CA1181152A

CA1181152A - System for producing an operating signal

Info

Publication number: CA1181152A
Application number: CA000405183A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Gunnar O. Persson; Kjell I. Jeppsson
Original assignee: Securitas International AB
Current assignee: Securitas International AB
Priority date: 1981-07-01
Filing date: 1982-06-15
Publication date: 1985-01-15
Also published as: FI822084L; FI72826B; DK293782A; GB2102996B; BE893723A; JPS5814299A; FI72826C; NO156663C; FI822084A0; SE423736B; DK153259C; GB2102996A; NO822150L; DK153259B; NO156663B

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

In a system for producing an operating signal for, for example, opening a lock in, for example a bank, there are included a central data processor and a terminal carried by a guard. The terminal is provided with a code transmitter including a code which is unique for the unit in question, this code being set to the data processor from the terminal together with a code personal to the guard.
If the data processor accepts the received code upon compari-son with stored information, the random signal generator transmits a random code signal to the unit and to the ter-minal. The random code signal is transmitted from the ter-minal to a code receiver in the unit, and the two random code signals received cause the operating signal to be generated.

Description

A SYSTEM FOR PRODUCIN~ S2 AN OPERATING SIGNAL

The present invention relates to a system for producing a signal in a circuit incorporated in a unit of property, hereinaf-ter referred -to as unit, such as a bank or ofEice building, said system including an alarm centre having a data processor and a random signal generator for transmitting control signals, and a terminal in the form of a mobile signal unit arranged to produce a characteristic code signal.
The system is primarily intended for security companies, where the data processor, together with auxiliary equipment, is installed in the company's alarm centre, and the terminal, which can be made very light, is carried by the guard. In systems of -this kind known hitherto, there is no direct relationship between the data processor and the -terminal. The data processor has mainly been used for registering random code signals sent to the unit and for regis-tering reply signals from said unit, while the terminal has been used to send directly to the unit a characteristic code which gives the guard entry to the unit, by activating, for example, a lock circuit in a lock-opening mode through the code signal.
The prime object of the invention is to uti-lize a data processor, random signal generator and terminal in an integrated system which firs-tly affords optimum security and secondly, if so desired, enables 3~

measures taken by t~e guard or some other person equipped with a terminal, and the result of -these measures, to be verified.
This optimum security is achieved by pro-ducing an operating signal for entry to -the uni-t, or for ac-tivating a device in said uni-t, by means of a random code signal which is simul-taneously transmitted from the alarm centre to the unit and -to the terminal, and also from the terminal to the unit. Thus, the operating signal is obtained solely as a reply to two identical random code signals fed-in from t-~o mutually separate pieces of equipment within one and the same time interval.
The random code signal is preferably fed in by means of a small hand-carried signal pen, arranged to send the random code signal in the form of light signals to a specific receiving location at, for example, an entrance to a bank. This means that the guard must position the signal pen against, or closely adjacent an optical lens, for example, in a receiver, which constitutes a good safeguard against an intru-der feeding in the random code signal from the ter-minal when, for example, overcoming the guard after the guard has sent his signal alarm centre.
Verification of the steps taken by the guard or the user, and the signals obtained is effected through the arrangement of a memory store in the terminal~ said memory store, for example, being read-out upon completion of an inspection round by the guard or upon completion of a working period, and the con-tents of said store written onto a recording sheet. In this way, the secw-ity company obtains proof that the guard in their emplov has fulfilled his duty to the client.
Thus, the present invention provides a system for sending an operating signal to a circuit located in a unit of propext~, the system including an alarm centre provided with a data processo:r and a random signal generator for transmitting control signals, and a terminal in the form of a mobile signal uni~ arranged to transmit a char--acteristic code signal, wherein the terminal includ~s a code transmitter for electric signals with a stored unit code characteristic of the unit; means for energizing the code transmitter and transmitting the unit code and a terminal code characteristic of the terminal to the alarm centre;
a signal receiving device in the alarm centre for trans-mitting the received unit cocle to the data processor, which is arranged to compare the received unit code with an iden-tical unit code stored in the data processor -together with the terminal code, and wherein when there is agreement between the received and the stored unit code and the ter-minal code to cause a random signal generator to transmit a random code signal to a random-code-signal receiver-transmitter in the terminal and to a code receiver in the unit; a signal transmitting device which is connected to the terminal and arranged to transmit from the random-code-signal receiver-transmitter the random code signal received - 3a -by the terminal to the code receiver the code receiver being arranged to compare the two received random code signals in a comparison circuit and, when there is agreement between the signals to produce the operating signal.
The drawing is a simplified view of an exemplary embodiment oE a system according to the invention. The guard, or other person, who is to use the system to guard a unit, or to obtain entry thereinto, such as a factory, a bank, an alarm system or the li~e has been provided with a portable terminal 1 and a radio transmitter and receiver

2. The terminal 1 incorporates a push-button board 3 by means of which the guard can enter an allotted personal number or a code number given to him when leaving the ter-minal. The push-button board 3 can be provided with a separate button or key 4 for generating an implementation signal. In the illustrated embodiment, the terminal com-prises a clock 5, suitably a quartz clock, driven by batteries (not shown) arranged in the terminal, the batteries also being used to drive the electronic circuits in the terminal. The terminal 1 also incorporates a code trans-mitter 6 which receives the cutput signal from the push-button board 3 through a line ~9, and contains a code which is fed in by the alarm centre 11 which has issued the ter-minal, and which is unknown to the user of the terminal.
The code transmitter 6 contains a code number in binary form for the unit or units t~ which the user of the terminal has access, and the time expressed in day, month and year, and preferably also in which time period, -the user of the terminal can activate the aforementioned device in said unit. The time period may comprise one or more minutes, or a full day. In order to be able -to give correct information in this case, the clock 5 is arranged to produce signa:Ls relating to the day, month, year and -the -time of day. The sig-nals produced by -the clock 5 are fed through a line 7 to the code transmitter 6, either continuously or after pressing the button 4, and the code transmi-tter compares the time signals with the programmed time signal and is blocked when a cGmparison shows that -the terminal 1 is used outside the permitted time period. The terminal 1 is also provided with a random-code signal receiver and random-code signal transmitter 8 and a registering memory store 9, in which the steps taken and the -time at which the steps were taken etc. are registered, and which can be coupled to a data processing sys-tem when the duties of the attendant person have been carried out, for writing out this information.
In the illustrated embodiment, the memory store 9 is connected to the bank of push-buttons 3 by a line 17, and is opened, i.e. made available for registration, immlediately the push-but-ton board is activated, by entering the code number of the user or by activating the implementation button 4. In this way, the code number of the user is registered and also the -time at which the push-bu-tton board or implemen-tation button 4 was activa-ted, since~the clock 5 feeds its information into the memory store -through a line 18.
The portable transmitter-receiver 2 carried by -the user is connected to the output of the code transmitter 6 through a line 40, and is adapted to transmit code signals from the code transmitter 6 to a data processor 10 in -the centre- 11 which has issued -the terminal 1 and inserted -the code in the code transmitter 6 of the terminal. The signals transmi-tted to the data 10 by means of the antenna or aerial 12 are shown by the broken line 13. The receiver part of the transmitter-receiver 2 is arranged to receive wireless radio signals from a radio transmitter 24 in a random code signal genera-tor 1~ connected to the data processor 10, as indi-cated by the broken line 15, and these signals are transmitted to the random-code-signal receIver-transmitter 8 through a line 16. Informa-tion re-ceived in the random-code-signal receiver-transmitter 8 is transrnitted through a line 19 to the memory store 9, which also received, through a line 20, and stores code signal information transmitted from the code transmitter 6 to the transmitter part of the -transmitter-receiver 2.
The central data processor 10 is arranged to receive by means of a radio receiver 21 the output signals from the transmitter part of the transmitter- ¦
receiver 2, and to compare the signals with stored information which is identical with -the information in the code transmitter 6 combined with the code entered by the user of the terminal 1 through the push-button board 3. If the information stored in the data processor 10 coincides with -the instruc-tions or information in -the code transmitter 6, the data processor 10 will send, through line 22, an opening signal to the random signal generator 14, which then transmits .a completely randomly selec-ted code signal on the output line 23, and in addition over the radio transmitter 24 the same randomly selected signal which is received by the receiver part of the -transmitter-receiver 2, which sends the signal further over line 16 to the random-code signal receiver-transmitter 8.
Should the information contained in -the data processor 10 not coincide with the signal ob-tained from the transmitter-receiver 2, an alarm signal can be sent over a line 25, this alarm signal being arranged, for example, to activate an optical or acoustic device (not shown) in the alarm centre.
This lack of agreement between the signal from the code transmitter 6 and the code stored in the data processor 10 may be caused by the guard entering the wrong code number into the push-button board 3, or by the guard attempting to approach the unit at the wrong time etc, or by the terminal 1 being used by an unauthorized person. It is assumed here that there is agree-ment between said signal and said code and that consequently the random code generator, which may be of any known type, has transmitted a signal through the line 23 and -the radio transmitter 24.
The random code signal is received in a code re-ceiver 26 in the unit 27 to be reached by the guard, the user of the terminal 1, with the guard being located at a check point outside or wi-thin the uni-t 27. The check point is provided with an optical receiver-transmitter 28, which is arranged -to receive signals from an optical transmi-tter--receiver 29, which in the illustrated embodiment has the form of a rod or pen manipulated by the guard. As beforementioned, the signals produced by the random code generator 14 are received by the transmi-tter-receiver 2 coupled to the terminal 1, and are fed into the random code receiver-transmitter 8, from where the signals are -trans-mi-tted further to the optical transmitter-receiver 29, via a flexible cable 30. The pen 29 may also be incorporated in the housing or casing of the terminal 1, in which casè the whole of the terminal is moved towards the optical receiver-transmitter 28.
The transmitter-receiver 29, which is of a kind known per se, is provided, for example, with a first light diode, which is pulsed with the random code signals and transmi-ts light pulses to the optical receiver-transmitter 28, which converts these light pulses into corresponding electric pulses, i.e. to the code transmitted by the random signal generator 14. The receiver 28 transmits the random signal pulses -to the code receiver 26 through a line 30, said receiver also receiving the pulses directly from the random signal generator 14, as before-mentioned. The -two signals, i.e. the signals from the random signal generator 14 and from the re-ceiver--transmit-ter 28 are sent from -the code re-ceiver 26, which contains a comparison circuit 31 s~
in which the signals are compared. Since the signals obtained on the line 23 are the same as those obtained on the ]ine 30, it is naturally possible to establish agreement, and an operating or clear signal is trans-mitted from the comparison circuit through line 32.
This operating signal is transmi-t-ted through line 33 to the -transmitter part of the receiver-transmitter 28, in which a second light diode (not shown) converts -the electrical pulses to light pulses, which are re-ceived by a light-sensitive element in the transmitter-receiver 29, and are transmitted in the form of elec-trical pulses to the memory store 9 through cable 30.
In the examplary embodiment of the invention, the memory store 9 is arranged to store the check number of the guard, the time at which an at-tempt to reach the data processor 10 has been made, the random code signal from the radio transmitter 24 of the random signal generator, the signal transmi-tted by -the code transmitter 6 to the data processor 10, and the operating signal from the transmitter part of the receiver-transmitter 2&. By registering this in-formation there is ob-tained perfect verification of those signals transmitted and leaving the alarm centre 11 and the unit 27 respectively. As will be understood, however, certain signals can be excluded, for example -the registration of the random signal generator 14, and that other signals can be included, as hereinafter described.
It has been mentioned that the code transmit-ter 6 is arranged to transmit -the code over an extremely limited time period, or preferably only once for each activation of the push-button board, and that the random-code-signal receiver-transmit~er 8 is arranged to transmit the random code signal at the same -time as, or practically a-t the same time as, it is genera-ted by the random signal generator 14, which in turn is preferably arranged to transmit the signal only once. In prac-tice, this means -that the transmit-ter-receiver 29 must be in co-action with the receiver-transmi-t-ter 28 a-t the same time as, or immediately after the signal has left the code transmitter 6. If this co-action between the transmitter-receiver 29 and the receiver--transmitter 28 has not been established, the random code signal from the terminal 1 will not reach the signal comparison circuit 31 at the same time as the signal is received through the line 23, and consequently an error signal will be sent from the signal com-parison circui-t through a line 34, this error signal being registered in -the memory store 9. As will be understood, the operating signal will no-t be transmitted.
The operating signal on line 32 is transmi-tted to a control circuit incorporated, for example, in a factory-door locking device 35, a control circuit 36 arranged to initiate the sequence of even-ts in a process in an unmanned factory, a control circuit 37 which disconnects an internal alarm system in the unit 27, so that the guard is able to move freely, etc. The complet~ion of the requested function can also be registered in the memory store 9. Thus, when the locking device has been opened, the ccntrol circuit 35 can send a signal over line 38, -this signal being -transmitted to the memory ~tore ~ in a manner not further shown. The signal on line 38 may also be transmitted to the central data pro-cessor 10 over a signal link (not shown), for example a fixed signal line or a radio link, -to be registered -there. In this case, the data pro-cessor 10 is suitably arranged to compare -this signal with a programme and to transmi-t an alarm signal when said signal is excluded. In certain cases, this signal is of extreme importance, for example when a valve in a process system is to be activa-ted at a given point of time in order for the process -to proceed normally. Such a signal can also give an indica-tion that the guard is carrying out his work in a normal manner during his working period.
In the aforegoing it has been assumed that full security can be achieved by sending the random code signal from the alarm centre 11 and the terminal 11 to the unit 27. In order to eliminate the possibility of an operating signal being produced by sending a false random code signal to -the unit 27 over line 23, and an identical false random code signal being fed into the receiver 28, it is highly advanta~eous to combine the random code signal sent from the alarm centre 11 with -the unit code inserted in the code -transmi-tter ~, this unit code being unknown to the user of -the terminal and unique for the unit or units in question. As pre-viously described, this unit code is sent from the terminal 1 and received by the data processor 10, from where it is transmitted by the data pro-cessor together with the random code signal and received by the unit and by the terminal. The unit code signal, which is received by the unit, precedes-the random code signal and has the func-tion of "opening" the comparison circuit 31 for receivin~ and comparing the two random ccde sig-nals. The unit code signal can be fed to the unit 27 from the alarm centre 11 and/or from the terminal 1 and prevents an operating signal being generated by unauthorized signal transmission.
In the case of unauthorized signal transmission, the signal on -the line 38 is utilized~ this signal being transmitted over a line or radio lin~ (not shown) to tlle data processor, which when receiving the signal discovers that there is no unit signal in the programme for the unit in question, and therewith gives an alarm. In order for the unit to be identified in this case, the signal on the line 38 must contain a code which is characteristic of the unit in question and which can be incorporated in the clear signal on the line 32.
The described embodiment of -the invention, and also the various circuits, devices and arrange-ments incorporated in said embodiment, can be modified in a number of ways. For e~ample~ the signals can be transmitted between the terminal 1 and the alarm centre 11 galvanically, in which case there is provided between the unit 27 and the alarm centre 11 a signal line on which the guard couples in the terminal 1. It is a.lso possible to use a radio-link connection between the alarm centre 11 and the uni-t 27, instead of the described gulvanic connection.
Signals can be transmi-tted between the termi.nal and the unit 27 in a manner other than via the optically operating arrangement 28, 29. For example, an electric plug arranged to co-act with a corresponding electric contact on the cable 30 can be mounted on or adjacent the unit~ so as to produce a gulvanic connection between the cable 30 and the comparison circuit 31. This connection can also be produced magnetically or inductively if so desired. It is preferred, however, tc use the described optical arrangement, since, among other things, this means that the only visible and accessible element on the unit will comprise a glass-covered window of very small dimensions, which is difficult to force.
It is also possible to exclude the manual inser-tion of the personal code number of -the guard or user, in which case the push-button board 3 can be reduced to a single means, for example the button 4, for energising the code transmitter 6 and transmitting a signal to the data processor 10 together with a code characteristic of the terminal 1. As will also be understood, the described -transmitter-receiver 2 can be incorporated as an integral part of the terminal 1.

~ en the terminal is carried by a guard whose duty is to guard a plurality of mutually independant units, which -thus have mutually differen-t unit codes, the code transmitter of the terminal will contain these different unit codes, which are made available for transmission to the alarm centre with-in the time intervals over which -the guard is in-s-truc-ted -to visi-t respec-tive uni-ts in accordance with a g~ven programme.
A positive signall;ng is obtained from -the security aspect by generating the random signal code directly from an alarm centre and transmitting said code to the unit and to the terminal. The terminal is preferably provided with a memory store for enabling the steps taken by the guard at differen-t times, and the result of these steps etc., -to be verified at any point in time whatsoever, it being possible to use the memory store for registering, for example, a bar code or magnetic code, which is read-off by means of the optic pen 29 or by means of a magnetic-code reader respectively. These bar codes are placed at different locations within the unit and regis-tra-tion of the code indicates that the guard has completed a given inspection round within the unit. Such a bar code can also be arranged on the inside of the door of a safe or the like~ and if the door is opened or unlocked the security company is able to prove that in-ternal security rules have not been complied with.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclu-sive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows-

1. A system for sending an operating signal -to a circuit located in a unit of property, said system inclu-ding an alarm centre provided with a data processor and a random signal generator for transmitting control sig-nals, and a terminal in the form of a mobile signal unit arranged to transmit a characteristic code signal, wherein the terminal includes a code transmitter for electric sig-nals with a stored unit code characteristic of said unit;
means for energizing the code transmitter and transmitting the unit code and a terminal code characteristic of said terminal to the alarm centre; a signal receiving device in the alarm centre for transmitting the received unit code to the data processor, which is arranged to compare the received unit code with an identical unit code stored in the data processor together with the terminal code, and wherein when there is agreement between the received and the stored unit code and the terminal code to cause a random signal generator to transmit a random code signal to a random-code-signal receiver-transmitter in the terminal and to a code receiver in the unit; a signal transmitting device which is connected to the terminal and arranged to transmit from the random-code-signal receiver-transmitter the random code signal received by the terminal to the code receiver said code receiver being arranged to compare the two received random code signals in a comparison circuit and, when there is agreement between said signals to produce said operating signal.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the code transmitter is arranged to be connected to a radio transmitter-receiver for transmitting the unit code and the terminal code to the alarm centre and for receiving the random code signal from the alarm centre respectively.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein a clock in the terminal is arranged to produce time signals corres-ponding to the time at which the unit code was transmitted from the terminal, said time signals being included in the terminal code.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal includes a memory store arranged to receive the terminal code transmitted from the code transmitter, and to store said code.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the memory store is arranged to receive the obtained random code signal from the random-code-signal receiver-transmitter.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the signal transmission arrangement is arranged to receive the operating signal from the code receiver and to transmit said signal to the memory store for storage therein.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the code receiver of the unit is connected to a signal trans-mitting-receiving device arranged to coact with the signal transmission means of the terminal.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the signal transmitting-receiving means of the alarm centre is arranged to convert received electric signals to optical pulses; and the signal transmission means of the terminal is arranged to convert electric pulses received from the terminal to light pulses, and to convert light pulses re-ceived from the signal transmitting-receiving means of the alarm centre into electric signals.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the comparison circuit of the code receiver is arranged to pro-duce an alarm signal when there is no agreement between the two random code signals received, or when one of the random code signals has been excluded.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the signal transmitting means of the terminal is arranged to receive the alarm signal and to transmit said signal to the memory store of the terminal for storage.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the signal transmitting means is arranged to be moved manually into coaction with a signal receiving location associated with the unit.

12. A system according to claim 7 and 11, wherein the signal receiving location comprises the code receiver.