Access control system

Abstract

The invention relates to an access control system, of the type implementing: - at least one door (P); - a fleet of physical badges (1) each having a computer number (100) recorded on an electronic chip (10) integrated into the physical badge, - at least one physical badge reader (2), - a telecommunications module (3) comprising: - first communication means (30) capable of communicating with the proximity communication means of the physical badge reader, - second long-range communication means (31), - a computer platform (4) comprising platform communication means (40) capable of communicating with the second communication means of the telecommunications module, in which the system comprises at least one smartphone (5) including proximity communication means (50) capable of communicating with the electronic chip (10) of a physical badge to receive the computer number (100) of the physical badge,and a computer application (51) forming an interface for exchange with the computer platform, the computer application being configured to receive and store a physical badge computer number and to communicate said physical badge computer number to the telecommunications module (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The field of the invention is that of the design and manufacture of an access control system.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to an access control system for an area using badges, each bearing a unique identifier, recognized by recognition devices located at the entrances and exits of the area to be controlled.

[0003] An access control system allows entry and exit into an area.

[0004] This system implements recognition devices that are located at the entrances and exits of this area to be controlled.

[0005] The entrances and exits of this area include doors whose opening and closing can be controlled by the system.

[0006] The term "door" is more generally understood to mean a device blocking a passage, for a pedestrian or a vehicle, such as a barrier, an airlock, a turnstile, a door in the literal sense of the term.

[0007] The terms "opening" and "closing" refer to the movement of the door from a position where the passage is closed to a position where the passage is open. It is also understood that opening or closing can only refer to the activation of the door's locking mechanisms in a position where the passage is closed.

[0008] Traditionally, current access control systems implement: a fleet of physical badges, each having a computer number recorded on an electronic chip integrated into the physical badge; at least one physical badge reader, connected to the door, the physical badge reader incorporating a computer identifier and proximity communication means capable of communicating with the electronic chip of a physical badge to receive the computer number of the physical badge; a telecommunications module comprising: first means of communication capable of communicating with the proximity communication means of the physical badge reader, second means of long-distance communication, a computer platform comprising platform communication means capable of communicating with the second means of communication of the telecommunications module and including a database listing the computer numbers of physical badges and the computer identifiers of physical badge readers,The IT platform further includes a computer unit configured to: receive a digital door opening request including a physical badge number and a physical badge reader identifier, verify a match in the database between the physical badge number and a physical badge reader identifier, and, after verifying the match, issue a door opening or non-opening instruction to the physical badge reader.

[0009] As previously stated, badges are typically physical badges, including an electronic chip containing a computer number identifying the physical badge.

[0010] That said, current access control systems can implement other identification methods such as remote controls, keys, SIM cards, or digital badges. Of course, each of these methods can only be used with compatible equipment. For example, a physical badge can only be read by a badge reader and, naturally, cannot be used as a remote control.

[0011] In other words, if a user wants to use different means among those mentioned above (or others), they will need to possess the different corresponding elements.

[0012] For the access control system manager, this means having to configure the various elements in the user's possession, and in particular creating as many identification numbers as there are elements available to the user.

[0013] This therefore has implications for overall management, as well as for system updates, maintenance, and the amount of data to be processed in the system manager's database. Technical problem

[0014] The invention aims in particular to overcome these drawbacks of the prior art.

[0015] More specifically, the invention aims to provide an access control system, of the type implementing at least a fleet of physical badges intended to be read by a badge reader which itself grants access or not to a door, which makes it easier to manage the identifiers of a user having several distinct elements giving access to the door.

[0016] The invention also aims to provide such an access control system that is simple and practical for the user who wishes to have several access elements.

[0017] These objectives, as well as others that will emerge subsequently, are achieved through the invention, which relates to an access control system of the type implementing: at least one door; a fleet of physical badges, each having a computer number recorded on an electronic chip integrated into the physical badge; at least one physical badge reader, connected to the door, the physical badge reader incorporating a computer identifier and proximity communication means capable of communicating with the electronic chip of a physical badge to receive the computer number of the physical badge; a telecommunications module comprising: first means of communication capable of communicating with the proximity communication means of the physical badge reader, second means of long-distance communication,a computer platform comprising platform communication means capable of communicating with the second communication means of the telecommunication module and including a database listing the computer numbers of physical badges and the computer identifiers of physical badge readers, the computer platform further comprising a computer unit configured to: receive a digital door opening request including a computer number of a physical badge and an identifier of a physical badge reader, verify a match between the computer number of the badge and a badge reader identifier, and, after verification of the match, issue an instruction to open or not open the door to the physical badge reader. characterized in that it comprises at least one smartphone including proximity communication means capable of communicating with the electronic chip of a physical badge to receive the computer number of the physical badge, a computer application forming an exchange interface with the computer platform, the computer application being configured to receive and store a computer number of a physical badge and to communicate said computer number of a physical badge to the telecommunications module, the database of the computer platform including, for each computer number of a physical badge, a code authorizing, or not, the registration of the computer number on a smartphone.

[0018] Thus, thanks to the invention, it is possible for the same user to have several different means of access, but each using the same computer number configured by the system manager.

[0019] Unlike previous methods, this avoids the need to configure a computer number for each access method held by the same user.

[0020] Furthermore, it is understood that it is particularly easy for a user to configure a digital badge on their smartphone via their physical badge.

[0021] Thanks to the database of the IT platform which includes, for each computer number of physical badge, a code authorizing, or not, the registration of the computer number on a smartphone, it is understood that it is possible for the manager to grant a user the right to duplicate their physical badge in the form of a digital badge or, on the contrary, not allow them to do so, for example depending on the subscription to which the user has subscribed.

[0022] Advantageously, the IT platform's database includes, for each physical badge computer number, at least one door identifier in relation to which the physical badge is active.

[0023] In this way, access rights to one or more doors can be assigned to the same physical badge, with the manager having the option to change these rights at will.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, the computer application is configured to send to the computer unit of the computer platform a notification of registration, on the computer application of the smartphone, of a computer number of a physical badge.

[0025] In this case, the IT unit of the IT platform is advantageously configured to associate in the database a computer number of a physical badge with a registration mark on a smartphone as a dematerialized badge.

[0026] In this way, information is provided to the access control system manager that the physical badge is duplicated as a digital badge, with the triggering, where appropriate, of access rights to said digital badge.

[0027] According to an advantageous solution, the database of the IT platform includes, for each digital badge, at least one door identifier in relation to which the digital badge is active.

[0028] Thus, as with a physical badge, it is possible to assign access rights to one or more doors with a digital badge. Note that the access rights granted to these doors by the digital badge may differ from those granted by the physical badge. Summary of the invention Brief description of the drawings

[0029] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the following description of various preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting examples, and the accompanying drawings, among which: there figure 1 , unique, is a schematic representation of an access control system according to the invention. Detailed description

[0030] With reference to the figure 1 An access control system according to the invention implements, in a conventional manner: at least one door P (in practice, an access control system manages access to a plurality of doors P); a fleet of physical badges 1 each having a computer number 100 recorded on an electronic chip 10 integrated into the physical badge); at least one badge reader 2, connected to the door P to control its opening or keeping it closed (or its locking / unlocking)

[0031] The physical badge reader incorporates a computer identifier 20, the badge reader 2 also including proximity communication means 21 capable of communicating with the electronic chip 10 of a physical badge to receive the computer number of the physical badge.

[0032] The access control system also includes: a telecommunications module 3 comprising: first means of communication 30, enabling data exchange with the badge reader 2, these first means of communication 30 being therefore capable of communicating with the proximity means of communication 21 of the physical badge reader, second means of communication 31 of long distance type, a computer platform 4, present in a management site, intended to ensure access control.

[0033] The computer platform includes means of communication of platform 40 capable of communicating with the second means of communication 31 of the telecommunication module 3.

[0034] It also includes a database listing: computer numbers 100 of physical badges 1; computer identifiers 20 of physical badge readers 2.

[0035] Furthermore, the IT platform 4 includes a computer unit 42 configured to ensure traditional operation between the physical badges of the fleet and the physical badge reader 2, that is to say: receive a digital door opening request including a physical badge computer number and a physical badge reader identifier, verify a match between the physical badge computer number and a physical badge reader identifier, issue, after verifying the match, a door opening or non-opening instruction to the physical badge reader.

[0036] According to the principle of the invention, the system comprises at least one computer-phone 5 including proximity communication means 50 capable of communicating with the electronic chip 10 of a physical badge 1 to receive the computer number 100 of the physical badge, and further comprises a computer application 51 forming an exchange interface with the computer platform 40, this computer application 51 being configured to receive and store a computer number 100 of physical badge 1 and to communicate said computer number of physical badge to the telecommunications module 3.

[0037] Thus, thanks to the invention, a holder of a physical badge 1 can load a computer application onto their smartphone 5, forming an interface with the computer platform 4. Using the smartphone's proximity communication capabilities, compatible with those of the physical badge 1 held by the user, the user can transmit the computer number 100, recorded on the electronic chip 10 of the physical badge 1, to the smartphone simply by presenting the physical badge 1 near the smartphone 5. The computer number of the physical badge is then received and stored by the computer application 51 on the smartphone 5. Subsequently, the holder of both the physical badge 1 and the smartphone 5 can use the smartphone 5 directly to communicate with the telecommunications module 3 and request the opening of door P.

[0038] Of course, he can also continue to use his physical badge 1 by presenting it to the badge reader 2 to request the opening of door P.

[0039] It is understood that with the system according to the invention, the database 41 of the computer platform 4 manages a unique computer number for the physical badge 1 and the computer phone 5.

[0040] According to a preferred embodiment, the database of the computer platform includes, for each computer number of physical badge, at least one door identifier in relation to which the physical badge is active.

[0041] Furthermore, the computer platform's database includes, for each physical badge computer number, a code authorizing or not the registration of the computer number on a smartphone.

[0042] The database 41 of the IT platform 40 is, where applicable, enriched with information indicating that a user's physical badge 1 has been digitized on the user's smartphone 5. To this end, the computer application 51 on the smartphone 5 is configured to send a notification to the IT unit 42 of the IT platform confirming the registration of the user's physical badge number 1 on the smartphone application.

[0043] In addition, the computer unit 42 of the computer platform 4 is configured to associate in the database 41 a computer number of physical badge with a registration mark on a smartphone as a dematerialized badge.

[0044] Database 41 also manages the rights associated with the digital badge, that is, the doors at which the digital badge can be used. To this end, the IT platform's database includes, for each digital badge, at least one door identifier for which the digital badge is active.

Claims

1. Access control system, of the type implementing: - at least one door (P); - a fleet of physical badges (1) each having a computer number (100) recorded on an electronic chip (10) integrated into the physical badge, - at least one physical badge reader (2), connected to the door, the physical badge reader (2) integrating a computer identifier (20) and proximity communication means (21) capable of communicating with the electronic chip (10) of a physical badge (1) to receive the computer number (100) of the physical badge; - a telecommunications module (3) comprising: - first communication means (30) capable of communicating with the proximity communication means (21) of the physical badge reader (2), - second communication means (31) of the long-distance type,- a computer platform (4) comprising platform communication means (40) capable of communicating with the second communication means (31) of the telecommunication module (3) and including a database (41) listing the computer numbers (100) of physical badges and the computer identifiers (20) of physical badge readers, the computer platform (4) further comprising a computer unit (42) configured to: - receive a digital door opening request (P) including a computer number (100) of a physical badge (1) and a computer identifier (20) of a physical badge reader, - verify a match between the computer number of the badge and a computer identifier of the badge reader, - issue, after verification of the match, an instruction to open or not open the door to the physical badge reader, , characterized in thatit includes at least one smartphone (5) including proximity communication means (50) capable of communicating with the electronic chip (10) of a physical badge (1) to receive the computer number (100) of the physical badge, a computer application (51) forming an exchange interface with the computer platform (4), the computer application being configured to receive and store a computer number (100) of a physical badge and to communicate said computer number of the physical badge to the telecommunications module (3), the database (41) of the computer platform including, for each computer number (100) of a physical badge, a code authorizing, or not, a recording of the computer number on a smartphone.

2. Access control system according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe database (41) of the computer platform includes, for each computer number (100) of physical badge, at least one door identifier in relation to which the physical badge is active.

3. Access control system according to claim 1, characterized in that The computer application (51) is configured to send to the computer unit (42) of the computer platform a registration notification, on the computer application of the smartphone, of a computer number (100) of a physical badge.

4. Access control system according to claim 1, characterized in that The computer unit (42) of the computer platform is configured to associate in the database (41) a computer number (100) of physical badge with a registration mark on a smartphone as a dematerialized badge.

5. Access control system according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe database (41) of the computer platform includes, for each digital badge, at least one door identifier in relation to which the digital badge is active.

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