FR2615306A1 - Centralised communication system, with a portable box and network of fixed terminals, especially for remote identification of persons, corresponding box and method of operating such a system - Google Patents

Abstract

The field of the invention is that of systems allowing recording and remote identification of movements of persons outside or within premises. The objective of the invention is to supply a cheap, tamper-proof system of simple construction. This object is achieved by a system characterised in that it consists, on the one hand, of a network of fixed communication terminals 21, geographically distributed in the said protected premises and linked by cabling to a communication centre, and, on the other hand, at least one portable transmitter box 20 intended to cooperate with the said network, by application against each of the said fixed terminals 21.

Description

 "Centralized communication system, with portable box and network of fixed terminals in particular for the remote identification of personnel. Corresponding box and operating method of such a system".

 The field of the invention is that of systems allowing the recording of the presence and / or movements of people, or even their identification, outside or inside premises.

The purpose of these systems is, for example, to record the passage of plovers at certain predetermined points in their surveillance circuits. It can also be management systems for the selective access of company personnel to workplaces, or even the access of any person in a protected place (for example an apartment building, ...) .

 Among the existing systems used for the control of guards, portable systems are known in particular.

 In these systems, each rounder is provided with a portable recording device in which he introduces keys arranged at different points of passage of the round. Each key introduction causes a corresponding recording representative of the key entered, and of the time of passage provided by an internal clock to the portable device.

 This system has many drawbacks.

 First of all, portable recording devices are relatively heavy (for example 3 kg), and bulky. They are quite expensive to buy, and their mechanics are relatively fragile.

 On the other hand, the processing of the recordings made is usually carried out manually. This means that these systems require the provision of a post for processing the recording tapes, which experience has shown to correspond to approximately one full-time job for 30 guards.

 Finally, these systems have the major drawback of not offering a perfect guarantee of security.

The objective of the device is in fact to check that the orderly has actually carried out its task, and to provide the justifications to the customer of the Surveillance Company. However, it will be difficult for the latter to have the guarantee, with this system, that the rounder has actually carried out all his rounds, rather than having collected all the registration keys during his first passage so as to save the following rounds .

 In the field of the management of selective access to protected premises, on the other hand, systems are known which consist of wall keypads on which accredited persons must dial an identification and / or access code. Other known systems involve readers of pre-coded magnetic or optical badges.

 In addition to their high cost and their fragility, these systems have the major drawback of not being inviolable. A frequent change of access codes, assuming that it can be followed by authorized users, will never guarantee a perfect seal against leaks and spying.

 The object of the invention is in particular to overcome these various drawbacks of existing systems.

 More specifically, a first object of the invention is to provide a centralized real-time monitoring & distance network, usable both for assistance and control of the guards as well as for the management of selective access to protected premises, as well as for other applications.

 A complementary object of the invention is to provide a system in which surveillance and / or control are carried out by introducing coded information into a centralized network, at least part of said coded information sent by the user remaining unintelligible, and therefore inviolable.

 Another object of the invention is to provide a centralized surveillance and / or control network allowing automated exploitation, and if necessary in real time, of surveillance information.

These objectives, as well as others which will appear thereafter, are achieved using a centralized monitoring and / or control system, in particular for recording the passage of pedestrians and / or managing selective access. in protected premises,
system characterized in that it consists on the one hand of two network of fixed communication terminals, distributed geographically in said protected premises, and connected by cabling to a communication center, and on the other hand at least one portable transmitter unit intended to cooperate with said network by application against each of said terminals,
and in that said portable unit comprises means for transmitting a coded message towards said communication center.

 Advantageously, the means for transmitting said coded message from the portable box to each terminal against which the box is applied belong to the group comprising magnetic radiation, optical radiation, acoustic radiation, and electromagnetic radiation.

 According to another preferred characteristic of the invention, said means for transmitting a message coded by the portable unit comprise means for automatically transmitting a message, without the knowledge of the user, and / or a keyboard composition of a message by the user.

 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as described below, said portable housing and each of said fixed terminals comprise means for centering their relative position when they are applied against each other, and the correct application of the case and a terminal produces the power supply of the case.

 Advantageously, the method for transmitting the coded message by the portable unit applied against a terminal firstly comprises a step of connection on the network with the communication center, and only then, a step of transmitting the coded message.

The invention also relates to a portable box, of the type intended to cooperate with a fixed terminal for the transmission of a coded message in the direction of a control and / or communication center, characterized in that it comprises
- a supply circuit, intended to cooperate with magnetic means arranged in each terminal, for the selective supply of the housing during its application against said terminal
means for generating said coded message intended for the control and / or communication center and,
means for transmitting said coded message from the box to appropriate receiving means of the terminal.

Finally, the invention relates to a monitoring and / or control method, in particular for recording the passage of pedestrians and / or the management of selective access in protected premises, using a centralized system according to the any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises the following steps
- a portable box is applied against a terminal connected to a communication center
- the correct relative positioning of the box and of the terminal causes the closing of the supply circuit of the box, and the emission of a call message in the direction of the communication center
- the communication center, after identification of the calling terminal, sends back, towards said terminal, a "ready to receive" signal
the reception of said “ready to receive” signal by the box and the associated terminal unlocks the means for transmitting a coded message in the direction of the communication center.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following of some preferred embodiments of the invention, given for illustrative purposes only, and of the appended drawings in which
- Fig.l shows schematically the installation of a monitoring and / or control system according to the invention in protected premises
- Fig.2a, 2b respectively represent the installation of a portable box on a wall terminal, and typing coded messages i transmit
- Fig.3 -schematizes a preferred embodiment of the centering means of the portable boxes on each terminal;
- Fig.4 and 5 show schematically two preferred embodiments of the electronic circuit of the portable housing and of a terminal according to the invention
- Fig.6 illustrates the wiring of commercially available electronic components, and allowing to realize the circuit of the housing of Fig.4;
- Fig.7 shows the electronic diagram of an advantageous embodiment for each fixed terminal of the invention
- Fig.8 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the communication center according to the invention.

 In Fig.l, the reference 1 corresponds to the wall terminals placed on the exterior or interior walls of protected premises, and intended to receive coded messages. Users 2 provided with portable boxes apply their boxes to each of the terminals 1.

 The terminals 1 are connected by electrical wiring 3 to a communication center 4, responsible in particular for recording the coded messages received.

 If necessary, the central unit 4 is connected to the telephone network 5, for the transmission of information remotely.

 This installation corresponds, for example, to a system for controlling premises, by the passage of roundsmen applying the portable box with which they are provided on each of the terminals 1 as they go round.

 The system referenced 6, 7, 8 corresponds to another mode of use of the monitoring and / or control system according to the invention.

 The user applies a portable box on the wall terminal 6 from which is sent automatically or by manual command, a coded message towards the central unit 7. The central unit comprises means for identifying the coded message, and for controlling the opening of the electric strike 8.

 Figs. 2a, 2b and 3 illustrate an advantageous embodiment of the configuration of the terminal 20 and of the box 21.

 The terminal consists of a closed rigid envelope, with no opening except for the cable for connection to the communication center. I1 is fixed, for example, i height of man, on a vertical wall of the place of use.

 The front part of the terminal 20, or possibly its periphery, are only accessible by the user, and include the centering and / or hooking device of the compatible portable housing 21.

In the advantageous embodiment of the
Fig.3, the centering and hooking device takes the form of a support bead 22 formed on the terminal 20, on which is hooked a complementary bead 23 of the housing 21. As shown, two bevelled sides 25 of the terminal 20 provide lateral guidance and centering of the terminal 20 and of the housing 21, in cooperation with two complementary sections 26 of the housing.

 The engagement of the portable box 21 with a wall terminal 20 is preferably carried out from top to bottom, so as to come to rest the bead 23 against the complementary bead 22, and provide a stable fixing system freeing the hand of the user .

 Of course, many other application devices of the housing 21 and of the terminal 20 can be envisaged.

The transfer of information between the portable unit 21 and the terminal 20 is preferably carried out by one of the following means
- static magnetic field, for information requiring no effort of electrical energy,
- alternating magnetic field, for energy transfer;
- optical radiation, preferably in the infrared range;
- acoustic waves, electromagnetic waves, and any other form of intangible link.

 In the two embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, and presented below, the first three types of radiation are used simultaneously.

 In FIG. 4, when the portable box 20 is applied against the terminal 21, the magnet 43 closes the proximity contact 44, of the flexible blade relay type. Closing the contact 44 enables the electronic circuit 45 to be supplied by the battery 46.

 The electronic circuit 45 then supplies the light-emitting diode 47 with a call signal, consisting of infrared radiation passing through the two walls in contact with the housing 20 and the terminal 21, permeable to infrared waves. The call signal is received by the photodiode 48, and is amplified in a circuit 49 before being sent to the communication center (not shown).

 In return, the central unit sends a signal operating the infrared emitting diode 40, in the direction of the photodiode 41. The electronic circuit 45 processes this information, and unlocks the keyboard 42.

The elements 47, 48, 49 are then used for sending the coded message, for example in the form of digital signals in serial transmission mode. If necessary, at the end of transmission, a "well received" signal may appear on an indicator 30 of the portable unit 20.

 The message coded in the form of a serial signal advantageously contains the code corresponding to the keys of the keyboard 42 requested, as well as a "secret" code specific to the portable housing.

 The number of successive digits that can be sent is unlimited, but a usual number of 8 digits provides several million combinations, and therefore great computer security.

 If necessary, the coded message can be accompanied by a redundancy code, and possibly by a retransmission procedure in the event of a transmission error through the system.

 Optionally, one or more indicators 30 report the operation of the transmission. These indicators 30 can be replaced by display means, for example alphanumeric, which then offer possibilities of dialogue with the communication center.

 In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the portable box 20 applied to the terminal 21 causes the flexible blade contact 54 to close under the effect of the magnet 53.

 Closing the contact 54 ensures the sending of a continuous "request to send" signal towards the control unit (not shown).

 The central unit sends an alternating voltage back to the coil 50, with sufficient power for the electromotive force induced in the receiving coil 56 to supply the electronic circuit 55 via the rectifier 51.

 The remainder of the procedure for transmitting the message coded by the circuits 57, 58, 59 is similar to what has just been described in connection with the circuits 47, 48, 49 of FIG. 4.

 In addition, the voltage generated at the terminals of the coil 56 allows synchronization of the emission with the receiver.

 The embodiment of FIG. 5 avoids the use of a battery, and makes it possible to form a very flat portable housing 20.

Fig. 6 provides precisely the different components that can be used to make the circuit for
Fig. 4.

 The keyboard & matrix cabling 61 is connected to a keyboard decoder 62 of type 14419. The down-counter 63 of type 14516 generates the addresses for access to the PROM 64 4-bit ROM 64, generating the successive digits of the code of the portable box, programmed during its manufacture.

 The references 65 correspond to a double shift register 2x8 bits, with parallel inputs and outputs in series, of the type 14021.

 Advantageously, bit 1 at zero allows the asynchronous loading. Bit 2 corresponds to the start bit. Bits 3 to 6 form the decimal code of the keyboard, and bits 7 to 10 form the decimal or hexadecimal code of the box.

 Bits 11 to 16 can be used for redundancy coding.

 The oscillator 66 generates the transmission carrier, the transmission frequency, and the synchronization frequencies, under the control of the logic control and sequencing circuit 67, with wiring to the reception and transmission circuits 68, 69. infrared.

 The supply circuits and the indicators have not been shown, for the purpose of simplifying the diagram.

 Fig.7 shows an advantageous embodiment of the circuit contained in the terminal 21.

 Its simple design makes it a reliable and inexpensive set.

 The photodiode 71 is decoupled from the DC power supply line by the input transistor 72.

This transistor 72 alternately drives a push-pull stage 73, 74 delivering at output 75 a low impedance signal.

 The light emitting diode 76 is directly coupled to the input conductor.

 Fig.8 shows a preferred embodiment for the control center, especially in the case where it is connected to the telephone network.

 The microprogrammed system 81 manages the signals received from the terminals, stores them, and optionally transmits them, via a modem, to the telephone line 100.

 Reference 82 corresponds to an input circuit associated by wiring to a terminal (not shown). In a prototype produced for the invention, 64 of these circuits can be associated with 64 separate terminals by the 64 outputs 93 and the 64 inputs 94 of the modules 86, 88 and 89.

 The opto-isolator 83 transmits, using the transistor 84, the current which supplies the light emitting diode of the terminal, and transmits a "ready to receive" signal.

 The opto-isolator 85 receives the signal corresponding to the coded digits of the message sent by the terminal. Each time one of these messages reaches the communication center, it is collected by the "OR" logic circuit 86, which transmits an interrupt signal to 81. The module 81 then identifies the transmitting terminal , by sending on line 87 the successive addresses of the terminals. The switches 88 and 89 are therefore connected successively to all the terminals. When the transmitter is reached, a voltage appears at 90, and undergoes filtering and rectification in the circuit 91 before supplying an input 92 of the programmed module 81. This signal interrupts the successive interrogation of the terminals on the calling terminal, identified by the current address at 87. The signal "ready to receive" being maintained at 84, the keyboard of the portable unit (not shown) can be actuated, with sending of the coded message. At the end of transmission, the programmed module 81 returns to the idle state, or else performs another task such as the telephone transmission of the received message.

 Of course, the embodiments described above are only given by way of illustration, and all variants that can be envisaged by those skilled in the art are included in the application for protection.

Claims (9)

REVENDI CATIONS  1) Centralized communication and / or control system, in particular for recording the passage of pedestrians and / or managing selective access to protected premises,  system characterized in that it consists on the one hand of a network of fixed communication terminals (21), distributed geographically in said protected premises, and connected by cabling to a communication center, and on the other hand at least a portable transmitter box (20) intended to cooperate with said network, by application against each of said fixed terminals (21),  and in that said portable housing (20) comprises means for transmitting (42, 45, 52, 55) of a coded message towards said central.  2) System according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for transmitting a coded message from the portable box (20) to one of said fixed terminals (21) against which said box is applied are constituted by intangible link means belonging to the group comprising magnetic radiation, optical radiation, electromagnetic radiation and acoustic radiation.  3) System according to - claim 1, characterized in that said portable housing (20) comprises a power module consisting of a battery (46) and a flexible blade switch (44), said switch (44) cooperating with a magnet (43) housed in. each terminal (21) during application of the housing (20) against the terminal (21), for closing the supply circuit of the housing (20).  4) System according to claim 1, characterized in that the supply circuit of the portable housing (20) comprises a receiving coil (56) and a rectifier (51), said coil (56) cooperating with a transmitting coil (50) housed in each terminal (21), during the application of the housing (20) against the terminal (21), for the generation of the supply voltage of the boltier (20).  5) System 'according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for transmitting a coded message comprises means (45; 55) for transmitting a coded message "secret", specific to each box (20) .  6) System according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for transmitting a coded message comprises a keypad (42, 52), accessible to the user.  7) System according to claim 1, characterized in that said portable housing (20) and each terminal (21) comprise a -device (22, 23, 25, 26) for centering and maintaining their relative positioning when the portable housing (20) is applied against a fixed terminal (21).  8) Portable box, of the type intended to cooperate with a fixed terminal for the transmission of a coded message towards a control and / or communication center, characterized in that it comprises  - a supply circuit (46, 44; 51, 56), intended to cooperate with magnetic means (43, 50, 53, 54), for the selective supply of the housing (20) during its application against said terminal (21);  - means (42, 45; 52, 55) for generating said coded message intended for the control and / or communication unit; and,  - Means (47 t57) for transmitting said coded message from the housing (20) to appropriate receiving means (48; 58) of the terminal (21).  9) Method of monitoring and / or control, in particular for recording the passage of pedestrians and / or managing selective access in protected premises, using a centralized system according to any one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises the following stages  - applying a portable box (20) against a terminal (21) connected to a central communication  - The correct relative positioning of the housing (20) and the terminal (21) causes the closing of the boltier supply circuit (20), and the emission of a call message in the direction of the communication center; ;  the communication center, after identification of the calling terminal (21), sends back, in say of said terminal, a "ready to receive" signal,  - reception of said "ready to receive" signal by the housing (20) and the associated terminal (21) unlocks the means (42, 45; 52, 55) for transmitting a coded message towards the central communication unit .