Wireless automation of existing no-dues collection system in Engineering Colleges

Introduction:

Towards the end of every semester, before the semester examinations,

the students are required to visit their respective libraries, laboratories and

departments and get no-dues slip. The no-dues form is issued by the

administration block.

The student then manually visits each department and verifies if he has

any dues. If dues are pending – as in an unreturned library book or breakage in

laboratory- the student pays the dues and the concerned person signs and

stamps the no-dues slip. The same process is then carried out in all the areas.

This system occurs about a week before the examination. As a result

there is a huge rush and also a lot of time has to be spent in the process which

could be utilized by the students in preparing for the examinations.

Furthermore, since the procedure involves stamping/ signing in particular

cells in the form- it leaves a lot of room for error. Also, this system doesn’t have

any feedback facility for the students so that they may be informed about the

pending dues or any other errors.

In this project we will try to implement a system that can automate the

whole process of no-dues collection and make it easier and comfortable for both

students and administration.

Goals:

In this project we shall try to incorporate the following features:

A smart card based ID card : We propose the use of a smart card based

ID card for every student. The card will have a memory of 1Kb to 4 Kb.

The card should be rewritable so that through out the 4 years, the same

card could be used. The same card could be used for the library,

laboratory and for attendance.

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Embedded controller with transmission system in library: The library

database will be regularly updated as the student takes or returns books

to the library. When no dues are to be calculated, the PC transfers to the

embedded controller the details that has to be sent to the admin block

Embedded controller with reception system in Administration building: the

data that is sent by the various blocks is received by this embedded

system. This data is then transferred to the PC via serial port.

PC software with database : The PC will be windows based with Visual

basic 6.0 software serving as the front-end. This will be very informative

and user-friendly so that it can be used without much technical

knowledge. The database will be designed in MS Access. In the database

the student details, real time dues and contact numbers will be stored.

SMS sender Using GSM: Regularly the details of the students dues will

be messaged automatically to the students prior to the examinations. This

system also ensures that the students get real-time updates when their

payments are entered in the main system.

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Block Diagram:

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Working Steps: 5 days before the exam , the library, laboratory etc sends the due details

of every candidate to the administration block PC. This is done wirelessly. The data sent will be in the form –

“serial number- dues detail – transaction ID”The transaction ID is essential to make sure that the same dues is not being sent to the admin PC more that once by mistake.

4 days before the examination , the administration PC shoots SMS to the entire batch stating their pending dues. This is done automatically.

3 days before the exam - the students may pay the dues in the respective departments. For example- if the student has dues of Rs 200 at the library, she pays the dues at the library. The library PC gets updated. And at the same time it sends the updated transaction details to the admin PC wirelessly. Once the transaction is updated at the admin PC a confirmation message will be immediately sent to the student.

2 days before the exam: message will be sent to the students with pending dues.

1 day before the exam: Final message to the students stating that they can collect the dues if they have cleared the dues. If dues are still pending, message will be sent to the student informing her about the remaining dues.

The electronic student database will contain the following details: Name University seat Number Books issued Date of issue Date of return Dues details Student Photograph Year/ semester / Branch

Advantages: It will be an intra college system with no internet connectivity so no

worries of viruses. As the data will be transmitted wirelessly using a customized embedded

platform, it will be difficult to hack and decode. No expensive infrastructure will be required like laying of long cables

across the departments. Maintenance cost will be relatively lower.

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