Monitoring access via a passage

• US 7,091,856 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2005
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rafael - Armament Development Authority Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Rafael - Armament Development Authority Ltd.
• Inventors: Fisher, David, Tibi, Dov
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walk, Samuel J.
• Application Number:
  US11/093,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20060061450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/551, 340/552, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 5/003 Entrance control E05G5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/30 not involving the use of a pass

Abstract

A method and a system for monitoring access of a person from an exterior to an interior of a partition via a passage having an openable closed opening, using a detection device and supervision of an operator. A monitoring unit is coupled to both the detection device on the exterior, for handling in manual self-scanning procedure, and an input/output unit on the interior, for use by the operator. The monitored person handles the detection device, which transmits at least a first type handling signal, and at least a second type recognition signal to the monitoring unit. The operator rates the monitored person and transmits a third type rating signal to the monitoring unit, indicating crossing permission or crossing denial. The monitoring unit then derives an access signal from the three types of signals received from at least two sensors to allow or to deny access via the passage.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring access of a person from an exterior to an interior of a partition via a passage having an openable closed opening, the method using a detection device and supervision of an operator, comprising the steps of:

coupling a monitoring unit in operative association with the detection device, which is disposed on the exterior for handling in a manual self-scanning procedure,

coupling the monitoring unit in operative association with an input/output unit, which is disposed on the interior for use by the operator,

requiring the person desirous of access to handle the detection device, which when operated, transmits at least one first type handling signal, and at least one second type recognition signal to the monitoring unit,

requiring the operator to rate the person on the exterior, and to transmit a third type rating signal to the monitoring unit via the input/output unit, indicating either one of both crossing permission and crossing denial,

operating the monitoring unit for;

processing the handling signal to derive indication of either one of both adequate and inadequate handling of the detection device,

processing the recognition signal to derive a condition selected from the group of conditions consisting of safe condition, uncertain condition, and dangerous condition,

deriving either one of both a positive and a negative access signal, and

opening the openable closed opening for access when there is derived a positive access signal indicating;

a. adequate detection,

b. safe condition, and

c. crossing permission,

whereby the person is allowed access via the passage from the exterior to the interior of the partition.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the detection device has at least a first sensor configured to derive the at least one first type handling signal, and a second sensor configured to derive the at least one second type recognition signal.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the openable closed opening remains closed when the monitoring unit derives a negative access signal different from the positive access signal.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the manual self-scanning procedure of a person is repeated when:

a previous manual self-scanning procedure returned at least either one of both an inadequate handling signal and an uncertain condition.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

opening of the openable closed opening following a positive access signal is operated by command received from either one of both the operator and the monitoring unit.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the monitoring unit is further coupled in operative association with at least one communication device for bi-directional communication between the operator and the exterior side of the partition, and

the at least one communication device is selected alone and in combination from the group of devices consisting of audio and of video communication devices.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the operator visually supervises the manual self-scanning procedure.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

i sets of sensors, with i=[1, 2, . . . , n], are coupled in operative association with the monitoring unit, each set i having a finite number of sensors with at least one sensor, and each sensor deriving at least one signal,

a first set i=1 of sensors has at least one first type handling sensor which derives at least one handling signal,

a second set i=2 of sensors has at least one second type recognition sensor which derives at least one recognition signal, and

the monitoring unit derives either one of both a negative and a positive access signal from the i sets of sensors and from the rating signal transmitted by the operator.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein:

a second type recognition signal is derived from at least one set of sensors for recognizing materials selected from the group of materials consisting of metals and of explosives.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein:

a second type recognition signal is derived from at least one set of sensors for recognizing materials selected from the group of noxious and warfare materials consisting of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein:

a second type recognition signal is derived from at least one set of sensors for recognizing parameters selected alone and in combination from the group of parameters consisting of physical and physiological parameters.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein:

at least one second type sensor is supported on an exterior surface of the partition.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein:

a dedicated data fusion software application computer program is operated on the monitoring unit to derive the access signal, according to at least one level of risk p, with p=[1, 2, . . . , p].

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein:

at least one dedicated data fusion software application computer program is operated on signals derived from each set i of sensors, according to at least one level of risk t, with t=[1, 2, . . . , r].

15. A system for monitoring access of a person seeking to cross from an exterior to an interior of a partition via a passage having an openable closed opening, the system having a monitoring unit and an operator for supervising access, comprising:

a detection device coupled in operative association with the monitoring unit and handled by the person on the exterior in manual self-scanning procedure for deriving at least one first type handling signal and at least one second type recognition signal for transmission to the monitoring unit,

an input/output unit disposed on the interior for use by the operator to rate the person on the exterior, and coupled in operative association with the monitoring unit for transmission thereto of a third type rating signal indicating either one of both crossing permission and crossing denial,

i sets of sensors, with i=[1, 2, . . . , n], coupled in operative association with the monitoring unit, each set i having a finite number of sensors with at least one sensor, and each sensor deriving at least one signal,

a first set i=1 of sensors having at least one first type handling sensor to derive at least one handling signal for processing by the monitoring unit to derive indication of either one of both adequate and inadequate handling of the detection device,

second sets i>

1 of sensors having at least one second type recognition sensor to derive at least one recognition signal for processing by the monitoring unit to derive indication of a condition selected from the group of conditions consisting of safe, uncertain, and dangerous condition,

the monitoring unit being operated to derive either one of both a positive and a negative access signal from the at least one first and second type signals and from the third type signal, and

the openable closed opening being opened for access when there is derived a positive access signal indicating;

a. adequate detection,

b. safe condition, and

c. crossing permission,

whereby the person is allowed access to cross via the passage from the exterior to the interior of the partition.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein:

the openable closed opening remains closed when the monitoring unit derives a negative access signal different from the positive access signal.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein:

the manual self-scanning procedure of a person is repeated when a previous manual self-scanning procedure returned at least either one of both an inadequate handling signal and an uncertain condition.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein:

opening of the openable closed opening following a positive access signal is operated by command received from either one of both the operator and the monitoring unit.

19. The system according to claim 15, wherein:

the monitoring unit is further coupled in operative association with at least one communication device for bi-directional communication between the operator and the exterior side of the partition, and

the at least one communication device is selected alone and in combination from the group of devices consisting of audio and of video communication devices.

20. The system according to claim 15, wherein:

the manual self-scanning procedure is visually supervised by the operator.

21. The system according to claim 15, wherein:

a second type recognition signal is derived from at least one set of sensors for recognizing materials selected from the group of materials consisting of metals and of explosives.

22. The system according to claim 15, wherein:

a second type recognition signal is derived from at least one set of sensors for recognizing materials selected from the group of noxious and warfare materials consisting of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials.

23. The system according to claim 15, wherein:

a second type recognition signal is derived from at least one set of sensors for recognizing parameters selected alone and in combination from the group of parameters consisting of physical and physiological parameters.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein:

at least one second type sensor is supported on an exterior surface of the partition.

25. The system according to claim 15, wherein:

a dedicated data fusion software application computer program is operated on the monitoring unit to derive the access signal, according to at least one level of risk p, with p=[1, 2, . . . , p].

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein:

at least one dedicated data fusion software application computer program is operated on signals derived from each set i of sensors, according to at least one level of risk t, with t=[1, 2, . . . , r].