Tablet system

Abstract

To provide a lock system with excellent usability.SOLUTION: The lock system comprises: an electric lock 2 that locks / unlocks a door; a mobile unit 3 that is possessed by a user; a biometric authentication part 5 that authenticates biometric authentication information acquired from a biometric authentication information acquisition part 4; a key authentication part 6 that authenticates key authentication information output from the mobile unit 3; a third signal authentication part 8 that authenticates a third authentication signal input from a third signal input part 7 arranged in a part other than the mobile unit 3; and a lock control part 10 equipped with a lock operation part 9 for controlling the electric lock 2. The mobile unit 3 responds to an authentication information output request output from the lock control part 10, enabling the key authentication information to be output. The lock control part 10 locks / unlocks the electric lock 2 based on a successful authentication of the key authentication information from the mobile unit 3 responding to the authentication information output request output on a condition that the authentication is successful in the biometric authentication part 5. When the authentication of the key authentication information fails after the biometric authentication information is successfully authenticated, the lock control part carries out unlocking when the authentication is successful in the third signal authentication part 8.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lock system.

Background Art

[0002] As a lock system that combines biometric authentication means such as face authentication and an authentication signal from a mobile key possessed by a user for the unlocking operation of the front door 1, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known.

[0003] In this conventional example, the lock system includes a smart lock device that is locked and unlocked by a wireless signal, a mobile phone that sends a locking and unlocking wireless signal to the smart lock device, an intercom sub-unit equipped with a camera, and a cloud server equipped with a face authentication unit that authenticates a face image acquired by the intercom sub-unit.

[0004] The locking and unlocking operation for the smart lock device is performed on the condition that authentication of the face image acquired by the intercom sub-unit is successful. When the authentication of the face image is successful, the unlocking operation for the smart lock device is permitted. When a locking and unlocking signal is output from the mobile phone in the permitted state, the smart lock device performs a locking and unlocking operation.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, in the above-described conventional example, there is a problem that the usability is poor because an operation on the mobile phone is further required even when the face authentication is successful.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, and an object thereof is to provide a tablet system with good usability.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] According to the present invention, the above object is achieved by an electric lock 2 for locking and unlocking a door 1, a portable device 3 held by a user, a biometric authentication unit 5 that authenticates biometric authentication information acquired from a biometric authentication information acquisition unit 4, a key authentication unit 6 that authenticates key authentication information output from the portable device 3, a third signal authentication unit 8 that authenticates a third authentication signal input from a third signal input unit 7 disposed outside the portable device 3, and a lock operation unit 9 that performs a locking and unlocking operation on the electric lock 2, and has a lock control unit 10 that controls the electric lock 2, the portable device 3 is capable of outputting key authentication information in response to an authentication information output request output from the lock control unit 10 formed, the lock control unit 10 performs a locking and unlocking operation on the electric lock 2 when authentication of the key authentication information from the portable device 3 for the authentication information output request output on the condition that authentication is established in the biometric authentication unit 5 is successful caused, when authentication of the key authentication information after successful authentication of the biometric authentication information fails, the unlocking operation is performed when authentication is successful in the third signal authentication unit 8, and the third signal authentication unit 8 outputs an authentication success signal when the third signal input unit 7 is operated by a predetermined operation method and is achieved by providing a tablet system.

[0009] The tablet system has a portable device 3 held by a user, an electric lock 2, and a lock control unit 10 that controls the electric lock 2. The lock control unit 10 has a biometric authentication unit 5 that authenticates fingerprints, faces, vein images, etc. acquired by the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 4, and a key authentication unit 6 that authenticates key authentication information output by the portable device 3. When authentication is successful in the biometric authentication unit 5, an output request for key authentication information is output to the portable device 3.

[0010] When the lock control unit 10 outputs an authentication information output request, the portable device 3 is configured to output key authentication information as a response signal thereto. When the lock control unit 10 that has output the authentication information output request in the locked state receives the response signal from the portable device 3, the key authentication unit 6 performs an authentication operation on the key authentication information in the response signal. When the authentication is successful, an unlocking and locking operation command is output to the lock operation unit 9, and the electric lock 2 is unlocked and locked.

[0011] Therefore, in the present invention, when the authentication by the biometric authentication unit 5 is successful, after automatically acquiring the key authentication information of the portable device 3, an authentication operation for this key authentication information is executed. When the authentication is successful, the electric lock 2 can be unlocked and locked. Therefore, it is not necessary to take out or operate the portable device 3, and the usability is improved.

[0012] Also, after the biometric authentication is successful, if the authentication for the portable device 3 fails, a predetermined third authentication signal is input from a third signal input unit 7 different from the portable device 3, and when this third authentication signal is authenticated, an unlocking operation is performed.

[0013] For this reason, even if the portable device 3 is forgotten to be carried or the battery runs out, it will not be locked out. Furthermore, since the unlocking operation by the successful authentication of the third authentication signal is conditional on the successful authentication by biometric authentication, the anti-theft performance is ensured.

[0014] Also, the lock system has a human presence sensor 11, the biometric authentication unit 5 starts operating by detecting a human body by the human presence sensor 11, and the biometric authentication unit 5 can be configured to perform face authentication based on a face image acquired by a camera as an information acquisition unit that starts operating by detecting a human body by the human presence sensor 11.

[0015] With such a configuration, the lock control unit 10 automatically starts imaging and control by the camera based on the detection of a human body by the human sensor 11, and performs face authentication. By adopting face authentication as the authentication method, for example, unlike fingerprint authentication that requires an operation of placing a finger on the sensor, since the authentication operation is performed simply by bringing the face closer to a position where imaging by the camera is possible, the usability is improved.

[0016] Furthermore, it has key authentication information output operation means 12 for outputting key authentication information from the portable device 3 by the operation of the user, When the lock control unit 10 constitutes a lock system that unlocks the lock operation unit 9 by the successful authentication of the key authentication information output by the operation on the key authentication information output operation means 12 when the authentication in the biometric authentication unit 5 fails, it is possible to grant the unlocking authority even to a user for whom a face authentication image is not registered, thus improving the usability.

[0017] Also, the third signal authentication unit 8 outputs an authentication success signal when the third signal input unit 7 is operated by a predetermined operation method, for Since the input operation to the third signal input unit 7 can be performed without requiring special access means, the usability does not deteriorate. Also, the third signal authentication unit 8 only authenticates when there is a predetermined operation method for the third signal input unit, for example, a long press, or a combination of a long press and a short press in the form of a Morse signal, etc., so the anti-theft performance is not reduced.

[0018] In this way, by encrypting the input method to the third signal input unit 7, even if it is arranged at a position where a third party can operate, that is, on the door 1 or its surroundings, the anti-theft performance does not decrease. Moreover, since it is not necessary to arrange the third signal input unit 7 at a position unknown to the third party, the usability is improved.

[0019] In this case, if the key authentication information output operation means 12 for outputting key authentication information from the portable device 3 is used as the third signal input unit 7, it is not necessary to separately set the third signal input unit 7, so the structure can be simplified.

Advantages of the Invention

[0020] According to the present invention, when the authentication in the biometric authentication unit is successful, the user can enjoy improved usability because the authentication operation of the portable device is automatically executed without any operation by the user.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the lock system includes an electric lock 2, a lock control unit 10 that controls the locking and unlocking states of the electric lock 2, and a portable device 3 for remotely controlling the lock control unit 10.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, the electric lock 2 is incorporated in the door 1 and the locking body is operated by an electric actuator to transition between the locked and unlocked states.

[0024] The portable device 3 includes a communication unit 3a, a locking button 3b and an unlocking button 3c as key authentication information output operation means 12. The communication unit 3a includes an LF receiving unit 3a1 capable of receiving LF band radio waves, a UHF transmitting unit 3a2 that transmits UHF band radio waves, and a control unit 3d that controls these.

[0025] In response to an authentication information output request (request signal) output from the lock control unit 10 described later, in addition to the passive operation of outputting key authentication information (ID information) set for each portable device 3, it is also possible to perform an active operation of outputting key authentication information together with an unlocking / locking type signal by operating the unlocking / locking buttons 3b and 3c. When the LF reception unit 3a1 of the communication unit 3a receives a request signal from the lock control unit 10, the control unit 3d determines that the own station is included in the output request of the request signal, and then executes a passive operation of outputting key authentication information from the UHF transmission unit 3a2.

[0026] On the other hand, when an operation on the unlocking / locking buttons 3b and 3c is detected, the control unit 3d executes an active operation of outputting key authentication information from the UHF transmission unit 3a2.

[0027] The lock control unit 10 includes a communication unit 10a, an authentication unit 13, a biometric authentication information acquisition unit 4, a key authentication information output operation means 12, a third signal input unit 7, a human sensor 11, a lock operation unit 9, an unlocking / locking state detection unit 10b for detecting the unlocking / locking state of the electric lock 2, a door state detection unit 10c for detecting the opening / closing state of the door 1, a display unit 10d for notifying the user of a transition to the unlocking / locking state or displaying a necessary operation instruction, a timer unit 10e for measuring the time limit of the control process, and a control unit 10f for controlling each of the above-described units.

[0028] The communication unit 10a includes a UHF reception unit 10a1 and an LF transmission unit 10a2. When the UHF reception unit 10a1 receives a predetermined signal, the control unit 10f extracts the unlocking / locking type signal and outputs it to the key authentication unit 6 if the ID key authentication information of the portable device 3 and the unlocking / locking type signal are included.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, in order to enable communication with the communication unit 3a of the portable device 3, an antenna (not shown) is incorporated in the door handle 14. Further, a request switch 15 is disposed at a position where it can be operated from the outside of the door 1 on the door handle 14. In this example, the request switch 15 is formed by a push button switch or a capacitance sensor.

[0030] The request switch 15 functions as the key authentication information output operation means 12. When the control unit 10f detects an operation on the request switch 15 as the key authentication information output operation means 12, it outputs a request signal from the LF transmission unit 10a2 and waits for a response from the portable device 3. When the UHF reception unit 10a receives a response signal within a predetermined response time, it extracts the key authentication information and determines whether authentication is possible by the key authentication unit 6.

[0031] The authentication unit 13 includes the key authentication unit 6, the biometric authentication unit 5, and the third signal authentication unit 8 for authenticating the access authority by the portable device 3 as described above. Each compares the authentication target information with the authentication registration information stored in a storage unit (not shown) and outputs authentication establishment information when they match.

[0032] For biometric authentication, it is possible to adopt vein authentication, fingerprint authentication, etc. Depending on the type of biometric authentication adopted, for the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 4 for acquiring predetermined biometric authentication information, a vein scanner or the like is used in the case of vein authentication.

[0033] In this example, for biometric authentication, face authentication that can acquire authentication information without requiring contact with the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 4 is used. As shown in FIG. 2, a camera 16 as the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 4 is arranged on the surface of the door 1.

[0034] The third signal authentication unit 8 authenticates the authentication information input from the third signal input unit 7. In this example, in addition to the function as the key authentication information output operation means 12 described above, the request switch 15 has a function as the third signal input unit 7, and a continuous operation (long press operation in this example) on the request switch 15 over a predetermined time is regarded as a third authentication signal that can be authenticated by the third signal authentication unit 8.

[0035] Therefore, when the control unit 10f detects a pressing operation on the request switch 15, the authentication operation by the third signal authentication unit 8 is started. When a predetermined pressing duration on the request switch 15 is observed by measuring the pressing operation time in the timing unit 10e, the third signal authentication unit 8 outputs an authentication success signal.

[0036] In this example, a long-press operation on the request switch 15 is adopted as an operation that can be authenticated by the third signal authentication unit 8. However, in addition, for example, a pulling operation on the door handle 14 for an appropriate period of time, or a pulling or pushing operation in the form of a Morse signal, etc., can be adopted as appropriate operations.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, the human presence sensor 11 has a detection unit installed on the surface of the door 1. When the human presence sensor 11 outputs a human body detection signal, the control unit 10f activates the camera 16 to start the authentication operation in the biometric authentication unit 5. When the authentication in the biometric authentication unit 5 is successful, a request signal is automatically generated and output from the communication unit 10a.

[0038] The lock operation unit 9 outputs a locking or unlocking drive signal to the electric lock 2 to drive the electric actuator of the electric lock 2 to the locking operation side or the unlocking operation side, thereby changing the state of the electric lock 2.

[0039] Further, the lock control unit 10 includes a locking / unlocking state detection unit 10b that detects the locking / unlocking state of the electric lock 2. When the key authentication information from the portable device 3 is authenticated by the key authentication unit 6 in the passive operation, the control unit 10f sets a drive signal for reversing the locking / unlocking state detected by the locking / unlocking state detection unit 10b in the lock operation unit 9 to reverse the state of the electric lock 2.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows the control flow of the lock control unit 10. First, when the human presence sensor 11 detects that a person is standing in front of the door 1 and outputs a human body detection signal (step S1), a human body detection time process is executed (step S2). As will be described later, a face authentication operation and a key authentication operation by the passive operation of the portable device 3 are continuously executed, and then a portable device authentication process by an authentication operation described later is executed (step S3).

[0041] When step S3 ends, it is determined whether there is no person in front of the door 1, that is, whether the human body detection output of the human sensor 11 is OFF (step S4). If it is detected that it is OFF, the process returns to step S1.

[0042] On the other hand, when no human body is detected in step S1, a portable device authentication process by the same authentication operation as in step S3 is executed (step S5). After completion, the process returns to step S1.

[0043] Fig. 4 shows the details of the process at the time of human body detection. The process at the time of human body detection is the acquisition of face information automatically executed by the detection of the human body by the human sensor 11, that is, it starts from the activation of the camera (step 20). Face authentication uses the face image acquired within a preset time as authentication information. In order to limit the acquisition time of the face information within a predetermined set time, measurement by a face authentication timer using the timer unit 10e is started following step 20 (step S21). If face authentication is not established within the set time (steps S22, S23), the process at the time of human body detection ends, and the key authentication operation by the active operation of the portable device 3 in Fig. 3 is executed (step S5).

[0044] On the contrary, when face authentication is established in step S22, the control unit 10f checks the state of the locking / unlocking state detection unit 10b. If it is in the locked state (step 220), the control unit 10f sets an unlocking request signal in the communication unit 10a and outputs it from the LF transmission unit 10a2 (step S221). The unlocking request signal may include an unlocking command in the request signal itself, or may hold the unlocking command as a flag in the lock control unit 10 and output only the request signal.

[0045] In the present invention, when it is determined in step S220 that the locked state exists, that is, when the purpose is unlocking, a third authentication process is prepared to prevent forced unlocking due to battery depletion of the portable device 3, forgetting to carry the device, etc. In order to limit the execution time of the third authentication process, after step S221, timing by the emergency unlocking timer is started (step S222), and then, authentication of the portable device 3 is executed (step S223).

[0046] When the authentication for the portable device 3 is successful in step S222, the control unit 10f sets an unlocking drive signal to the lock operation unit 9, operates the electric lock 2 to unlock, and ends the process at the time of human body detection (step S2231).

[0047] On the other hand, when the authentication of the portable device 3 fails in step S223, in order to determine the presence or absence of the third authentication operation, the state transition of the request switch 15 as the third signal input unit 7 is detected. When the third signal authentication unit 8 detects the transition of the request switch 15 from the OFF state to the ON state (step S224), in order to determine whether the operation on the request switch 15 is a signal that can be authenticated by the third signal authentication unit 8, that is, whether it is a long-press operation for a predetermined time, a long-press detection timer is started (step S225).

[0048] When the pressing operation on the request switch 15 continues for a predetermined time and the long-press timer times out (step S226), the third signal authentication unit 8 outputs an authentication success signal, and the control unit 10f that has received the authentication success signal sets an unlocking drive signal to the lock operation unit 9, operates the electric lock 2 to unlock, and ends the process at the time of human body detection (step S2231).

[0049] Also, when it has not timed out in step S226, in order to detect the cancellation during the long-press operation, the transition of the request switch from ON to OFF is determined (step S227), and when the transition of the request switch is detected, an unlocking request signal is transmitted (step S228).

[0050] On the other hand, if the transition of the request switch is not detected in step S227, it is determined whether the timeout of the emergency unlocking timer set in step S222 has occurred (step S229). If it is within the set time, the process returns to step S223. If the timeout has occurred, the process for detecting a human body is terminated.

[0051] On the other hand, when it is determined that the unlocking state is reached in step S220, a locking request signal is output (step S2201), and the portable device 3 is authenticated by the key authentication unit 6 (step S2202).

[0052] If the authentication fails in step S2202, since there is no risk of expelling the user as in the case of the unlocking operation, the process for detecting a human body is terminated without performing the authentication operation in the third signal authentication unit 8. If the authentication is successful, the locking operation is executed and the process for detecting a human body is terminated (step S2203).

[0053] When the above process for detecting a human body is completed, the portable device authentication process by the authentication operation is executed.

[0054] The portable device authentication process by the authentication operation is mainly set for the convenience of users who have not registered the face image as the face authentication image. While the above-described process for detecting a human body is sequentially executed without requiring a special operation by the user except for the third authentication operation, the authentication operation of the portable device 3 is performed by an active operation on the portable device 3 by the user or an operation on the key authentication information output operation means 12 (in this example, the request switch 15) by the user.

[0055] First, when the above-described process for detecting a human body is completed, the control unit 10f monitors an operation on the request switch 15 as the key authentication information output operation means 12 (step S30). When an operation is performed, a request signal is set in the LF transmission unit 10a2 and the response signal from the portable device 3 is authenticated by the key authentication unit 6 (step S31).

[0056] When the authentication of the portable device 3 is successful in step S31, the locking / unlocking state detection unit 10b detects the locking / unlocking state (step S32). When it is in the locked state, an unlocking operation is performed (step S33), and this process ends. When the unlocked state is detected in step S32, a locking operation is performed (step S34), and this process ends.

[0057] On the other hand, when the operation of the request switch 15 is not detected in step S30, the key authentication information output from the portable device 3 by the authentication operation (active operation) on the portable device 3 by the user is monitored (step S300). When the UHF reception unit 10a1 does not receive the key authentication information from the portable device 3, this process ends.

[0058] Also, when the key authentication information is received in step S300, authentication is performed by the key authentication unit 6 (step S301). When the authentication fails, this process ends. When the authentication is successful, the locking / unlocking type signal transmitted together with the key authentication information is analyzed (step S302). When the locking / unlocking type signal is an unlocking command transmitted by operating the unlocking button 3c of the portable device 3, an unlocking operation is performed (step S303). When it is a locking command, after performing a locking operation (step S304), this process ends.

[0059] As described above, when human body detection is not performed in step S1, that is, when the user is not around the door 1 or when the human presence sensor 11 fails, as shown in FIG. 3, the portable device authentication process by the authentication operation is executed. Since this process is exactly the same as the process (S3) executed following the human body detection process, the description is omitted.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0060] 1 Door 2 Electric Lock 3 Portable Device 4 Biometric Information Acquisition Unit 5 Biometric Authentication Unit 6 Key Authentication Unit 7 Third Signal Input Unit 8 Third Signal Authentication Unit 9 Tablet Operation Unit 10 Tablet Control Unit 11 Human Sensor 12 Key Authentication Information Output Operation Means

Claims

1. An electric lock for locking and unlocking a door, a portable device held by a user, a biometric authentication unit that authenticates biometric authentication information obtained from a biometric authentication information acquisition unit, a key authentication unit that authenticates key authentication information output from the portable device, a third signal authentication unit that authenticates a third authentication signal input from a third signal input unit disposed outside the portable device, and a lock control unit that controls the electric lock and includes a lock operation unit for performing a locking and unlocking operation on the electric lock, the portable device is configured to be able to output key authentication information in response to an authentication information output request output from the lock control unit, the lock control unit causes the electric lock to perform a locking and unlocking operation when authentication of the key authentication information from the portable device for the authentication information output request output on the condition that authentication is successful in the biometric authentication unit, and when authentication of the key authentication information after successful authentication of the biometric authentication information fails, the lock is unlocked when authentication is successful in the third signal authentication unit, and the third signal authentication unit is a lock system that outputs an authentication success signal when the third signal input unit is operated by a predetermined operation method.

2. having a human presence sensor, the biometric authentication unit starts operating by detecting a human body by the human presence sensor, and the lock system according to claim 1, wherein the biometric authentication unit executes face authentication based on a face image obtained by a camera as a biometric authentication information acquisition unit that starts operating by detecting a human body by the human presence sensor.

3. having key authentication information output operation means for outputting key authentication information from the portable device by an operation of a user, the lock control unit causes the lock operation unit to perform an unlocking operation when authentication of the key authentication information output by an operation on the key authentication information output operation means is successful in the key authentication unit when authentication fails in the biometric authentication unit, according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the lock system according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the third signal input unit is disposed on the door or around it.

5. the lock system according to claim 4, wherein the third signal input unit is key authentication information output operation means for outputting key authentication information from the portable device.

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