Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to attendance monitoring systems, specifically designed to automate attendance logging using IoT technology. The device uses an ESP32 microcontroller as the main controller and RFID cards for user authentication, enabling attendance data to be logged in real-time to an Excel sheet over a server. This invention provides a smart, efficient, and scalable solution for attendance tracking in educational institutions, workplaces, and industrial environments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditional attendance monitoring systems often rely on manual methods such as registers or paper-based logging, which are prone to errors, time-consuming, and inefficient for large organizations. Biometric attendance systems have addressed some of these issues but come with high costs and limited scalability.
Relevant prior art includes:
• US Patent No. US20190076589A1: Describes a biometric attendance system but lacks IoT-based real-time data transfer.
• US Patent No. US20180045672A1: Focuses on RFID-based attendance monitoring but does not integrate cloud-based logging for centralized record management.
• Indian Patent No. 201921034123A: Details an IoT-enabled attendance tracking system but does not include real-time Excel sheet logging.
Despite these advancements, there remains a need for a low-cost, IoT-enabled attendance monitoring device that leverages RFID technology and cloud-based data management for real-time and error-free attendance logging.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of this invention is to develop an IoT-based attendance monitoring device that:
1. Utilizes an ESP32 microcontroller as the central controller for data processing and IoT connectivity.
2. Employs RFID technology for user identification and attendance recording.
3. Logs attendance data in real-time to an Excel sheet hosted on a cloud server.
4. Provides an easy-to-use, cost-effective, and scalable solution for attendance tracking.
5. Supports real-time monitoring and retrieval of attendance records.

EXPERIMENTAL HARDWARE COMPONENT DESCRIPTION
The IoT-based attendance monitoring device consists of the following components:
1. ESP32 Microcontroller
o Serves as the main controller for processing RFID data.
o Provides Wi-Fi connectivity to send attendance data to a cloud server.
2. RFID Reader (RC522)
o Reads the unique ID of RFID cards for user authentication.
o Interfaces seamlessly with the ESP32.
3. RFID Cards
o Unique identification cards used for marking attendance.
4. Cloud Server
o Stores and processes attendance data.
o Hosts an Excel sheet for real-time attendance logging.
5. Power Supply
o Provides regulated power to the ESP32 and RFID reader.
6. Indicator LEDs and Buzzer
o Provide visual and auditory feedback for successful attendance logging.

WORKING METHODOLOGY
The IoT-based attendance monitoring device operates as follows:
1. User Authentication
o Each user is provided with a unique RFID card.
o The RFID reader (RC522) scans the card when it is placed near the reader.
o The RFID tag’s unique ID is sent to the ESP32 microcontroller for processing.
2. Data Processing
o The ESP32 compares the scanned ID with a pre-stored database of valid user IDs.
o If the ID is valid, the attendance is marked as present.
o The date, time, and user ID are formatted into a record.

3. Cloud-Based Logging
o The ESP32 sends the attendance record to a cloud server using Wi-Fi.
o Attendance data is logged in real-time into an Excel sheet stored on the server.
4. Real-Time Feedback
o An LED blinks, and a buzzer sounds to indicate successful attendance logging.
o If the card is invalid, the LED remains off, and the buzzer produces an error sound.
5. Data Monitoring and Retrieval
o Administrators can access and monitor attendance records through the Excel sheet.
o Data can be retrieved and analysed for attendance reports.

, Claims:1. An IoT-based attendance monitoring device comprising: a) an ESP32 microcontroller for data processing and connectivity, b) an RFID reader (RC522) for scanning user identification cards, and c) a cloud server for real-time logging of attendance data.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ESP32 connects to the cloud server using Wi-Fi.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the RFID reader scans the unique ID of RFID cards for user authentication.
4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein attendance data is logged into an Excel sheet hosted on a cloud server.
5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein visual and auditory feedback is provided through indicator LEDs and a buzzer.
6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein administrators can monitor and retrieve attendance records in real-time.