FR2836769A1 - Visitor reception/registration/control conference room/exhibition/entry having digital word base server connected generating character code authorising using distant consultation word base over local radio network - Google Patents

Abstract

The visitor access control has a base of digital words (BDV) connected to a server generating a code of 4 or more characters. The complex personal code authorises access to a public place by distant consultation of the visitor word base using a local radio network (RLAN) from the digital word base.

Description

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The present invention aims to facilitate the reception, registration and control of visitors who wish to enter a public or private place with restricted access.

A typical application of this invention is the use of visitor control of Trade Fairs, Fairs, Exhibitions, Conference Rooms, ...

This invention relates more particularly to a new process which is based on the implementation of new techniques from the world of telecommunications and information technology: - A complex database called the Visitor Database (BDV); - A local network in radio technology (called RLAN) supplemented by wired technology; - Open network access to the outside world using Internet Protocol; - Personal computers connected by local network to the Base
Data; The new process can thus be described: A visitor must register all his personal contact details on the Visitor Database (BDV) (for example, and not limited to: surname, first name, company, telephone, e-mail address, ...) This database is said to be complex, in that it generates, once the visitor's contact details have been recorded, a Personal Complex Code (CCP) and confidential on at least four characters specific code for each visitor.

This code can be written on the badge given to the visitor and can also be combined with a specific coding system such as a bar code, coding on a magnetic strip or on a smart card, in order to facilitate electronic entry.

Access control to the place open to the public is done by entering the Personal Complex Code (CCP) and electronic comparison to the Visitor Database (BDV), resulting in an authorization or a repudiation of the person.

The identification of the visitor by a Third Party within the enclosure of the place open to the public is done by remote consultation of the Visitors Database (BDV). This consultation must use a Terminal connected to the database either by radio link or by wire link.

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The request to the Visitor Database (BDV) is made through the visitor's CCP which is sent to this database via the Terminal. The database then returns the complete contact details recorded concerning the visitor to the Terminal. This data can be combined, if necessary, with a standard visit form in the direction of the Terminal.

In this process, only the Personal Complex Code appearing on the badge is transferred to the Database.

The data thus electronically collected by the Third Party are easily reprocessable, without possible error on the identity of the registered visitor.

Existing solutions for identifying a visitor in a place open to the public are based on magnetic card or optical reader cards with barcode, or even electronic chip cards.

Upon registration, a visitor receives an identification badge which allows all their contact details to be coded directly on this paper or magnetic plastic support (or even with a smart card).

The information on this badge concerning the identity of the Visitor is not used to control access to the premises of the place open to the public. This information is used by a Third Party inside the enclosure to record the contact details of a visitor. Each recording of these visitor coordinates must be performed using specific reading equipment.

These current processes have the following major drawbacks: - The creation and reading of badges requires specific and expensive equipment; - The information relating to the visitor and recorded on the badge is not used to control access to the Place open to the Public; - The information carried on the badge concerns the complete identification of the visitor; - This information is therefore not confidential, since it can be identified by any badge reader; - Badges are not always rot-proof, and therefore can be easily damaged, rendering their reading by the equipment ineffective; - Reading badges is unreliable and reading errors

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 can take place; - The transfer of information, from badge reading equipment to a current software package for personal computer is complex or even non-existent; - Visit comments are not taken into account, and are therefore processed manually and separately.

The present invention aims to eliminate each of the drawbacks listed above.

FIG. 1 gives the typical functional diagram of the architecture of systems on which the invention can be implemented.

The system containing the Visitors Database (BDV) constitutes the main element of the system.

This Database (BDV) is connected to a router type data routing system, called (RD). This data routing system (RD) allows the connection between the Visitors Database (BDV) and a Local Server (SL) of the Web server type hosting specific information pages.

The data routing (RD) system is also connected to the outside world of Internet Protocol type network, allowing, if necessary, to route the data to this outside port.

The Data Routing (RD) system can also be equipped (internally or on a separate system) with a firewall system, allowing security isolation between the outside world in Internet Protocol and the internal world of the Place open to the Public. a variant of the invention, the Visitors Database (BDV) may be located outside the premises open to the public: in this case the data routing system (RD) will direct the useful data to the Database Data (BDV) through the external Internet Protocol network, and the whole process described below can be applied identically.

A system of access points in Radio LAN technology is connected to the Local Server (SL), thus authorizing the connection to this server of remote terminals equipped with radio cards of the same Radio LAN technology. However, these same terminals can also be connected by wired network (LAN network).

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This entire system architecture is therefore accessible by terminals of the Personal Computer type equipped, where appropriate, with a radio card in the communication standard of the RLAN implemented or with a wired LAN card.

- one or more quick consultation terminals of the personal computer type (OP1): these terminals are, in general, used to verify registration on the Visitor Database (BDV): these terminals can be specific portable equipment (depending on the technologies used); - one or more consultation terminals of the personal computer type (OP2): these terminals are, in general, used to make requests on the Visitor Database (BDV); - one or more personal computer type input terminals (OP3): these terminals are generally used to enter the content of the
Visitor Data (BDV); - one or more personal computer type administration terminals (OP4): these terminals are generally used to administer the
Visitor Data (BDV); All these terminals can connect to the Local Server (SL) in two ways: - Either by radio connection, via RLAN cards compatible with the RLAN in place; - Either by direct wired connection (known as LAN); These terminals can also be fitted with a badge reading system for faster reading of the Personal Complex Code (CCP) written on the badges, as described below.

The invention is based on the accreditation levels granted for access to the Visitor Database (BDV): Access to this database is protected at several levels by an electronic system of type Log-in + password happening for example.

Level 1 accreditation allows access to only brief requests for

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 to obtain only partial information from the Visitors Database.

Level 2 accreditation allows access only to specific requests on the database.

Level 3 accreditation provides access to the writing of new visitor records.

Level 4 accreditation provides access to the entire database, both in writing and in reading.

The visitor, upon arrival, is registered using the type terminal (OP3). His contact details (in general, but not limited to: Last name, First name, Company, Address and Telephone Numbers, address me! ...) are thus recorded on the Visitor Database system (BDV).

This registration is carried out by access authorization to level 3 accreditation of the database.

In a variant of the invention, the coordinates of the visitor will already be pre-registered in the database.

Whenever a record is considered complete by the database system, said system (BDV) automatically generates a personal complex code (CCP) of n characters (letters, numbers, symbols) unique code for each set of coordinates of a visitor. This code includes at least 4 characters.

At the end of their registration, the visitor receives a specific badge which generally inscribes their name and company in clear, and which also registers their personal complex code (CCP).

It is possible to complete this badge by a transcription process of the (CCP) only, using an optical system with barcode or magnetic medium, or by any other means, this in order to facilitate access control in the enclosure of the place open to the public.

In a variant of the invention, the system for managing the accreditation levels as well as the generation of Personal Complex Codes (CCP) can be processed separately from the core of the Visitor Database (BDV). In this case, the system can be located for example in the Local Server (SL). The process remains identical to what is described below.

When the visitor goes to this place, he is checked to verify his right

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 access, and in the following way by the person in charge of entry control who uses a terminal (OP1) to do this: - Either this person uses the terminal's keyboard directly to type the visitor's CCP; - Either this person uses the ad hoc means of rapid reading whose badge could be equipped to read the visitor's (CCP) more quickly: In this case the terminal (OP1) is itself equipped with a specific peripheral which allows reading direct from the (CCP) registered on the badge.

Beforehand the terminal (OP1) was connected to the Visitors database (BDV) with a level 1 accreditation.

Once the (CCP) transmitted by the terminal (OP1) to the Visitor Database (BDV), the latter sends the terminal (OP1) a message of agreement or refusal to pass.

The message is OK (agreement) if the CCP entered corresponds to the contact details of a registered visitor, and it is not OK (refusal) if the CCP does not correspond to any contact details of the visitor registered in the Database.

Type (OP2) terminals have a right of access to the Level 2 accreditation Visitors Database (BDV). In the application considered, they are generally placed within the very confines of the place open to the public. The user of a type terminal (OP2) can thus access the database (BDV) by specific requests but has no right of interaction of any other nature whatsoever with this Visitors Database (BDV) ).

 - When requested, the user of a terminal type (OP2) enters on this terminal the Personal Complex Code (CCP) of a visitor either directly by the keyboard or by a rapid reading process such as mentioned above (barcode or any other means). Once this (CCP) has been entered, it is sent via the RLAN radio network or the wired network to the Visitor Database (BDV), which responds to this request by sending the corresponding data to the terminal (OP2) requesting coordinates of said Visitor. These return data also pass through the same local interconnection means.

The complete terminal exchange protocol (OP2) is described in Figure 2.

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A variant of the invention makes it possible to couple the retrieval of visitor identification data on the standard terminal (OP2) with a standard visit form. In this variant of the invention, the data relating to the identity of the visitor is displayed on the screen of the standard terminal (OP2) automatically at the top of the visit card, thus allowing the visitor to verify that this data is correct. , and complete the visit form with a comment zone directly entered on the terminal (OP2).

The data is stored in the standard terminal (OP2). They can thus be periodically compiled and sent through the Local Server (SL) and the Routing System (RD) to the Internet Protocol world. To establish a link with this telecommunications network type Internet Protocol, it is necessary, from the terminal (OP2) to get in touch with the Local Server (SL) which will be authorized to give the rights.

The protocol for managing access to the Internet Protocol link is similar to a secure access control, such as log-in + password.

The acknowledgment of this password by the user of the terminal (OP2) leads to routing of the data streams no longer to the server but to the Internet Protocol output connected to the port of the Routing System (RD).

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Process which allows access control to a place open to the public for visitors who register their contact details in a Visitor Database (BDV), which visitor database, either intrinsically or by means of '' a software package contained in a connected server, automatically generates a code on at least 4 characters, called Personal Complex Code (CCP), which code is used to authorize access to the place open to the public by remote consultation of the Database Visitors via a local radio network (RLAN) or wired (LAN), the Database (BDV) then transmitting authorization or non-authorization to access the place open to the public. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, by entering the Personal Confidential Code (CCP) on a computer terminal, the data attached to this code and coming from the Visitor Database (BDV), data which represent the coordinates of a Visitor on a place open to the public. 3. Method according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it dematerializes the information data (visitor contact details) worn on visitor badges in the case of controlled access to places open to the public. It is no longer the information data itself that is coded on the badge. This information data is associated with the Personal Complex Code (CCP) which serves as a key to access this data itself contained in the Visitor Database (BDV). 4. Method according to claims 1,2 and 3 characterized in that it allows the control of visitors to a place open to the public and a reliable identification of these visitors inside the public place while maintaining the confidentiality of contact details of said visitor by the access control restricted to the Visitors Database (BDV); 5. Method according to claims 1,2 and 3 characterized in that it sets up four possible levels of accreditation <Desc / Clms Page number 9>  to interact with the Visitor Database (BDV), each of these levels allowing a specific action with this database. 6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it does not require, in its simplified version, specific means for creating and reading badges, but only input on a personal computer keyboard. 7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it can also be coupled, in its complete version, with current and future means of creation and reading of badges to facilitate the entry of the code on an ad terminal. hoc. 8. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it allows, by full recovery of the original information data entered in the Visitors Database (BDV), to electronically process these data and send them in format electronic on Internet Protocol access. 9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it makes it possible to retrieve the data from the visitor database coupled to a visit card for each visitor, which visit card can be completed electronically. 10. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the codes can be created uniquely as a function of the one hand of the identity of the visitor and on the other hand of the place or the fair open to the public, customizing thus completely the bearer of this code compared to the place where it is and the event (Fair, ...).