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Registration SystemUMPIREThe Ubiety Monitoring Platform and Infrastructure with RFID Extensions (UMPIRE) is a suite of hardware products and computer
software applications designed to enhance safety in school environments, and reduce staff administration time. The system
locates pupils during the school day, automatically "taking the register." Attendance data are stored in secured databases
and used to generate summary statistics. Realtime monitoring agents generate alerts if pupils unexpectedly disappear between
lessons, promoting a rapid response to accidents, truants, and potential abductions. Web-based tools allow parents to confirm
the safe arrival of their children at school and check departure times from after-school activities. Reports are generated
in the customers' preferred formats and those satisfying Government requirements (e.g. half-day attendance counts). Product Details
Hardware: Readers are installed in each classroom, assembly hall, or sports facility. Typical requirements install one reader per
classroom and three or four in larger rooms with many entrances and exits. The readers are wired back to UMPIRE concentrators which supply low voltage power and collect attendance information. Concentrators are available in standalone and 19" rack-mountable
chassis and can each control a large number of readers. The concentrators are networked devices and post records to a database
server. Concentrators are fit-and-forget reliable hardware components that contain no moving parts except for chassis fans.
They are entirely remotely managed through user-friendly Windows application software. Additionally, concentrators continually
perform autonomous integrity checks on the network of classroom readers and report diagnostics to the Admin Console.
Each reader has coloured status LEDs and a piezoelectric speaker. A counter, displayed on the front of each reader, indicates
the number of pupils in the classroom: at the start of each lesson the teacher can perform a head-count to confirm that no
pupil has recorded the presence of an absent friend. |
A 19" rack-mountable
UMPIRE concentrator |
Databases: Any SQL-compliant database can be used to store attendance information and system configuration. Backing up an UMPIRE installation
requires simply that this database be streamed to tape. Compatible database management systems include Microsoft SQL Server,
Oracle 7/8/9i/10g, and PostgreSQL. Admin Software: Administration software displays health status information for the concentrators and readers that form an enterprise-wide
installation of UMPIRE. The admin console allows components to be tested individually and without taking the system off-line.
Hardware, power, and cable failures are reported and automatic diagnostic hints are provided to allow rapid restoration of
service. The admin software is a graphical application and is available from Windows, Linux, and Macintosh clients. Command-line
tools are also available and can be incorporated into scripts to bring about customer-specific behaviours. User Software: Realtime monitoring of pupil activity is provided and individuals can be located on demand. Reports can be generated at
the click of a button and also scheduled for regular generation and delivery by email to administration staff. Configurable
security is applied to ensure that access to the data is granted only to appropriate members of staff. Per-pupil settings
allow the school to control whether parents/guardians can access data on their children over the web from home or work. Similarly,
email notifications can be generated if a pupil does not sign in when expected-this means absenteeism can be addressed more
easily.
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