Abstract:
A system and method for the automated monitoring of an individual&#39;s work is provided that utilizes wireless tags affixed to projects and to the individuals that have access to the projects. The system and method can determine when a particular individual takes a particular project to work on based on the presence of the project and the individual within the sensing area. The presence of the individuals and projects within the sensing area is determined by detecting the presence of the wireless tags with a wireless sensor. The wireless tags are suitably implemented with RFID tags.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/428,309, filed Dec. 30, 2010, whose entire disclosure is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to automated monitoring of a student&#39;s work in an educational environment and, more specifically, automated monitoring of what projects students work on over a period of time. 
         [0004]    2. Background of the Related Art 
         [0005]    The “Montessori” style of education has grown in popularity in the United States. One of the essential elements in a Montessori educational environment is student choice of activity from within a prescribed range of options. Specifically, a number of projects are made available to students and the students are free to choose which project they work and how long they work on it. 
         [0006]    Projects are typically stored on open shelves. When students choose to work with a project, they take the project from the shelf, spread it out on a table or on the floor, attempt to perform the required steps for that project, and return the project to the shelf when they are done. 
         [0007]    The advantage of having no fixed curriculum or checklist of projects to be worked on is that the student essentially creates their own individual learning plan, suited to their interests and abilities. The disadvantage of this approach is that students may neglect some projects or even entire classes of projects. The Montessori teacher is supposed to monitor each student&#39;s progress and activities. However, it can often be difficult for the teacher to keep track of every project being worked on by every student, as well as the time being spent by each student on each project. For example, a teacher may become preoccupied assisting a student that has questions about a project and may not notice that other students may have put their projects back and chosen another project. Thus, the teacher may not be able to accurately monitor the progress and activities of every student. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    An object of the invention is to solve at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described hereinafter. 
         [0009]    Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for the automated monitoring of an individual&#39;s work. 
         [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for the automated monitoring of a student&#39;s work in an educational environment. 
         [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for automated tracking and monitoring of which projects a student works on and how long a student works on the projects they choose. 
         [0012]    Another object of the present invention is to derive information from the automated tracking and monitoring data that may be of interest to parents, teachers, school administrators, educational researchers and/or others. 
         [0013]    To achieve at least the above objects, in whole or in part, there is provided a monitoring system, comprising a wireless sensor adapted to detect the presence of a wireless tag when the wireless tag is within a sensing area, at least one project positioned within the sensing area, wherein each project comprises at least one project component and at least one project wireless tag associated with and affixed to the at least one project component, at least one individual, at least one monitoring wireless tag associated with and positioned on each individual, and a processor in communication with the wireless sensor for receiving signals from the wireless sensor, wherein the processor monitors the presence of the at least one project and the at least one individual within the sensing area based on the presence of respective project wireless tags and monitoring wireless tags within the sensing area. 
         [0014]    To achieve at least the above objects, in whole or in part, there is also provided a monitoring method, comprising the steps of associating a project wireless tag with a respective project, associating a monitoring wireless tag with a respective individual, providing a wireless sensor that is adapted to detect the presence of project wireless tags and monitoring wireless tags when the project wireless tags and monitoring wireless tags are located within a sensing area, and recording the times at which projects and individuals enter and exit the sensing area based on the detection of the project wireless tags and monitoring wireless tags within the sensing area by the wireless sensor. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       [0015]    The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein: 
         [0016]    FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the components of one preferred embodiment of the system of the present invention, and illustrating all projects within the sensing area and all individuals within the work area; 
         [0017]    FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the system of FIG. 1 and illustrating one of the individuals within the sensing area; 
         [0018]    FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the system of FIG. 1 and illustrating one of the individuals and one of the projects exiting the sensing area and entering the work area; 
         [0019]    FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the system of FIG. 1 and illustrating the individual and project reentering the sensing area; and 
         [0020]    FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the system of FIG. 1 and illustrating all of the projects back in the sensing area and all of the individuals back in the work area. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    The present invention is particularly suited for the automated monitoring of a student&#39;s interaction with an educational project, such as in a Montessori educational environment. However, it should be appreciated that the present invention can be applied to any environment in which a person&#39;s interaction with a project or object needs to be monitored, and the present invention will be described and illustrated in such general terms. 
         [0022]    FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic components of a preferred embodiment of the monitoring system of the present invention. The monitoring system  100  includes multiple projects  110  (individually labeled as P 1 , P 2 , P 3  . . . P i ) that include at least one project component  140 , a wireless sensor  120 , a processor  130 , project wireless tags  150  and monitoring wireless tags  160 . 
         [0023]    At least one project wireless tag  150  is affixed to at least one of the project components  140  associated with each project  110 . Project components  140  may include papers, tools or any other material with which an individual will be working to complete the project  110 . A project component  140  may also be a portable container in which other project components  140  associated with a project  110  are stored. Each project wireless tag  150  is configured to uniquely identify the project  110  with which it is associated. The project wireless tags  150  may be affixed to respective project components using any means known in the art such as, for example, removable adhesive, clips, etc.. 
         [0024]    Although FIG. 1 shows one project wireless tag  150  affixed to one of the project components  140  associated with each project  110 , multiple project wireless tags  150  may be affixed to one or more of the project components  140  in order to provide redundancy, should one of the project wireless tags fail, and/or to improve signal detection performance. Illustrative examples of project wireless tag configurations include, but are not limited to: (1) a separate respective project wireless tag  150  is affixed to every project component  140  that is associated with a project  110 ; (2) a separate respective project tag  150  is affixed to at least two respective project components  140  that are associated with a project  110 ; (3) at least two project wireless tags  140  are respectively affixed to at least two of the project components  140  that are associated with a project  110 ; and (4) at least two project wireless tags are affixed to one of the project components  140  that is associated with a project  110 . 
         [0025]    Respective monitoring wireless tags  160  are positioned in close proximity to respective individuals  170  (individually labeled as S 1 , S 2 , S 3  . . . S i ). Each monitoring wireless tag  160  is configured to uniquely identify the individual  170  with which it is associated. The monitoring wireless tags  160  may be positioned in close proximity to respective individuals  170  using any means known in the art such as, for example, affixing the monitoring wireless tag  160  to the clothing of the individual  170  using removable means (e.g., a clip, removable adhesive, etc.) or by affixing the monitoring wireless tags  160  to a lanyard (not shown) that can be worn around the necks of individuals  170 . 
         [0026]    Although FIG. 1 shows one monitoring wireless tag  160  associated with each individual  170 , multiple monitoring wireless tags  160  may associated with each individual  170 , in order to provide redundancy, should one of the monitoring wireless tags fail, and/or to improve signal detection performance. 
         [0027]    The wireless sensor  120  is adapted to wirelessly detect the presence of either project wireless tags  150  or monitoring wireless tags  160  when they enter a predetermined sensing area  180 . The wireless sensor  120  sends information related to the presence of project wireless tags  150  and monitoring wireless tags  160  within the sensing area  180  to the processor  130  via communications link  190 . 
         [0028]    The project wireless tags  150  and the monitoring wireless tags  160  are preferably radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, and the wireless sensor  120  is preferably an RFID reader. Any type of RFID tags and readers known in the art may be used to implement the project wireless tags  150  and the monitoring wireless tags  160 , as long as the RFID tags may be affixed to the project components  140  and the individuals  170 , as described above. 
         [0029]    The RFID tags used to implement the project wireless tags  150  and the monitoring wireless tags  160  may be passive tags, which do not have a power source, or active tags, which do have a power source and that broadcasts or beacons its signal. The RFID tags typically contain an integrated circuit (IC) that includes memory, which may be read-write or read-only memory. For example, the IC in each RFID tag may be programmed by the manufacturer with certain fixed information that is not intended to be altered, such as a serial number or other unique identification number. The IC in each RFID tag may also be programmable by a user, such that a user may program the RFID tag with customized information. 
         [0030]    If the RFID tags used for the project wireless tags  150  and the monitoring wireless tags  160  are not programmable and only contain a fixed and unique identification number in read-only memory that is readable by the RFID reader used for the wireless sensor  120 , then each project  110  and individual  170  that is located within the sensing area  180  is uniquely identified by the wireless sensor  120  and processor  130  by associating each project  110  and individual  170  with the identification number of its respective wireless tag. 
         [0031]    If the RFID tags used for the project wireless tags  150  and the monitoring wireless tags  160  have programmable memory that is readable by the RFID reader used for the wireless sensor  120 , then additional customized information related to a project  110  or individual  170  may be programmed into its respective RFID tag. In this case, projects  110  and individuals  170  that are located within the sensing area  180  can be uniquely identified by the wireless sensor  120  and processor  130  by associating each project  110  and individual  170  with the identification number of its respective wireless tag, or by reading the additional customized information that was programmed into the respective RFID tag. 
         [0032]    As discussed above, the RFID tags and reader used to implement the project wireless tags  150 , the monitoring wireless tags  160  and the wireless sensor  120  can be either passive or active. Active RFID tags utilize internal batteries to broadcast a signal to the RFID reader. Because the RFID signal is broadcast utilizing the RFID tag&#39;s own power source, the RFID reader can pick up the RFID signal from the RFID tag from 100 feet or more away. 
         [0033]    In contrast, passive RFID tags do not utilize an internal power source and instead rely entirely on the RFID reader as their power source. Specifically, the RFID reader broadcasts an electromagnetic signal that is received by the passive RFID tag. The passive RFID tag harvests power from the RFID reader&#39;s electromagnetic signal and sends a radio signal back to the RFID reader. Most typical passive RFID tags must be no greater than approximately 20 feet away from the RFID reader in order for the RFID reader to detect the radio signal from the passive RFID tag. 
         [0034]    The project wireless tags  150  and the monitoring wireless tags  160  are preferably implemented with passive RFID tags, which are much less costly than active RFID tags. The sensing area  180  is preferably defined by the detection range of the passive RFID tags used to implement the wireless tags  150  and  160 . Specifically, when the wireless sensor  120  is positioned at a fixed location, the sensing area  180  is defined as the area over which the passive RFID tags that are used to implement wireless tags  150  and  160  can be read by the wireless sensor  120 . If active RFID tags are used, then the sensing area  180  would be larger due to the fact that active RFID tags can be read over longer distances than passive RFID tags. The area outside the sensing area  180  is designated as the work area  240 . The system  100  assumes that when a project is outside the sensing area  180 , it is being worked on in the work area  240 . 
         [0035]    The sensing area  180 , work area  240  and other components of the present invention are schematically shown in FIGS. 1A-1E for purposes of illustration, and therefore the relative size and shape of the sensing area  180  and work area  240 , the relative sizes of the other components, and the distances between components are not to scale and no inferences should be made with regards to distances, shapes and sizes based on FIGS. 1A-1E. For example, the sensing area  180  is shown as oval shape for illustrative purposes, but the actual shape and size of the sensing area  180  is dependent on detection ranges of the RFID tags used to implement the wireless tags  150  and  160 . 
         [0036]    The processor  130  receives signals from the wireless sensor  120  over communications link  190  that contain information related to the presence of wireless tags  150  and  160  within the sensing area  180 . The information includes at least identification information for any wireless tag that enters the sensing area  180 . The processor  120  is programmed to associate each wireless tag&#39;s unique identification information with the project or individual with which it is associated. The information received by the processor  120  may also include additional information related to the project or individual with which a wireless tag is associated, if the wireless tag  150 / 160  is a programmable RFID tag and such additional information has been programmed into the RFID tag. 
         [0037]    The processor  120  may be implemented with a general purpose desktop computer  200  or a general purpose laptop computer  210 . In addition, the processor  120  may be implemented with a tablet computer  220  or smartphone  230 , such as iOS or Android based tablets and smartphones. However, processor  130  can also be implemented with a special purpose computer, programmed microprocessor or microcontroller and peripheral integrated circuit elements, ASICs or other integrated circuits, hardwired electronic or logic circuits such as discrete element circuits, programmable logic devices such as FPGA, PLD, PLA or PAL or the like. In general, any device on which a finite state machine capable of executing code for implementing the functionality described herein can be used to implement the processor  130 . 
         [0038]    Communications link  190  between wireless sensor  120  and processor  130  can be either a hardwired link or a wireless link, but is preferably a wireless link using any components and techniques known in the art for establishing a communications link between a wireless sensor  120  (such as an RFID reader) and a processor  130 . Communications link  190  may be, include or interface to any one or more of for instance, the Internet, an intranet, a PAN (Personal Area Network), a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network) or a MAN (Metropolitan Area Network), a storage area network (SAN), a frame relay connection, an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) connection, a synchronous optical network (SONET) connection, a digital T1, T3, E1 or E3 line, Digital Data Service (DDS) connection, DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) connection, an Ethernet connection, an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) line, a dial-up port such as a V.90, V.34bis analog modem connection, a cable modem, an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) connection, an FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) or CDDI (Copper Distributed Data Interface) connection. Communications link  190  may furthermore be, include or interface to any one or more of a WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) link, a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) link, a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) link, CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) or TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) link, such as a cellular phone channel, a GPS (Global Positioning System) link, CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data), a RIM (Research in Motion, Limited) duplex paging type device, a Bluetooth radio link, or an IEEE 802.11-based radio frequency link (WiFi). Communications link  190  may yet further be, include or interface to any one or more of an RS-232 serial connection, an IEEE-1394 (Firewire) connection, a Fiber Channel connection, an IrDA (infrared) port, a SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface) connection, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection or other wired or wireless, digital or analog interface or connection. 
         [0039]    FIGS. 1-5 also illustrate an example of how the system  100  operates to monitor what projects an individual works on. The projects  110  are stored within the sensing area  180 , such as on one or more shelves located in the sensing area  180 . In FIG. 1, all the projects  180  are located within the sensing area  180  and all individuals  170  are located in the work area  240 . 
         [0040]    In FIG. 2, individual S 3  has entered the sensing area  180  and has picked up project P 2 . Because individual S 3  is now within the sensing area, the wireless sensor  120  picks up the presence of individual S 3  via the monitoring wireless tag  160  assigned to individual S 3 , and relays that information to the processor  130 . The wireless sensor  120  is also picking up the presence of all the projects  110  within the sensing area  180  via their respective project wireless tags  150 . 
         [0041]    In FIG. 3, individual S 3  and project P 2  have left the sensing area  180  and have entered the work area  240 . The wireless sensor  120  can no longer detect the presence of either individual S 3  or project P 2 , and processor  130  records the time at which individual S 3  and project P 2  left the sensing area  180 . 
         [0042]    In FIG. 4, individual S 3  has taken project P 2  back into the sensing area  180  in order to put project P 2  back in its storage area, presumably after having worked on the project for some period of time. The wireless sensor  120  detects the presence of both individual S 3  and project P 2 , and processor  130  records this event. 
         [0043]    In FIG. 5, individual S 3  has left the sensing area without taking another project  110 . Thus, the wireless sensor  120  detects the presence of all the projects  110  within the sensing area  180  and does not detect any individuals  170  within the sensing area  180 . 
         [0044]    A user of system  100  can make useful inferences based on the presence or non-presence of individuals  170  and projects  110  within the sensing area  180 , as well as the contemporaneous departures from and arrivals to the sensing area  180  of individuals  170  and projects  110 , as will now be explained. 
         [0045]    A contemporaneous departure from the sensing area  180  of a project  110  and individual  170  can be interpreted as that individual  170  having taken a project  110  out of the sensing area  180  in order to work on that project. A contemporaneous entry of a project  110  and individual  170  into the sensing area  180  can be interpreted as that individual  170  returning the project  110  back to its storage area after having worked on the project. The processor  130  can thus keep track of the projects  170  being worked on by each individual  170 , as well as the amount of time each individual  170  has the project  110  before returning the project  110  to its storage area. 
         [0046]    In an educational environment, the individuals  170  are students and the processor  130  can log which student  170  works with which project  110 , when the student  170  works with a particular project  110 , and the duration of that effort. Performance trends can be interesting and informative to teachers, administrators, and/or parents. For example, if a particular student  170  has never tried to work on half of the projects available to them, the teacher may want to direct the student  170  toward the neglected projects. As another example, if none of the students  170  has ever worked with a subset of the projects, the teacher may want to verify that the project is in working order and that the project has been adequately demonstrated to the class. 
         [0047]    A major benefit of the system  100  is that accurate records can be kept, and significant trends identified, without distracting the instructor from their already busy and demanding schedule. In a preferred embodiment, the processor  130  is programmed for generating reports that may be of interest to parents, teachers, school administrators, educational researchers and/or others based on the information obtained by the system  100  as to the time and duration of student/project pairings. These reports can include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) a list of project work times and durations for a particular student; (2) a list of project work times and durations for a classroom; (3) a list of projects used most frequently; (4) a list of projects used least frequently or not at all; (5) the order in which a particular student worked on projects; (6) the time of day particular projects are selected; (7) the time of day particular students are busy with projects; (8) the time of day groups of students are busy with projects; and (9) a list the most busy and least busy students in terms of total project time and number of projects used. 
         [0048]    Although the above-described event logging and report generation by the processor  130  has been described in the context of an educational environment, the time and duration of individual/project pairings can be used in other work environments and reports relevant to that work environment can be generated by the processor  130  while still falling within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0049]    The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary, and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. As indicated above, the present teachings can be readily applied to other environments. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined in the following claims.