Modular microprocessor-based system for printing and reading school attendance recordkeeping codes on forms

A modular microprocessor-based code printing and reading system, adapted to print a personal coded identifier and other codes relating to categories of school-attendance recordkeeping on a form, and to read the codes from the form to generate data for processing thereof. The system is particularly adapted for use in the school-attendance recordkeeping process, with the codes including a bar code, representing an identifier assigned to the person so identified. The system includes a laser printer, micropocessor-based, operable in response to a laser control program, for printing the codes associated with the particular person at the appropriate location on the form. The system further includes a portable compact reader, microprocessor-based, which includes a wand adapted to sense the bar code on the form. The reader is operable in response to control by the operator, and to a reader control program, for reading the bar code, to generate data relating to the person identified thereby for processing thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates generally to systems for printing and reading forms 
for processing of data generated thereby. It relates specifically to a 
modular system, microprocessor-based, for printing a coded indentifier on 
a form and reading the coded identifier to generate data relating to the 
person identified by the code. 
The prior art includes systems for printing and reading forms to generate 
data relating to particular persons identified on the forms. Systems used 
to gather and process data relating to school attendance recordkeeping 
included the printing of forms to be filled in manually by each teacher in 
each class, to be manually gathered, and to be manually read for 
processing of the data gathered thereby. The school attendance 
recordkeeping information manually gathered and entered in such system 
related to absences or tardiness, and clearance thereof, where such 
clearances were based on authorized excuses therefor. 
Such school attendance recordkeeping systems enable the preparation of 
attendance reports required by the State, enable the tracking of 
attendance patterns for notification of parents when truancy occurs, and 
enable counseling of students when excessive absences are noted, so as to 
reduce attendance problems and increase daily attendance. Such systems 
must be further able to identify "tardy" students as opposed to those who 
are absent. 
Among the problems associated with such school attendance recordkeeping 
systems are the collection, entry, maintenance and tracking of large 
amounts of data relating to absences, tardiness, and clearance 
information. Further, teachers are reluctant to devote time to such 
projects, such tasks are very labor-intensive, and the accuracy of the 
data gathered is highly questionable. 
It has been known to provide a hand-held stylus, adapted to both optically 
read printed lines, such as bar codes, and print out information addressed 
at such bar codes and obtained thereby from computer storage, as in 
Uberbacher, Read/Write Stylus, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 19, 
No. 1 (June 1976). 
However, the stylus includes an optical read head at one end, and a special 
form electroerosion print head at the other end for enabling hand-directed 
printing on special aluminum-coated paper, and does not include elements 
and functions adapted for use in the school attendance recordkeeping 
process. 
It has been further known to read bar code with devices which include 
various elements and functions, and which are adapted for use in various 
fields, including devices for imprinting price information, as in Snow 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,028,537, and for printing bar code and scanner alignment 
mark information, as in Bobart et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,349,741. Such known 
devices further include same for automatically inventorying coded items 
with a scanner and mark producing device, as in Koenig et al. U.S. Pat. 
No. 4,180,204, counterfeit detecting, as in McNeight et al., U.S. Pat. No. 
4,463,250, and reading of bar code which may include an even or odd parity 
bit as part thereof, as in Mc Waters et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,088. 
However, none of such devices include elements and functions adapted for 
use in processing data in a school attendance recordkeeping process, and 
for enabling a person's file therein to be directly addressible without 
correlation to a control file. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is adapted to overcome the above problems as well as others 
associated with the prior art. It provides a modular microprocessor-based 
code printing and reading system, particularly useful in the 
school-attendance recordkeeping process. The microprocessor-based system 
significantly lessens the possibility of problems in the use of forms in 
the school-attendance recordkeeping process. It enables rapid, efficient, 
and convenient printing of forms, with personal student codes accurately 
and efficiently printed thereon. It further enables rapid, economical, and 
efficient reading of the personal student identifier codes and other codes 
relating to categories of school-attendance recordkeeping with greater 
accuracy and less margin for error, for generating data for processing 
thereof. 
The system includes a laser printer, microprocessor-based, for rapidly, 
economically, accurately and efficiently printing personal student and 
attendance-related bar code identifiers on the form. Each identifier bar 
code is assigned exclusively to a particular student. The laser printer is 
adapted to be operable responsive to a control program therefor. 
A portable compact reading device, microprocessor-based, is included in the 
system, for accurately, economically, rapidly and efficiently reading from 
the form the personal bar code identifier and other codes relating to 
categories of school-attendance recordkeeping. The reading device is 
adapted to be operable responsive to control by a control program 
therefor, and movement by the operator of a wand code-sensing portion 
thereof relative to the bar code on the form. The reading device enables 
one operator, having little technical training, to interface with the 
system to control system functions. It is readily and conveniently 
operable by a non-technical operator, not requiring a person trained in 
computers for use thereof, making it convenient and efficient to use. One 
operator can perform the work previously done manually by a large number 
of people, more accurately, and in significantly less time and at less 
expense. 
The system reduces the amount of keying-in of data required, and minimizes 
the amount of manual data collection required. Class rosters are produced 
by the laser printer, with unique personal identifier bar codes assigned 
to each student. The teachers then mark each absent student on such 
roster, and the rosters are read either at the classroom or at the office 
by the portable compact reading device. For clearance, an alphabetical 
list of all students in the school may be produced on the laser printer, 
with the unique personal identifier bar code opposite each name. A control 
sheet may then be provided with control bar codes printed thereon for 
clearance or pre-clearance, for all day or period clearance, with date and 
reason for clearance, and person authorizing clearance, with student 
records being accessed by student name. Such a system is efficient and 
effective in providing school-attendance recordkeeping.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The invention, as shown in the FIGURE and as described herein, comprises a 
modular microprocessor-based coded-identification printing and reading 
system. It is adapted to print a code 10 such as a student identification 
code and/or codes relating to categories of school-attendance 
recordkeeping (e.g. truancy, tardiness, and clearance) on a sheet of paper 
which constitutes a form 12, and to read code 10 from form 12. The system 
is particularly adapted for use in connection with forms used in the 
school-attendance recordkeeping process. 
Code 10 preferrably comprises a bar code. In the bar code, the thickness of 
lines printed on the form, as well as the thickness of spaces provided 
therebetween, when properly read in combination, convert into characters 
in a complete identifier code. One type of bar code which may be used 
comprises the Uniform Product Code (UPC), in which the bar code represents 
numerical characters. Another type of bar code which may be used comprises 
the Thirty-Nine (39) Code, in which the bar code represents alphabetical 
and numerical characters. These bar codes can integrate thereinto 
preexisting codes for control purposes. 
In the school-attendance recordkeeping process, the bar code 10 represents 
a unique number assigned to a particular student upon entry into the 
system, typically upon student registration. Such bar code 10 is directly 
accessible by the system herein, by virtue of the bar coding and 
associated software controls, without maintaining subsidiary control files 
containing lists of sequential identifiers and corresponding student 
names. The identifier generated in bar code is read at the real address 
space for the individual on the disk, without any correlations to a 
control file. The bar code 10 is readable as a plurality of bytes, and 
each byte preferably includes a parity bit for selfchecking and verifying 
the accuracy of the reading of the byte. 
Further, in the school-attendance recordkeeping process, form 12 may 
comprise class rosters with unique personal identifier bar codes assigned 
to each student thereon. The teachers then mark each absent student on 
such roster, and the rosters are read either at the classroom or at the 
office by the portable compact reading device. For clearance, an 
alphabetical list of all students in the school may be produced on the 
laser printer, with the unique personal identifier bar code opposite each 
name. A control sheet may then be provided with control bar codes printed 
thereon for clearance or pre-clearance, all day or period clearance, date, 
reason for clearance, and person authorizing clearance, with student 
records being accessed by student name. 
The modular microprocessor-based system for printing and reading code 10 on 
form 12, as shown in the FIGURE, includes a laser printer 22. Laser 
printer 22, microprocessor-based, includes a laser beam generating and 
directing system, for rapidly directing a laser beam, under the control of 
a laser control program, in very fine incremental movements against a 
drum. The laser beam magnetizes portions of the drum, to produce images 
thereon to then be transferred to the sheet of paper comprising form 12, 
for printing form 12 thereby. 
Laser printer 22 has the capability of rapidly printing very fine 
definitive lines, such as those required for printing a code such as bar 
code 10. It is operable at very high speeds, for large volume printing 
production requirements. Its speed enables it to print multiple copies for 
use as form copies, without carbon sheets which are messy for workers in 
the school-attendance recordkeeping process to handle and use. 
Laser printer 22 is operable to rapidly, efficiently and economically 
produce a large volume of forms, such as those used in the 
school-attendance recordkeeping process, with the personal student 
identifier bar code 10 and other codes relating to categories of 
school-attendance recordkeeping printed thereon, under the control of a 
laser control program. The printed bar code 10 is capable of being read 
electronically. 
A portable compact code-reading device 24, microprocessor-based, is further 
included in the modular system. Reading device 24 includes a wand arm 26. 
Wand arm 26 is operable to rapidly and accurately sense the bar code 10 on 
form 12, under the control of an operator, in a convenient and efficient 
manner. It may be used, for example, in the school-attendance 
recordkeeping process, to identify students who were absent or late for 
school, or for clearance of records thereof upon receipt of authorized 
excuses therefor, by sensing, through sensing means in end 28 of wand 26, 
the bar code 10 associated with each student or bar code identifier 
function. 
Wand arm 26 enables rapid and accurate inputting of data into reading 
device 24, by sensing bar code 10. Wand arm 26 is preferrably comprised of 
a rubber housing, more wear-resistant than plastic. It preferrably 
includes a glass portion, protected in a projecting metal casing at 
sensing end 28, such that the glass does not touch the sheet of form 12 
for accurate viewing, more accurate than plastic which tends to scratch 
and discolor. Sensing end 28, upon complete reading of bar code 10, causes 
an audible tone to sound. If the tone sounds, the bar code 10 has been 
accurately read. If the tone does not sound, bar code 10 has not been 
read. The operator must then rewand bar code 10, in an effort to read the 
code. If the tone does not sound after several re-wandings, the operator 
may manually key in the code identifier 18 for form 12, through keyboard 
30 of reading device 24. Sensing end 28 is able to distinguish bar code 10 
from other marks written thereover. 
Reading device 24, which includes menu-driven keyboard 30, further includes 
an associated display 32, for manually keying in identifier 18, as backup 
in the event that sensing end 28 of wand arm 26 is unable to sense bar 
code 10, and for setting up the mode of system operation. Keyboard 30 
includes keys labeled to effect specific functions, such as keys for 
particular school-attendance recordkeeping process applications. Keyboard 
30 and display 32, through a reader control program, enable various 
specific school-attendance recordkeeping process functions to be 
performed, including scanning forward, scanning backward, scrolling 
forward and backward, and selecting data transfer rates for processing 
thereof. The reader control program, and any other school-attendance 
recordkeeping-process-related software for controlling reading device 24, 
is preferrably etched on a programmable read-only memory. This enables 
efficient preparation of control programs, and rapid and efficient removal 
and replacement of the program for use of another program therein. 
Reading device 24, upon reading bar code 10, generates data for processing 
thereof in a rapid and efficient manner, enabling accurate and prompt 
completion of functions associated with the school-attendance 
recordkeeping process. These functions are conducted in significantly 
decreased time, with greater accuracy, and with significantly decreased 
requirements for manual labor. 
The data captured by reading device 24 upon reading bar code 10 enables 
processing by a computer suitably programmed to perform school-attendance 
recordkeeping process functions. The system further enables capture of the 
data necessary for fulfilling the legal requirements of a particular 
school-attendance recordkeeping-process-related application. Transfer of 
captured data to the computer for processing may be effected, for example, 
by direct connection of reading device 24 into the computer, transfer 
through modems over suitable communications lines, or direct input of data 
onto suitable storage media such as a reel of magnetic tape, then taken to 
a computing center for processing. 
The system is adapted to reduce the amount of manual keying-in, and data 
collection required. Class rosters may be produced rapidly and efficiently 
by the laser printer, with unique personal identifier bar codes assigned 
to each student. The teachers may then mark each absent student on such 
roster, and the rosters may be read rapidly and efficiently either at the 
classroom or at the office by the portable compact reading device. For 
clearance, an alphabetical list of all students in the school may be 
produced on the laser printer, with the unique personal identifier bar 
code opposite each name. A control sheet may then be provided with control 
bar codes printed thereon for clearance or pre-clearance, all day or 
period clearance, date, reason for clearance, and person authorizing 
clearance. Student records are accessible directly by student name, in an 
efficient and effective manner. 
The modular system herein does not require a technically-trained computer 
specialist to operate. It is readily set up and used, and is modularized 
for convenience of operation. It preferrably uses modular high-sensitivity 
high-speed software programming for efficiency of operation. 
A preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth above, for the 
purpose of explaining the invention. However, it is to be understood that 
variations may be made in such embodiment, which variations are 
nevertheless within the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in 
the claims herein.