FR2816742A1 - Access control for a monitored zone of a casino, checks the entrants identity card against pre-selected criteria - Google Patents

Abstract

The control method applies access criteria in which a persons access document/card data is collected and the access criteria is checked against the persons collected data. Access is authorized if the access criteria is satisfied, otherwise an alarm is triggered, and the collected data is suppressed. Before collecting the data from the person requiring access, the type of data document presented is identified. The latter stage includes searching in the document for a characteristic of each of several types of pre-selected identity parts collected from a zone chosen as a function of the type of identity part recognized. The pre-selected identity parts include old and new types of identity card. When the access criteria is satisfied a ticket is printed which contains data used for application of access criteria. Passage towards the monitored zone is authorized when access criteria is satisfied, by suppression of an infrared beam which then allows passage from the controlled zone to the casino/

Description

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 The invention relates to controlling access to certain public areas or places, such as casinos, subject to certain conditions or restrictions on access.

 As we know, casinos are public places whose access is prohibited to certain people, at the request of them, their relatives or the Minister of the Interior, in France. Thus casinos must set up a filtering system allowing to repress the unwanted players, without however dissuading other people from entering.

 It should be known that casinos are responsible for what takes place on their premises, for example untimely emotions in the event of success (or loss), and must in particular pay the jackpots to all the players who have won, regardless of whether s 'They are prohibited or not.

 There is therefore a need to filter the access to such places, in a way making it possible to drive back the prohibited people in such a way that it is possible to prove, if these people manage to enter, that this results from fraudulent behavior, without putting off other visitors.

 The need to control access to given areas is a classic problem, well resolved when it comes to letting only authorized people pass: it suffices to issue them a badge, and to condition the passage to the presentation of 'an appropriate way of it. It should be noted that these are private places.

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 But access to a public place such as a casino responds to very different constraints, insofar as it is not a question of letting in people who are part of a pre-established list, but on the contrary of driving back people being part of such a pre-established list; moreover, while this parameter has no importance in the case where access is reserved for a few pre-identified persons, access to areas such as casinos must remain as attractive as possible to persons not registered on the list of prohibited, that is to say that the access must remain easy for normal people of whom nothing is known a priori, and of which it is for example excluded to request the presentation of a badge.

 The invention generally relates to filtering access to monitored areas, in particular public places according to any criteria, for example according to age.

 The invention aims to meet this objective, based on the simple presentation of an identity document (it is normally accepted that nothing more can be asked for).

on applique ce critère d'accès aux données saisies, on autorise l'accès si ce critère d'accès est satisfait, sinon on déclenche une alarme, et on supprime les données saisies. The invention proposes for this purpose a method of filtering access to a monitored area, in particular a public place, by application of an access criterion according to which:. we analyze a document supposed to be an identity document of the access candidate and we enter exclusively data necessary for the application of the access criterion,

this access criterion is applied to the entered data, access is authorized if this access criterion is satisfied, otherwise an alarm is triggered, and the entered data is deleted.

 It should be noted that the invention provides nothing in the event of presentation of false identity document. This may seem like a crippling vice, dissuading the skilled person from taking an interest in the solution of the invention: however, this absence of control does not prevent there, according to the invention, control of identity of each person inside the enclosure so that, in the event of a problem inside it (behavioral problem, health incident,

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 or winning a jackpot in the case of a casino) local officials can invoke that entry could only be made by fraudulent maneuver and that their responsibility is not engaged, being subject only an obligation of means and not an obligation of result.

 It should be noted that this lack of verification of the authenticity of the identity document allows entry with a simple photocopy of one of its authentic identity documents. In addition, this absence of authenticity control allows access control to be applied to everyone with a bearable processing time.

 According to preferred arrangements of the invention, possibly combined: -Before entering the data necessary for the application of the access criterion, it is advantageously planned to identify the type of identity document to which the document presented belongs, this which allows you to have no constraint as to the document to be presented (depending on everyone's habits, it is the identity card or passport, or even a driving license that will be presented).

 - The step of identifying the type of identity document includes, for example, searching in the document presented for a characteristic of each of several types of preselected identity documents (whether it be the format, or particular signs), and the data is entered in an area chosen according to the type of identity document thus recognized. The types of identity documents preselected advantageously include the identity card, driver's license and passport. Preferably, the types of preselected identity documents in France include the old and the new type of identity card.

 - In a completely advantageous manner, when the access criterion is satisfied, a ticket is printed comprising the data used for the application of the access criterion. This has the great advantage, even though the device has removed all traces of the filtering carried out, of being able to require any person to prove by presenting this ticket that they have passed the filtering device in good faith.

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 - Preferably, the passage to the monitored area is authorized, when the access criterion is satisfied, by removing an infrared radiation barrier, and any passage from the monitored area to the outside is authorized . In this way only the inputs are filtered while the outputs are free, which is important in an emergency.

 - In the particular case of access to casinos, the access criterion is advantageously the non-conformity of the data entered on the document presented with data from a database concerning persons prohibited from access. In other cases, for example discos, this access criterion can be the respect of a minimum age.

 - Advantageously, in particular for security reasons, there are inputs and outputs (either separately, the number of people present being the difference between inputs and outputs, or by a single counter which increases with each entry and which decreases with each exit; but this first case has the advantage of giving cumulative information, for example on the day).

 The invention further provides a device for filtering access to a monitored area comprising a central processing device, a digital acquisition device capable of capturing an image of a document supposed to be an identity document, a device of character recognition suitable for entering data in the image captured by the digital acquisition device, an area containing the elements constituting an access criterion, an access device with controlled opening, the central device being adapted to apply the access criterion to the data entered by the character recognition device and, if the criterion is satisfied, to command the opening of the access device, otherwise to trigger an alarm, then to delete the entered data, the character recognition device being designed so as to capture only the data necessary for the access criterion.

 According to preferred arrangements of the invention, by analogy to what has been said about the method: - The central device is preferably further adapted to have the type recognition device recognize the type of

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 identity document to which the document scanned by the scanning device belongs. The character recognition device is preferably adapted to recognize at least an identity card, a driving license, and a passport. Even more preferably, the character recognition device is further adapted to recognize the old and the new type of identity card.

 - According to a particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, there is also a ticket printing device, the central device being adapted to trigger this device when the access criterion is satisfied, by printing the data entered on the document.

 - The access device with controlled opening advantageously comprises an infrared radiation barrier which is removed when the access criterion is satisfied. Also preferably, this access device further comprises a double-beam infrared radiation barrier, suitable for triggering an alarm when a passage takes place in the direction of entry, and for not triggering any alarm when 'A passage takes place in the direction of the exit. In practice, to favor multiple entries, thus reducing any discomfort for applicants for access, there are preferably several access devices each provided with a digital acquisition device connected to the central device.

 - In the case of filtering at the entrance to a casino, the constituent elements of the access criterion are advantageously identification data of persons prohibited from access, the access criterion being satisfied when the data entered on the document do not comply with these credentials. On the other hand, in the case for example of access to a discotheque, the elements constituting the access criterion have a minimum age value, the access criterion being the indication on the document of a date of birth corresponding to an age at least equal to this minimum age.

 - As has been said about the process of the invention, for security reasons in particular, the central device is advantageously designed so as to be able to count inputs and outputs in the monitored area.

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 - The digital acquisition device can be a scanner scanning device, or any other digital element such as a camera, etc.

 - A camera, for example digital, can be added to, for example, take an image of the access candidate to, in particular, compare it to the photo of the identity document.

 Objects, advantages and characteristics of the invention appear from the following description, given by way of nonlimiting illustrative example, with reference to the appended drawings in which: * FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a filtering device according to the invention, * Figure 2 is a top view of the access system of this filtering device, * Figure 3 is a front view of this access system, * Figure 4 is a schematic view of the reading window of the scanning device of the filtering device, * FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the filtering device, * FIG. 6 is a diagram of the identity analysis part of the diagram of FIG. 5, * the Figure 7 is a top view of an example of passage ticket, and * Figure 8 is a rear view of this passage ticket.

 FIGS. 1 to 8 jointly describe a filtering device adapted to control access to an area, in particular a public place, such as the gaming area of a casino, as a function of the comparison of data taken from a document supposed to be an identity document to a database relating to persons prohibited from access.

 This device is, in the example considered, capable of entering data on several types of possible identity documents, of issuing passage tickets testifying to the passage by the filtering device and of monitoring the frequentation of the place ( in particular the number of people present at any given time, by counting entries as well as entries, even

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 memorization of numbers according to the time of day and compilation of attendance statistics).

 However, it should be understood that this is a particularly efficient version of the device according to the invention.

- un dispositif 3 de reconnaissance de caractères, ou OCR, - une base de données 4, - un dispositif 5 d'impression de ticket, - un dispositif 6 d'accès à ouverture commandée, avantageusement franchissable dans les deux sens, - un dispositif 7 de surveillance des accès, - une télécommande 8. As shown in FIG. 1, this device comprises: - a central processing device 1, - a digital acquisition device 2, here of the scanner type (as a variant, it may be a camera),

- a character recognition device 3, or OCR, - a database 4, - a ticket printing device 5, - an access device 6 with controlled opening, advantageously passable in both directions, - a device 7 for access monitoring, - a remote control 8.

 The central processing device 1 is the heart of the filtering device and communicates with all the other elements, which are software or hardware to coordinate interventions. It includes start-up elements, not detailed.

 The digital acquisition device 2 (here a scanner) is a hardware device known per se which is used to read, in an appropriate manner, the identity document which any candidate for access must present. It is a device for digitizing documents using optical sensors. It generates a file of the scanned document.

 The character recognition device 3 is a software device known per se which makes it possible to convert all or part of an image into ASCII characters, characters which can be used subsequently by a word processor; according to the invention it is used to enter exclusively the characters whose combination is necessary for a comparison with the data entered in the lists of prohibitions (in practice the name, first names, date and place of birth).

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 The database 4 is a software element (computer file) containing all the data identifying the persons prohibited from access.

 The ticket printing device 5 is a material element of any suitable known type, comprising a printer (not shown) allowing the printing of a ticket intended to be taken by any person authorized to enter and to allow it to prove, on any request from the staff of the casino, that they entered regularly: this ticket may be required, for example in combination with the identity document presented at the entrance, prior to any payment of winnings.

 The device 6 for access with controlled opening comprises the material elements determining the inlet and outlet passages of the filtering device.

 This device 6 is shown in Figures 2 and 3. In this embodiment, the communication of the monitored area with the outside is done by one of two narrow paths forming a gate, designated by the reference 11 or by a very wide 12. Each of these channels is equipped with an infrared radiation barrier (there are preferably two rays offset horizontally, see below); the device shown therefore does not include a material barrier, capable of hindering exit in the event of an emergency. On one side of each gate are successively the window of the digital acquisition device 2 consisting of a scanner, the output of a ticket printing device 5 and indicators, for example green and red, displaying the result of the filtering (passage authorized or not). When the passage is authorized, the infra-red radiation barrier is temporarily deactivated so as to let the person who has just been authorized pass. An untimely crossing of the barriers 11 or 12 from the outside triggers an audible alarm, while a crossing from the inside to the outside is permanently authorized, which explains why the barriers 11 are entry barriers while the barrier 12 is called the exit barrier. There may be a window 13 between the entry barriers and the exit barrier.

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 The device 7 for monitoring access allows monitoring, counting, analysis of people entering and leaving the area under consideration, as well as the people present in this area at a given instant, which makes it possible to react according to the standards. of security. It also allows, coupled with the cash desks, to determine the conversion rate by time slots.

 In practice, the filtering device is assisted by one or more guards to be able to react during an untimely crossing of accesses or during an identity verification.

 In a variant not shown, there is also a camera allowing the taking of photos, preferably digital, of each candidate for access, for example with a view to a possible comparison with the photo that the identity document contains, for example by one of the aforementioned security guards automatically.

 The remote control 8 allows, when activated, to temporarily cut the beam of the barriers, thus allowing entry into the area under surveillance without identity check. Such a remote control is for example available to the director of the Casino, to the officials of the gaming police and to any employee having received authorization for any reason. This remote control can be of infrared radiation or of the radio type (corresponding detectors being provided on the elements delimiting the barriers.

 The device represented is designed to allow the entry of identification parameters of the candidate for the passage on several types of identity documents, for example: * the identity card according to the new format, * the identity card according to the old format (as long as it is in use), * passport (it should be noted that this document is of a single format for all nationals of the European Union, so that the device is not limited French citizens), and * driving license.

 Insofar as the formats of these documents are not identical, there may be a rule for the presentation of the document submitted by the candidate to the

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 passage on the scanner glass, at least as large as the largest of these pieces of identification; as an example (see Figure 4) the part must be presented with the upper edge running along the upper edge of the glass, the upper right corner occupying the upper right corner of the glass. As a variant, there may be recognition of the format independently of the direction of presentation of the document.

 The operation of the device is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 5. It is of course assumed that the device has already started up.

 When a crossing is attempted by the entry barriers (left part of the diagram), the device first detects the direction of crossing (which is allowed by the presence of two radiations offset horizontally in the barriers 11 and 12). If the direction of crossing is towards the exit, although the barriers 11 are in principle intended for entry, no reaction is triggered, except that the counting of the exits is incremented. If, on the other hand, the direction is that of the input, the central processing circuit checks whether it is in service configuration (that is to say that the identity management function is in service); if this is not the case, it triggers a possible light signal and increments an input counter; if, on the other hand, it is in identity management mode, it tests the result of an identity analysis.

 Such an analysis is described in more detail in Figure 6.

 It begins with a start-up phase, triggered for example by the affixing of a document on the scanner glass (or next to another digital acquisition device used) or by the insertion by the candidate for the passage of 'a start button.

 It continues with a scanning of the document presented on the scanner glass, with scanning and then storing / acquiring the entire document. The stored file is processed by the OCR device to first recognize the type of document.

 This recognition can be done by recognizing the format of the document (in fact, the four types of documents cited above have different formats); however, it is also possible to recognize the type of document from the specific characteristics of each of these types of

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 documents (from the position of the photo or signature in relation to the upper right corner, or by recognition of a fingerprint on old identity cards, by the presence of the acronym FRENCH REPUBLIC at the beginning of the card new generation identity, numbers in front of names and surnames in the driving license, or by the presence of passport numbers).

 It is then, after the format of the identity document has been identified, that we enter, exclusively, the characters to be compared with the data stored in the database 4, in practice the name of the bearer, his first names, date of birth and place of birth. No other indication, not comparable with the data in this database, is entered at this stage.

 In other words, there is a phase of recognition of the type of identity document during which only general information characteristic of the type of identity document is entered, followed by a phase where there is entry of 'only part of the specific information of the bearer of the piece in question.

 Indeed, from knowledge of the format (ie of the type) of the identity document, it is possible to determine where the aforementioned data are located, and characters are only entered in these pre-identified areas. This guarantees that no confidential, non-useful data is entered, and allows rapid processing, since only part of the characters appearing on the identity document are entered.

 Then, by interrogating the database and comparing the text file made up of the characters entered with the content thereof, the filtering device is able to decide whether (see FIG. 5 again) if there is concordance between the character string and a set of database relating to a person prohibited from access)).

 If there is a match, which means that access must be refused to the bearer of the identity document analyzed, a signal is emitted, for example sound and / or light indicating to the bearer that access is prohibited to him and alerting the nearby security guard so that he can verify that this porter is not trying

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 to force the passage. All the data entered by the identity analysis device is deleted and the filtering operation is completed.

 In a variant not shown, provision may be made for keeping the data of this refused candidate and possible incrementation of the general counter (in this case, the number of candidates for access is counted) or of a specific counter (number of candidates refused ).

 If there is no match, which means that there is no reason to prohibit access to the bearer, a ticket printing operation is triggered, with a verification sub-operation that the bearer takes this ticket (an indicator is advantageously lit as long as this ticket is not taken: the infrared rays of the barrier 11 concerned are interrupted when it is detected that the ticket has been taken, the entry counter is incremented, all the information entered during the identity analysis is deleted and the filtering operation is completed.

 If the identity analysis procedure cannot conclude (because the format of the identity document is not recognized), a signal is emitted, for example only luminous or more discreetly towards a device carried by the security guard posted nearby so that he can decide for himself on the possibility of letting the bearer of the unrecognized identity document pass.

 If, on the other hand, there is an attempt to cross barrier 12, if it is detected that it is not in the direction of exit, an alert is triggered, unless there has been at prior deactivation by the remote control having had the effect of cutting off the infrared beam; there is advantageously an increase in the number of inputs before returning to the standby state (access management box at the top of the figure).

 If on the other hand it is detected that the attempt to cross is made in the direction of the exit there is simply incrementing the number of exits.

 Of course, not all of the above-mentioned sub-operations are necessary. Thus it is possible not to provide a remote control, even if this appears to be an element facilitating the use of the system by the casino management. Likewise there may be no printing

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 a ticket, although this is a convenient means for the casino to make the payment of any winnings subject to the presentation of this ticket; moreover, this allows this casino to demonstrate that it has satisfied its obligation of means to prevent game bans from accessing the gaming areas (anyone who cannot present their entry ticket may be presumed to have entered fraudulently). It is also clear that the presence of counters is only one option allowing to follow the frequentation of the monitored area (there can of course be only one counter incremented during each entry and decremented during each exit, although all information on total entries is lost).

 Furthermore, when it is possible to require that the identity document be of a given type, no prior phase of recognition of the type of identity document is necessary, so that it may be possible in In this case, limit the scanning of the identity document presented on the scanner to the area of this document containing the data necessary for the comparison of the data in the database.

 However, it should be noted that whatever the configuration adopted, the device of the invention does not in any way hinder a possible emergency evacuation of the monitored area (on the contrary, if the counting of the outputs is efficient enough, it can even be able to ensure that no one has stayed in the area).

 To ensure compliance with the rules regarding respect for individual freedoms, there may be a part of the system which is sealed by the gaming authorities, which can reassure players anxious not to leave a trace during their passage .

 An example of a ticket is given in FIGS. 7 and 8. It shows, for example, the date or even the entry time and an entry number. According to a particularly advantageous arrangement of the invention, there is also a reproduction of the data entered on the identity document submitted for analysis.

This allows this data to be checked during the payment of winnings, in view of the identity document presented at that time. There may also be a reminder of

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 relevant parts of the Internal Regulations, in particular with regard to the obligation to present this ticket.

 Thus, according to one aspect of the invention, independent of the comparison with a list of people prohibited from access, there is an access filtering according to which:. we analyze a document supposed to be an identity document, and we enter exclusively the data necessary for a discrimination operation according to an access criterion,. this discrimination operation is applied and, if the access criterion is satisfied, a ticket is displayed displaying these entered data and the passage is authorized, and if the criterion is not satisfied, an alarm is triggered, and. all the information entered is deleted.

 Such filtering applies not only to filtering access to casinos based on non-membership of a prohibited list, but also to other places, for example places prohibited for minors (the criterion of discrimination being the comparison of the age at the threshold of 18 years), any person inside the places being held to be able to show his ticket on the least request of persons in charge of these places and to prove his consistency with an identity document ( not necessarily the same as that used for filtering, but containing the same data as that used for this filtering.

 The above description mentioned a scanner 2 as a digital acquisition device. Other devices are possible, such as a digital camera coupled with recognition software suitable for example for recognizing the type of document by comparison with a library of reference images. The choice of such a digital camera can allow a much faster acquisition than with a scanning device.

Claims (21)

 CLAIMS 1. Method for filtering access to a monitored area, in particular a public place, by applying an access criterion according to which: a document purporting to be an identity document of the candidate for access is analyzed and exclusively enters data necessary for the application of the access criterion, we apply this access criterion to the data entered, we authorize access if this access criterion is satisfied, otherwise we trigger an alarm, and delete the entered data.  2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, before entering the data necessary for the application of the access criterion, the type of identity document to which the document presented belongs is identified.  3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the step of identifying the type of identity document includes searching in the document presented for a characteristic of each of several types of preselected identity documents, and enters the data in an area chosen according to the type of identity document thus recognized.  4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the types of preselected identity documents include the identity card, the driving license and the passport.  5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the types of preselected identity documents include the old and the new type of identity card.  6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that when the access criterion is satisfied a ticket is printed comprising the data having served for the application of the access criterion.  7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the passage to the monitored area is authorized, when the access criterion is satisfied, by removal of an infrared radiation barrier, and any passage from the monitored area to the outside is authorized. <Desc / Clms Page number 16>  8. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the access criterion is the non-conformity of the data entered on the document presented with data from a database concerning persons prohibited from access. .  9. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the access criterion is the respect of a minimum age.  10. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that there are inputs and outputs.  11. Device for filtering access to a monitored area, in particular a public place, comprising a central processing device (1), a digital acquisition device (2) capable of capturing an image of a document supposed to be a room identity, a character recognition device suitable for entering data in the image captured by the digital acquisition device, an area containing the elements constituting an access criterion, an access device with controlled opening, the central device being adapted to apply the access criterion to the data entered by the character recognition device and, if the criterion is satisfied, to command the opening of the access device, otherwise to trigger an alarm, then to delete the data entered, the character recognition device being designed so as to enter only data necessary for the access criterion.  12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the central device is further adapted to make the character recognition device recognize the type of identity document to which the document scanned by the scanning device belongs.  13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the character recognition device is adapted to recognize at least an identity card, a driving license, and a passport.  14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the character recognition device is further adapted to recognize the old and the new type of French identity card.  15. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that it also comprises a ticket printing device (5), <Desc / Clms Page number 17>  the central device being adapted to trigger this device when the access criterion is satisfied, by printing the data entered on the document.  16. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that the device (6, 11, 12) for access with controlled opening comprises an infra-red radiation barrier which is removed when the access criterion is satisfied.  17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that it further comprises a double-beam infrared radiation barrier, adapted to trigger an alarm when a passage takes place in the direction of entry, and to not trigger no alarm when a passage takes place in the direction of exit.  18. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 17, characterized in that there are several access devices (6,11) each provided with a digital acquisition device connected to the central device.  19. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 18, characterized in that the elements constituting the access criterion are identification data of persons prohibited from access, the access criterion being satisfied when the data entered on the document do not comply with these identification data.  20. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 18, characterized in that the elements constituting the access criterion have a minimum age value, the access criterion being the indication on the document of a date of birth corresponding to an age at least equal to this minimum age.  21. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 20, characterized in that the central device is adapted to count the inputs and outputs in the monitored area.