Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
  • G07B15/00—Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points
  • G07B15/02—Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
  • G07C9/10—Movable barriers with registering means
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
  • G07C9/20—Individual registration on entry or exit involving the use of a pass
  • G07C9/28—Individual registration on entry or exit involving the use of a pass the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • G07C11/00—Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
  • G07C2011/02—Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere related to amusement parks

Definitions

• This invention relates to an electronically controlled access/monitoring system which relies upon use of pre- authorised user tags to allow entry to a controlled area.
• the invention has been developed primarily in connection with a crowd control system to control spectator entry to restricted areas, including sports stadiums, sporting events, festivals, conferences and places of entertainment etc, in which it is important to permit authorised access only, and to indicate/prevent unauthorised access.
• paid, and pre-paid attendance to such events eg, football matches
• the control and monitoring system enables authorised tags to be used at different venues, eg. personal tags issued to home supporters may be authorised to permit attendance at away matches etc. The need for season tickets would be eliminated.
• the system also can provide suitable indication to authorised attendees of designated spectator areas, eg, seat, row and number .
• an electrically controlled access/monitoring system which is operative to control access to a controlled area by persons having individual user tags bearing unique remotely readable data
• said system comprising: an entry control station; a monitoring arrangement at the entry control station to monitor individual user tags of persons requiring entry to the controlled area, said monitoring arrangement being capable of reading the data by transmission of electromagnetic signals between each tag and the monitoring arrangement; and a control system responsive to monitoring signals generated by the monitoring arrangement in order to permit or to deny entry to the controlled area.
• the invention may be applied with particular advantage to a crowd control system to control and monitor spectator entry to sporting fixtures, such as football, rugby, cricket or athletic events etc, but also it should be understood that the control system of the invention may be used in other environments in which it is important to recognise and admit to a controlled area (conferences, offices etc) holders of authorised tags, and to indicate/prevent access to the users of unauthorised tags.
• the electronically controlled access monitoring system requires the use of electronic tags, which may be of the "passive” or “active” type (as will be well known to those of ordinary skill in the art), and which can be monitored by a suitable interrogator/antenna, and which (a) reads the stored information, (b) compares it with stored data in the system and (c) allows or refuses access to a controlled area accordingly.
• electronic tags which may be of the "passive” or “active” type (as will be well known to those of ordinary skill in the art)
• This invention therefore, relates to apparatus enabling organisations to automatically permit access to stadia, sports arenas, clubs and other premises including buildings, compounds or subsets thereof, as well as moving objects (transport related) by allowing entrance/access to authorised personnel only (spectators, members, customers, clients, employees, etc).
• the system operates electronically.
• the entry would be likely to be via a turnstile or similar type of controlled access point(s).
• entry could even be by "open" gate whereby tag holders would be channelled through a field of influence. Non-authorised participants would trigger an alarm. Should a tag be lost or stolen, access to any unauthorised person/would be/could be denied once the loss had been reported.
• the tag In a more sophisticated format the tag would be manufactured with a read/write capability and contain an electronic alpha numeric display which would be capable of indicating the allocated seat number, floor level, particular enclosure, special message etc. Anybody occupying an unauthorised seat or entering the wrong enclosure could be readily identified. Away supporters or visitors etc to an event could be allocated seating in accordance with polices or requirements (segregation of rival fans etc) .
• Tags could also contain cash units (currency-prepaid etc) which could be capable of being decremented. Tags could be authorised for use by a third party, with permission, otherwise access would be refused. Offenders could be apprehended/penalised. A single tag could also be authorised to permit more than one person passing through a turnstile (if programmed) .
• the system consists of a tag, of any shape, possibly produced in the form of an emblem/logo or souvenir, representing the motif of the club/organisation or event to which it is applicable. It might be produced in any material including paper, card and plastic etc. In its simplest form the tag would be passive, containing a unique identification number (encrypted, if appropriate, for interrogation purposes) which when worn/carried by its owner/user would automatically permit access to authorised premises.
• tags would be cheap to produce and could be used as a one-off (paper ticket etc). They could be disposed of after the event or kept as souvenirs. (If produced in the form of a small football, Olympic badge etc).
• the back office system the system's integration, networking, the development of databases and the customised software would cater for all data processing.
• Intelligence within the tags as with the networking would suit the purpose for which it was being adopted.
• intelligence within sports club tags could (say) be linked to a lapsed time clock (quartz/digital within the IC). Any player/participant, authorised to enter an area (court, pool, pitch, course, billiard table etc) might be allocated a specific time or play/participation after which a warning bleep etc could/would identify the time-up period. Should play or occupancy continue, an additional charge might be levied. The lapsed time would be recorded.
• Access to office premises can be managed in a similar manner.
• organisations such as banks, building societies, police stations, law courts, research centres or any building requiring security, generally adopts the use of pin numbers, swipe or IC (smart) card etc.
• This invention does not necessarily require the ID to be physically produced.
• it could be operated in conjunction with an overhead video camera/recorder (concealed above the entrance) programmed to undertake a head count of the number of people passing through the entrance, such that an alarm might be raised should an unauthorised person (non tag holder) accompanying a tag holder, attempt to gain access to the premises. (Certain tag holders could be programmed/authorised to permit visitor entry).
• a system according to the invention may be inter-operable with other systems geographically spread, whereby approved user tags from any system can be used to control entry into a controlled area of another system, thereby permitting access only to authorised tag users.
• a system according to the invention may be supplied as new equipment for installation on site, or may comprise suitable modification or adaptation of existing equipment in situ.
• the entry control station may comprise a bank of individual processing locations, with each location having its own monitoring arrangement which monitors the user tag borne by each individual potential entrant.
• the monitoring arrangement may take any suitable form, to monitor the information present on the user tag, and to be received may take the form of an interrogator antenna built into the location in any suitable way, as part of the reader system.
• an entrance hood may overlie the entrance location, and the antenna may be incorporated into this hood.
• An individual bearing his own unique user tag can then pass through the location and below the hood, and the reader can activate the tag and then interrogate the information thereon, which it then transmits by way of a suitable monitoring signal to the control system.
• the control system compares this with stored data, and then permits, or denies entry to the controlled area to the individual.
• the ticket issuing machine if provided at the entry of the control station, can be operated to issue an entry ticket (desirably the ticket might have printed on it the seat number, row, block or standing area etc) to each permitted tag user, and then a gate is operated to allow access to the controlled area after issue of the entry ticket.
• the gate may be triggered into operation by any suitable means, which may, for example, be upon retrieval of the entry ticket from the machine and/or through the recognition of a suitably received signed from a tag.
• the mechanical gate may take any suitable form, and can take the form of a "turnstile", which is only unlocked to permit entry after issue of the entry ticket, as acceptance of the tag signal.
• the reader unit will be arranged to power-up the tag, which then responds with a unique identification number. If the identification number is not valid, a message can be displayed such as "not valid tag” or "go to gate X” etc.
• a ticket can be automatically issued with a designated seat number.
• a video camera unit provided at the second gate can be used to monitor each person making authorised entry to the spectator/play ears.
• the issued ticket via RF recognition, or when inserted into a slot on the allocated seat, could be arranged to automatically unlock the seat, enabling it to be lowered into a sitting position.
• the method of transfer of data to unlock the seat could be by any recognised method eg, RF, magst ⁇ pe, IC or other appropriate means of communication between either the tag, or the ticket and seat.
• a reader unit will also check that the correct row of seats is being used.
• the system may be adapted to "match” an allocated seat to a particular "tag”, and to give warning of any incorrect seat usage.
• the reader unit may transmit a continuous wave signal which is switched on and off. When the continuous wave signal is "on”, this will charge-up a capacitor within the user tag. When the tag is powered, it will automatically transmit a unique pre-programmed number to the reader unit/antenna.
• the reader unit is connected to a local area network to verify the number and, if appropriate, allocate the seat number.
• Figure 1 is block diagram of a first embodiment of access control system according to the invention, which is radio based.
• Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a multiple access gate system according to the invention.
• Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a tag and reader operation for use in a system according to the invention.
• Figure 4 is an isometric diagram of what might be a multiple access gate system according to the invention, for controlling entry to a controlled area.
• FIG. 5 is an elevation of the multiple access gate system shown in Figure 4.
• This is an electronically controlled access/monitoring system which relies upon use of pre-authorised user tags to allow entry to a controlled area.
• the system comprises an entry control station and which comprises a monitoring arrangement to monitor individual user tags of persons requiring entry to the controlled area, and a control system which is responsive to monitoring signals generated by the monitoring arrangement in order to permit or to deny entry to the controlled area.
• a ticket issuing machine at the entry control station to issue an entry ticket to each permitted tag user.
• a mechanical gate is operable to allow access to the controlled area after issue of the entry ticket (if applicable).
• FIG. 1 is, as mentioned above, a block diagram of a radio based access control system, and the "entry control station' will include an antennae module, a transmitter and control reader unit, a ticket issue module (if appropriate) and a turnstile gate or gates.
• the other components of the system as shown diagrammatically, comprise a transmitter and control reader unit, a controller, a vision recognition system, a host computer system (LAN) a central networking computer system (WAN) linking other stadia/venues etc, and the other system components as illustrated.
• LAN host computer system
• WAN central networking computer system
• the reader unit is connected to a local area network (LAN) to verify the number and also allocate the seat number ( if required) .
• LAN local area network
• Figure 2 is a block diagram of the components which may be arranged in the immediate vicinity of a turnstile comprising an electrically controlled gate which is operable to allow access to the controlled area after issue of the entry ticket (if applicable) and following monitoring of an authorised individual user tag.
• FIG 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a passive tag and reader operation.
• Figures 4 and 5 illustrates a multiple access gate system, which comprise a bank of individual entry locations, which might be suitable for large volume spectator entry to entertainment activities eg, to one of the major premier division football clubs, etc.
• the tag can be programmed to operate on behalf of an authorised driver, and to gain access to a control car park, the tag automatically activates the control mechanism which may take the form of rising arms, falling bollards and barriers etc.
• WAN wide area network
• Authorised tags could be used equally well for away matches as for home games. Similar system could apply to personnel working for international or large organisations such as banks government departments, police forces etc.
• an entry tag upon purchase, could take the form of a mascot fastened (say) to a chain around the neck of a child, and which would be capable of being read by a large cartoon type character etc patrolling the grounds, through an antenna in, say, the finger of the costume which would convey the child's name to the cartoon character via RF, enabling such a person to welcome or address the child by its personal name.
• the tag could also be read when adjacent to rides to welcome and to say farewell on departure etc.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Finance (AREA)
• Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
• Time Recorders, Dirve Recorders, Access Control (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=10792373

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (13)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 1996
  • 1996-04-19 GB GBGB9608173.2A patent/GB9608173D0/en active Pending
• 1997
  • 1997-04-17 AU AU25729/97A patent/AU2572997A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-04-17 WO PCT/GB1997/001074 patent/WO1997040475A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1997-04-17 EP EP97917352A patent/EP0960396A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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