WO2009102111A1 - Absence management system using conversation type toy and method for management of attendance - Google Patents

Absence management system using conversation type toy and method for management of attendance Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009102111A1
WO2009102111A1 PCT/KR2008/007020 KR2008007020W WO2009102111A1 WO 2009102111 A1 WO2009102111 A1 WO 2009102111A1 KR 2008007020 W KR2008007020 W KR 2008007020W WO 2009102111 A1 WO2009102111 A1 WO 2009102111A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
interactive toy
information
mode
unit
interactive
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/KR2008/007020
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Soko Jang
Original Assignee
G Funny, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by G Funny, Inc. filed Critical G Funny, Inc.
Publication of WO2009102111A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009102111A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q50/00—Systems or methods specially adapted for specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
    • G06Q50/10—Services
    • G06Q50/20—Education
    • G06Q50/205—Education administration or guidance
    • G06Q50/2053—Education institution selection, admissions, or financial aid
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H3/00—Dolls
    • A63H3/28—Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H2200/00—Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an absence management system using a conversation type toy and a method for management attendance. More particularly, this inventions relates to an attendance management system using a conversation type (or interactive) toy and a method of managing attendance, in which a wireless terminal installed at an entrance of an educational facility controls an automatic voice message function of an interactive toy of a child when the child passes the entrance, so that the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy is converted into a locking mode in the educational facility and is converted into a release mode outside the educational facility, in order to prevent the interactive toy from disturbing the child when the child is learning in the educational facility, and in which the wireless terminal detects time information at which the interactive toy is recognized and transmits the detected time information to a server such that attendance information of the child is sent to a mobile device of a guardian of the child as a text message so that the guardian can check the attendance of the child at the educational facility.
  • infants or children are sent to various educational facilities such as kindergartens, schools, or other private institutes because early education for the infants or children is becoming increasingly important and also because guardians of the infants or children desire an early education for their infants or children.
  • an electronic name card in which an IC chip is mounted has been developed for children to wear such that when they enter an educational facility, a terminal recognizes the electronic name card and stores attendance information of the children in a server. Then the stored attendance information is transmitted to a mobile device of the guardians as a text message.
  • the attendance information is stored in the server every time the children enter the educational facility and is transmitted frequently to the guardians, and thus, disrupting the guardians when they are working.
  • a terminal for near distance communication has been developed so that the terminal can be carried by a child and also by other children near the child.
  • the terminal of the child informs the child with a voice message that the another child has been recognized.
  • the informing may disrupt the child during school hours.
  • the present invention provides an attendance management system and a method of managing attendance, in which a wireless terminal installed at an entrance of an educational facility controls an automatic voice message function of an interactive toy of a child when the child with the interactive toy passes the entrance, so that the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy is converted into a locking mode in the educational facility and is converted into a release mode outside the educational facility, in order to prevent the interactive toy from disturbing the child when the child is learning in the educational facility.
  • the present invention provides an attendance management system and a method of managing attendance, in which the wireless terminal detects entrance or exit time information of the interactive toy that passes through the entrance between the opening and closing time of the educational facility as a child that carries the interactive toy passes the entrance, and transmits the detected time information to a server such that attendance information of the child is sent to a mobile device of a guardian of the child as a text message, thereby preventing excessive transmission of the text message to the guardian.
  • an attendance management system using an interactive toy comprising: a recognition unit that recognizes unique information of an interactive toy that passes through an entrance and detects the time at which the interactive toy is recognized; a memory unit that stores unique information of a wireless terminal, stores the unique information of the interactive toy recognized using the recognition unit and the time information at which the interactive toy is recognized, and stores mode information of the interactive toy to control an automatic voice message function of the interactive toy; a transmission/reception unit that transmits the unique information of the interactive toy, which is stored in the memory unit, and the time information at which the interactive toy is recognized; and a control unit that controls input/output signals of the recognition unit, the memory unit, and the transmission/reception unit, and transmits/receives control signals, when the interactive toy passes the entrance, to change the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy to a locking mode or a release mode and store the mode information.
  • a wireless terminal automatically controls an automatic voice message function of the interactive toy when the entrance and the exit of the interactive toy that is carried by a child are recognized by the wireless terminal that is installed at the entrance of the educational facility. Accordingly, a voice message is not output even when the interactive toy recognizes another interactive toy of other children during school hours and thus the child can concentrate on learning without being disrupted by the interactive toy.
  • the wireless terminal recognizes the interactive toy that passes the entrance and exit between the opening and closing time of the educational facility and transmits the time information at which the interactive toy was recognized to a server such that the time information is sent to a mobile device of the child's guardian as a text message.
  • the guardian can check the attendance information of the child.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the configuration of an attendance management system using an interactive toy, according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the interactive toy and a wireless terminal, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an automatic voice message function of an interactive toy and managing attendance of a user, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the configuration of an attendance management system using an interactive toy 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the interactive toy 100 is a toy in which basic information of a user and friend information of the user are stored.
  • the interactive toy 100 moves and another interactive toy, such as interactive toys 101a, 101b, 101n, of a friend of the user, is recognized, prescribed messages are output.
  • Wireless communication modules such as radio-frequency identification (RFID), Bluetooth, ZigBee, etc., are mounted in the interactive toy 100 and a wireless terminal 200.
  • RFID radio-frequency identification
  • Bluetooth ZigBee
  • wireless communication modules such as radio-frequency identification (RFID), Bluetooth, ZigBee, etc.
  • Unique codes according to devices are included in the interactive toy 100, and personal data such as name, gender, age, or address of the user is stored as unique information, and friend information of the user is stored in a list.
  • unique information of the user or unique information of friends stored in the interactive toy 100 may be registered or modified in a server by connecting to a server 300 via a personal computer (PC) 400 using a predetermined program tool, or information about each of the functions of the interactive toy 100 that are provided in the server 300 may be downloaded to the interactive toy 100.
  • PC personal computer
  • a greeting such as "Hello, Anna?” is automatically output from the interactive toy 100 and thus the user can be aware that the friend is nearby.
  • the interactive toy 100 recognizes other interactive toys such as the interactive toys 101a, 101b, ... , 101 n and voice information is output to one another between the interactive toy 100 and the interactive toys 101a, 101b, ... , 101 n. In this manner, games or language lessons can be provided to the user.
  • the wireless terminal 200 is installed at an entrance of an educational facility, such as schools, libraries, private institutes, and so forth, to recognize the interactive toy 100 carried by the user when the user passes the entrance and to transmit a control signal for controlling an automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100.
  • the wireless terminal 200 thus controls the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100 to be in a locking mode so that voice is not output even when the other interactive toys 101a, 101b, ..., 101n are recognized within the educational facility and so that the user can concentrate on learning during school hours.
  • the wireless terminal 200 converts the locking mode of the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100 into a release mode so that the voice message is outputted automatically when the other interactive toys 101a, 101b 101 n of the friends are recognized.
  • the wireless terminal 200 recognizes entrance or exit time information every time the interactive toy 100 enters or exits the educational facility through the entrance, and if the recognized entrance or exit time information corresponds to a predetermined opening/closing time of the educational facility, the wireless terminal 200 transmits the entrance or exit time information of the interactive toy 100 to the server 300.
  • the server 300 allows that the entrance and exit time information included in a predetermined opening/closing time of the educational facility and transmitted from the wireless terminal 200 to be sent to a mobile device of guardians of the child with the interactive toy 100 as a text message so that the guardians can check the attendance information of the user.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the interactive toy 100 and the wireless terminal 200, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the interactive toy 100 includes a manipulation unit 110 receiving input information of a user, a communication unit 120 that recognizes the wireless terminal 200 installed at an entrance of an educational facility and other interactive toys, to transmit and receive information to/from the wireless terminal 200 and other interactive toys, a storage unit 130 that stores information input from the manipulation unit 110 and the communication unit 120, a connection unit 140 uploading the information in the storage unit 130 to a server and downloading information provided from the server, an output unit 150 outputting the information input from the manipulation unit 110 and the information stored in the storage unit 130 as an image or a voice, and a control unit 160 controlling input and output signals of each of the above units.
  • a manipulation unit 110 receiving input information of a user
  • a communication unit 120 that recognizes the wireless terminal 200 installed at an entrance of an educational facility and other interactive toys, to transmit and receive information to/from the wireless terminal 200 and other interactive toys
  • a storage unit 130 that stores information input from the manipulation unit 110 and the communication unit 120
  • a connection unit 140 uploading the information in the storage unit 130 to a server
  • the manipulation unit 110 is formed of, for example, a keypad, and receives input information of the user.
  • the communication unit 120 transmits or receives unique information of the wireless terminal 200 and other interactive toys that near to the interactive toy 100.
  • the unique information refers to a unique code of the interactive toy 100 and personal data such as the name, the gender, the age, or the address of the user.
  • personal data such as the name, the gender, the age, or the address of the user.
  • the storage unit 130 includes a unique information unit (not shown) that stores unique information of the user, a friend list unit (not shown) that stores unique information of friends, and a function information unit (not shown) that stores various contents of an automatic voice message function.
  • the unique information unit stores unique information, such as the name, the gender, or the age of the user, which is input through the manipulation unit 110.
  • the friend list unit stores unique information about friends of the user and that is received through the manipulation unit 110 by the user.
  • the function information unit stores mode information of the automatic voice message function and various contents, such as a voice or a text of the automatic voice message function, which may be provided from the server.
  • the connection unit 140 may connect to the PC and upload unique information of the wireless terminal 200 and of other interactive toys, which is stored in the storage unit 130, so that the user and a guardian of the user can check attendance information of the user by connecting to the server through the PC. Also, the connection unit 140 may download information related to the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100 from the server, and store the information in the storage unit 130 so that the interactive toy 100 can be upgraded.
  • the output unit 150 may be a speaker or a display apparatus such as liquid crystal display (LCD) to output input information stored in the storage unit 130, unique information of the wireless terminal 200 and other interactive toys, and contents such as a voice and a text of the automatic voice message function, as a voice or an image.
  • LCD liquid crystal display
  • the control unit 160 controls input and output signals of each of the manipulation unit 110, the communication unit 120, the storage unit 130, the connection unit 140, and the output unit 150 such that information received from the manipulation unit 110, the communication unit 120, and the connection unit 140 is stored in the storage unit 130. Also, when a control signal for controlling the automatic voice message function is transmitted from the wireless terminal 200 through the communication unit 120, the control unit 160 converts voice information of the automatic voice message function stored in the function information unit, according to the control signal, into a locking mode or into a release mode so that the voice information is not output through the output unit 150 when the interactive toy 100 is in the educational facility and the voice information is instead output when the interactive toy 100 is outside the educational facility.
  • control unit 160 controls such that only some information among the unique information of the user, which is stored in the unique information unit of the storage unit 130, is transmitted through the communication unit 120 to the wireless terminal 200 and other interactive toys, and such that various information stored in the storage unit 130 is transmitted through the connection unit 140 to the server.
  • the wireless terminal 200 that communicates with the interactive toy 100 is installed at the entrance of the educational facility, and includes a recognition unit 210 that recognizes unique information of the interactive toy 100 that passes the entrance so as to detect the time at which the interactive toy 100 is recognized, a memory unit 220 that stores the recognized unique information of the sensed interactive toy 100, the detected time information, and control information for controlling the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100, a transmission/reception unit 230 transmitting the unique information of the interactive toy 100 and the time information stored in the memory unit 220 to a server, and a control unit 240 controlling input and output signals of the recognition unit 210, the memory unit 220, and the transmission/reception unit 230.
  • a recognition unit 210 that recognizes unique information of the interactive toy 100 that passes the entrance so as to detect the time at which the interactive toy 100 is recognized
  • a memory unit 220 that stores the recognized unique information of the sensed interactive toy 100, the detected time information, and control information for controlling the automatic voice message function of the
  • the recognition unit 210 detects unique information of the interactive toy 100 and information on the date and time when the interactive toy 100 is recognized, thereby detecting attendance information of the user.
  • the memory unit 220 stores the unique information of the interactive toy 100 sensed by the recognition unit 210 and the time at which the interactive toy 100 is recognized, controls the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100 once the interactive toy 100 is recognized, and stores mode information of one of a locking mode and a release mode.
  • the transmission/reception unit 230 transmits control information for controlling the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100, to the communication unit 120 of the interactive toy 100. That is, when the user that carries the interactive toy 100 passes the entrance to enter the educational facility, in the wireless terminal 200, a control signal for converting the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100 to a locking mode is transmitted to the interactive toy 100. On the other hand, when the user passes the entrance to exit the educational facility, a control signal for converting the locking mode of the automatic voice message function into a release mode is transmitted to the interactive toy 100.
  • the transmission/reception unit 230 transmits the unique information of the wireless terminal 200, which is stored in the memory unit 220, the unique information of the interactive toy 100, and the time information at which the interactive toy 100 is recognized, to a server so as to transmit a text message about the attendance information of the user to a mobile device of the guardian.
  • the control unit 240 controls input and output signals of each of the recognition unit 210, the memory unit 220, and the transmission/reception unit 230 so as to store unique information of the interactive toy 100 sensed by the recognition unit 210 and the sensed date and time information in the memory unit 220. Also, the control unit 240 transmits a control signal for controlling the automatic voice message function of the sensed interactive toy 100 to the communication unit 120 of the interactive toy 100 that has passed the entrance so as to modify the mode of the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100.
  • the control unit 240 transmits to the interactive toy 100 a control signal for converting the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100 into a locking mode when the interactive toy 100 passes the wireless terminal 200.
  • the control unit 240 transmits to the interactive toy 100 a control signal for converting the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100 into a release mode.
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an automatic voice message function of an interactive toy and managing attendance of a user, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • a wireless terminal installed at an entrance of an educational facility recognizes the interactive toy that passes the entrance and stores unique information and mode information of the interactive toy in a memory unit.
  • the wireless terminal checks whether the mode information of the interactive toy, which is stored in the memory unit, is a locking mode.
  • a control unit transmits a control signal for converting an automatic voice message function of the interactive toy into a locking mode to a communication unit of the interactive toy, in operation S120.
  • a control signal for converting the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy from a locking mode to a release mode is transmitted to the communication unit of the interactive toy so that voice corresponding to the automatic voice message function can be output from the interactive toy.
  • the wireless terminal determines whether the detected time information of the interactive toy, which is stored in the memory unit, corresponds to a predetermined opening times of the educational facility using the control unit, in operation S150, and transmits time information corresponding to the opening times in a wireless manner to a server via the transmission/reception unit, in operation S160.
  • the wireless terminal recognizes the entrance and exit of the interactive toy, in operation S100, and checks mode information of the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy when the user enters or exits the educational facility to convert the mode information to a locking mode or to a release mode, in operations S120 and S130.
  • mode information of the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy when the user enters or exits the educational facility to convert the mode information to a locking mode or to a release mode, in operations S120 and S130.
  • voice corresponding to the automatic voice message function is not output so that the user can concentrate on learning during school hours.
  • the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy is executed again and voice corresponding to the automatic voice message function is automatically output when other interactive toys are recognized.
  • the unique information of the interactive toy and the time information at which the interactive toy is recognized are stored, and the time information determined to correspond to the opening times of the educational facility in operation S150 is determined as attendance information of the user.
  • the attendance information of the user is transmitted to a server, in operation S160, so that a text message regarding the corresponding time information is sent to the mobile device of the guardian and the guardian can thereby check the attendance information of the user at the educational facility.

Abstract

Provided is an attendance management system using an interactive toy, the system including: a recognition unit that recognizes unique information of the interactive toy that passes through an entrance and detects the time at which the interactive toy is recognized; a memory unit that stores unique information of a wireless terminal, stores the unique information of the interactive toy recognized using the recognition unit and the time information at which the interactive toy is recognized, and stores mode information of the interactive toy to control an automatic voice message function of the interactive toy; a transmission reception unit transmitting the unique information of the interactive toy, which is stored in the memory unit, and time information at which the interactive toy is recognized; and a control unit that controls input output signals of the recognition unit, the memory unit, and the transmission reception unit, and transmits/receives control signals when the interactive toy passes the entrance, to change the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy to a locking mode or a release mode and store the mode information.

Description

ABSENCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM USING CONVERSATION TYPE TOY AND METHOD FOR MANAGEMENT OF ATTENDANCE
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an absence management system using a conversation type toy and a method for management attendance. More particularly, this inventions relates to an attendance management system using a conversation type (or interactive) toy and a method of managing attendance, in which a wireless terminal installed at an entrance of an educational facility controls an automatic voice message function of an interactive toy of a child when the child passes the entrance, so that the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy is converted into a locking mode in the educational facility and is converted into a release mode outside the educational facility, in order to prevent the interactive toy from disturbing the child when the child is learning in the educational facility, and in which the wireless terminal detects time information at which the interactive toy is recognized and transmits the detected time information to a server such that attendance information of the child is sent to a mobile device of a guardian of the child as a text message so that the guardian can check the attendance of the child at the educational facility.
BACKGROUND ART
Presently, infants or children are sent to various educational facilities such as kindergartens, schools, or other private institutes because early education for the infants or children is becoming increasingly important and also because guardians of the infants or children desire an early education for their infants or children.
While children go to or come from the educational facilities by means of transportation or on foot, children who have a short attention span may get lost on the way or have an accident, and thus, worrying their guardians when the children leave the home.
Also, as more and more females are joining the workforce, the number of two-income families is increasing and thus the guardians and children tend to more spend time by themselves, and thus, making it difficult for the guardians to look after the children when they go to or come from school or regarding other instances such as when they are out with their friends or practicing one of their interests or sports.
In order to solve this problem, conventionally, an electronic name card in which an IC chip is mounted has been developed for children to wear such that when they enter an educational facility, a terminal recognizes the electronic name card and stores attendance information of the children in a server. Then the stored attendance information is transmitted to a mobile device of the guardians as a text message.
However, in the conventional art, the attendance information is stored in the server every time the children enter the educational facility and is transmitted frequently to the guardians, and thus, disrupting the guardians when they are working. Meanwhile, according to another conventional art, a terminal for near distance communication has been developed so that the terminal can be carried by a child and also by other children near the child. When the child of a guardian recognizes a terminal of another child, the terminal of the child informs the child with a voice message that the another child has been recognized. However, the informing may disrupt the child during school hours.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM
The present invention provides an attendance management system and a method of managing attendance, in which a wireless terminal installed at an entrance of an educational facility controls an automatic voice message function of an interactive toy of a child when the child with the interactive toy passes the entrance, so that the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy is converted into a locking mode in the educational facility and is converted into a release mode outside the educational facility, in order to prevent the interactive toy from disturbing the child when the child is learning in the educational facility.
Also, the present invention provides an attendance management system and a method of managing attendance, in which the wireless terminal detects entrance or exit time information of the interactive toy that passes through the entrance between the opening and closing time of the educational facility as a child that carries the interactive toy passes the entrance, and transmits the detected time information to a server such that attendance information of the child is sent to a mobile device of a guardian of the child as a text message, thereby preventing excessive transmission of the text message to the guardian.
TECHNICAL SOLUTION
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an attendance management system using an interactive toy, the system comprising: a recognition unit that recognizes unique information of an interactive toy that passes through an entrance and detects the time at which the interactive toy is recognized; a memory unit that stores unique information of a wireless terminal, stores the unique information of the interactive toy recognized using the recognition unit and the time information at which the interactive toy is recognized, and stores mode information of the interactive toy to control an automatic voice message function of the interactive toy; a transmission/reception unit that transmits the unique information of the interactive toy, which is stored in the memory unit, and the time information at which the interactive toy is recognized; and a control unit that controls input/output signals of the recognition unit, the memory unit, and the transmission/reception unit, and transmits/receives control signals, when the interactive toy passes the entrance, to change the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy to a locking mode or a release mode and store the mode information.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS
According to an attendance management system using an interactive toy and a method of managing attendance using the interactive toy, a wireless terminal automatically controls an automatic voice message function of the interactive toy when the entrance and the exit of the interactive toy that is carried by a child are recognized by the wireless terminal that is installed at the entrance of the educational facility. Accordingly, a voice message is not output even when the interactive toy recognizes another interactive toy of other children during school hours and thus the child can concentrate on learning without being disrupted by the interactive toy. Also, the wireless terminal recognizes the interactive toy that passes the entrance and exit between the opening and closing time of the educational facility and transmits the time information at which the interactive toy was recognized to a server such that the time information is sent to a mobile device of the child's guardian as a text message. Thus the guardian can check the attendance information of the child. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the configuration of an attendance management system using an interactive toy, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the interactive toy and a wireless terminal, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an automatic voice message function of an interactive toy and managing attendance of a user, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
BEST MODE
The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the configuration of an attendance management system using an interactive toy 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the interactive toy 100 is a toy in which basic information of a user and friend information of the user are stored. As the interactive toy 100 moves and another interactive toy, such as interactive toys 101a, 101b, 101n, of a friend of the user, is recognized, prescribed messages are output.
Wireless communication modules such as radio-frequency identification (RFID), Bluetooth, ZigBee, etc., are mounted in the interactive toy 100 and a wireless terminal 200. Thus, data is transmitted and received between the interactive toy 100 and the wireless terminal 200 using the wireless communication modules.
Unique codes according to devices are included in the interactive toy 100, and personal data such as name, gender, age, or address of the user is stored as unique information, and friend information of the user is stored in a list.
Also, unique information of the user or unique information of friends stored in the interactive toy 100 may be registered or modified in a server by connecting to a server 300 via a personal computer (PC) 400 using a predetermined program tool, or information about each of the functions of the interactive toy 100 that are provided in the server 300 may be downloaded to the interactive toy 100.
Accordingly, when the user that carries the interactive toy 100 is within a predetermined distance from friends who are also carrying other interactive toys 101a, 101b, ..., 101n, information of the interactive toy 100 and information of the other interactive toys 101 a, 101 b, ... , 101 n are sensed between one another to recognize one another, and greetings to one another are automatically output from the interactive toy 100 and the other interactive toys 101a, 101b, ..., 101n.
In detail, for example, when the user walks on the streets carrying the interactive toy 100 and the interactive toy 101a of a friend who is registered in the list is recognized to be within a predetermined distance from the interactive toy 100, a greeting such as "Hello, Anna?" is automatically output from the interactive toy 100 and thus the user can be aware that the friend is nearby.
Also, when the user meets a friend, the interactive toy 100 recognizes other interactive toys such as the interactive toys 101a, 101b, ... , 101 n and voice information is output to one another between the interactive toy 100 and the interactive toys 101a, 101b, ... , 101 n. In this manner, games or language lessons can be provided to the user.
The wireless terminal 200 is installed at an entrance of an educational facility, such as schools, libraries, private institutes, and so forth, to recognize the interactive toy 100 carried by the user when the user passes the entrance and to transmit a control signal for controlling an automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100. The wireless terminal 200 thus controls the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100 to be in a locking mode so that voice is not output even when the other interactive toys 101a, 101b, ..., 101n are recognized within the educational facility and so that the user can concentrate on learning during school hours.
When the user passes the entrance to exit the educational facility, the wireless terminal 200 converts the locking mode of the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100 into a release mode so that the voice message is outputted automatically when the other interactive toys 101a, 101b 101 n of the friends are recognized.
Also, the wireless terminal 200 recognizes entrance or exit time information every time the interactive toy 100 enters or exits the educational facility through the entrance, and if the recognized entrance or exit time information corresponds to a predetermined opening/closing time of the educational facility, the wireless terminal 200 transmits the entrance or exit time information of the interactive toy 100 to the server 300.
The server 300 allows that the entrance and exit time information included in a predetermined opening/closing time of the educational facility and transmitted from the wireless terminal 200 to be sent to a mobile device of guardians of the child with the interactive toy 100 as a text message so that the guardians can check the attendance information of the user.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the interactive toy 100 and the wireless terminal 200, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 2, the interactive toy 100 includes a manipulation unit 110 receiving input information of a user, a communication unit 120 that recognizes the wireless terminal 200 installed at an entrance of an educational facility and other interactive toys, to transmit and receive information to/from the wireless terminal 200 and other interactive toys, a storage unit 130 that stores information input from the manipulation unit 110 and the communication unit 120, a connection unit 140 uploading the information in the storage unit 130 to a server and downloading information provided from the server, an output unit 150 outputting the information input from the manipulation unit 110 and the information stored in the storage unit 130 as an image or a voice, and a control unit 160 controlling input and output signals of each of the above units.
The manipulation unit 110 is formed of, for example, a keypad, and receives input information of the user. The communication unit 120 transmits or receives unique information of the wireless terminal 200 and other interactive toys that near to the interactive toy 100.
The unique information refers to a unique code of the interactive toy 100 and personal data such as the name, the gender, the age, or the address of the user. When the interactive toy 100 communicates with the wireless terminal 200 or the other interactive toys, only basic information such as the name, gender, or age of the user is transmitted so that other further personal data of the user is not revealed to the outside.
The storage unit 130 includes a unique information unit (not shown) that stores unique information of the user, a friend list unit (not shown) that stores unique information of friends, and a function information unit (not shown) that stores various contents of an automatic voice message function.
The unique information unit stores unique information, such as the name, the gender, or the age of the user, which is input through the manipulation unit 110. The friend list unit stores unique information about friends of the user and that is received through the manipulation unit 110 by the user.
The function information unit stores mode information of the automatic voice message function and various contents, such as a voice or a text of the automatic voice message function, which may be provided from the server. The connection unit 140 may connect to the PC and upload unique information of the wireless terminal 200 and of other interactive toys, which is stored in the storage unit 130, so that the user and a guardian of the user can check attendance information of the user by connecting to the server through the PC. Also, the connection unit 140 may download information related to the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100 from the server, and store the information in the storage unit 130 so that the interactive toy 100 can be upgraded.
The output unit 150 may be a speaker or a display apparatus such as liquid crystal display (LCD) to output input information stored in the storage unit 130, unique information of the wireless terminal 200 and other interactive toys, and contents such as a voice and a text of the automatic voice message function, as a voice or an image.
The control unit 160 controls input and output signals of each of the manipulation unit 110, the communication unit 120, the storage unit 130, the connection unit 140, and the output unit 150 such that information received from the manipulation unit 110, the communication unit 120, and the connection unit 140 is stored in the storage unit 130. Also, when a control signal for controlling the automatic voice message function is transmitted from the wireless terminal 200 through the communication unit 120, the control unit 160 converts voice information of the automatic voice message function stored in the function information unit, according to the control signal, into a locking mode or into a release mode so that the voice information is not output through the output unit 150 when the interactive toy 100 is in the educational facility and the voice information is instead output when the interactive toy 100 is outside the educational facility.
In addition, the control unit 160 controls such that only some information among the unique information of the user, which is stored in the unique information unit of the storage unit 130, is transmitted through the communication unit 120 to the wireless terminal 200 and other interactive toys, and such that various information stored in the storage unit 130 is transmitted through the connection unit 140 to the server.
The wireless terminal 200 that communicates with the interactive toy 100 is installed at the entrance of the educational facility, and includes a recognition unit 210 that recognizes unique information of the interactive toy 100 that passes the entrance so as to detect the time at which the interactive toy 100 is recognized, a memory unit 220 that stores the recognized unique information of the sensed interactive toy 100, the detected time information, and control information for controlling the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100, a transmission/reception unit 230 transmitting the unique information of the interactive toy 100 and the time information stored in the memory unit 220 to a server, and a control unit 240 controlling input and output signals of the recognition unit 210, the memory unit 220, and the transmission/reception unit 230. When a child that carries the interactive toy 100 passes the entrance of the educational facility and the interactive toy 100 is sensed by the wireless terminal 200, the recognition unit 210 detects unique information of the interactive toy 100 and information on the date and time when the interactive toy 100 is recognized, thereby detecting attendance information of the user. Basic information on the educational facility, in which the wireless terminal 200 is installed, is stored in the memory unit 220. Also, the memory unit 220 stores the unique information of the interactive toy 100 sensed by the recognition unit 210 and the time at which the interactive toy 100 is recognized, controls the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100 once the interactive toy 100 is recognized, and stores mode information of one of a locking mode and a release mode.
When the interactive toy 100 is recognized through the recognition unit 210, the transmission/reception unit 230 transmits control information for controlling the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100, to the communication unit 120 of the interactive toy 100. That is, when the user that carries the interactive toy 100 passes the entrance to enter the educational facility, in the wireless terminal 200, a control signal for converting the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100 to a locking mode is transmitted to the interactive toy 100. On the other hand, when the user passes the entrance to exit the educational facility, a control signal for converting the locking mode of the automatic voice message function into a release mode is transmitted to the interactive toy 100.
Also, the transmission/reception unit 230 transmits the unique information of the wireless terminal 200, which is stored in the memory unit 220, the unique information of the interactive toy 100, and the time information at which the interactive toy 100 is recognized, to a server so as to transmit a text message about the attendance information of the user to a mobile device of the guardian.
The control unit 240 controls input and output signals of each of the recognition unit 210, the memory unit 220, and the transmission/reception unit 230 so as to store unique information of the interactive toy 100 sensed by the recognition unit 210 and the sensed date and time information in the memory unit 220. Also, the control unit 240 transmits a control signal for controlling the automatic voice message function of the sensed interactive toy 100 to the communication unit 120 of the interactive toy 100 that has passed the entrance so as to modify the mode of the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100.
In other words, when the mode information of the interactive toy 100 that is recognized by the recognition unit 210 is a release mode or no mode information is present at all, the control unit 240 transmits to the interactive toy 100 a control signal for converting the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100 into a locking mode when the interactive toy 100 passes the wireless terminal 200. On the other hand, when the mode information of the interactive toy 100 is a locking mode, the control unit 240 transmits to the interactive toy 100 a control signal for converting the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy 100 into a release mode.
Also, when the detected time information of the interactive toy 100 is time information corresponding to opening times of the educational facility, the control unit 240 allows such that the detected time information is determined as attendance information of the user and is transmitted through the transmission/reception unit 230 to the server. Accordingly, the attendance information may be sent from the server to the mobile device of the guardian as a text message. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an automatic voice message function of an interactive toy and managing attendance of a user, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 3, in operation S100, a wireless terminal installed at an entrance of an educational facility recognizes the interactive toy that passes the entrance and stores unique information and mode information of the interactive toy in a memory unit. In operation S110, the wireless terminal checks whether the mode information of the interactive toy, which is stored in the memory unit, is a locking mode.
When the mode information of the interactive toy, which is stored in the memory unit, is a release mode or no mode information is present at all, a control unit transmits a control signal for converting an automatic voice message function of the interactive toy into a locking mode to a communication unit of the interactive toy, in operation S120.
Accordingly, even when the interactive toy recognizes other interactive toys of registered friends, since the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy is set to be in a locking mode, voice is not output.
On the other hand, when the mode information of the interactive toy, which is stored in the memory unit, is a locking mode, a control signal for converting the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy from a locking mode to a release mode, in operation S130, is transmitted to the communication unit of the interactive toy so that voice corresponding to the automatic voice message function can be output from the interactive toy.
When the interactive toy is recognized in operation S100 and the unique information and mode information of the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy is stored in the memory unit, the date and time information at which the interactive toy is recognized is detected and stored in the memory unit, in operation S140.
The wireless terminal determines whether the detected time information of the interactive toy, which is stored in the memory unit, corresponds to a predetermined opening times of the educational facility using the control unit, in operation S150, and transmits time information corresponding to the opening times in a wireless manner to a server via the transmission/reception unit, in operation S160.
As described above, when the user that carries the interactive toy enters or exits the educational facility, the wireless terminal recognizes the entrance and exit of the interactive toy, in operation S100, and checks mode information of the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy when the user enters or exits the educational facility to convert the mode information to a locking mode or to a release mode, in operations S120 and S130. Thus, when the interactive toy of the user recognizes other interactive toys of friends and the user is within the educational facility, voice corresponding to the automatic voice message function is not output so that the user can concentrate on learning during school hours. Also, when the user passes the entrance again to exit the educational facility, the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy is executed again and voice corresponding to the automatic voice message function is automatically output when other interactive toys are recognized.
In addition, when the entrance and exit of the interactive toy is recognized in operation S100, the unique information of the interactive toy and the time information at which the interactive toy is recognized, are stored, and the time information determined to correspond to the opening times of the educational facility in operation S150 is determined as attendance information of the user. The attendance information of the user is transmitted to a server, in operation S160, so that a text message regarding the corresponding time information is sent to the mobile device of the guardian and the guardian can thereby check the attendance information of the user at the educational facility.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. An attendance management system using an interactive toy, the system comprising: a recognition unit that recognizes unique information of an interactive toy that passes through an entrance and detects the time at which the interactive toy is recognized; a memory unit that stores unique information of a wireless terminal, stores the unique information of the interactive toy recognized using the recognition unit and the time information at which the interactive toy is recognized, and stores mode information of the interactive toy to control an automatic voice message function of the interactive toy; a transmission/reception unit that transmits the unique information of the interactive toy, which is stored in the memory unit, and the time information at which the interactive toy is recognized; and a control unit that controls input/output signals of the recognition unit, the memory unit, and the transmission/reception unit, and transmits/receives control signals, when the interactive toy passes the entrance, to change the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy to a locking mode or a release mode and store the mode information.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein when the mode information of the interactive toy, which is stored in the memory unit, is a release mode or when no mode information is present, the wireless terminal transmits to the interactive toy a control signal that controls the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy to be a locking mode when the interactive toy passes the wireless terminal.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein when the mode information of the interactive toy, which is stored in the memory unit, is a locking mode, the wireless terminal transmits to the interactive toy a control signal for converting the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy into a release mode when the interactive toy passes the wireless terminal.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit transmits the time information at which the interactive toy is recognized during opening times of a facility to the server via the transmission/reception unit.
5. A method of controlling an automatic voice message function of an interactive toy and managing attendance, the method comprising: recognizing the interactive toy that passes an entrance using a wireless terminal that is installed at the entrance of a facility; checking mode information of the interactive toy, which is stored in a memory unit of the wireless terminal; when the mode information of the interactive toy, which is stored in the memory unit, is a release mode or when no mode information is present, a control unit transmitting to the interactive toy a control signal for converting the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy into a locking mode; when the mode information of the interactive toy, which is stored in the memory unit, is a locking mode, the control unit transmitting to the interactive toy a control signal for converting the automatic voice message function of the interactive toy into a release mode; checking the time information at which the interactive toy is recognized and mode information of the interactive toy and storing the time information and the mode information in the memory unit; and when the determined time information at which the interactive toy is recognized is during opening times of the facility, the control unit transmitting the determined time information in a wireless manner to a server via a transmission/reception unit.
PCT/KR2008/007020 2008-02-15 2008-11-28 Absence management system using conversation type toy and method for management of attendance WO2009102111A1 (en)

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KR10-2008-0013973 2008-02-15
KR1020080013973A KR20090088592A (en) 2008-02-15 2008-02-15 Absence management system using conversation type toy and method for management of attendance

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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2000500376A (en) * 1995-11-20 2000-01-18 クリエーター リミテッド Eye ▲ top * ▼ Doll
US6081750A (en) * 1991-12-23 2000-06-27 Hoffberg; Steven Mark Ergonomic man-machine interface incorporating adaptive pattern recognition based control system
KR20010007842A (en) * 2000-10-06 2001-02-05 남호원 The system and method of a dialogue form voice and multi-sense recognition for a toy
KR20050020442A (en) * 2003-08-22 2005-03-04 주식회사 투씨에스 Attendance and absence management system and method thereof

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6081750A (en) * 1991-12-23 2000-06-27 Hoffberg; Steven Mark Ergonomic man-machine interface incorporating adaptive pattern recognition based control system
JP2000500376A (en) * 1995-11-20 2000-01-18 クリエーター リミテッド Eye ▲ top * ▼ Doll
KR20010007842A (en) * 2000-10-06 2001-02-05 남호원 The system and method of a dialogue form voice and multi-sense recognition for a toy
KR20050020442A (en) * 2003-08-22 2005-03-04 주식회사 투씨에스 Attendance and absence management system and method thereof

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