FR2695226A1 - Remote monitoring system for protected premises. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to remote surveillance systems for premises protected by closing devices (1) controlled by a control unit (8) located inside the premises. The control unit (8) is composed of a management unit (13) cooperating with a communication interface unit (29) connected to the telephone network. To remotely verify the correct functioning of the system, the management unit (13) creates event words representative of the operation of the site and transmits them to the interface unit (29). Thus, the control operations do not slow down the control operations.

Description

TELESURVEILLANCE SYSTEM OF PROTECTED PREMISES.

  The invention relates to access control systems for premises protected by automatically controlled closing devices and for remote monitoring via the telephone network. The closure members consist for example of one or more armored doors whose opening and closing are conditioned by

  the activation of electromagnetically controlled locks.

  In other cases, it may be an actuated door

by an electric motor.

  The access control systems generally provide means for identifying the person requesting access to the premises. These identification means use, for example, a magnetic card reader that may be accompanied by a keypad intended to receive a confidential code. The system then has the function of detecting and analyzing the information provided by the means of identification and, after analysis, to allow or not access If yes, the system then causes the actuation of electromechanical means acting on the mechanism locking or opening the door In advanced systems, it is also planned to monitor the proper functioning of the operation and the order

  recondamnation of the mechanism after opening.

  Such a surveillance system is usually organized around a control unit connected to

  identification means (card reader, keyboard).

  The unit contains the identification reference data used to analyze the access request. The control unit is also connected to 2 - different sensors such as open or closed state sensors of the door or detectors. presence Moreover, the monitoring system can be connected to sound or optical indicators to signal for example the authorization of access to the user. For security reasons, the control unit is advantageously placed inside the protected room in order to avoid any risk of manipulation at the level of the communication links between the room and the outside. However, it is useful to be able to check at distance the proper functioning of the system For this, the control unit will be connected to an external monitoring center, which also allows for centralized management of several sites

protected.

  Such a remote monitoring center essentially consists of a console such as a dedicated or non-dedicated microcomputer, connected to the telephone network. On the other hand, the control unit of the site will have to include a communication interface provided with

  a modem also connected to the telephone network.

  To implement remote monitoring, it will be provided that the control unit constitutes and stores the history of all or part of the events representative of the operation of the site. The events to be taken into account will be for example the requests and access permissions to the site or anomalies detected (unrecognized card, incorrect identification code, failure to open following

An order).

  The remote monitoring can then be carried out by the transmission to the console of event words representative of the memorized events or at regular intervals at the initiative of the unit of 3 -

  control, either at the request of the console.

  From the realization point of view, it can be provided that the control unit comprises a single processing unit running in time share both the access control functions and those of communication with the central monitoring station In this case, during any the duration of the exchanges between the control unit and the central station, the operations on the site are suspended Or, it is important that the response time of the system to the access requests is within acceptable limits for the users To this, it is necessary to size the processing unit accordingly by providing a processor of sufficient power and fast and large memories It is also necessary that the software that controls the operation of the processor are adapted to manage the sharing of tasks between access control and communication functions. Although the type of embodiment mentioned above, is quite possible, however, it has some disadvantages First, it implies an obvious complication of the operating software In particular, if the remote monitoring console is not dedicated , ie specialized for the role of remote monitoring, the control unit can not operate as a master with respect to the console and it is therefore necessary to provide in the software mechanisms that limit the communication times, which complicated

also the management of the console.

  On the other hand, from an industrial point of view, it is economically interesting to use the same equipment both for access control systems with and without remote monitoring Or, if one used the control unit 4 - described above in the case of a system without remote monitoring, it would be oversized and

  therefore unnecessarily expensive.

  The object of the invention is to overcome the above disadvantages by proposing a modular embodiment of the control unit where the functions of access control and communication with a control center

  telemonitoring are assigned to separate units.

  More specifically, the subject of the invention is a remote monitoring system for a room protected by automatically-controlled closure members, said system comprising a remote monitoring console in communication by the telephone network with a control unit placed inside the control room. local, said control unit being connected on the one hand to the actuation request detection means of said closure members, and on the other hand to electromechanical actuating means of said closure members and to sensors providing state information of said actuating means, said system being characterized in that said control unit comprises a management unit and a communication interface unit which are programmable and interconnected, said management unit being responsible for creating and providing actuation commands to said electromechanical actuating means in response to said actuating commands and according to said status information, in that said management and communication interface units are provided for exchanging data with each other and that said communication interface unit is provided for exchanging data. data with said remote monitoring console via the telephone network, in that said management unit is programmed to create event words according to said requests and actuation commands and said status information and each word created event being then stored in first storage means, and in response to write commands issued by the management unit said communication interface unit is programmed to store in seconds storage means the event words transmitted by said

management unit.

  By design, the system according to the invention also has the advantage that the second storage means contained in the communication interface unit act as a memory for saving the event words. case of failure of the management unit, it will be possible to consult the history contained in this memory for example

  to establish the causes of the failure.

  According to a further aspect of the invention, said first memory means are associated with means for indicating the event words created and not yet transmitted to the communication interface unit and in that said operation commands are

  priority over said write commands.

  This arrangement takes into account the potential slowness of the data transfers between the management unit and the communication interface unit, and the fact that the second storage means therefore do not necessarily contain the last event words created by

the management unit.

  According to a particular aspect of embodiment, the invention further provides that said first memory means consist of a first memory addressed in the "first-in-first out" mode and 6-pointers representative respectively of the address of the last memorized event word and last word

  event issued by the management unit.

  In order to make the best use of the programming capabilities of the communication interface unit, the invention also provides the possibility of programming the communication interface unit via the management unit, in particular to set one or more passwords or to make automatic calls, or to

  cause a delay in the line setting.

  To allow the detection of anomalies by the remote monitoring console and according to yet another aspect of the invention, the management unit comprises a local clock and creates a status word including the time and date provided by said clock and transmits said status word to the communication interface unit after each modification of said status word and in that said status word is stored by said

communication interface.

  Other features and benefits of

  the invention will appear in the following description

  with reference to the figures: FIG. 1 represents an example of a site equipped with an access control system; FIG. 2 represents another configuration example comprising several closure members; Figure 3 is a schematic representation of an access control unit; FIG. 4 represents an embodiment of the power circuits controlled by the control unit; FIG. 5 represents an embodiment of a management unit of the control unit; Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of the communication unit of the control unit; FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrammatic representations of the addressing mode of the data memories of the management units and of the communication interface. FIG. 1 represents a typical configuration of a site that can be provided with an access control system according to the invention. The left part of the figure shows the elements visible from the outside of the room which are here a door to two. flaps (1) and a reader

map (2).

  The right part of the figure shows the visible elements of the interior One finds there the door (1) provided with a lock (6) and a striker (7), each door of the door being associated with a detector of position (4, 5) A push button (3) allows the user to trigger the opening of the door from inside The unit is controlled by the unit

control (8).

  FIG. 2 shows another possible configuration of room that can be monitored by the system according to the invention. In this example, the room comprises a first room accessible from the outside by the door (1) and a second room communicating with the first by the second door (11) The control unit (8), placed in the second room, is connected to a user console (9) The access to the room is controlled by the card reader (2) associated with the keyboard (10). ) to dial a secret code conditioning the authorization of access to the room Each door (1, 11) is equipped with an electromagnetic lock

commanded by the unit (8).

  FIG. 3 shows the control unit (8) located in its environment in a context of 8 - remote monitoring. The control unit (8) comprises a management unit (13) which is connected by a serial link (15) to card reader (2) and by another serial link (16) to the user console (9) placed in the room to be monitored near the unit. The unit (13) communicates via a communication interface unit (29) with a remote monitoring console (12). The management unit (13) is finally connected to a lock interface circuit (12). 14) itself connected to the electromechanical actuating means of the

  door lock (1) and the associated sensors.

  The unit (13) can also be connected to various sensors such as door open detectors or occupancy detectors and various light or acoustic signaling means. An emergency power supply (18) is also provided to maintain the unit. operation in case of failure of the

power supply network.

  The management unit (13) is a unit programmed to manage the door opening authorizations depending for example on time slots and the level of

  privilege associated with the card presented to the reader (2).

  The unit (13) can also manage the list of forbidden cards (lost cards) and makes backups of context in a memory The unit (13) finally controls the operation of the door locks via the interface (14) The interface (14) is essentially composed of power circuits for supplying the electromagnetic actuation means of the locks and coupling elements, such as optocouplers, for transmitting to the unit (13) the signals coming from associated sensors

  electromagnetic actuation means.

  FIG. 4 represents an embodiment 9 -

  power circuits (14A) of the interface (14).

  According to this example, the interface can receive from the management unit (13), the actuation control signals (CFER, COUV, COM) whose meanings will generally depend on the type of lock used and the wiring established between the interface and means

  electromechanical opening / closing.

  The interface comprises the output terminals (IRON, MOT, OUV, + M, M), whose electrical state depends on the actuation control signals, as well as the terminals

+ and -.

  By way of illustration, FIG. 4 shows a possibility of connections applicable in the configuration of FIG. 2 where the door (1) is provided with a lock whose bolt is actuated by a DC motor (30) associated with a sensor (31) for moving the bolt The door (11) can be provided with another type of lock actuated for example by an electromagnetic relay (32) associated with a detector

33) of waste movement.

  The motor (30) is powered by the power transistors (35, 36) via a current inversion relay (34). The transistors (35, 36) are controlled by the signal (COV) provided by the unit (13) which also provides the signal (COM)

controlling the relay (34).

  The circuit (14 A) also receives from the unit (13) the signal (CFER) controlling the supply of the relay (32) via the power transistor (37). Advantageously, the link between the signals (COWV) and (CFER) and the power transistors is performed via photocouplers

  providing electrical isolation and preamplifiers.

  The operation of the circuit of the figure can be - easily deduced from the diagram The power supply of the motor (30) is controlled by the signal (COV), while the polarity, therefore the direction of rotation, depends on the signal (COM). , the power supply of the relay (32) depends directly on the signal (CFER). Alternatively, the motor supply circuit (30) could feed two independent relays replacing the motor and additional relays connected downstream of the relay (34)

  current reversal via terminals (MOT) and (OUV).

  On the other hand, although the power circuit shown is capable of powering most commercially available electric locks, additional transistor amplification modules can be provided to power more complex systems. Advantageously, the transistors of the amplification modules will be dimensioned so as to tolerate currents and voltages that may vary over ranges covering the needs of most of the relays and motors usually used to actuate the locks and

the doors.

  The above description shows the narrow

  dependence of the meaning of the control and detection signals on the choice of locks and cabling It is therefore necessary that the control unit be programmed to take into account the development of diagnostics and control signals based

signals from the sensors.

  FIG. 5 represents an embodiment of the management unit (13). This unit is organized around a bus (B) to which a microprocessor (CPV) (20), a programmable memory (PROM) (21) is connected. ), an electrically modifiable programmable memory (EEPROM) (22), a random access memory (RAM) (23), the communication interface unit (29)

  as well as various interface circuits (14 B, 24 to 28).

  The communication interface unit (29) comprises a communication controller (38) and a modem (39) connected to the telephone network. The interface (24) is of the (UART) type and provides communication between the bus (B )

  and a serial link connected to the user console.

  The interface (25) is also of the type (UART) allowing the bus (B) to communicate by another serial link with the card reader, the keyboard and the button

  pushers placed near the door.

  The interface (26) is composed of a set of addressable latches or buffers connected to an actuating circuit (27) for controlling means of

signaling or alarm.

  The interface (14 B) also consists of a set of addressable buffers which are connected to the various sensors of the system via photocouplers. Similarly, the interface (28) comprises addressable buffers providing the signaling signals. control of the power circuit (14 A) described above. The interfaces (UART 24, 25) use conventional integrated circuits proposed by various manufacturers It is therefore unnecessary to specify in detail the constitution and implementation Similarly, the implementation of the various interfaces (14 B, 26 to 29) is within the reach of the person skilled in the art and therefore does not require

additional explanations.

  The memory (21) is a non-volatile memory containing all the programs for monitoring, communication and initialization of the system. The monitoring program is composed of a main program 12 and a plurality of modules specific to different types. locks manageable by the system The memory (22) is a nonvolatile memory capable of being electrically modified and intended to receive in particular the address of a specific module corresponding to a selected type of lock The memory (23) is a memory live to temporarily store data representative of the status and history of the operation. The circuit of FIG. 5 operates in the following way At the initialization of the system, at the time of installation, the user console requests an initialization program comprising a user interface program allowing the presentation of a menu of displayable installation on the user console This installation menu is used to display a list of the different types of locks manageable by the unit When the user selects one of the items in the list, the installation program loads into the memory (22) a connection address of a specific module corresponding to the selection The menu also makes it possible to program certain operating parameters of the communication interface unit (29), especially for

  register passwords or phone numbers.

  Once the installation is done, the system is operational to manage the access control When a request for actuation of the lock is detected by the monitoring program, it checks the address contained in the memory (22) to connect to the specific module corresponding to the type of lock

  selected during installation.

  The functions of the system concerning the detection of access requests and the activation of alarms and 13 - indications can be of the conventional type and therefore do not require detailed explanations The functions related to remote monitoring will be exposed later. The specific program modules will normally be loaded into the program memory (21) during the production of the control unit. These modules will obviously be designed according to the specifications of the corresponding lock types. If necessary, a guide can be provided. for each type of lock indicating the connections to be made so as to ensure in all cases the compatibility between the modules and the associated types of locks. FIG. 6 shows the essential elements of the communication controller (38) of the communication interface unit (29) The controller (38) is organized around a bus (B1) to which a processing unit ( 40), an electrically modifiable nonvolatile memory (41), a program memory of the PRON or EPRON type (not shown) and a random access memory (42). A communication interface of the UART type (43) is interposed between the communication unit. processing (40) and the modem (39) The unit (40) is finally connected directly to the

  bus (B) of the management unit (13).

  The processing unit (40) is essentially composed of a processor (44) and input (45) and output (46) buffers serving as interfaces with the bus (B). ) is of conventional type and therefore does not require more detailed explanations It may for example use one of the many integrated microcontrollers commercially available such as that sold by the company INTEL under the number 80 C 452 J. 14 - Before to explain the operation of the communication controller (38), it is necessary to describe the addressing mode of the random access memories (23) and (42) programmed in the management and communication interface units. This addressing mode is schematically represented in FIGS. 7 and 8 The references (23) and (42) respectively represent the memories (23) and (42) defined above, or more precisely the memory spaces allocated to the event words in these memories. A first pointer (CTO) contained in an address register of the management unit (13) defines the memory location intended to receive the future word

  event (MO) that will be created by the unit (13).

  Immediately after its creation, this word is saved to the address defined by the pointer (CTO) then it is incremented by one unit When the address defined by the pointer (CTO) corresponds to the last word of the memory space (23), the pointer of the next word is reset to address the first location of the memory space (23). Therefore, any new event word will be stored in place of the oldest event word. contained in the memory space (23) This mechanism defines an addressing mode of the "first" type

  "first-in, first out" (FIFO) well known in itself.

  A second pointer (CTI) contained in an address register of the management unit (13) defines the address of the last event word (MI) transmitted by the management unit (13) to the communication interface unit (29) The memory space (42) of this unit therefore contains a copy of this last word (Ml) whose

  the address is also defined by a pointer (CT 2).

  Thus, the offset between the word addresses (MO) and (MI) defines the delay between the history contained in

  the memory (42) and that contained in the memory (23).

  - The management unit (13) can therefore use the pointers (CTO) and (CT 1) to determine the event words remaining to be issued In the same way, the communication interface unit uses a second pointer ( CT 3) representative of the address of the last event word (M 2) transmitted to the remote monitoring console so as to determine the words

  event to be transmitted to him.

  The remote monitoring system operates as follows During operation, the management unit (13) monitors the access requests materialized by signals transmitted by the card reader. When such a request is detected, the unit (13) checks the conformity of the card and possibly the compound access code on the keypad (10) and, in case of conformity, it releases the closing devices by sending appropriate signals to the actuating means ( motor, relay) of these bodies It then monitors the signals transmitted by the sensors so as to verify the smooth running of operations Thus, any request for access, compliance or not a card or code, sending signals of control and reception and interpretation of the signals emitted by the sensors constitute an event that the unit (13) stores under

  the form of an event word in the random access memory (23).

  As soon as a new event word is stored and provided that no real-time operation is in progress, the unit (13) initializes a copy operation of this word to the communication interface unit ( 29) This results in the sending of a write command to the processing unit (40) via the bus (B). If the unit (40) is available, the transfer of the word of event is performed and the processor (44) writes the corresponding write 16 in the memory (42). If the transfer can not be performed immediately, it is possible that other new event words are created and loaded into the memory. the memory (23) Also, the unit (13) uses the pointers (CTO) and (CT 1) to determine the portion of memory (23) remaining to be transferred to the unit (29) The unit (13) performs automatically transfer attempts as soon as it is no longer solicited by any real-time or priority operation such as that programming by the console

user (9).

  Regarding the operation of the communication interface unit (29) in relation to the remote monitoring console, several possibilities can be envisaged. According to a first embodiment, the remote monitoring console is not dedicated, which implies that the transfers of data from the memory (42) to the console (12) are only at the initiative of the latter For security reasons, it will advantageously be provided that the communication protocol includes the sending of a password that the unit (29) checks by comparing it with a reference code stored in the memory (41). Of course, a telematic terminal may in certain cases replace the console

remote monitoring. It will be possible advantageously to envisage the possibility of programming the

  system from the console (12) to define for example operating modes For example define time slots during which only certain categories of card will allow access to the local It may also impose a security mode in case of threats or These operating modes will be imposed on the system by the console 17 - in the form of messages transmitted to the management unit via the communication interface unit. In such a case, it will not be possible. It is not useless to reinforce the security by providing a reminder of the console by the interface unit before taking into account its commands The program of the unit (38) will then be provided to automatically dial the number of the call. console This call number can advantageously be programmed via the management unit (13) by sending a call number write command in the memory

programmable (41).

  According to another possibility, the remote monitoring console is dedicated. It will then be possible to provide in addition that the unit (29) takes the initiative of regularly transferring the contents of its memory (42) to the

dedicated console.

  In order to improve the security of the system, it is useful to be able to check whether the management unit is functioning normally. For this purpose, it can be programmed so as to permanently create a status word containing in particular the date and time retrieved. its internal clock (not shown) The status word may also contain additional information about the operating mode of the system (range

schedule, increased security).

  After each modification, for example every second, this status word thus constituted will be transmitted to the unit (29) which will store it in a register or to a specific memory address. For example, it will be possible to check whether the mode of status has been changed correctly as a result of an operating mode command As with the event words, the status word can be accessed by the monitoring console and enabled

At 2695226

  18 - thus to detect a possible anomaly of the data

that it contains.

19 -

Claims (7)

  1 system for remote monitoring of a premises protected by automatically-controlled closure members (1, 6, 7), said system comprising a remote monitoring console (12) in communication via the telephone network with a control unit (8) placed inside the room, said control unit (8) being connected on the one hand to detection means (2, 3, 10) for requesting the actuation of said closure members, and on the other hand to means electromechanical actuating means (30, 32) of said closing members (1, 6, 7) as well as sensors (31, 33) providing status information of said actuating means (30, 32), said system characterized in that said control unit (8) comprises a management unit (13) and a communication interface unit (29) which are programmable and interconnected, said management unit (13) being responsible for creating and provide actuation commands (COVER, CFER, CO M) to said electromechanical actuating means (14A, 30, 32) in response to said actuation requests and as a function of said state information, in that said management and communication interface units (13, 29) are provided for exchanging data with each other and that said communication interface unit is provided for exchanging data with said remote monitoring console (12) via the telephone network, in that said management unit (13) ) is programmed to create event words (MO) according to said actuation requests and commands and said state information and each created event word is then stored in first storage means (23), and in that, in response to write commands issued by the management unit (13), said communication interface unit (29) is programmed to store in second means of communication. storing (42) the event words (Ml) transmitted by said management unit (13). 2 remote monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that said first storage means (23) are associated with indicator means (CTO, CT 1) of the event words created and not yet transmitted to the interface unit the communication commands (29) and that said operation commands (COV, CFER, COM) are prioritized by   report to said write commands.   Remote monitoring system according to claim 2, characterized in that said first storage means (23) consist of a first memory addressed according to the "first-in-first out" mode and representative pointers (CTO, CT 1) respectively the address of the last memorized event word (MO) and the last transmitted event word (Mi) by the management unit (13) to   the communication interface unit (29).   Remote monitoring system according to claim 3, characterized in that said communication interface unit (23) is programmable through a non-volatile memory (41) writable in response to programming commands provided by the management unit (13).   Remote monitoring system according to claim 4, characterized in that said communication interface unit (29) is programmed to transfer the contents of said second storage means (42) to the telephone network only after receiving and check a word from 21 -   pass received from said telephone network.   Remote monitoring system according to claim 5, characterized in that said communication interface unit (29) is programmed so as to automatically dial at least one call number stored in said non-volatile memory (41) and after acceptance. of the call by the recipient, to automatically transfer the content   said second storage means (42).   Remote monitoring system according to claim 6, characterized in that said communication interface unit (29) comprises means for detecting and counting call rings received from the telephone network and in that said interface unit of communication (29) is programmed to take the line taking only after a determined number of rings has been detected, said determined number being stored in said memory no volatile (41).   8 Remote monitoring system according to one of the   Claims 3 to 7, characterized in that said unit   management system (13) is a microprocessor system provided with a bus (B) to which are connected said microprocessor (20), said first memory and said   communication interface unit (29).   9 Remote monitoring system according to one of the   Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the unit of   management (13) comprises a local clock and creates a status word containing in particular the time and date provided by said clock and transmits said status word to the communication interface unit (29) after each modification of said state word and in that said status word is stored by said interface unit of communication (29).   22 - Remote monitoring system according to claim 9, characterized in that said status word further contains information representative of the   operating mode of the control unit.