Claims:CLAIMS
I/We Claim:
1. A system (100) for managing information of laboratory electronic components, the system (100) comprising:
a code scanner (102) disposed on the laboratory electronic components, to enable a user to scan a unique code associated with the laboratory electronic components to be issued and/or returned, wherein the code scanner (102) comprises: a timer (110) to record a component issue time and/or a component return time; and
a processing unit (116) connected to the code scanner (102), wherein the processing unit (116) is configured to:
enable the user to scan the unique code associated with a laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components to be issued through the code scanner (102);
activate the timer (110) to record the component issue time as soon as the user scans the unique code for issuing the corresponding laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components;
store the recorded component issue time in a database (120);
enable the user to scan the unique code associated with the laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components to return the issued laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components through the code scanner (102);
activate the timer (110) to record the component return time as soon as the user scans the unique code for returning the corresponding laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components;
store the recorded component return time in the database (120); and
fetch the component issue time and the component return time from the database (120) to calculate a total time spent on the corresponding laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components.
2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a user device (104) adapted to receive user details and details of the scanned laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components from the user.
3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the processing unit (116) is configured to store the user details, the details of the scanned laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components and the calculated total time in the database (120).
4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unique code is a barcode.
5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the database (120) is a centralized database.
6. A method for managing information of laboratory electronic components, wherein the method comprising steps of:
enabling a user to scan a unique code associated with a laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components to be issued through a code scanner (102);
activating a timer (110) to record a component issue time as soon as the user scans the unique code for issuing the corresponding laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components;
storing the recorded component issue time in a database (120);
enabling the user to scan the unique code associated with the corresponding laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components to return the issued laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components through the code scanner (102);
activating the timer (110) to record the component return time as soon as the user scans the unique code for returning the corresponding laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components;
storing the recorded component return time in the database (120); and
fetching the component issue time and the component return time from the database (120) to calculate a total time spent on the corresponding laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step of receiving user details and details of the scanned laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components from a user.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a step of storing the user details, the details of the scanned laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components and the calculated total time in the database (120).
9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the unique code is a barcode.
10. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the database (120) is a centralized database.

Date: 02 Dec, 2021
Place: Noida

Dr. Keerti Gupta
Agent for the Applicant
(IN/PA-1529) , Description:FORM 2

THE PATENT ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&

THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10, and rule 13)

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING INFORMATION OF LABORATORY ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS

APPLICANT(S)
NAME: CHITKARA INNOVATION INCUBATOR FOUNDATION
NATIONALITY: INDIAN
ADDRESS: SCO: 160-161, SECTOR – 9C, MADHYA MARG, CHANDIGARH – 160009, INDIA

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed
BACKGROUND
Field of Invention
[001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a laboratory components management system and particularly to a system and method for managing information of laboratory electronic components.
Description of Related Art
[002] In universities and schools, electronic components used in a laboratory are often damaged and due to a large number of students using the components on a daily basis, it is often very difficult to hold a single person accountable. Also, it is very difficult to keep track of components that are functional as there can be too many to check on the daily basis. This could lead to situations where the students are deprived of required materials because their inadequacy could not be judged in advance. Moreover, the students can be charged of a fine wrongly. Various systems have been proposed for managing information of the electronic components.
[003] Conventionally, available systems provide a way to test an authenticity and functionality of the electronic components; however, none of the systems monitor a time period in which the electronic components remain functional. Although, the available systems provide a current state of the electronic components; however, unable to provide information continuously to know when the corresponding electronic component stopped functioning.
[004] There is thus a need for an advanced and more effective system and method for managing the information of the laboratory electronic components that can administer the drawbacks faced by the conventional systems.
SUMMARY
[005] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a system for managing information of laboratory electronic components. The system comprising: a code scanner disposed on the laboratory electronic components, to enable a user to scan a unique code associated with the laboratory electronic components to be issued and/or returned. The code scanner comprises: a timer to record a component issue time and/or a component return time. The system further comprising: a processing unit connected to the code scanner. The processing unit is configured to: enable the user to scan the unique code associated with a laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components to be issued through the code scanner; activate the timer to record the component issue time as soon as the user scans the unique code for issuing the corresponding laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components; store the recorded component issue time in a database; enable the user to scan the unique code associated with the laboratory electronic component to return the issued laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components through the code scanner; activate the timer to record the component return time as soon as the user scans the unique code for returning the corresponding laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components; store the recorded component return time in the database; and fetch the component issue time and the component return time from the database to calculate a total time spent on the corresponding laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components.
[006] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention further provide a method for managing information of laboratory electronic components. The method comprising steps of: enabling a user to scan a unique code associated with a laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components to be issued through a code scanner; activating a timer to record a component issue time as soon as the user scans the unique code for issuing the corresponding laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components; storing the recorded component issue time in a database; enabling the user to scan the unique code associated with the laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components to return the issued laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components through the code scanner; activating the timer to record the component return time as soon as the user scans the unique code for returning the corresponding laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components; storing the recorded component return time in the database; and fetching the component issue time and the component return time from the database to calculate a total time spent on the corresponding laboratory electronic component of the laboratory electronic components.
[007] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages depending on its particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application may provide a system and method that may be provided for managing information of laboratory electronic components.
[008] Next, embodiments of the present invention may provide a system and method that may continuously track a functionality of laboratory electronic components over a period of time.
[009] Next, embodiments of the present invention may provide a system and method that may enable a user to scan a barcode while issuing a corresponding laboratory electronic component so that if there is any discrepancy regarding a malfunctioning of the issued laboratory electronic component, then the corresponding user may be held accountable.
[0010] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0011] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram depicting a system for managing information of laboratory electronic components, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates components of a processing unit of the system, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method for managing the information of the laboratory electronic components by using the system, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0018] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising", "comprises”, and the like (which are synonymous with "including", "having”, and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of", “consists essentially of", and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of", "consists of”, the like.
[0019] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram depicting a system 100 for managing information of laboratory electronic components, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system 100 may be configured to manage the information associated with the laboratory electronic components by continuously tracking a functionality of the laboratory electronic components over a period of time. The laboratory electronic components may be, but not limited to, capacitors, multimeters, signal generators, breadboards, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the laboratory electronic components available in educational institutions, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. In an embodiment of the present invention, each of the laboratory electronic components may be associated with a unique code that may comprise details of the corresponding laboratory electronic components. The details of the laboratory electronic components may comprise, but not limited to, a name of the laboratory electronic components, a price of the laboratory corresponding electronic components, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the details that may be associated with the corresponding laboratory electronic component. The unique code may be, but not limited to, a Quick Response (QR) code, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) code, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the unique code may be a barcode. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the unique code.
[0021] The system 100 may comprise a code scanner 102, a user device 104, and a component information server 106. The code scanner 102, the user device 104, and the component information server 106 may be connected to each other through a network 108.
[0022] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the network 108 may be a data network such as, but not limited to, the Internet, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the data network, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. In another embodiment of the present invention, the network 108 may be a wireless network, such as, but not limited to, a cellular network and may employ various technologies including an Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution (EDGE), a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the wireless network, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the code scanner 102, the user device 104, and the component information server 106 may be configured to communicate with each other by communication mediums connected to the network 108. The communication mediums may be for example, but not limited to, a coaxial cable, a copper wire, a fiber optic, a wire that comprise a system bus coupled to a processor of a computing device, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the communication mediums, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0023] The code scanner 102 may be placed in a laboratory of the corresponding educational institutions, in an embodiment of the present invention. In another embodiment of the present invention, the code scanner 102 may be installed in the user device 104. In an embodiment of the present invention, the code scanner 102 may be configured to enable a user to scan the unique code associated with the laboratory electronic components to be issued and/or returned. The code scanner 102 may be, but not limited to, a Quick Response (QR) code scanner, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) scanner, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the code scanner 102 may be a barcode scanner. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the code scanner 102, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. In an embodiment of the present invention, the code scanner 102 may comprise a timer 110 to record a component issue time and/or a component return time. The timer 110 may start recording the component issue time and/or the component return time as soon as the user scans the unique code provided on the code scanner 102. Further, the timer 110 may be configured to transmit the recorded component issue time and/or the component return time to a processing unit 116 of the component information server 106.
[0024] The user device 104 may be a device used by the user to scan the unique code associated with the laboratory electronic components to be issued and/or returned, in an embodiment of the present invention. The user device 104 may also be used by the user to provide user details and the details of the laboratory electronic components, in an embodiment of the present invention. The user details may be, but not limited to, a name of the user, a class of the user, a section number of the class, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the user details. The user device 104 may be, but not limited to, a mobile device, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a portable computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a smart device, and so forth. Embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the user device 104, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0025] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the user device 104 may comprise software applications such as, but not limited to, a navigation application, a camera application, a media player application, a social networking application, and the like. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user device 104 may comprise a component issue application 112 that may be a computer readable program installed on the user device 104. Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the user may provide the user details and the details of the laboratory electronic components by providing login details. In such embodiment of the present invention, the login details may be, but not limited to, a user identifier, a passcode, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the login details that may be associated with the user.
[0026] The user device 104 may also comprise a user interface 114 that may enable the user to provide user details and the details of the laboratory electronic components, in an embodiment of the present invention. Further, the user interface 114 may be, but not limited to, a digital display, a touch screen display, a graphical user interface, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the user interface 114 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0027] The component information server 106 may be a network of computers, a software framework, or a combination thereof, that may provide a generalized approach to create a server implementation. The component information server 106 may be, but not limited to, personal computers, laptops, mini-computers, mainframe computers, any non-transient and tangible machine that can execute a machine-readable code, cloud-based servers, distributed server networks, or a network of computer systems. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the component information server 106 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. The component information server 106 may be realized through various web-based technologies such as, but not limited to, a Java web-framework, a .NET framework, a personal home page (PHP) framework, or any web-application framework. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the web-based technologies including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. The component information server 106 may be maintained by a third-party entity that facilitates operations of the system 100. The component information server 106 may include the processing unit 116, a memory 118, and a database 120, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] Further, the processing unit 116 may include suitable logic, instructions, circuitry, interfaces, and/or codes for executing various operations, such as storing the user details, the details of the laboratory electronic components, the component issue time, and the component return time in the database 120. The processing unit 116 may be configured to perform the operations associated with the system 100 by communicating commands and/or instructions over the network 108. The processing unit 116 may be, but not limited to, an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) processor, a Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) processor, a Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC) processor, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA), and the like. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the processing unit 116 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. Further, components of the processing unit 116 may be explained in conjunction with FIG. 2.
[0029] The memory 118 may be a non-transitory data storage medium that may be configured to store the logic, the instructions, the circuitry, the interfaces, and/or the codes of the processing unit 116 for executing the various operations associated to the system 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The memory 118 may be, but not limited to, a Random-Access Memory (RAM) device, a Read Only Memory (ROM) device, a flash memory, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the memory 118 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0030] In an embodiment of the present invention, the database 120 may be configured to store the user details, the details of the laboratory electronic components, the component issue time, and the component return time, and so forth. According to embodiments of the present invention, the database 120 may be for example, but not limited to, a distributed database, a personal database, an end-user database, a commercial database, a Structured Query Language (SQL) database, a non-SQL database, an operational database, a relational database, a cloud database, an object-oriented database, a graph database, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the database 120 may be a centralized database. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the database 120 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0031] FIG. 2 illustrates the components of the processing unit 116 of the system 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The components may be, a code scanning module 200, a timer control module 202, a data storage module 204, and a data processing module 206.
[0032] In an embodiment of the present invention, the code scanning module 200 may be configured to enable the user to scan the unique code associated with the laboratory electronic component to be issued through the code scanner 102. In an embodiment of the present invention, the code scanning module 200 may be configured to generate an issue time recording signal, as soon as the code scanning module 200 determines that the user scans the unique code for issuing the corresponding laboratory electronic component. The code scanning module 200 may be configured to transmit the generated issue time recording signal to the timer control module 202.
[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, the timer control module 202 may be configured to activate the timer 110 to record the component issue time based on the received issue time recording signal. The timer control module 202 may be configured to transmit the recorded component issue time to the data storage module 204.
[0034] The data storage module 204 may be configured to store the recorded component issue time in the database 120, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0035] Further, the code scanning module 200 may be configured to enable the user to scan the unique code associated with the laboratory electronic component to return the issued laboratory electronic component through the code scanner 102. In an embodiment of the present invention, the code scanning module 200 may be configured to generate a return time recording signal, as soon as the code scanning module 200 determines that the user scans the unique code for returning the corresponding issued laboratory electronic component. The code scanning module 200 may be configured to transmit the generated return time recording signal to the timer control module 202.
[0036] The timer control module 202 may be configured to activate the timer 110 to record the component return time based on the received return time recording signal. The timer control module 202 may be configured to transmit the recorded component return time to the data storage module 204.
[0037] The data storage module 204 may be configured to store the recorded component return time in the database 120, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0038] The data processing module 206 may be configured to fetch the component issue time and the component return time from the database 120 to calculate a difference between the component issue time and the component return time. The data processing module 206 may be configured to calculate the difference between the component issue time and the component return time to calculate a total time spent on the corresponding laboratory electronic component. The data processing module 206 may be configured to transmit the calculated total time to the data storage module 204.
[0039] In an embodiment of the present invention, the data storage module 204 may be configured to store the calculated total time corresponding to the details of the laboratory electronic component in the database 120.
[0040] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method 300 for managing the information of the laboratory electronic components by using the system 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0041] At step 302, the system 100 may enable the user to scan the unique code associated with the laboratory electronic component to be issued through the code scanner 102.
[0042] At step 304, the system 100 may activate the timer 110 to record the component issue time as soon as the system 100 determines that the user scans the unique code for issuing the corresponding laboratory electronic component.
[0043] At step 306, the system 100 may store the recorded component issue time in the database 120.
[0044] At step 308, the system 100 may enable the user to scan the unique code associated with the laboratory electronic component to return the issued laboratory electronic component through the code scanner 102.
[0045] At step 310, the system 100 may activate the timer 110 to record the component return time as soon as the system 100 determines that the user scans the unique code for returning the corresponding laboratory electronic component.
[0046] At step 312, the system 100 store the recorded component return time in the database 120.
[0047] At step 314, the system 100 may calculate the difference between the component issue time and the component return time stored in the database 120 to calculate the total time spent on the corresponding laboratory electronic component.
[0048] Embodiments of the invention are described above with reference to block diagrams and schematic illustrations of methods and systems according to embodiments of the invention. While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[0049] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.