Multifunctional device for access control

Abstract

A multifunctional access control device (1) configured for transmitting signals from an external detection element (2) of the access control system to a control system (3) comprising at least one receiver module (1a), at least one transmitter module (1d), and at least one power supply (1e), characterized in that it comprises an active listening module (1b) configured for adapting sound signals (2b) from an external detection element (2) and a dual communication module (1c) configured for communicating signals from the receiver module (1a) to the transmitter module (1d).

Description

Multifunctional device for access control Field of invention This invention relates to a multifunctional access control device that receives signals from various external access control detection elements, such as electronic locks, presence detectors, etc., and transmits them through a communication network, such as the internet or a local communication network, to the control system. Prior art Currently, and as a reference to the state of the art, there are numerous access control devices on the market. State-of-the-art access controls, which can be managed from a control system such as a mobile app, coexist with older, non-connected access control devices that emit an audible alarm when an intrusion is detected. Upgrading access control to a system that allows remote control from a mobile device, such as a mobile phone, involves replacing fully functional and expensive access control devices, which can lead to resistance due to the high cost. Furthermore, many connected access control devices are not compatible with third-party control systems, thus limiting the choice to a specific range of products that may not meet the user's needs.Similarly, there are devices that receive signals from various connected or "smart" access control elements, such as locks or alarms, via wireless communication like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and transmit them to a portable device like a mobile phone. This connection allows, for example, alarm activations in a home to be communicated to a mobile device, or the mobile device to communicate with a lock and unlock it remotely. These devices have two main problems: firstly, they are unable to communicate incidents occurring in devices without a wireless connection, such as a forced door lock alarm or the audible alarm of a connected smoke detector, or detect and transmit signals from other incompatible devices.Furthermore, the simultaneous use of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technologies required increases latency and reduces resource availability, resulting in delayed detection of the vulnerability. Explanation of the invention and advantages In contrast to the prior art, the present invention relates to a multifunctional access control device capable of transmitting signals from an external access control detection element to a control system via a communication network, such as the internet or a local area network. The multifunctional access control device comprises at least one receiver module for receiving wireless signals, at least one transmitter module for transmitting signals via a communication network, and at least one power supply for providing electrical power. It also comprises an active listening module capable of receiving sound signals from an external detection element, in which the received sound signals are conditioned and filtered as a form of preprocessing, and a dual communication module capable of transmitting signals from the receiver module to the transmitter module.Thanks to this architecture, the device offers flexible and reliable integration with multiple detection technologies (WiFi, Bluetooth® or BLE signals among other wireless technologies or sound signals), allowing centralized monitoring of access control and significantly improving the response capacity to any incident, as well as making an effective link of different detection and alert modes with the access control system. Typically, detection systems consist of various external sensors that make up the access control system, such as locks or bolts with forced entry detection, vibration sensors, contact sensors, etc. It is also possible to integrate other external detection elements, such as smoke detectors, humidity detectors, etc. These external detection elements can emit wireless signals, either through short-range, low-power narrowband channels, such as Bluetooth® or BLE technologies, or through high-speed broadband channels, such as Wi-Fi technologies, or as audible signals by activating an alarm. The receiver module of the multifunctional access control device comprises at least one antenna capable of receiving wireless signals and at least one microphone capable of receiving sound signals, allowing the integration, thanks to the multifunctional device, of external detection elements that only emit sound alarms in the access control and thus increasing the versatility of the system. The active listening module comprises an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and at least one signal filter. This allows for the digitization and refinement of acoustic signals with greater precision, thereby improving the reliability of detecting events or audible alerts associated with access control and standardizing the signals received by the dual communication module. The analog-to-digital converter (ADC) converts the received sound signals into digital sound signals. Subsequently, the filter discriminates the signals using a user-configurable, preset sound intensity threshold, for example, between 60 dBA and 100 dBA, corresponding to the characteristic noise of a siren or alarm, for a predetermined period of time (preferably 3 to 8 seconds). This prevents false positives from sharp noises such as slamming doors or falling objects. This adjustability allows the device's sensitivity to be adapted to the specific acoustic environment. By allowing only signals derived from relevant acoustic events to be communicated, and thus maintaining a high level of accuracy in the subsequent activation of alerts by the control system, it reduces unnecessary interventions and improves the overall reliability of access control. The dual communication module comprises a main communication module capable of communicating broadband wireless signals, such as Wi-Fi wireless signals, and alerts derived from digitized sound signals from the receiver module to the transmitter module, and a narrow communication module capable of communicating narrowband wireless signals, such as Bluetooth® or BLE wireless signals, which require periodic scanning from the receiver module to the transmitter module. By separating the communication into two distinct modules, the stability of the communication is guaranteed regardless of the type of signal emitted by the external detection element and blocking due to radio frequency saturation is avoided, which occurs due to the overlap of the continuous search for narrowband wireless signals with the reception of broadband wireless signals. In an alternative embodiment, the multifunctional device is capable of receiving signals in the transmitter module from the control system and, after passing through the dual communication module, transmitting wireless signals via the receiver module to a specific external detection element of the access control, allowing two-way communication between the external detection elements and the control system thanks to the multifunctional device. The control system can consist of a control part located in the multifunctional device itself and a command part located in a remote device with which the multifunctional device communicates, reducing the requirements needed to implement the control system in a remote device such as a mobile phone, which leads to additional battery savings. Drawings and references To better understand the nature of the invention, the accompanying drawings depict an industrial embodiment which is merely an illustrative example and not intended to be limiting. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the multifunctional device (1) in which it is shown how the detection elements (2) can emit wireless signals (2a) or sound signals (2b) that are captured respectively by the antenna(s) (1a1) (in the representation two antennas (1a1) are shown) or the microphone (1a2) that make up the receiver module (1a). The signals captured by the antenna (1a1) are transmitted directly to the dual communication module (1c) and the signals captured by the microphone (1a2) are transmitted to the active listening module (1b) where they pass through an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) (1b1) and a filter (1b2) before being sent to the dual communication module (1c).Within the dual communication module, a distinction is made, based on the type of signal, between narrowband wireless signals (2a) managed in the narrowband communication module (1c2) and wideband wireless signals (2a) managed in the main communication module (1c1), along with signals received from the active listening module (1b) and forwarded to the transmitter module (1d), which sends the signals via communication networks to the control system (3). The power supply (1e), which provides electrical current to the receiver module (1a), the active listening module (1b), the dual communication module (1c), and the transmitter module (1d), is also shown within the multifunctional device (1). The following references are indicated in these figures: 1. Multifunctional device 1a. Receiver Module 1a1. Antenna 1a2. Microphone 1b. Active listening module 1b1. Analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 1b2. Filter 1c. Dual communication module 1c1. Main communication module 1c2. Close communication module 1d. Transmitter module 1e. Power supply 2. External detection element 2a. Wireless signal 2b. Sound signal 3. Control system Exhibition of a preferred achievement With regard to the drawings and references listed above, the attached drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the object of the invention, referring to a multifunctional device (1) for access control capable of transmitting signals from an external detection element (2) such as an electronic lock with tamper detection, a vibration detector, etc. to a control system (3) that receives the signal emitted by the external detection element (2) and determines the measures to be taken, for example, a notification to the alarm coordination center, activation of a sound alarm, etc.The multifunctional access control device (1) comprises at least one receiver module (1a) for receiving the signal emitted by the external detection element (2), at least one transmitter module (1d), such as an Ethernet port or a Wi-Fi antenna, for transmitting the signal received from the external detection element (2) to the control system (3) via a communication network, such as the internet, and at least one power supply (1e) for providing electricity to the various modules comprising the multifunctional device (1). Furthermore, the multifunctional access control device (1) comprises an active listening module (1b) capable of adapting the sound signals (2b) from an external detection element (2) and a dual communication module (1c) capable of transmitting signals from the receiver module (1a) to the transmitter module (1d). Access control systems integrate a plurality of external detection elements (2) that emit signals. These external detection elements (2) can be locks or bolts with tamper or forced entry detection, vibration sensors, contact sensors, etc. It is also possible, thanks to the multifunctional device (1), to integrate other external detection elements (2) such as smoke detectors, humidity detectors, elements from incompatible systems, etc., which only emit audible signals. The external detection elements (2) emit signals that are subsequently interpreted by a control system (3).The signals emitted by the external detection elements (2), depending on the selected model, can be wireless signals (2a), either in narrowband channels, such as via Bluetooth® or BLE technologies, or in broadband channels, such as via Wi-Fi technologies, or audible signals (2b) through the activation of an alarm. The receiver module (1a) comprises at least one antenna (1a1) capable of receiving wireless signals (2a) and at least one microphone (1a2) capable of receiving audible signals (2b). Thanks to the receiver module (1a) of the multifunctional access control device (1), external detection elements (2) that emit wireless signals (2a) and external detection elements (2) that only emit audible signals (2b) can be integrated into the same access control system, increasing the system's versatility and acting as a gateway between these elements and the control system (3). As an example, an access control system may include, among other external detection elements (2), an alarm lock that only emits audible signals (2b) when it detects tampering, and a motion detector that emits narrowband wireless signals (2a) using BLE technology. In a hypothetical example of unauthorized access, the alarm lock detects tampering and activates the alarm by emitting audible signals (2b). Subsequently, the motion detector located nearby detects movement and emits narrowband wireless signals (2a). The multifunctional device (1) detects the emitted wireless signal (2a) via the antenna (1a1) of the receiver module (1a) and the emitted audible signal (2b) via the microphone (1a2). The sound signal (2b) is transmitted to the active listening module (1b) comprising an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) (1b1) that transforms the received analog sound signal (2b) into a digital sound signal (2b) and at least one filter (1b2) to purify the acoustic signals with greater precision, thus improving the reliability in detecting sound events associated with access control. Preferably, the filter (1b2) discriminates sound signals (2b) with an adjustable sensitivity level, for example, it can be configured to detect sound signals (2b) between 60 dBA and 100 dBA emitted for a predetermined period of time, preferably from 3 to 8 seconds. That is, if it is configured, for example, with a sensitivity level of 80 dBA, it only allows the passage of signals that exceed the sound threshold of 80 dBA, typical in alarms, emitted for a predetermined time, preferably from 3 to 8 seconds, which defines the persistence of sound, thus eliminating occasional noises that may exceed the threshold for a short period of time, such as noises caused by falling objects, slamming doors, etc. The digital audio signal (2b), after passing through the active listening module (1b), and the received narrowband wireless signal (2a) are passed to the dual communication module (1c). The dual communication module (1c) comprises a main communication module (1c1) capable of transmitting both wideband wireless signals (2a) and audio signals (2b), and a narrowband communication module (1c2) capable of transmitting narrowband wireless signals (2a). In our example, the digital audio signal (2b) enters the main communication module (1c1), and the received narrowband wireless signal (2a) enters the narrowband communication module (1c2). In the dual communication module (1c), each signal is encoded separately and sent to the transmitter module (1d) for transmission to the control system (3) via a communication network. The control system (3) detects the intrusion and initiates the established protocol. In an alternative embodiment, the multifunctional device (1) is capable of receiving signals from the control system (3), such as activating a sound alarm and, after passing through the dual communication module (1c), transmitting wireless signals (2a) to a specific external detection element (2), in this case the access control alarm. The control system (3) may consist of a control subsystem located in the multifunctional device (1) itself, responsible for starting the established protocol, and a command subsystem located in a remote device with which the multifunctional device (1) communicates, responsible for sending non-pre-established command signals such as the closing of a lock. Variations in materials, shape, size and arrangement of the component elements, described in a non-limiting manner, do not alter the essential nature of this invention, and this is sufficient to proceed with its reproduction by an expert.

Claims

1. A multifunctional access control device (1) configured for transmitting signals from an external detection element (2) of the access control system to a control system (3) comprising at least one receiver module (1a), at least one transmitter module (1d), and at least one power supply (1e), characterized in that it comprises an active listening module (1b) configured for adapting sound signals (2b) from an external detection element (2) and a dual communication module (1c) configured for communicating signals from the receiver module (1a) to the transmitter module (1d).

2. A multifunctional access control device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiver module (1a) comprises at least one antenna (1a1) configured for receiving wireless signals (2a) and at least one microphone (1a2) configured for receiving sound signals (2b). 3.Multifunctional device (1) for access control according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the active listening module (1b) comprises an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) (1b1) and at least one filter (1b2).

4. Multifunctional device (1) for access control according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter (1b2) discriminates the signals with an adjustable sensitivity level for a predetermined period of time.

5. Multifunctional device (1) for access control according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the dual communication module (1c) comprises a main communication module (1d) configured for the communication of broadband wireless signals (2a) and alerts derived from sound signals (2b) received in the receiver module (1a) to the transmitter module (1d). 6.Multifunctional device (1) for access control according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the dual communication module (1c) comprises a narrowband communication module (1c2) configured for the communication of narrowband wireless signals (2a) received in the receiver module (1a) to the transmitter module (1d).

7. Multifunctional device (1) for access control according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it is configured for the reception of signals from the control system (3) and, after their passage through the dual communication module (1c), the transmission of wireless signals (2a) to a specific external detection element (2). 8.Multifunctional device (1) for access control according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the control system (3) consists of a control subsystem located in the multifunctional device (1) itself and a command subsystem located in a remote device with which the multifunctional device (1) communicates.