METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INCREASING RELIABILITY IN MONITORING SYSTEMS

• US 20170069149A1
• Filed: 09/01/2016
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axis AB (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Axis AB (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Scheja, Gustaf, Cronstrm, Christoffer
• Granted Patent: US 10,089,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/215 the system having a variable access-code, e.g. varied as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a technology for allowing access to an area having a blocked entrance, wherein the blocking of the entrance is controlled by an access controller arranged to unblock the entrance upon receipt of an authorized credential. The technology is implemented to repeatedly updating an override credential in the access controller, sending updated override credential the access controller to a remote node, repeatedly checking the connectivity between the remote node and the access controller, detecting failure of connectivity between the access controller and the remote node, setting the override credential as an authorized credential in the access controller in response to the detection of failure of connectivity, and allowing access through the blocked entrance upon receipt of the override credential in an access request to the area received by the access controller.

Claims

1. A method for allowing access to an area having a blocked entrance, wherein the blocking of the entrance is controlled by an access controller arranged to unblock the entrance upon receipt of an authorized credential, the method comprising:

repeatedly updating an override credential in the access controller;

sending updated override credential from the access controller to a remote node;

repeatedly checking connectivity between the remote node and the access controller;

detecting failure of connectivity between the access controller and the remote node;

setting the override credential as an authorized credential in the access controller in response to the detection of failure of connectivity; and

allowing access through the blocked entrance upon receipt of the override credential in an access request to the area received by the access controller.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising initiating a wireless short range communication access point in response to the detection of failure of connectivity, the wireless short range communication access point being arranged to communicate with the access controller.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the wireless short range communication access point is arranged in the same housing as the access controller.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving, at the access controller from a handheld communication device, the access request including the override credential.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the handheld communication device is enabled to communicate via a cellular network, wherein the remote node is arranged in a remote network and is accessible via the cellular network, and wherein the method further comprises:

sending from the handheld device to the remote node in the remote network via the cellular network an access request for the entrance controlled by the access controller.

6. The method according to any claim 1, wherein the access controller is connected to a local network.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the remote node is connected to a remote network.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the access controller is connected to the remote node for communication via a remote network connection.

9. An access controller for controlling access to an area, the access controller comprising:

an I/O-interface arranged to send signals to an entrance for unlocking or locking the entrance;

a network interface for communicating with a communication network;

a memory;

an override credential generator arranged to repeatedly update an override credential, send it via the network interface and store it in the memory;

a connection tester arranged to test a connection with a remote node connected to the communication network; and

an authorisation indicator connected to the stored override credential indicating whether the override credential is authorized for access or not, the authorisation indicator being controlled based on result from the connection tester.

10. The access controller according to claim 9, further comprising a short range communication access point arranged to be initiated when connection tester detects connection failure.

11. The access controller according to claim 10, wherein the short range communication access point is arranged in the same housing as the access controller.

12. The access controller according to claim 10, further comprising an authenticator arranged to receive an access request from the short range communication access point and to send an unlock signal via the I/O-interface.

13. The access controller according to claim 11, further comprising an authenticator arranged to receive an access request from the short range communication access point and to send an unlock signal via the I/O-interface.

14. A method for allowing access to an area having a blocked entrance, wherein the blocking of the entrance is controlled by an access controller arranged to unblock the entrance upon receipt of an authorized credential, and wherein the access controller is part of an access control system and communicates with a remote node, also being part of the access control system, via a remote network connection, the method comprising:

detecting failure of connectivity over the network connection between the access controller and the remote node;

initiating a wireless short range communication access point in response to the detection of failure of connectivity, the wireless short range communication access point being initiated by the access controller; and

receiving at the access controller via the wireless short range communication access point a credential authorising the access controller to unblock the entrance and then allowing access to the area.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the wireless short range communication access point is arranged in the same housing as the access controller.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

repeatedly updating an override credential related to the access controller;

sending updated override credential from the access controller to the remote node; and

setting the override credential as an authorized credential in the access controller in response to the detection of failure of connectivity;

wherein the credential received at the access controller via the wireless short range communication access point is the override credential.