FR2867332A1 - Individual or object e.g. screen, locating system for enterprise, has processing module with database storing identification codes of object and telecommunication module, and distance between latter module and identification medium - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has an identification medium (1) with a short distance radio transceiver to transmit an identification code of an individual or an object to a telecommunication module (2). A processing module (5) connected to the module (2) has a database storing the code, an identification code associated to the module (2), the value of distance between the module (2) and the medium and recording time of these data. The telecommunication module (2) has a sub-module (2b) for reading the code of the individual or object, and a sub-module (2c) to measure the distance between the module (2) and the identification medium. An independent claim is also included for a process of locating an individual or an object.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of telecommunications,

  and more particularly wireless telecommunications, in the context of locating an individual or an object.

  More precisely, the present invention relates to a system for locating an individual or an object, said individual or object being provided with an identification medium to which an identifier is associated.

  At present, there is known an identification medium of this type, also called badge, in which is stored an identification code associated with the individual holder of the badge.

  Such a badge allows for example an individual to access a particular local. For this purpose, the individual presents his badge in front of a reading terminal which, after verifying that the identification code read corresponds to an identification code stored among a plurality of identification codes, authorizes the access of the individual local audit.

  Such a badge also allows an employer to control the time of presence of an employee in the company, provided that the latter presents his badge in front of a reading terminal, not only at the entrance of the company, but also to the output.

  The badge / reader terminal systems of the aforementioned type have the following drawbacks: if several individuals access at the same time a particular local or the entry or exit of the company, it is possible that a single the individual presents his badge in front of the reading terminal, which can pose problems of security of access to the company, - it is not possible to know precisely the location of the identified individuals, as well in, or outside, of the company. For example, in companies, when individuals are not at their usual place of work and want to be reachable, they are forced to report their unusual workplace (eg meeting room, training room, external company , etc.) to a dedicated person, such as a secretary in particular.

  The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

  For this purpose, the system according to the invention is characterized in that: the identification medium comprises a short-distance radio transmission module for transmitting, in the direction of a telecommunication module, the identifier associated with the medium, the telecommunication module comprising: a short-distance radio reception module for receiving, from the medium, the identifier of this medium, a reading module of the received identifier, É a measurement module of the distance separating the telecommunication module from the support, and in that the system further comprises a processing module which is connected to the telecommunication module, this processing module comprising a recording module of the identifier of the support, an identifier associated with the telecommunication module, the value of the distance measured between the identification medium and the telecommunication module, and the time of recording of these data ions.

  Such a system advantageously makes it possible, by virtue of its simplicity of design and operation, to locate accurately and in real time any individual or object that has been previously identified.

  This system allows, among other things, an individual who is not at his usual place of work to instantly forward his communications to his unusual place of work, without calling on a third person, such as a secretary.

  This system also makes it possible to detect in real time all mobile resources (computers, video projectors, overhead projectors, screens, printers, etc.) used for self-service within a company.

  In preferred embodiments of the system according to the invention, one and / or the other of the following provisions is used: the processing module further comprises a comparison module between, on the one hand, the time elapsed since the time of the last recording and, on the other hand, a predetermined duration, so as to detect the presence or absence of the identification medium if the elapsed time is respectively less than or greater than the predetermined duration.

  the processing module is installed in a server which is connected to the telecommunication module via a data transmission network.

  Correlatively, the present invention relates to a method of locating an individual or an object, the individual or object being provided with an identification medium with which an identifier is associated.

  The method according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises at least the following steps: a) transmission, by the identification medium, of the identifier of the latter, along a short-distance radio link, in the direction of a telecommunication module; b) reading of the received identifier and measuring the distance separating the telecommunication module from the identification medium; and c) recording of the received identifier of an identifier associated with the identification module. telecommunication, the value of the distance between the telecommunication terminal and the identification medium, and the time of the recording of this information.

  The particular advantages of the location method being identical to those of the previously introduced system, they will not be recalled here.

  In preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention, one and / or the other of the following provisions is used: prior to step a), the telecommunication module sends at least one request in the direction the identification medium, according to a short-distance radio link, for detecting whether the identification medium is in proximity or not to the telecommunication module; between the reading step provided for in step b) and the recording step provided for in step c), there is a step of transmission towards a server connected to the telecommunication module via a network data transmission, the received identifier, an identifier associated with the telecommunication module, and the value of the distance measured between the identification medium and the telecommunication module.

  The present invention also provides an identification medium belonging to an individual or an object and comprising a module for recording an identifier associated with this medium.

  Such support is characterized in that it further comprises a short-distance radio transmission module for transmitting, in the direction of a telecommunication module, the identifier associated with the identification medium.

  By its simple and inexpensive design, such a support allows any individual or object that has been identified to be located accurately and in real time.

  The present invention also relates to a telecommunication module characterized in that it comprises: a short-distance radio reception module for receiving, from an identification medium belonging to an individual or an object, an identifier associated with this support, - a read module of the received identifier, - and a distance measuring module which separates the telecommunication module from the identification medium.

  Such a module, by its simple and inexpensive design, can detect in real time the presence of an individual or an object that has been identified.

  The present invention finally provides a processing module which is characterized in that it comprises: a communication module with a telecommunication module, so as to receive from the latter an identifier associated with a localized identification medium; by the telecommunication module, an identifier associated with the telecommunication module, as well as the value of the distance measured between the localized identification medium and the telecommunication module, and a module for recording this information and the time registration of this information.

  The advantage of such a processing module lies in an optimization of the management of the location of an individual or an object, since the location information received by this module is processed almost in real time.

  In a preferred embodiment of the processing module according to the invention, the latter further comprises a comparison module between, on the one hand, the time elapsed since the time of the last recording and, on the other hand, a duration predetermined, so as to detect the presence or absence of the identification medium if the elapsed time is respectively less than or greater than the predetermined duration.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge during the following description of an embodiment given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the single appended figure which schematically represents the architecture of a location system of an individual or an object.

  With reference to this single figure, the system according to the present invention comprises: - an identification medium 1 belonging to an individual or an object to be located, - a telecommunication module 2, - a location server 3, - and a network 4, via which the module 2 and the server 3 communicate.

  More specifically, the identification medium 1 is in the form of a card that every individual to be located must have in his possession or that any object to be located must contain.

  Such a medium 1 comprises: a memory in which is stored an identification code Id1 associated with its owner, and possibly the name of the individual owner or the object to be located, a short distance radio transmitter / receiver lb for transmitting a radio signal containing said identification code.

  The telecommunication module 2 comprises meanwhile: a short-distance radio transmitter / receiver 2a intended to receive the aforementioned radio signal; a read sub-module 2b intended to read the identification code contained in the received and transmitted radio signal; by the transmitter / receiver 2a, - a measurement sub-module 2c intended to evaluate the distance separating the telecommunication module 2 from the card 1, from a measurement of the received radio signal, - a memory 2d in which are registered an identification code Id2 associated with the module 2, the identification code Id1 contained in the radio signal received and transmitted by the transmitter / receiver 2a, and, optionally, the name of the place where the module 2 is installed, as well as internal parameters complementary to the location (office number, floor, building number, etc ...), - a 2nd communication interface with the network 4 which is intended to transmit, directio n of the server 3, location information of the individual holder of the card 1 or the object containing said card, such information including the identification codes! dl and Id2, and the value of the distance measured between card 1 and module 2.

  In the example shown, the sub-module 2c makes a measurement of the amplitude level of the received radio signal.

  As an alternative, it could be a measure of the time elapsed between the end of the transmission, by the module 2, of the radio signal, and the beginning of the reception of the response signal emitted by the card. 1.

  Finally, the location server 3 comprises a processing module 5 which comprises: a communication interface 5a with the network 4 which is intended to receive, from the module 2, said location information, a database 5b in which are memorized in ro correspondence the identification codes! dl and Id2, the value of the distance measured between the card 1 and the module 2, and the time of recording of these data.

  In the example shown: the maximum distance between the card 1 and the module 2 is about 10 m and the short-distance radio link between the transmitter / receiver 1 b and the transmitter / receiver 2 a is of the Bluetooth type; the network 4 is for example of the IP (Internet protocol) type, such as an Internet or Intranet network.

  The processing module 5 furthermore comprises a software module 5c which makes a comparison between, on the one hand, the time elapsed since the time of the last recording and, on the other hand, a predetermined duration recorded in the database 5b. , so as to detect the presence or absence of the card 1 if the elapsed time is respectively less than or greater than the predetermined duration.

  Thus, an advantage of this configuration is to allow the server 3, for example in the case of the location of an individual in an enterprise, to communicate, almost in real time, the presence or non-presence information he has processed, in the direction of other servers of the company, within the framework of the automatic update of data associated with different applications or services of the company.

  The operation of the system described above will now be described with reference to the single figure.

  Suppose card 1 is owned by an individual employed in a company.

  For this purpose, a module 2 is installed at the entrance and exit of the company, as well as in each of the communication tools (landline phone, desktop computer ...) made available to the individual.

  When the individual arrives at the entrance or exit of his business, the card 1 of the individual, which is in the coverage area of the transmitter / receiver 2a of the module 2, sends a radio signal in direction of this last io.

  Such an arrangement has the advantage of accelerating the entry and exit of the individual in his business, avoiding him to search for his card, then present it in front of a reader.

  Following receipt of this radio signal, the transmitter / receiver 2a transmits, in the direction of the card 1, a radio signal comprising a request for identification of the individual holding the card. In response to this request, the transceiver 1b sends, towards the module 2, a radio signal comprising the identification code Id1, stored in the memory la.

  The transmitter / receiver 2a receives this radio signal, then, on the one hand, extracts the identification code Id1 then transmits it to the direction of the read sub-module 2b, and on the other hand, transmits the received radio signal in the direction sub measurement module 2c.

  The read sub-module 2b reads the identification code Id1 which is then stored in the memory 2d, while the measurement sub-module 2c evaluates the distance separating the module 2 from the card 1, from a measurement of the amplitude level of said received radio signal.

  The communication interface 2e then transmits, in the direction of the server 3, via the network 4, a data message comprising the identification codes Id1 and Id2, as well as the value of the distance measured between the card 3o 1 and the module 2.

  The communication interface 5a receives this message and transmits, in the direction of the database 5b, the identification codes! D1 and Id2, the value of the distance measured between the card 1 and the module 2, as well as the time at which these three data are recorded in said database 5b.

  The method and system thus described advantageously make it possible to locate and automatically identify any individual who crosses the entry and exit of the company. In addition, when several individuals simultaneously cross the entry or exit of the company, the method and the system according to the invention are able to differentiate these individuals, thanks to the fact that the card 1, in possession of each individual to locate , has a unique identification code io.

  A localization process identical to that described above also applies when it comes to locating one or more individuals within the company.

  For this purpose, it is appropriate, for each office, local, and place of passage of the company, to install a communication module 2 in each of the communication tools (fixed telephone, desktop computer ...) set to the provision of the individual, so that the location system can ensure the close association between the identified individual and the aforementioned communication tools.

  The detection of the card 1 of the individual by a module 2 which is contained for example in the computer of the individual, allows in particular: - to guarantee that this individual is available for, for example, use instant messaging or videoconferencing software installed on his computer, - know that this individual has the ability to answer the phone 25 when it is hung up.

  and to prevent any malicious use of a desktop computer or other communication tool comprising a communication module 2.

  Moreover, according to the aforementioned configuration, if other persons, each provided with a card 1, are gathered around the individual, the module 2 has the faculty, not only to detect the presence of these people with the computer of the individual, but also to identify each of these people. lo

  Finally, as soon as the individual moves out of his office, the location system according to the invention advantageously makes it possible to forward the telephone calls concerning this individual to the fixed station closest to the place where this individual is located.

  Thus, the individual no longer needs to program call transfer.

  For this purpose, several communication modules 2 are distributed throughout the company so as to locate the individual permanently. The telephone number of the office telephone of the individual A, as well as the telephone number of the telephone closest to a module 2 listed in the company, are furthermore memorized in correspondence with the identification codes Idl and Id2. , the value of the distance measured between the card 1 and the module 2, as well as the time of recording of these data.

  Thus, when an individual A momentarily leaves his office to go to another room of the company, the individual A necessarily passes in front of at least one of the modules 2 scattered throughout the company, which refers to the server 3 the location information of the individual A in the manner that has been described above. The difference with the method described above lies in the fact that the location information further comprises: the telephone number of the office telephone of the individual A, in association with the identification code Id1 read by the module 2, - and the telephone number of the telephone closest to module 2 which has read the identification code ldl of the individual A. When an individual B phones the individual A thinking that the latter is at his desk, while it is not necessarily, a routing server (not shown) of the company sends a request for redirection of the call to the location server 3, such a request containing the called telephone number. The software module 5c then queries the database 5b so as to extract the telephone number of the telephone which is closest to the module 2 which has read the identification code ldl corresponding to the called telephone number. The server 3 then returns the extracted telephone number to the routing server which redirects the call of the individual B to the nearest telephone station of the module 2 which is itself the closest to the individual A. In the same In other words, if the individual A is out of range of a telephone set, the forwarding by the aforementioned routing server can be automatically carried out to another appropriate telephone set (secretary, guardian, etc.) or voicemail, without delay for the caller, provided that the number of the appropriate telephone (secretary, guardian ...) or voicemail is recorded in correspondence with the identification code Id1, in the base 5b.

  Another advantage of such a location system and method is that it makes it possible to know whether people are still inside certain rooms and even to detect exactly where they are, in particular in case of evacuation of the rooms. premises for fire or major disaster. The security of the company is thereby significantly improved.

  According to a particularly advantageous variant of the aforementioned system and location method, it is possible to use the company's communication tools, such as in particular computers, in a self-service manner.

  For this purpose, the computer server (not shown) of the company comprises a database in which the identification code Id1, the login and the password of the individual with the code Id1 are registered in correspondence. .

  When an individual connects to any desktop computer (the individual's or a self-service computer), he or she enters his login and password as usual. A module 2 installed in the computer reads the identification code Id1 of the individual in the manner described above with reference to the single figure. The module 2 then transmits, via an appropriate communication interface, a request to supply the Iogin and the password that correspond to the identification code Id1 read, in the direction of the computer server.

  In response to this request, the computer server sends the login and password to module 2.

  2867332 12 The software module of the computer then compares the login and the password entered with the login and password provided by the computer server. If all these data match, the connection is made. In the opposite case, the connection is locked.

  As soon as the individual moves away from the computer, the module 2 sends a sleep request to the software module of the computer. The resumption of the session is done when the individual acts on the keyboard or the mouse, but after reading by the module 2 of the same identification code, which, on the one hand, prevents the individual from entering the new login and password, and, on the other hand, prevents another person from using the computer outside the presence of the individual. Such a configuration thus improves the security of the current use of networked computers in an enterprise.

  The method and the localization system which have been described above with reference to the single figure also find a particularly advantageous application in the case of the self-service circulation, within the company, of the mobile resources specific to the device. 'business. By mobile resources, we mean all equipment such as desktops, video projectors, overhead projectors, screens, printers, etc ... For this purpose, each of these resources must contain a card 1 so that any communication module 2, within whose radius of action is at a given time the resource to locate, can read the identification code ldl specific to this resource and transmit this ldl code to the server 3.

  With this configuration, the server 3 has almost real-time information on where exactly each of these resources, which makes it easier to manage the loan of these resources to the staff of the company.

  It goes without saying that the embodiment and the various variants which have been described above have been given purely by way of indication and in no way limitative, and that many modifications can easily be made by those skilled in the art without as far out of the scope of the invention.

  Thus, the radio signal emitted by the card 1 in the direction of the module 2 and intended to indicate to the latter the presence of the card 1 in the coverage area of the module 2, could already contain the identification code ldl. of the card 1. In this case, module 2 would not have to issue a request for identification of the individual holding the card 1.

  According to another modality, the card 1 could emit, in the direction of the module 2, a radio signal containing the identification code Id1, only on request of the module 2.

2867332 14

Claims (10)

CLAIMS,   1. System for locating an individual or an object, said individual or object being provided with an identification medium (1) with which an identifier is associated, characterized in that: - the identification medium (1 ) comprises short-distance radio transmission means (1b) for transmitting, in the direction of a telecommunication module (2), said identifier, said telecommunication module including: io É short-distance radio reception means (2a) for receiving, from said medium, the identifier of said medium, E reading means (2b) of the received identifier, É measuring means (2c) of the distance separating the telecommunication module (2 ) of said medium (1), and in that said system further comprises a processing module (5) which is connected to said telecommunication module, said processing module comprising means (5a) for recording said identifier, an identifier associated with said telecommunication module, the value of the distance measured between the identification medium and the telecommunication module, and the time of the recording of this information.   2. System according to claim 1, wherein the processing module (5) further comprises means for comparing, on the one hand, the time elapsed since the time of the last recording and, on the other hand, a duration predetermined, so as to detect the presence or absence of said support if the elapsed time is respectively less than or greater than the predetermined duration.   3. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the processing module is installed in a server (3) which is connected to the telecommunications module (2) via a data transmission network (4).   4. An identification medium belonging to an individual or an object and comprising means for recording an identifier associated with said medium, characterized in that it furthermore comprises means for short radio transmission. distance (lb) for transmitting, in the direction of a telecommunication module (2), said identifier.   5. Telecommunication module, characterized in that it comprises: - short-distance radio reception means (2a) for receiving, from an identification medium (1) belonging to an individual or to an object, a identifier of said medium, - reading means (2b) of said received identifier, - and measurement means (2c) of the distance separating said telecommunication module (2) from said identification medium (1).   6. Processing module, characterized in that it comprises: - communication means (5a) with a telecommunication module (2), so as to receive from the latter an identifier associated with an identification medium ( 1) located by said telecommunication module (2), an identifier associated with said telecommunication module (2), as well as the value of the distance measured between said localized identification medium and said telecommunication module, and means for recording (5b) said information and the time of recording of this information.   7. Module according to claim 6, further comprising means for comparing, on the one hand, the time elapsed since the time of the last recording and, on the other hand, a predetermined duration, so as to detect the presence or not said identification medium if the elapsed time is respectively less than or greater than the predetermined duration.   8. A method of locating an individual or an object, said individual or object being provided with an identification medium (1) with which an identifier is associated, said method being characterized in that it comprises at least the following steps: - a) transmission, by the identification medium, of said identifier, according to a short-distance radio link, towards a telecommunication module (2), - b) reading of the received identifier and measurement of the distance separating the telecommunication module from the identification medium (1), - c) recording of said received identifier, of an identifier associated with the telecommunication module, of the value of the distance between the telecommunication terminal and said medium of identification, and the time of registration of said information.   9. A method according to claim 8, wherein prior to step a), the telecommunication module (2) transmits at least one request in the direction of the identification medium (1), according to a short-distance radio link, so that detecting whether said identification medium (1) is in proximity or not to said telecommunication module.   The method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein between the reading step in step b) and the recording step in step c), a transmission step in the direction of a server (3) connected to the telecommunication module, via a data transmission network (4), said received identifier, an identifier associated with the telecommunication module, and the value of the distance measured between the support of identification and the telecommunication module.