WO1998033321A1

WO1998033321A1 - Control device for photographing any person in front of an entrance door

Info

Publication number: WO1998033321A1
Application number: PCT/FR1998/000108
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Kosanic
Original assignee: Christian Kosanic
Priority date: 1997-01-24
Filing date: 1998-01-22
Publication date: 1998-07-30
Also published as: FR2758932A1; FR2758932B1; AU5994298A; EP0954926A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a control device for photographing any person in front of an entrance door (3). The device is set in a subscriber's (1) house comprising control means for photographing any person standing in front of the entrance door (3). The digital camera (4) is a manually operated, it is connected to a subscriber processing unit, including a burglar-proof buffer memory (5) storing said photographs, said buffer memory (5) automatically addresses, by transmitting means (9), the photographs to a storing and archiving centre (6) connected to a whole set of devices. The invention is applicable to the security of persons and of property.

Description

"Device for controlling the taking of pictures of anyone appearing in front of an entrance door".

The subject of the invention is a device for controlling a shooting of any person standing in front of an entrance door. Said shot is immediately stored securely.

The invention makes it possible to take photographs of any person appearing before the front door of an individual, to memorize and store these photographs with very great security.

The state of the art can be defined by the following patents.

Document N ° FR-A-2,552,572: The subject of the invention is a device for controlling an automatic shooting means of any person entering or leaving a room. The device is characterized in that it comprises a supply circuit with two contacts, the first contact being actuated by the operation of a movable element of means for locking the door, while the second contact is actuated by the opening or closing the door. The recording means is actuated when the door is opened and when the movable element is in the open position corresponding to the closing of the first contact. The document N ° FR-A-2.610.434: Electronic portal which makes it possible to avoid direct dialogue between the visitor and the tenant and at the same time to make a precise, visual and auditory identification, of the people who come to the entrance to the building. It consists of a message transmitter intended for the visitor and a television camera with incorporated microphone connected to an HF modulator which introduces the information received into the circuit of the collective television antenna, so that it can be received on the 'one of the available channels of the television receiver which is in the apartment.

The document FR-A-2,379,868: The invention relates to electric door entry systems. The combination of a television camera in a switchboard is characterized in that the means for fixing the television camera comprise two brackets arranged on either side of the lens and having two upper parallel arms and two arms lower parallels all capable of being fixed to the lateral edges of the chassis by means of bolts, two coaxial bolts which cross elongated arched holes formed on the lateral edges of the chassis, which makes it possible to adjust the inclination of the optical axis of the television camera, depending on the height position of the combined doorman.

The document IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, vol. 40, no. 3, August 1, 1994, pages 418-426, XP000471202 KATO M and AL: Visual communication system in a building housing using only twisted cables two by two (coupled). This document presents a visual communication system for an apartment building constructed from a home bus and recently developed on a network, which can be used in an apartment complex. This system uses only twisted coupled cables and offers a variety of services.

GB-A-2.285.365: High security entry system for a building or parking lot. Entrance systems for a building or parking lot in which information and commands are transmitted via a repeated means of communication, such as the telephone network or LAN. This means is not dedicated to an entry system but is used for more general communications. The systems include an input unit which produces a code by dialing the number to select the occupant station, which, after video and / or audio information control, transmits a coded command to control opening from the front door, etc. An image of the visitor can be recorded on a delayed time recorder and the occupant visited, time and date stored on a CD-

ROM, for later repair on the insertion of a magnetic ID card. The occupant unit can be modified to connect the input block to the blocks of other occupants in response to an alarm condition. The use of video-touch screens, workstations, recorded responses, voice recognition software, modems and microwave beams is described below.

The document WO-A-94 .10804: Security access control system using digital communication. A modular access control unit for securing the premises is supplied with detectors and control actuators coupled to digital analog conversion devices, communicating by an internal bus structure connected to a CPU (central unit) and DRAM and ROM electronic memory. This unit contains and communicates itself with other units and with work stations equipped with men via either a LAN

(network), ie telephone lines with modems. A security system using access control units can have multiple units and multiple workstations, if necessary, and can also use a server file.

The Patent Abstract of Japan vol. 012, no 423 (E- 680), November 9, 1988 & JP 63 161746 A (Matshushita Electric IND CO LTD, July 5, 1988: Home bus system. To improve the function of the home bus system by using each device connected to the home bus for store its status information and operate the device based on its state An AV controller is installed for a switch and depending on whether the occupant is present or not, it is read by a control section and stored in a section status record and paguet of information is sent to all equipment connected with a coaxial cable. When a call button is pressed by a door phone, the information packet is sent and a door camera and a modulator are actuated and the video signal picked up by the door camera is sent. A VTR records the signal in a signal storage section. When the information packet, from the button actuated at level u door phone, is received, if the occupant is present, nothing is operated according to the content of the state storage section, and if it is absent, the VTR starts to record a signal of video sent from the door camera. Thus, the bus man system is controlled in a decentralized manner to improve it itself.

The Patent Abstracts of Japan vol. 014, no. 368 (E- 0962), August 9, 1990 & JP 02 132995 A (TOSHIBA CORP), May 22, 1990: Residential building control system. To achieve a multi-function, high-quality service by checking a call signal, producing an output (i.e. viewing the source of the call). When a call signal is sent from a machine of any apartment, a machine responsible or a residential door telephone unit to a residential unit machine, first, an RA relay is energized. Then the called source is checked by a controller circuit, and depending on the result, when the machine is called, an RB relay is stimulated, when called from the responsible machine, an RC relay is stimulated, when When a home unit door phone is called, an RD relay is stimulated. The RA relay for example, conducts a voice generating the device and generates a call sound. The relay RB stores the image signal from a surveillance television to an image memory, operates a message means and directs other equipment. The RC relay is connected to a broadcasting device and directs other equipment. The RD relay is connected to a visitor monitor and stores the image signal from a surveillance television for a housing unit.

The Patent Abstracts of Japan vol. 015, no. 365 (E- 1111), September 13, 1991 & JP 03 143184 A (MITSHUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP), June 18, 1991: Telephone system - video image with video door entry unit. To recognize a visitor by a telephone set from a distant station, by fixing a video door entry device to obtain a fixed video image system by storing the visitor's image in a fixed image video telephone system during a absence, by calling from a remote location and receiving this image. When the video door entry device call button is pressed, an image signal picked up by the video door entry device camera is stored in the main housing of the telephone system. When a call signal from the telephone line is detected, a call setting is made to detect a double tone from the opposite station. When the double tone is detected, the image signal is transmitted to the telephone line from a camera installed in the telephone system or the image memory or the camera of the video door entry system.

Document FR-A-2.672. 761: Intercom system with image storage. The system, intended for sets real estate or industrial includes: a central unit for digital information processing,

- a camera connected to the central unit, - control means connected to the central unit and provided for triggering the taking into account by this unit of images taken by the camera and put in the form of digital information, with addressing images,

- a set of memories and outputs, for the storage and transmission of these images in digitized form,

- individual receivers linked to the unit for instant or on-demand playback of the images. Special application: system associated with a building porter, for recording images of visitors during the absence of an occupant of the building, and deferred viewing of these images when the occupant returns.

These various patents describe devices for taking pictures, the triggering of which is automatic when the person arrives or when passing the threshold of the door. These devices are more suitable for monitoring professional premises than private ones.

The device according to the invention applies in particular to private or professional premises, but having a single main entrance door. The shots are intended not for the user himself, but for the courts if necessary.

To this end, the device according to the invention, installed in a subscriber is of the type comprising a means of controlling a shooting of any person appearing in front of an entrance door, the recording device digital photographic views is actuated manually, it is connected to a subscribed processing unit which includes a tamper-proof buffer memory which stores said shots, said buffer memory automatically addresses, by means of transmission, the shots to a storage center and archiving related to a whole set of devices.

According to one embodiment, the camera is a digital type device.

The digital camera has its viewfinder placed in place of the eyecup inserted in the front door.

The camera immediately sends the shot to a subscribed processing unit which is equipped with an individual buffer memory. This storage unit is inviolable. It is hidden and embedded in a wall. The storage unit comprises a buffer memory, a transmission means, a rechargeable power supply source.

The image storage and archiving center is made up of one or more encryption and storage processing units. Each unit is equipped with a motherboard, the whole being arranged around a calculating processor, using the components specific to current computers to be able to manage the exploitation of all this information, one or more means of transmission ensure communication with each individual buffer processing unit of each device.

According to another embodiment and in order to increase the security of access to storage and archiving, the digital data of the shots are split into two parts in two different storage and archiving centers. The storage and archiving centers are equipped with automatic data purging means to avoid memory clutter.

These data are accessible to whom it may concern, for example the competent police or justice services.

Each storage and archiving center is provided with a transmission means for communicating with the device modem of each subscribed storage unit, so that the central computer can interrogate or receive it at regular or irregular interval and retrieve the digital shots in the buffer.

Any lack of response from the subscriber's device to the storage and archiving center and therefore from the central computer results in an intervention at the subscriber.

Similarly, any act of sabotage between the lines of the digital camera, and / or the modem, and / or the buffer memory and the central computer triggers an intervention at one subscriber. The invention also relates to the method of processing shots taken from the digital sensor.

According to the invention, the method consists in the subscriber taking a picture by a digital sensor of the person standing in front of his landing door, the scanned image is immediately transmitted to a buffer memory which stores in the "wire water "images in a tamper-proof subscribed storage unit, this storage unit is equipped with a modem which communicates and transmits said digitized images to the central storage and archiving unit, processing unit, encryption , and storage, said digitized images are available only to the competent judicial authorities, in the absence of communication between the central computer and the subscriber's device, an intervention is triggered on the site. The attached drawings are given as indicative and non-limiting examples. They represent an embodiment according to the invention. They will allow the invention to be easily understood.

Figure 1 is a schematic view showing the various elements making up the device according to the invention with their location on the site as well as the routing and management of the scanned images.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the various elements making up the device. The device according to the invention is set up at the home of a subscriber 1. This device is of the type comprising a control means for taking a picture of any person 2, visitor or other, appearing in front of an entrance door 3. The camera 4 is operated manually. It is connected to a tamper-proof buffer memory which stores said shots; said buffer memory 5 automatically addresses, by a transmission means, the shots to a storage and archiving center 6 itself connected to a whole set of devices, according to the invention.

According to a particular embodiment, the camera is a digital camera. The camera 4 is arranged according to a preferred embodiment in place of the eyecup 7 of the door 3. The subscribed storage unit is inviolable and hidden in the dwelling.

For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, this storage unit is sealed in the wall. It can for example be accessible from outside the house and / or from the inside.

The subscribed storage unit 8 comprises a buffer memory 5, a transmission means 9, this transmission means can be a modem with its interface.

The device also includes a rechargeable power source, for example a battery 10. When the visitor 2 presents himself at the landing door 3, either the triggering of the camera 4 is automatic, or , when the visitor has announced himself by pressing the external bell 11, the subscriber 1 manually controls the device with a control button 12. These digital shots are intended, not for the user or the subscriber himself, but possibly for justice if necessary.

Immediately digitized, the shots are transmitted to the subscribed storage unit 8. The image storage and archiving center 6 is made up of one or more encryption and storage processing units. Each unit is fitted with a motherboard, the assembly being arranged around a computer-type calculating processor using the components specific to current computers 13, in order to be able to manage the use of all this information.

One or more transmission means 14 ensure communication with each subscriber storage unit 8, so as to be able to interrogate or receive information from the subscriber buffer memory 5. The transmission means 14 and 9 can of course be cables, modems, radio channels, optical cables, telephone network, satellite transmitter, etc. In FIG. 2 is shown at 15 a radio telephone receiver.

These data, such as digital photographs, are accessible to the right, and in this case to the competent judicial services 16.

Each storage and archiving center 6 is provided with a transmission means 14 and interrogation and / or reception means by computer to communicate with the transmission means 9, for example a modem, of the device of each unit subscriber storage 8, so that the central computer can interrogate or receive at regular or irregular intervals and retrieve the digital shots located in the buffer memory 9. Any lack of response from the subscriber device with the storage and archiving center involves an intervention. A display outside door 3 of the subscriber warns the potential visitor of the existence of the device according to the invention, and of taking digital photographs at the discretion of the user and for security purposes. This outdoor display is made for information purposes and for deterrence. REFERENCES

1. Subscriber

2. Visitor

3. Door 4. Camera, digital sensor

5. Buffer memory

6. Storage center

7. Eyecup housing

8. Subscribed storage unit 9. Means of transmission, modem

10. Battery

11. Outdoor bell

12. Device control button

13. Computer 14. Means of transmission

15. Telephone receiver

16. Legal services

Claims

1. Device installed in a subscriber (1) of the type comprising a control means for taking pictures of any person appearing in front of an entry door (3), characterized in that the taking device of digital photographic views (4) is manually operated, it is connected to a subscribed processing unit which includes a tamper-proof buffer memory (5) which stores said shots, said buffer memory (5) automatically addresses, by means of transmission

(9) taking pictures at a storage and archiving center

(6) connected to a whole set of devices.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the camera (4) is a device of the digital type; the digital camera (4) has its viewfinder arranged in place of the eyecup inserted in the front door (3).

3. Device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the camera (4) immediately sends the shot to a subscribed processing unit, which is equipped with a buffer memory (5 ) individual; this storage unit

(8) is inviolable; it is hidden and embedded in a wall.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the storage unit (8) comprises a buffer memory (5), a transmission means (9), a rechargeable power supply source.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the storage and archiving center (6) of the shots is composed of one or more encryption and storage processing units; each unit is equipped with a motherboard, the assembly being arranged around a calculator processor, using the components specific to current computers to be able to manage the exploitation of all this information, one or more transmission means (14) ensure communication with each processing unit individual buffer for each device.

6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that in order to increase the security of access to storage and archiving, the digital data of the shots are split into two parts in two different storage centers and archiving (6).

7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the storage and archiving centers (6) are equipped with automatic data purging means to avoid a memory clutter.

8. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each storage and archiving center (6) is provided with a transmission means (14) for communicating with the modem

(9) of the device of each subscribed storage unit (8), so that the central computer (13) can interrogate or receive it at regular or irregular intervals and retrieve the digital shots located in the buffer memory (5).

9. Method using the device according to claim 1, characterized in that the subscriber (1) takes a picture by a digital sensor of the person appearing in front of his landing door

(3), the scanned image is immediately transmitted to a buffer memory (5) which stores the images "in the water" in a tamper-proof subscription storage unit (8), this storage unit (8) is equipped a modem (9) which communicates and transmits said digitized images to the central storage and archiving unit, processing, encryption and storage unit, said digitized images are available only to the competent judicial authorities (16), in the absence of communication between the computer central (13) and the subscriber device, an intervention is triggered on the site.