RFID based attendance system with C# for GUI

Abstract:

            RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is a technology that uses electromagnetic fields to identify objects in a contactless way. I have implemented real time “RFID BASED ATTENDANCE SYSTEM USING GUI” the GUI is developed using C# with .net platform and arduino microcontroller is used to interface RFID card reader with GUI as RFID card reader communicates through SPI protocol. The system works as a person brings the RFID card/tag near with RFID card reader, RFID card’s UID is read and sent to IT and administration departments wirelessly where GUI runs on server computer. RFID card’s UID is received and matched with database if it is found then attendance is registered there.

Introduction

I have designed and implemented system named “RFID Based Attendance System Using GUI”.  The main target was to design a wireless on campus attendance system with the features to maintain records of attendance and students identification using RFID technology. The RFID module reads the RFID card’s unique identification (UID) and sends that UID to Arduino microcontroller via SPI communication protocol which is located in any class room. Further Arduino sends that UID to IT department and chairman office where GUI is running servers. The UID is sent wirelessly. I have used Rf-433MHz modules for wireless communication between any class rooms to servers.

These Rf-433MHz modules are interfaced with Arduino UNO which receive UID and Arduino then serially transmit that data to server computer. The GUI is designed on visual studio using C# programming language interfaced with SQL database, as the GUI receives that RFID UID code then matches with database. If the RFID UID code is registered then attendance is registered. Our system uses three Arduino UNO boards for demo, one RF transmitter and two RF receiver modules, one RFID card reader and ten RFID cards are used as for testing. 

  Block Diagram:

Flow Chart:

C# based GUI design: 

Visual studio integrated development environment (IDE) as you use Windows Forms to build a relatively straightforward C# program. Windows Forms provide your project with components, such as dialog boxes, menus, buttons, and many other controls, that make up a standard Windows application user interface (UI). Fundamentally, these controls are just classes from the .NET Framework class library.

My GUI contains seven forms integrated to make a powerful desktop application. Our application maintains records, student database, adding new student to database, editing, deleting and online attendance page where name of person is shown as he/she brings RFID card near RFID card reader and also date, time & his/her record is saved.

Each page is described below.

Main Page:

This is main home page of GUI application; it contains four buttons Database view, Attendance page, Reports and Port config. One can navigate to any page by clicking any respective button.

 

Database View:

Database view page shows us the database, we have created, we can search, add new, edit and delete any person from database from here, we can also delete the entire database here and we can also print database in pdf file.

Add New:

On this page we can add new person in our database, it contains fields like SID, Name, Department, RFID, E-mail, Mobile some are mandatory to be filled before clicking “Save” button. After clicking on “Save” button a person is registered in the database.

Update New:

On this page we can update the registered person in our database first we will search them then we can edit and update, also we can delete any person from this page.

Attendance Page:

On this page, real time attendance is recorded and saved in record when a person brings RFID card near RFID card reader and his/her name is shown on screen for five seconds only.  Real time digital clock and date are also running every time on this page.

Reports:

On this page we can view recorded attendance of person, we can search attendance record by SID of person, we can also search attendance records within date ranges.

Port Config:

This page is used to define port name and baud rate to communicate with Arduino microcontroller. Port name is defined where we have plugged Arduino and baud rate is set which is defined in Arduino programming.

 Conclusion

“RFID Based Attendance System Using GUI” is designed and implemented, the predictable results have been achieved and the range of RF modules for wireless transmission is tested up to 70 meters. For further increase in range we would have to use Wifi modules or Xig Bee modules. I have tested my system using ten RFID cards only however, we can increase the database up to space available in system hardware. We can also print database or attendance records in pdf format.