Remote unlocking system

Abstract

To provide a remote unlocking system which enables a management box for storing keys for opening a facility such as an evacuation shelter to be unlocked by remote control and opened quickly.SOLUTION: A remote unlocking system includes a master station 10 and individual household receivers 11 that receive wireless broadcasts transmitted from the master station at facility 1. A management box 20 is installed outside the facility and stores keys for locking / unlocking the facility. The management box includes a box body for storing the keys, a door, a door locking / unlocking unit for locking / unlocking the door, and an operating unit for operating the door locking / unlocking unit. Following the wireless broadcast, the master station 10 transmits an unlocking signal in the form of a DTMF signal that unlocks door 22 of management box 20, and individual household receiver 11 outputs the DTMF signal received following the wireless broadcast as an audio signal. The management box 20 includes a detector for the DTMF signal output from the individual household receiver 11. If the DTMF signal detected by the detector is an unlocking signal for unlocking the door of the management box, the operating unit operates the door locking / unlocking unit based on the unlocking signal to unlock the door.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a remote unlocking system that enables a control box that stores keys for opening facilities such as evacuation shelters to be unlocked by remote control from a master station. [Background technology]

[0002] Local governments across the country designate evacuation sites where residents can evacuate to protect themselves from the dangers of disasters such as typhoons, heavy rain, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and landslides. The main evacuation sites are local community centers and the nearest school gymnasiums, but the keys to lock and unlock these facilities are managed by facility managers, local government officials, and residents' association members. Therefore, when a disaster occurs, facility managers, local government officials, and residents' association members must quickly rush to designated evacuation sites with the keys, unlock the facilities, and smoothly evacuate residents and disaster victims into the facilities.

[0003] However, depending on the disaster situation, or if the key manager becomes a victim, it may not be possible to quickly reach the facility designated as an evacuation site, and in such cases, residents and victims who have evacuated to the facility designated as an evacuation site may be forced to wait outside the facility.

[0004] Given the above background, there are known disaster evacuation support systems (Patent Document 1) that are equipped with earthquake detection units and unlock electric locks when an earthquake is detected, automatic unlocking systems (Patent Document 2), and evacuation support systems that issue instruction information to unlock electronic locks when disaster information is acquired (Patent Document 3). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-85197 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-58803 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-26329 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in the systems of Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is difficult to set the earthquake sensitivity, and if the sensitivity is set high (for example, to activate at a seismic intensity of lower 5), it will not activate at earthquakes below that (for example, seismic intensity of 4 or less), and if the sensitivity is set low, it will activate more frequently, causing security problems.The system of Patent Document 3 can operate in facilities with emergency power sources during a power outage, but will not operate in facilities without emergency power sources, which may prevent evacuation support.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a remote unlocking system that enables a management box that stores keys for opening facilities such as evacuation shelters to be unlocked remotely from a parent station, thereby enabling the facilities to be opened quickly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the remote unlocking system according to the present invention comprises: The system comprises a master station and a receiver for each household in a facility that receives wireless broadcasts transmitted from the master station, and a management box for storing keys for locking and unlocking the facility is installed outside the facility; The management box includes a box body for storing the keys therein, a door for opening and closing the box body, a door locking / unlocking means for locking or unlocking the door to the box body, and an operating means for operating the door locking / unlocking means, The master station transmits a locking signal for locking the door of the management box or an unlocking signal for unlocking the door in the form of a DTMF signal following the radio broadcast, and the individual receiver outputs the received DTMF signal following the radio broadcast as an audio signal. The first feature of the management box is that it is equipped with a detector for the DTMF signal output from the individual household receiver, and when the DTMF signal detected by the detector is an unlocking signal to unlock the door of the management box, the operating means activates the door locking / unlocking means based on the unlocking signal, thereby unlocking the door.

[0009] The remote unlocking system according to the present invention comprises: A second feature is that the DTMF signal corresponding to the unlocking signal includes a signal for simultaneously unlocking all the control boxes under the control of the master station.

[0010] The remote unlocking system according to the present invention comprises: A third feature is that the DTMF signal corresponding to the unlocking signal includes a signal for unlocking the management boxes for each group.

[0011] The remote unlocking system according to the present invention comprises: A fourth feature is that the DTMF signal corresponding to the unlocking signal includes a signal for individually unlocking the management box.

[0012] The fifth feature is that the master station prepares in advance a single audio file containing the broadcast signal forming the wireless broadcast and the DTMF signal corresponding to the unlock signal for unlocking the storage box, and transmits the prepared audio file to each individual receiver.

[0013] The remote unlocking system according to the present invention comprises: A sixth feature is that when the DTMF signal detected by the detector is a locking signal for locking the management box, the operating means operates the door locking / unlocking means based on the locking signal, thereby locking the door. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] As explained above, according to the present invention, by transmitting an unlocking signal in the form of a DTMF signal that unlocks the control box that stores the keys to the facility that will be used as an evacuation shelter in a radio broadcast from the parent station, even if the key manager cannot rush to the scene or cannot arrive immediately, the person in need of evacuation can unlock the control box and remove the key inside, allowing the evacuation shelter to be quickly opened and the evacuation to be handled. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a remote unlocking system according to the present invention; [Figure 2] A diagram showing the appearance of the key management box, (A) is a front view, (B) is a side view, [Figure 3] A diagram showing the key management box with the door open. [Figure 4] An explanatory diagram showing the operation of locking and unlocking the door handle by key operation. [Figure 5] An explanatory diagram showing the operation of the door handle of the key management box; [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a control unit of a key management box; [Figure 7] FIG. 1 shows an example of a DTMF signal transmitted from a master station to individual receivers in a facility. [Figure 8] A diagram showing the relationship between DTMF signals and control signals. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of the door handle by remote control. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0016] The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a remote unlocking system, Fig. 2 is an external view of a key management box, and Fig. 3 is a view showing the key management box with the door open.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 1, the remote unlocking system S (hereinafter referred to as the system S) is a system that uses wireless broadcasts transmitted from a master station 10 to individual receivers 11 to unlock a key management box 20 (hereinafter referred to as the management box 20) installed outside an evacuation shelter 1. A DTMF signal is used to remotely unlock the management box 20 from the master station 10.

[0018] The master station 10 is installed in a city or town hall and functions as a disaster prevention administrative radio system in the event of a disaster. The system is equipped with a console and radio equipment, and uses an audio microphone from the console to broadcast disaster and disaster prevention information and other disaster prevention administrative radio messages in the event of an emergency. It also broadcasts pre-recorded disaster and disaster prevention information over the radio.

[0019] Disaster information and disaster prevention information include warning information, caution information, and evacuation information (shelters, evacuation advisories, evacuation instructions, etc.) in the event of a disaster (typhoon, heavy rain, inundation, flooding, earthquake, tsunami, etc.).

[0020] The master station 10 is equipped with a DTMF signal generator 12. The DTMF signal generator 12 generates a DTMF signal for outputting a control signal (unlock signal) to unlock a management box 20 installed outside the evacuation shelter 1 in the event of a disaster (emergency). The DTMF signal generator 12 corresponds to, for example, a device or app that has push buttons corresponding to the numbers 0 to 9 and the symbols *, A, B, C, and D and outputs the corresponding signal sounds. The DTMF signal is set for each management box 20 installed in each evacuation shelter (community center, gymnasium, public facility) and disaster prevention warehouse.

[0021] The individual receiver 11 receives the radio broadcast from the master station 10 using an external antenna 13 or by itself, and also receives the broadcast via a relay station if one is present, and outputs the received radio broadcast as audio from a speaker 14. The individual receiver 11 in FIG. 1 is assumed to be installed in a community center as an evacuation shelter 1. However, the installation location is not limited to this. It can be installed in other evacuation shelters (gymnasiums and other public facilities) as well as in ordinary homes.

[0022] The management box 20 is installed outside a facility designated as an evacuation site, for example, near the entrance to a community center, near the entrance to a school gymnasium, or near the entrance to a disaster prevention storehouse. In the illustrated example, it is installed outside near the entrance to a community center.

[0023] 2 and 3, the management box 20 includes a box body 21, a door 22 for opening and closing the front of the box body 21, a door locking / unlocking unit 30 for locking and unlocking the door 22, a control unit 40, and a power supply unit 50. The management box 20 is further connected to a sound collection unit 23 (see FIG. 1) for collecting (detecting) the sound of the DTMF signal from the individual household receiver 11.

[0024] The illustrated management box 20 has a locking section 24 for locking keys 2 and 3 and a holding section 25 for holding an emergency flashlight 4 inside the box body 21. Key 2 is for the entrance of the evacuation shelter (community center) 1, and key 3 is for the door of a nearby disaster prevention warehouse.

[0025] The door 22 of the management box 20 is a single-leaf door. The door locking / unlocking unit 30 has a handle receiving portion 31 attached to the front of the door 22 near the free end, and a door handle 32 is provided on the handle receiving portion 31.

[0026] When a dedicated key is inserted into the keyhole 33 at the bottom end of the door handle 32 and turned in the locking direction, the door handle 32 can be locked and the management box 20 can be locked. When the dedicated key is turned in the unlocking direction, the door handle 32 is unlocked and the management box 20 can be unlocked. When the door handle 32 is unlocked, the door 22 can be opened by pulling out and turning the door handle 32.

[0027] That is, when the dedicated key 5 is inserted into the keyhole 33 of the door handle 32 and turned in the locking direction (Fig. 4(A)), the deadbolt 35 protrudes from the operating part 34 built into the cylinder and engages with the striker 37 located in the opposite position, locking the door handle 32. When the dedicated key 5 is turned in the unlocking direction (Fig. 4(B)), the deadbolt 35 descends and the door handle 32 is unlocked.

[0028] A locking member 39, oriented perpendicular to the direction of the door handle 32, is supported on the side opposite the rotation support portion 38 of the door handle 32, and when the door handle 32 is closed and the door 22 is closed, this locking member 39 turns sideways (FIG. 3) and locks with the inner edge 21a of the box body 21, thereby locking the door 22. When the locking member 39 is locked with the inner edge 21a of the box body 21 in this manner, and the deadbolt 35 engages with the strike 37, the door 22 is locked to the management box 20.

[0029] When the key 5 is turned in the unlocking direction (Fig. 4(B)), the door handle 32 is pulled toward you (Fig. 5(A)), and the door handle 32 is rotated (Fig. 5(B)), the locking member 39 faces downward (Fig. 5(C)), allowing you to open the door 22. The dedicated key 5 is managed by the facility manager, local government officials, and residents' association officials.

[0030] The engagement of the deadbolt 35 with the strike 37 can be remotely controlled by a DTMF signal from the master station 10.

[0031] As an example, a permanent magnet is disposed in the actuating unit 34, and a solenoid is disposed in the actuating unit 36. When the actuating unit 36 ​​is energized (ON) by a control signal (unlock signal) from the control unit 40, a repulsive force is generated by the coil in the solenoid of the actuating unit 36, which pushes down the deadbolt 35 against the repulsive force of the permanent magnet in the actuating unit 34, thereby unlocking the door handle 32.

[0032] On the other hand, when the control unit 40 cuts off (OFF) the power supply to the operating unit 36 ​​by a control signal (locking signal), the deadbolt 35 is pushed up by the repulsive force of the permanent magnet of the operating unit 34, and the door handle 32 is locked.

[0033] A locking button 26 is provided on the front of the door 22. After removing the key 2, the door 22 is closed, the door handle 32 is returned to its original position, and when the locking button 26 is pressed, a control signal is sent from the control unit 40 to cut off the power supply (ON) to the operating unit 36, and the deadbolt 35 is pushed up by the repulsive force of the permanent magnet, locking the door handle 32 and locking the door 22.

[0034] On the front of the door 22, there are provided an indicator lamp 27 that indicates the locked state (lights up in green) and the unlocked state (lights up in red), and a human sensor 28 that lights up when a person approaches the key management box 20.

[0035] 6 shows the configuration of the control unit 40. The control unit 40 includes a signal input unit 41, a signal determination unit 42, a setting unit 43, a storage unit 44, and a control output unit 45.

[0036] The signal input unit 41 receives the DTMF signal collected by the sound collection unit 23. The signal determination unit 42 determines the control signal (unlock / lock) to be output from the input DTMF signal. An example of the input DTMF signal is shown in Fig. 7.

[0037] DTMF (Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency) signals transmit a total of 16 codes, including the numbers 0 to 9 and the symbols *, A, B, C, and D, as synthesized signal sounds in the low and high audio frequency bands. In the master station 10, a DTMF signal generator 12 is used to generate DTMF signals for each hierarchy (all / group / individual) and control (lock / unlock) shown in Figure 7, and these signals are registered in advance as audio files.

[0038] The DTMF signal in the illustrated example consists of six digits, with the first three digits indicating the hierarchy (all: "000" / group: "111" / individual: "222") and the last three digits indicating the type of control (lock: "123" / unlock: "456"). To distinguish it from the disaster prevention information that is broadcast simultaneously, an audio "*" is added before and after the DTMF signal.

[0039] The DTMF signals can be used to divide the hierarchy into groups by region (e.g., "111" to "119"), and can also be used to individually set the management boxes 20 to be remotely controlled (e.g., "221" to "229").

[0040] The setting unit 43 sets the hierarchy and operation type of the input DTMF signal, and the control signal (power OFF / power ON) for each DTMF signal, in accordance with the settings of the master station 10. Fig. 8 shows an example of the control signal for each DTMF signal. The storage unit 44 stores, together with the control output program, a list T (Fig. 8) that includes the input DTMF signals and the corresponding control signals in accordance with the settings of the master station 10.

[0041] The control output unit 45 outputs and transmits a control signal (lock / unlock) to the operation unit 36 ​​based on the input DTMF signal in accordance with the determination of the signal determination unit 42.

[0042] The power supply unit 50 is made up of a storage battery and can operate the control unit 40 for approximately 12 hours. The management box 20 is equipped with a 100V adapter 29, which can receive power directly from the evacuation shelter 1 or store it in the power supply unit 50. It can also receive power from solar panels.

[0043] Next, a method for unlocking the management box 20 using the system S will be described with reference to a specific example.

[0044] When a disaster occurs, a master station 10 installed in a city or town hall wirelessly broadcasts disaster prevention information (e.g., "ABC Community Center will be opened as an evacuation shelter") and a DTMF signal (e.g., "000456") for unlocking a control box 20 at the evacuation shelter to individual receivers 11 installed in community centers and homes in the city or town area.

[0045] The disaster prevention information and the DTMF signal are prepared and registered in the master station 10 as a single audio file, and the audio file is wirelessly broadcast by disaster prevention administrative radio equipment or the like.

[0046] When the individual receiver 11 installed in the evacuation shelter ("ABC Community Center") 1 receives the disaster prevention information and the DTMF signal, and the disaster prevention information and the DTMF signal sound are broadcast from the speaker 14 of the individual receiver 11, the nearby sound collection unit 23 detects the DTMF signal sound and transmits the detected DTMF signal sound to the control unit 40 of the management box 20.

[0047] In the control unit 40 of the management box 20, the signal input unit 41 receives a DTMF signal ("000456"), and then the signal determination unit 42 determines the hierarchy ("000") and operation type ("456") of the DTMF signal based on the control signal data table T. Next, based on the determination result, the control output unit 45 outputs a control signal (power ON) and transmits the control signal (power ON) to the operation unit 36.

[0048] If the hierarchy of the DTMF signal transmitted from the master station 10 is simultaneous ("000"), an unlock signal (power ON) is sent simultaneously to all of the management boxes 20 managed by the master station 10. If the hierarchy of the DTMF signal is a specific group ("111"), an unlock signal (power ON) is sent to the management boxes 20 included in the specific group ("111"). If the hierarchy included in the DTMF signal is individual ("222"), an unlock signal (power ON) is sent to the specific (222: ABC Community Center) management box 20.

[0049] When the control unit 40 sends an unlock signal (energized ON) to the operating unit 36, a repulsive force is generated in the solenoid coil of the operating unit 36, pushing down the deadbolt 35, thereby unlocking the door 22.

[0050] In accordance with disaster prevention information ("ABC Community Center will be opened as an evacuation shelter"), an evacuee who has evacuated to evacuation shelter ("ABC Community Center") 1 can open door 22 from management box 20, take out key 2 from inside, quickly unlock the entrance to evacuation shelter 1, open evacuation shelter 1, and evacuate into the room of evacuation shelter 1. He or she can also evacuate other evacuees into the room.

[0051] Furthermore, by taking out key 3, it is possible to unlock a nearby disaster prevention warehouse and quickly transport necessary disaster prevention supplies (blankets, mats, generators, daily necessities, emergency food, etc.) from the disaster prevention warehouse to evacuation shelter 1.

[0052] According to this system S, in the event of a disaster, there is no need to wait for the manager who manages the management box 20 of the evacuation shelter 1 to arrive, and even if the manager cannot arrive due to a disaster, the management box 20 can be immediately unlocked by remote control from the parent station 10, and the evacuees themselves can take out the key 2 inside, unlock the evacuation shelter 1, and open the evacuation shelter 1, thereby enabling rapid evacuation.

[0053] This system S is not limited to use in emergencies. For the purpose of opening and using a community center or gymnasium during normal times, the management box 20 can be unlocked by remote control from the master station 10. After the community center or gymnasium is used, the management box 20 can be locked by remote control from the master station 10, not just by the locking button 26.

[0054] In this system S, the indicator lamp 27 of the management box 20 lights up green when it is locked and red when it is unlocked. When the motion sensor 28 detects a person, a guidance message is displayed, and the user can follow the guidance to remove the keys 2 and 3 and lock the door 22.

[0055] In this system S, the remote locking and unlocking operation of the door 22 of the management box 20 is not limited to the above-mentioned structural example using the cooperation of a solenoid and a permanent magnet. Any structure that engages the deadbolt with the strike by electrical means is included in the present invention. Furthermore, the structure for locking the door handle is not limited to a deadbolt and strike, and other locking structures may be used.

[0056] Furthermore, in this system S, the parent station may be a mobile radio base station, and a DTMF signal for unlocking the key management box for opening the facility may be transmitted in conjunction with the disaster prevention administrative radio broadcast from the radio base station, and this may be received by individual receivers directly or via a relay station or child station. [Industrial Applicability]

[0057] The present invention can be used as a remote unlocking system that unlocks a key management box installed outside a facility by remote control from a master station. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1 shelter 2,3,5 keys 4. Flashlight 10 Master station 11 Household receivers 12 DTMF signal generator 13 External Antenna 14 speakers 20 Key management box 21 Box body 21a Inner edge 22 Door 23 Sound collection section 24 Latch part 25 Holding part 26 Locking button 27 Indicator lamp 28 Human Sensor 29 Adapter 30 Door locking / unlocking section 31 Handle holder 32 Door handle 33 Keyhole 34,36 Actuating part 35 Deadbolt 37 Strikes 38 Rotation support part 39 Locking member 40 Control Unit 41 Signal input section 42 Signal discrimination unit 43 Setting section 44 Preservation Department 45 Control output section 50 Power supply section S Remote unlocking system

Claims

1. The system comprises a master station and a receiver for each household in a facility that receives wireless broadcasts transmitted from the master station, and a management box for storing keys for locking and unlocking the facility is installed outside the facility; The management box includes a box body for storing the keys therein, a door for opening and closing the box body, a door locking / unlocking means for locking or unlocking the door to the box body, and an operating means for operating the door locking / unlocking means, The master station transmits a locking signal for locking the door of the management box or an unlocking signal for unlocking the door in the form of a DTMF signal following the radio broadcast, and the individual household receiver outputs the received DTMF signal following the radio broadcast as an audio signal; A remote unlocking system characterized in that the management box is equipped with a detector for the DTMF signal output from the individual household receiver, and when the DTMF signal detected by the detector is an unlocking signal to unlock the door of the management box, the operating means activates the door locking / unlocking means based on the unlocking signal, thereby unlocking the door.

2. 2. The remote unlocking system according to claim 1, wherein the DTMF signal corresponding to the unlocking signal includes a signal for simultaneously unlocking all management boxes under the control of the master station.

3. 2. The remote unlocking system according to claim 1, wherein the DTMF signal corresponding to the unlocking signal includes a signal for unlocking the storage boxes in groups.

4. 2. The remote unlocking system according to claim 1, wherein the DTMF signal corresponding to the unlocking signal includes a signal for individually unlocking the storage box.

5. 2. The remote unlocking system according to claim 1, wherein the master station prepares in advance a single audio file containing the broadcast signal forming the radio broadcast and the DTMF signal corresponding to the unlock signal for unlocking the storage box, and transmits the prepared audio file to each individual receiver.

6. 2. The remote unlocking system according to claim 1, wherein when the DTMF signal detected by the detector is a locking signal for locking the door of the management box, the operating means operates the door locking / unlocking means based on the locking signal to lock the door.

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