CN112789381A - Device for accessing an underground or aboveground municipal engineering infrastructure with a multi-protocol communication module, and system for managing a set of access devices - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an access device for accessing underground or above-ground municipal engineering infrastructure, having an access door (1) for accessing a space. The access door has a communication module (3) with at least one antenna for transmitting signals over at least one wireless communication network. The communication module (3) is a multi-protocol communication module to enable transmission of signals according to at least two wireless communication protocols or according to at least one wired communication protocol and at least one wireless communication protocol. This ensures the continuity of data transmission from or to the communication module. The invention also relates to a system for managing a set of such access devices.

Description

Device for accessing an underground or aboveground municipal engineering infrastructure with a multi-protocol communication module, and system for managing a set of access devices

The present invention relates to the field of solutions for accessing any type of underground or above-ground municipal engineering infrastructure. Access to the infrastructure is typically via an access door (also known as an access cover or plug).

A door particularly enables access to underground or above ground municipal engineering infrastructure for viewing or inspection thereof. Municipal engineering refers in particular to public or private networks (hydraulic, electrical, gas, communication, etc.), except for domestic applications (e.g. homes). The infrastructure involved is therefore, non-exhaustively:

a public infrastructure network, for example a network for accessing natural resources or public energy: water networks (in particular storage towers of the reservoir or tower type for drinking water, purification networks dedicated to rainwater and waste water, fire outlets-also known as fire hydrants-and corresponding networks), electrical energy networks including electrical cabinets (which can be installed on the ground, or underground, buried or partially buried), networks for the passage of communication cables (telephones, optical fibers, etc.);

-private infrastructure network: water, energy, underground communication infrastructure (cable) or aerial communication infrastructure (e.g., antenna network).

A fully accessible solution typically comprises an access cover (door or plug), a frame to which the access cover is connected, which frame is sealed, for example, in the ground or on a fixed infrastructure, and a chamber located below (or behind) the access cover.

It is important to ensure that the resources (natural resources, energy or information sources) allocated by these infrastructures are checked. This constitutes a public and economic concern. For some applications, it is important to be able to check the infrastructure at any time, that is to say to ensure continuity with respect to the availability of its information.

It is therefore important to be able to check and supervise the network reliably and in real time, so as to intervene at any time and in a targeted manner in the shortest possible time, both in the case of anomalies or problems, and also preventively, so as to predict and correct the risk of any interruption.

A traditional solution for checking, diagnosing, supervising and correcting networks consists in regular manual intervention in the "manhole" (i.e. at the location of the infrastructure access rooms). This solution is expensive because it often mobilizes human resources to inspect the network and requires transport to the site of maintenance personnel and tools. Furthermore, human intervention, whether in open access or in the network, inherently presents certain risks.

Furthermore, this solution has the drawback of requiring the definition of a checking round, which is not optimal from a preventive point of view and which does not answer the question of the occurrence of an incident on the network, in particular when the entity (enterprise, public authority of a geographical area, etc.) has to manage a group of numerous accesses to the network.

From the prior art is known a general idea of providing a door with means enabling communication with a wireless network. For example, document CA2862457 relates to a combination of a door and an integrated antenna in a ventilated area, in order to be able to transmit and receive signals.

For example, the communication door may enable remote control of environmental parameters formed in a chamber below the door. For example, document US8258977 provides a solution that makes it possible to control environmental parameters in the closed space of a chamber.

However, the solutions known from the prior art are not optimal and do not meet a certain number of requirements in terms of reliability and safety. In particular, the doors known from the prior art depend on the conditions in which they are installed, in particular on the availability of the communication network. Furthermore, although the doors enabling the transmission and reception of signals can be remotely controlled, the problem of controlling a large group of doors is not addressed in the prior art.

The present invention seeks to provide an access solution and management system that addresses all or some of the above problems.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to an access device for accessing an underground or above-ground municipal engineering infrastructure, the access device comprising an access door having a closed position in which the access door closes a cavity and an open position in which the access door provides access to the cavity. The door includes a communication module including at least one antenna that enables transmission of signals over at least one wireless communication network. The communication module is of the multi-protocol type so as to be able to transmit signals according to at least two wireless communication protocols or according to at least one wired communication protocol and at least one wireless communication protocol.

The access means associated with the multi-protocol communication module provides the advantage of ensuring continuity of data transmission. It is possible to install access means in different areas, which may constitute the same set of access means, and adapt the access means to the wireless communication network available in those areas. In some variants of the invention, the use of another network ensures the transmission of data even if the wireless communication network is not available. The transmissions on both networks may be simultaneous, but advantageously the communication module may effect a change from one network to the other, e.g. depending on the availability of the networks. The invention thus enables in particular reliable transmission of data from access devices for accessing underground or above-ground municipal engineering infrastructure for sensitive infrastructure and/or access devices with geographical locations that complicate transmission.

The protocol implemented may be selected from:

-a wired communication protocol for the communication of data,

-a short-range wireless communication protocol, and

medium range or long range communication protocols.

In particular, the wired communication protocol may be adapted to communicate via optical fibers or cables, and the short-range wireless communication protocol may be selected from: NFC, RFID, bluetooth, in particular bluetooth low energy technology, Lifi, Zigbee LoRa (registered trademark); and the mid-range or remote communication protocol may be selected from 4G, 5G, LoRa, Sigfox, NB-IoT, LTE-M, GPRS (registered trademark).

The communication module may be adapted for bidirectional communication.

The communication module may be adapted to evaluate the availability of communication networks respectively employing different protocols according to which the communication module is configured to communicate, and to select a communication protocol for transmitting and/or receiving data depending on the evaluated availability.

The communication module communicating over the first network may be adapted to change its communication to the second network when communication over the first wireless network is interrupted.

The access device may comprise at least one sensor selected from the following sensors: a sensor to sense opening or closing of the door, a sensor to sense at least one environmental parameter of the chamber, a sensor to sense an area proximate the intrusion door, a sensor to sense an intrusion or attempted intrusion into the chamber, each sensor configured to transmit a signal to a communication module configured to transmit one or more signals, or information derived from the one or more signals.

The sensor for sensing the opening or closing of the door may be selected from at least one of the following sensors: contact sensors, sensors of angular position of the door, accelerometers, optical sensors.

The access device may comprise at least one sensor selected from the following sensors sensing at least one environmental parameter of the chamber: temperature sensors, humidity sensors, sensors that sense the presence or absence of particles or particle concentration, sensors that sense the presence or absence of water level or water, sensors that sense the concentration or presence of gases.

The access device may include at least one sensor selected from the following sensors that senses intrusion into the vicinity of the door: a vibration sensor, a thermal sensor, an optical sensor, an audio sensor, and/or at least one sensor selected from the following sensors that senses intrusion or attempted intrusion into the chamber: shock sensors, vibration sensors, temperature sensors, audio sensors.

The communication module may comprise an antenna inseparably integrated with the door.

The access means may comprise a battery which is able to supply power to the communication module as a primary power source or in the event of a failure of the primary power source.

The door of the access device may comprise a rigid outer skin, below which a set of ribs is provided substantially at right angles to said outer skin, the ribs being arranged so as to form at least one compartment in which said communication module is mounted, possibly suitably in addition to the antenna of the communication module, the compartment being closed by a rigid inner skin providing mechanical protection of said communication module.

The invention also relates to a system for managing a set of access devices for accessing one or more underground or above-ground municipal engineering infrastructures, the system comprising a set of access devices as defined above and comprising servers, each access device being configured to communicate with a server via at least two communication networks.

In such a management system, each access device may be associated with an identifier transmitted upon any communication between the access device and a server configured to retrieve geographic location information about the access device from a memory.

The management system may comprise at least one computer access system for accessing said server, the access system executing a computer program called management platform configured to provide information on the status of each access device or to provide information from environmental data from sensors with which the access device is equipped. The platform may include different accesses for information from at least two user profile based access devices.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting example:

figure 1 represents an access arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention of a first aspect of the invention;

figure 2 shows an access device according to another example embodiment;

figure 3 is a graphical representation of a equipped communication module that can be implemented in the present invention;

figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a management system for a group of access devices according to another aspect of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of an aspect of the management system according to FIG. 4 as an example.

Fig. 1 shows a door 1 and a frame 2 connected thereto for closing or enabling access to a chamber (not shown in fig. 1).

The door 1 is shown in an open position enabling access to the chamber via an opening 21 formed by the frame 2.

The door 1 may have various configurations. In the example shown in fig. 1, the door is formed of galvanized steel. According to other possible configurations, the door 1 may be of cast iron (nodular cast iron, grey cast iron), stainless steel, composite material. Thus, the door may be constructed of a single material, or different constituent materials may be combined. Thus, a portion of the surface of the plug may be made of a first material and the complementary surface may be made of another material. In particular, the plug may combine galvanized steel with a component comprising a specific coating, or for example the plug may be cast iron with an insert of another material.

This may in particular help to enable transmission of electromagnetic waves through the door 1, as described in detail below.

In the example of fig. 1, the door comprises a rigid outer skin 11, for example of galvanized steel. This outer skin corresponds to the visible part of the door 1 when the door 1 is in the closed position. The outer skin 11 covers the frame 2 or provides surface continuity with the frame 2, although the door 1 may be slightly convex with respect to the frame 2 and/or have a non-planar surface that is completely or partially convex with respect to the frame 2.

Below the outer skin 11, the ribs 12 form compartments 13, 13'. The ribs 12 are substantially at right angles to the outer skin 11.

The frame 2 may also be formed of steel. Other above-described constituent materials may be used instead. The frame 2 may in particular be of the same material as the door 1.

The frame has a sealing member 21 for final fastening thereof by sealing at the opening of the chamber (not shown in fig. 1). For example, for an infrastructure to provide security, the chamber may be formed of reinforced concrete or mortar with fibrous fillers. The chamber may be of composite material or any other material used in the municipal engineering field.

The door 1 has a seat, that is to say a contact area in the closed position, which can simply be placed on the frame 2 or held in the frame 2.

The door 1 is connected to the frame so as to be able to assume an open position and a closed position, for example, the door 1 may be pivotally mounted with respect to the frame 2 by means of a pivot 15. The door 1 may have a simple opening, that is to say the door 1 may be opened using a simple lifting key, or it may have a locking system of higher or lower complexity (for example, allowing only the use of a specific key to open the door 1). The locking system 16 may comprise two locking bolts which can be turned to be supported under the frame 2 to prevent opening of the door 1.

In the present invention, the door 1 is equipped with a communication module 3.

The communication module 3 may in particular comprise one or more electronic units 31 equipped with at least one antenna 32 enabling the transmission of signals through a wireless network.

The telecommunications module 3 can be arranged in a compartment 13 formed by ribs 12 under the outer skin 11. The compartment 13 accommodating the telecommunications module 3 is closed by an inner skin 14. The inner skin 14 is rigid. The inner skin 14 may be of inorganic or organic material (e.g. of plastic material, of composite material) which may be reinforced to withstand mechanical (e.g. using cutting tools), thermal (e.g. using torches) or chemical attack. By way of non-exhaustive example, it may be metallic, such as a composite of hot galvanized steel, stainless steel, cast iron (ductile iron, grey cast iron). Many organic or inorganic materials may be used.

The compartment provides protection for the communication module 3. One, several or all of the compartments 13, 13' formed by the ribs 12 may be closed by a rigid inner skin 14.

The antenna 32 of the communication module 3 may be positioned in the same compartment as the rest of the communication module 3. Alternatively, the antenna may be positioned in another compartment. The positioning of the antenna is important in order to enable the transmission of waves from the plate 1. The antenna 32 (or one or more antennas of the communication module) may be arranged in a different compartment than the compartment of the electronics unit 31.

The position of the antenna is advantageously optimized so as to have the best possible transmission of electromagnetic waves through the door 1. However, in some applications, it may be considered to protect the antenna from external effects (e.g., attempting to break in through a door). The configuration and position of the antenna may take into account in particular the configuration of the ribs 12, and the small damping zone of the electromagnetic waves present on the door 1: the area of smaller thickness than the rest of the door 1, or of a different material from the rest of the door, enables better passage of the waves, the presence of a keyhole in the door, etc.

Generally, the communication modules are integrated (positioned) in a fixed or adjustable manner to ensure the best transmission performance of the signals and, as a corollary, the lowest possible energy consumption.

Fig. 2 shows another example implementation of an access device according to the present invention. Fig. 2 shows an access door 1 which, in contrast to the door of the device of fig. 1, is substantially circular.

The frame 2 is substantially circular to match. Which provides access to the chamber 4.

In the example represented here, the plug or gate 2 is generally made of cast iron (for example nodular cast iron). The frame 2 is formed of the same material. The door 1 is hinged to the frame 2 by means of a pivot 15. The locking device 16 may enable the door 1 to be held in a closed position.

The ribs 12 form compartments 13, 13' under the upper skin 11 of the door 1. The compartment may be opened or closed by an inner lid. In one compartment, a telecommunications module is installed, fastened to the inner surface of the upper skin 11 of the door 1. The fastening of the telecommunications module 3 can be realized by conventional mechanical fasteners, for example using screw fasteners. Other fastening means may be used, for example by magnetic means.

More specifically, the electronics unit 31 and the antenna 32 of the communication module may be fastened in the same compartment 13.

Generally, in the present invention, the communication module is of the multi-protocol type. The switching from one protocol to another may be manual or automatic. This means that the communication module is able to communicate, and in particular to transmit data via at least two networks, which comprise at least one wireless communication network and which use different communication protocols, respectively. For example, the communication module may be configured to communicate through two wireless networks or alternatively or simultaneously through a wired network and a wireless network.

An example of a communication module 3 that can be used in the present invention is shown diagrammatically in fig. 3.

The communication module shown comprises an electronics unit 31 and at least one antenna 32. The unit 32 includes a microprocessor 33 configured to receive signals from a set of sensors 34.

The sensor 34 is incorporated into the electronics unit 31 or, as in the example shown, is connected to the electronics unit by a sensor port 35. The electronic unit 31 may advantageously be fluid tight. Which may comprise a plastics material or steel housing. The port of the electronic unit 31, whether it is a port of the sensor 35, or a port for connection to a power supply as described below, or for example a port for connection to an antenna, may advantageously be fluid-tight. The unused port may be covered by a fluid-tight plug.

The sensor 34 may have various functions for detection or characterization. The sensors 34 may include sensors of the open or closed position of the door, environmental sensors configured to capture environmental parameters normally in the chamber 4 or in the vicinity of the chamber of the access device in question, sensors making it possible to detect the presence of an intrusion in the vicinity of the access device or the presence of an intrusion or attempted intrusion into the chamber 4.

Each sensor 34 may be of various types, contact or non-contact. The sensors 34 may include touch sensors, sensors of angular position of the door, accelerometers, optical sensors, sensors of temperature, humidity, concentration or presence of particles, water level or presence, gas concentration or presence, shock sensors, vibration sensors, audio sensors.

The communication module includes a power supply. This power source may be a connection to a power supply network (e.g. a national distribution network) and/or local sources (hydroelectric turbines, wind turbines, solar panels, etc.) and/or include a battery 36 that serves as a primary power source or as a backup in case of an interruption of the power supply of the network or local sources. The battery may be of different types, in particular of the lithium-ion type. This makes it possible to ensure sufficient autonomy of the communication module 3, for example months and possibly years under normal use conditions.

The battery 36 may be integrated into the electronics unit 31 or, as in the example shown in fig. 3, external to the unit. Additional or alternative energy sources may be employed: photovoltaic cells, connections to the grid, etc.

The communication module is configured to transmit alternately or simultaneously according to at least two wireless communication protocols.

To this end, the communication module 3 comprises at least one radio frequency module that can transmit according to at least two protocols, or at least two modules, respectively, that can transmit according to at least one protocol. In the example shown here, the communication module 3 comprises a first radio frequency module 37 and a second radio frequency module 38.

The communication module may comprise means for encrypting the transmitted data.

It should be noted that in the example represented here, the two radio frequency modules are integrated into the same electronic unit 31. However, the invention does not exclude that the communication module 3 is made up of several units connected together, for example each unit managing a different communication protocol.

Generally, the protocol used may be selected from the protocols of the internet of things.

Protocols that can be implemented in the present invention can be classified as follows.

The protocols used may include one or more wired communication protocols. For example, these wired communication protocols may be configured to communicate over fiber optics or cabling.

The protocols used include at least one wireless communication protocol. The wireless communication protocol may be a short-range communication protocol, and/or a medium-range or long-range communication protocol.

The wired network and the short-range communication network are mainly non-operational, that is, independent of the antenna network deployed by the operator.

In particular, the short-range wireless communication protocol may be selected from: NFC, RFID, bluetooth, in particular bluetooth low energy technology, Lifi and Zigbee (registered trade marks). It is contemplated that known or future alternative protocols of this type may be used.

The intermediate or remote communication protocol may be selected from: 4G, 5G, LoRa, Sigfox, NB-IoT, LTE-M, GPRS, GSM (registered trademark). It is contemplated that known or future alternative protocols of this type may be used.

The intermediate or remote communication network may be of the operational or non-operational type. Currently, most networks that provide both very long range, portability and optimal coverage are in operation regardless of geographic location. Which is of interest to the operator.

Generally, low-consumption, long-distance transmission techniques are preferred. They may use, inter alia, the 868Mhz-914Mhz band. In some use cases, short or medium range transmission techniques may be used. These techniques may use, for example, the 433Mhz band. A relay is then provided to transmit data over the long-range network to enable control of the access device from the remote platform.

The cellular communication protocols (GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS/HSPA, LTE) have the advantage of good network availability.

The protocols supported by the communication module may be at least two of the protocols cited above, for example.

For example, the protocol employed may be modified for a particular application, or further modified to develop a protocol, or further modified to create a new protocol.

When a protocol change requires hardware development, the communication module 3 may be updated via a physical communication port or remotely.

When a hardware upgrade is required, the modular design of the communication module may allow it to be upgraded, for example by replacing the radio frequency module.

For example, the communication module may be configured to select a protocol to employ based on the availability of the respective network. For example, the communication module may be configured to communicate preferably according to one of the above protocols of the internet of things, and to change to a GSM network if a preferred network is not available.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the communication module is configured to be able to communicate over three networks according to three protocols. In the event of a failure of continuous communication, the module automatically changes from the first protocol to the second protocol and then to the third protocol. Each of these three protocols may employ different means of communication. Or it may implement the same communication means (e.g. the same module, the same antenna). Alternatively, two of the three protocols may implement the same communication means, while the third protocol implements a different communication means than the other two protocols.

The communication module is used to transmit a certain number of data items over the wireless communication network, but naturally, according to some configurations of the present invention, information intended for the access device may be received. The transmitted data may naturally come from the sensors 34, but may also be related to the actual operation of the communication module. They may include, for example, an indication of the charge level of the battery 36.

In some embodiments of the invention, the access device is able to make some diagnosis of its status and transmit corresponding information. For example, the access device may ensure that a sensor comprised by the access device is in operation (or at least provides non-coherent or impossible measurements). The level of connection to the wireless network and the bandwidth available for data transmission may be determined.

Depending on the protocol employed, and in particular the frequency employed, one or more antennas 32 may be required.

In the example shown, the single antenna is directly connected to the electronic unit 31 by means of a suitable antenna plug. According to other embodiments, the antenna may be integrated into the electronics unit 31. The antenna 32 may have various forms, which may be rigid or wired, and have a graphical representation configured for the frequencies employed by the protocol or protocols employed.

The transmission power may be configured at the time of installation of a given access device in accordance with the availability of the communication network at the location of the installation site of the access device. The lowest possible power enables a lower electrical consumption, but the power must be sufficient to ensure a reliable transmission of data. In order to optimize the energy, the communication module can be designed and programmed to transmit data only when the signal from the sensor corresponds to a given information (for example, the opening of the door) or exceeds a predetermined threshold of measurement values (for example, exceeds a given water level in the chamber).

Alternatively or additionally, the communication module may be configured to transmit data periodically, for example at regular intervals. Failure to receive expected data within a predetermined or determinable range of transmission times may result in an alert or request to intervene on the access device in question.

However, the communication module may be provided with means, such as a button 39, activated by which to cause transmission of the test signal through the communication network or networks. This test signal makes it possible to check whether the access device, once installed, is able to transmit data correctly.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a system for managing a set of devices for accessing one or more underground or above-ground municipal engineering infrastructures as described above. Such a system is schematically illustrated in fig. 4. The system includes an access device for accessing at least one underground or above-ground municipal engineering infrastructure. In the example shown, the first access device a1 constitutes a plug enabling access to underground infrastructure, and the second access device a2 constitutes an access device for accessing ground infrastructure (e.g. electrical cabinets).

The first access device a1 and the second access device a2 (more generally, each access device of the system) constitute communication devices as described above and thus each includes a multi-protocol communication module.

As an example, the first access device a1 is configured to communicate with the first station B1 via a wireless network using Sigfox (registered trademark) protocol, and communicate with the second station B2 through a wireless network using GSM protocol. The second device is configured to communicate with the third station B3 through a wireless network using the LoRa (registered trademark) protocol, and to communicate with the second station B2 according to the GSM protocol.

After wired or wireless transmission to the relay, the data is then transmitted to the server S via one or more networks in a conventional manner. The final transmission may be provided by the internet I.

The server S is capable of receiving, processing and interpreting data received according to various transmission protocols. In particular, the server S is configured to process signals transmitted by all the access devices in communication with the server S (each of these access devices may employ a different communication protocol).

The operator may access the server through platform P. The management platform P is a computer program executed by a computer system.

The platform P enables remote control of the access means of the management system. The control may include viewing data from each access device. The data may include information from measurements performed by sensors, or status data from a communication module associated with the access device.

To enable management of different access devices, each access device of the system may be associated with an identifier. When the access device communicates with the server, it sends its identifier to enable its identification. In a manner known per se, an identification algorithm may be used in the communication between the access device and the server in order to enable a corresponding authentication to provide security for the communication.

The identification of the access device makes it possible to access information related thereto. In particular, an access device may be geographically located, for example, by loading location information associated with the access device at the time of installation of the access device. This location information (e.g., coordinates of latitude and longitude of the access device) may be recorded in the computer memory at the time the access device is installed. This memory may be included at the location of the server S or remote therefrom.

Alternatively, the location information may be recorded in a memory located at the access device (e.g., in the communication module 3), and this location information is appended with the data transmitted by the access device.

FIG. 5 graphically illustrates an example of information that may be conveyed by the platform. In particular, fig. 5 shows an example of an administration screen that may be displayed to an operator controlling a set of access devices for accessing an underground or above-ground municipal engineering infrastructure.

The administrative screen of fig. 5 is dynamic in that it presents a certain number of areas that make up a computer link so that when those areas are acted upon, it is possible to access certain detailed information or interact with one or more access devices.

In the example shown, the card 51 makes it possible to view the different access means of the management system, either on the whole system or on a given area. The access means of the management system are represented on the map 51 by an identification 52 which advantageously makes it possible to distinguish between the different types of access means and/or means of issuing a warning regarding their status or parameters controlled by the sensors of the relevant means. The management system enables the display of data relating to different access devices. For example, the management system enables the display of up-to-date information about the status of a given access device and about the data it has transmitted.

In the example shown, the area of the graphical object 53 enables an overview of the status of the access means of the management system to be displayed. The graphical objects 531 to 534 are described below by way of non-limiting example.

The network graphic object 531 indicates the number of access devices that can communicate with the server and, respectively, the number of access devices that experience communication problems (either cannot communicate with the server or operate according to a communication protocol that serves as a backup, further for communication interruptions on the network that employs a default protocol). The details of the relevant access device and, if applicable, the nature of the problem encountered can be viewed.

The battery graphical object 532 makes it possible to see the number of access devices whose batteries are at a satisfactory charge level, and the number of access devices whose batteries are at an insufficient charge level. For example, details of the associated access device and the precise charge level of the battery of the associated access device may be displayed.

The connection graphic object 533 makes it possible to view the number of access devices connected to the server. The details of the connected access device can be viewed.

User graphical object 534 enables viewing of the number of users connected. Typically, the user identity can be viewed.

In the example of the management screen shown, the warning area 54 indicates the different access devices that have issued the warning, relating to their status or to parameters controlled by the sensors of the relevant said devices.

The menu 55 enables the display of detailed information about the warnings, about data from different access means, in particular statistical information about those data, and about the status of the access means.

The platform can manage different levels of access to data and different levels of interaction with remote systems (that is, with access means of the management system) according to different user profiles.

For example, one or more administrators (corresponding to a first user profile) may have access to a set of functions of the management system for all access devices of the management system. A local administrator corresponding to the second user profile may have access to all or some of the functions, but only to access devices located in a given geographic area, or a given nature of the access devices. Other profiles may be defined with limited access to certain functions. For example, controlling the operator user profile may make it possible to temporarily prevent sending of warnings associated with the opening of the doors of one or more given access devices, so as to enable physical control thereof, for example for programmed maintenance (visual inspection, battery replacement, etc.), without triggering any warning.

The present invention thus provides an access device for accessing underground or above-ground municipal engineering infrastructure that provides a reliable connection and is particularly suitable for use in the context of a system for managing a set of access devices. The features developed make it possible to adapt different accesses to locally available networks and, if necessary, also to ensure data transmission in all cases by changing the transmission from one wireless network to another.

Management system for a group of access devices, wherein the construction of the group of access devices is made possible by means of the technology developed in the present invention, which management system enables a simple and efficient management of said group without the need to organize repeated rounds for authenticating the access devices. Furthermore, the management system makes it possible to intervene very quickly in any device in the set of devices, when required.

Claims (17)

1. An access arrangement for accessing underground or above-ground municipal engineering infrastructure, comprising an access door (1) having a closed position in which the access door closes a chamber (4) and an open position in which the access door provides access to the chamber (4),

the door (1) comprising a communication module (3) comprising at least one antenna (32) capable of transmitting signals through at least one wireless communication network,

characterized in that said communication module (3) is of the multi-protocol type so as to be able to transmit signals according to at least two wireless communication protocols or according to at least one wired communication protocol and at least one wireless communication protocol.

2. The access device of claim 1, wherein the protocol is selected from the group consisting of:

-a wired communication protocol for the communication of data,

-a short-range wireless communication protocol, and

medium range or long range communication protocols.

3. The access device of claim 2,

the wired communication protocol is configured to communicate over fiber optic or cable,

the short-range wireless communication protocol is selected from: NFC, RFID, bluetooth, in particular bluetooth low energy technology, Lifi, Zigbee; and is

The medium or long-range communication protocol is selected from 4G, 5G, LoRa, Sigfox, NB-IoT, LTE-M, GPRS and GSM.

4. The access device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication module (3) is adapted for bidirectional communication.

5. The access arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, the communication module (3) being adapted to evaluate the availability of communication networks respectively employing different protocols, and to select a communication protocol for transmitting and/or receiving data depending on the evaluated availability, wherein the communication module is configured to communicate according to the different protocols.

6. The access device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication module (3) communicating over a first network is adapted to change its communication to a second network when communication over the first wireless network is interrupted.

7. The access device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one sensor (34) selected from the following sensors: a sensor that senses opening or closing of the door, a sensor that senses at least one environmental parameter of the chamber, a sensor that senses intrusion into an area near the door, a sensor that senses intrusion or attempted intrusion into the chamber; each of the sensors is configured to deliver a signal to the communication module, which is configured to transmit one or more signals, or information derived from the one or more signals.

8. The access device according to claim 7, comprising at least one sensor selected from the following sensors for sensing the opening or closing of the door (1): a contact sensor, a sensor of the angular position of the door, an accelerometer, an optical sensor.

9. The access device according to claim 7 or 8, comprising at least one sensor selected from the following sensors sensing at least one environmental parameter of the chamber: a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a sensor that senses the presence or absence of particles or the concentration of particles, a sensor that senses the level of water or the presence or absence of water, a sensor that senses the concentration of gas or the presence or absence of gas.

10. The access device according to one of claims 7 to 9, comprising at least one sensor selected from the following sensors that senses intrusion into the vicinity of the door: a vibration sensor, a thermal sensor, an optical sensor, an audio sensor, and/or at least one sensor selected from the following sensors that senses intrusion or attempted intrusion into the chamber: shock sensors, vibration sensors, temperature sensors, audio sensors.

11. The access device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication module (3) comprises an antenna (32) inseparably integrated with the door.

12. Access device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a battery (36) which can supply power to the communication module as a primary power source or which can supply power to the communication module in case of failure of the primary power source.

13. The access device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the door comprises a rigid outer skin (11) under which a set of ribs (12) is provided substantially at right angles to the outer skin (11), the ribs (12) being provided so as to form at least one compartment (13) in which the communication module (3) is mounted, possibly in addition to an antenna (32) of the communication module (3), the compartment (13) being closed by a rigid inner skin (14) which provides mechanical protection of the communication module (3).

14. A system for managing a set of access devices for accessing one or more underground or above-ground municipal engineering infrastructures, the system comprising a set of access devices (a1, a2) according to one of the preceding claims and comprising a server, each of the access devices (a1, a2) being configured to communicate with the server (S) via at least two communication networks.

15. System for managing a set of access devices according to claim 14, wherein each of said access devices (a1, a2) is associated with an identifier transmitted at any communication between said access device and said server (S), said server (S) being configured to retrieve from a memory geographical location information about said access device.

16. System for managing a set of access devices according to claim 14 or 15, comprising at least one computer access system for accessing the server (S), the access system executing a computer program called management platform (P) configured to provide information on the status of each access device (P) or information on environmental data coming from sensors with which the access device (a1, a2) is equipped.

17. System for managing a set of access means according to claim 16, wherein said management platform (P) comprises different accesses for information from said access means based on at least two user profiles.

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