GB2596188A

GB2596188A - An access control system and vestibule

Info

Publication number: GB2596188A
Application number: GB2105470.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kennedy Robert; George Cardno Ashley
Original assignee: Red Security Solutions Ltd
Current assignee: Red Security Solutions Ltd
Priority date: 2020-06-18
Filing date: 2021-04-16
Publication date: 2021-12-22
Also published as: GB202101313D0; GB202105469D0; GB2597052A; GB202105470D0; GB202009308D0; GB2596189A; GB202105471D0; GB2596187A

Abstract

An access control system having an access control vestibule 10, and an access control application to be downloaded onto a mobile device of a user. The access control vestibule having a first internal area 140 having a first door 100 and second door 110, and a second internal 150 area having a third door 120; the first and second internal areas separated by a partition wall having a partition door 130. The application uses a camera of the mobile device to scan codes located on access tiles at the first and partition doors and determine if the user has the right to pass through. A thermal imaging camera estimates a body temperature of the user in the first internal area. If the body temperature is outside a threshold range the user then the user exits the vestibule through the second door, otherwise the user is allowed to pass into the second internal area where they may exit through the third door. The vestibule may have a microphone which is monitored for the sound of a cough. The internal areas may comprise a disinfectant spray and/or UV cleaning system.

Description

An Access Control System and Vestibule

Background

Access control vestibules are used to control access between two or more physically separate areas.

Generally, access control vestibules serve to prevent unauthorised persons from entering an area The present invention addresses the problem of providing an access control system for providing automated health screening in conjunction with identification screening of users. The system comprises a vestibule with an automated door controlled by the system based upon health and ID metrics.

There is a need for more reliable, simpler and improved health screening access control, systems.

The present invention provides one or more of such features.

Summary

The present invention provides: An access control system comprising; an access control vestibule, the vestibule being a self-contained portable unit and an access control application; the access control application configured to be downloaded onto a mobile device of a user, to scan codes using a camera of the user's mobile device and to store at least the user's name, ID card and access rights; the access control vestibule comprising a processor configured to communicate with the access control application via the cloud; a first internal area having a first door and a second door, and a second internal area having a third door, the first internal area separated from the second internal area by a partition wall, the internal wall comprising a partition door; wherein the first door, second door, third door and partition door are closed by default the first door and partition door each comprise a unique access tile, each access tile comprising a said code; the access control vestibule further comprises: a thermal imaging camera in communication with the processor, the thermal imaging zo camera mounted on an internal wall of the first area; in response to an individual scanning said code on the first door using the access control application, the access control application configured to determine if the user has access rights to pass through the access control system, and if the user has access rights to pass through the access control system, send a first handshake message to the processor of the access control vestibule; in response to receipt of the first handshake message, the processor being configured to send a signal to open the first door to allow individual to enter the first internal area; closing the first door once the individual has entered the first internal area; in response to an individual scanning the code on the partition door using the access control application, the access control application configured to determine if the user has access rights to pass through the access control system, and if the user has access rights to pass through the access control system, send a second handshake message to the processor of the access control vestibule; in response to receipt of the second handshake message, the processor configured to control the thermal imaging camera to estimate a body temperature of the user; if the temperature of the user outside of a threshold range, the processor is configured to send a signal to open the second door to allow individual to exit the access control vestibule; if the temperature of the user is within the threshold range, the processor sends a signal to open the partition door allowing the user to pass into the second internal area; once the user has entered the second internal area and the partition door has closed, the processor is configured to open the third door to allow the user to exit the access control vestibule.

The code is preferably a visual code, further preferably a OR code. this is advantageous as it is less easily obscured by aerial contaminants, such as disinfectant spray, than, for example, a bar code. Even more preferred is an NFC code or RFID code, as this requires no optical element. In which case the access control application may use an NFC or RFID reader of the user's mobile device to scan the code. Yet further preferred is a Blue Tooth or a Blue Tooth Low Energy communicated code, preferably in the form of a BLE advertisement packet.

The thermal imaging camera preferably takes a highest temperature of the scan as the body temperature. This provides more reliable screening.

The thermal imaging camera further preferably identifies a facial area as the area 30 from which the body temperature is determined. This enables more consistent screening by focusing on a single part of the body. In this case the thermal imaging may take the highest temperature of the facial area of the scan as the body temperature to provide a more reliable screening.

Yet further preferred is that the imaging camera identifies the inner canthus (tear duct region) of the users face and takes the highest temperature of this region as the body temperature to yet further improve reliability of screening. The inner canthus may provide the most accurate indication of the internal body temperature of the user and therefore provides a more accurate indication of whether the user may have a fever.

The access control vestibule may further comprise a speaker. The speaker may be used to deliver verbal instructions to the user to instruct them as to which door they should move through next. The speaker may further be used The access control vestibule may preferably further comprise a microphone.

The microphone may be monitored for the sound of a cough. If the sound of a cough is detected, a second narrower threshold range of permissible body temperature is employed. This provides more reliable screening.

Alternatively, or in addition, the user may be prompted to speak a prescribed text after entry into the first internal area, the microphone being sampled and the voice print of the user being compared to a reference voice print to provide a further 20 requirement for validating the handshake message.

It is preferable that in the access control vestibule as described above, only one of the first door, second door, third door and partition door may be open at any given time. This prevents the user from being able to move between the internal areas or enter or exit the vestibule without the appropriate action being carried out at each stage.

To increase the speed at which a large number of users may move through the access control vestibule, it may be preferable that only one of the first door, second door, third door and partition door may be open at any given time with the exception that the first and third doors of the compartment be open simultaneously. This allows for one user to be exiting the vestibule through the third door whilst another user is entering.

It is preferable that all the doors are on a timer to determine when to close.

The first and second internal areas may comprise one or more cctv cameras connected to the processor; each of the one or more cctv cameras configured to provide live video of the internal area. This enables the processor to analyse the one or more live video feeds to provide information on what is happening in the internal area.

The processor may be configured to determine from the live video of the internal area how many people are in the internal area; and if there is more than one person in the internal area, preventing the second door from opening. This prevents a user with access from taking a person without access through the vestibule with them. The processor may open the first door until one of the users has left. One or more of the internal areas may comprise a speaker, the processor may use the speaker to instruct the people inside one of the internal areas that only one person is allowed at a time and that all but one must leave. Alternatively, in a high security environment, the processor may prevent either door from opening and send an alert to the relevant persons such as a site manager, security. Alternatively, the processor may be configured to alert the authorities. Additionally, person counting allows for the processor to determine when a user has entered an internal area, the processor can use this information to determine when to close doors.

The present invention preferably uses Facial recognition as an additional security crosscheck.

The present invention App preferably stores vaccination history, vaccination history as a selection criterion for access.

The present invention preferably uses the control system to provide a cue to the user 25 to face the thermal imaging camera.

The present invention preferably stores body, such as facial temperatures of the user each time they pass through and tailor the temperature threshold for each user over time.

The present invention preferably comprises a screen to show the user their body 30 temperature scan.

This improves user engagement and cooperation and hence provides accurate screening as users position themselves more effectively for screening.

The present invention preferably uses a Smart application for Android and 105 devices this reduces the complexity of the system and provides ready means for the user to carry identification.

The present invention preferably uses create a digital cloud-based hand shake to take GPS and IMEI details of the user and match with their stored details to give an encrypted handshake to grant access. This technology preferably uses NFC and QR codes to communicate between a user device, such as a smart application and access control system of the vestibule.

The door of the vestibule is preferably a sliding door so as to reduce air currents that can distribute contaminants, virus and bacteria. It also reduces losses of disinfectant spray aerosol and therefore improves disinfection.

The vestibule is preferably sprayed with a disinfectant spray.

It is further preferable that the internal areas each comprise a UV cleaning system.

This is preferable over a disinfectant spray as the UV cleaning will not obscure the codes in the way that an aerosol might.

The present invention preferably uses safe soft close mechanisms to the doors to reduce any vibration to the temperature sensor. Such vibration can damage the thermal and facial biometric unit, and reduces system life.

The present invention preferably comprises analytics software to allow accurate counting of persons when entering and thus provides an anti-tailgating solution thus improving infection containment.

The present invention preferably comprises a concierge service using 4g technology 25 to give remote concierge contact in an emergency.

The present invention preferably works with no network connected as we can have it as a standalone access unit without network needed by creating a virtual cloud.

The present invention preferably comprises a safety system to detect a user who may have fallen over or collapsed with special emergency notification to user.

The present invention preferably uses a lighting system on the entrance and the exit of the POD to allow us to change the enter and exit colours as an indicia of user status or requirements. For example, providing a traffic light type system, red or green lights next to the trackside of a railway that activates a change of air filters to suit the application.

The present invention preferably be accessed remotely at any time to be maintained and upgraded to our latest version of HALO Access software by means of an internet connection.

The present invention preferably avoids using facial biometric to access, we see this as being a very unreliable solution for the applications such as, building sites and other construction, site access environments are/can be very dusty and these environmental conditions can and will impact the facial/fingerprint biometric technology over time. As such the present invention preferably uses said NFC, OR and BT/BLE technology as a way of access via smart device. Preferably two is technologies in one access token ensure a user has reliable access. We have built the pods to be usable throughout the duration they are needed without issues. The present invention provides robust, reliable contactless access control for demanding sectors we operate in.

The present invention preferably there is preferably an emergency override to release doors, release being of the route to the entrance doors.

The present invention preferably uses an access tile to prove user ID, the tile may be in the form of said smart device. Preferably every tile has been given a GPS position at which it is valid. The present invention preferably contacts the tile to see if the GPS position corresponds to that of the vestibule. This increases access security.

The present invention in preferably implements the access control features by means of a stand-alone unit, the unit being that described in United Kingdom patent application GB 2009308.4. The contents of that application are specifically and unambiguously referred to in the features therein incorporated into this application. Specifically said personnel monitoring system as described in that patent application is hereby, in its completeness.

Return present invention preferably comprises a controller configured to identify from an image of the one or more cameras (infrared/visual) the presence of a person. This can be readily achieved by current processing means in which the shape of a person can be detected, particular in conjunction with the associated movements.

The controller is further configured to detect if an area of the image corresponding to the presence of the person fails to present a temperature, as detected by the infrared camera, in the body temperature range, or at least in the range 35 to 39°C, preferably 36 to 38°C. In response to this, the controller is configured to emit a warning signal. The warning signal may be for the purposes of notifying an attendant but is most preferably the form of a visual or audio communication from within the housing. It is been found that simply providing the sound of a brief alarm or a spoken voice, can be sufficient to orientate persons to face the camera and hence overcome the problem of not presenting a body surface in the direction the camera.

The vestibule of the present invention is preferably heated, most preferably electrically heated and most preferably heated by means of control of the system to a temperature above the outside temperature of the vestibule. This heating is preferably carried out by fan or blower heating as this most rapidly evenly heats the air in the space in the vestibule. The advantage of the heating and specifically heating above the external temperature is that when the external sliding doors there is a flow of air out of the vestibule in a controlled but volumetric (i.e., a large amount) manner without significant turbulence so as to clear the vestibule of any contaminated air and therefore maintain greater hygiene within the vestibule.

The vestibule of the present invention is preferably sprayed with a disinfectant spray before and after user entry and egress The disinfectant spray or other spray used is preferably atomised to particles having a diameter of greater than 'I pm, more preferably greater than 10pm, most preferably greater than 20pm. In the art there is a preference for finer sprays, the argumentation being that finer sprays cover surfaces more evenly and have a faster drying time. However, one of the benefits of the present invention is that it reduces the need for a user to physically touch the surfaces of the vestibule so fast drying time is not as important. The limits provided above provide adequate surface coverage and additionally in practice have surprisingly been found to lower obscuration of video or photographic images, such as required for facial identification and/or temperature monitoring. Fine sprays have been found to greatly reduce accuracy of facial scanning. Identification of facial regions for optimal body temperature are therefore less accurately identified and temperature readings, particularly from infrared sensitive cameras are also mor inaccurate as the spray itself modified the frequency distribution of light received. However, use of sprays, such as disinfectant is highly desirable. The present invention therefore simultaneously solves these three related issues by selection of the spray particle/droplet size.

The disinfectant spray or other spray used is preferably atomised to particles having a diameter of greater less than 500pm, more preferably less than 100pm, most preferably less than 50pm. The upper end of the range has been found to be limited, from practical use, to these ranges to enable persistence in the air sufficient for the transit of a user through the vestibule but to enable settling and clearance for next user.

The spray is preferably a disinfectant spray in liquid droplet form. Antiviral sprays are also contemplated.

In a related feature the spray may be for the suppression of dust, a such as from workers in a mine or other environment, where they will be removing breathing PPE after passing the vestibule.

The particle size measurement can be made using conventional apparatus, such as Insitec Spray (TM) provided by Malvern instruments, using the D3,2 particle size measure. Alternatively, the aerodynamic diameter may also be used. This particle size specification has the very considerable advantage that respirators for Covid-19 (and related viruses) use a smaller aperture and are therefore not contaminated and their efficiency reduced by inhaling the disinfectant spray. This increases the longevity of personal protective equipment and also increases safety as the pressure drop across filtration maintains low as the filtration apparatus is not as readily blocked. The particle/droplet size is preferably the average size. The average size preferably has a standard deviation of less than 50%, more preferably less than 20%, most preferably less than 10% of the average size.

The present invention therefore includes a method for reducing contamination (be it bacterial, viral or particulate) of a user passing through an access control vestibule by means of a liquid spray as defined above.

The spray is preferably an aqueous-based spray, the spray preferably comprises a surfactant to enable more uniform atomisation into the preferable ranges. The surfactant is preferably a non-ionic surfactant. A non-ionic surfactant is an organic chemical capable of producing the surface tension of water.

The door of the vestibule is preferably a sliding door so as to reduce air currents that can distribute contaminants, virus and bacteria. It also reduces losses of disinfectant spray aerosol and therefore improves disinfection. Riveting hinged doors have been found to provide considerable turbulence and randomly distribute air such that it is hard to control cleanliness.

The sliding doors used with, or as part of, the present invention are preferably actuated by pneumatic means as controlled by the system of the present invention. 15 This is advantageous as the compressed air used in such a process can be also used to purge the vestibule, such as to expel spray.

The vestibule is preferably sprayed with a disinfectant spray as controlled by the system.

The amount of the spray may be determined by the status of the user, a contaminated user being provided with a greater spray. In the case of dust decontamination the status of the spray may be determined by a degree of coloration of the user (for example discolouration of clothing).

Detailed Description

The present invention is illustrated by means of the following figures which should be

read in context of the description.

The present invention will be described in terms of the following features: 10-vestibule 100-first door 110-second door 120-third door 130-partition door 140-first internal area 150-second internal area 160-control system In the following description, like features are given like numerals.

Each of figures 1 to 10 show the same access control vestibule 10 at different angles or at different times along its method of use. the vestibule 10 comprises a first internal area140 having a first door 100 and a second door 110, and a second internal 150 area having a third door 120, the first internal area 140 separated from the second internal area 150 by a partition wall, the partition wall comprising a partition door 130. There is a control system 160 on a wall of the first internal area 140.

Figure 1 shows a vestibule of the present invention with the access doors 100, 110, 120 130, both external and internal closed; Figure 2 shows the vestibule of the present invention in plan view; Figure 3 shows the vestibule of the present invention in a further view; Figure 4 shows the vestibule of the present invention indicating the manner in which the external access doors 100, 110, 120 slide so as to provide access and egress; Figures 5 to 10 show a "storyboard" of a user using the system of the present invention; Figure 5 shows entry of a user through a first door 100 into the vestibule; Figure 6 shows the first door 100closing behind the user, the user now in the first internal area 140 and the user approaching the control system 160 comprising ID control and thermal imaging, the control system is in the form of the personnel monitoring system (for functional purposes a.k.a. control system) is disclosed in co-pending patent application GB 2009308.4 and incorporates all the features of that unit as described therein.

It is here noted that the features of said unit are incorporated herein when also built into the vestibule as such.

Figure 7 shows the user approaching the personnel monitoring system160 which interrogates the identification provided by the user and monitors body temperature by means of the thermal camera and in doing so activates either: An exit door for use is not permitted access, i.e., having not passed the identification and/or the body temperature (or other health monitoring) criteria, the system (of which the personnel monitoring system is a component) sliding the exit door to zo enable user exit with the minimum of disturbance of air.

Figure 8 shows the user being permitted to pass through the partition door 130 into the second internal area 150 so as to obtain egress from the vestibule. As can be seen the vestibule 10 is divided by a wall, to provide physical barrier between the sides of the vestibule and capable of withstanding considerable lateral force above this is a class-action providing visibility between the sides of the vestibule such that users may readily discern if another user is present so as to avoid unnecessary contact.

Figure 9 shows the user exiting the vestibule 10 by means of the third door 120 optionally activated by the system and preferably configured for one-way access as are all of the doors of the system/vestibule.

Figure 10 shows the user exiting the vestibule 10 via the second doo1 110 having not being permitted access as indicated as the alternative outcome of the system operation provided in figure 7.

Claims

Claims 1. An access control system comprising; an access control vestibule, the vestibule being a self-contained portable unit and an access control application; the access control application configured to be downloaded onto a mobile device of a user, to scan codes using a camera of the user's mobile device and to store at least the user's name, ID card and access rights, the access control vestibule comprising a processor configured to communicate with the access control application via the cloud; a first internal area having a first door and a second door, and a second internal area having a third door, the first internal area separated from the second internal area by a partition wall; the partition wall comprising a partition door; wherein the first door, second door, third door and partition door are closed by default the first door and partition door each comprise a unique access tile, each access tile comprising a said code; the access control vestibule further comprises: a thermal imaging camera in communication with the processor, the thermal imaging camera mounted on an internal wall of the first area; in response to an individual scanning said code on the first door using the access control application, the access control application configured to determine if the user has access rights to pass through the access control system, and if the user has access rights to pass through the access control system, send a first handshake message to the processor of the access control vestibule; in response to receipt of the first handshake message, the processor being configured to send a signal to open the first door to allow individual to enter the first internal area; closing the first door once the individual has entered the first internal area; in response to an individual scanning the code on the partition door using the access control application, the access control application configured to determine if the user has access rights to pass through the access control system, and if the user has access rights to pass through the access control system, send a second handshake message to the processor of the access control vestibule; in response to receipt of the second handshake message, the processor configured to control the thermal imaging camera to estimate a body temperature of the user; if the temperature of the user outside of a threshold range, the processor is configured to send a signal to open the second door to allow individual to exit the access control vestibule; if the temperature of the user is within the threshold range, the processor sends a signal to open the partition door allowing the user to pass into the second internal area; once the user has entered the second internal area and the partition door has closed, the processor is configured to open the third door to allow the user to exit the access control vestibule.
2 The access control vestibule of claim 1 wherein only one of the first door, second door, third door and partition door may be open at any given time.
3. The access control vestibule of claim 1 wherein only one of the first door, second door, third door and partition door may be open at any given time with the exception that the first and third doors may be open simultaneously.
4. The access control system of any preceding claim wherein the imaging camera takes a highest temperature of the scan as the body temperature.
5. The access control system of any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the imaging camera identifies a facial area is an area from which the body temperature is determined.
6. The access control system of any preceding claim, the vestibule further comprising a microphone, the microphone being monitored for the sound of a cough and if detected a second narrower threshold range of permissible body temperature is employed.
The access control system of any preceding claim, the vestibule further comprising a microphone, the user being prompted to speak a prescribed text after entry, the microphone being sampled and the voice print of the user being compared to a reference voice print to provide a further requirement for validating the handshake message.
8. The access control system of any preceding claim, wherein the first and second internal areas each comprise a disinfectant spray, and wherein the first and second internal areas are sprayed with a disinfectant spray before and after user entry and egress.
9. The access control system of claim 8 wherein the disinfectant spray used is preferably atomised to particles having a diameter of greater than 1pm.
10. The access control system of claim 9 wherein the disinfectant spray used is preferably atomised to particles having a diameter of greater than 10pm and less than 100pm.
11 The access control system of claim 10 wherein the disinfectant spray used is preferably atomised to particles having a diameter of greater than 20pm and less than 50pm.
12. The access control system of any preceding claim wherein the internal areas each comprise a UV cleaning system for illuminating the internal areas with UV light before and after user entry and egress.
13. The access control system of any preceding claim wherein the code is a CR code.