Cleaning apparatus and method for controlling access to a cleaning apparatus

• US 8,823,487 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2011
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfred Kã¤Rcher GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Alfred Kã¤Rcher GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Duenne, Markus, Hofner, Christian, Walz, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahase, Pameshanand
• Application Number:
  US13/330,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20120154116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 713/171
• US Class Current: 340/5.65
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4061 Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/32 using rotary cleaning members
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning apparatus, comprising an operating unit for operating the cleaning apparatus, at least one functional unit for carrying out an operating instruction, and a control unit for receiving operating instructions performed on the operating unit and controlling the at least one functional unit based on said operating instructions, wherein an access authorization stored on an authorization carrier is required in order to operate the cleaning apparatus. In order to provide such a cleaning apparatus with a more user-friendly access control, it is proposed that the cleaning apparatus have a detection unit operatively connected to the control unit and configured for contactless detection of the access authorization and transmission thereof to the control unit, and that the access authorization be verifiable for its validity by the control unit. The invention further relates to a method for controlling access to a cleaning apparatus.

Claims

1. Cleaning apparatus, comprising:

an operating unit for operating the cleaning apparatus,

at least one functional unit for carrying out an operating instruction, and

a control unit for receiving operating instructions performed on the operating unit and controlling the at least one functional unit based on said operating instructions, at least one access authorization, which is associated with a corresponding authorization level and stored on an authorization carrier, being required in order to operate the cleaning apparatus, wherein the cleaning apparatus, and

a detection unit operatively connected to the control unit and configured for contactless detection of the access authorization and transmission thereof to the control unit,

wherein;

the access authorization is verifiable for validity by the control unit,

at least first and second authorization levels are provided,

a first access authorization is associated with the first authorization level and a second access authorization is associated with the second authorization level, and

the first authorization level is assigned for cleaning operations and the second authorization level is assigned at least for maintenance operations.

2. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises a storage unit which is operatively connected to the control unit and in which information associated with the access authorizations and related to at least one user is storable for associating one of the access authorizations with a specific user by the control unit.

3. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein information associated with the access authorizations and related to at least one of the at least first and second authorization levels and an operating profile of the at least one user for the cleaning apparatus is storable in the storage unit.

4. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the detection unit comprises a device for detecting the access authorizations by electromagnetic radiation.

5. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the device is configured as an RFID reading device.

6. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the device forms an NFC interface.

7. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises at least one authorization carrier associated therewith and having the first or the second access authorization stored thereon.

8. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the at least one authorization carrier is configured as a transponder.

9. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the at least one authorization carrier has a storage member in which information associated with the first or the second access authorization and related to a specific user is storable.

10. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein information associated with the first or the second access authorization and related to at least one of the first or the second authorization level and an operating profile of the user for the cleaning apparatus is storable in the storage member.

11. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the cleaning apparatus has a receptacle for the at least one authorization carrier.

12. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein the receptacle is arranged on the operating unit.

13. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises an activating member, the detection unit being activatable by actuating said activating member.

14. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein the activating member is actuatable by at least one authorization carrier associated with the cleaning apparatus.

15. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a timing member for time-dependent output of an activating signal to the detection unit.

16. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the at least first and second authorization levels are graded such that at least the second authorization level includes all operations of the first operating level.

17. Method for controlling access to a cleaning apparatus, wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises an operating unit for operating the cleaning apparatus, at least one functional unit for carrying out an operating instruction, and a control unit for receiving operating instructions performed on the operating unit and controlling the at least one functional unit based on said operating instructions, and wherein at least one access authorization, which is associated with a corresponding authorization level and stored on an authorization carrier, is required in order to operate the cleaning apparatus, the method comprising:

detecting, by a detection unit of the cleaning apparatus which is operatively connected to the control unit, the access authorization in a contactless manner,

transmitting the access authorization to the control unit,

verifying the access authorization for validity by said control unit,

wherein;

at least first and second authorization levels are provided,

a first access authorization is associated with the first authorization level and a second access authorization is associated with the second authorization level, and

the first authorization level is assigned for cleaning operations and the second authorization level is assigned at least for maintenance operations.

18. Method in accordance with claim 17, wherein a storage unit operatively connected to the control unit is read, said storage unit storing information associated with the access authorizations and related to a specific user.

19. Method in accordance with claim 18, wherein said storage unit stores information associated with the access authorizations and related to at least one of the at least one first and second authorization levels and an operating profile of the user for the cleaning apparatus.

20. Method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the detection unit is activated by actuating an activating member of the cleaning apparatus.

21. Method in accordance with claim 20, wherein the activating member is actuated by the authorization carrier.

22. Method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the access authorizations stored on the authorization carrier are detected by a method based on an RFID technology.

23. Method in accordance with claim 17, wherein an NFC standard is used as the transmission standard between the detection unit and the authorization carrier.

24. Method in accordance with claim 17, wherein, following positive verification of the validity of the second access authorization related to the second authorization level, a data connection between the cleaning apparatus and an external communication device is allowed to be established as a function of the second access authorization for maintenance of the cleaning apparatus.

25. Method in accordance with claim 24, wherein the data connection between the cleaning apparatus and the communication device is established in a wireless manner using the detection unit.

26. Method in accordance with claim 17, wherein each of the at least first and second authorization levels are graded such that at least the second authorization level includes all operations of the first operating level.