Method for determining the state of access control devices and sales or payment machines of an access control system

• US 10,430,773 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2016
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SKIDATA AG (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: SKIDATA AG (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Schlechter, Thomas, Buchegger, Thomas, Pichler, Markus, Hesch, Clemens
• Primary Examiner(s): Iwarere, Oluseye
• Assistant Examiner(s): Iwarere, Seye
• Application Number:
  US15/393,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20170193482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 705 18, 705 42, 705 39, 340531
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/14 using acoustic emission techniques echo of particles G01N29/046; measuring mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in solids in general G01H1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/206 comprising security or operator identification provisions, e.g. password entry
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/00 Speaker identification or verification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/04 Training, enrolment or model building
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/06 Decision making techniques; Pattern matching strategies
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/22 Interactive procedures; Man-machine interfaces

Abstract

A method for determining the state of access control devices and sales or payment machines of an access control system by detecting sound profiles emitted during operation by a component or component group by at least one microphone. Based upon the recorded sound profile, an acoustic identification signature is created in a server or a central computer, which identification signature is based on the frequency spectrum of the recorded sound profile and/or the temporal change thereof. The acoustic identification signature is compared with a reference identification signature(s) stored in the server and assigned to a component or a component group. In the event of the detecting an acoustic identification signature which exceeds a predetermined first threshold value, increased wear of the component or the component group is detected, while if the deviation exceeds a second threshold value, a defect of the component or the component group is defected.

Claims

1. A method of determining a state of access control devices and sales or payment machines of an access control system, the method comprising:

detecting, permanently or in predetermined time intervals, a sound profile in an audible or an ultrasonic range emitted during operation by a component or a component group of an access control device or a sales or payment machine of an access control system by at least one microphone and on a basis of a recorded sound profile,

creating an acoustic identification signature in a server or a central computer, which identification signature is based on a frequency spectrum of the recorded sound profile and/or a temporal change thereof,

assigning the acoustic identification signature to a component or a component group and comparing with an acoustic reference identification signature which is stored in the server and assigned to the component or component group,

in an event of detection of a deviation of the detected acoustic identification signature from the acoustic reference identification signature stored in the server, which deviation exceeds a predetermined first threshold value, detecting increased wear of the component or the component group, and

in an event of detection of the deviation of the detected acoustic identification signature from the acoustic reference identification signature stored in the server, which deviation exceeds a second threshold value, which is higher than the first threshold value, detecting a defect of the component or the component group.

2. The method of determining the state of access control devices and sales or payment machines of the access control system according to claim 1, further comprising recording, in a context of a learning phase, usual sounds during operation of an intact access control device or an intact sales or payment machine of an access control system by the at least one microphone, assigning the recorded sound signals are, in each case, to one component or one component group, and creating acoustic reference identification signatures, for the components or component groups, from the recorded sound signals and stored in the server, assignment of the recorded sound signals and thus the reference identification signatures to the components or component groups takes place in that the beginning of the operation of the access control device or the sales or the payment machine is detected on the basis of the signals delivered by at least one microphone, wherein, taking account of a known precise sequence of the individual operations of the access control device or a sales or payment machine, the recorded sound signals are, in each case, assigned uniquely to one operation and thus one component or one component group, or takes place in that the access control devices and sales or payment machines of the access control system are connected to the server for the purpose of data communication and the information about which component or component group is active is transmitted to the server in real time so that the recorded sound signals are assigned, in the server, to the currently active component or component group in each case.

3. The method of determining the state of access control devices and sales or payment machines of the access control system according to claim 1, further comprising storing identification signatures, in addition to an acoustic reference identification signature for a component or a component group, in the server which, in each case, correspond to an actual defect of a component or a component group, an identification signature not corresponding to the reference identification signature can, in a case of adequate matching with an identification signature corresponding to an actual defect of a component or a component group, be assigned to the respective defect of a component or a component group directly.

5. The method of determining the state of access control devices and sales or payment machines of the access control system according to claim 1, further comprising detecting a vandalism attempt or an application of force, in an event of a detected identification signature which cannot be assigned to a component or component group or a deviation of which exceeds the second threshold value of all acoustic reference identification signatures and cannot correspond to a defect of a component or component group.

6. The method of determining the state of access control devices and sales or payment machines of the access control system according to claim 1, further comprising storing reference signatures in the server, which correspond to strong rain or strong wind, and if strong rain or strong wind are detected on a basis of a detected identification signature, temporarily deactivating a device in order to prevent damage.

7. The method of determining the state of access control devices and sales or payment machines of the access control system according to claim 1, further comprising assigning a detected identification signature to a component or component group on a basis of characteristic properties of the sound profile emitted by the component or component group.

9. The method of determining the state of access control devices and sales or payment machines of the access control system according to claim 1, further comprising connecting the access control devices and sales or payment machines to the server for data communication, actively transmitting the information about which component or component group to the server in real time so that the assignment of a detected identification signature to a component or component group takes place in this manner.

4. A method of determining a state of access control devices and sales or payment machines of an access control system, the method comprising:

detecting, permanently or in predetermined time intervals, a sound profile in an audible or an ultrasonic range emitted during operation by a component or a component group of an access control device or a sales or payment machine of an access control system by at least one microphone and on a basis of a recorded sound profile,

creating an acoustic identification signature in a server or a central computer, which identification signature is based on a frequency spectrum of the recorded sound profile and/or a temporal change thereof,

assigning the acoustic identification signature to a component or a component group and comparing with an acoustic reference identification signature which is stored in the server and assigned to the component or component group,

in an event of detection of a deviation of the detected acoustic identification signature from the acoustic reference identification signature stored in the server, which deviation exceeds a predetermined first threshold value, detecting increased wear of the component or the component group,

in an event of detection of the deviation of the detected acoustic identification signature from the acoustic reference identification signature stored in the server, which deviation exceeds a second threshold value, which is higher than the first threshold value, detecting a defect of the component or the component group, storing identification signatures, in addition to an acoustic reference identification signature for a component or a component group, in the server which, in each case, correspond to an actual defect of a component or a component group, an identification signature not corresponding to the reference identification signature can, in a case of adequate matching with an identification signature corresponding to an actual defect of a component group, be assigned to the respective defect of a component of a component group directly, and

in a case of detected identification signatures, which neither corresponds to the reference identification signature nor to an identification signature assigned to a defect of a component or a component group, storing these identification signatures in the server as new identification signatures, which correspond to a not yet classified or categorized defect, and classification or categorization the detected identification signatures when the defect is identified.

8. A method of determining a state of access control devices and sales or payment machines of an access control system, the method comprising:

detecting, permanently or in predetermined time intervals, a sound profile in an audible or an ultrasonic range emitted during operation by a component or a component group of an access control device or a sales or payment machine of an access control system by at least one microphone and on a basis of a recorded sound profile,

creating an acoustic identification signature in a server or a central computer, which identification signature is based on a frequency spectrum of the recorded sound profile and/or a temporal change thereof,

assigning the acoustic identification signature to a component or a component group and comparing with an acoustic reference identification signature which is stored in the server and assigned to the component or component group,

in an event of detection of a deviation of the detected acoustic identification signature from the acoustic reference identification signature stored in the server, which deviation exceeds a predetermined first threshold value, detecting increased wear of the component or the component group,

in an event of detection of the deviation of the detected acoustic identification signature from the acoustic reference identification signature stored in the server, which deviation exceeds a second threshold value, which is higher than the first threshold value, detecting a defect of the component or the component group, and

assigning a detected identification signature to a component or component group on a basis of a known precise sequence of the individual operations during the operation of an access control device or the sales or payment machine of the access control system, uniquely assigning the detected identification signature to one operation and therefore one component or one component group, and detecting the start of operation of the access control device or the sales or payment machine on a basis of the signals delivered by the at least one microphone.