The subject matter herein generally relates to attendance systems and methods.
Employees typically record time in a paper format (i.e., paper timesheets) or by clocking in/out using a paper/time attendance machine. However, this method may be inaccurate and time waste.
Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure.
Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented.
The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like.
The present disclosure is described in relation to an attendance system and method.
The terminal device 10 can be an intelligent magnetic card, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or other devices which can be used to send an identification number of a user and display an attendance recording of the user. In detail, the terminal device 10 includes a first radio frequency (RF) unit 11, a second RF unit 13, an information processing unit 15, a display unit 17, and an indication unit 19. The information processing unit 15 is electronically coupled to the first RF unit 11, the second RF unit 13, the display unit 17, and the indication unit 19.
Both the first RF unit 11 and the second RF unit 13 are configured to send the identification number to the attendance machine 30 and receive the attendance recording and an acknowledgment (ACK) message from the attendance machine 30. The first RF unit 11 is a remote transmission unit and operates at about 2.4 GHz. In at least one embodiment, a radiation radius of the first RF unit 11 can be about 100 meters. The second RF unit 13 is a near field communication (NFC) unit and operates at about 13.56 GHz. Obviously, a radiation radius of the second RF unit 12 is less than the radiation radius of the first RF unit 11. The information processing unit 15 is configured to store the identification number, and the identification number corresponds to the ACK message pre-stored in the server 50. In addition, the information processing unit 15 is configured to transmit the attendance recording and the ACK message from the first RF unit 11 and the second RF unit 13 to the display unit 17. In at least one embodiment, the display unit 17 can be a touch screen to facilitate displaying and inquiring the attendance recording and the ACK message. The indicating unit 19 can be a buzzer or a light emitting diode (LED). When the first RF unit 11 or the second RF unit 13 receives the attendance recording and the ACK message from the attendance machine 30, the information processing unit 15 enables the indicating unit 19.
The attendance machine 30 includes a communication unit 31, a controller 33, and a screen 35. Both the communication unit 31 and the screen 35 are electronically coupled to the controller 33. The communication unit 31 is configured to receive the identification number from the terminal device 10 and transmit the attendance recording and the ACK message to the terminal device 10. In at least one embodiment, the communication unit 31 operates at 13.56 MHz and 2.4 GHz, and consequently communicates with the first RF unit 11 and the second RF unit 13. The controller 33 is electronically coupled to the server 50 to search the ACK message pre-stored in the server 50 according to the identification number, the ACK message may at least include an employee name and a department of the employee. In addition, the controller 33 records an attendance time when the communication unit 31 receives the identification number from the terminal device 10, and then the controller 33 compares the attendance time with a predetermined time to obtain the attendance recording for indicating whether or not the attendance of the employee is normal. For example, if the attendance time exceeds the predetermined time, the attendance recording may be recorded as “be late for work”. Further, the attendance recording and the ACK message can be displayed on the screen 35, and the attendance recording can be further stored in the server 50.
Optionally, the first RF unit 11 can be activated by manually manipulating. Thus, the terminal device 10 communicating with the communication unit 31 via either the first RF unit 11 or the second RF unit 13 can be pre-set based on user's requirements. In other embodiments, the terminal device 10 can enter a sleep mode to conserve power when the terminal device 10 receives the ACK message and the attendance recording from the attendance machine 30.
At block 301, when a distance between a terminal device and an attendance machine is less than a radiation radius of a first RF unit of the terminal device, the first RF unit sends an identification number to the attendance machine.
At block 302, the attendance machine determines whether a communication between the terminal device and the attendance machine is interrupted or disconnected. If the communication between the terminal device and the attendance machine is connected, blocks 303-308 are implemented. If the communication between the terminal device and the attendance machine is interrupted or disconnected, blocks 309-315 are implemented.
At block 303, a communication unit of the attendance machine receives the identification number and transmits the identification number to a controller of the attendance machine.
At block 304, the controller searches an ACK message pre-stored in a server according to the identification number and obtains an attendance recording by comparing a predetermined value with an attendance time indicating that the communication unit receives the identification number from the terminal device.
At block 305, the controller sends the attendance recording to the server to store the attendance recording.
At block 306, a screen of the attendance machine displays the ACK message and the attendance recording, and the communication unit sends the ACK message and the attendance recording to the terminal device.
At block 307, the first RF unit receives the ACK message and the attendance recording.
At block 308, an information processing unit of the terminal device enables an indication unit of the terminal device according to the ACK message and the attendance recording, and the ACK message and the attendance recording are further displayed on a display unit of the terminal device.
At block 309, when a user is close to the attendance machine, a second RF unit of the terminal device may be manually held in close proximity to the attendance machine, and then the second RF unit sends the identification number to the attendance machine.
At block 310, the communication unit of the attendance machine receives the identification number and transmits the identification number to the controller of the attendance machine.
At block 311, the controller searches the ACK message pre-stored in the server according to the identification number and obtains the attendance recording by comparing the predetermined value with the attendance time indicating that the communication unit receives the identification number from the terminal device.
At block 312, the controller sends the attendance recording to the server to store the attendance recording.
At block 313, the screen of the attendance machine displays the ACK message and the attendance recording, and the communication unit sends the ACK message and the attendance recording to the terminal device.
At block 314, the second RF unit receives the ACK message and the attendance recording.
At block 315, the information processing unit of the terminal device enables the indication unit of the terminal device according to the ACK message and the attendance recording, and the ACK message and the attendance recording are further displayed on the display unit of the terminal device.
In summary, the terminal device 10 includes the first RF unit 11 and the second RF unit 13 communicating with the attendance machine 30, thus, two manners can be alternatively adopted by the terminal device 10 to save time. That is, when one of the first RF unit 11 and the second RF unit 13 malfunctions or does not work, another one can be activated to complete the attendance recording process. Thus, the attendance system 100 is both efficient and convenient.
The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as the other features of the attendance system and method. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201410457068.2 | Sep 2014 | CN | national |