SE527183C2 - Access control and location systems - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention refers to a system for admission control at passage and for locating of persons or objects within an area covered by radio communication from stationary and/or mobile devices (7, 12, 15, and 16). Persons, or objects, are thereby equipped with means, preferably in the form of smart cards (1), comprising aerial (5), memory (6), passive (8) and active (9) receivers, active transmitter (10), battery (11), which may have a battery charge indicator, a sound emitting device (13) and a watch/timer (14). For users of the system a procedure has been invented where from a computer (3) by the devices (7, 12, 15, 16) emanate radio signals to one or more cards (1), which transmits answer signals to the devices. The devices can transmit signals on more than one frequency and receive two or more answer signals on fundamental, harmonic and/or interference frequencies.

Description

o v en ana 2 information, in the memory of the card in the form of a code signal. The information programmed into the card is also registered in the computer.

Either the card can already have a baked-in microchip, charged as a phone card with a certain number of markings, or if it is a card for access to a ski lift, a cable car, a funicular or a public transport, the card's identity can be registered in the computer for it number of trips, for which payment has been made. Then sensors or other access control devices send a signal to the computer each time the card passes such a non-contact device.

In this way, the computer counts down the number of trips to which the card is entitled, in order to instruct the monitor at zero or the equivalent that passage is no longer permitted.

Of course, the card against payment can be initiated for continued use.

Through the date, different prices can be applied for ordinary users of the means of transport in question, and for so-called benefit customers. Similarly, in terms of the number of passages, a useful life can be programmed. Here, too, continued validity can be obtained through renewed payment.

In addition to use as a ski pass at ski resorts, where it may be valid for several lifts, it can be a means of search in the event of accidents, for example in avalanches or landslides. For this purpose, an antenna coil, such as a copper frame or other conductive material, is embedded in the card along the outer edges of the card. Furthermore, a battery with a charge indicator is included, which can communicate any low value to the system. This is done by means of the equipment for other communication with the system.

Should the battery charge fall below a minimum value, the card's sound sensor emits a distinct signal, which warns the wearer that a charge of the battery is necessary for continued use. Normally, the cost of the card is considered so low that it is replaced by a new card, which is initiated for the wearer in the manner described above.

The importance of good battery capacity is important when the card is a means of searching for a certain person, or, most importantly, in accidents, such as when an avalanche has been triggered and many people are feared to be buried in snow masses.

The system's method of locating avalanche victims is as follows: In a ski resort with known risk areas for avalanches, stationary devices can be placed in safe places in the terrain. These can be connected by ground-based wiring to a central computer in a rescue station, from where the rescue work is to be led. Even with radio waves transmitted between the stationary devices and the central computer, communication can be maintained. This type of communication becomes necessary, when fixed in: nov 'op 000: I! 2 2 du! 1 '0 0 I 0 0 00 00 00 52 7 1 8 3 gäng,.: _ ..: .. ¿E šašït. ..¿ .: o n ø c | o e a nu ° ''. . . »E ø Q o o a o o now 3 terrain, temporarily erected devices will be used. This type of device is intended for temporary avalanche danger, as determined by the inspecting ski patrol. Even for these temporarily used devices, or lighthouses, reasonably safe places for installation should be pre-selected, with regard to radio coverage operating at the prevailing topography.

The system also includes a third type of device for communication with the individual means, namely mobile or portable ones. By mobile is meant here such devices, which are mounted on a vehicle such as a snowmobile, or a helicopter. Portables are carried in the terrain by rescue workers or other rescue personnel.

The induction-bearing parts in all types of devices or lighthouses of the system are the same, and thus have the same mode of action, except in the case of passage control. There, the only question is whether the card carrier is authorized to pass, whether it is into a ski lift, a sports arena, on board a vehicle or a vehicle, into an industrial area or into a specific room. In the case of protected areas, a supplement can of course be made by typing a numeric or character code on a keyboard.

When the devices of the system function as warning lights, only stationary and temporarily fixed devices are normally used. This can happen in the event of a feared avalanche, feared landslide or suspicion of an earthquake. If the danger is assessed as acute, the devices are activated in the area that is considered a risk area. This is done from the system's computer, where it is possible to select at least two different warning signals with the meaning of different danger levels, for example do not approach the area, or move away from the area immediately. The message is conveyed by the lighthouses, which to the funds / cards send out orders without signal to the cards' sounders, at the higher risk level with increased intensity.

The signal processing of the card will be described in more detail below.

If the risk area is outside, what the fixed devices cover, warning migrants can be transmitted from deployed mobile or portable devices. In the latter case, preferably led by dispatched rescue patrols.

When the system uses the locating devices, this can be exemplified by the procedure after an avalanche has been triggered. Immediately after this has happened, all devices in the relevant area are activated from the computer.

If the devices in functions such as warning beacons each use only one vertical antenna rod, they should use two antenna rods arranged at a distance from each other to locate the distressed, to receive the location signal from their means / card. Due to this design, the system can calculate a support for the person in need from signals received from the time offset between the two antenna rods 10. As soon as an additional device in the system measures the support to the vehicle with the same identity, a cutting purilct is obtained for the supports in the terrain, and rescue personnel can be directed there. Of course, other known bearing techniques can be used. Although it is possible with GPS equipment to orientate oneself close to the person in need, it is advantageous if the rescue personnel bring a portable device belonging to the system. Because such a device can be designed with a sound sensor, which emits the bearing signal with strength related to the proximity to the person's means / card, the exact location for excavating it can be located. With regard to the fact that strong winds can be disturbing when listening to the instruments, the sound sensor of the portable device is connected to headphones to be carried by the mountain rescue. Alternatively, a pointer instrument may display the signal strength.

In the method described above, a general search signal was sent from the computer via the devices in question to all the funds / cards presumably existing within the coverage area. These always have a passive receiver connected, which at this signal activates a transmitter, which emits a general response signal, intended to be tuned in by all active devices connected to the computer.

One way to improve the search in large areas where the devices may be somewhat sparse, and mobile search devices have not yet been reached, is in the following way. The paging signal can be transmitted periodically but with maintained average power. The paging signal is transmitted in parallel on two or fl different frequencies, for example 1000 MHz and 400 MHz. Then the search is made for their fundamental frequencies, harmonic frequencies or interference frequencies. In this way, you can achieve increased range and reduced risk of interference.

In the following, an advanced form of the system means for passage control and localization will be described in more detail with reference to the single figure in the accompanying drawing.

This shows a block diagram of a smart card and symbols for components included in the system.

The smart card 1 is initiated at an office 2 by being registered in a computer 3. The computer then has an add-on 4, which normally communicates with the card 1 by means of radio waves, for example in the frequency band around 1000 MHz. At the initial check, the alarm function of the card 1 is checked and that the card 1 has a satisfactory battery charge level, whereupon it is charged with a number of passage states, for example to enter a means of transport such as a ski lift or a bus. Alternatively, the charge may specify a validity period.

The said information is transmitted from the computer 3 via the additive 4 and an antenna 5 of the card 1 through an active receiver (Rx) 9 to a memory 6 of the card, where the identity of the card 1 in the form of a now: no 10 15 20 anton: oo 1 serial number or any other unique information is already stored at its manufacture, or has been stored from the computer 3.

When the carrier of the card 1 is to pass in to, for example, a ski lift, a fixed device 7 sends an activation signal to a passive receiver 8 in the card. If necessary, the passive receiver 8 connects the active receiver 9 and an active transmitter 10 to a battery 11 if it is disconnected. The battery 11 may be a lithium battery, or the encapsulation of the card 1 is designed as a polymer battery of two polymer plastics, between which an electropotential is maintained for power supply. The receiver 8 then connects the active receiver (Rx) 9, via which the device 7 sends to the memory 6 an interrogation signal regarding the identity of the card 1. The card 1 responds via the active transmitter 10 and the antenna 5 of the card 1 to the fixed device 7, which seeks from the computer 3 confirmation that the card 1 is authorized to pass. The card normally contains information about its approved period of validity, so computer 3 does not need to be consulted.

When the system is used to warn of danger, the antagonist of avalanche danger, emission hazard in chemical industry, nuclear power plant or gas plant, or possible risk of congestion, the function of card 1 is as follows: A warning signal can be triggered manually from computer 3 located within a rescue station, or in avalanche area, from a gas station, or automatically, for example by means of a gas sensor at a refinery or a gas plant. This signal is transmitted collectively to all fixed or mobile warning transmitters / beacons 12, or to a sector of the beacons belonging to the system. Depending on how imminent the danger is, signals transmitted from the beacons 12 can be given two or two codes, meaning that from the beacons 12 to all smart cards 1 within the coverage area signals were transmitted with an intensity corresponding to the respective code.

The signals are received by the antenna 5 of the smart card 1 and are routed to the passive receiver 8, which turns on the active receiver 9, and this switches on the sound sensor / speaker 13.

The sound sensor 13 then emits a warning signal related to the code of the signal coming into the active receiver 9. The sounder can be supplemented with a drawing pattern, in which a short text can be displayed.

When the danger is over, or when the card carrier has moved outside the sector to which the alarm applies, the sound sensor 13 falls silent. Alternatively, the system can send a special signal from the central computer 3, via the lighthouses 12 to the cards 10 oco if 6. This can be addressed to card carriers belonging to a travel company, who are called to a joint activity, or drawn attention to the fact that the time for departure is approaching.

For locating and rescuing people, such as in an avalanche area, the system works as follows: The condition is that an activation signal is sent out manually or automatically, when an accident has occurred. This activation signal is transmitted from all devices / beacons 12, both stationary and temporarily fixed as well as mobile. The signal is received by the passive receiver 8 in each card 1 within the coverage area of the system. The passive receiver 8 can be set to receive signals at a particular frequency, for example 1000 MHz, and if so, connect the active receiver 9, the active transmitter 10 and the battery 11, if it should be disconnected. The passive receiver 8 also retransmits the received signal, possibly on a different frequency.

Activating the active transmitter 10 means that the card 1 transmits with a higher power than if you only use the passive reacting option.

The active receiver 9 then sends a signal to a clock / clock 14 of the card 1, which can regulate the power supply to the transmitter 10. Hereby transmission of the identity of the card 1 from the memory 6 can be periodized, in order to save battery charge.

When fixed locating units 16 have taken out from a certain card 1 locating signal two intersecting supports, or a fixed locating unit 16 and a mobile locating unit 15, or two mobile locating units 15, a rescue patrol is sent to this intersection. There, the patrol uses a portable equipment with a similar structure as a fixed locating unit 16, but with a headphone or pointer instrument to measure the strength of the signal from the card 1. Where this strength has a maximum, the card carrier should be able to be excavated.

The system can be used in nursing homes, or nursing homes, where patients have the opportunity to move out of the house, for example in an adjacent forest area. In this case, only stationary locating units 16 should come into play. These report to a computer, which on a scan can graphically show the position of different patients. By having the patients' cards read at the exit, the time can be registered in the computer. In addition, the passage control device can send a signal to the card, which programs its clock, so that after a certain time it should trigger the acoustic signal of the sound sensor. This is to urge the patient to return to the nursing home. Should the patient not pass through the access control device within a reasonable time, the computer alerts staff, and starts the locating units. '5 2 7 1 8 3 gjgrga, ";": § _ =' ° = a :: j_ "zg nnuo I n ø I 0 oo ø ø A noona; 7 The system can be broadly used in a similar way for children in a daycare.

In a variant of the system, it was used in large markets, where shopping carts and baskets have built-in means or simpler forms of the smart card with different identities. This is not a matter of controlling individuals, but of using stationary access control units 5 around the building to follow a carriage, and thus the route chosen by the customer through the market.

In this way, a dominant movement pattern among customers can be mapped, and thereby a basis is obtained for where different goods should be exposed.

The system in modified form can be useful in many different ways. The smart card can be a room key in a hotel or a cabin key on board a cruise ship. In this case, different 10 guests / passengers can be called to meals or activities on different occasions. The card can also function as a credit card, for example within the ship and for excursions in ports of call.

A special use can be in cars, and then as an authorization check, or to replace a socket wrench.

Claims (9)

10 20 25 30 8 Patent claims Systems for the passage control or location of persons comprising two or fl your devices and means for two-way communication by means of radio waves. The devices are stationary (7) or mobile (15), and send message or voice signals to a means (1), which is preferably designed as a smart card, and which means is activated by the voice signals to transmit identity or other information wirelessly. The system devices (7, 15) transmit fi signal at two or fl your radio waves frequencies. The system is characterized in that the means for passage control and for locating the means are connected to an indelible unit with a passive receiver in the means, which receives an transmitted activation signal with a certain fi equivalent, for example 1000 MHz, fi from the stationary (7) and / or mobile (1) the device, and the means (1) is thereby activated to receive signals at a further frequency, for example 400 MHz, to activate a location signal n from a transmitter in the means, the location signals being detectable on the multiple or interference vens sequences. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (1) is provided with acoustic and / or optical alarm means (13), which react differently depending on the different signal frequencies. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the devices (7, 15) are provided with acoustic and / or optical alarm means. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the means consists of a per se complete plastic card with an antenna (5), a battery (11) and passive (8) and active (9) receivers, and an active transmitter (10) for receiving and transmitting information by radio waves, and by a sound transmitter (13). System according to claim 4, characterized in that the means contains a clock / timer (14). The system according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the means comprises a memory unit (6). System according to one of Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the means comprise a sign fl inster combined with 10 \. "1 PJ N .A CO CN sound sensor (13). System according to one of Claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the means comprise a battery indicator which, when the battery is low (1 l), announces itself by means of a warning signal. Method for passage control or location of persons, wherein the system according to claim 1 is used, characterized in that stationary (7), temporarily fixed (12) and / or mobile (15), and / or portable devices emit an activation signal with a certain vens sequence, for example, 1000 MHz, which is received by passive receivers in a means (1), which means is thereby activated to receive signals on a further frequency, for example 400 MHz, and thereby activate transmitters in the means, which emit a location signal, which by bearing from at least two of said devices announce the exact position of the wanted person, whereby the location signals can be transmitted periodically.