FR2843668A1 - Remote control system operating over telephone network, e.g. for opening gate, using remote server to receive user commands, authenticate user, and transmit necessary signals to equipment to be controlled - Google Patents

Abstract

A remote control command from a user's mobile telephone (8) is transferred over the telephone network (6) to a call receiving device (11) within a server (10). By means of a database of authorized users (12) and a call identifier extractor (13) and analyzer (14), a caller is authenticated and the necessary command is automatically transmitted (15) over the PSTN to the equipment to be controlled (2). Preferably a message in e.g. SMS form, is sent at the same time to the caller to advise them that the command has been received.

Description

The present invention relates to a remote control system

  the operation of at least one piece of equipment.

  Today there are such systems implementing

  assemblies formed by a remote control and a receiver dedicated solely to the control of a given item of equipment such as, for example, a gate or a garage door.

  The user is then obliged to carry a remote control dedicated to the control of a single piece of equipment which is not very functional and tends to be

  cumbersome when using multiple equipment.

  There are also suitable systems for ordering equipment from a telephone terminal such as that described in the French magazine Electronique et Loisirs Magazine (ELM), issue

  12 of the year 2002, pages 28 to 37.

  These systems make it possible in particular to control equipment 15 when receiving a call from a given telephone terminal

  identified by his phone number.

  These systems commonly include a memory located near the equipment and containing a small number of identifiers authorized to control the equipment. The adaptability, the number of users and the usability of these systems are in fact limited. In addition, the geographic proximity of the equipment and the memory containing the identifier (s)

  security poses security concerns.

  In addition, when a plurality of devices are equipped with such systems, the overall cost is high by the multiplication of circuits 25 intended for memorizing identifiers and management is made difficult by

  the multiplication of geographic locations of these memory circuits.

  The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a system for remote control of equipment, which is user-friendly,

modular and inexpensive.

  The subject of the invention is a remote control system for the operation of at least one piece of equipment connected to a telephone type information transfer network and from a telephone type terminal, the system comprising reception means. command calls from said telephone terminal and automatic means for recognizing a caller identifier when receiving command calls, characterized in that it comprises a command server, remote from said equipment, comprising said means for receiving control calls and said automatic means for recognizing a caller identifier, and further comprising automatic means for transmitting a control signal to said equipment in response to the recognition of a

caller ID.

  According to other characteristics: - said call reception means are adapted to interrupt the call without establishing a connection; said automatic means for recognizing a caller ID include: - a database containing a list of caller IDs authorized to control said equipment; - a module for extracting the caller identifier from the telephone terminal when receiving a call from it; and - a data analysis module adapted to check whether the identifier

  caller extract is contained in said database.

  - Said automatic means for transmitting a control signal 20 include a call automaton adapted for transmitting the control signal to said control device through said telephone type information transfer network; - Said server further comprises automatic means for transmitting an acknowledgment to said telephone terminal; - Said server further comprises means for storing information relating to its operation; - The system includes a consultation terminal adapted to access said server for consultation and / or configuration of its operation; - The system comprises a plurality of equipment and said command server is adapted to recognize the equipment receiving a command call sent by the telephone terminal and send a command signal to the appropriate equipment;

  - Said telephone terminal is a portable telephone terminal.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the description which will

  follow, given only by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawing which represents a block diagram of a control system with

distance according to the invention.

  In this figure, there is shown a device 2 which is controlled

remote operation.

  For example, this equipment includes an electromechanical relay

  connected to a motor such as a portal motor.

  This equipment 2 is accessible, in the described embodiment, 10 through a designated telephone type information transfer network

by the general reference 6.

  For example, the equipment 2 is produced in a conventional manner and comprises electronic means suitable for receiving a call through the telephone network 6 and coming from a single predetermined caller. In order to allow the remote control of the equipment 2, the system also includes a telephone type terminal 8 such as a

  mobile phone connected to the telephone network 6.

  According to the invention, the system further comprises a server 10

  also accessible through the telephone network 6.

  This server 10 includes means 11 for receiving command calls from telephone terminals such as the portable telephone 8. The server 10 also includes automatic means for

  recognition of a caller ID when receiving command calls.

  In the example described, these automatic means for recognizing a caller ID include a database 12 containing a list of caller IDs authorized to control the equipment 2 as well as a module 13 for extracting the caller identifier when a command call 30 is received and a data analysis module 14 adapted to check whether the caller identifier extracted by the module 13 is contained in the database.

data 12.

  The server 10 also includes automatic means for transmitting a control signal to the equipment 2 in response to the

  recognition of a caller ID.

  In the example described, these automatic means for transmitting a signal 5 include a call automaton 15 adapted to transmit control signals for the equipment 2 through the telephone network 6.

  Advantageously, the server 10 also includes means 16 for storing information relating to its operation, produced so

  classic and commonly referred to as "newspaper".

  In the embodiment described, the system finally comprises a consultation terminal 20 such as a microcomputer adapted to access the

  server 10 for viewing and / or configuring its operation.

  For example, the consultation terminal 20 is adapted to access the server 10 through an Internet type information transfer network. 15 Operating parameters are thus entered, for example, in the database 12 using the terminal 20 and after an identification protocol comprising the verification of a couple password user name.

  Thus, a list of identifiers authorized to control the operation 20 of the equipment 2 is entered.

  In particular, the caller ID of mobile phone 8 is entered

in the database 12.

  Later, a user with cell phone 8 transmits

  a command call to the server 10 through the telephone network 6. This call 10 is received by the means 1 1 for receiving calls.

  Advantageously, the means 11 for receiving calls are adapted to interrupt calls automatically after extracting the number of the caller and without allowing the establishment of a connection. Thus, when receiving the call from the telephone 8, the means 11 for receiving calls 30 interrupt it without establishing a connection between the telephone 8 and the server, so that the command call does not generate no cost for the user of

cell phone 8.

  Conventionally, the call from the mobile telephone 8

  contains the identifier of this mobile telephone 8, namely its number.

  The extraction means 13 then extract this identifier from the received call and transmit this identifier to the data analysis means 14 which check whether this identifier is present in the list stored in the database.

data 12.

  In the case described, the identifier of the portable telephone 8 is an authorized identifier and the call controller 15 transmits a control signal to

equipment 2.

  In the embodiment described, this control signal comprises

  a telephone type call sent by the controller 15 to the equipment 2 through the network 6.

  When this call is received, equipment 2 recognizes the number

  of telephone 15 of the PLC then enters into operation.

  Advantageously, the controller 15 then sends an acknowledgment

  for mobile phone 8 to notify it of receipt and execution of the control signal.

  For example, this acknowledgment is a written message such as a

short message says SMS.

  Advantageously, the details of the calls received and of the calls made as well as their hours and / or any other information is recorded in the log 16. In the case where the system comprises a plurality of devices, the server 10 is adapted to allow order each of these

equipment independently.

  For example, the number of the command server 10 to which a user makes a command call from a telephone terminal is a prefix or suffix call number, the prefix or the suffix making it possible to identify the equipment to be controlled and being recognized by the call reception means 11 by means of a corresponding list entered in the database 12, in order to allow the transmission of a control signal to

the right equipment.

  Of course, other embodiments can be envisaged.

  In particular, the command signal sent by the command server to the equipment 2 can be transmitted via another information transfer network than the telephone network such as for example a so-called " BLUETOOTH "or it can be transmitted by

over the air or by wire.

  The use of this command server therefore makes it possible to avoid the multiplication of memory circuits while allowing remote control of the operation of an item of equipment from a telephone terminal, without additional cost for the user and with a high level of friendliness

  especially in terms of managing authorized users.

  In addition, this system increases security by centralizing the

  list of identifiers authorized to control the operation of a given piece of equipment 10 at a location geographically distinct from the location of said equipment.

Claims (9)

  1. Remote control system for the operation of at least one piece of equipment (2) connected to a telephone type information transfer network (6) and from a telephone type terminal (8), comprising 5 of means (11) for receiving command calls from said telephone terminal (8) and automatic means (12, 13, 14) for recognizing a caller ID when receiving command calls, characterized in that it comprises a command server (10), remote from said equipment (2), comprising said means (11) for receiving command calls and said 10 means (12, 13, 14) automatic for recognizing a caller ID, and further comprising automatic means (15) for transmitting a control signal to said equipment (2) in response to the recognition of a caller ID.   2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that said means (11) for receiving calls are adapted to interrupt the call coming from said telephone terminal (8) without establishing a connection between this terminal   (8) and said command server (10).   3. System according to any one of claims 1 or 2,   characterized in that said automatic means for recognizing a caller ID include: - a database (12) containing a list of caller IDs authorized to control said equipment (2); - a module (13) for extracting the caller identifier from the telephone terminal (8) when receiving a call from it; and - a data analysis module (14) adapted to verify whether   the extracted caller identifier is contained in said database (12).   4. System according to any one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that said automatic means for transmitting a control signal comprises a call automaton (15) adapted to transmit said control signal 30 for said equipment (2) through said network   transfer of telephone-type information (6).   5. System according to any one of claims 1 to 4,   characterized in that said server (10) further comprises automatic means (15) for sending an acknowledgment to said terminal telephone (8).   6. System according to any one of claims 1 to 5,   characterized in that said server further comprises means (16) for storing information relating to its operation.   7. System according to any one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that it comprises a consultation terminal (20) adapted to access said command server (10) for consultation and / or configuration of its operation.   8. System according to any one of claims 1 to 7,   characterized in that it comprises a plurality of equipment (2), and in that said command server (10) is adapted to recognize the equipment receiving a command call sent by said telephone terminal (8) and   send a control signal to the appropriate equipment (2).   9. System according to any one of claims 1 to 8,   characterized in that said telephone terminal is a telephone terminal portable (8).