generation unit 523, a sound wave output unit 524, a display control unit 525, an operation reception unit 526, an authentication unit 527, and a storage unit 528. At least a part of the above functional configurations may be realized by hardware.

[0064] The communication unit 521 uses, for example, the long-distance communication circuit 411 in FIG. 4 to connect the information terminal 120 to the communication network 101 and communicates with the management server 110 and the like.

[0065] The sound wave data acquisition unit 522 acquires sound wave data such as music data and a sound wave ID from the management server 110 at the time of initial startup, for example, and stores the data in the storage unit 528 .

[0066] The sound wave generating unit 523 generates sound waves (sound wave data) that are output by the information terminal 120 and include an audible sound and a sound wave ID (predetermined identification information).

[0067] Preferably, the sound wave generation unit 523 generates music (music data) on which a sound wave ID is superimposed using a fragile digital watermark that satisfies the conditions shown in Table 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the sound wave generation unit 523 may generate fragile digital watermark data representing the sound wave ID separately from the music. Furthermore, the sound wave generation unit 523 may generate sound waves (or sound wave data) such as environmental sounds or voice announcements on which a sound wave ID is superimposed using a fragile digital watermark.

[0068] The sound wave output unit 524 outputs sound waves 121 including an audible sound and a sound wave ID, for example, using the sound input / output I / F 416, speaker 415, etc. in Fig. 4. For example, the sound wave output unit 524 outputs music 203 (an example of sound waves 121) generated by the sound wave generation unit 523 and on which the sound wave ID is superimposed using a fragile digital watermark.

[0069] However, without being limited thereto, the sound wave output unit 524 may, for example, output music based on music data acquired by the sound wave data acquisition unit 522, and may also output a fragile digital watermark sound representing the sound wave ID generated by the sound wave generation unit 523. Furthermore, the sound wave output unit 524 may, for example, output sound waves 121 using sound wave data including an audible sound and a sound wave ID acquired by the sound wave data acquisition unit 522 from the management server 110.

[0070] The display control unit 525 displays various display screens, such as a display screen of a teacher's app, on a display unit such as the display 417 in Fig. 4. The operation receiving unit 526 receives input operations on an operation unit such as the touch panel 420 in Fig. 4.

[0071] The authentication unit 527 authenticates the information terminal 120 or the teacher 202 who uses the teacher's app executed on the information terminal 120. The authentication unit 527 may perform the authentication process within the information terminal 120, or may send an authentication request to the management server 110 to request authentication.

[0072] The memory unit 528 is realized, for example, by a program executed by the CPU 401 in Figure 4, the storage device 404, the RAM 403, etc., and stores various data, information, etc., such as the sound wave data acquired by the sound wave data acquisition unit 522.

[0073] (Functional configuration of terminal device) 4 executes an app for students, thereby realizing a communication unit 531, a sound wave acquisition unit 532, an extraction unit 533, an information transmission unit 534, an authentication unit 535, a display control unit 536, an operation reception unit 537, a storage unit 538, etc. Note that at least a part of the above functional configurations may be realized by hardware.

[0074] The communication unit 531 uses, for example, the long-distance communication circuit 411 in FIG. 4 to connect the terminal device 140 to the communication network 101 and communicates with the management server 110 and the like.

[0075] 4, the sound wave acquisition unit 532 executes a sound wave acquisition process to acquire sound waves 121 including an audible sound and a sound wave ID output by the information terminal 120. For example, the sound wave acquisition unit 532 performs A / D conversion on the sound waves 121 acquired by the microphone 414 using the sound input / output I / F 416, etc. to generate sound wave data and stores the data in the storage unit 538.

[0076] The extraction unit 533 extracts a sound wave ID from the sound waves 121 acquired by the sound wave acquisition unit 532. For example, the extraction unit 533 analyzes the sound wave data stored in the storage unit 538 by the sound wave acquisition unit 532 using a predetermined algorithm, and executes extraction processing to extract the sound wave ID.

[0077] In this embodiment, the sound wave data of the sound wave 121 acquired by the sound wave acquisition unit 532 is not perceptually encoded, so the extraction unit 533 can extract the sound wave ID from the sound wave data of the sound wave 121.

[0078] However, if the sound waves acquired by the sound wave acquisition unit 532 are not the sound waves 121 output by the information terminal 120, but, for example, sound waves that have been recorded and played back from the sound waves 121, or sound waves that have been transmitted over a communication line, the extraction unit 533 cannot extract the sound wave ID.

[0079] If the information sending unit 534 is able to extract the sound wave ID from the sound wave 121, it executes an information sending process to send to the management server 110 a request to register attendance information including the extracted sound wave ID, the student ID of the student 201 using the terminal device 140, time information indicating the date and time when the sound wave ID was extracted, etc.

[0080] Preferably, if the sound wave ID cannot be extracted from the sound wave 121, the information transmitting unit 534 stops the process of transmitting the attendance information registration request to the management server 110.

[0081] The authentication unit 535 authenticates the terminal device 140 or the student 201 who uses the student app executed on the terminal device 140. The authentication unit 535 may perform the authentication process within the terminal device 140, or may send an authentication request to the management server 110 to request authentication.

[0082] The display control unit 536 displays various display screens, such as a display screen of the student app, on a display unit such as the display 417 in Fig. 4. The operation receiving unit 537 receives input operations on an operation unit such as the touch panel 420 in Fig. 4.

[0083] The memory unit 538 is realized, for example, by a program executed by the CPU 401 in Figure 4, the storage device 404, the RAM 403, etc., and stores various data, information, etc., such as the sound wave data of the sound wave 121 acquired by the sound wave acquisition unit 532.

[0084] (PC functional configuration) The PC 130 may be a general computer 300 having a web browser 541, and therefore a description of the functional configuration will be omitted.

[0085] The functional configuration of the attendance management system 100 shown in Fig. 5 is an example. For example, each functional configuration of the information terminal 120 shown in Fig. 5 may be realized by a PC 130 with an audio output function. Also, each functional configuration of the management server 110 shown in Fig. 5 may be distributed across multiple computers 300.

[0086] <Processing flow> Next, the processing flow of the attendance management method according to this embodiment will be described.

[0087] [First embodiment] Fig. 7 shows an example of processing at the time of application startup according to the first embodiment. In Fig. 7, processing in steps S701 to S712 shows an example of processing at the time of application startup that is executed when an application for a teacher is started on the information terminal 120. Furthermore, processing in steps S721 to S725 shows an example of processing at the time of application startup that is executed when an application for a student is started on the terminal device 140.

[0088] In step S701, when the teacher 202 operates the information terminal 120 to start up the teacher's application, the processes of steps S702 to S712 are executed.

[0089] In step S702, the information terminal 120 starts the teacher's app in response to the teacher's app start operation. When the teacher's app starts, the display control unit 525 of the information terminal 120 displays a login screen on a display unit such as the display 417 in FIG. 4, for example.

[0090] In step S703, the teacher 202 performs a login operation by inputting, for example, a teacher ID and a password on the login screen. In step S704, the authentication unit 527 of the information terminal 120 performs authentication processing of the teacher 202 using the teacher ID and password. For example, if the teacher ID and password input in the login operation are pre-registered teacher IDs and passwords, the authentication unit 527 permits the teacher 202 to log in and executes processing from step S705 onwards. On the other hand, if the teacher ID and password input in the login operation are not pre-registered teacher IDs and passwords, the authentication unit 527 denies the teacher 202 from logging in and cancels processing from step S705 onwards.

[0091] In step S705, the sound wave data acquisition unit 522 of the information terminal 120 transmits a request to the management server 110 to acquire music data.

[0092] In step S706, upon receiving the request to acquire the music data, the sound wave data providing unit 503 of the management server 110 transmits the music data to the information terminal 120 that has made the request.

[0093] In step S707, the sound wave data acquisition unit 522 of the information terminal 120 stores the music data received from the management server 110 in the storage unit 528 or the like.

[0094] In step S708, the sound wave data acquisition unit 522 of the information terminal 120 transmits a request to acquire a sound wave ID to the management server 110. This request to acquire a sound wave ID includes the teacher ID of the teacher 202 who was successfully authenticated in step S704.

[0095] In step S709, when the sonic data providing unit 503 of the management server 110 receives the request to acquire a sonic ID, it assigns a sonic ID to the teacher ID included in the acquisition request. The sonic data providing unit 503 also stores the correspondence between the teacher ID and the sonic ID assigned to the teacher ID in, for example, sonic ID management information 602 as shown in FIG. 6(B). At this time, the sonic data providing unit 503 assigns a different sonic ID to each teacher ID so that the teacher ID can be identified from the sonic ID.

[0096] In step S710, the sound wave data providing unit 503 of the management server 110 notifies the requesting information terminal 120 of the sound wave ID assigned to the teacher ID.

[0097] In step S711, the sound wave data acquisition unit 522 of the information terminal 120 stores the plurality of sound wave IDs received from the management server 110 in the storage unit 528 or the like.

[0098] If valid music data and sound wave ID are already stored in the storage unit 528, the information terminal 120 can omit part or all of the sound wave data acquisition process 700 shown in steps S705 to S711.

[0099] In step S712, the display control unit 525 of the information terminal 120 displays a menu screen of the teacher's app on a display unit such as the display 417 in FIG.

[0100] 8(A) shows an example of a menu screen 810 of the teacher's app displayed by the display control unit 525. For example, the teacher 202 can perform an attendance confirmation operation, which will be described later, by selecting an "attendance confirmation" button 811 displayed on the menu screen 810 of the teacher's app.

[0101] Through the above process, the information terminal 120 can identify the teacher ID of the teacher 202 using the information terminal 120, and can store the multiple sound wave IDs notified from the management server 110 in the storage unit 528 or the like.

[0102] Next, the process when the student app is launched will be described.

[0103] In step S721, when the student 201 performs an operation to start up a student application on the terminal device 140, the processing from step S722 onwards is executed.

[0104] In step S722, the terminal device 140 starts the student app in response to the operation to start the student app. When the student app starts, the display control unit 536 of the terminal device 140 displays a login screen on a display unit such as the display 417 in FIG. 4, for example.

[0105] In step S723, the student 201 performs a login operation by inputting a student ID, password, etc. into the login screen. In step S724, the authentication unit 535 of the terminal device 140 performs authentication processing of the student 201 using the student ID and password. For example, if the student ID and password input in the login operation are pre-registered student IDs and passwords, the authentication unit 535 permits the student 201 to log in and executes the processing of step S725. On the other hand, if the student ID and password input in the login operation are not pre-registered student IDs and passwords, the authentication unit 535 denies the student 201 from logging in and cancels the processing of step S725.

[0106] In step S725, the display control unit 536 of the terminal device 140 displays a menu screen of the student app on a display unit such as the display 417 in FIG.

[0107] 8(B) shows an example of a menu screen 820 of the student app displayed by the display control unit 536. For example, the student 201 can perform the attendance registration operation described below by selecting an "attendance confirmation" button 821 displayed on the menu screen 820 of the student app.

[0108] Through the above process, the terminal device 140 can identify the student ID of the student 201 who uses the terminal device 140 .

[0109] 7 is an example. For example, in steps S703 and S704, the information terminal 120 may authenticate the teacher 202 using biometric information such as a fingerprint or a face image of the teacher 202 instead of the teacher 202's password.

[0110] Similarly, in steps S723 and S724, the terminal device 140 may authenticate the student 201 using, for example, biometric information such as a fingerprint or a facial image of the student 201 instead of the password of the student 201. This makes it more difficult for the student 201 to fraudulently register the attendance of other students, even if the student 201 brings in a terminal device 140 for another student who is not attending the lecture.

[0111] Also, in step S704, the authentication unit 527 of the information terminal 120 may transmit an authentication request to the management server 110, thereby causing the management server 110 to authenticate the teacher 202. Similarly, in step S724, the authentication unit 535 of the terminal device 140 may transmit an authentication request to the management server 110, thereby causing the management server 110 to authenticate the student 201.

[0112] (Attendance confirmation processing) 9 is a sequence diagram showing an example of attendance confirmation processing according to the first embodiment. This processing shows an example of attendance confirmation processing in which a teacher 202 confirms that students 201 are attending a lecture or the like. At the start of the processing shown in FIG. 9, it is assumed that the information terminal 120 has completed the processing at the time of application startup, such as shown in steps S701 to S712 in FIG. 7. It is also assumed that the terminal device 140 has completed the processing at the time of application startup, such as shown in steps S721 to S725 in FIG. 7.

[0113] In step S901, the teacher 202, for example, while giving a lecture to a plurality of students 201 as shown in Fig. 2, performs an attendance confirmation operation on the information terminal 120 at any timing. For example, the teacher 202 can perform the attendance confirmation operation by selecting an "attendance confirmation" button 811 displayed on a menu screen 810 of a teacher's app as shown in Fig. 8(A).

[0114] In step S902, in response to the attendance confirmation operation, the display control unit 525 of the information terminal 120 causes a display unit such as the display 417 in FIG. 4 to display, for example, a setting / operation screen 1010 as shown in FIG. 10(A).

[0115] In step S903, the teacher 202 performs a setting operation on a setting / operation screen 1010, for example, as shown in Fig. 10(A). For example, the teacher 202 sets the lecture name, classroom name, free word, etc. in the setting field 1011 of the setting / operation screen 1010. Note that the processing of step S903 is optional and not essential.

[0116] 10A. For example, the teacher 202 selects the "Start" button 1012 on the setting / operation screen 1010.

[0117] In step S905, the sound wave output unit 524 of the information terminal 120 transmits an output start notification to the management server 110 to notify that sound waves 121 including an audible sound and a sound wave ID will be output. This output start notification includes the sound wave ID included in the sound waves 121, the setting information set in step S903, and the like.

[0118] In step S906, the information terminal 120 outputs sound waves 121 including an audible sound and a sound wave ID. For example, the sound wave generation unit 523 generates sound wave data of music 203 on which the sound wave ID notified from the management server 110 and stored in the storage unit 528 is superimposed as a fragile digital watermark. Furthermore, the sound wave output unit 524 uses the sound wave data generated by the sound wave generation unit 523 to output music 203 (an example of sound waves 121) on which the sound wave ID is superimposed as a fragile digital watermark.

[0119] In this state, the teacher 202 instructs the students 201 attending the lecture to register their attendance. Alternatively, the sound waves 121 such as music 203 output by the information terminal 120 may contain a voice message instructing the students 201 to register their attendance.

[0120] In step S911, a student 201 attending a lecture performs an attendance registration operation on the terminal device 140 in response to an instruction from a teacher 202 or sound waves 121 such as music 203. For example, the student 201 can perform the attendance registration operation by selecting an "attendance registration" button 821 displayed on a menu screen 820 of a student app as shown in FIG. 8(B).

[0121] In step S912, the terminal device 140 acquires sound waves 121, which include an audible sound and a sound wave ID and are output by the information terminal 120 in response to the attendance registration operation, and extracts the sound wave ID included in the sound waves 121. For example, the sound wave acquisition unit 532 of the terminal device 140 acquires music 203, which is output by the information terminal 120 and on which the sound wave ID is superimposed as a fragile digital watermark. Furthermore, the extraction unit 533 of the terminal device 140 analyzes the music 203 acquired by the sound wave acquisition unit 532 and extracts the sound wave ID.

[0122] If a sound wave ID is extracted, the processes from step S913 onward are executed. On the other hand, if a sound wave ID is not extracted, the terminal device 140 stops the processes from step S913 onward.

[0123] In step S913, the display control unit 536 of the terminal device 140 displays a confirmation screen 1020 as shown in FIG. 10(B) on a display unit such as the display 417 in FIG.

[0124] In step S914, when the student 201 performs a confirmation operation on the confirmation screen 1020 as shown in Fig. 10(B), the processing from step S915 onwards is executed. For example, the student 201 can perform a confirmation operation by selecting the "Register" button 1021 on the confirmation screen 1020 as shown in Fig. 10(B).

[0125] In step S915, the information sending unit 534 of the terminal device 140 sends to the management server 110 a request to register attendance information, including the sound wave ID extracted by the extraction unit 533, the student ID of the student 201, and time information indicating the date and time when the sound wave ID was extracted.

[0126] In step S916, when the attendance information management unit 504 of the management server 110 receives the attendance information registration request, it refers to the acoustic ID management information 602 as shown in FIG. 6(B), for example, to identify the teacher ID corresponding to the acoustic ID.

[0127] In step S917, the attendance information management unit 504 of the management server 110 registers the identified teacher ID, the student ID included in the attendance information registration request, and the time information in, for example, attendance information 603 as shown in Figure 6 (C).

[0128] Furthermore, when the teacher 202 wishes to stop the sound waves 121 output in steps S904 to S906, as shown in step S907, the teacher 202 performs an operation to stop the sound waves on the information terminal 120. For example, the teacher 202 can perform the operation to stop the sound waves by selecting the "End" button 1013 on the setting / operation screen 1010 as shown in FIG. 10(A).

[0129] In step S908, in response to the operation to stop the sound waves, the sound wave output unit 524 of the information terminal 120 stops outputting the sound waves 121 (music 203, etc.) that started to be output in step S906.

[0130] Through the above process, the attendance information of students 201 attending the lecture is registered in management server 110. Similarly, when each student 201 attending the lecture performs an attendance registration operation on their own terminal device 140, the attendance information of each student 201 attending the lecture is registered in management server 110.

[0131] (Attendance data viewing process) 11 is a sequence diagram showing an example of viewing processing of attendance data according to the first embodiment. This processing shows an example of processing when, for example, the teacher 202 uses the PC 130 to view attendance information managed by the management server 110.

[0132] In step S1101, the teacher 202, for example, uses the web browser 541 of the PC 130 to perform a connection operation to connect to a web page for viewing attendance information provided by the attendance information providing unit 505 of the management server 110. For example, the teacher 202 inputs into the web browser 541 URL (Uniform Resource Locator) information for accessing the web page for viewing attendance information.

[0133] In step S1102, the web browser 541 of the PC 130 requests connection to a web page for viewing attendance information, which is provided by the attendance information providing unit 505 of the management server 110.

[0134] In step S1103, the attendance information providing unit 505 of the management server 110 causes the web browser 541 of the PC 130 to display a login screen for logging in to the web service provided by the attendance information providing unit 505. As a result, in step S1004, the web browser 541 of the PC 130 displays the login screen.

[0135] In step S1005, the teacher 202 performs a login operation by inputting, for example, a teacher ID and a password on the login screen. As a result, in step S1106, the web browser 541 of the PC 130 transmits login information including the teacher ID and the password to the management server 110.

[0136] In step S1107, the authentication unit 502 of the management server 110 performs authentication processing for the login information. For example, if the teacher ID and password included in the login information are registered in the user information 601 as shown in FIG. 6A, the authentication unit 502 permits the login. On the other hand, if the teacher ID and password included in the login information are not registered in the user information 601 as shown in FIG. 6A, the authentication unit 502 denies the login. If the login is permitted, the processing from step S1108 onwards is executed.

[0137] In step S1108, the attendance information providing unit 505 of the management server 110 displays a search screen on the web browser 541 of the PC 130. As a result, in step S1109, the web browser 541 of the PC 130 displays, for example, a search screen 1210 as shown in FIG.

[0138] 12(A), the search screen 1210 includes a setting field 1211 for setting search conditions such as the period, day of the week, period, lecture name, classroom name, etc., and a "Search" button 1213 for instructing the start of a search. Note that, among the search conditions, information other than the "period" is optional, and setting can be omitted.

[0139] In step S1110, the teacher 202 performs a search operation on the search screen 1210. For example, the teacher 202 can perform a search operation by setting search conditions in the setting field 1211 on the search screen 1210 and selecting the "Search" button 1213.

[0140] In step S1111, upon receiving the search operation, the web browser 541 of the PC 130 notifies the management server 110 of the teacher ID and the search conditions including the set search conditions.

[0141] In step S1112, the attendance information providing unit 505 of the management server 110 searches, for example, the attendance information 603 as shown in Fig. 6(C) according to the received search criteria. For example, the attendance information providing unit 505 extracts records corresponding to the teacher ID included in the received search criteria from the information registered in the attendance information 603. In addition, the attendance information providing unit 505 extracts records corresponding to the received period from the information registered in the attendance information 603.

[0142] Furthermore, the attendance information providing unit 505 identifies the lecture name, classroom name, time period, etc. corresponding to each record based on the teacher ID and time information included in the extracted records and, for example, lecture information 604 as shown in FIG. 6(D). Furthermore, when search conditions such as a period, day of the week, time period, lecture name, classroom name, etc. are set, the attendance information providing unit 505 further extracts records corresponding to the search conditions. Note that, although the lecture information 604 shown in FIG. 6(D) does not include information regarding the day of the week, the day of the week can be identified based on time information, etc.

[0143] In step S1113, the attendance information providing unit 505 of the management server 110 displays a search result screen showing the search results on the web browser 541 of the PC 130. As a result, the web browser 541 of the PC 130 displays, for example, a search result screen 1220 as shown in FIG. 12(B).

[0144] In the example of FIG. 12(B), a search result screen 1220 displays a list 1221 of attendance information for each student 201 in the lecture named "Lecture A." This shows, for example, that the student 201 with student ID "AC23245" attended all six lectures of the lecture named "Lecture A." It also shows that the student 201 with student ID "CK39514" did not attend three of the six lectures of the lecture named "Lecture A."

[0145] Thus, according to this embodiment, in an attendance management system that uses sound waves to manage user attendance, it is possible to manage user attendance even in places where no output device is installed.

[0146] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the information terminal 120 outputs the sound wave 121 on which the sound wave ID is superimposed as a fragile digital watermark, so that the sound wave ID is lost (invalidated) by, for example, recording or transmitting it over a communication line. Therefore, it is possible to prevent fraudulent attendance registration by students 201 who did not attend the lecture.

[0147] [Second embodiment] In the first embodiment, the information terminal 120 outputs a sound wave 121 on which a sound wave ID is superimposed as a fragile digital watermark, thereby preventing fraudulent attendance registration. However, this method alone still leaves the possibility that fraudulent attendance registration may be performed using special equipment (for example, a recording device that can record quantized sound wave data as is without performing perceptual coding).

[0148] Therefore, in the second embodiment, an example of processing for preventing unauthorized attendance registration even when such special equipment is used will be described.

[0149] The system configuration, hardware configuration, and functional configuration of the attendance management system 100 according to the second embodiment may be the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0150] <Processing flow> Fig. 13 is a sequence diagram showing an example of attendance confirmation processing according to the second embodiment. Note that the basic processing content is similar to the attendance confirmation processing according to the first embodiment described in Fig. 9, so the following description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment.

[0151] In step S1301, the information terminal 120 executes an attendance confirmation process, for example, as shown in steps S901 to S904 in FIG.

[0152] In step S905, the sound wave output unit 524 of the information terminal 120 transmits an output start notification to the management server 110 to notify that sound waves 121 including an audible sound and a sound wave ID will be output, as in the first embodiment.

[0153] In step S1302, the attendance information management unit 504 of the management server 110 stores the sound wave ID included in the output start notification and the output start date and time of the sound waves 121 including the sound wave ID in, for example, sound wave output information 1401 as shown in Fig. 14. This sound wave output information 1401 is stored, for example, in the sound wave data storage unit 512 of Fig. 5.

[0154] Furthermore, in steps S907 and S908, if the teacher 202 stops the output of the sound waves 121 in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the processes from step S1303 onwards are executed.

[0155] In step S1303, the sound wave output unit 524 of the information terminal 120 sends an output stop notification to the management server 110 to notify that the output of the sound waves 121 has been stopped. This output stop notification includes the sound wave ID that was superimposed on the sound waves 121 whose output has been stopped.

[0156] In step S1304, the attendance information management unit 504 of the management server 110 stores the output stop date and time when the output of the sound wave 121 was stopped in a record corresponding to the sound wave ID included in the output stop notification, for example, in the sound wave output information 1401 as shown in Figure 14.

[0157] In step S1305, the terminal device 140 executes an attendance registration process as shown in steps S911 to S915 in FIG.

[0158] In step S1306, the attendance information management unit 504 of the management server 110 determines whether the acoustic ID included in the attendance information registration request received from the terminal device 140 is valid, based on the time information included in the attendance information registration request.

[0159] For example, the attendance information management unit 504 identifies the time when the sonic ID included in the attendance information registration request was output by referring to the sonic output information 1401 as shown in Fig. 14. Furthermore, if a predetermined time has passed since the output of the sonic ID included in the attendance information registration request was started or stopped, the attendance information management unit 504 determines that the sonic ID is invalid. On the other hand, if a predetermined time has not passed since the output of the sonic ID included in the attendance information registration request was started or stopped, the attendance information management unit 504 determines that the sonic ID is valid.

[0160] If the sonic ID is valid, the attendance information management unit 504 executes the attendance information registration process in step S1307, for example, as shown in steps S916 and S917 in Fig. 9. On the other hand, if the sonic ID is invalid, the attendance information management unit 504 cancels the attendance information registration process in step S1307.

[0161] Thus, in this embodiment, the management server 110 stores the period during which the information terminal 120 output the sound wave 121 including the sound wave ID, and invalidates the sound wave ID after a predetermined time has passed since the sound wave 121 was output or stopped.

[0162] Therefore, for example, if the sound waves 121 output by the information terminal 120 are recorded using a special device that does not perform perceptual coding, and the recorded sound waves are used to later perform the attendance registration process, the sound wave ID is invalidated, thereby effectively preventing fraudulent attendance registration.

[0163] As described above, according to each embodiment of the invention, an attendance management system that uses sound waves to manage user attendance status can manage user attendance status even in places where an output device is not installed, and can prevent fraudulent attendance registrations.

[0164] Furthermore, according to each embodiment of the present invention, it is not necessary to install an output device in each classroom, as in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, and therefore the cost of installing an output device can be reduced.

[0165] Furthermore, for example, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 outputs sound waves containing sound wave IDs at frequencies of 16 kHz or higher, which may be heard as an unpleasant mosquito sound by some students in a quiet environment such as a classroom during a lecture.

[0166] On the other hand, in this embodiment, the information terminal 120 outputs sound waves 121 including an audible sound and a sound wave ID, so that the sound waves including the sound wave ID are masked by the audible sound and are prevented from being recognized as an unpleasant mosquito sound.

[0167] <Supplementary information> Each function of each embodiment described above can be realized by one or more processing circuits. Here, the term "processing circuit" in this specification includes a processor programmed to perform each function by software, such as a processor implemented by an electronic circuit, as well as devices such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and conventional circuit modules designed to perform each of the functions described above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0168] 100 Attendance Management System 120 Information terminal 140 Terminal Equipment 532 Acoustic wave acquisition unit 533 Extraction part 534 Information Transmission Department [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0169] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-107492 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-91465

Claims

1. An attendance management system including a terminal device used by a user and a management server that registers attendance information of the user attending a lecture, The terminal device a sound wave acquisition unit that acquires sound waves output from the information terminal; an extractor that extracts predetermined identification information from the sound wave; a transmitting unit that transmits the predetermined identification information extracted by the extracting unit and user identification information that identifies the user to the management server; Equipped with The management server a storage unit that stores the predetermined identification information, the user identification information, and lecture information related to a lecture in association with each other; a receiving unit that receives the predetermined identification information and user identification information that identifies the user from the terminal device; a registration unit that registers attendance information of the users who will attend the lecture based on the received predetermined identification information and the user identification information; An attendance management system comprising:

2. The attendance management system according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined identification information becomes invalid when the sound wave is recorded.

3. The attendance management system according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined identification information becomes invalid when the sound wave is transmitted.

4. The attendance management system according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined identification information becomes invalid when the sound wave is perceptually encoded.

5. The attendance management system according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined identification information becomes invalid when a predetermined time has elapsed since the output of the sound wave was started or stopped.

6. The attendance management system includes an information terminal that outputs a sound wave including an audible sound and predetermined identification information, The attendance management system of claim 1, wherein the information terminal outputs the sound wave on which the specified identification information is superimposed as an electronic watermark, such that the specified identification information is lost when the sound wave is subjected to a specified processing.

7. The attendance management system described in Claim 1, wherein the management server manages the date and time when the information terminal outputs the sound waves containing the specified identification information, and invalidates the specified identification information when a specified time has passed since the date and time when the sound waves were output.

8. In an attendance management system including a terminal device used by a user and a management server that registers attendance information of the user attending a lecture, the management server manages the attendance status of the user based on a registration request for attendance information transmitted from the terminal device, a storage unit that stores predetermined identification information, user identification information that identifies the user, and lecture information related to the lecture in association with each other; a receiving unit that receives the registration request from the terminal device, the registration request including the predetermined identification information and user identification information that identifies the user; a registration unit that registers attendance information of the users who will attend the lecture based on the received predetermined identification information and the user identification information; A management server comprising:

9. In an attendance management system including a terminal device used by a user and a management server that registers attendance information of the user attending a lecture, an attendance management method is executed by the management server that manages the attendance status of the user based on a registration request for attendance information sent from the terminal device, comprising: The management server a storage unit that stores predetermined identification information, user identification information that identifies the user, and lecture information related to the lecture in association with each other; receiving the registration request from the terminal device, the registration request including the predetermined identification information and user identification information that identifies the user; a process of registering attendance information of the user attending the lecture based on the received predetermined identification information and the user identification information; Attendance management method to implement.

10. A program that causes a computer to execute the attendance management method according to claim 9.

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