Device, method, and program for sending the operation record of a tablet to a server

Abstract

To suppress delay, in a method for transmitting a lock operation record by a battery-driven apparatus for unlocking or locking the lock of a door to a server on an IP network, when the operation record is transmitted to the server on the IP network.SOLUTION: An apparatus 100 establishes first connection for performing wireless communication with a first device (S301-S302). The apparatus 100 transmits a wireless signal (S303), and receives a request for second connection for performing wireless communication with a second device (S304). Next, the apparatus 100 reduces a data transmission interval in the first connection (S305), and receives an operation request for a lock from the second device (S306). The apparatus 100 operates the lock according to the operation request, generates an operation record (S312-S313), and then transmits at least part of the operation record to a server via the first device (S316).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3A

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device, a method, and a program therefor for transmitting the operation record of a lock to a server. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device, a method, and a program therefor for transmitting the operation record of a lock by a battery-driven device for unlocking or locking the lock provided on a door to a server on an IP network.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the use of so-called electronic locks has been increasing. There is provided a lock that can be electronically unlocked and locked, and is of a type in which a battery-driven device is attached to a door.

[0003] For unlocking, as an example, the device wirelessly communicates with a smartphone, an IC card reader, etc. to determine the presence or absence of unlocking authority. When it is determined that a user of a smartphone, a holder of an IC card, etc. has unlocking authority, the device performs operations necessary for unlocking on the lock. Also, for locking, as an example, the device wirelessly communicates with a door sensor to determine the open / closed state of the door. When it is determined that the door is in the closed state, if the auto-lock function is valid, the device performs operations necessary for locking on the door.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the device, records of repeated unlocking and locking are accumulated as a history in this way. It is conceivable to make this history available on a server on an IP network such as the Internet to provide further convenience. For this purpose, it is desired to make the operation record of the lock stored in the device accessible via the IP network without delay.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to suppress a delay when transmitting an operation record of a lock by a battery-driven device for unlocking or locking a lock of a door to a server on an IP network, in a device, a method, and a program therefor.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve such an object, a first aspect of the present invention is a method for transmitting an operation record of a lock by a battery-driven device for unlocking or locking a lock of a door to a server on an IP network, the method including: a step of establishing a first connection for performing wireless communication compliant with the Bluetooth standard between the device and a first device capable of communicating with the server; a step of the device transmitting a wireless signal including a device identifier of the device; a step of receiving, from a second device different from the first device that has received the wireless signal, a request for a second connection for performing wireless communication compliant with the Bluetooth standard between the device identified by the device identifier and the second device; a step of the device reducing a data transmission interval in the first connection after receiving the request for the second connection; a step of the device receiving, from the second device, an operation request for the lock of the door after receiving the request for the second connection; a step of the device operating the lock in response to the operation request and generating an operation record of the operation; and a step of the device transmitting at least a part of the operation record toward the server via the first device.

[0007] Further, a second aspect of the present invention is the method of the first aspect, wherein the reduction is executed after receiving the request for the second connection and after receiving the operation request.

[0008] Further, a third aspect of the present invention is the method according to the first or second aspect, wherein the device further includes a step of determining whether an operation authority is granted to the key ID by referring to a correspondence between one or more key IDs and operation authorities assigned thereto based on the key ID included in the operation request before operating the tablet.

[0009] Further, a fourth aspect of the present invention is the method according to the first or second aspect, wherein the device further includes a step of transmitting a determination request for determining whether an operation authority is granted to the key ID included in the operation request to a determination server on an IP network via the first device before operating the tablet, and a step of receiving a determination result in the determination server from the first device.

[0010] Further, a fifth aspect of the present invention is the method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the device further includes a step of transmitting a notification that the operation of the tablet has been completed to the second device, and a step of disconnecting the second connection after transmitting the notification.

[0011] Further, a sixth aspect of the present invention is the method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the device further includes a step of disconnecting the second connection after receiving the operation request.

[0012] Further, a seventh aspect of the present invention is the method according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the device further includes a step of increasing a data transmission interval after transmitting at least a part thereof to the server via the first device.

[0013] Further, an eighth aspect of the present invention is the method according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the second device is any one of an IC card reader, a biometric authentication terminal, and a mobile terminal.

[0014] Further, a ninth aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a device driven by a battery for unlocking or locking a lock of a door to execute a method for transmitting an operation record of the lock to a server on an IP network. The method includes: a step of establishing a first connection for performing wireless communication conforming to the Bluetooth standard between the device and a first device capable of communicating with the server; a step of the device transmitting a wireless signal including a device identifier of the device; a step of receiving, from a second device different from the first device that has received the wireless signal, a request for a second connection for performing wireless communication conforming to the Bluetooth standard between the device identified by the device identifier and the second device; a step of the device reducing a data transmission interval in the first connection after receiving the request for the second connection; a step of the device receiving, from the second device, an operation request for the lock of the door after receiving the request for the second connection; a step of the device operating the lock in response to the operation request and generating an operation record of the operation; and a step of the device transmitting at least a part of the operation record toward the server via the first device.

[0015] Further, a tenth aspect of the present invention is a battery-driven device for unlocking or locking a lock of a door, which establishes a first connection for performing wireless communication conforming to the Bluetooth standard between the device and a first device capable of communicating with a server on an IP network, transmits a wireless signal including a device identifier of the device, receives, from a second device different from the first device that has received the wireless signal, a request for a second connection for performing wireless communication conforming to the Bluetooth standard between the second device and the device, reduces a data transmission interval in the first connection after receiving the request for the second connection, receives, from the second device, an operation request for the lock of the door after receiving the request for the second connection, operates the lock in response to the operation request and generates an operation record of the operation, and transmits at least a part of the operation record toward the server via the first device.

Advantages of the Invention

[0016] According to one aspect of the present invention, when a device establishes a connection with a first device and, compared to the state of being connected only to the first device, establishes a connection with a second device and is simultaneously connected to the second device in addition to the first device, by reducing the data transmission interval in the connection with the first device, the operation record of the tablet by the device can be promptly transmitted to a server on an IP network.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3A

Figure 3B

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0019] Figure 1 shows an overview of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device 100 can be connected to a gateway 110 connected to a server on an IP network by wireless communication compliant with a Bluetooth standard such as BLE, and can also be connected to an IC card reader 120 that transmits an operation request to the device 100. Further, the device 100 is provided on the indoor side of a door 130 having a thumb turn. When the door 130 is unlocked by the device 100, the device 100 rotates the knob of the thumb turn based on an unlock request from the IC card reader 120. The device 100 can also be connected to a door sensor 140 that determines whether the door 130 is open or closed by wireless communication compliant with a Bluetooth standard such as BLE. The door sensor 140 transmits the detected open or closed state of the door 130 to the device 100. If the detected state is the closed state and the auto-lock function is enabled, the door 130 is locked after a certain period of time has elapsed.

[0020] Hereinafter, an example will be described in which the device is retrofitted to a door 130 having a thumb turn and unlocked by rotating the knob of the thumb turn. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to a door having a thumb turn. For example, a mechanism in which a member of the device according to the present invention replaces the thumb turn by removing the thumb turn is also conceivable. The present invention can be applied to such a door or lock if the lock of the door can be unlocked by a battery-powered device. Further, although an example of retrofitting to a door 120 having a thumb turn will be described, the present invention is not necessarily limited to a retrofitted device, and the device may be pre-attached to the door. Since the device according to the present invention is battery-powered, it is required to realize the required operations while suppressing power consumption.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the device 100 includes a housing 200 installed on a door 130, a drive mechanism 201 for unlocking a lock of the door 130, a communication unit 202 such as a communication interface, a processing unit 203 such as a processor or a CPU, and a storage unit 204 including a storage device or a storage medium such as a memory. At least a part of the communication unit 202, the processing unit 203, and the storage unit 204 may be implemented by a microcomputer. By executing a program stored in the storage unit 204 for the processing unit 203 to perform each process described below, the device 100 communicates with other devices and unlocks the lock. The program may include one or more programs and can be recorded on a computer-readable storage medium to form a non-transitory program product.

[0022] FIGS. 3A and 3B show the flow of a method for transmitting the operation record of the lock by the device according to the present embodiment to a server on an IP network. First, the device 100 transmits a wireless signal including a device identifier for identifying the device 100 (S301). The device identifier can be, for example, the device address of the transmitter. The wireless signal is called an "advertisement packet" in BLE. The advertisement packet is broadcast to unspecified electronic devices in the vicinity.

[0023] The gateway 110 that receives the wireless signal transmits a connection request to the device 100 identified by the device identifier included in the wireless signal (S302). The connection request includes a set value of the data transmission interval after connection, called a "connection interval" in BLE, and wireless communication for data transmission is performed between the device 100 and the gateway 110 at intervals according to this. When the device 100 receives the connection request from the gateway 110, it establishes a connection between the device 100 and the gateway 110 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "first connection"). Thereby, the device 100 can transmit data to a server on the IP network via the gateway 110.

[0024] Here, the gateway 110 sets the interval to be large in order to suppress the power consumption of the device 100. In the BLE standard, the interval can be set between 7.5 milliseconds and 4 seconds. The larger the interval, the smaller the amount of data that can be transmitted and received within a certain period of time, and the slower the communication speed.

[0025] After establishing the connection with the gateway 110, the device 100 still broadcasts the advertisement packet (S303). The IC card reader 120 with the IC card held up receives the advertisement packet and transmits a connection request to the device 100 identified by the device identifier included in the advertisement packet (S304). When the device 100 receives the connection request from the IC card reader 120, it establishes a connection with the IC card reader 120 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "second connection"). When the connection between the device 100 and the IC card reader 120 is established, the device 100 is in a state of being connected to the IC card reader 120 simultaneously in addition to the gateway 110.

[0026] After the connection between the device 100 and the IC card reader 120 is established, the device 100 reduces the data transmission interval with the gateway 110 (S305). By reducing the data transmission interval between the device 100 and the gateway 110, the amount of data that can be transmitted and received within a certain period of time increases. Although the power consumption of the device 100 increases, the communication speed in the connection between the device 100 and the gateway 110 improves.

[0027] In the example of FIG. 3A, the interval is reduced after the connection between the device 100 and the IC card reader 120 is established. However, it may also be reduced after receiving the connection request from the IC card reader 120, or after receiving operation requests such as an unlock request or a lock request described later.

[0028] Next, the IC card reader 120 transmits an unlocking request to the device 100 (S306). The unlocking request transmitted from the IC card reader 120 includes an IC card identifier for identifying the IC card read from the IC card.

[0029] The unlocking request may be encrypted. As an example, it may be encrypted by a common key held by the device 100 and the IC card reader 120 respectively. The unlocking request is decrypted by the common key, and when the collation data included in the unlocking request matches the collation data previously held by the device 100, the device 100 can authenticate that the unlocking request was transmitted from a legitimate source.

[0030] After authenticating the source of the unlocking request as necessary, the device 100 transmits a determination request including the IC card identifier to the gateway 110 (S307). The gateway 110 that has received the determination request from the device 100 transmits the determination request to a server on the IP network (S308).

[0031] The determination request is transmitted via the gateway 110 to a determination server on the IP network. The determination server that has received the determination request determines whether an operation authority is granted to the IC card identifier included in the unlocking request (S309). Since the transmission of data from the device 100 to the gateway 110 complies with the Bluetooth standard and the transmission of data from the gateway 110 to the determination server complies with the IP protocol, although the data formats are different, both transmit data including the IC card identifier, and may be referred to as a determination request without distinction as described above.

[0032] If the authentication of the source of the unlocking request fails, the device 100 may send a disconnection request to disconnect from the IC card reader 120 from the perspective of suppressing power consumption. Also, from the same perspective, the data transmission interval in the communication with the IC card reader 120 may be increased. Similarly, after the connection between the device 100 and the IC card reader 120 is established, if there is no unlocking request from the IC card reader 120 even after a certain period of time has passed, a disconnection request to disconnect from the IC card reader 120 may also be sent.

[0033] The determination server stores the association between one or more key IDs and the operation authorities assigned to each of them. The server refers to this association based on the key ID included in the determination request and determines whether the operation authority is assigned. Here, the IC card identifier is an example of a key ID. However, when the device 100 is connected to a different device instead of the IC card reader 120, a different identifier corresponds to the key ID. In FIG. 3, the determination server refers to this association based on the IC card identifier included in the determination request received from the gateway 110 and acquires the operation authority assigned to the IC card identifier.

[0034] The operation authority may further include a device identifier and an expiration date. When including a device identifier, the determination server stores the association between one or more sets of key ID and device identifier and the operation authority assigned to each of them. Also, the determination request includes a device identifier in addition to the key ID. The determination server can refer to this association based on the key ID and device identifier included in the determination request and determine whether the operation authority is assigned.

[0035] When the determination server determines that it has the operation authority for the IC card identifier included in the received determination request, it transmits the determination result of the operation authority to the gateway 110 (S310). The gateway 110 that has received the determination result transmits the determination result of the operation authority to the device 100 (S311), and the device 100 that has received an affirmative determination result performs the unlocking operation of the door 130 (S312). Note that, similar to the determination request described above, although the data transmission from the server to the gateway 110 and the data transmission from the gateway 110 to the device 100 have different data formats, they may be referred to as determination results without distinction.

[0036] In this example, the unlocking of the door 130 is performed when the communication unit 202 of the device 100 receives the determination result of having the operation authority, and the processing unit 203 transmits an unlocking signal to the drive mechanism 201 of the device 100 to rotate the motor and rotate the thumb turn. When the unlocking of the door 130 is performed, the device 100 detects the unlocking of the door 130 by, for example, a rotation angle sensor and generates an operation record (S313). After generating the operation record, the device 100 may transmit a notification of the completion of the operation to the IC card reader 120 (S314).

[0037] The operation record includes the occurrence time of the operation and key IDs such as the IC card identifier. So far, the case where an unlocking request is made from the IC card reader 120 to the device 100 has been described as an example, but it is also possible to transmit a locking request. Also, it is conceivable that the device 100 determines the operation type without specifying whether to request the unlocking or locking operation for the IC card reader 120 and executes the corresponding operation. Therefore, the operation record may further include the type of the operation.

[0038] After transmitting the notification, the device 100 may transmit a disconnection request to the IC card reader 120 to disconnect the second connection with the IC card reader 120 (S315). If the notification is not sent, the disconnection request for the connection may be transmitted after receiving the unlocking request.

[0039] The device 100 transmits at least a part of the generated operation record to the gateway 110 (S316). Then, the gateway 110 transmits at least a part of the operation record to a server on the IP network (S317). The server stores the received data in a database (S318). In the example of FIG. 3, the transmission of the operation record is performed after the connection between the device 100 and the IC card reader 120 is disconnected, but it may be performed after the operation record is generated. Also, in FIG. 3, although the server for determining the presence or absence of operation authority and the server for accumulating operation records are illustrated without distinction, they do not necessarily have to be the same server.

[0040] After the device 100 transmits at least a part of the operation record to the server via the gateway 110, the data transmission interval in the connection with the gateway 110 may be increased (S319).

[0041] As described above, the device 100 establishes a connection with the gateway 110, and compared with the state of being connected only to the first device, when the connection with the IC card reader 120 is established and the device is connected to the second device simultaneously in addition to the first device, by reducing the data transmission interval in the connection with the first device, the operation record of unlocking by the device 100 can be promptly transmitted to a server on the IP network.

[0042] In the above description, it has been described that the IC card reader 120 reads an IC card identifier from an IC card held by the user and transmits this as a key ID to the device 100, but a biometric authentication terminal that authenticates the user by face authentication, fingerprint authentication, etc. may be used as the second device. In this case, the biometric authentication terminal can image the authentication parts such as the user's face and finger, and transmit the data representing the authentication parts to the device 100 as the key ID.

[0043] As the second device, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet may be used. An application installed in the mobile terminal can be operated, and the key ID held by the application can be transmitted to the device 100. The key ID may be obtained, for example, by communicating with a server on an IP network managed by an operator providing the device 100 and the gateway 110.

[0044] Also, in the above description, the determination as to whether the operation authority is given to the key ID included in the operation request is made by the determination server. However, the device 100 may store the association between one or more key IDs and the operation authorities respectively given to them in the storage unit 204 of the device 100, and make the determination in the device 100. In this case, from the transmission of the operation request (S307) made from the device 100 to the gateway 110 in FIG. 3A to the transmission of the determination result (S311) made from the gateway 110 to the device 100 are not performed.

[0045] Also, the determination as to whether the operation authority is given to the key ID included in the operation request may be made by the IC card reader by storing the association between one or more key IDs and the operation authorities respectively given to them in a storage unit (not shown) of the IC card reader. In this case, the determination result is transmitted from the IC card reader 120 to the device 100 instead of from the gateway 110.

[0046] Also, in the above-described embodiment, it should be noted that in the present specification, additional information may be considered if there is no description of "only" such as "based only on xx", "responding only to xx", "only in the case of xx". Also, as an example, it should be noted that the description of "doing b in the case of a" does not necessarily mean "always doing b in the case of a" or "doing b immediately after a" except when explicitly stated. Also, the description of "each a constituting A" does not necessarily mean that A is composed of a plurality of components, and includes the case where the component is singular.

[0047] Also, for the sake of caution, even if there is an aspect of performing operations different from the operations described in this specification in some method, program, terminal, device, server, or system (hereinafter referred to as "method, etc."), each aspect of the present invention is directed to the same operations as any of the operations described in this specification, and it is noted that the existence of operations different from the operations described in this specification does not exclude the method, etc. from the scope of each aspect of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0048] 100 Equipment 110 Gateway 120 IC Card Reader 130 Door 140 Door Sensor 200 Housing 201 Driving Mechanism 202 Communication Unit 203 Processing Unit 204 Storage Unit

Claims

1. A method for transmitting an operation record of a lock of a door to a server on an IP network by a battery-driven device for unlocking or locking the lock of the door, comprising: establishing a first connection for performing wireless communication compliant with the Bluetooth standard between the device and a first device capable of communicating with the server; the device transmitting a wireless signal including a device identifier of the device; receiving, from a second device different from the first device that has received the wireless signal, a request for a second connection for performing wireless communication compliant with the Bluetooth standard between the device identified by the device identifier and the second device; the device reducing a data transmission interval in the first connection; the device receiving an operation request for the lock of the door from the second device; the device operating the lock in response to the operation request and generating an operation record of the operation; the device transmitting at least a part of the operation record to the server via the first device; and including.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: before operating the lock, the device referring to a correspondence between one or more key IDs and operation authorities respectively assigned to the key IDs based on a key ID included in the operation request, and determining whether the key ID has an operation authority.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: before operating the lock, the device transmitting, via the first device, a determination request for determining whether the key ID included in the operation request has an operation authority to a determination server on an IP network; and receiving, from the first device, a determination result from the determination server. and further including.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: the device transmitting a notification that the operation of the lock has been completed to the second device.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: the second device is any one of an IC card reader, a biometric authentication terminal, and a mobile terminal.

6. A program for causing the device to execute a method for transmitting an operation record of a lock of a door to a server on an IP network by a battery-driven device for unlocking or locking the lock of the door, the method comprising: establishing a first connection for the device to perform wireless communication compliant with the Bluetooth standard between the device and a first device capable of communicating with the server; transmitting a wireless signal including the device identifier of the device; receiving, from a second device different from the first device that has received the wireless signal, a request for a second connection for the device identified by the device identifier to perform wireless communication compliant with the Bluetooth standard with the second device; reducing the data transmission interval in the first connection; receiving, by the device, an operation request for the lock of the door from the second device; operating the lock according to the operation request and generating an operation record of the operation; transmitting at least a part of the operation record to the server via the first device and including.

7. A battery-powered device for unlocking or locking a lock of a door, establishing a first connection for performing wireless communication compliant with the Bluetooth standard between the device and a first device capable of communicating with a server on an IP network, transmitting a wireless signal including the device identifier of the device and receiving, from a second device different from the first device that has received the wireless signal, a request for a second connection for performing wireless communication compliant with the Bluetooth standard with the second device, reducing the data transmission interval in the first connection, receiving, from the second device, an operation request for the lock of the door, operating the lock according to the operation request, and generating an operation record of the operation, and transmitting at least a part of the operation record to the server via the first device.

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