WO2000050721A1

WO2000050721A1 - Locker arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2000050721A1
Application number: PCT/DE2000/000555
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oliver Soukoup; Eduard B. Wagner
Original assignee: Insys Gesellschaft Für Microcontroller Und Komponenten Mbh
Priority date: 1999-02-24
Filing date: 2000-02-22
Publication date: 2000-08-31
Also published as: AU3417700A; DK1155213T3; ES2194710T3; EP1155213B1; ATE235641T1; EP1155213A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a locker arrangement with a plurality of adjacent rental compartments which are arranged in n lines and m columns. Each rental compartment (1) is provided with a door (2) and a door lock (3) that can be locked mechanically. The locker arrangement is provided with a plurality of door status sensors (4) which are assigned to the doors (2) and are fitted for wireless signal emittance. Said door status sensors (4) emit signals that can be distinguished and are allocated to an 'open' or 'closed' state. A unit (5) for receiving signals is provided at a distance from the rental compartments (1). The unit (5) generates an alarm signal according to the signals emitted by the door status sensors (4) and after comparison with the desired door status when the rental compartment is operated by an unauthorised person.

Description

Safe deposit system

description

The invention relates to a locker system with a plurality of adjacent and m n locker rows and m locker columns arranged lockers, each locker being equipped with a locker door and a mechanically lockable door lock. - The term "locker system" includes, in particular, locker systems, such as m banks. The individual rental compartments are generally arranged as it were in a matrix, with at least subgroups having similar rental compartments or rental compartments with respect to the front extensions.

Safe deposit boxes of the structure mentioned at the outset are known from practice. A disadvantage of the locker systems known in this respect is that due to the purely mechanical design, monitoring of access to the individual lockers by personnel is necessary. This is m disruptive. AI eraturstelle from Lit ^¬ DE-197 29 722 a rented deposit box system is known in which the actuation of the Mietfachturen electronically. As part of this

Electronic monitoring of access to the rental lockers is also possible. For this, the rental ^¬ compartment system must be wired, which is expensive.

In contrast, the invention is based on the technical problem of specifying an electronically monitorable deposit locker system which is characterized by simple retrofitting measures a purely mechanically designed safe deposit system is available.

To solve this technical problem, the invention teaches a rental locker system with a plurality of adjacent lockers and mn locker rows and m locker columns, each locker being equipped with a locker door and a lockable door lock, the locker system having a plurality of the locker doors assigned and Door status sensors set up for wireless signal transmission, the door status sensors emitting distinguishable signals assigned to a door status "open" or a door status "closed", with a unit for signal reception (at least) being set up at a distance (but within the transmission range of the door status sensors), which generates an alarm signal based on the signals sent by the door status sensors and a comparison with a target door status of the locker system if the locker is operated without authorization. - The door lock can only be operated by an authorized tenant using a locker-specific unlocking element. In the simplest case, an unlocking element is a mechanical key. However, it is also possible to set up electronic keys specific to the safe deposit box, for example chip cards, secret number entry or the like. Wireless signal transmission can take place in a variety of ways. A radio signal transmission is preferred. In the simplest case, the term distinguishable signals can be understood to mean an active transmitter unit or an inactive transmitter unit. In this respect, there is no signal radiation a signal within the terminology chosen here. An unauthorized use of a safe deposit box is determined, for example, in the following way. The unit for signal reception comprises an input device with which access to a specific, predeterminable rent compartment is enabled, for example for the duration of a predetermined time window. This is then a predetermined target door status with regard to the safe deposit system in the specific release constellation. A reported door status "door open" of a particular rental compartment door does not trigger an alarm signal if this rental compartment door is released. If, on the other hand, there is no release or the release has ended or the release for another rental compartment door has taken place, a reported door status "Door open" triggers an alarm signal. In addition to the

Monitoring function can also be provided a documentation function. As part of a documentation function, for example, each reported door status "door open", possibly with an assignment to the relevant locker, is stored in a storage medium, preferably with a time assignment, and output if necessary.

With the invention it is achieved that a person belonging to the operator no longer has to monitor and log the visit of a rental subject tenant to his rental subject. All documentation and safe deposit management can be carried out using a computer, and yet there is a high level of security against misuse or unauthorized access to safe deposit boxes.

In a preferred embodiment of independent inventive importance, the door status sensors are arranged on the outside of the rental compartment door, for example glued on. This allows existing locker systems to be retrofitted without requiring access to the lockers. Access to the lockers would require that all locker tenants allow access. The door status sensors can each consist of a transmitter unit, a sensor element and an activation element acting on the sensor element, the transmitter unit and the sensor element forming a first structural unit and the activation element forming a second structural unit. The first structural unit and the second structural unit of a single door status sensor can be arranged on different adjacent rented compartments, preferably different adjacent rented compartments within a rented compartment column. Then it is particularly advantageous if the safe deposit box system is equipped with (n-1) xm door status sensors. As a result, m fewer door status sensors are required than rental specialists.

In the embodiment with first and second structural elements of a door status sensor attached to various neighboring rental compartment doors, it is possible to have the door status sensors transmit signals on different radio channels, preferably two radio channels, within a rental compartment column, in particular adjacent door status sensors. In the simplest case, the arrangement of the door status sensors emitting on two different radio channels is a column with the stipulation of a sequence channel 1, channel 2, channel 1, channel 1, channel 2, etc. Alternatively, it can be provided that the door status sensors within a column subject to different Send times, calculated from an activation, on the same channel. In the simplest case there are 2 Transmit times are provided and arranged in a sequence of the door status sensors in a column of time 1, time 2, time 1, time 2, etc. One of the two times can be 0 sec. The time difference between the times is as large as the duration of the transmission of a door status sensor. The two alternatives above ensure that no interference from the transmission of two neighboring door status sensors (which when a rental compartment door is actuated both send a "door open" signal) occur on the same channel. If there are certain boundary conditions, there are also advantages within a column with regard to an assignment to a certain rental compartment, without the need for special signaling. The unit for signal reception, as a two-channel receiver (based on the reception frequency or the reception time window; in the latter case, the time difference between two received signals is ultimately decisive), namely, can be done without any further measure due to the detection of a signal of one or two channels or one or two (time-shifted) signals identify whether a column-outside or column-inside rental compartment door is activated. If there is an odd number of lockers in a column, a distinction can also be made between a bottom and a top locker. With a number of lockers in a column of 3, it is even possible to make a clear assignment to a specific locker in the column based on the signal detection as such. The same applies analogously to the above when setting up nx (m-1) door status sensors. Whether you work with n-1 or m-1 door status sensors can depend on whether n or m is larger and to what extent the lowest total number of door status sensors is required. Moreover, it is also possible to work with more than two different radio channels or times, in which case the unit for signal reception must of course be configured accordingly in the first case, or in the second case a corresponding number of times must be set up.

In practice and because of an assignability that is also desirable in the row direction and possibly the column direction, it is advantageous if each door status sensor is set up to transmit a door status sensor-specific identifier. To set up a security against tampering and consequently security against manipulation, the connoisseur can be encrypted by means of an encryption code, the encryption code preferably having an alternating code. In this respect, the encryption code can also have a fixed code component and an alternating code component. A change code can work continuously cyclically or can be controlled by a random generator. In any case of a change code, it goes without saying that means for the synchronous continuation of the code must be provided within the scope of the transmitter unit and the unit for signal reception. The additional transmission of synchronization or control signals can also be recommended. In a particularly elegant embodiment, the change code is given by a synchronously running system time at the moment of signal generation, the "start time" of the system time of an initialization routine, for example by a random generator synchronously with the transmission unit and the Unit for signal reception is generated once. Resynchronization is only required if there are significant deviations in the system times, deviations on the one hand being permitted through a deviation window, and on the other hand an automatic resynchronization can also be triggered if a threshold value is exceeded. In any case, a listening person cannot assign a monitored signal to a rental subject.

The sensor element can be a reed contact. Then the activation element is a magnet. However, other contactless contact systems which are well known to the person skilled in the art can also be used. Of course, mechanical contact control is also possible in principle. Then the activation element is on

Actuator arm or the like. The two structural units of the door status sensors can each be equipped with so-called sabotage contacts which cause a signal to be emitted, for example a "door open" signal and / or an alarm signal. The unit for signal reception can have a radio-technical receiver, a signal processing device, possibly with conversion of digital signals, a computer unit and possibly computer interfaces and digital transmission modules in the event of a remote arrangement of the computer unit from the radio-technical receiver. Within the scope of the computer unit, a normal operating system, a database-supported system with administration of the rental lockers, an import / export function of customer data for the rental locker administration, time window for access and alarm, a weekly program for automatic locker release, a memory for storing all relevant data via a adjustable time period, password protection for different software areas, statistical functions for visit statistics, visualization of the safe deposit box system or its status, different alarm levels (PC, acoustic, connection to alarm center) and / or customer-specific functions.

In summary, according to the invention, the following advantages result: no wiring, simple installation, no battery / battery change or change only after very long operating times (when using Li batteries in the transmitter unit, operating times of 10 years and more can be achieved , especially if the signals are only sent as short transmission impulses), small dimensions, any number of rented compartments, multiple use of rented compartments, no opening of the rented compartments necessary when refitting, no effects on the customers (no conversion), any sabotage on the system leads to one Alarm (for example by the structural elements of the door status sensors being equipped with sabotage contacts to prevent unauthorized removal), every size of the locker is covered, technical failure of the system can be easily reported, any software for securing and / or managing the lockers can be used, the unit for signal reception can be constantly on Function to be checked.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a monitoring transmitter can be set up to secure the reception path between the door status sensors and the unit for signal reception by means of a security signal, wherein an alarm signal can be emitted by the unit for signal reception if the Protection signal is not received. The protection signal can be emitted continuously or discontinuously, ie with signal emission in certain periodic intervals, for example 1 to 10 minutes. In the latter case, the unit for signal reception is operated in such a way that an alarm signal is emitted if a protection signal is not received at the expected time. The monitoring transmitter is to be arranged so that a cover for the signal reception unit leads to an alarm signal. The monitoring transmitter can optionally additionally comprise a rental compartment door status sensor and emit a signal assigned to a rental compartment door status "open" and / or "closed" or assigned signals to the unit for signal reception. Then an additional access control, possibly with alarm triggering in the event of unauthorized access, and / or logging is possible. A combination of the functions of securing the reception route and access control or logging is achieved if the monitoring transmitter equipped with a locker door status sensor sends a signal when the locker door is opened. It goes without saying that, in the case of authorized access, approval must take place in the same manner as the above statements. Irrespective of and possibly in addition to the setup of the monitoring transmitter, access control can be provided, for example, by means of additional light barriers, capacitive proximity sensors, IR detectors and the like, these units then being connected to the unit for signal reception and m

Approval / alarm evaluation are integrated in a corresponding manner. In addition to the embodiments in question, the above explanations have also made it clear that there is an operating method for a deposit locker system according to the invention.

In detail, a door status sensor can be constructed as follows. The core piece can be formed by a low-power microcontroller. This and the other components can be supplied with energy by means of a Li battery for the life of the door status sensor (then complete replacement of the door status sensor).

Furthermore, an internal real-time clock can be set up in the door status sensors, which runs synchronously with the real-time, for example by means of a DCF-77 time normal receiver module. Instead, a quartz or an RC element can be used as the time standard. In cases in which, for example, DCF-77 can only be received poorly or not at all by the door status sensors, a system-specific time standard can be provided, which sends an time signal to the door status sensors. This can be done by radio, by ultrasound or by means of an induction loop. However, transmission via optical signals, in particular IR, is preferred. It is understood that is configured in this From ^¬ fuhrungsform em appropriate time standard transmitter as part of the rented deposit box, and that each Turstatussensor a corresponding receiver adds comparable. The time normal station's own safe deposit box system can in turn be controlled by a transmitter such as DCF-77, but can also always or temporarily (if not received) by DCF-77) can be controlled by an independent generator that is independent of the time standard transmitter.

Furthermore, a transmitter unit for processing the data to be transmitted and a modulator, for example operating on an RF of 433 MHz, can be provided in the door status sensors.

In addition to the (reed) contact working as a sensor element, a further contact, for example also a reed contact, can be set up within the framework of the door status sensors, which works as a service contact and can be operated manually. This function can be used, for example, to "register" a new (replaced) door status sensor. In this connection, the new door status sensor, for example with a new identifier, is assigned to the relevant rental compartment connection to the computer unit, or a service routine implemented with it. This function can also be used for verification, as explained below.

It can be expedient if a control routine is carried out regularly prior to commissioning, for example daily. Within a given period of time, which can be reproduced by the real-time clocks internal to the door status, for example before the start of operation, all door status sensors send out a signal (offset in time). These signals are detected by the computer unit and, in the absence of a signal, an initial service call is initiated, which is probably the one with a

Malfunctioning door status sensor identified. Here it goes without saying that the computer unit accordingly with a synchronous real-time normal is equipped and this control routine is activated and deactivated again at appropriate times, namely when all door status sensors have (should) have sent. In the event of an error message, a control person may then carry out a check, for example triggering a test shipment by means of the service contact. If the shipment is then carried out correctly, either the contact of the door status sensor or the assigned trigger is defective. If the transmission is still not in accordance with the regulations, either the electronics of the door status sensor is defective or the transmission signal is shaded. The error is then eliminated by suitable measures and, if necessary, a new test transmission is carried out, which resets the error message if successful.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the figures. Show it:

FIG. 1: an overall view of a locker system according to the invention,

Figure 2: a detailed view of the object of Figure 1 regarding a door status sensor and

Figure 3: a block diagram of a door status sensor.

In the figure, 1 is first recognizes that the location Mietfachan ^¬ a plurality of adjacent and fold lines in n rental and m Mietfachspalten arranged safe deposit boxes 1 are provided. Each rental compartment is equipped with a rental compartment door 2 and a lockable door lock 3. The door lock 3 is by means of a locker-specific mechanical key can be actuated. Furthermore, it can be seen in FIG. 1 that a plurality of door status sensors 4 which are assigned to the rental compartments 2 and are set up for wireless signal transmission, in the exemplary embodiment by radio, are set up. These door status sensors 4 can transmit distinguishable signals assigned to a door status "open" or to a door status "closed". In the exemplary embodiment, no signal is sent in the door status "closed", while in the door status "open" a signal is sent out with a door status-specific identifier. The connoisseur is encrypted, with an alternating code ensuring that unauthorized listening to the signal does not allow the simulation of an incorrect door status. The safe deposit system furthermore comprises a unit 5 for signal reception with the components of radio-technical receiver 6, computer interface 7, digital transmission module 7 and computer unit 9. Finally, a monitoring transmitter 10 is provided to secure the reception path between the door status sensors 4 and the radio-technical receiver 6.

In particular in FIG. 2 it can be seen that the door status sensors 4 are mounted on the outside of the rental compartment door. Each door status sensor 4 has a transmitter unit 11, a sensor element 12 and an activation element 13 acting from the sensor element 12. The transmitter unit 11 and the sensor element 12 form a first structural unit and the activation element 13 a second structural unit. The first structural unit and the second structural unit are attached to different, adjacent rental compartments 2 within a rental compartment column and are glued on. In the exemplary embodiment is the activation element 13 em magnet. The sensor element 12 is a reed contact. When the rental compartment door is closed, the magnet acts on the reed contact and holds it in a first switching position, which the transmitter unit 11 is either inactive or emits a "door closed" signal. If one of the two adjacent rental compartments 2 is now opened, the reed contact drops and the transmitter unit is activated for transmitting signals or switched to a "door open" signal. The same thing happens when one of the two structural units of a door status sensor 4 is removed from the rental compartment door 2, so that sabotage protection is set up at the same time.

In Figure 1 it can be seen that the locker system is equipped with (n-1) x m door status sensors. In the example, n = 4 and m = 3, so there are 12 renters. In contrast, only 9 door status sensors 4 are required for the function of the invention. The door status sensors 4 within one

Rental compartment columns work on different, in the example two, channels or with two different times (calculated from a draw), with neighboring door status sensors 4 each transmitting on different channels or after different times. Since two door status sensors 4, which are adjacent within the rental compartment column, transmit when a non-outside rental compartment 1 is opened, there is no mutual signal interference.

The safe deposit box works in principle as follows. The normal target door status is that all rental compartments 2 are closed, ie that no signal is transmitted or received. If a signal is nevertheless received, then so there is an impermissible actual door status and the comparison with the target door status leads to an alarm. If a rental tenant now wants to have access to his rental compartment 1, the target door status is configured in the computer unit 9 with the proviso that, in addition to "all rental compartments 2 closed", the status "all rental compartments 2 closed except for rental compartment 2 of the rental subject tenant" is permitted, the latter status only being permitted for a predetermined time window. If the safe-depository tenant now accesses safe-keeping compartment 1, the associated signal transmission is recognized as an admissible actual door status and there is no alarm. Rather, the permissible actual door status m of the computer unit 9 is logged with details of the rented tenant, the rented compartment 1, the opening time and the opening period. If the safe-deposit tenant does not close his safe-deposit box 1 properly, an alarm is issued after the specified time window has expired, since after the actual door status "all safe-deposit doors 2 closed except for safe-deposit door 2 of the safe-deposit tenant" is no longer permitted.

The monitoring transmitter 10 sends test signals to the unit 5 for signal reception on one or more channels at regular time intervals, for example every minute. The unit 5 for signal reception is programmed in such a way that the failure to receive a test signal leads to an alarm within an expected period of time (expediently slightly longer than the specified time intervals). As a result, the function of the unit 5 for signal reception is constantly checked. On the other hand, a cover of the unit 5 becomes Signal reception detected for manipulation reasons, for example.

FIG. 3 shows a transmitter unit with a time normal receiver 14, in the example em radio receiver for a time normal transmitter owning a safe deposit box system, a time clock 15 in the event of a reception being prevented by the time normal receiver 14, a controller 16, a reed contact 12 as sensor element 12 and a further reed contact 18 as a service contact, a Li battery 19, em modulator module 20 and an RF generator 21.

Claims

claims

1) locker system with a plurality of adjacent and m n locker rows and m locker columns arranged lockers (1),

Each rental compartment (1) is equipped with a rental compartment door (2) and a lockable door lock (3)

The locker system is equipped with a plurality of door status sensors (4;) assigned to the locker doors (2) and set up for wireless signal transmission,

wherein the door status sensors (4) transmit distinguishable signals associated with a door status "open" or a door status "closed",

A unit (5) for signal reception is set up at a distance from the rental lockers (1), which generates an alarm signal in accordance with the signals emitted by the door status sensors (4) and compared with a target door status in the event of unauthorized rental locker operation.

2) locker system according to claim 1, wherein the Tursta ^¬ tussensoren (4) are arranged outside of the rented door. 3) rented deposit box system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the Turstatussensoren (4) each consist hen from a transmitter unit (11), a sensor element (12) and one to the Sen ^¬ sorelement acting activating element (13) and wherein the transmitter unit (11) and the

Sensor element (12) form a first structural unit and the activation element (13) form a second structural unit.

4) rented deposit box system according to claim 3, wherein said first construction ^¬ Liche unit and said second constructional unit of an individual Turstatussensors (4) at different adjacent Mietfachturen (2), preferably different adjacent Mietfachturen (2) are arranged within a rented deposit box.

5) locker system according to one of claims 1-4, wherein the locker system with (n-1) x m door status sensors (4) is equipped.

6) locker system according to one of claims 1-5, wherein the door status sensors (4) within a rent compartment column on different radio channels, preferably send two radio channels, or wherein the door status sensors (4) within a locker column after different times (calculated from the draw) on one send out uniform radio channel signals. Safe deposit system according to claim 5 and 6, wherein the arrangement of the door status sensors (4) emitting on two different radio channels of a safe deposit column is arranged with the stipulation of a sequence channel 1, channel 2, channel 1, channel 1, channel 2, etc., or wherein the arrangement the door status sensors (4) emitting at different times are arranged in a safe deposit column with the stipulation of a sequence time 1, time 2, time 1, time 2, etc.

Locker system according to one of claims 1-7, wherein each door status sensor (4) is set up to transmit a door status sensor-specific expert.

9) Safe deposit system according to claim 8, wherein the expert is encrypted by means of an encryption code and wherein the encryption code preferably has an alternating code.

10) locker system according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein em surveillance transmitter (10) for securing the reception path between the door status sensors (4) and the unit (5) for signal reception is set up by means of a security signal and wherein the unit (5) for signal reception em alarm signal can be issued if the security signal is not received.