GR1009254B - Methodology and integrated guard tour patrol system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system designed to control a guard patrol and improve the efficiency of the surveillance and services provision in branches of the market where shift workers are employed for executing predefined periodic control or maintenance work in various sites. More precisely, it relates to a high-efficiency method aiming at the continuous surveillance and management of activities while supporting the operator in his proper decision-making. The invented control system is composed of two complementary entities: the innovative portable reading /recording device (EGT Eguard) with specific preprogrammed cards of the RFID type and the cloud application meant for the management of the received information which are collected and dynamically composed for being sent to the cloud application via a specific private cyphered protocol. The connection of the system to the server is achieved via specific web service software.

Description

METHODOLOGY AND INTEGRATED GUARD PATROL CONTROL SYSTEM

Description

The present EGT invention relates to a guard tour patrol system methodology and control system, which aims to improve Service Delivery Supervision performance in market sectors that employ clerical staff who are usually rotated in shifts, and required to perform specified periodic inspection or maintenance tasks at various sites. In particular, it refers to a methodology, which indicatively aims at increased performance, through the continuous monitoring and management of activities, while at the same time supporting the operator in making the right decisions. It also concerns the design and manufacture of an EGT Eguard card reader device (2) for RFID type cards (4, 5, and 6). The EGT Eguard card reader (2) is an innovative handheld electronic device designed to detect, read, record, record and send data to and from RFID cards (4, 5, and 6). At the same time, the invention concerns an installation, for the implementation of this method through special IT equipment (hardware, software and communication networks), electronic devices and RFID cards (4, 5, and 6) to achieve the above objectives.

The Service Delivery Confirmation systems aim to inform the interested parties about the actions carried out by their staff. The first implementations appeared about three decades ago with systems for recording mainly the time of staff actions, such as for example the recording of the time of declaring their presence in the workplace, or the recording of the time of a performed action. Guard tour patrol systems are such an implementation category.

Modern Guard Patrol Control Systems mainly consist of three parts:

A) They are based on portable readers or data loggers). These have integrated software and sensors mainly of the Radio Frequency Identification type. They can incorporate additional features such as real-time clock, GPS system, etc.

B) They use special tags (checkpoint or personnel type) for reading. These are characterized by a unique identification number and are read by the reader. The reading time from the device and the unique number of the card make up the information that the device stores and/or sends to third party systems.

C) Finally, there is similar software for recording the reading information. This can be installed on a single computer, network environment or be a Cloud Application.

A Guard Patrol Control System provides the means to record the time at which the employee arrives at specific points in his tour. Control points (or control stations) are usually placed either at the ends of the patrol route, or at other key and critical points, through which the control officer must pass.

Some systems are designed so that the time between check stations is timed so that if the worker fails to reach each point within a certain time period, other staff members are notified and dispatched to ensure the worker is well. .

Today, with the rapid development of technology, the field in the development of commercial products in Service Delivery Assurance Systems worldwide is mainly moving towards two trends:

a. The first trend concerns the construction of autonomous Reading Devices. These devices usually record the readings in their memory and send them to the person concerned, either in real time, or at a later time from the base station to which they are connected. These devices are distinguished:

• In proximity plastic card readers (NFC or RFID type),

• In sticker scanners (QR codes or barcodes type),

• In semiconductor readers (iButton memory chips). Devices of this type are also called pipes.

b. The second trend, which is also technologically more complex, focuses on the development of software (apps) for smartphone-type devices (with iOS or Android operating systems). These applications take advantage of the smartphone's permanent connection to the mobile network (3G / GPRS), read the data of the compatible tag (usually with its built-in camera or NFC reader) and usually send it (after the patrol is over) via a computer connection or directly to a real-time web application.

Each of the above approaches has its advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage of using reading devices is the simplicity of use and the main disadvantage is the cost of acquiring or renting the device. The main disadvantage of using applications via smart phones is the dependence on the respective version of the operating system of the mobile phone, as well as the cost of purchasing the phone device, while their main advantage could be characterized as the relatively low cost of acquisition and use of the application.

Also, the processing and presentation of data and information is not carried out using reports and statistical analysis, so as to provide the possibility for further exploitation, while there is no provision for extracting the information in a printable or storable format for archiving.

The proposed invention has been developed based on good practices resulting from:

the application of security principles in the custody process

analyzing the requirements and needs of guard patrol service companies

• the detailed and meticulous recording of the operational gaps in the day-to-day activity of security service companies

• the analysis of available state-of-the-art technologies, as well as

· the thorough study of scientific research related to the implementation of patrol algorithms in guarded areas.

The purpose of the invention is to address the above-mentioned disadvantages by giving a comprehensive solution/methodology, which includes better monitoring, management and control of the Guard Patrol system, while providing the innovative decision support tool. Also an important advantage of the invention is the possibility of its customization for application in different solutions for the supervision of the provision of services in order to address a wide range of companies, which employ staff who usually rotate in shifts, and are required to perform specified periodic control or maintenance tasks in various places.

Examples include:

Space and Facility Security applications (eg monitoring work hours and periodic checks of guards).

Facilities Maintenance Applications (e.g. monitoring the work of maintenance workers in the areas of interest).

Applications of Guarding and Care of persons, elderly, sick, etc. (e.g. monitoring attendance of attendants, attendance of nurses to patients, etc.).

Applications for Hotel and Hospital Units (e.g. monitoring the execution times of the floor cleaners, etc)..

Applications for companies that employ employees with periodic and repetitive tasks (e.g. to monitor the work of facility maintainers).

Applications that wish to monitor the observance of their staff's time (e.g. recording arrival / departure times). Applications that monitor the correct execution of key tasks (e.g. monitoring the correct execution of night patrols, or the correct control of remote facilities).

Applications for Public Transport (verification of timetables, etc.)

The continuation of the description will be based, where possible, on the illustrative figures which contain numerical symbols to highlight the important individual features of the invention. Numerical symbols are referred to in parentheses, in the corresponding parts of this description. The double arrows in the figure illustrate the two-way communication between the elements of the invention (2,3, and 7). The figures are listed for a better understanding of the Guard Patrol methodology and integrated system.

Regarding the EGT Eguard card reader device (2), it concerns the design and manufacture of a card reader device for RFID type cards (4, 5, and 6). The EGT Eguard card reader device (2) is an innovative handheld electronic device designed to detect, read, record and send data from and to RFID cards (4, 5, and 6).

This device incorporates the following modern technologies:

• integrated GSM/GPRS transceiver and SIM card (data and/or voice) with the possibility of servicing incoming and outgoing telephone calls (to certain numbers) (23)

• integrated GPS (24)

• built-in Bluetooth (25)

• RFID reader and writer (10)

• light, acceleration, temperature sensors (16)

· illuminated six-line LCD screen with a resolution of 128 pixels x 64 pixels (11).

• buzzer and vibration to notify the Employee (12).

The components of the GPRS/telephone transceiver as well as the GPS are implemented by third-party manufacturers while the rest of the printed circuit components are designed and implemented by the EGT company. Indicatively, the circuit elements that complete the operation of the device are mentioned:

• CPU - Central Processing Unit (19)

• EEprom - External memory (18)

• Real Time Clock - Real Time Clock (20)

• Service ports (15)

· RFID antenna (10)

• Power Module - Charging unit (13)

• Keypad port (14)

Tamper (22)

• LEDs (21)

Motion detection (16)

The device uses an external 32Mbyte eeprom memory to store the data it collects. This memory consists of 8,191 pages of 528 bytes each, of which the first 1,280 pages are used to store the processor upgrade. Four device readings of 132 bytes are stored on each page. The total number of read data that the device can store is 27,618 records. In each recording, both the card data and the spatio-temporal data from GPS and GSM are recorded.

When the device detects that there is upgrade data, is on its base and has been charging for more than two minutes and has no data to send, it starts the upgrade process. The device stores the upgrade in the first 1280 pages of the external memory. Then, after all the upgrade data has been downloaded, the device copies the new programming from the external memory to the processor's program memory, checks the integrity of the data and restarts.

The device can download upgrade data either via GPRS internet or PC serial port. In this way, all devices that have an old version of the program are automatically updated via the Internet without requiring any action from the user.

The design and construction is substantially different from the existing commercially available devices since the placement of the device elements have been done so that there is minimal interference between the GPRS (23) and GPS (24) transceiver elements with the RFID reader (10), while the sensors have been placed in the center of the device to make measurements that correspond to reality.

The device is placed in a commercially available black plastic case. The case has an optional silicone cover to protect against drops. The device comes with a plastic charging base with a "Universal Serial Bus" type cable. Charging can be done by connecting to a PC or from a commercial "220V - to usb" charger (compatible with mobile phone chargers). The membrane with the interface keys is attached to the front of the device. The membrane has been designed by EGT to provide greater functionality.

On the front there are two led lights. Red indicates charging and green indicates communication with the telephone network.

On the back side you can see the (gold-plated) charging contacts and the lid of the battery compartment. Inside the case is the Reset button, which is used to restart the device, and the SIM card slot.

The membrane on the front consists of eight keys with the following functions:

• Danger buttons (broadcast the event with a long press) (26, 27,28) • Incoming call acceptance button (29)

· Device IMEI display key (long press) (29)

• End incoming call key (31)

• Manager call selection key (Supervisor, Supervisor, Center) (31) • Menu selection acceptance key (33)

• Menu navigation keys (30, 32)

In detail, the LCD screen (34) and its function are shown below:

1st Screen Line shows: (From left)

• Battery Charge Indicator Symbol,

• The Name of the Mobile Telephony Provider,

• Symbol with the Signal Level of the Mobile Telephony.

The 2nd, 3rd and 4th Screen Lines show the Menu options. The first three (CHECK POINT, START JOB, END JOB) are shown on the first screen of the Menu.

The Menu, by pressing the navigation keys (UP. DOWN) continues to the next screen, where the next three options are shown (STATUS TRUE, STATUS FALSE, STATUS OTHER)

Line 5 is empty.

The 6th Screen Line shows: (From left)

• PC symbol: when it flashes, it means that data is being transmitted to the telephone network.

• Moon symbol: mobile phone is in standby mode.

· Device date and time.

• GPS network presence symbol.

• Circle with X: Indicates the existence of a satellite connection.

• X: Indicates the lack of satellite connection.

Essentially, the EGT Eguard Card Reader (2) is an implementation of a Reader with advanced mobile phone capabilities. In this way an independent product is provided and any dependence on foreign hardware or software manufacturers is avoided.

The EGT Eguard Card Reader device (2) sends the data it reads to a Cloud (or SaaS) application. The communication is achieved through a special private encrypted protocol and the connection to the server through a special web service software. (8)

The Cloud app has the following key features:

The home page of the Cloud application is located at an address (uniform resource locator) of the form https://login.egt.site and the connection to the page is based on the https protocol, which provides secure user authentication and encrypted communication.

Access to stored information is based on the user's credentials. Each user has different rights (view, edit, delete) and has access only to the information that concerns him.

Entry is accessible from any online device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) that can load a browser application.

The Cloud application has many features of Customer Resource Management type applications.

It implements an innovative notification system for alarms resulting from non-compliance with the time rules, automatically notifying the person concerned in a variety of ways (SMS, email, direct phone call, etc.).

Through the web application the user has the possibility to:

It manages information concerning its company (e.g. Customers, Employees, Service Provision Units, Control Points, RFID cards (personnel or control points), Reading Devices, etc.).

It is updated in real time on the actions of its employees (eg shift starts / ends, spot checks, status checks, emergency incident calls, etc.).

Receives an alert on any deviation from her staff's schedule (eg late start of work, early end of work, incomplete spot check, etc.)

Tracks the locations of Employees, Service Units, Devices and Control Points on the map.

It is informed in real time about incidents arising from the non-performance of the duties of the employees,

Selectively prints reports, statistics as well as data from system logs, etc.

There is two-way communication between the Cloud Application and the EGT Eguard Card Reader Device (7). For example, the user can set the operating characteristics on any reading device while the application can be interconnected and send selective signals to an authorized Signal Receiving Center (another independent company), so that there is an immediate response to the signals sent by the Competent Authority Principle.

When reading the RFID card, the Card to Know EGT Eguard device, in addition to the unique code of the ID card, also reads the memory of the card in which the type of card is stored, i.e. (4, 5, 6):

· If it is a checkpoint card

• If it is an employee card

• If she is unwell

• If it is a status card

• If it is a supervisor control card

In this way the device knows what type of card it is reading and checks if the selection made from the device menu corresponds to this type of reading card to proceed with the reading process. If the type of card the device is trying to read is not correct then it displays a selection error message to the user.

When it comes to an employee card, you also store the employee's start and end of work in the card's memory. In this way, the smart device does not allow the same worker to start or end work a second time.

The card also stores two times that the device can read from the card.

The first time refers to the time interval in minutes that must have passed since any card was last read by the device. That is, if for example the first time stored in the card is 5 minutes, then in order for the device to be able to read the card, the previous reading of any other card by the device must have been done at least 5 minutes earlier than the attempt to read it new card. If the reading is done in a shorter time then the device informs the user to try again at the correct time.

The second time refers to the time interval in minutes that must have passed since the last time the same card was read by the device. That is, if for example the second time stored in the card is 60 minutes, then in order for the device to read the same card again, the first reading of the card must have been done at least sixty minutes earlier. If the reading is done in a shorter time then the device informs the user to try again at the correct time.

With these two times which are stored in the card's memory and with the date and time of the last reading of the card which is also stored on the card, the device does not allow the user to deviate from the plan drawn up by the people in charge of the respective control or maintenance service .

The first time of the card characterizes the amount quickly it can read the next card since the last reading the device has done on any other card.

If, for example, we have six checkpoints and we want them to be checked at a minimum interval of 30 minutes, we write the first time the value five minutes on each card and thus do not allow the user until 5 minutes have passed since the previous point to take a new reading. In order to finish reading all the signs, the user must spend at least 30 minutes. In this way, the device controls how quickly the cards are read and does not allow the user to escape the planning of control or maintenance service procedures.

The second time of the card characterizes the re-read period time.

If, for example, we want a point to be checked every half hour and not earlier, then on the card we should write in the second time the interval of 30 minutes. When the user tries to read the same card in a period of less than 30 minutes, the device will inform him of the time remaining to read after the predetermined reading time. The user is thus limited to two visits per hour to the site. If the design requires more visits to the point say four times an hour and no more then we should put in the second time the interval of 15 minutes to read the same card so that the user waits at least 15 minutes to read the same card .

An additional feature related to Checkpoint Dwell Time. When the employee reads the control point earlier than the first year the card has, then he is informed that he must try again to read the point at the correct time, but at the same time this is recorded in the device's memory and transmitted to the server as the time of arrival at the point and not as control time. So when we want the guard to stay at some specific points for a period of time we have the time of his arrival and when he checks the point (after the end of the first time of the card) we also have the time of departure, so the time he stayed at the specific checkpoint.

The device is now a smart device that not only records the ID and the time of reading the card but also checks the type of card, the difference of the reading time from the previous reading of the same card or another card and informs the user of the completion of the process or to repeat it at the right time. The smart reader does not introduce unnecessary data into the application and does not allow design deviation in the services provided.

All devices synchronize their date and time with the application server, so there is no difference between devices in reading times.

The operating characteristics of the devices are set remotely through the web application so that it is possible for the one who designs the monitoring application of the control - maintenance service to remotely set the functions and capabilities of the devices without requiring any manipulation by the user. The operating characteristics of the device that can be set remotely are:

· Display language

• Sound feature functions

• Functions of LED's

• Screen backlight function

• Device vibration function

· Device immobility mode

• Heartbeat sending function

• If the device belongs to an employee

The motion sensor present in the device is used to detect the movement of the device by the user. With this sensor we can prevent unpleasant situations such as the employee fainting or a serious heart attack during his working hours, especially in cases where he works alone. When motion detection by the device has been activated during the planning of the service provision and the employee's work shift, if the device detects immobility for a period of 15 minutes, it immediately informs the application and consequently those responsible for its status.

The main advantages of the present invention concern the ease of use, with a simultaneous reduction in the cost of providing the service and an increase in performance, which are achieved due to the following properties and points in which it differs:

• the device can also write data to the RFID cards.

· the device can sense the type of card it is reading (Individual, control, status) through card personalization.

• the device can sense the time that has passed since the previous reading of the same RFID card.

• the device can sense the time that has passed since the previous reading of another RFID card.

• the device can emit three 3 different distress signals and send them simultaneously to different Signal Receiving Centers of another Company. • the device has the ability to change its parameters through the Cloud Application.

· the device can make voice calls to three 3 different phone numbers.

• the device can communicate with the server with web services (8) and not with TCP/IP sockets.

• the device has a Bluetooth module (25) as an alternative communication option.

Interconnection/intercom technologies used concern the well-known Bluetooth protocol which is useful for the communication of devices (3) although the range is relatively short.

The communication of the device with the internet for the exchange of information with the application of the general management of the system (8, 9) (back end) part is achieved through a mobile network (7).

Claims (18)

CLAIMS METHODOLOGY AND INTEGRATED GUARD PATROL CONTROL SYSTEM 1. Guard tour patrol system control methodology, which aims to improve the performance of Service Delivery Supervision in market sectors that employ clerical staff who usually rotate in shifts, and are required to perform specified periodic control or maintenance tasks in various places and consists of the following functional entities: a) portable electronic device hand-held card reader E6T Eguard (2) which aims to detect, read, record, record and send data from and to RFID cards (4,5,6), b) management of the information collected from a variety of sources (RFID cards) and then stored in a similar software for recording the reading information installed as a Cloud Application (8,9); c) decision-making as a compensation for the need for high training and technical familiarity but also for the need for continuous monitoring of the evolution of a multitude of parameters, Characterized by the real-time (near real-time) conversion of the data coming from RFID cards into useful information for the user. 2. Guard tour patrol system control methodology according to claim 1, characterized in that the information collected by the Cloud Application (8,9) and available to the user is used both for immediate and correct handling of emergency events as well as for the correct management of its planned activities. 3. Guard tour patrol system control methodology according to claim 1, characterized in that the user can also record data on the personalized RFID cards (4,5, and 6). 4. Guard tour patrol system control methodology according to claim 1, characterized in that the user can perceive the type of card he is reading (Individual, Control, Status) through the personalization of the card by the card reader device EGT Eguard (2). 5. Guard tour patrol system control methodology according to claim 1, characterized in that the EGT Eguard card reader device (2) can perceive the time that has passed since the previous reading of the same card or another RFID card . 6. Guard tour patrol system control methodology according to claim 1, characterized in that the EGT Eguard card reader device (2) can emit three (3) different distress signals and send them simultaneously to a different Center Receiving another Company's Signals. 7. Guard tour patrol system control methodology according to claim 1, characterized in that the EGT Eguard card reader device (2) is capable of changing its parameters via the Cloud Application (8,9). 8. Guard tour patrol system control methodology according to claim I, characterized in that the EGT Eguard card reader device (2) is capable of communicating with the cloud Application via web services (8). 9. Guard tour patrol system control methodology according to claim 1, characterized in that the EGT Eguard card reader device (2) is capable of recording in addition to the ID and time of card reading and checking the type of card, the difference in reading time from the previous reading of the same card or another card in order to inform the user of the completion of the process or of repeating it at the correct time. 10. Installation and related arrangement which includes the technical means for the implementation of the methodology, i.e. a complete guard tour patrol system, characterized by the fact that the user has an EGT Eguard card reader device (2), which integrates all following modern technologies: a) GPRS transceiver and SIM card, (23) b) GPS, (24) c) Bluetooth, (25) d) RFID reader and writer, (10) e) light, acceleration and temperature sensors, (16) ) f) illuminated screen, (11) g) buzzer (12) and h) vibration (12) to avoid the use of many different devices and to implement the general management of the system with the Cloud Application (8,9) . II. Integrated guard tour patrol system according to claim 10, characterized in that the EGT Eguard card reader device (2) has a membrane on the front side consisting of eight keys with the following functions: a) Danger keys (transmit the event with a long press), b) incoming call acceptance button, c) Device IMEI display button (long press), d) incoming call end button, e) Manager call selection button (Supervisor, Foreman, Center), f) menu selection acceptance button, g) menu navigation keys. 12. Integrated guard tour patrol system according to claim 10, characterized in that the EGT Eguard card reader device (2) has an LCD screen (11) with functions/indications: a) charging the Battery, b) name of the Mobile Telephony provider, c) Signal Level of Mobile Telephony, d) Menu options, e) transmission of data to the telephone network, f) standby mode, g) Device date and time, h) existence of a GPS network, i) satellite connection. 13. Integrated guard tour patrol system according to claim 10, characterized in that the user of the cloud application: a) Manages data concerning its company (e.g. Customers, Employees, Service Provision Units, Control Points, RFID cards (personnel or control points), Reading Devices, etc.), b) It is informed in real time of the actions of its employees (eg shift starts / ends, spot checks, status checks, emergency incident calls, etc.), c) Receives an alarm on any deviation from the schedule of its staff (e.g. late start of work, early end of work, incomplete control of points, etc.), d) Monitors on an electronic interactive map the positions of Employees, Service Units, Devices and Control Points, e) It is informed in real time about incidents arising from the non-performance of the duties of the employees, f) Selectively prints reports, statistics as well as data from system logs. 14. Installation according to claim 10, characterized by including a set of card reader devices where each one collects all the information and transmits it to the application of the general management of the system (Cloud application) (8,9). 15. Installation according to claim 10, characterized in that the devices communicate with the general management of the system via a mobile network. 16. Installation according to claim 10, characterized in that each card reader device includes a set of different sensors which transmit information to the general management of the system (Cloud application) (8,9). 17. Installation according to claim 10, characterized in that the general system management application (Cloud application) (8,9) is the application running on the internet (Cloud Application) and which stores (on the cloud server) and redistributes the data in the rest of the system components. 18. Installation according to claim 10, characterized in that the general system management application (Cloud application) (8,9) is the application having the following basic characteristics: a) the home page of the Cloud application is located at an address (uniform resource locator) of the form https://login.egt.site and the connection to the page is based on the https protocol, which provides secure user authentication and encrypted communication, b) your input stored information is based on the user's credentials and each user has different rights (view, edit, delete) while only having access to the information that concerns him, c) the entry is accessible from any online device (computer, tablet or mobile phone) that can load a browser application, d) the Cloud application has many features of Customer Resource Management type applications, e) implements an innovative information system on alarms resulting from non-compliance with the time rules, automatically informing the interested party in a variety of ways (SMS, email, direct phone call, etc.).