ASP ClassNet Manuale utente

ClassNet Terminal

User Manual

The ASP ClassNet Terminal is an Australian product by:

ASP Microcomputers

14 Business Park Drive,

Notting Hill, Victoria, 3168

Australia

Telephone: (03) 9578-7600

Fax: (03) 9578-7727 Email:

[email protected]

www.asp.com.au

(ASP Microcomputers is a division of Grayline Holdings Pty. Ltd,. ABN 81 004 940 729)

Contents

Introduction............................................................................................2

ClassNet Terminal Overview .................................................................2

Operational Overview ............................................................................3

Cable Download ................................................................................3

Modem Download .............................................................................3

DataTag Download............................................................................3

Barcodes or IDTags?..............................................................................4

Student Attendance Programs ................................................................5

Barcoded Cards ......................................................................................5

IDTags....................................................................................................5

How do I determine the number of a IDTag?....................................7

Collecting Data from your ClassNet Terminals .....................................7

ClassNet Anywhere ...........................................................................7

ClassNet Polling Program..................................................................7

ClassNet DataTag Utility...................................................................8

Installation............................................................................................10

Setting the Network ID .........................................................................11

RS-485 Network Cabling.....................................................................12

Cable Termination ...........................................................................13

Network Expansion..........................................................................13

Power Requirements........................................................................14

RS-485 Connector Wiring ...............................................................15

Display Codes and Messages ...............................................................16

Technical Specifications.......................................................................17

Information to the user .........................................................................18

EMC Statement................................................................................18

Compliance with USA FCC Rules...................................................18

Warranty ..........................................................................................18

ClassNet Terminal User Manual

Introduction

This Manual introduces ASP’s ClassNet Terminal, gives overviews of

related software and the Intelligent RS-485 Adaptor, discusses barcoded

student cards, and outlines installation.

ClassNet Terminal Overview

The ClassNet Terminal was designed by ASP Microcomputers as the

data collection component for Student Attendance Systems. The

ClassNet Terminal is the same size as a standard Australian power point,

and is designed for vertical flush or proud mounting using standard

power point fitting hardware.

The ClassNet Terminal integrates a time display, barcode card reading

slot, and IDTag reading socket (an IDTag is an alternative to barcodes

that looks like a lithium battery and is fitted to a key tag or card).

The ClassNet Terminal is normally powered by a low voltage plug pack,

and connected on a simple two-wire daisy-chained RS-485 network cable

to an ASP Intelligent RS-485 Adaptor, which connects to the serial port

of a PC.

The ClassNet Terminal stores time-stamped barcode or IDTag data in

battery-backed storage memory, so that it is not lost in the event of power

failures. Software periodically communicates with each ClassNet

Terminal, collecting the stored information, and stores it for access by

data analysis software. During the data collection sequence, the clock in

the ClassNet Terminal is also synchronised to that of the computer

collecting the data.

The ClassNet Terminal is normally supplied as a vertical mounting unit

(as shown on the left below), but it can be ordered in the new horizontal

mounting format, as shown on the right.

ClassNet Terminal User Manual

Operational Overview

In a typical application, one or more ClassNet Terminals are installed

near where students enter and leave the classroom. Students are issued

with barcoded cards (or, less frequently, with IDTag tags), which they

use to indicate that they have attended the classroom.

The student swipes their card through the slot, or touches their IDTag in

the receptacle, until a beep is heard. The ClassNet Terminal displays

CARD or TAG (as appropriate) on its display, and stores the barcode or

IDTag number, and the time and date it was scanned.

If the storage memory of the ClassNet Terminal is full, it will display

FULL, and the data will not be stored. The stored information must then

be downloaded before further data can be stored.

The data stored in the ClassNet Terminals can be downloaded in one of

three ways:

Cable Download

In this scenario, the ClassNet Terminals are connected via cable to each

other and back to a computer, where an Intelligent RS-485 Adaptor is

installed. Software running on the computer, such as ASP’s Polling

Program, automatically downloads the collected data over the cable on a

schedule, and saves the data to disk. An administration program can then

process the collected data.

Modem Download

If the school has several campuses, but you want to centralise the

collection of student attendance information, cabling each terminal back

to central office probably isn’t possible.

In this case, the solution is to have a modem and Intelligent RS-485

Adaptor at each remote campus, connected to however many ClassNet

Terminals are required at the campus.

At the central office, another modem is connected to the administration

computer, and ASP’s ClassNet Anywhere program is used to

automatically dial the modems at each remote campus on a schedule, to

collect the data and synchronise the ClassNet Terminal clocks.

The administration staff at the central office can then process the data.

DataTag Download

In some schools, cabling can be difficult to run, or the costs can be

prohibitive. In these circumstances, data can be downloaded by a student

ClassNet Terminal User Manual

or staff member going to each ClassNet Terminal and touching a

DataTag to the IDTag receptacle. The DataTag is then taken back to the

main office computer and inserted into a DataTag Homebase, where it is

read and stored to disk by ASP’s ClassNet DataTag Utility program.

As in the other download options, the administration staff can then run a

program to process the collected data.

Because there is no direct connection to the computer in this scenario, the

ClassNet Terminal’s clock is set using a special TimeTag which is

configured using the ClassNet DataTag Utility.

See the section later in the manual for details on how to use the ClassNet

Terminal with DataTags.

Barcodes or IDTags?

The ClassNet Terminal reads both barcoded cards and IDTags.

Plastic barcoded cards are cheaper than IDTags, and (although it makes

them dearer) can be printed with text, logos, photographs, the student’s

name and signature, and can sometimes be used for other purposes (ie

library cards, or identity cards, etc). Plastic cards also wear out.

IDTags are smaller, more robust, more secure (they can’t be duplicated,

whereas a photocopy of a plastic card will scan as easily as the original),

and conveniently attach to a key-ring. However, they are significantly

more expensive.

ClassNet Terminal User Manual

Student Attendance Programs

ClassNet Terminals record raw time and attendance data – that is, the

actual time that students clock in to a classroom. Data Collection

programs such as ClassNet Anywhere, the ClassNet Polling Program and

the ClassNet DataTag Utility, download this data and save it to disk, and

synchronise the time and date on the ClassNet Terminal.

Once you’ve collected the raw times, you need a program to log the

attendance times against students, make adjustments as necessary, then

finally produce a printed report or a file.

Evaluation versions of ASP programs (on CD) are available on request.

Barcoded Cards

Slot readers make barcodes easier to use by avoiding the possibility of

scanning manually on an angle. Students will quickly learn how to use

the ClassNet Terminal. The ClassNet Terminal is designed to read the

most common barcode symbology, Code 39, of up to 30 characters in

length.

The position of the barcode on the card is important due to the fixed

location of the slot reading mechanism. The centre of the barcode must

be 9.5mm from the outside edge of the card, and if the card is laminated,

remember to include this in the calculation of the 9.5mm. As the actual

reading spot is only a fraction of a millimetre, tolerances need not be

precise, providing the barcode is of a reasonable height.

Barcodes should be medium or high resolution, and samples should be

tested with a ClassNet Terminal before committing to the barcode cards

to be used - ASP will be happy to assist in this regard.

Barcoded cards should have rounded corners to ease their path through

the ClassNet Terminal. The ClassNet Terminal’s slot has a stainless steel

backing plate, although the plastic lead-in ramp may wear slightly until

below the stainless steel floor, but this should not affect operation.

Provided the card swipes smoothly through the slot, card thickness isn’t a

concern.

Note that ASP can supply credit-card sized plastic barcoded cards, pre-

printed barcode labels, and the software to produce labels on a laser

printer.

IDTags

The ClassNet Terminal is designed to read the unique serial number

contained in each IDTag device, which is 16 characters long.

ClassNet Terminal User Manual

IDTags are normally supplied as part of a key tag, but they can optionally

be attached to cards or other devices by adhesive or press fit stainless

steel retainers. If you have any special requirements, please contact ASP

Microcomputers.

ClassNet Terminal User Manual

How do I determine the number of a IDTag?

If you look at the bottom of an IDTag, you’ll see the word DALLAS, and

underneath that, two characters on the right, two characters on the left

(with a underline beneath them), and then 12 more

characters below that.

The complete IDTag number starts with the two

characters on the left, then the 12 characters below

that, then the two characters on the right. For

example, on the drawing on the right, the IDTag

number is E6000000FBD8B301.

Note: IDTag numbers contain only the letters Ato Fand the digits 0to 9,

and are always sixteen characters long.

Collecting Data from your ClassNet Terminals

ClassNet Anywhere

Here’s a brief except from the ClassNet Anywhere manual that describes

the basic ideas behind the program. For complete details on how to set

up and use ClassNet Anywhere, please see the program’s manual.

ClassNet Anywhere operates around the idea of units, locations, and

schedules. A Location consists of one or more Units, and locations are

polled according to a Schedule.

Units are individual ClassNet Terminals. One or more units are connected by

RS-485 cabling to an Intelligent RS-485 Adaptor, which is connected to the

serial port of a PC, or to a modem.

Locations can be Local, where ClassNet Terminals are attached to a serial

port on the computer running the polling program, or Remote, where a modem

is used to communicate with ClassNet Terminals that are attached to another

modem at a separate site. Each location can accommodate up to 31 ClassNet

Terminals, and an unlimited number of locations can be defined.

Schedules are used to control when ClassNet Anywhere polls locations.

Scheduled polls can be periodical (for example, every two hours), or at

specific times (ie at 9:15am). More than one scheduled poll can be set for

each location.

ClassNet Polling Program

For complete details on how to set up and use the ClassNet Polling

Program, please see the program’s manual. Here’s an except that

describes the main screen of the program, and how it works.

To manually collect data from the listed terminals, just press the Download

button. If you want to set the time displayed on the terminals without collecting

the data from then, press the Set Time button.

ClassNet Terminal User Manual

In the yellow section of the main screen, you’ll see a list of ClassNet Terminal

unit numbers that the program has been set to collect data from. While the

Polling Program is downloading data, or sending the time to the terminals, the

various fields of the main screen will provide status information.

While the Polling Program is communicating with a particular terminal, the line

for that unit is highlighted on the screen, a green arrow is displayed to the left of

the Unit Number column, and the Status column shows a “Polling…”

message.

When a unit has been successfully polled, a green tick is displayed to the left of

the Unit Number column, the Status column shows a “Done” message, the

Last Time Polled column shows the time and date of the poll, and the Number

of Scans column shows the number of items downloaded from the terminal.

If, for some reason, a terminal does not respond to a poll, a dark blue question

mark is displayed to the left of the Unit Number column, and a “Not

Responding” message is displayed in the Status column.

ClassNet DataTag Utility

ClassNet Terminals use three different types of

tags –

IDTags are used to identity students (fitted

with an angled key fob black plastic tag).

TimeTags, which are used to set the clocks in

Direct Download mode and initiate setup mode

to set a network ID number (fitted with a

straight plastic tag and a label “TimeTag”).

DataTags, which are used in DataTag

Download mode to transfer data between a ClassNet Terminal and a

computer (fitted with a straight plastic tag and labeled “DataTag”).

The use of IDTags is covered elsewhere – in this section, we address the

DataTag Download process, where data is transferred from a ClassNet

Terminal without network cabling using a DataTag, and where the time is

transferred using a TimeTag.

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