Access monitoring system with barrier-free access

Abstract

A system (1) for monitoring access to a building or an access-restricted area (12) on a building has an access control device (ACS) and a barrier-free gate (10) at the access to the access-restricted area (12). The gate (10) comprises a screen device (14), a detection device (16) and an image acquisition device (18). The operation of the system comprises actuating the screen device (14) in order to display the image data of the person (2) generated by the image acquisition device (18) as a real-time image in a visible manner to the person (2). When the person (2) is located at the gate (10), an image acquisition device (18) generates image data in order to access the access-restricted area (12). The access control device (ACS) checks whether a valid certification of authorization of the person (2) is detected. When a valid authorization proof of the person (2) is detected, a permission signal is generated by the access control device (ACS) and the screen device (14) is actuated in order to display an access permission in addition to the real-time image. If a valid authentication of the person (2) is not detected, an alarm notification is generated by the access control device (ACS) and the screen device (14) is actuated in order to display the alarm notification in addition to the real-time image.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology described herein generally relates to an access monitoring system that allows authorized users to enter a building or an access-restricted area in a building. In particular, embodiments of the technology relate to an access monitoring system having a barrier-free gate device and a method for operating such an access monitoring system. Background Art

[0002] Access monitoring systems can be designed in various ways to monitor, for example, entrances to restricted access areas in or on buildings. The design solution can, for example, relate to the type of how a person is authenticated as having access rights, for example with a key, a magnetic card, a chip or RFID card or a mobile electronic device (e.g. a mobile phone). WO 2010 / 112586 A1 describes an access monitoring system in which a person must hold an optical code in front of a camera, which is displayed by the person's mobile phone. If the code is valid, the person is allowed to enter. For example, the design solution can also relate to how a person is allowed or prevented from entering a building or an interior space at a (access monitoring) gate; doors, swing gates or fences are examples of barriers that are blocked or released (i.e., unlocked, for example) depending on access rights and can be used in such gates.

[0003] US2014 / 0015978A1 describes an access monitoring system which does not have such a barrier and is therefore referred to as a barrier-free gate. The passage is open and without barriers, so that persons can in principle pass through the gate without delay or hindrance. In order to monitor the passage, a detection device for checking proof of authorization (in particular payment of a toll) is provided in the passage. In addition, an image acquisition device is provided which recognizes at least a part of the face of each person approaching the detection device. Based on the combination of proof of authorization and image information, persons who have not paid the toll can be determined and identified by the inspector. For this purpose, the image information is displayed to the inspector on his mobile device. Summary of the invention

[0004] Such barrier-free gates reduce the risk of delays or congestion at the gates in case of large flows of people. However, persons who may not have inadvertently provided proof of authorization may feel disturbed when they are openly checked by inspectors. Therefore, a technology is needed that provides the advantages of barrier-free gates and is nevertheless user-friendly.

[0005] One aspect of this technology relates to a method of operating a system for monitoring an entrance to a restricted access area in or on a building. The system includes an access control device and a barrier-free gate at the entrance to the restricted access area. The gate is communicatively connected to the access control device and includes a screen device, a detection device, and an image acquisition device. The method includes operating the screen device to display image data of a person generated by the image acquisition device as a real-time image visible to the person. The image acquisition device generates image data when the person is at the gate in order to enter the restricted access area. The access control device checks whether an authorization certificate is detected by the detection device and whether the authorization certificate detected by the detection device is valid. If a valid authorization certificate of the person is recognized, a permission signal is generated by the access control device, and in addition to the real-time image, the screen device is also operated to display the access permission. If a valid authorization certificate of the person is not recognized, an alarm notification is generated by the access control device, and in addition to the real-time image, the screen device is also operated to display the alarm notification.

[0006] Another aspect of the present technology relates to a system for monitoring an entrance to an access-restricted area in or on a building. The system has an access control device and a barrier-free gate at the entrance to the access-restricted area. The gate is communicatively connected to the access control device and includes a screen device, a detection device, and an image acquisition device. The screen device is designed to display image data of a person generated by the image acquisition device as a real-time image to a person. The detection device is configured to detect a proof of authorization of the person. The image acquisition device is configured to generate image data when the person is at the gate in order to enter the access-restricted area. The access control device is configured to check whether the detection device detects the proof of authorization and whether the proof of authorization detected by the detection device is valid. If the user's proof of authorization is valid, the access control device generates a permission signal and manipulates the screen device to display the access permission in addition to the real-time image. If there is no valid proof of authorization of the person, the access control device generates an alarm notification and manipulates the screen device to display the alarm notification in addition to the real-time image.

[0007] The technology presented here enables the monitoring of entrances to restricted access areas in a user-friendly manner while ensuring a high level of security. The gate is barrier-free, thereby reducing the risk of delays or congestion in the event of large flows of people. In addition, a real-time image of the person (in particular the person's face) who wants to enter the restricted access area is displayed on the gate. The display of his own face in the real-time image prompts or reminds the person to provide proof of authorization. By real-time filming, the person can feel that the individual is responded to, thereby reducing the possibility that the person accidentally passes through the gate without authentication. It can be avoided that the person who is authorized to access triggers an alarm and is checked by an inspector, although the person who is authorized to access simply forgets to provide his proof of authorization. On the contrary, a person who wants to enter the restricted access area without authorization can be prevented from entering or will not enter when seeing his own face, for example because they know that the image is stored for evidence and authentication purposes.

[0008] According to the technology presented here, a real-time image is displayed for the purposes described. The face of a person is detected in order to display it centrally in the real-time image. Known image processing methods perform such a face detection in a very short time, which enables a high flow of people at the gate. Methods of facial recognition for authentication purposes (using stored face templates and possibly time-consuming comparison algorithms) are not used in conjunction with the display of the real-time image.

[0009] In one embodiment, the gate may be configured to detect the presence of a person at the gate and to manipulate the screen device to generate a prompt audible and / or visible to the person to authenticate themselves. The audible prompt may include a voice message, and the visual prompt may include a visual effect that displays the voice message as text and / or associated with a real-time image. By means of a voice message alone or in combination with a visual effect, the possibility of a person accidentally passing through the gate without authenticating themselves can be additionally reduced. In addition, assistance is provided for people with limited vision.

[0010] In one embodiment that can be applied in combination with one or more of the aforementioned embodiments, the face of the person is detected in particular by the image acquisition device in the generated image data of the person; the generated real-time image mainly includes the face of the person. The image display focused on the face is particularly helpful for the above-mentioned advantages of personal response and blocking.

[0011] In one embodiment that can be applied in combination with one or more of the aforementioned embodiments, the prompt or reminder function can be enhanced in the following manner, so that the screen device is designed to display all or part of the border under corresponding control, and the all or part of the border mainly includes the image area around the face of the person. The screen device can display all or part of the border according to one of a plurality of fixed visual effects. The first visual effect can require the person to authenticate himself, the second visual effect can indicate access permission, and the third visual effect can indicate an alarm notification. The type of visual effect can be selected, for example, in terms of the color and / or time change of the building (such as continuous light, flashing or up and down fluctuations).

[0012] In one embodiment, which can be applied in combination with one or more of the preceding embodiments, a real-time image can be stored by the access control device in a storage device when there is an alarm notification. Thereby, a person can be identified more simply and unambiguously by, for example, an inspector. In particular, the identification can better authenticate the person, who can then be tracked, for example, in an access-restricted area under surveillance.

[0013] In one embodiment, which can be applied in combination with one or more of the aforementioned embodiments, there can be a camera system, which is communicatively connected to the access control device and which is arranged in particular in the access-restricted area. The camera system is configured to be activated when there is an alarm notification. Thereby, persons located in the access-restricted area can be tracked; in particular, persons can be better authenticated and then, for example, monitored.

[0014] In one embodiment, which can be applied in combination with one or more of the aforementioned embodiments, the access control device can be configured to generate an alarm signal when there is an alarm notification and send it to the elevator system. The elevator system is configured to block the elevator service demand issued by the access restricted area in response to the alarm signal. When a security violation occurs on the floor of the gate, it can be prevented that unauthorized persons can use the elevator to reach another floor, for example. In combination with the above-mentioned camera system, in one embodiment, it can be identified: which of the multiple elevators the person has entered or attempted to enter; then, the elevator and / or the adjacent elevators can be operated accordingly, for example, the elevator door can be prevented from closing.

[0015] In one embodiment, which may be used in combination with one or more of the preceding embodiments, the detection device may be configured to detect an optical code, a biometric feature and / or a radio signal. The proof of authorization may be detected as an optical code, a biometric feature or a radio signal. The gate may be configured to recognize one or more types of proof of authorization. Thus, one or more types of proof of authorization may be provided for use with a building. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In the following, different aspects of the improved technology are described in detail according to embodiments and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same elements have the same reference numerals. Among them:

[0017] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing an example of application of an access monitoring system as part of a building system in a building;

[0018] Figure 2 A schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment for interaction of an access monitoring system with a person having access rights;

[0019] Figure 3 A schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment for interacting with a person without access rights to an access monitoring system; and

[0020] Figure 4 A flow chart of an embodiment of a method for operating an access monitoring system is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of application of an access monitoring system 1 as part of a building system in a building. For illustration reasons, only some walls, rooms 4 and areas 8, 12 are shown in the building, as they may be present on one floor of a building in the exemplary case. The room 4 can be, for example, an office, a residence, a hall and / or an elevator car of an elevator system. In the embodiment presented here, the building system comprises an access monitoring system 1 and an elevator system 3, the access monitoring system 1 comprising at least one gate 10. The room 4 shown can belong to a group of elevators, for example comprising four elevators (AD). The elevator system 3 can also have a greater or lesser number of elevators instead of the four elevators shown. The elevator control device ECS controls the elevator system 3 and the access control device ACS controls the access monitoring system 1. In Figure 1 For illustration purposes, these controllers are combined in a control system 8 which is communicatively connected to gates 10 and elevators (AD) and their equipment via a communication network 22. Those skilled in the art know that the access control device ACS and the elevator controller ECS can be arranged separately from each other in a building.

[0022] exist Figure 1In the application of the access monitoring system 1 shown, a person 2 carrying a certificate of authorization 6 is located in an area 8 on a floor. In this example, area 8 is not restricted to access and is also referred to as a public area 8 hereinafter. The public area 8 can be an area in or outside a building. A gate 10 separates the public area 8 from an area 12 that is restricted to access and adjacent to a room 4. Area 12 may also be referred to as a non-public or restricted access area 8 below. It is known to those skilled in the art that the access monitoring system 1 is not limited to applications within buildings, but can also be used similarly to monitor entrances to access-restricted areas on buildings. In this specification, the term "building" is understood, for example, to be a residential building, a commercial building, a stadium, and a shopping center. The technology introduced here can also be applied on a ship or in combination with a ship.

[0023] The access monitoring system 1 is designed to monitor the entrance to a restricted access area 12 so that only authorized persons 2 can enter the area 12. According to the technology presented here, access is achieved through a gate 10 designed as a barrier-free gate 10. Figure 1 In the figure, a gate 10 is shown by two structures 10a, 10b standing on the ground, wherein there is a passage between the structures 10a, 10b, through which a person 2 must pass in the direction of the arrow shown when he wants to enter the area 12 from the area 8. A person skilled in the art will recognize that the gate 10 shown is exemplary. Depending on the building and / or the expected traffic flow, the gate 10 may consist of a plurality of individual gates, each of which has a passage between two adjacent structures. A person skilled in the art will also recognize that, for example, instead of Figure 1 The two structures 10a, 10b shown, the gate 10 can be designed in different ways to have only one structure; the passage can exist, for example, between the structure and the building wall. The structure or at least one of its components described below can also be arranged on the building wall, wherein the passage then exists in the area before the building wall or these components.

[0024] exist Figure 1 The following components of the gate 10 are shown by way of example: a screen device 14 (e.g., including an LED or LCD display device), a detection device 16 for detecting the authorization certificate 6, and an image acquisition device 18 (e.g., a camera). These components (14, 16, 18) are arranged on or in the structure 10a (on the right) by way of example, but are not limited to this arrangement. For the sake of illustration, the components (14, 16, 18) are shown on the front side of the structure 10a; it is known to those skilled in the art that at least one of the components (14, 16, 18) can be arranged on the other side of the structure 10a, in particular, on the upper side.

[0025] In one embodiment, a sensor device 24 is arranged at or near the gate 10. Figure 1 In the example, the sensor device 24 is arranged on the structure 10b (on the left), but is not limited to this arrangement. The sensor device 24 is constructed and arranged accordingly for detecting the passage of the person 2 through the gate 10. The sensor device 24 may include a camera (2D or 3D camera), a 3D sensor (such as a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor), a light barrier or other sensors suitable for detecting people or objects.

[0026] The image acquisition device 18 is designed and arranged accordingly on the gate 10 in order to detect a certain field of view in the area of ​​the gate 10. The image acquisition device 18 generates a camera picture of at least a part of the person 2 located at the gate 10, in particular the face or a part thereof, and transmits the camera picture to the screen device 14. Methods and devices for detecting a face in an image or in image data, that is, for identifying where a face is located in an image, are known to the person skilled in the art, for example Rein-Lien Hsu et al., "Face detection in color images", IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, Vol. 24, No. 5, May 2002, pp. 696-706.

[0027] The screen device 14 visibly displays the recorded part, for example the (entire) face, for example substantially within the entire or partial border 30 for the person 2. The screen device 14 is accordingly arranged on the gate 10. This display function of the screen device 14 is Figure 2 and Figure 3 2 and 3. The left part of the figure shows the whole or part of the border 30, wherein the whole or part of the border 30 is shown as a rectangular frame, which mainly includes the image area around the face of the person 2. The screen device 14 can control the display of the whole or part of the border 30 according to the first visual effect requiring the person 2 to authenticate himself, the second visual effect indicating access permission, and the third visual effect indicating an alarm notification.

[0028] According to the design of the gate 10, there may be a signaling device 20, which is arranged in or on at least one of the two structures 10a, 10b; Figure 1In the embodiment, two structures 10a and 10b are equipped with a signaling device 20, wherein the signaling device 20 is exemplarily arranged along the vertical edges of the structures 10a and 10b, respectively. In one embodiment, the signaling device 20 is designed and arranged accordingly at the gate 10 to generate light and / or acoustic signals (e.g., alarm notifications) of different colors (e.g., red and green), wherein the light and / or acoustic signals are respectively perceptible to the person 2. It is known to those skilled in the art that the signaling device 20 can be designed in other ways as long as the signaling device or its signal mechanism is perceptible to the person 2.

[0029] exist Figure 1 The access monitoring system 1 shown in the figure may include one or more camera systems 26, which are arranged in the area of ​​the gate 10, in particular in the access restricted area 12. In one embodiment, such a camera system 26 is designed to detect a person 2 and track his activities in the area 12 alone or in combination with a sensor device 24. It is known to those skilled in the art that the number of camera systems 26 and their position arrangement can be adjusted for the building and / or for the size of the area 12. It is also known to those skilled in the art that the camera system 26 is optional, for example, when tracking is not provided. Such a camera system 26 is known to those skilled in the art, and such a camera system may, for example, include a 2D or 3D video camera with an associated image processing device, respectively. For example, EP1345445A1 discloses a 3D camera or sensor device for detection in conjunction with an elevator system in order to detect the position of a person or other object, the distance between the person or other object, and the movement and direction of movement of the person or other object.

[0030] The detection device 16 can be designed in different ways and methods, in particular it can be designed for one or more types of authorization proof 6. In the building system, the authorization proof 6 is usually associated with a person 2 or a group of persons (for example in a database of user profiles), which is provided in particular in a conscious manner at the entrance to the access-restricted area 12. The authorization proof 6 can be stored as a password (code) on an information carrier (for example in the chip of a chip card or the magnetic strip of a magnetic stripe card) or displayed (for example as an optical code in the form of a QR code, a barcode or a color code). In one embodiment, the authorization proof 6 can be a biometric feature, for example the face, voice, finger or eye pattern of the person 2.

[0031] The detection device 16 is matched to one or more authorization certificates 6 to be used in the building. In one embodiment, the detection device 16 can have an optical reading device (e.g. a digital camera) in order to detect an optical code, for example, from an information carrier. The information carrier can be designed, for example, in the form of a credit card-like employee card or the like; in another embodiment, a mobile phone (or a similar electronic device) of the person 2 is used as the information carrier, which displays the optical code on the screen. In one embodiment, the digital camera of the optical reader (or an additional digital camera) can be used to detect the biometric authorization certificate 6. The recognized biometric authorization certificate 6 can then be used in combination with the detection device and the stored biometric data of the person 2 registered in the building in order to determine the access authorization, for example by means of facial recognition.

[0032] Additionally or alternatively, there may be a radio-based reader, which reads the authorization certificate 6, for example, from a chip of an RFID transponder. For example, an employee card or the like or a mobile phone may be used as an RFID transponder. In one embodiment, the radio-based reader may be designed to communicate with a mobile phone or the like using near field communication (NFC) or Bluetooth technology.

[0033] In the embodiments disclosed in this specification, an authorization certificate 6 is shown. It is known to those skilled in the art that the authorization certificate 6 represents information for checking access rights, and specifically, the check is performed independently of the type of information (coding or biometrics) and the configuration of a feasible information carrier. In the drawings, for example, a card-shaped information carrier is shown, on which the authorization certificate 6 is stored or shown; therefore, the information carrier is also referred to as the authorization certificate 6.

[0034] In buildings such as Figure 1 In the case shown, the technology described here can be used in an advantageous manner; other embodiments for the design of the access system 1 and the elevator system 3 are given elsewhere in this description. Figure 1 The situation shown in FIG. 1 and using the understanding of the components and their functionality introduced above in the access monitoring system 1, the following is combined with Figure 4 The access monitoring method is described by way of example. The description is made with reference to a person 2 who wishes to enter from area 8 into an access-restricted area 12 at a gate 10, for example to use an elevator (AD) there. The person 2 carries with him an authorization certificate 6, which is here for example Figure 1The employee card shown in FIG. is constructed as a credit card. The authorization certificate 6 is presented at the gate 10 in order to enter the access-restricted area 12. The access monitoring system 1 is activated. The method starts in step S1 and ends in step S6. It is known to those skilled in the art that the division of these steps is exemplary, that there may be other steps, and that one or more of these steps may be divided into one or more sub-steps, or that a plurality of these steps may be combined into one step.

[0035] When Person 2 is Figure 1 When the person 2 moves in the direction of the arrow shown to enter the restricted access area 12 on the floor, the person then enters the field of view of the image acquisition device 18 at the gate 10 or in the area of ​​the gate 10. When the person 2 is thus present at the gate 10, the image acquisition device 18 generates image data. In step S2, the screen device 14 is activated so that the image data of the person 2 generated by the image acquisition device 18 are visibly displayed as a real-time image of the person 2. Figure 2 and Figure 3 An exemplary real-time image with the face of person 2 is shown in FIG. 1 (respectively on the left).

[0036] In one embodiment, when the presence of person 2 is detected at gate 10, screen device 14 is controlled to generate an audible and / or visible prompt for person 2 to authenticate themselves. The audible prompt may include a voice message, and the visual prompt may include the display of a voice message and / or a visual effect associated with the real-time image.

[0037] In step S3, the access control device ACS checks whether a valid authorization certificate 6 of the person 2 is detected. As described above, the person 2 must authenticate at the barrier-free gate 10, in particular by presenting the authorization certificate 6 at the detection device 16. If the person 2 is aware of this requirement, the person authenticates himself; the person is also required to authenticate and may be prompted to do so. In one embodiment, this is achieved or at least supported by the screen device 14 displaying a real-time image of the face of the person 2, so that the person can see the displayed image when the person 2 is at the gate 10. The real-time image can show the authentication request and / or be masked by a corresponding voice message. In addition, all or part of the border 30 (frame) can be highlighted visually, for example, in color and / or with a light effect (such as flashing or undulating).

[0038] If the person 2 has been authenticated, for example by providing a valid authorization certificate 6, the method proceeds along the "yes" branch to step S4. In step S4, if the authorization certificate is valid, the access control device ACS generates a permission signal and, in addition to the real-time image, the screen device 14 is actuated to display the access permission. Figure 2In the embodiment shown, the screen device 14 displays the permitted entrance, for example by means of a symbol 32 and / or by visually highlighting all or part of the border 30, for example all or part of the border can be displayed (unchanged or flashing) illuminated green. In addition, the signaling device 20 can be activated and illuminated green, for example. This allows the person 2 and any inspector present to see that they are permitted to enter; the method ends in step S6.

[0039] If, on the other hand, a valid authorization certificate 6 of the person 2 is not recognized because the person does not provide or does not provide a valid authorization certificate 6, the method branches to step S5 along the "No" branch. In step S5, an alarm message is generated by the access control device ACS and, in addition to the real-time image, the screen device 14 is operated to display the alarm message. Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, the screen device 14 is similar to Figure 2 The face of the person is not shown, but the symbol 32 and / or the color highlighting of all or part of the border 30 (for example, it can light up red) now indicates a warning or alarm. Depending on the design, texts, words and / or warning symbols can be displayed in the display area 34. In addition, the signaling device 20 can be activated and light up red, for example. This makes it clear to the person 2 and any inspectors that this person may not be allowed to enter.

[0040] If the person 2 forgets to show his authorization certificate 6, he can supplement the authorization certificate as a reaction to the warning without being asked to do so by the inspector. The person 2 can, for example, return and show his authorization certificate 6. Since the person 2 is authorized to enter in this case, this method for people 2 in public places may be more comfortable than monitoring. In contrast, if the person 2 is not authorized to enter and still tries to pass through the gate 10, the inspector can authenticate the person with the help of the displayed face and, for example, check the person and / or prompt other measures. For this purpose, the real-time image can be stored in a storage device 36, for example, for a certain period of time. The method ends in step S6.

[0041] If person 2 follows Figure 11 and provides its valid authorization certificate 6 on the detection device 16, which means in the illustrated case that the person 2 wants to be transported to the desired destination floor using one of the elevators (AD). The destination floor can be stored in the user profile created for the person 2 in the building management system of the building system. The elevator controller ECS can, for example, be designed as a group control device with target call control technology. By identifying the person 2, for example, a target call indicating the destination floor stored in the user profile of the person 2 and the floor where the gate 10 is set is triggered. If the access monitoring is carried out, for example, in the building lobby through which the person 2 must pass in order to reach the elevator AD, a target call can be triggered for the person 2 involved at each access authorization. The elevator controller ECS determines the elevator used to run the target call and, for example, informs the person 2 of the determined elevator with the help of a screen device 14 at the gate 10. In the case of multiple gates 10, such a screen device 14 can be set at each gate 10. The access monitoring system 1 identifies at which gate 10 the person 2 is located and controls the screen device 14 arranged there to display the assigned elevator (e.g. "B", Figure 2 ). Those skilled in the art know that the screen device 14 can be configured to generate a corresponding voice message.

[0042] In association with the elevator system 3, the alarm notification generated in step S5 may be transmitted as an alarm signal to the elevator controller ECS. The elevator controller ECS is configured to cause one or more determined measures in response to the security violation indicated by the alarm signal. According to the determined measures, the elevator controller ECS may, for example, block the elevator service demand from the access-restricted area 12, so that, for example, no elevator AD leaves or stops, or no elevator door opens or closes at the floor of the access-restricted area 12. Depending on the building, the elevator system 3 and the security violation, only one of the multiple elevators or the entire elevator system 3 may be taken out of service. The triggered measures may last for a period of time until the security violation is under monitoring. The above-mentioned storage of the real-time image may also be limited to this duration.

[0043] In one embodiment, the camera system 26 can be used to track the person 2 in the event of a security breach. Figure 1 In the case shown, the camera 24 recognizes that the person 2 passes through the gate 10, and the camera system 24 determines the path of the person 2. Based on the path determination, it can be recognized in which direction and / or which elevator AD the person 2 is walking, or which elevator AD the person 2 is entering. The triggered measures can, for example, intercept the elevator that the person 2 is walking towards or has entered.

[0044] For each person 2 registered in the building system, a user profile is created, that is, it is stored as a data set in a database. In one embodiment, the database is arranged in a storage device 36 of the building system. Figure 1 In the embodiment, the storage device 36 is connected to the communication network 22, but those skilled in the art know that the storage device or its storage function can be implemented in different ways; the storage device 36 can be implemented in the gate 10, the elevator control device ECS or the access control device ACS, for example.

[0045] The user profile comprises the personal data of the person 2 (e.g. name, reason for authorization (resident, employee, external service provider, visitor)), access rights (e.g. certain rooms 4 and floors) and possibly also access restrictions in time (e.g. access from 7:00 to 20:00 from Monday to Friday). As an alternative to placing the user profile in the building system, the user profile can be placed in a database of a remote building management system, wherein the access monitoring system 1 can access the database via the Internet and / or cloud computing technology.

[0046] like Figure 1 As shown, the gate 10 comprises an image acquisition device 18, which generates an image photo of the person 2 (in particular the face) located in the detection area of ​​the image acquisition device 18 when the person 2 wants to enter the access-restricted area 12. In one embodiment, the image acquisition device 18 comprises a digital camera with selectable and / or adjustable characteristics; therefore, in this embodiment, the camera photo is present as a digital data set (digital camera photo (also called digital image)). The characteristics of the digital camera, such as resolution (for example expressed in megapixels), exposure and focus, have been selected or set in such a way that the camera photo (digital image) can be evaluated and the face of the person 2 can be recognized in the digital image with recognizable quality. The digital image is present, for example, in JPEG format, but it can also be present in other formats, for example in BMP or JPEG2000 format.

[0047] In one embodiment, the screen device 14 displays the digital image for a determined duration, for example, for the duration of the continuous presence of the person 2 at the gate 10. During this time, the person 2 can provide proof of authorization 6 (possibly in accordance with the above requirements), whereupon the access authorization can be checked, and the inspector can authenticate the person 2 and take action if necessary. After this duration, the display of the digital image is deleted, without the digital image being stored in the building system or associated with the person 2. In this way, any legal data protection requirements can be met.

[0048] The image acquisition device 18 can be equipped with a sensor module or connected to a separate sensor module, which activates the image acquisition device 18 when the image acquisition device 18 detects the presence of the person 2 in the detection area. The sensor module can include, for example, a proximity sensor, which can be designed as an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor or an optical sensor (e.g. a light barrier, a brightness sensor). As an alternative to this, in one embodiment, the presence of the person 2 in the detection area of ​​the image acquisition device 18 can be identified by detecting changes in the detection area. If, for example, the person 2 enters the detection area and the image acquisition device 18 is continuously in the activated state, the image acquisition device 18 records changes in front of a substantially static background; these changes are interpreted as presence.

Claims

1. A method of operating a system (1) for monitoring an entrance into a restricted access area (12) in or on a building, wherein: The system (1) comprises an access control device (ACS) and a barrier-free gate (10) at the entrance of the access-restricted area (12), wherein the gate (10) is communicatively connected to the access control device (ACS) and comprises a screen device (14), a detection device (16) and an image acquisition device (18), wherein the method comprises: actuating the screen device (14) in order to display image data of a person (2) generated by an image acquisition device (18) as a real-time image in a manner visible to the person (2), wherein the image acquisition device (18) generates the image data when the person (2) is present at the gate (10) in order to enter the restricted-access area (12); An access control device (ACS) checks whether the authorization certificate (6) is detected by the detection device (16) and whether the authorization certificate (6) detected by the detection device (16) is valid; When a valid authorization certificate (6) of the person (2) is recognized, a permission signal is generated by the access control device (ACS) and the display device (14) is activated in order to display the access authorization in addition to the real-time image; If no valid authorization document (6) of the person (2) is recognized, an alarm message is generated by the access control device (ACS) and the screen device (14) is activated in order to display the alarm message in addition to the real-time image.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprises detecting the presence of a person (2) at the gate (10) and operating the screen device (14) to generate an audible and / or visible prompt for the person (2) to authenticate himself, wherein: Audible prompts include voice messages, and visible prompts include displaying voice messages as text and / or visual effects associated with real-time images.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: The face of the person (2) is detected in the generated image data of the person (2), and a real-time image mainly including the face of the person (2) is generated.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising operating the screen device (14) to display a whole or part of a boundary (30), wherein the whole or part of the boundary mainly comprises an image area around the face of the person (2).

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein: In order to display the whole or part of the boundary (30) through the screen device (14), a first visual effect requiring the person (2) to authenticate himself, a second visual effect showing access permission and a third visual effect showing an alarm notification are determined.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: When there is an alarm notification, the real-time image is stored in a storage device (36) by the access control device (ACS).

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: When there is an alarm notification, a camera system (26) is activated by an access control device (ACS) in order to track a person (2) located in an access-restricted area (12).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: When the alarm notification is present, an alarm signal is generated by an access control device (ACS) and sent to an elevator system (3) to prevent elevator service demand from the access-restricted area (12).

9. A system (1) for monitoring an entrance into a restricted access area (12) in or on a building, the system (1) comprising: Access Control System (ACS); and A barrier-free gate (10) at the entrance of an access-restricted area (12), wherein the gate (10) is communicatively connected to the access control device (ACS) and comprises a screen device (14), a detection device (16) and an image acquisition device (18); The screen device (14) is designed to display the image data of the person (2) generated by the image acquisition device (18) as a real-time image in a manner visible to the person (2). The detection device (16) is designed to detect the authorization certificate (6) of the person (2), The image acquisition device (18) is designed to: generate image data when a person (2) is present at the gate (10) to enter the access-restricted area (12); and Wherein, the access control system (ACS) is designed to: Checking: whether the detection device (16) detects the authorization certificate (6) and whether the authorization certificate (6) detected by the detection device (16) is valid; If the authorization certificate of the person (2) is valid, a permission signal is generated and the screen device (14) is actuated to display the access permission in addition to the real-time image; and When the authorization certificate of the person (2) is invalid, an alarm notification is generated and the screen device (14) is controlled so as to display the alarm notification in addition to the real-time image.

10. The system (1) according to claim 9, wherein: The detection device (16) is designed to detect an optical code, a biometric feature and / or a radio signal, wherein the authorization certificate (6) can be detected as an optical code, a biometric feature or a radio signal.

11. The system (1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein: The screen device (14) is configured to generate audible and / or visual prompts for the person (2) to authenticate themselves, wherein the audible prompts include voice messages and the visual prompts include the display of voice messages and / or visual effects associated with real-time images.

12. The system (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein: The image acquisition device (18) is designed to detect the face of the person (2) in the generated image data of the person (2), and the screen device (14) is designed to display the image data as a real-time image, which mainly includes the face of the person (2).

13. The system (1) according to claim 12, wherein: The screen device (14) is configured to display a full or partial border (30) which mainly includes an image area around the face of the person (2).

14. The system (1) according to claim 13, wherein: The screen device (14) is configured to activate a first visual effect requiring a person (2) to authenticate themselves in order to display the entire or partial boundary (30), a second visual effect for displaying access permission, and a third visual effect for displaying an alarm notification.

15. The system (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 14, further comprising: A camera system (24, 26) is communicatively connected to the access control device (ACS), wherein the camera system (24, 26) is configured to track a person (2) located within the restricted access area (12) when an alarm notification is activated.

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