Access control system

• US 20060124734A1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SKIDATA AG (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: SKIDATA AG (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Ponert, Gregor, Wallerstorfer, Kurt
• Granted Patent: US 7,631,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/10 Movable barriers with registering means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually

Abstract

At an access control device (1) with a reading device (4) for data carriers (8), on which access authorization and identification details are stored, a camera (7) is envisaged that takes digitized photographs of the users of the access control device (1), which are then stored in a database (9) together with the identification details read from the data carrier (8) by the reading device (4). An official (15) operates a terminal with a screen (12) that communicates with the database (9), through which the identification details on the data carrier (8) are verified, and to which the stored photograph of the user of the data carrier (8), taken by the camera (7) during access to the access control device (1) by the user, is transmissible for visual comparison with the user being checked (16).

Claims

1. A system with at least one access control device (1) with a reading device (4) for data carriers (8) upon which identification details are stored for those assigned authorized access, and with a database (9), in which a photograph of the user of the data carrier (8), together with the identification details on the data carrier (8), is stored, characterized by at least one camera (7), at an access control device (1), which takes digitized photographs of the users of the access control device (1), which are stored, together with the identification details, in a database (9), as well as at least one terminal having a screen (12), communicating with the database (9), operable by an official (15), by means of which the identification details on the data carrier (8) are retrievable, and to which the stored photograph of the user of the data carrier (8) taken by the camera (7) during access via the access control device (1), together with the corresponding identification details, is transmissible for visual comparison with the user (16) of the data carrier (8) being checked.

2. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the stored photograph of the controlled user (16) of the data carrier (8), taken by the camera (7) during the first use of the data carrier (8) at the access control device (1) for the purposes of visual comparison, is transmissible.

3. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the stored photographs of the controlled user (16) of the data carrier (8) taken by the camera (7) during various separate accesses through the access control device (1) for purposes of visual comparison are transmissible.

4. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that communication between the terminal and the database is made by means of a wireless link (14).

5. A system according to claim 4, characterized in that the communication of data between the terminal and the database (9) is made via GPRS, UMTS, or another mobile wireless technology for the rapid transfer of data.

6. A system according to claim 4, characterized in that communication between the terminal and the database (9) takes place by means of a wireless LAN over an internal network.

7. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the terminal for inputting the identification details features a keyboard (13) and/or a reading device.

8. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the terminal is configured as a handheld device (11).

9. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the selection of certain data carriers (8) is made by means of a selection program, in order to take a photograph of the user of the access point (6) with the camera (7) and store it in the database (9).

10. A system according to claim 9, characterized in that the selection of the data carriers (8) by the selection program is based on their value, on the results of a behavior-pattern analysis of the user of the data carrier, and/or on statistics.

11. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the camera (7) for taking the photograph of the user is actuated by the reading of the data carrier (8) by the reading device (4), and/or by the forward motion of the user, as detected by means of sensors.

12. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the database (9) contains a picture of the user of the data carrier (8)—

together with the identification details on the data carrier (8)—

that has been taken by a camera prior to granting the user access to the access control device (1), and that can be verified by means of the terminal.