Electronic access control procedure

Abstract

Electronic access control method (100) for identifying a person (301) within an access area (303), wherein the person (301) is assigned an identification document (305), comprising: Detecting (101) an identification feature of the person (301) in the access area (303) based on the identification document (305) by means of an identification detection device (201); Transmitting (103) the identification feature by the identification detection device (201) to a biometric detection device (203); and detecting (105) a biometric feature of the person (301) by the biometric detection device (203) within the access area (303) in response to the receipt of the identification feature in order to identify the person (301), wherein the detection (101) of the identification feature of the person (301) comprises the following steps: Reading out a personal identifier which refers to the person (301) from the identification document (305) by the identification detection device (201); Transmitting the personal identifier to an identification feature server (311) by the identification detection device (201) in order to retrieve the identification feature of the person (301) from the identification feature server (311); and Receiving the identification feature of the person (301) by the identification detection device (201) from the identification feature server (311).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electronic access control, in particular electronic access control at border crossings.

[0002] Electronic access control of people is of particular interest in a variety of applications. Especially for access control at border crossings, such as airports, efficient identification of people is desirable in order to grant or deny access.

[0003] Currently, electronic access control involves verifying a person's identification document, such as an ID card or passport, at an entrance door. The person then enters an area behind the entrance door, which is then closed. In this area, a biometric characteristic of the person is finally captured to verify their identity. Electronic access control is therefore typically based on two independent steps, with each person being singled out.

[0004] This involves a high level of time spent on identifying people and leads to reduced efficiency of electronic access control.

[0005] The document WO 2005 / 024732 A1 discloses an access control method and access control system for the automated identification and verification of persons at security lines of airports and border crossings

[0006] US 2014 / 0266604 A1 discloses a method and system for workforce management and access control. This involves a biometric scanning device with a camera and memory, as well as a server.

[0007] It is therefore the object of the present invention to create an efficient concept for electronic access control.

[0008] This problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent patent claims, the description, and the figures.

[0009] The invention is based on the finding that the above-mentioned object can be achieved by detecting an identification feature of the person within an access area and detecting a biometric feature of the person within the access area, wherein the detection of the person's biometric feature is initiated immediately after the detection of the person's identification feature. In this case, the person can still be located in front of an access barrier. Consequently, the isolation of persons in the access area can be dispensed with.

[0010] In addition, the person in the access area can be detected, for example, using a light barrier, a laser scanner, a 3D camera, an image camera, or an infrared camera. This ensures that the biometric feature and the identification feature are recorded for the same person.

[0011] The person can be detected using a predetermined body model and / or predetermined movement model of the person. Furthermore, the person's lifespan can be detected.

[0012] The person's identification feature can be captured using the person's identification document. The person's biometric feature can be, for example, a person's image, and the person's identification feature can be, for example, a person's reference image. The person's identification feature, in particular the person's reference image, can further be retrieved from an identification feature server via a communications network. The captured person's identification feature can be compared with the captured biometric feature. Consequently, the person can be identified.

[0013] This allows electronic access control to be carried out more quickly, thus increasing its efficiency. Furthermore, the throughput of people to be identified during electronic access control can be increased.

[0014] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to an electronic access control method for identifying a person within an access area, wherein the person is assigned an identification document, comprising detecting an identification feature of the person in the access area based on the identification document by means of an identification detection device, transmitting the identification feature by the identification detection device to a biometric detection device, and detecting a biometric feature of the person by the biometric detection device within the access area in response to the receipt of the identification feature in order to identify the person. This achieves the advantage of implementing an efficient concept for electronic access control.

[0015] The identification document can be one of the following identification documents: identity document, such as an identity card, passport, access control card, authorization card, company ID, tax stamp or ticket, birth certificate, driver's license or vehicle registration document, means of payment, for example, a bank card or credit card. The identification document can further comprise an electronically readable circuit, for example, an RFID chip. The identification document can be single-layered or multi-layered, or paper- and / or plastic-based. The identification document can be constructed from plastic-based films that are combined to form a card body by gluing and / or lamination, whereby the films preferably have similar material properties.

[0016] The person's identification feature can be read electronically from the identification document. The person's identification feature can also be applied to the identification document and captured optically.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the access area is restricted by an access barrier, with the person's biometric characteristic being recorded whether the access barrier is open or closed. This provides the advantage that the electronic access control process can be implemented efficiently.

[0018] The person's biometric characteristics can also be captured when the access barrier is partially open. The access barrier can be an entrance door, for example, a security gate.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the person's biometric feature is a person's image, and the person's identification feature is a person's reference image. This provides the advantage of enabling efficient capture of the person's biometric feature and identification feature.

[0020] The personal reference image can be standardized according to ISO / IEC 19794 or ICAO 9303. The personal image can be perspectively corrected by the biometric capture device.

[0021] According to one embodiment, capturing the person's identification feature comprises the following steps: reading a personal identifier that points to the person from the identification document by the identification capturing device, transmitting the personal identifier to an identification feature server by the identification capturing device in order to retrieve the person's identification feature from the identification feature server, and receiving the person's identification feature from the identification feature server by the identification capturing device. This provides the advantage that the identification feature can be provided efficiently.

[0022] The personal identifier can be a personal datum, such as a name, of the person. The personal identifier can also be a code and / or a pseudonym assigned to the person. The personal identifier can be a restricted ID of the identification document according to the BSI TR-03110 standard.

[0023] The personal identifier can be read electronically from the identification document. The personal identifier can also be applied to the identification document and read optically.

[0024] The transmission of the personal identifier to the identification feature server and the receipt of the identification feature from the identification feature server by the identification capture device can be carried out via a communications network, for example, the Internet. The identification feature server can provide an eID service.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the electronic access control method comprises comparing the identification feature with the biometric feature by the biometric detection device. This provides the advantage that the person's identity can be verified efficiently.

[0026] The comparison can be performed using optical pattern recognition. Optical pattern recognition can include the extraction of image features of the identification feature and the biometric feature, for example, using a Scale-Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT).

[0027] According to one embodiment, the person's biometric feature is a personal image, wherein the person's identification feature is a personal identifier read from the identification document by the identification capture device, which indicates the person, and wherein the electronic access control method comprises the following steps: transmitting the personal identifier to an identification feature server by the biometric capture device in order to retrieve a personal reference image from the identification feature server, and receiving the personal reference image from the identification feature server by the biometric capture device. This achieves the advantage that the identification capture device can be implemented efficiently.

[0028] The transmission of the personal identifier to the identification feature server and the reception of the personal reference image from the identification feature server by the biometric capture device can be carried out via a communications network, for example, the Internet. The identification feature server can provide an eID service.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the electronic access control method comprises comparing the reference image with the person's image by the biometric capture device. This provides the advantage that the person's identity can be verified efficiently.

[0030] The comparison can be performed using optical pattern recognition. Optical pattern recognition can include extracting image features from the person reference image and the person image, for example, using a Scale-Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT).

[0031] According to one embodiment, the electronic access control method comprises detecting the person in the access area using a person detection device, in particular a light barrier, a laser scanner, a 3D camera, an image camera, or an infrared camera. This provides the advantage of ensuring that the detection of the biometric feature and the detection of the identification feature are performed with respect to the same person. The detection of the person in the access area can include tracking the person in the access area.

[0032] The capture of the person's biometric feature by the biometric capture device within the access area can be carried out in response to the receipt of the identification feature and the capture of the person.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the person detection device detects the person in the access area using a predetermined body model and / or a predetermined movement model of the person. This provides the advantage that the person detection can be performed efficiently.

[0034] The predetermined body model can display static body characteristics of people, such as a typical height or width. The predetermined motion model can display dynamic motion characteristics of people, such as a typical speed or acceleration.

[0035] The predetermined body model and / or the predetermined movement model can be derived from properties of human biomechanics.

[0036] According to one embodiment, detecting the person in the access area includes detecting the person's liveness in the access area by the person detection device. This provides the advantage that replicas of biometric features can be efficiently detected.

[0037] The liveness detection can be carried out, for example, on the basis of a detection of 3D depth information of the person, a detection of an eye movement of the person, a detection of a pulse of the person and / or a detection of a body temperature of the person.

[0038] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to an electronic access control system for identifying a person within an access area, wherein an identification document is assigned to the person, comprising a biometric detection device for detecting a biometric feature of the person within the access area, and an identification detection device for detecting an identification feature of the person in the access area based on the identification document, wherein the identification detection device is designed to transmit the identification feature to the biometric detection device, wherein the biometric detection device is designed, in response to the receipt of the identification feature, to detect the biometric feature of the person within the access area in order to identify the person. This achieves the advantage of implementing an efficient concept for electronic access control.

[0039] The electronic access control system can be used for electronic access control at border crossings. The biometric capture device can comprise an image camera. The identification capture device can comprise a reading terminal for identification documents.

[0040] The electronic access control procedure can be implemented using the electronic access control system. Further features of the electronic access control system arise directly from the functionality of the electronic access control procedure.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the electronic access control system further comprises a person detection device, in particular a light barrier, a laser scanner, a 3D camera, an image camera, or an infrared camera, for detecting the person in the access area. This provides the advantage of ensuring that the detection of the biometric feature and the detection of the identification feature are carried out with respect to the same person.

[0042] The light barrier can detect the presence of a person in a predetermined area within the access zone. The laser scanner, the 3D camera, the image camera, and the infrared camera can detect the position of the person within the access zone.

[0043] 3D depth information of the person can be captured using the 3D camera. The 3D camera can be implemented based on the time-of-flight principle. The person's eye movement can be captured using the laser scanner, the 3D camera, or the image camera.

[0044] A person's pulse can be recorded using the infrared camera. The person's body temperature can be recorded using the infrared camera.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the electronic access control system further comprises an identification feature server for providing an identification feature of the person, in particular a person reference image, via a communication network.

[0046] This provides the advantage that the person's identification feature, in particular the person reference image, can be provided efficiently.

[0047] The person's identification feature, in particular the personal reference image, can be pre-stored in the identification feature server. The identification feature server can provide an eID service.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the electronic access control system is an eGate access control system. This provides the advantage that the electronic access control system can be implemented efficiently.

[0049] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a computer program with a program code for executing the electronic access control method when the computer program is executed on a computer. This provides the advantage that the electronic access control method can be carried out in an automated and repeatable manner.

[0050] The electronic access control system may be programmed to execute the computer program.

[0051] The invention can be implemented in hardware and / or software.

[0052] Further embodiments are explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. They show: Fig. 1 is a diagram of an electronic access control method for identifying a person within an access area according to one embodiment; Fig. 2 is a diagram of an electronic access control system for identifying a person within an access area according to one embodiment; and Fig. 3 is a diagram of an electronic access control system for identifying a person within an access area according to one embodiment.

[0053] Fig. Figure 1 shows a diagram of an electronic access control method 100 for identifying a person within an access area according to one embodiment. The person is assigned an identification document.

[0054] The electronic access control method 100 comprises capturing 101 an identification feature of the person in the access area based on the identification document by means of an identification capturing device, transmitting 103 the identification feature by the identification capturing device to a biometric capturing device, and capturing 105 a biometric feature of the person by the biometric capturing device within the access area in response to the receipt of the identification feature in order to identify the person.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the electronic access control method 100 comprises detecting the person in the access area by a person detection device, in particular a light barrier, a laser scanner, a 3D camera, an image camera, or an infrared camera. The detection 105 of the person's biometric feature by the biometric detection device within the access area can be performed in response to the receipt of the identification feature and the detection of the person.

[0056] Fig. Figure 2 shows a diagram of an electronic access control system 200 for identifying a person within an access area according to one embodiment. An identification document is assigned to the person.

[0057] The electronic access control system 200 comprises a biometric capture device 203 for capturing a biometric feature of the person within the access area, and an identification capture device 201 for capturing an identification feature of the person in the access area based on the identification document, wherein the identification capture device 201 is designed to transmit the identification feature to the biometric capture device 203, wherein the biometric capture device 203 is designed to capture the biometric feature of the person within the access area in response to the receipt of the identification feature in order to identify the person.

[0058] According to one embodiment, the electronic access control system 200 further comprises a person detection device, in particular a light barrier, a laser scanner, a 3D camera, an image camera, or an infrared camera, for detecting the person in the access area. The biometric detection device 203 can be configured to detect the biometric feature of the person within the access area in response to the receipt of the identification feature from the identification detection device 201 and the detection of the person by the person detection device.

[0059] Fig. Figure 3 shows a diagram of an electronic access control system 200 for identifying a person 301 within an access area 303 according to one embodiment. An identification document 305 is assigned to the person 301.

[0060] The electronic access control system 200 comprises a biometric capture device 203 for capturing a biometric feature of the person 301 within the access area 303, and an identification capture device 201 for capturing an identification feature of the person 301 in the access area 303 based on the identification document 305, wherein the identification capture device 201 is designed to transmit the identification feature to the biometric capture device 203, wherein the biometric capture device 203 is designed to capture the biometric feature of the person 301 within the access area 303 in response to the receipt of the identification feature in order to identify the person 301.

[0061] The identification capture device 201 may comprise a reading terminal for identification documents. The biometric capture device 203 may comprise an image camera. The biometric capture device 203 may compare the identification feature with the biometric feature. The biometric feature of the person 301 may be a person image, and the identification feature of the person 301 may be a person reference image.

[0062] The access area 303 is restricted by an access barrier 307, wherein the biometric characteristic of the person 301 is recorded by the biometric recording device 203 when the access barrier 307 is open or closed.

[0063] The electronic access control system 200 further comprises a person detection device 309, in particular a light barrier, a laser scanner, a 3D camera, an image camera, or an infrared camera, for detecting the person 301 in the access area 303. The person detection device 309 can detect the person 301 in the access area 303 using a predetermined body model and / or a predetermined movement model of the person 301. The person detection device 309 can further perform a liveness detection of the person 301 in the access area 303. The biometric detection device 203 can be configured to detect the biometric feature of the person 301 within the access area 303 in response to the receipt of the identification feature from the identification detection device 201 and the detection of the person 301 by the person detection device 309.

[0064] The detection of the identification feature of person 301 by the identification detection device 201 can be carried out in various ways. For example, the identification feature of person 301 can be read electronically from the identification document 305. The identification feature of person 301 can also be applied to the identification document 305 and detected optically.

[0065] Furthermore, the identification feature of the person 301 can be provided by an identification feature server 311 via a communications network 313. Capturing the identification feature of the person 301 by the identification capture device 201 comprises reading a personal identifier that points to the person 301 from the identification document 305 by the identification capture device 201, transmitting the personal identifier to the identification feature server 311 via the communications network 313 by the identification capture device 201 in order to retrieve the identification feature of the person 301 from the identification feature server 311, and receiving the identification feature of the person 301 by the identification capture device 201 from the identification feature server 311 via the communications network 313.

[0066] According to a further embodiment, the biometric feature of person 301 is a personal image, wherein the identification feature of person 301 is a personal identifier read from the identification document 305 by the identification capture device 201, which indicates the person 301. The identification capture device 201 can transmit the personal identifier to the biometric capture device 203. The biometric capture device 203 can transmit the personal identifier to the identification feature server 311 via the communication network 313 in order to retrieve a personal reference image from the identification feature server 311, and receive the personal reference image from the identification feature server 311 via the communication network 313. In response to receiving the personal identifier, the biometric capture device 203 can capture a personal image within the access area 303 to identify the person 301.The biometric detection device 203 can compare the person reference image with the person image.

[0067] The electronic access control system 200 may be an eGate access control system, which may be used, for example, for access control at border crossings.

[0068] Further embodiments of the electronic access control method 100 and the electronic access control system 200 are described below.

[0069] The electronic access control method 100 and the electronic access control system 200 can be used to increase throughput and / or processing time, for example in eGate access control systems.

[0070] Electronic access control typically involves two separate steps. First, an identification document 305 is placed at an entrance door by a person 301 and verified. Subsequently, a biometric feature of the person 301 is verified in an intermediate area between the entrance door and an exit door. The capture of the biometric feature, for example, a facial biometric feature of the person 301, is only initiated once the entrance door has been closed behind the person 301. This is done to ensure that no other person can enter the intermediate area after the verification of the identification document 305. The entrance door, the intermediate area, and the exit door can form a lock. According to one embodiment, the access barrier 307 forms the entrance door.

[0071] According to one embodiment of the electronic access control system 200, it is ensured that the person 301 whose identity was already verified prior to entry is also the person 301 who enters. This allows the electronic access control process to be accelerated. The capture of a biometric feature, and optionally a liveness detection, of the person 301 can be initiated by a biometric capture device 203, and optionally also completed, when the person 301 has placed the identification document 305 on an identification capture device 201 and is still in front of the access barrier 307, for example, the entrance door.

[0072] According to one embodiment, a person detection device 309, for example a light barrier, a distributed image camera system, a laser scanner or a 3D camera, is used to detect the person 301.

[0073] Detection using a 3D camera can be based on a time-of-flight principle. A predetermined body model, for example, a complete body model, and / or a predetermined movement model can be used. Furthermore, a plurality of people can be detected by the person detection device 309. This efficiently ensures that no other people enter.

[0074] According to a further embodiment, the biometric feature of person 301, and optionally the life detection of person 301, is performed before passing through the access barrier 307 into the intermediate area, and the biometric feature is again detected within the intermediate area, but with a reduced comparison threshold of the biometric feature. Thus, access control can be further accelerated.

[0075] Typical average processing times for electronic access control systems range from 30 to 50 seconds. The electronic access control method 100 and the electronic access control system 200 enable an acceleration of several seconds. This allows for an increase in average processing times. Furthermore, the number of electronic access control systems at border crossings can be reduced while maintaining the same throughput. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 100 Electronic access control procedure 101 Capturing an identification feature 103 Transmission of the identification feature 105 Capturing a biometric characteristic 200 Electronic access control system 201 Identification recording device 203 Biometric capture device 301 people 303 Access area 305 Identification document 307 Access barrier 309 Personnel registration device 311 identifier server 313 Communication network

Claims

[1] Electronic access control method (100) for identifying a person (301) within an access area (303), wherein the person (301) is assigned an identification document (305), comprising: Detecting (101) an identification feature of the person (301) in the access area (303) based on the identification document (305) by means of an identification detection device (201); Transmitting (103) the identification feature by the identification detection device (201) to a biometric detection device (203); and detecting (105) a biometric feature of the person (301) by the biometric detection device (203) within the access area (303) in response to the receipt of the identification feature in order to identify the person (301), wherein the detection (101) of the identification feature of the person (301) comprises the following steps: Reading out a personal identifier which refers to the person (301) from the identification document (305) by the identification detection device (201); Transmitting the personal identifier to an identification feature server (311) by the identification detection device (201) in order to retrieve the identification feature of the person (301) from the identification feature server (311); and Receiving the identification feature of the person (301) by the identification detection device (201) from the identification feature server (311). [2] Electronic access control method (100) according to claim 1, wherein the access area (303) is restricted by an access barrier (307), and wherein the biometric feature of the person (301) is detected when the access barrier (307) is open or closed. [3] Electronic access control method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the biometric feature of the person (301) is a person image, and wherein the identification feature of the person (301) is a person reference image. [4] Electronic access control method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic access control method (100) comprises comparing the identification feature with the biometric feature by the biometric detection device (203). [5] Electronic access control method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic access control method (100) comprises detecting the person (301) in the access area (303) by a person detection device (309), in particular a light barrier, a laser scanner, a 3D camera, an image camera or an infrared camera. [6] Electronic access control method (100) according to claim 5, wherein the detection of the person (301) in the access area (303) by the person detection device (309) is carried out using a predetermined body model or a predetermined movement model of the person (301). [7] Electronic access control method (100) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the detection of the person (301) in the access area (303) comprises a detection of the person (301) being alive in the access area (303) by the person detection device (309). [8] Electronic access control system (200) for identifying a person (301) within an access area (303), wherein the person (301) is assigned an identification document (305), comprising: a biometric detection device (203) for detecting a biometric feature of the person (301) within the access area (303); and an identification detection device (201) for detecting an identification feature of the person (301) in the access area (303) based on the identification document (305), wherein the identification detection device (201) is designed to transmit the identification feature to the biometric detection device (203); wherein the biometric detection device (203) is designed to detect the biometric feature of the person (301) within the access area (303) in response to the receipt of the identification feature in order to identify the person (301), wherein the identification detection device (201) is designed to detect (101) the identification feature of the person (301): to read out a personal identifier from the identification document (305) which indicates the person (301); transmit the personal identifier to an identification feature server (311) in order to retrieve the identification feature of the person (301) from the identification feature server (311); and to receive the identification feature of the person (301) from the identification feature server (311). [9] Electronic access control system (200) according to claim 8, further comprising: a person detection device (309), in particular a light barrier, a laser scanner, a 3D camera, an image camera or an infrared camera, for detecting the person (301) in the access area (303). [10] Electronic access control system (200) according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising: an identification feature server (311) for providing an identification feature of the person (301), in particular a person reference image, via a communication network (313). [11] Electronic access control system (200) according to one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the electronic access control system (200) is designed to be used for access control at border crossings. [12] Computer program with a program code for executing the electronic access control method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, when the computer program is executed on a computer.

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