ATTENDANCE TRACKING DEVICE

Abstract

An attendance tracking device for keeping a restroom cleaning log includes a radio-frequency, RF, module that periodically sends beacon signals and receives at least one response signal from a mobile device of a user. The tracking device further includes an electrophoretic display having a display controller and memory. The display controller executes a method that includes causing the RF module to periodically send beacon signals, detecting a received response signal from the mobile device, creating an attendance log including time stamp information regarding the presence of the mobile device, and triggering an update of the electrophoretic display to display the attendance log. A mobile device can be adapted to implement or be used in connection with the attendance tracking device. A system includes the attendance tracking device and the mobile device. Methods for operating the attendance tracking device and the mobile device are used to implement attendance tracking.

Claims

1. An attendance tracking device for keeping a restroom cleaning log, comprising: a radio-frequency, RF, module configured to periodically send beacon signals, and to receive at least one response signal from a mobile device of a user; and an electrophoretic display including a display controller and a memory, wherein the display controller is configured to execute the steps of: causing the RF module to periodically send beacon signals, detecting a received response signal from the mobile device, creating an attendance log including time stamp information regarding the presence of the mobile device, and triggering an update of the electrophoretic display to display the attendance log.

2. The attendance tracking device according to claim 1, wherein: the RF module comprises a Bluetooth Chip, and the beacon signal is a Bluetooth signal.

3. The attendance tracking device according to claim 2, wherein: the beacon signal is sent periodically at time intervals adjustable within a range of 0.1 to 3 seconds, and a signal strength of the beacon signal is adjustable within a range of −8 to 0 dB.

4. The attendance tracking device according to claim 1, wherein: the RF module comprises a WiFi Chip, and the beacon signal is a WiFi signal.

5. The attendance tracking device according to claim 1, wherein the beacon signal comprises a unique ID of the attendance tracking device.

6. The attendance tracking device according to claim 1, wherein the RF module is further configured to receive commands and data regarding: (i) triggering an update of the electrophoretic display, (ii) to start a firmware update of the electrophoretic display, and/or (iii) to load configuration files into the memory of the display controller.

7. The attendance tracking device according to claim 1, wherein the display controller is transferred to a power saving mode following an update of the electrophoretic display, and is configured to exit the power saving mode when: (i) response signals from the mobile device are received, (ii) a wake-up timer expires, or (iii) a low battery level is detected.

8. The attendance tracking device according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply including a mobile battery for providing power to the attendance tracking device.

9. The attendance tracking device according to claim 1, wherein the electrophoretic display comprises a 7.5 inch display.

10. The attendance tracking device according to claim 1, further comprising a real time clock coupled to the processor.

11. The attendance tracking device according to claim 1, further comprising a wall mountable housing including an opening for the electrophoretic display, and enclosing at least the RF-module, the electrophoretic display, the display controller, and the memory.

12. A mobile device, comprising: a radio-frequency (RF) module to receive beacon signals from the attendance tracking device of claim 1 and to send at least one response signal to the attendance tracking device; and a processor that is configured to execute the steps of: detecting periodically received beacon signals from the attendance tracking device, recognizing that the mobile device is in a vicinity of the attendance tracking device, determining that the presence of the mobile device in the vicinity of the attendance tracking device exceeds a predetermined threshold time duration, and causing the RF module to send a response signal to the attendance tracking device for triggering an update of the display to display an attendance log.

13. An attendance tracking system for keeping a restroom cleaning log, comprising: the mobile device according to claim 12; and the attendance tracking device.

14. A method for operating an attendance tracking device for keeping a restroom cleaning log, comprising: sending periodically, by a radio-frequency (RF) module beacon signals; receiving a response signal, by the RF module, from a mobile device; creating, by a display controller, an attendance log including time stamp information regarding the presence of a user of the mobile device; and triggering, by the display controller, an update of an electrophoretic display to display the attendance log.

15. A method for operating a mobile device to communicate with an attendance tracking device for keeping a restroom cleaning log, comprising: receiving, by a radio-frequency (RF) module periodic beacon signals from the attendance tracking device; recognizing, by a processor, that the mobile device is in a vicinity of the attendance tracking device; determining, by the processor, that the presence of the mobile device in the vicinity of the attendance tracking device exceeds a predetermined threshold time duration; and causing, by the processor, the RF module to send a response signal to the attendance tracking device for triggering an update of the display to display an attendance log.

16. The attendance tracking device according to claim 2, wherein the beacon signal comprises a unique ID of the attendance tracking device.

17. The attendance tracking device according to claim 4, wherein the beacon signal comprises a unique ID of the attendance tracking device.

18. The attendance tracking device according to claim 2, further comprising a real time clock coupled to the processor.

19. The attendance tracking device according to claim 4, further comprising a real time clock coupled to the processor.

20. The attendance tracking device according to claim 2, further comprising a wall mountable housing including an opening for the electrophoretic display, and enclosing at least the RF-module, the electrophoretic display, the display controller, and the memory.

Description

[0090] The idea underlying the invention shall subsequently be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures. Herein:

[0091] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an attendance tracking device and a mobile device;

[0092] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an electrophoretic display, exemplarily displaying an attendance log;

[0093] FIG. 3 shows method steps of a method for operating an attendance tracking device for keeping a restroom cleaning log; and

[0094] FIG. 4 shows method steps of a method for operating a mobile device to communicate with an attendance tracking device for keeping a restroom cleaning log.

[0095] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an attendance tracking device 1 and a mobile device 100.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 1, the attendance tracking device 1 comprises a radio-frequency, RF, module 3 that is configured to periodically send beacon signals, and to receive at least one response signal from the mobile device 100.

[0097] The attendance tracking device 1 also comprises an electrophoretic display 5 comprising a display controller 7 and a memory 9. The shown display controller 7 is configured to execute steps of causing the RF module 3 to periodically send beacon signals, detecting a received response signal from the mobile device 100, creating an attendance log including time stamp information regarding the presence of the mobile device, and triggering an update of the electrophoretic display 5 to display the attendance log.

[0098] Further, the attendance tracking device 1 comprises a power supply 11, and a real time clock, RTC, 13.

[0099] The components of the attendance tracking device 1 shown in FIG. 1 are arranged in a wall mountable housing 15.

[0100] The mobile device 100 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a RF module 103, and a processor 105.

[0101] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an electrophoretic display 5, exemplary displaying an attendance log. The shown attendance log comprises information about a certain event when the electrophoretic display 5 was last updated. The presented information are only exemplarily and in embodiments less ore more information can be shown, such as for example, an ID of the restroom attendant, and miniature tiles providing information about previous events.

[0102] FIG. 3 shows method steps of a method 1000 for operating an attendance tracking device for keeping a restroom cleaning log.

[0103] The shown method 1000 comprises the steps:

[0104] sending 1010 periodically, by a radio-frequency, RF, module beacon signals;

[0105] receiving 1020 a response signal, by the RF module, from a mobile device;

[0106] creating 1030 an attendance log including time stamp information regarding the presence of the mobile device; and

[0107] triggering 1040 an update of an electrophoretic display to display the attendance log.

[0108] FIG. 4 shows method steps of a method 2000 for operating a mobile device to communicate with an attendance tracking device for keeping a restroom cleaning log.

[0109] The shown method 2000 comprises the steps:

[0110] receiving 2010, by a radio-frequency, RF, module periodic beacon signals from the attendance tracking device,

[0111] recognizing 2020, by a processor, that the mobile device is in a vicinity of the attendance tracking device,

[0112] determining 2030, by the processor, that the presence of the mobile device in the vicinity of the attendance tracking device exceeds a predetermined threshold time duration; and

[0113] causing 2040, by the processor, the RF module to send a response signal to the attendance tracking device for triggering an update of the display to display an attendance log.

NUMERALS

[0114] 1 Attendance Tracking Device

[0115] 3 RF Module

[0116] 5 Electrophoretic Display

[0117] 7 Display Controller

[0118] 9 Memory

[0119] 11 Power Supply

[0120] 13 Real Time Clock

[0121] 15 Housing

[0122] 100 Mobile Device

[0123] 103 RF Module

[0124] 105 Processor

[0125] 1000 Method for Operating an Attendance Tracking Device

[0126] 1010 Sending

[0127] 1020 Receiving

[0128] 1030 Creating

[0129] 1040 Triggering

[0130] 2000 Method for Operating a Mobile Device

[0131] 2010 Receiving

[0132] 2020 Recognizing

[0133] 2030 Determining

[0134] 2040 Causing