FR2868650A1 - Visitor and resident communication method for e.g. apartment, involves communicating between electronic porter controlling access to building and terminal of selected resident for direct communication of visitor and resident terminals - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves establishing wireless communication between a mobile terminal (5) e.g. PDA, of a visitor and an electronic porter (10) which controls access to an apartment. A resident of the apartment is selected by the visitor. Communication is established between the porter and a terminal of the selected resident to establish a direct communication the mobile terminal of the visitor and the terminal of the resident. Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) a device for controlling access to a defined residential area and communicating a visitor and a resident of the area (B) a program for controlling access to a defined residential area and communicating a visitor and a resident of the area.

Description

2868650 1

  METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATING A VISITOR EQUIPPED WITH A MOBILE TERMINAL AND A BUILDING OCCUPANT.

  The present invention relates to a method and a system for communicating a person equipped with a mobile terminal with an occupant of a reserved area, such as a building or group of buildings.

  It applies in particular, but not exclusively to the control of access to a building.

  Current electronic door entry systems are designed to control access to buildings using equipment installed at the entrance of the building including a keypad, microphone, loudspeaker, display screen and possibly a camera, as well as a remote-controlled strike allowing the occupants to open the door of the building to their visitors from their apartment. The keypad allows a visitor to select and control the call of an occupant of the building, while the microphone and loudspeaker allow him to communicate with the occupant who is equipped for this purpose with an intercom once communication is established between the gatekeeper and the intercom.

  It turns out that these systems do not provide sufficient security. Indeed, as the equipment of porter is installed at the entrance of the building, its use is not very discreet and it is exposed to the vandalism. It can therefore often be defective, which then requires keeping the door of the building open to allow visitors to go to an occupant of the building.

  Furthermore, for the gatekeeper to establish communications with the occupants of the building, these systems require the installation of intercoms in the apartments of the building, as well as a wired network between the porter and the intercoms, or the use of the telephone network, involving the cost of a telephone subscription and calls established each time a visitor calls an occupant from the gatekeeper.

  In addition, if the building has multiple entrances, each entrance must be 2868650 -2- equipped with an electronic door entry system. The cost of the installation is therefore multiplied by the number of entries that the building contains.

  The present invention aims to eliminate these disadvantages. This objective is achieved by predicting a method for connecting a visitor and an occupant of a defined inhabited area, including steps of selection by a visitor of an occupant of the inhabited area, and establishment of communication between an electronic gatekeeper for access to the inhabited area and a terminal of the selected occupant.

  According to the invention, this method comprises a preliminary step of establishing a wireless communication between a mobile terminal of the visitor and the electronic gatekeeper, and steps of selection of the occupant by the visitor on the mobile terminal, and establishment by the electronic gatekeeper of a communication between the mobile terminal of the visitor and the terminal of the occupant following the selection of the occupant.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the communication established between the electronic door and the terminal of the selected occupant is a wireless communication with a mobile terminal, the communication established by the electronic doorkeeper between the mobile terminals of the visitor and of the selected occupant is a direct communication between the two terminals.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises a step of triggering by the electronic doorkeeper an answering function allowing the visitor to leave a message by means of his mobile terminal, systematically or if the visitor the wish, or if the terminal of the selected occupant does not respond, at the choice of the selected occupant.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises a step of triggering by the electronic doorkeeper a call transfer function allowing the electronic doorkeeper to put the mobile terminal of the visitor in telephone communication with another terminal designated by the selected occupant, systematically or only if the terminal of the selected occupant does not respond, at the choice of the selected occupant.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises transmission steps by the terminal of the selected occupant to the electronic doorkeeper of an electric lock release control, and of execution by the electronic door operator of the electric lock release control to let the visitor enter the inhabited area.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises steps in which the electronic gatekeeper establishes a wireless communication with a mobile terminal, identifies and authenticates the mobile terminal to determine whether it belongs to an authorized person to enter the inhabited area, and controls the unlocking of an electric strike to open an entrance door of the inhabited area in the event of successful identification and authentication of the mobile terminal.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method also comprises steps in which the electronic gatekeeper receives bills from a building manager for the occupants of the inhabited area, and transmits these bills to the occupants' terminals. of the inhabited area.

  The invention also relates to a device for controlling access to a demarcated inhabited area and placing in communication a visitor and an occupant of the inhabited area, comprising selection means for selecting an occupant of the inhabited area, and means for establishing a communication with a terminal of the selected occupant.

  According to the invention, this device comprises processing, storage and communication means for establishing a wireless communication with a mobile terminal, for receiving from the mobile terminal an occupant identifier, and for establishing a communication between the mobile terminal of the mobile terminal. visitor and the occupant terminal corresponding to the occupant identifier received.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device further comprises means for connecting to a telephone or IP network, the processing and storage means being programmed to perform a call transfer function to put a mobile terminal in telephone communication with another terminal designated by the selected occupant, systematically or only if the terminal of the selected occupant does not respond, at the choice of the selected occupant.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device further comprises means for connecting to at least one electric door locking lock of an access door to the inhabited area, the processing means and storage devices being programmed to identify and authenticate a mobile terminal, and trigger the unlocking of the electric lock in case of successful identification and authentication of the mobile terminal.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the processing and storage means are programmed to perform a messaging function 10 allowing terminals to leave messages to other users.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the processing and storage means are programmed to perform a function of publishing information about the inhabited area and / or the dwellings of the inhabited area, accessible by means of a terminal.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the processing and storage means are programmed to perform an identification and authentication function for controlling the identity of a person in communication with the system via a computer. a mobile terminal, and allow or not the mobile terminal to access information stored in the storage means according to the identity of the person.

  The invention also relates to a program intended to be executed by a device for controlling access to a demarcated inhabited area and to put in communication a visitor and an occupant of the inhabited zone. This program is designed to implement the method defined above.

  A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described below, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows schematically a device according to the invention for setting in communication of an occupant a building with a visitor; FIG. 2 shows in more detail an electronic gatekeeper forming part of the system represented in FIG.

  Figure 1 shows an electronic gatekeeper 10 to control access to a building, or more generally to a defined inhabited area. According to the invention, this gatekeeper is designed to communicate with mobile terminals 5, preferably multimedia, made available to the occupants of the building and visitors likely to access the building or communicate with the occupants. To ensure access control of the building the electronic doorkeeper is connected to electric strikes 12 locking the entrances of the building, as well as to a local database 11 storing information relating to the building and its occupants, and identifying and authenticating information of the persons authorized to enter the building, ie the occupants of the building and the service representatives who maintain the building or the building. meter reading. The local database 11 is updated by a building manager who notably manages the list of authorized persons and the registration of authentication information of these persons.

  The electronic doorphone 10 communicates with the mobile terminals 5 by a short-range wireless link 16, for example of the Bluetooth or WiFi type, having a sufficient flow rate to ensure the transport of the voice, and preferably a reduced sensitivity to the presence of obstacles and orientation of the terminal.

  The mobile terminals may be of the mobile phone or PDA (personal electronic assistant) type, and more generally of any type having a short-range radio communication function, compatible with that of the electronic doorkeeper.

  Thanks to these provisions, it is not necessary that the doorkeeper according to the invention has a communication interface for visitors, nor that the apartments of the building are equipped with intercoms connected to the doorkeeper, or that the porter connected to a telephone network.

  In FIG. 2, the electronic gatekeeper 10 comprises a computer 20 connected to a short-range link interface circuit 22, for establishing a communication with a user terminal, and preferably with several terminals simultaneously, and circuits for interface 24 with other equipment, such as electric strikes 12. It can further provide a second interface circuit 23 to establish a very short-range connection 17, for example of the infrared or RFID type, to communicate with terminals 5. This interface circuit 23 is advantageously arranged near the access door of the building. In this way, if the building comprises several access doors with a respective interface circuit 23 installed nearby, the computer 20 can determine which interface 23 it is put in communication and therefore what striker 12 it must unlock.

  If the apartments of the building are already equipped with respective interphones 15, the interface circuits 24 comprise a connection interface to these intercoms, and is designed to put in communication the terminal 5 of a visitor with a previously selected intercom .

  Furthermore, the gatekeeper may comprise conventionally a communication interface comprising a keyboard 25, a screen 26, a speaker 27 and a microphone 28, to allow visitors without a compatible terminal 5, to enter communication with an occupant of the building. If this communication interface is faulty, the gatekeeper can continue to provide its access control function to the building for visitors with a terminal 5. The building can therefore remain closed.

  The computer 20 is programmed to establish on demand communications with terminals 5, receive commands from these terminals, and execute these commands, these commands comprising: electric lock release commands 12 issued by the authorized persons, commands from search and selection of an apartment, and commands for setting in voice communication a visitor terminal 5 with an occupant terminal 5 corresponding to a previously selected apartment.

  The computer 20 is further programmed to implement an authentication procedure of a terminal 5 during which the terminal sends the gatekeeper an identifier and a password, and the gatekeeper verifies that this information corresponds to an authorized person by accessing the database 11. The identifier and the password can be entered by the user on the terminal each time the authentication procedure is executed.

  This information is preferably stored by the terminal and transmitted 2868650 -7- on request to the electronic doorkeeper 10. Alternatively, if the terminal is GSM mobile phone type, the authentication procedure can implement the SIM card terminal to the help of a SIMToolKit application.

  As confidential information is exchanged, the communications between the terminal and the electronic doorkeeper are preferably secured using cryptographic functions, for example using the SIMToolKit application.

  When an occupant or an authorized person wishes to enter the building, it triggers the setting in communication of its terminal 5 with the doorkeeper 10, and activates the lock release command. This command triggers the authentication procedure of the terminal 5, and if the gatekeeper authenticates the terminal, it triggers the unlocking of the striker 12. If the building has several access doors and therefore several strikes 12, the striker that is unlocked corresponds to that which allows access to the apartment of the occupant who issued the command, or that which is close to the very short link interface 23 that the terminal used to communicate with the gatekeeper 10 .

  When a visitor goes to an occupant of the building, he can warn him of his arrival by triggering the establishment of a communication between his mobile terminal 5 and the gatekeeper 10 by the short-range link 16. A selection menu then appears on the screen of the mobile terminal, in which he can select the apartment search function.

  This function consists, for example, in displaying on the screen of the visitor's terminal an entry page asking the user to enter completely or partially the name of the occupant sought or the number of the apartment. When the visitor validates the entry, these two informations appear on the screen of the terminal. Alternatively, the gatekeeper can send to the terminal a table containing the names and / or apartment numbers of the occupants, in which the visitor is invited to select the desired occupant. We can also propose to the visitor, the choice between these two methods of research.

  Following the selection of the desired occupant, the terminal displays a list of possible commands, including the establishment of a voice communication with the occupant. If the visitor selects this command, the gatekeeper tries to establish a communication with the terminal 5 or 2868650 -8- the intercom 15 of the occupant, by triggering the ringing thereof. If the occupant responds, the gatekeeper establishes a voice communication between the visitor's terminal and the occupant's terminal, via the link 16 between the visitor's terminal and the gatekeeper, and via the wired link between the gatekeeper and the intercom of the the occupant or the link 16 between the gatekeeper and the terminal 5 of the occupant. During this communication, the occupant and the recipient can exchange any type of file, for example audio, video, or containing text.

  The occupant thus informed of the arrival of a visitor can then trigger the unlocking of the striker 12 corresponding to the access to his apartment.

  If several building porters can be simultaneously accessible to a terminal 5, the short-range receiver of the terminal can ask the user to choose which gatekeeper he wishes to enter into communication. If the user is already connected to a gatekeeper, he can identify the building by accessing the function offered by the gatekeeper displaying information about the building. If the gatekeeper gives access to several buildings or several stairwells, the apartment search function may indicate the building or stairwell of the occupant sought.

  In an advantageous variant of the invention, the computer 20 can be programmed to transmit via the link 16 to the visitor's terminal, an identifier of the terminal of the occupant, for example his telephone number or his "wireless" address, the terminal the visitor being provided with an embedded application designed to receive this identifier, preferably without communicating it to the visitor, and to establish with the aid of this identifier a communication directly (without passing through the gatekeeper) with the terminal of the occupant .

  The use of this communication function of two user terminals can be generalized in the form of a telephony function without a call number, allowing a user, whether a visitor or an occupant, to communicate with a user. other occupant using the terminals 5. This function can be extended to a teleconference function, allowing more than two users to be placed in this way.

  If the occupants are equipped with both terminals 5 and intercoms 15, provision can be made for setting up the setting-up function to enable each occupant to specify the means of communication, terminal 5 or intercom 15 , to use unconditionally or in priority, the second means of communication being used in case of non-response of the first.

  In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the computer 20 is programmed to implement an answering machine function that is triggered if the occupant does not respond within a predefined period of time to a call establishment request. with the terminal 5 of a visitor.

  Conventionally, when this function is activated, the computer 20 delivers a message by default or previously recorded by the occupant, and invites the visitor to formulate a message which is recorded by the calculator 20 and returned later at the request of the occupant .

  Several options can be provided for activating the answering machine function, at the choice of the occupant. Thus, this function can be triggered systematically when a visitor attempts to establish a communication with the occupant through the gatekeeper, or when the occupant does not answer a call from the porter 10, or at the option of visitor.

  For the implementation of this function, the computer 20 includes a messaging function that manages each occupant of two message storage boxes, namely a transmission box in which the occupant can record messages to the destination. of visitors, and a inbox in which messages posted by visitors are stored.

  The occupant can specify that a message from the transmission box is intended for one or more particular visitors, for example identified by their respective terminal number which is retrieved by the gatekeeper 10, or knowing a password predefined by the user. occupant. In this case, the visitor starts the execution on the computer 20 of the authentication function to access the messages possibly left by the occupant and intended for him.

  The messages that can thus be recorded by the computer can be of different types, namely: voice messages intended to be output by the speaker of a terminal 2868650 or terminal-15 or interphone 15, written messages intended to be displayed on the screen of a terminal, multimedia messages to be output by the speaker and the screen of a terminal, and files to be downloaded by a terminal.

  The database 11 can memorize other information concerning the building and its occupants, for example: the geographical and postal address of the building, a history and photos of the building, the coordinates of the architect , the notary, the manager, the insurers, the owner (s), and the maintenance and emergency services of the building, the characteristics of each apartment, namely its number, its location in the building (floor, stairwell), its number of rooms, its exhibition, photos of the apartment, the connections of the apartment to telephone and cable networks, as well as the name, the nature (owner / tenant) and the numbers of the apartment. telephone of the occupant.

  Depending on their nature, this information may be freely available or by certain authorized persons. For this purpose, the computer 20 includes a function for assigning access rights to users. When access to restricted information is requested, the computer 20 initiates the authentication procedure.

  The computer may further include an information publication function or billboard, allowing anyone, whether authorized or not, to record freely searchable messages. Limited storage space can be shared between the occupants of the building and unidentified persons. The information provided by unidentified persons may be previously filtered by a person designated for this purpose, before being published in the bulletin board.

  The information provided by an occupant (for example, an advertisement for the sale or rental of his apartment) can be accessed from a function of consulting information relating to the apartment.

  The computer 20 can also maintain in the database 11 2868650 statistics relating to the number of inputs and outputs.

  The database 11 can also store the values of the meters 13 of water, and / or gas, and / or electricity, installed in the building, these values being either taken manually or automatically for the meters connected to the gatekeeper 10. The manual entry of a counter value can be performed by entering the value using the keypad of a terminal 5 or by photographic shooting if the terminal is equipped with a digital camera, or again by establishing a connection, for example infrared between the terminal and the counter. These various functions are for example implemented by a meter reading application for example installed on the terminal 5. The values recorded are then transmitted to the gatekeeper via a short-range link 16.

  All the information stored in the database 11 can then be consulted by the authorized persons concerned who can, by means of a terminal, establish a communication with the gatekeeper 10 from inside or outside the building.

  The database 11 can also store for each of the occupants or other identified persons, a consumption account managed by the porter 10 who is also connected to consumption meters giving access to certain equipment installed in the building, such as vending machines, gaming equipment, etc. These meters allow the paid use of equipment without having to use during consumption, cash or a universal means of payment, dematerialized or not.

  In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the computer 30 is connected to a fixed or mobile telephony network 1 or to a public IP network such as the Internet network.

  The calculator 20 can then implement another method for establishing a communication between the terminal of a visitor and the terminal of an occupant without using the short-range link 16. It can thus transmit to the visitor's terminal the telephone number of the telephone. a connection server 7 with a parameter parameter communication to establish that the computer has previously obtained the server by sending the telephone number of the terminal 2868650 - 12 - occupant. The visitor can then call the connection server by communicating the communication number. The server calls the number of the occupant corresponding to the communication number and when the terminal of the occupant picks up, it connects the visitor with the occupant.

  Of course, this method can be used to establish communication between two occupants and in a more general way, between more than two users.

  Advantageously, the computer 20 is programmed to implement a call transfer function at the request of each occupant of the building. This feature allows the occupant to specify a phone number to which calls received by the computer for the occupant are to be forwarded. This function can be activated at the choice of the occupant is systematically or in case of non-response of the terminal and / or intercom 15 of the occupant.

  The gatekeeper 10 can also be connected to systems 14 installed in the building, fire detection, flood, burglary, defective lighting, elevator failure, etc.). The gatekeeper can thus be connected directly to sensors, and transmit the alarms detected by the sensors to the services (fire brigade, police, building manager, etc.) concerned via the network 1. Alarm or failure information can also be introduced by an occupant of the building or an authorized person using a terminal 5, this information can be introduced in voice, text or video).

  The gatekeeper 10 can access the network 1 to a building management server 2, connected to a database 3 collecting all or part of the information stored in the database 11 of several buildings. The server 2 can perform at least part of the functions described above as the processing of alarms and the management of the counters. It is also possible to provide a permanent connection between the gatekeeper and the server 2, for example via an IP network providing a voice over IP service, in particular to provide all the functions involving communications between the gatekeeper and a terminal ( communication, messaging and call transfer.

  The inboxes of the occupants can also be used for the transmission by the server 2 of bills that can be paid directly by the occupants using the terminals 5 if they are equipped with means of payment. This solution offers the advantage that the gatekeeper is always in service, which is not necessarily the case of equipment installed in the occupants. The property manager can send bills at any time, including at night, with the assurance that they will be received. In addition, the occupant can consult the porter at any time. He can also be notified of receipt of an invoice on his terminal by an audible or visual signal, and view the invoice on his terminal.

  It follows from the foregoing description that the use of mobile terminals to communicate with an electronic gatekeeper building access control significantly expand the functions that can be performed by such a doorkeeper.

2868650 -14-

Claims (14)

  A method for communicating a visitor and an occupant of a defined inhabited area, comprising steps of selecting a visitor from an occupant of the inhabited area, and establishing a communication between an electronic doorkeeper (10). ) of access control to the inhabited area and a terminal of the selected occupant, characterized in that it comprises a preliminary step of establishing a wireless communication between a mobile terminal (5) of the visitor and the gatekeeper (10), and steps of selecting the occupant by the visitor on the mobile terminal (5), and establishing by the electronic gatekeeper a communication between the mobile terminal (5) of the visitor and the terminal ( 5, 15) of the occupant following occupant selection.   2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication established between the electronic gatekeeper (10) and the terminal of the selected occupant is a wireless communication with a mobile terminal (5), the communication established by the electronic door intercom (10) between the mobile terminals (5) of the visitor and the selected occupant is a direct communication between the two terminals.   3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a step of triggering by the electronic door intercom (10) an answering function allowing the visitor to leave a message by means of his mobile terminal (5) , systematically or if the visitor wishes, or if the terminal of the selected occupant does not answer, at the choice of the selected occupant.   4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that it comprises a step of triggering by the electronic gatekeeper (10) of a call transfer function allowing the electronic doorkeeper to put the mobile terminal (5) of the visitor in telephone communication with another terminal designated by the occupant selected, systematically or only if the terminal (5, 15) of the selected occupant does not respond, at the choice of the selected occupant.   5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it further comprises transmission steps by the terminal 2868650 -15- (5, 15) of the selected occupant to the electronic gatekeeper (10). ) an electric lock release command (12), and execution by the electronic doorbell of the electric lock release control to let the visitor enter the inhabited area.   6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5,   characterized in that it further comprises steps in which the electronic gatekeeper (10) establishes a wireless communication with a mobile terminal (5), identifies and authenticates the mobile terminal to determine whether it belongs to a person authorized to enter the inhabited area, and control the unlocking of an electric lock (12) to open a door of the inhabited area in case of successful identification and authentication of the mobile terminal.   7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that it further comprises steps in which the electronic gatekeeper (10) receives from a building manager bills for the occupants of the inhabited area, and transmits these bills to the terminals of the occupants of the inhabited area .   8. Device (10) for controlling access to a defined inhabited area and placing a visitor and an occupant of the inhabited area in communication, including selection means for selecting an occupant of the inhabited area, and means for establishing a communication with a terminal of the selected occupant, characterized in that it comprises processing means (20, 2), storage (11, 3) and communication means (22, 23) for establishing a wireless communication with a mobile terminal (5), for receiving from the mobile terminal (5) an occupant identifier, and for establishing a communication between the mobile terminal (5) of the visitor and the terminal (5, 15) of the occupant corresponding to the Occupant ID received.   9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises means (21) for connecting to a telephone network or IP (1), the processing means (20, 2) and storage means (11, 3). being programmed to perform a call transfer function for putting a mobile terminal (5) in telephone communication with another terminal designated by the selected occupant, systematically or only 2868650 -16- if the terminal (5, 15) of the selected occupant does not respond, at the choice of the selected occupant.   10. Device according to one of claims 8 to 9, characterized in that it comprises means (24) for connecting to at least one electric lock (12) for locking an access door to the inhabited area. , the processing means (20, 2) and storage means (11, 3) being programmed to identify and authenticate a mobile terminal (5), and to trigger the unlocking of the electric lock in case of successful identification and the mobile terminal authentication.   11. Device according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the processing means (20, 2) and storage (11, 3) are programmed to perform a messaging function allowing terminals (5, 15) to leave messages to other users.   12. Device according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the processing means (20) and storage (11) are programmed to perform a function of publishing information on the inhabited area and / or housing of the inhabited area, accessible by means of a terminal (5, 15).   13. Device according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the processing means (20) and storage (11) are programmed to perform an identification and authentication function to control the identity of a person in communication with the system via a mobile terminal (5), and allow or not the mobile terminal to access information stored in the storage means according to the identity of the person.   14. A program intended to be executed by a device for controlling access to a defined inhabited area and to connect a visitor and an occupant of the inhabited zone, characterized in that it implements the method according to one of the Claims 1 to 7.