WO2007031654A1

WO2007031654A1 - Operating method, gateway, system and system for entry management

Info

Publication number: WO2007031654A1
Application number: PCT/FR2006/002116
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pierre-Yves Danet; Céline BORSIER; Mehdi Ouchia
Original assignee: France Telecom
Priority date: 2005-09-15
Filing date: 2006-09-14
Publication date: 2007-03-22

Abstract

The invention concerns a system for controlling a visitor's entry at the gate of a site, providing functionalities such as intercom/videophone, via communication from a station providing access to a home gateway. The invention is characterized in that the access station is a mobile terminal borne by the visitor, the method including the following steps: sending a request for connection from the visiting mobile terminal to the home gateway; assigning a status based on the connection request and on the content of a resident database; sending over the visiting mobile terminal a connection information based on the status assigned to the visitor.

Description

METHOD, GATEWAY, OPERATING SYSTEM, AND INPUT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The present invention relates to the field of entry management on a site. In particular, the invention relates to virtual gatekeepers, type intercom / videophone, especially when they apply to homes, although the invention can also be implemented for example on industrial sites. More specifically, according to a first of its aspects, the invention relates to a visitor input management method at the door of a site, offering features of the intercom / videophone type, by communication from an access station to a residential gateway. According to a second of its aspects, the invention relates to a residential gateway for the implementation of the method, as well as the operating system (OS) and the middleware software (middle layer software) for this residential gateway. Finally, according to one of its aspects, the invention relates to a management system of entry of a visitor to the door of a site, of the intercom / videophone type, by communication from an access station to a residential gateway wherein the access station is a mobile visitor terminal, configured to send a connection request to the residential gateway, equipped with authentication means configured to be authenticated with the gateway, and equipped with communication and display means configured to display connection information from the gateway on the terminal, and the gateway as defined in the second of its aspects. By visitor, it is understood, in general, a person a priori outside the site at the moment considered, in the geographical sense of the term. This description further specifies that a visitor may also be a resident visiting his home site.

It is known from the state of the art various methods, devices, and intercom / videophone systems described below. The application FR 2 826 820, filed by the applicant, describes a communication process between a visitor and a resident, and the corresponding porter.

The purpose of this request is to simulate the presence of the resident and remotely open the door or mailbox by routing the call from the visitor to a terminal of the resident, coupled with an acknowledgment system. electronic. Also, this application relates to a conventional intercom interface, requiring in fact a specific external fixed box. The application WO 01/13638 also describes an electronic door intercom, which notably has an answering machine function and an audio / video transmission. A disadvantage of this device is that it does not manage a set of residents. Finally, the application FR 2 863 132, filed by the applicant, describes a linkage bridge of a visioportier, the object of which is to automatically route calls from a visitor to a resident terminal through a programmable routing unit, enabling the call transfer system to be less sensitive to the congestion state of the communication network. As for the application FR 2 826 820, a disadvantage of the object described by this application is that it relates to a conventional intercom interface, requiring in fact a specific and expensive fixed external housing. The present invention aims to overcome these disadvantages by proposing a solution of eliminating the need for a specific fixed equipment, relatively expensive, for connecting a visitor with a resident. With this objective in view, the method of the invention, moreover in conformity with the generic definition given in the preamble cited at the beginning of the description, is essentially characterized in that the access station is a mobile terminal carried by the visitor, the method comprising the following steps: sending a connection request from the mobile terminal to the residential gateway,

- ^allocation of a status dependent on the connection request and the contents of a resident database, sending the visiting mobile terminal a connection dependent information status assigned to the visitor. Thanks to this arrangement, the mobile terminal of a visitor, a product widely used in the trade, is used as an entrance terminal of a site, home or other, and advantageously replaces a fixed device, expensive because dedicated and having to respect robustness standards.

In the preferred embodiment, the mobile terminal visitor is equipped with communication means and display, in particular display of "web" pages using the http protocol for example, configured to display the connection information on the terminal, the method comprising the following steps: - routing to a home server, display of a page, said page comprising hyperlinks, hypertext links or hypermedia for example allowing, by selection, to access features of the gateway. Preferably, the content of the displayed page depends on the visitor's status. This makes it possible to offer more targeted and therefore more user-friendly services.

Thus, in one embodiment:

• if the status assigned is a "non-resident visitor" status, the displayed page includes the list of accessible residents, the gateway functionalities allowing, after selection of a resident from the mobile terminal visitor, the routing to an available resident terminal the selected resident, connected to the bridge,

• if the assigned status is a "resident visitor" status, the displayed page includes a list of resident services available from the gateway, the gateway functionalities to implement the said service (s), including the door open function.

Such a configuration makes it possible to offer more secure services, for example by allowing access to "private" services only to residents of the site. In one embodiment, the method furthermore comprises, if the status is "non-resident visitor", a step of linking the non-resident visitor to the selected resident, thus ensuring a conventional intercom / videophone function.

Advantageously, in one embodiment a resident visitor can choose his status between "resident visitor" and "non-resident visitor". A resident visitor can choose to use the gateway's features directly or use the gateway as an intercom / videophone, for example to be put in touch with a neighbor, or a colleague.

Thus, thanks to this arrangement, in an intercom / videophone logic whose purpose is to open the door of the site, a resident can open the door with his mobile terminal, used both as a visitor terminal and terminal resident.

Also in one embodiment, a door open command signal is sent selectively, upon the resident's decision, from the resident terminal connected to the gateway.

In another embodiment, the method further comprises a step of recording / selective distribution of text / audio / video messages to at least one resident and / or to at least one visitor.

The invention also relates to a residential gateway for implementing the method cited above. The gateway according to the invention comprises visitor communication means with at least one mobile visitor terminal, said communication means comprising at least one least means for receiving a connection request, and returning a connection information, an authentication module of the mobile terminal mobile, communicating with a database, and means for assigning a status, said status depending on the connection request and the contents of the database.

In the preferred embodiment, the database lists at least one set of residents, each resident being associated with at least one resident terminal on which the resident is likely to be accessible, the gateway further comprising routing means to the resident terminal on which the resident is likely to be accessible.

Preferably, the gateway comprises at least one home server configured to generate a page, said page comprising hyperlinks allowing, by selection, access to gateway functionalities, the gateway being configured so that the communication means visitor are IP communication means for routing the connection of a mobile terminal visitor to the host server, and for sending the content of the displayed page to said mobile visitor terminal and / or receive orders from said visitor terminal in form http for example. In one embodiment, the IP communication means comprise a proxy server, said proxy server always referring to an address

(addressed web for example) predetermined visitors having a predetermined status. Typically, when the visitor is an undeclared person on the database, the proxy server automatically returns a home page listing the residents likely to be accessible. Alternatively, when the visitor is declared on the database, he can access other services, other features of the gateway. Thus, in the preferred embodiment, the content of the displayed page depends on the connection information and the assigned status.

Moreover, in one embodiment, the "resident visitor" or "non-resident visitor" status is selectively assigned to a visitor according to the respective positive or negative authentication of the visitor terminal bearer in relation to the content of the database. .

However, a resident wishing to communicate with another resident may have an interest in wanting to be considered as a visitor. In one embodiment, the gateway therefore additionally comprises selection means configured to enable a visitor terminal bearer having a "resident visitor" status to choose to be assigned a "non-resident visitor" status.

One of the objectives of the invention being to offer intercom / videophone type features, in one embodiment, the gateway further comprises means for transferring a door opening control signal, said signal from a resident terminal or being ordered from the page presented to the resident visitor.

In another embodiment, the gateway further comprises means for recording and / or selectively broadcasting messages in the form of text / audio / video selectively to at least one visitor and / or to at least one resident.

Another object of the invention is therefore a management system of entry of a visitor to the door of a site, of the intercom / videophone type, by communication from an access station to a residential gateway in which the station access is a mobile visitor terminal configured to send a connection request to the residential gateway, equipped with authentication means configured to be authenticated with the gateway, and equipped with communication and display means configured to display information connecting from the gateway to the terminal, and the residential gateway is a gateway as described above.

Finally, the present invention also relates to an operating system, more commonly known as OS, for the residential gateway described above, as well as the middleware software (software from the intermediate layers to the application software). According to the invention, the operating system comprises:

A module for receiving a connection request from a mobile mobile terminal to the residential gateway,

A module for assigning a status depending on the connection request and the content of a resident database,

• a sending module on the mobile terminal visitor of a connection information depending on the status assigned to the visitor. In the preferred embodiment, the operating system further comprises:

• a routing module to a host server,

A page generation module, said page comprising hyperlinks allowing, by selection, access to a module of functionalities of the gateway.

In one embodiment, the operating system further comprises a routing module to a resident terminal connected to the gateway, so as to transfer the visitor call to a resident terminal on which a resident is likely to be available.

In another embodiment, the operating system further comprises a door opening control signal transfer module, so as to enable the command signal to be sent from a terminal to the opening device. of door.

Finally, in another embodiment, the operating system further comprises a module for recording / selective distribution of text / audio / video messages to at least one resident and / or to at least one visitor.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description, given by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example and with reference to the appended figure, in which the single figure represents a functional diagram of the system of the invention.

The invention relates to the concept of an electronic doorkeeper, offering intercom / videophone type functions, capable of managing the entrances of persons wishing to enter a site (members of a household, service providers, visitors, etc.), hereinafter referred to as visitors, and to be put in touch with one of the members of the site, hereinafter called resident, for that purpose.

The principle developed in the present invention is to replace the fixed boxes, generally implemented commercially and dedicated for this purpose, by a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal being worn by a visitor.

Also, the intercom / videophone type functionality must be able to communicate with several types of mobile terminals. And according to the invention, this function is provided by a residential gateway.

Thus the communication is performed, as shown in the single figure, from an access station 10, in this case a mobile terminal, worn by the visitor, to a residential gateway PASS.

For the sake of clarity, the following description describes means integrated gateway, however, the invention also relates to the embodiments in which each of these means is deportable.

Similarly, the invention also relates to a gateway comprising means of communication with another gateway, this configuration being used for example in sites with a large number of residents.

In a first step, the mobile terminal sends a request for connection to the residential gateway.

Following this request, the gateway AUTH authentication module assigns a visitor STAT status, depending on the connection request and the contents of a resident DB database. This authentication step is, for example, and preferably performed as described in the application FR 05 01636 filed by the applicant.

This application notably describes a method of accessing a SIM card housed in a mobile terminal via a home gateway.

Such a method notably allows the authentication of a user, when he wants to access a service via a mobile terminal connected to a home gateway for interconnecting different home communication terminals (PC, TV. ..) with telecommunication networks.

The resident database typically lists all residents of the site. Each resident is assigned at least one terminal 30 on which it is likely to be accessible. It is possible to provide automatic transfer tables defining time slots according to which a resident is likely to be available on a given set of terminals connected to the gateway, similarly to the application FR 2 863 132 already cited.

These resident terminals can be located on the site or remotely, wired or wireless, which can be reached for example at his place of work by simply routing the call from home.

In addition, the database may also list a set of non-resident persons, but known to at least one resident. The latter can then declare these persons in the database, allowing their assignment to be subsequently a status of "known non-resident visitor" type (friend), allowing a particular treatment, for example as regards the selective message recording / broadcasting described later.

The mobile terminal visitor, once identified / authenticated, receives connection information depending on the status assigned to the visitor.

To process this connection information, the mobile terminal visitor is equipped with communication and display means, in particular display web pages using the http protocol for example, configured to display the connection information on the terminal.

Thus, the call of the visitor is routed to a reception server SRV ACC. This server comprises or is connected to display means of a page, said page comprising hyperlinks, hypertext links or hypermedia, allowing, by selection, to access the gateway's functionalities. The visitor visualizes on his terminal the page and can then select the service (s) to which he / she wishes to access. However, it is preferable that an unknown visitor of the site can freely access all the features of the gateway, including the resident services.

Also, according to the invention, the content of the displayed page depends on the visitor's status.

Typically, the "non-resident visitor" status corresponds to an unauthenticated visitor, that is to say not being registered in the database DB, unlike the "resident visitor". The attribution of the statuses "non-resident visitor" or "resident visitor" leads to the following treatments: • if the assigned status is a "non-resident visitor" status, the PWV displayed page includes the list of accessible residents, the FONC features of the gateway allowing, after selection of a resident from the mobile terminal visitor, the routing to a terminal resident 30 available from the selected resident, connected to the bridge,

• if the assigned status is a "resident visitor" status, the displayed PWR page includes a list of resident RES services available from the gateway, the gateway functionalities to implement the said service (s) (s) ).

Resident services involve resident terminals 20, these terminals being able to constitute all or part of the resident terminals 30.

The traditional function of an intercom / videophone is then ensured if the status is "non-resident visitor", where the non-resident visitor is put in touch with the resident whom he selects on his terminal.

Preferably, a resident visitor can choose their status between "resident visitor" and "non-resident visitor", so that they can use the above functionalities, for example in the case of a collective site, residential building, so to contact a neighbor.

The resident put in contact with the visitor can then decide to send from his resident terminal a control signal for opening the door to the bridge, this signal being transferred by a CMD door opening control transfer module. device (not shown) for opening the door 40. This configuration makes it possible, for example, for a resident to use the "non-resident visitor" status to open the door himself, the visitor terminal acting in this case as a resident terminal. And in a particular embodiment, the door opening function is automatically proposed on the page presented to the resident visitor.

The door opening command signal can therefore be sent from the page displayed in the case where the visitor is resident.

Finally, in the case where a resident is not accessible, it may be useful for a visitor to record a message to the resident or to receive a message from it. For example, a post office advertising a particular package, a passing friend, or even a general announcement to all residents, for example in the case of on-site work, etc.

The invention therefore advantageously also comprises a step, means for recording / selective distribution of MESS messages in text / audio / video form for at least one resident and / or for at least one visitor . This function can be used to transmit a notification, for example to a distant relative when a child enters the site. If the mobile terminal visitor has capabilities to perform videophone communications, the communication protocol used may be for example the standard protocol H323 or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) protocol. If the mobile terminal visitor does not have such videophone capabilities, the call is made VoIP. The invention can also be used for a resident / resident relationship within a site, which can be particularly useful on a professional site, the address book functions internal to a mobile terminal being indeed deported on the bridge.

Preferably, the mobile visitor terminal operates according to 802. XX standards, in particular the standards "Bluetooth" and "Wifi".

Claims

1. A method of managing entry of a visitor to the door of a site, offering intercom / videophone type of functionality, by communication from an access station to a residential gateway, characterized in that the station of access is a mobile terminal carried by the visitor, the method comprising the following steps: sending a connection request from the mobile terminal to the residential gateway, assigning a status depending on the connection request and the content of the connection a resident database, sending on the mobile terminal visitor information connection depending on the status assigned to the visitor.

An input management method according to claim 1, wherein the visiting mobile terminal is provided with communication and display means configured to display the connection information on the terminal, the method comprising the steps of: routing to a host server, - displaying a page comprising hyperlinks allowing, by selection, access to the gateway's functionalities.

The input management method of claim 2, wherein the content of the displayed page depends on the visitor's status.

An input management method according to any one of claims 2 and 3, wherein: • if the assigned status is a "non-resident visitor" status, said page includes the list of accessible residents, the gateway functionalities allowing, after selection of a resident from the mobile terminal visitor, the routing to an available resident terminal of the selected resident, connected to the bridge,

• if the assigned status is a "resident visitor" status, said page includes a list of resident services available from the gateway, the features of the gateway to implement the said service (s).

An input management method according to claim 4, further comprising, if the status is "non-resident visitor", a step of linking the non-resident visitor to the selected resident.

An entry management method according to any one of claims 4 and 5, wherein a resident visitor can choose his status between "resident visitor" and "non-resident visitor".

An input management method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein a door open command signal is selectively sent, upon the resident's decision, from the resident terminal connected to the gateway.

An input management method according to any of claims 4 to 7, further comprising a step of selectively recording / broadcasting text / audio / video messages to at least one resident and / or to at least one visitor.

9. Residential gateway for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising means of visitor communication with at least one mobile mobile terminal, said communication means comprising at least means for receiving a connection request, and returning a connection information, an authentication module of the visiting mobile terminal, communicating with a database, and means for assigning a status, said status depending on the connection request and the content of the database.

The residential gateway of claim 9, wherein the database comprises at least one set of residents, each resident being associated with at least one resident terminal on which the resident is likely to be accessible, the gateway further comprising routing means to the resident terminal on which the resident is likely to be accessible.

11. residential gateway according to any one of claims 9 and 10, comprising at least one host server configured to generate a page comprising hyperlinks allowing, by selection, access to the gateway functionalities, the gateway being configured so that the visitor communication means are IP communication means for routing the connection of a mobile terminal visitor to the host server, and for sending the content of said page to said mobile visitor terminal and / or receive orders from said visitor terminal.

The residential gateway of claim 11, wherein the IP communication means include a proxy server, said proxy server systematically returning to a predetermined web address the visitors having a predetermined status.

13. Residential gateway according to any one of claims 11 and 12, wherein the content of said page depends on the connection information and assigned status.

14. Residential gateway according to any one of claims 9 to 13, in which the status "resident visitor" or "non-resident visitor" is assigned selectively to a visitor according to the respective positive or negative authentication of the visitor terminal bearer with the contents of the database.

The residential gateway according to any one of claims 9 to 14, further comprising selection means configured to enable a visitor terminal bearer having a "resident visitor" status to choose to be assigned a "non-resident visitor" status. ».

The residential gateway of any one of claims 9 to 15, further comprising means for transferring a gate open command signal, said command signal from a resident terminal.

17. Residential gateway according to any one of claims 9 to 16, further comprising means for recording and / or selective distribution of text / audio / video messages selectively for the purpose of selectively using at least one visitor and / or to at least one resident.

18. Entry management system for a visitor at the door of a site, of the intercom / videophone type, by communication from an access station to a residential gateway in which the access station is a mobile visitor terminal configured to send a connection request to the residential gateway, equipped with authentication means configured to be authenticated with the gateway, and equipped with communication and display means configured to display connection information from the gateway on the terminal, and the residential gateway is a gateway according to one of claims 9 to 17.

19. residential gateway operating system according to one of claims 9 to 17, comprising: a module for receiving a connection request from a mobile terminal to the residential gateway,

• a sending module on the mobile terminal visitor of a connection information depending on the status assigned to the visitor.

The residential gateway operating system of claim 19, further comprising:

• a routing module to a host server,

• a page generation module comprising hyperlinks allowing, by selection, access to a module of functionalities of the gateway.

21. Residential gateway operating system according to any one of claims 19 and 20, further comprising a routing module to a resident terminal connected to the gateway.

The home gateway operating system of any of claims 19 to 21, further comprising a gate opener control signal transfer module.

23. residential gateway operating system according to any one of claims 19 to 22, further comprising a module for recording and / or selective dissemination of text / audio / video messages to at least one resident and / or to at least one visitor.