Technical Field

The present invention relates to a system and a method for tracking an activity.

The term activity means, for example, a work activity such as reading emails, drafting a document, creating a drawing or other similar activities which can be carried out in front of a screen.

Prior art

To date, several devices having, for example, the shape of a cube are known which are used to track various activities in order to have a precise idea, for example, of the time taken to perform a particular activity.

The aforesaid devices are generally active. The term "active" means that the device contains components such as sensors, gyroscopes, batteries, charging connectors, electronic cards and wireless connections with the user interface device (such as a personal computer) used in the performance of the activity.

Disadvantageously, given their nature as wireless devices, they must be recharged and are therefore unusable in such a context.

Furthermore, such devices do not allow use for different activities, requiring continuous reprogramming.

Objects of the present invention

The technical task of the present invention is thus to provide a method and a system for tracking an activity which are able to overcome the prior-art drawbacks which have emerged.

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a system and a method for tracking an activity which do not require interruptions due to the need to recharge the devices involved. A further object of the present invention is therefore to provide a system and a method for tracking an activity in which certain devices are easily replaceable with others.

The defined technical task and the specified aims are substantially achieved by a system and a method for tracking an activity, comprising the technical features set forth in one or more of the appended claims. The dependent claims correspond to possible embodiments of the invention.

In particular, the technical task specified and the objects specified are substantially achieved by a system for tracking an activity comprising at least one manoeuvrable body which can be manoeuvred by a user and having a geometric shape defining at least one resting surface, in which the manoeuvrable body comprises at least one NFC or RFID tag, and a base defining a reading surface configured to receive the resting surface. The base comprises an NFC or RFID antenna configured to detect the presence of the NFC or RFID tag and is connected or connectable to a user interface device, such as a personal computer.

The manoeuvrable body is positionable on the base so as to define a resting configuration, in which the NFC or RFID antenna detects the presence of the NFC or RFID tag when the resting surface is in contact with the reading surface, and distanceable from the base so as to define a distancing configuration, in which the NFC or RFID antenna does not detect the presence of the NFC or RFID tag.

The tracking system (preferably the base) further comprises a control unit configured to communicate with the NFC or RFID antenna (or other electronics of the base 3) so as to track an activity as a function of the passage from the distancing configuration to the resting configuration or as a function of the passage between two different resting configurations corresponding to different surfaces positionable in contact with said base. The specified technical task and the specified objects are further achieved by a method for tracking an activity using the system above comprising the steps of: - positioning a manoeuvrable body on a base defining a resting configuration so as to put a resting surface of the manoeuvrable body in contact with a reading surface of the base;

- distancing the manoeuvrable body from the base defining a distancing configuration;

- tracking the performance of an activity according to the passage from the distancing configuration to the resting configuration or between two different resting configurations.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the indicative and thus non-limiting description of an embodiment of a system and a method for tracking an activity.

Brief description of the figures

Such a description will be set out below with reference to the appended drawings, which are provided solely for illustrative and therefore non limiting purposes, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a system object of the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a component of the system object of the present invention;

- Figures 3a-3c are detailed representations of the base respectively in axonometric view from above, axonometric section orthogonal to the lying plane of the base itself and flat section orthogonal to the lying plane of the base itself.

Detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention

With reference to the appended figures, 1 indicates in its entirety a system for tracking the duration of an activity which, for simplicity of description, will be referred to below as system 1. The term activity means, for example, a work activity such as reading emails, drafting a document, creating a drawing or other similar activities which can be carried out in front of a screen of a user interface device "U" such as a personal computer.

The system 1 comprises a manoeuvrable body 2 which can be manoeuvred by a user and having a geometric shape defining at least one resting surface 2a. The manoeuvrable body 2 comprises at least one NFC or RFID tag (not shown).

Preferably, and as represented in the appended drawings, the manoeuvrable body 2 has a polyhedral geometric shape defining a plurality of resting surfaces 2a.

For example, the manoeuvrable body 2 can be made in the form of a cube.

Other configurations of the manoeuvrable body 2 are possible. For example, the manoeuvrable body 2 can be made in the form of a disk or a dodecahedron or a tetrahedron. In other words, the manoeuvrable body 2 can be made in any form easily graspable by a user and defining at least one stable resting surface 2a.

Preferably, if the manoeuvrable body 2 had a plurality of resting surfaces 2a, each resting surface 2a would comprise an NFC or RFID tag. In this embodiment, each NFC or RFID tag is an identifier of the respective resting surface 2a with which it is associated.

In other words, the manoeuvrable body 2 can have a single NFC or RFID tag (even if the manoeuvrable body 2 had multiple resting surfaces 2a) or a number of NFC or RFID tags equal to the number of resting surfaces 2a. If multiple NFC or RFID tags were present, they would be sufficiently spaced apart so as not to create interference.

Therefore, the manoeuvrable body 2 is a passive type device. In other words, the manoeuvrable body 2 is only provided with the NFC or RFID tag(s) and does not require other components which would require batteries or connections to power outlets. Preferably, each resting surface 2a is provided with three-dimensional icons and/or adhesives.4 The usefulness of such icons and/or adhesives will become clearer from the continuation of the present description. Preferably, with reference to the embodiment of the manoeuvrable body 2 made in the form of a cube (but similar features are also present in other embodiments), to improve the grip of the user the edges are sharp edges (without bevelling). In addition, in order to improve the resting thereof, the cube has a raised internal edge so as to reduce the effective resting surface 2a and to protect the adhesives attached to the respective resting surfaces 2a.

Preferably, each face of the cube can have different colours in order to better identify the activity with which the face is associated (as will be clearer in the continuation of the present description).

In addition, shapes or icons can be used which reflect the activity to be monitored.

The system 1 further comprises a base 3 defining a reading surface 3a configured to receive the resting surface 2a of the manoeuvrable body 2. The base 3 comprises an NFC or RFID antenna 4 configured to detect the presence of the NFC or RFID tag.

The base 3 is connected or connectable to a user interface device U, for example by means of USB 5 or wireless connection.

In particular, the manoeuvrable body 2 is positionable on the base 3 so as to define a resting condition and is removable from the base so as to define a distancing configuration.

Resting configuration means a configuration in which the NFC or RFID antenna 4 is capable of detecting the presence of the NFC or RFID tag. In other words, when the resting surface 2a is in contact with the reading surface 3a, the NFC 4 or RFID antenna is capable of detecting the presence of the NFC tag.

Distancing configuration means a configuration of the system 1 in which the NFC or RFID antenna 4 does not detect the presence of the NFC or RFID tag when the manoeuvrable body 2 has been lifted from the base 3 by the user.

In this context, the base 3 is an active type device, provided with the means for connecting to a user interface device "U" which ensures the power supply thereof (alternatively, the base 3 can be provided with a replaceable or rechargeable internal battery).

The NFC or RFID antenna 4 is configured to constantly monitor whether the NFC or RFID tag is in place.

The system 1 further comprises a control unit 6 configured to communicate with the NFC or RFID antenna (or other components of the base 3) so as to track the performance of an activity as a function of the passage from the distancing configuration to the resting configuration. Alternatively, the control unit 6 is configured to communicate with the NFC or RFID antenna so as to track the performance of an activity as a function of the passage between two different resting configurations corresponding to different surfaces positionable in contact with said base 3.

The term track is intended to mean that the system 1 allows to monitor the successive performance of different activities in order to also provide a tool which can be useful in monitoring the efficiency of a worker according to the order in which he/she performed different activities (for example also taking into account the breaks taken or not taken between one activity and another).

Preferably, the control unit 6 is configured to track a time duration of the performance of an activity by calculating a time difference between the distancing configuration and the resting configuration or between a first resting configuration and a second resting configuration different from the first.

In other words, the control unit 6 is configured so as to track a duration of an activity by calculating a time difference between the definition of the distancing configuration and a start of the resting configuration.

In the appended figures the control unit 6 is internally arranged at the base 3. Nevertheless, the control unit 6 can also be understood as a program or part of a program integrated/installed in a user interface device "U". Therefore, the control unit 6 placed internally at the base 3 makes it an active device, while the manoeuvrable body 2 is a passive device and does not internally comprise a control unit.

Preferably, in the embodiment in which the manoeuvrable body 2 has a plurality of resting surfaces 2a, each provided with a respective NFC or RFID tag, the control unit 6 is configured to communicate with the NFC or RFID antenna 4 so as to track the performance of an activity relative to the resting surface 2a in contact with said base 3 and defining a corresponding resting configuration.

Preferably, the NFC or RFID antenna 4 is further configured to identify and quantify an orientation of the NFC or RFID tag with respect to an initial orientation of the resting surface 2a on the reading surface 3a. In this context, the control unit 6 is also configured to attribute or realise a preset event associated with the orientation of the NFC or RFID tag.

In other words, the system 1 involves generating an event arising from the rotation of the manoeuvrable body 2 when resting on the base 3.

The rotation will inform the base 3 of how many degrees and in which direction the manoeuvrable body 2 has been rotated, as well as on which resting surface 2a of the geometric figure the rotation was realised.

For example, the rotation could be used to start a certain countdown within a certain activity.

Obviously, the recording of this event remains linked to the base 3, keeping the manoeuvrable body 2 a passive type device.

It should be noted that each NFC or RFID tag can be associated with a specific activity. Therefore, the different colours/symbols/adhesives used for the manoeuvrable bodies 2 allow a user to know which face to turn to the base 3.

Therefore, by reading the NFC or RFID tag by means of the NFC or RFID antenna 4, the control unit 6 will be capable of knowing for which specific activity the duration will be tracked.

Preferably, the base 3 comprises a non-volatile memory 7 for storing the duration of different activities. In other words, if the system 1 were to be offline or disconnected from the user interface device "U", the base 3 would be able to save the duration of the different activities in the non volatile memory 7 (for example of the EEPROM type).

Preferably, the base 3 comprises a seat 3b provided with raised edges (see figures 3b, 3c) defining the reading surface 3a. The seat 3b is therefore a "recess" sized so as not to let the manoeuvrable body 2 exit and stably retain in the seat 3b itself even in the event of a possible rotation of the manoeuvrable body 2.

Preferably, the seat 3b has an extension equal to or greater than the extension of the resting surface 2a.

Preferably, the base 3 comprises, on a peripheral portion 13 of the base 3 itself, a plurality of LED lights 8. Preferably, the base 3 comprises twenty- four LED lights 8. In particular, the control unit 6 is configured to control the plurality of LED lights 8.

The plurality of LED lights 8 is arranged on an upper portion and/or on a lower portion of the peripheral portion 13 of the base 3. Preferably, the base 3 comprises twenty-four LED lights 8 on both the upper and on the lower portion of the base 3.

When the LED lights 8 are arranged on the lower portion of the base 3, they are configured to project a beam of light onto the surface on which the base 3 rests. As depicted in figures 3a-3c, the plurality of LED lights 8 may be associated with a transparent ring arranged on the peripheral portion 13 (in particular on the upper portion) such that the LED lights are seen by the user.

The plurality of LED lights 8 is configured to simulate the elapsed time according to one or more operating modes.

The operating modes preferably comprising a clock operation, a countdown operation and/or an operation according to the Pomodoro technique.

In clock mode, the LED lights 8 turn on one after the other in order to simulate an increasing count (with the colour of the lights reflecting that of the monitored activity).

In countdown mode, the lights will turn off one after the other in order to simulate a countdown (with the colour of the lights reflecting that of the monitored activity).

In operating mode according to the Pomodoro technique, the upper and lower LED lights 8 will turn on differently in order to simulate the different intervals.

Furthermore, the plurality of LED lights 8 is configured to send luminous notifications to a user. For example, by means of the LED lights 8 it is possible to send any error notifications which are reported to the user through predefined light patterns. For example, such errors could be linked to an incorrect use of the manoeuvrable body 2.

Preferably, if the LED lights 8 are arranged both in the upper portion and in the lower portion of the base 3, the base 3 is provided with separators which prevent the stray light from being visible in the holes before the main light which advances and similarly separate the different colours in the animations.

Furthermore, as can be seen in figures 3a-3b, the base 3 comprises a lower shell having a central seat 11 arranged between the reading surface 3a (defining an upper closure of the shell) and a bottom wall 3c in which the control unit 6 is arranged.

The base 3 further comprises a ring-shaped annular volume 12 inside the peripheral portion 13 which surrounds the central seat 11 and in which the LED lights 8 are arranged. Preferably, such LED lights 8 are arranged along the entire annular volume 12 so as to obtain a circular or annular illumination.

In detail, the plurality of LED lights 8 comprises a LED strip mounted on a support 14 arranged at an intermediate height between the bottom wall 3c and the reading surface 3a.

Preferably, the base 3 comprises an alarm device configured to send an alarm signal to a user upon the occurrence of predetermined events. Preferably, the control unit 6 is configured to control the alarm device. Similar to what has been said above, such predetermined events could be linked to an incorrect use of the manoeuvrable body 2 or, for example, to signal the expiry of a preset time linked to a certain activity.

The alarm device is, as for example shown in the appended drawings, an audible alarm device 9 and/or a vibration motor 10. In other words, through the vibration of the base 3 and/or through a sound emitted by the base 3, the alarm device is capable of warning the user of the occurrence of a certain event (whether it is an error or the expiration of a specific time limit within the activity whose duration is being tracked).

Furthermore, the manoeuvrable body 2 described above is not the only one which can interact with the base 3. In this regard, for example with reference to the work in the office of a team of colleagues, it is possible to exchange the respective manoeuvrable bodies 2 in order to mark specific activities associated with the specific manoeuvrable bodies 2.

The present invention further relates to a method for tracking an activity using a system 1 as described above.

The term method is intended to mean software or part of software capable of realising the steps which will be described below using a system 1 such as that described above. In other words, the method can be understood as one or more functions performed by the control unit 6 both as a hardware component and as a software component integrated in a hardware component.

The method involves the steps of positioning a manoeuvrable body 2 on a base 3 defining a resting configuration in order to contact a resting surface 2a of the manoeuvrable body 2 with a reading surface 3a of the base 3, distancing the manoeuvrable body 2 from the base 3 defining a distancing configuration and tracking the performance of an activity as a function of the passage from the distancing configuration to the resting configuration. Alternatively, the method involves tracking the performance of an activity as a function of the passage between two different resting configurations. Preferably, the method allows a duration of an activity to be tracked by calculating a time difference between the positioning and distancing steps of the manoeuvrable body 2 from the base 3 or between two subsequent positioning steps.

Preferably, the method further comprises, between the positioning step and the distancing step, a step of orienting the manoeuvrable body 2 on the reading surface 3a of the base 3 and of cataloguing or realising a preset event associated with an orientation of the NFC or RFID tag with respect to the reading surface 3a.

In other words, by rotating the manoeuvrable body 2 it is possible to start a countdown or another function of the system 1 as well as it is possible to signal that a pause or other similar events have been taken within an activity.

The present invention is therefore able to overcome the drawbacks which have emerged in the prior art.

Advantageously, the manoeuvrable body 2 does not need to be recharged and can be replaced with other manoeuvrable bodies 2 (also of different shape but still compatible with the base 3 used) for different activities. In fact, the manoeuvrable body 2 is a "passive" body from an electronic point of view since it is not provided with intelligence or internal control units, while these parts are delegated and therefore moved to the base 3 which becomes "active".

Furthermore, the base 3 can be programmed in a simple way to associate different activities with a resting surface 2a (predefined activity change). Furthermore, the manoeuvrable body does not need wireless connections because the base 3 is already connected to the PC by means of USB 5 or wirelessly. In other words, the system 1 is capable of tracking the start, duration and end time of an activity by resting a geometric shape on the receiving base. By intercepting the resting and separation events of the manoeuvrable body 2 from the base 3, the system 1 is capable of measuring the time elapsed between the first action and the second, it is further capable of recording the time stamp of each action.

Advantageously, the system 1 is based on an active base 3 and a passive geometric figure.