Assembly comprising an electronic display panel

Abstract

Assembly comprising an electronic display panel. This assembly includes: - the electronic display panel (8) located in the common areas of a building, this electronic display panel comprising: - a screen (150) capable of displaying a question, - a human-machine interface (152) for acquiring a user's response to the displayed question, - an electric lock, an access control unit, and an electronic key for unlocking a building access door. The electronic display panel includes: - a key reader head (156), and - a module (170) configured to acquire the key identifier read by the reader head and, in response to the acquisition of an answer to a question displayed on the screen, to record the acquired key identifier in association with the acquired answer. Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Assembly comprising an electronic display panel

[0001] The invention relates to an assembly comprising an electronic display panel. The invention also relates to an electronic display panel for this assembly.

[0002] Notice boards have long been installed in the common areas of buildings, such as apartment buildings. These notice boards are used to display notes or letters intended to be read by the building's residents. Currently, these notes and letters are printed by the building administrator and then pinned to the notice board.

[0003] Managing these paper notes and letters is tedious. Because of this, it is desirable to replace these notice boards with electronic display boards that perform the same function.

[0004] The applicant also proposed using these electronic display panels to perform additional functions such as, for example, surveys. In this latter case, the electronic display panel displays a question and records each user's response to that question. At least for some of these surveys, each response must be associated with an identifier of the responding user. Therefore, for such an additional function to be implemented, a user identification mechanism must also be provided. This identification mechanism must be simple to implement and easy to design in order to be inexpensive.

[0005] To achieve this objective, the invention relates to an assembly comprising an electronic display panel, located in the common areas of a building, this electronic display panel comprising: - a screen capable of displaying a question, - a human-machine interface allowing the acquisition of a user's response to the displayed question, - a control module for the electronic display panel comprising a memory containing the question to be displayed, this control module being capable of displaying the question stored in the memory on the screen and of recording, in this memory, the answer acquired via the human-machine interface in association with the displayed question, in which the assembly also comprises: - a movable electric lock, in response to receiving an opening command: - from a locked position in which it holds a building access door in a closed position, - to an unlocked position in which the access door can be freely moved to an open position, - an electronic key comprising non-volatile memory in which a unique identifier of that electronic key is stored, - an access control unit comprising: - an access control module comprising a memory containing pre-recorded access rights, this access control module being capable of determining, from a received key identifier and the pre-recorded access rights in its memory, whether or not this key is authorized to access the building and, if so, to generate and transmit the opening command to the electric lock, and if not, to inhibit the generation of the opening command, - a first reading head attached to the building and located outside the building near the access door, this first reading head being capable of acquiring the identifier of a key presented nearby and transmitting this key identifier to the access control module, in which: - the electronic display panel includes a second key reader head, and - the control module of the electronic display panel is configured to acquire the key identifier read by the second read head and, in response to the acquisition of the response, to further record the acquired key identifier in association with the acquired response in the memory of the electronic display panel.

[0006] Embodiments of this assembly may include one or more of the following features: 1) The set includes: - an access rights server allowing an administrator to manage the access rights stored in the memory of the access control module and to view the responses stored in the memory of the electronic display panel control module, and - a long-range transceiver capable of establishing a long-range wireless link to connect the electronic display panel control module and the access control module to the access rights server via a public packet-switched network, this long-range transceiver being common to these two modules. 2) - the control module of the electronic display panel is configured to, in In response to the acquisition of the response, compare the key identifier acquired by the second read head to the key identifiers already stored in memory in association with the same question and when the acquired key identifier is already stored in memory in association with the same question, prohibit the storage in this memory of an additional response to this same question. 3) When the acquired key identifier is already stored in memory in association with the same question, the electronic display panel control module is configured to replace the old answer associated with that key identifier in memory with the last acquired answer. 4) The memory contains a list of key identifiers and the control module of the electronic display panel is configured to, in response to the acquisition of the response, compare the key identifier acquired by the second read head with the key identifiers contained in this list and to prohibit the recording of the response in memory when the acquired key identifier does not belong to this list or, on the contrary, belongs to this list. 5) The control module includes a clock and, each time a key identifier is recorded in association with a response, the date and time at which the response was acquired is also recorded in memory in association with that response. 6) Each read head is capable of: - to establish a short-range wireless information transmission link with the electronic key only over a distance of less than 10 meters, and - to receive the identifier of this electronic key via this short-range link and then transmit it to the access control module when the reading head is the first reading head or to the control module of the electronic display panel when the reading head is the second reading head. 7) The reader head is capable of reading an RFID ("Radio Frequency Identification") tag.

[0007] The invention also relates to an electronic display panel for the implementation of the above assembly, in which the electronic display panel comprises: - a screen capable of displaying a question, - a human-machine interface allowing the acquisition of a user's response to the displayed question, - a control module for the electronic display panel comprising a memory containing the question to be displayed, this control module being capable of displaying the question stored in the memory on the screen and of recording, in this memory, the answer acquired via the interface man-machine in association with the displayed question, in which: - the electronic display panel has a second key reading head, and - the control module of the electronic display panel is configured to acquire the key identifier read by the second reading head and, in response to the acquisition of the response, to further record the acquired key identifier in association with the acquired response in the memory of the electronic display panel.

[0008] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the drawings in which: - [Fig.1] is a schematic illustration of an assembly comprising a display panel and a building access control system; - [Fig.2] is a schematic illustration of the architecture of an access control unit used throughout [Fig.1]; - [Fig.3] is a schematic illustration of the architecture of a billboard from the whole of [Fig.1]; - [Fig.4] is an organizational chart of a process for the operation of the entire [Fig.1].

[0009] In the remainder of this description, the well-known characteristics and functions of a person skilled in the art are not described in detail.

[0010] In this description, detailed examples of embodiments are first described in Chapter I with reference to the figures. Then, in Chapter II, variations of these embodiments are presented. Finally, the advantages of the different embodiments are presented in Chapter III.

[0011] Chapter I: Examples of embodiments

[0012] Figure [1] represents an assembly comprising: - an access control system 2 for a building 4 equipped with an access door 6, and - an electronic display panel 8.

[0013] Building 4 is divided into several private apartments, each belonging to its respective residents.

[0014] Door 6 can be moved between an open and a closed position. In the closed position, it prevents access to the interior of building 4. In the open position, a visitor or resident can freely enter the interior of building 4. Door 6 leads into common areas of building 4.

[0015] Panel 8 is installed in these common areas. For example, panel 8 is fixed to a wall in the common areas. This panel 8 allows information to be displayed for the residents of building 8. In addition, panel 8 is in Interactive in the sense that it can interact with users to perform additional functions beyond simply displaying passive information. Users of panel 8 are typically residents of building 4, but they can also be visitors, service providers, or others. Here, panel 8 allows residents to be surveyed by displaying a question and recording their response. This panel 8 is described in more detail with reference to [Fig. 3].

[0016] To control access to building 4, system 2 includes: - an electric lock 10, - a central access control unit 12 connected to lock 10, and - electronic keys.

[0017] Typically, system 2 can include several access control units to control access to several buildings or different parts of the same building. The various electric locks and access control units then function, respectively, like lock 10 and control unit 12. Thus, these other electric locks and access control units are not described in detail and have not been shown.

[0018] The lock 10 moves between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, it holds the door 6 in its closed position. In the unlocked position, the door 6 can be freely moved from its closed position to its open position. The lock 10 moves from its locked position to its unlocked position in response to receiving an open command. Then, once this open command is received, it remains in the unlocked position for a predetermined time, and then automatically returns to its locked position at the end of this predetermined time.

[0019] The lock 10 is directly connected to the control unit 12 via a wired link 13. The opening command is transmitted to the lock 10 via this link 13.

[0020] To simplify [Fig.1], only an electronic key 14 has been shown.

[0021] Key 14 is a transponder key also known as an "RFID tag" or "radio tag". The acronym RFID stands for "Radio Frequency Identification".

[0022] The key 14 does not have its own power supply. The key 14 is powered by the control unit 12 via a short-range wireless information transmission link 18. In this text, "short-range link" refers to a link that can only be established over a distance of less than 10 m or 5 m. Beyond this distance, the short-range link cannot be established and does not exist.

[0023] Typically, the key 14 has a transponder 20 equipped with: - a non-volatile memory 22 containing a key identifier 24, and - an antenna 26 capable of transmitting the identifier 24 to the control unit 12 as soon as the link 18 is established.

[0024] The identifier 24 allows the key 14 to be uniquely identified among all the keys of system 2.

[0025] The antenna 26 also serves to extract the energy necessary for the operation of the transponder 20 from the electromagnetic signals radiated by the control unit 12.

[0026] Here, the key 14 is therefore a passive electronic key and does not include any other electronic elements than those described above.

[0027] When using a transponder such as transponder 20, the link 18 is established over a maximum distance of less than 50 cm, 10 cm, or 2 cm. The electromagnetic background frequency used to establish the link 18 is 13.56 MHz. However, other frequencies are possible.

[0028] The control unit 12 is able to transmit the opening command to the lock 10 only when the key is authorized to open the door 6. In the event that the key is not valid, i.e. that it is not authorized to unlock the lock 10, no opening command is transmitted to the lock 10 and it therefore remains in its locked position.

[0029] A key is valid when its key identifier is associated with pre-recorded access rights that authorize the opening of door 6. For example, these pre-recorded access rights include a list of key identifiers authorized to unlock lock 10. If the key identifier transmitted by the key to the control unit 12 belongs to this list, then the key is valid. Otherwise, the key is not valid.

[0030] In this embodiment, access rights are stored locally in a memory of the control unit 12. Under these conditions, from time to time, it is necessary to update the access rights stored in the control unit 12. Such an update makes it possible, for example, to authorize a new key to unlock the lock 10 and / or, on the contrary, to prohibit an electronic key from unlocking the lock 10. For this purpose, the control unit 12 is capable of establishing a long-distance wireless link 50 which connects the control unit 12 to an access rights server 60.

[0031] The link 50 is established via a public network 62. The network 62 is a packet-switched network. Here, the network 62 is a cellular network. A long-distance link is an information exchange link that can be established between transmitters and receivers located several kilometers apart.

[0032] Furthermore, in this example of an embodiment, the control unit 12 is connected to the panel 8 via a link 30. In this example, the link 30 is a wired link.

[0033] The server 60 includes, in particular, a microprocessor 64 and a memory 66. The microprocessor 64 is capable of executing instructions stored in the memory 66. Here, the memory 66 includes, in particular, the instructions of a management module 68 access rights and a module 70 for configuring electronic display panels. Memory 66 also includes a database 72 which, for each key identifier of system 2, associates access rights to be used to authorize and, alternately, prohibit the unlocking of each lock of system 2. Database 72 therefore contains, in particular, the access rights necessary to authorize and, alternately, prohibit the unlocking of lock 10. In database 72, each key identifier is also associated with personal information allowing the identification of the key holder(s). This personal information typically includes an apartment identifier and, possibly, the name and surname of the key holder, the address of the building in which they reside, and, possibly, other information about the key holder.Base 72 also contains all the information necessary to carry out a survey using panel 8.

[0034] When the instructions of modules 68, 70 are executed, these modules interact with a system administration station 80 of system 2. This station 80 is here connected to the server 60 via the network 62. Thus, the station 80 and the server 60 can be far apart from each other.

[0035] Station 80 is, for example, a computer comprising: - a central unit 82 equipped with software, such as an Internet browser, which allows interaction with modules 68, 70; - an 84-inch screen, and - an 86-digit keyboard.

[0036] Module 68 allows an administrator to modify the access rights contained in database 72. Module 68 is also capable of transmitting, via connection 50, an update of the access rights to control unit 12. In response to receiving this update, control unit 12 updates the locally stored access rights. Following this update, the locally stored access rights are identical to the access rights stored in database 72.

[0037] When executed by microprocessor 64, module 70 allows the information to be displayed by panel 8 to be defined and additional actions to be configured. This embodiment is subsequently described in the specific case where the additional action is the organization of a poll or a vote. Module 70 is also capable of transmitting to panel 8, via connection 50, the information to be displayed and the configuration of the additional actions to be implemented.

[0038] Figure 2 represents the electronic architecture of the control unit 12 in the specific case where it lacks a screen, buttons, microphone, and speaker. The control unit 12 therefore does not perform the functions of an electric door entry system or intercom. The control unit 12 comprises: - a 120 short-range reading head capable of establishing the 18 link to receive the identifier of key 14, - a wired interface 122 to connect the control unit 12 to the panel 8 via the link 30, - a long-range transceiver 124 capable of establishing the link 50 to communicate with the server 60, - a wired interface 126 capable of transmitting the opening command over the wired link 13, - a power supply interface 128 suitable for connecting the control unit 12 to an external power supply network, - a 130 microprocessor capable of executing instructions stored in memory, - a memory 132 containing the instructions and data necessary for the execution of the process in [Fig. 4], and - a bus 134 allowing the exchange of information between the different electronic components of the control unit 12 and the panel 8.

[0039] Memory 132 contains, in particular, the instructions for a local access control module 136. Memory 132 also contains a database 140 containing the access rights recorded locally in the control unit 12.

[0040] Module 136 is formed by the combination of microprocessor 130 and memory 132 containing the instructions of this module 138 and database 140. For simplicity [Fig. 2], in this figure, reference 136 points only to the instructions of this module 136 stored in memory 132.

[0041] The head 120 is a transponder reader. It includes, in particular, an antenna connected to an electronic matching circuit. The head 120 is fixed, on the outside, to a vertical wall of building 4. Typically, it is located near door 6, that is to say, generally, less than 50 m or less than 10 m or less than 3 m from this door 6.

[0042] The transceiver 124 is here a transceiver, for example, conforming to at least one of the following standards: the LTE-M standard (“Long-Term Evolution for Machine”), one of the third generation (3G) standards such as the UMTS standard (“Universal Mobile Telecommunications System”) and one of the fourth generation (4G) standards such as the LTE-Advanced standard (“Long Term Evolution -Advanced”).

[0043] Figure 3 shows in more detail the architecture of a panel 8. Panel 8 comprises: - a 150-inch screen, - a human-machine interface 152 for acquiring instructions transmitted by a user, and - a wired interface 154 to connect panel 8 to control unit 12 via link 30, - a read head 156 capable of establishing a connection to receive the identifier of key 14, - a microprocessor 158 capable of executing instructions stored in memory, - a memory 160 containing the data and instructions necessary for the execution of the process of [Fig.4], - a 162 bus enabling the exchange of information between the various electronic components of panel 8, - a 164 power supply interface suitable for connecting panel 8 to an external power supply network, and - a fixing 166 which allows the panel 8 to be hung without any degree of freedom on a wall in the common areas of building 4.

[0044] The screen 150 is capable of displaying at least alphanumeric characters stored in memory 160. It is a fairly large screen, i.e. one whose diagonal is greater than 30 cm or 50 cm.

[0045] The human-machine interface 152 allows a user to interact with the panel 8. Here, the human-machine interface 152 allows in particular to acquire a response from a user for each question displayed on the screen 150. For this purpose, in this embodiment, the human-machine interface 152 includes at least two keys configured to select one response from two or more possible responses.

[0046] The head 156 is, for example, structurally identical to the head 120 of the control unit 12. It allows the identifier of the key passed near this head 156 to be acquired.

[0047] Memory 160 includes, in particular, the instructions for a display panel control module 170. Module 170 is formed by the combination of the microprocessor 158 and memory 160, which contains the instructions for this module 170 and the database 172. For simplicity [Fig. 3], in this figure, the reference 170 points only to the instructions of this module 170 stored in memory 160.

[0048] When module 170 is executed by microprocessor 158, this module 170 is capable of displaying on screen 150 a question pre-recorded in a database 172 of data stored in memory 160. Module 170 is also configured to collect the answer to the displayed question acquired via the human-machine interface 152 and the user's key identifier acquired via the head 156. Module 170 records the collected answer in database 172 in association with the displayed question and the collected key identifier. In this text, the expression "recorded data X in association with data Y" means that a link between data X and Y is recorded in database 172 in addition to the data X and Y themselves. This link allows data X to be retrieved from data Y and vice versa.

[0049] The operation of the assembly formed by the panel 8 and the access control system 2 will now be described with reference to the method of [Fig.4].

[0050] The main operating principles of system 2 are known. For example, they are described in application EP2239932A1. Thus, the operation of system 2 is not described in detail hereafter.

[0051] For example, the process begins with a phase 300 of updating the access rights recorded in the database 140 of the central unit 12.

[0052] More specifically, during a step 302, an administrator connects to the server 60 using the administration workstation 80 and triggers the execution of the access rights management module 68 by the microprocessor 64.

[0053] During a step 304, station 80 acquires the administrator's commands and transmits them to the management module 68 which, in response, updates the access rights recorded in database 72 according to the commands received.

[0054] Next, in step 306, the access rights of the control unit 12 are updated according to the access rights recorded in the database 72. To do this, the server 60 connects to the control unit 12 and establishes the link 50. Then, the server 60 transmits the update to be performed to the control unit 12. In response, the control unit 12 updates the access rights recorded in the database 140 according to the update received. Once the update is performed, the access rights contained in the database 140 are, typically, identical to those contained in the database 72.

[0055] This update is triggered for example periodically or in response to a particular command acquired by the administration station 80.

[0056] Phase 300 of the update then ends and phase 310 of access control begins.

[0057] During step 312, the short-range connection 18 between the key 14 and the control unit 12 is established. This connection is established automatically as soon as the key 14 is sufficiently close to the head 120.

[0058] Then, during a step 314, the key 14 transmits, in particular, its identifier 24 to the central unit 12 via the link 18 and the reading head 120.

[0059] During step 316, in response, the identifier 24 is transmitted to the access control module 136.

[0060] During a step 322, in response to the receipt of the identifier 24 and other information transmitted by the key 14 and using the access rights pre-recorded in the database 140, the module 136 determines whether the key 14 is valid.

[0061] If key 14 is valid then, during step 324, module 136 generates the command opening and transmits it to the lock 10 via the wired link 13.

[0062] During a step 326, in response to receiving the opening command, the lock 10 moves to its unlocked position and the user can then open the door 6.

[0063] If the key 14 is not valid, then during step 328, the module 136 does not generate the opening command. In this case, no opening command is generated and the lock 10 remains in its locked position.

[0064] In addition to phase 300, the administrator proceeds to a phase 340 of configuring a survey.

[0065] For this purpose, during a step 342, the administrator connects to the server 60 using the administration workstation 80 and triggers the execution of the configuration module 70 of panel 8.

[0066] During step 344, station 80 acquires all the configuration data necessary for carrying out a survey and transmits it to module 70, which, in response, records it in database 72. This configuration data includes, in particular: - the question, in the form of a message to be displayed, and - the possible answers to this question.

[0067] In addition, the configuration data may include additional parameters such as: - the date on which the survey begins, - the date on which the survey ends, - conditions of participation allowing access to the survey to be restricted to a predetermined set of key identifiers, - the maximum number of responses associated with the same key identifier, - the maximum number of responses that can be recorded.

[0068] Next, during step 344, the server 60 transmits the configuration data to the module 170 of panel 8. The module 170 records this received configuration data in the database 172. To do this, the server 60 connects to the control unit 12 and establishes the link 50. Then, the server 60 transmits the configuration data to the control unit 12, which in turn retransmits it to the module 170 via the link 30. This transmission of configuration data to panel 8 is triggered, for example, in response to a transmission command received by the station on panel 8.

[0069] The configuration phase 340 is then completed and a survey implementation phase 350 is then executed by module 170.

[0070] During a step 352, module 170 triggers the display of the question recorded in database 172 on screen 150.

[0071] During a step 354, the human-machine interface 152 acquires the response se selected by a user to this question. For example, the user in front of the screen selects their answer using the keys of the human-machine interface 152.

[0072] Then, in step 356, to identify the user who responded, panel 8 asks that user to bring their key close to the read head 156. For example, here, it is assumed to be key 14. Module 170 then acquires the identifier 24 via the head 156.

[0073] During step 358, module 170 verifies that the acquired key identifier meets the participation requirements recorded in database 172. For example, these participation requirements include a list of key identifiers authorized to participate in this survey. If the acquired key identifier belongs to this list, then the user identified by this key identifier is authorized to participate in this survey. Otherwise, their participation is prohibited.

[0074] If module 170 determines that participation by the user identified by their key identifier is prohibited, then, at a step 360, a message is displayed on screen 150 to indicate that they are not authorized to participate and their response is not recorded in database 172.

[0075] Conversely, if module 170 determines that this user's participation is authorized, then, during a step 362, module 170 checks that, in base 172, this acquired key identifier is not already registered in association with the same question.

[0076] If so, during step 364, module 170 records in database 172: - the selected answer in association with the question, - the key identifier acquired in association with the recorded response, and - the date on which this response is recorded in database 172.

[0077] If the acquired key identifier is already stored in database 172 in association with this question, then, in step 366, module 170 replaces the old answer associated with the same question and the same key identifier with the new acquired answer. Thus, in this embodiment, a user can modify their answer, for example, as long as the survey's closing date has not yet expired.

[0078] In parallel, at any time during step 370, the administrator can consult the survey results. To do this, they connect to the server 60 using their workstation 80 and trigger the execution of module 70. Module 70 connects to the panel 8 via links 50 and 30 and retrieves the survey results recorded in database 172 to database 72.

[0079] From that moment on, during step 372, the administrator can consult and process the survey results.

[0080] Chapter II: Variants

[0081] Variants of the display panel:

[0082] Other embodiments of the human-machine interface 152 are possible. For example, the interface 152 may include, in addition to or instead of keys, a speech recognition module. The interface 152 may have a greater or lesser number of keys. For example, the interface 152 may have one key for each letter of the alphabet. The interface 152 may also be integrated into the screen 150. In this latter case, the screen 150 is a touchscreen.

[0083] Alternatively, link 30 is replaced by a short-range wireless link such as a wireless link conforming to the Bluetooth standard and, more specifically, to the BLE (“Bluetooth Low Energy”) standard. In this case, the wired interfaces 122 and 154 are replaced by short-range wireless transceivers.

[0084] In another embodiment, the panel 8 has its own long-distance transceiver. The panel 8 is then able to establish the long-distance link 50 without going through the transceiver 124 of the control unit 12. In this latter case, the wired interface 154 can be omitted.

[0085] Panel 8 is not necessarily fixed to a wall in the common areas. It can also be fixed to a support, mechanically independent of the walls of the common areas, located inside the common areas.

[0086] Alternatively, the assembly may include several display panels such as panel 8. These display panels are, for example, distributed in different locations within different common areas of the same building or within common areas of different buildings whose access is controlled by access control system 2.

[0087] Alternatively, the control module 170 of panel 8 is located in the control unit 12 or in a remote server such as server 60.

[0088] Variants of the access control unit:

[0089] Alternatively, the control unit 12 also performs the functions of an electric doorman. In this case, the control panel 12 includes a human-machine interface. This interface allows a visitor standing in front of the control panel 12 to call a resident of the building and then communicate with that resident through the interface. In response, the resident can trigger the generation and transmission of the opening command to the lock 10 by pressing a button on their handset. Typically, the control panel 12's human-machine interface includes the following components: a microphone, a speaker, and one or more call buttons to initiate a call to a resident. Optionally, this human-machine interface also includes a camera to record the visitor.

[0090] Other short-range transceivers may be used instead of or in addition to those previously described. Any transceiver capable of establishing a wireless personal area network (WPN) may be used. These WPNs are more commonly known as the acronym WP AN (“Wireless Personal Area Network”).

[0091] Other embodiments of the read heads are possible. For example, the read head can be chosen from the group consisting of an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag reader, a Bluetooth transceiver, a near-field transceiver, and a Zigbee transceiver. A near-field transceiver is a transceiver using near-field communication, more commonly known by the acronym NFC (Near Field Communication).

[0092] Alternatively, the access control unit 12 includes several reading heads, each located near a respective access door.

[0093] Other embodiments of the transceiver 124 are possible. Any transceiver capable of establishing a wireless wide area network can be used. These wireless wide area networks are more commonly known as cellular networks or by the acronym WWAN ("Wireless Wide Area Network").

[0094] Variants of the process:

[0095] Additional parameters for organizing the survey can be implemented. For example, the display of the results of the current survey on screen 150 can be allowed and, alternatively, prohibited using an additional parameter.

[0096] A survey can contain several questions. In this case, everything described here for a single question applies to each question. A survey can also take the form of a vote. A survey can also be used to identify users who wish to participate in the same event, such as a show. In this case, the message displayed on the screen could be, "Please pass your key in front of the reader if you wish to reserve a seat for this show." In this latter case, module 170 can stop recording responses as soon as the number of responses already recorded exceeds a predetermined threshold.

[0097] Typically, in addition to a question or message, the display allows the user to consult a document previously downloaded into the memory 160 of the panel 8. The user then has the option of consulting this document on the screen 150, for example, before selecting their answer.

[0098] Another possible use of panel 8 is to display information collected by the read head 156. For example, the cleaning technician is asked to pass his key in front of the head 156 when he arrives to clean and when he has finished. In this case, module 170 displays the cleaning technician's arrival and departure times on screen 150.

[0099] Steps 358 and 360 may be omitted. In this case, any key holder may participate in the survey without any restriction.

[0100] Other embodiments of step 358 are possible. For example, the part Participation in the survey is prohibited if the acquired key identifier belongs to a list pre-recorded in memory 160.

[0101] The order of certain steps can be modified. For example, step 356 of acquiring the key identifier using head 156 can be carried out before acquiring the resident's response.

[0102] Alternatively, step 366 is omitted. In this case, a resident cannot change their answer to a question.

[0103] Step 362 can also be omitted. In this case, several responses associated with the same key identifier and the same question can be recorded in base 172.

[0104] In a simplified embodiment, only the response and the key identifier are recorded in base 172. The date of the response is not recorded.

[0105] Other variants:

[0106] In this application, the memories of the electronic keys, the control unit 12, and the server 60 have been represented as a single memory block for the sake of simplicity. However, in practice, these memories may each be composed of several distinct memory blocks.

[0107] Door 6 is not necessarily an entrance door to a building. It may also be an access door to a room located inside the building such as, for example, a garage or a garbage room.

[0108] Chapter III: Advantages of the embodiments described

[0109] Using the same key as the one used to unlock the access door simplifies the identification mechanism for display panel 8. This is because each resident of the building is necessarily equipped with such a key. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide each user of panel 8 with an additional key or badge for identification when a survey is conducted via panel 8. Furthermore, the keys of the access control system 2 then fulfill two distinct functions: unlocking the building access door and acting as an identification token to identify a user's response.

[0110] Using a long-range transceiver common to the access control module 136 and the control module 170 of panel 8 makes it possible to further simplify the implementation of the display panel identification mechanism.

[0111] Associating a user's ID with their answer prevents a user from answering the same question multiple times. It also allows a specific user's answer to be retrieved so they can modify it later.

[0112] Identifying the user who responded also makes it possible to prohibit certain users from readers are asked to respond to the ongoing survey.

Claims

1. Claims Assembly comprising an electronic display panel (8), located in the common areas of a building, this electronic display panel comprising: - a screen (150) capable of displaying a question, - a human-machine interface (152) for acquiring a user's response to the displayed question, - a module (170) for controlling the electronic display panel comprising a memory containing the question to be displayed, this control module being capable of causing the display on the screen of the question recorded in the memory and of recording, in this memory, the response acquired via the human-machine interface in association with the displayed question, characterized in that the assembly also comprises: - an electric lock (10) which can be moved, in response to receiving an opening command: - from a locked position in which it holds a building access door in a closed position, - to an unlocked position in which the access door can be freely moved to an open position, - an electronic key (14) comprising a non-volatile memory (22) in which a unique identifier of this electronic key is recorded, - an access center (12) comprising: - an access control module (136) comprising a memory (132) containing pre-recorded access rights, this access control module being able to determine from a received key identifier and the access rights pre-recorded in its memory, whether or not this key is authorized to access the building and, if so, to generate and transmit the opening command to the electric lock, and if not, to inhibit the generation of the opening command, - a first reading head (120) secured to the building and located outside the building near the access door, this first reading head being able to acquire the identifier recorded in the non-volatile memory of the electronic key when this electronic key is presented near this first reading head and to transmit this key identifier to the access control module, in which: - the electronic display panel comprises a second key reading head (156) capable of acquiring the identifier recorded in the non-volatile memory of the same electronic key when this electronic key is presented near this second reading head, and - the control module (170) of the electronic display panel is configured to acquire the key identifier read by the second reading head and, in response to the acquisition of the response, to additionally record the acquired key identifier in association with the acquired response in the memory of the electronic display panel.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the assembly comprises: - an access rights server (60) enabling an administrator to manage the access rights recorded in the memory of the access control module (136) and to consult the responses recorded in the memory of the electronic display panel control module (170), and - a long-distance transceiver (124) capable of establishing a long-distance wireless link (50) for connecting the electronic display panel control module (170) and the access control module (136) to the access rights server via a public packet-switched network (62), this long-distance transceiver being common to these two modules.

3. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the control module (170) of the electronic display panel is configured to, in response to the acquisition of the answer, compare the key identifier acquired by the second reading head (156) with the key identifiers already recorded in the memory in association with the same question and when the acquired key identifier is already recorded in the memory in association with the same question, to prohibit the recording in this memory of an additional answer to this same question.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein, when the acquired key identifier is already stored in the memory (160) in association with the same question, the electronic display panel control module (170) is configured to replace the old answer associated with this key identifier in the memory with the latest acquired answer.

5. An assembly according to any preceding claim, in wherein the memory (160) comprises a list of key identifiers and the control module (170) of the electronic display panel is configured to, in response to the acquisition of the response, compare the key identifier acquired by the second reading head with the key identifiers contained in this list and to prohibit the recording of the response in the memory when the acquired key identifier does not belong to this list or, on the contrary, belongs to this list.

6. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the control module (170) comprises a clock and, each time a key identifier is recorded in association with a response, the date and time at which the response was acquired is also recorded, in the memory, in association with this response.

7. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each reading head (120, 156) is capable of: - establishing a short-distance wireless information transmission link (18) with the electronic key only over a distance of less than 10 meters, and - receiving the identifier of this electronic key via this short-distance link and then transmitting it to the access control module (136) when the reading head is the first reading head (120) or to the control module of the electronic display panel when the reading head is the second reading head (156).

8. Assembly according to claim 7, in which each reading head is capable of reading an RFID ("Radio Frequency IDentification") tag.

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