WO2006131668A2

WO2006131668A2 - Device and method for verifying the presence of a person in a give place at a given time

Info

Publication number: WO2006131668A2
Application number: PCT/FR2006/050517
Authority: WO
Inventors: Loïc EONNET; Yves Eonnet
Original assignee: Customer Product Relationship Management
Priority date: 2005-06-06
Filing date: 2006-06-05
Publication date: 2006-12-14
Also published as: WO2006131668A3; FR2886753B1; EP1894154A2; FR2886753A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a device (1) for verifying the presence of a person close by comprising: means (40) for emitting, at short range, a unique code (C1) representing said device (1), to a personal equipment (2) of said person, said personal equipment (2) being adapted to send said code (C1) to a trusted server (100) via a mobile telecommunication network (R1); means (70) for receiving, from the trusted server (100), a message (M4) comprising a unique identifier (E_id) associated with the personal equipment (2); and means (41, 42) for locally delivering an information confirming that said message (M4) has been received by the device (1) within a predetermined lapse of time starting with said emission.

Description

Device and method for attesting the presence of an individual in a given place at a given moment

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device that makes it possible to attest to the presence of an individual, at a given moment, in the vicinity of this device. It also relates to a method for attesting this presence.

More specifically, the invention makes it possible to provide proof of the actual use of a personal equipment of this individual, close to the device, at the instant mentioned above.

In general, the invention therefore makes it possible to guarantee a unit of time and place between the use of personal equipment on a telecommunication network and the local delivery of a proof of this use.

As explained in detail below, the invention can be advantageously used in all situations in which it is necessary to attest to its presence in a clearly defined place.

For this purpose, and according to a first aspect, the invention provides a device for attesting to the presence of an individual in the vicinity of this device.

This device comprises:

means for transmitting, at short range, a unique code representative of the device, to a personal equipment of this individual, this personal equipment being adapted to send the code to a trusted server, via a mobile telecommunications network;

means for receiving, from the trusted server, a message comprising a unique identifier associated with the personal equipment; and - means for locally delivering information attesting that the message has been received by the device within a predetermined time counted from the issuance of the code.

The personal equipment of the individual can in particular be constituted by a mobile phone adapted to communicate with the trusted server via a mobile telecommunications network of the type

GSM, GPRS or UMTS. Because these mobile telecommunication networks are highly secure by nature, the delivery of the aforementioned information is information of great reliability as to the presence of the individual in the vicinity of the device. Those skilled in the art will understand that the notion of "proximity" (and therefore "short range") strongly depends on the constraints of the application in which the invention is used.

It is typically a few centimeters or, at most, a few meters. It thus makes it possible to provide proof of the presence of someone in a given store, or even in a very restricted geographical area of this store (close to an object or a product for example).

Preferably, the device according to the invention comprises means for verifying that the personal equipment is in communication with the network before issuing the unique identifier.

These verification means are for example constituted by means adapted to detect the transmission of personal equipment on the mobile telecommunication network, optionally combined with a photoelectric cell known per se.

Preferably, the device according to the invention comprises internal supply means rechargeable (or replaceable) and sufficient to allow the autonomous use of the device.

With this feature, the device according to the invention can be installed easily, and not necessarily next to an electrical outlet. This feature is particularly interesting when one remembers that the device can be used to provide evidence of the presence of an individual in a very restricted perimeter around this device. In this preferred embodiment, the device can therefore be used for example to locate a person during a commercial event installed in an area for a short period, in which there is no provision of power.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device further comprises means for selecting the code from among several unique codes representative of the device according to a predetermined context.

For example, the device according to the invention may comprise several buttons, each of them being associated with a code. When the user presses a button, he manifests his willingness to access a particular service or offer.

The message received from the trusted server may in this particular case include additional information associated with this service. The means for locally delivering the information attesting to the reception of the message by the device can be of different types.

They may in particular be constituted by printing means of a ticket. This ticket includes for example the date and time when the message was received from the trusted server. This ticket can also represent a coupon, or a voucher, to benefit from a promotion individuals subscribed to a particular mobile telecommunication operator and present at a given time in a predefined place.

In another preferred embodiment, these means are constituted for example by one or more diode (s) which turns on (s) a red light when the device emits the short-range code, and a green light when the one it receives the message from the server within a predetermined time counted from the issuance of the code.

In another preferred embodiment, these means consist of a display device. This display device may be integral with the presence attestation device or remote.

In a first preferred embodiment, the short-range transmission means consist of a loudspeaker whose transmission power is comparable to the power of the loudspeakers used in mobile phones that comply with the GSM standard.

This power may for example be chosen substantially less than 50 dB.

In this first preferred embodiment, the code transmitted by the loudspeaker (this code being preferentially DTMF type) can be picked up by the microphone of the personal equipment if it is at a short range, namely within a radius of twenty centimeters. The invention comprises two preferred variants according to the means implemented to receive the message from the trusted server.

In a first variant, the message is received via the personal equipment of the individual.

Advantageously, this variant simplifies the design of the device according to the invention since it benefits from the means of communication specific to the personal equipment.

In a preferred embodiment of this first variant, the message is received using short-range receiving means of the personal equipment. These short-range reception means may for example be constituted by a microphone adapted to receive an audio message transmitted by a speaker of the personal equipment of the individual. In a second variant embodiment, the presence attestation device according to the invention receives the message using second own communication means enabling it to receive the message from the trusted server without it passing through the message. the personal equipment of the individual. In this second embodiment, the personal equipment can thus break the established communication with the trusted server just after sending the code associated with the device according to the invention.

In a first embodiment of this second embodiment, these second communication means are mobile communication means adapted to communicate directly with the trusted server. It may in particular be mobile telecommunication means of the type used by the personal equipment of the individual to communicate with the trusted server.

Those skilled in the art will understand that this embodiment simplifies the architecture of the trusted server, since it uses the same means of communication to communicate with the personal equipment of the individual and with the attestation of presence device. according to the invention,

In a second preferred embodiment of this second variant embodiment, the attestation device according to the invention also comprises a local server adapted to receive the message in the form of a request from a local client of the trusted server.

This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the device according to the invention already comprises a local server, for example an HTTP server.

Those skilled in the art will understand that in this embodiment the device according to the invention is of course connected to a second telecommunications network, for example the Internet network to receive the aforementioned request. This mode will preferably be chosen when the device according to the invention is a personal computer equipped with an HTTP server.

According to a particularly advantageous aspect of the invention, the aforementioned presence certification device can be attached to an object, a wall, a counter. In this preferred mode of use, it makes it possible to attest to the presence of an individual, at a given instant, in the vicinity of this object, for example in a very precise location. Of course, this object can be mobile, a means of transport for example.

In a variant, the presence attestation device according to the invention is a portable device. In this use, this device can be used to attest to the presence of an individual at a given moment in a given place, if the receipt includes the date and time of receipt of the message received from the trusted server and can be deposited in said place without dispute, for example in an urn.

The invention also relates to a method for attesting to the presence of an individual in the vicinity of a device. This process comprises:

a short-range transmission step, from a unique code representative of the device, to a personal equipment of this individual, this personal equipment being adapted to send the code to a trusted server, via a mobile telecommunications network; a step of receiving, from the trusted server, a message comprising a unique identifier associated with the personal equipment; and

a step during which information is sent locally confirming that the message has been received by the device within a predetermined time counted from the transmission step. The features and advantages of the method according to the invention are the same as those of the device mentioned above and will not be recalled here.

According to a preferred implementation, the various steps of the presence attestation process are determined by computer program instructions.

Accordingly, the invention is also directed to a computer program on an information carrier. This program includes instructions adapted to the implementation of the steps of the attestation of presence process as mentioned above when this program is executed by a computer.

This program can use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other form desirable shape.

The invention also relates to a computer-readable information medium comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the presence attestation method mentioned above. The information carrier may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may comprise storage means, such as a ROM, for example a CD ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM, or a magnetic recording medium, for example a floppy disk or a disk. hard.

On the other hand, the information medium may be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which may be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by radio or by other means. The program according to the invention can be downloaded in particular on an Internet type network.

Alternatively, the information carrier may be an integrated circuit in which the program is incorporated, the circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the method in question. Brief description of the drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description given below, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment having no limiting character. In the figures:

- Figures 1 and 2 show, schematically, a device for attesting the presence of an individual, according to the invention in two embodiments;

- Figure 3 shows, in flowchart form, the main steps of a method for attesting the presence of an individual, according to the invention in a preferred embodiment; and

- Figures 4 and 5 show two preferred uses of the device according to the invention.

Detailed description of an embodiment

FIG. 1 represents a device 1 for attesting to the presence of an individual in the vicinity of this device in a first variant embodiment.

This device comprises processing means 10, for example a processor, associated with a memory 11 comprising a computer program PG adapted to implement the attestation process according to the invention, the main stages of which are represented in FIG. .

In the example described here, it will be considered that the device 1 according to the invention is used in the context of a commercial event to offer an individual a reduction on two types of products on the condition that this individual is in a place. given geographical area for a given period of time.

In the example described here, the device according to the invention accordingly comprises two buttons B1 and B2, each of them being associated with a promotion on a particular product.

In the preferred embodiment described herein, the device i comprises means 20 for detecting the presence of personal equipment 2 during communication on a mobile telecommunications network R1. In the preferred mode described here, the mobile telecommunication network R1 is a GSM type network, and the mobile equipment 2 is a telephone adapted to communicate on this network.

In practice, the aforementioned detection means 20 may be means for measuring the received power radiated by the mobile phone 2.

These power measurement means can advantageously be combined with a photoelectric cell, so that to detect that the personal equipment 2 is in communication on the network R1, two conditions must be met, namely to detect a transmission power. allowing the personal equipment 2 to communicate on the mobile communication network and a presence detected by the cell.

Thus, when an individual wishes to benefit from an offer, he approaches his personal equipment 2 near the aforementioned presence detection means 20 after having established a communication with a trusted server 100.

The detection of the presence of personal equipment constitutes a step ElO of the presence attestation process according to the invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that in this embodiment the trusted server 100 comprises means 110 for GSM communication.

In practice, the GSM number of the trusted server 100 can be written on an advertisement located near the device 1 of attestation of presence according to the invention.

The step ElO for detecting the presence of personal equipment 2 is followed by a step E20 during which device 1 according to the invention transmits, at short range, a unique code representing this device to personal equipment 2. In this first embodiment, this code is chosen according to the button Bl, B2 selected by the user.

For this purpose, the device 1 of attestation of presence according to the invention comprises a memory 30 having two unique codes C1, C2 representative of the device 1, each of them being associated with a button B1, B2. Assuming that the button B1 is selected, the unique code representative of the device 1 is the code C1.

In the variant embodiment described here, this code C1 is transmitted, at short range, in the form of a message M1 constituted by a DTMF code, by a loudspeaker 40 of the device 1 according to the invention.

Preferably, as soon as this code is transmitted, the device 1 according to the invention illuminates in red an electroluminescent diode (LED) 52.

In any event, the message Ml comprising the code C1 is received by the microphone of the personal equipment 2 and is transmitted in a GSM message M2 to the trusted server 100.

In the embodiment described here, the trusted server 100 includes processing means 120 adapted to obtain, in a memory 130, data Txtl associated with the code C1 representative of the device 1.

These processing means 120 are also adapted to convert the data Txtl, in a format allowing their transport in the audio channel of the GSM network, and to form a GSM message M3 comprising: - a unique identifier E_ID of the mobile equipment 2; and

the Txtl data, converted according to the aforementioned format.

The unique identifier E_ID is for example constituted by the GSM number of the mobile equipment 2, this number being obtained from the message M2. The GSM M3 message is transmitted by the trusted server

100 to mobile equipment 2 via the GSM network.

In this preferred embodiment, this message M3 is sent, in the form of a message M4, by the loudspeaker of personal equipment 2. This message M4 is received, during a step E30 of the method of attestation of presence according to the invention, by the device 1 of attestation of presence which comprises, for this purpose, a microphone 70,

The processing means 10 of the presence attestation device 1 according to the invention then extract from the message M4 the unique identifier EJD of the personal equipment E and the data Txt1 which was inserted therein by the trusted server 100. Then, during a step E40 of the method according to the invention, the processing means 10 verify that the message M4 has been received within a predetermined time counted from the emission of the code C1 by the loudspeaker 40. In the preferred embodiment described herein, this predetermined time is equal to 30 seconds.

If this is the case, the processing means 10 control the lighting of the LED 52 in green, this light being representative of the fact that the mobile phone whose unique identifier is E_ID was present near the device 1 within the predetermined time 30 seconds before the receipt of the message M4 in step E30.

In the preferred embodiment of the embodiment variant described here, the processing means 10 further control the printing, by means 41, of a ticket 51 on which are written:

the time and date of receipt of the message M4; the unique identifier E_ID of the mobile equipment E; and

- The Txtl data received from the trusted server 100, received in the aforementioned format allowing their transport in the GSM audio channel and reconverted into text.

This data Txtl are for example constituted by a text explaining the conditions of commercial promotions for the product associated with the button Bl.

We will now describe with reference to Figure 2 a presence of attestation device according to the invention in a second embodiment. In this embodiment, the code C1 is transmitted to the mobile equipment 2 in the form of a message M1 by a short-range infrared transmitter 40 '.

When the short-range emission means are constituted by a short-range infrared transmitter 40 ', the presence-indicating device according to the invention can advantageously be placed in a closed enclosure by reflecting mirrors 80, as shown in FIG. figyre 4.

Those skilled in the art will understand that in this embodiment, the message M1 can be received by an infra-red receiver of the personal equipment, since this equipment 2 is placed in this enclosure. In this alternative embodiment, the message M4 is not received via personal equipment 2, but via a second telecommunications network R2.

For this purpose, the database 130 of the trusted server 100 includes a third column in which is stored the address @ 1, on the second network R2, the trusted device 1 associated with the single code Cl.

Thus, upon receipt of the message M2, the trusted server 100 obtains this address @ 1 in the database 130 and generates a message M3, on the second telecommunications network R2.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this second telecommunications network R2 is an Internet type network, the address @ 1 being constituted by the IP address of the device 1 according to the invention. In this preferred embodiment, the presence attestation device 1 according to the invention comprises a web server 70 'enabling it to receive, in the form of a request M4, the message M3 sent, over the Internet, by an HTTP client of the trusted server 100, not shown here. The request M4 may in particular comprise the data Txtl.

In another embodiment of this second variant, the second telecommunications network R2 is the GSM network. The request M3 is in this case sent by the means of communication

GSM 100 of the trusted server 100 to the device 1 of attestation of presence according to the invention.

In this case, the address @ 1 is the GSM telephone number of the device 1, its second telecommunication means 70 'consisting of GSM communication means.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the short-range transmission means can be chosen independently of the path by which the attestation device according to the invention receives the message M4 from the trusted server 100.

Thus, the loudspeaker 40 and the infra-red transmitter 40 'can be used indifferently in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, In another embodiment of the invention, the short-range transmission means are constituted by a transmitter 40 "compliant with the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard, the code Ml being received by a Bluetooth receiver of the personal equipment 2 .

In order to delimit the short range at a controlled distance, the presence attestation device 1 according to the invention can be placed in a Faraday cage 81, in which the personal equipment 2 must necessarily be introduced to receive the code M1.

This use is shown in Figure 5.

Claims

1. Device (1) for attesting to the presence of an individual in the vicinity of said device (1), said device (1) comprising: means (40, 40 ', 40 ") for emitting, at short range, a single code (C1) representative of said device (1), to a personal equipment (2) of this individual, this personal equipment (2) being adapted to send said code (C1) to a trusted server (100), via a network mobile telecommunication system (R1); means (70, 70 ') for receiving, from said trusted server (100), a message (M4) comprising a unique identifier (Ejd) associated with said personal equipment (2);

means (41, 42) for locally delivering information attesting that said message (M4) has been received by said device (1) within a predetermined time counted from said transmission.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (20) for detecting that said personal equipment (2) is in communication on said network (Rl) before issuing said unique identifier (Cl) .

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises means (60) refillable internal supply sufficient to allow autonomous use of said device (1).

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises means (10) for selecting said code (Cl) from several unique codes (C1, C2) representative of said device (1) according to from a predetermined context (Bl, B2).

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said means for delivering a local information are constituted by at least one element chosen from:

means (51) for printing a ticket; a diode (52); and

- A display device, remote or not.

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said transmission means (40, 40 ', 40 ") at short range are constituted by a speaker (40) whose power of emission is comparable to the loudspeaker power used in GSM-compliant mobile phones.

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said transmitting means (40, 40 ', 40 ") at short range are constituted by a short-range infrared transmitter (40').

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said transmitting means (40, 40 ', 40 ") at short range are constituted by a transmitter (40") compliant with the Bluetooth standard (brand Mark).

9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said receiving means (70) are adapted to receive said message (M4) via said personal equipment (2).

10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that said receiving means are adapted to receive said message by using reception means (70) short range with said personal equipment.

11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises second communication means (70 ') for receiving said message (M4) without it passes through said personal equipment (2 ).

12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the second communication means (70 ') are mobile communication means adapted to communicate with said trusted server (100).

13. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that it further comprises a local server (70 ') adapted to receive said message (M4) in the form of a request from a local client of said trusted server (100). ).

14. Method for attesting the presence of an individual in the vicinity of a device (1) comprising:

a step (E20) for short-range transmission, of a single code (C1) representative of said device (1), to a personal equipment (2) of this individual, this personal equipment (2) being adapted to send said code (C1) to a trusted server (100) via a mobile telecommunication network (R1);

a step (E30) receiving, from said trusted server (100), a message (M4) comprising a unique identifier (E_id) associated with said personal equipment (2); and

a step (E40) during which information is sent locally certifying that said message (M4) has been received by said device (1) within a predetermined time counted from said transmitting step (E20).

A computer program (PG) comprising instructions for executing the steps (E10-E40) of the presence attestation method according to claim 14 when said program (PG) is executed by a computer.

16. Computer-readable recording medium (11) on which a computer program (PG) is recorded including instructions for executing steps (E10-E40) of the presence attestation method according to claim 14. .

17. Use of the presence attestation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, to attest to the presence of an individual in the vicinity of an object, wherein said device is fixed relative to this object. object.

18. Use of the presence certificate device (1) according to claim 7, in a closed enclosure by reflecting mirrors (80).

19. Use of the presence attestation device (1) according to claim 8 in a Faraday cage (81).