AUTOMATIC GATE SYSTEM

Abstract

A gate system, including a transmitter for a vehicle, for continuously transmitting transmission including requests including information including location of the vehicle in relation to the gate, and at least an allowed code, and a device for the gate, including a receiver, for continuously receiving the continuous transmission, and a controller including the allowed code, for continuously approving the requests according to the allowed code, and for opening the gate only once the requests include the information of the transmitted transmission indicating that the vehicle is sufficiently near the gate.

Claims

1. An automatic gate system, comprising: a transmitter, for continuously transmitting transmission comprising requests comprising information comprising location of said transmitter in relation to said gate, and at least an allowed code; and a device for said gate, comprising: a) a receiver, for continuously receiving said continuous transmission; and b) a controller comprising said allowed code, for continuously approving said requests according to said allowed code, and for opening said gate only once said requests comprise said information of said transmitted transmission indicating that said transmitter is sufficiently near said gate.

2. The gate system according to claim 1, wherein said information further comprises at least one of speed and de-acceleration of said transmitter towards said gate, and wherein said controller is characterized to open said gate only once said requests comprise said information of said transmitted transmission indicating a combination of transmitter's distance from the gate and of at least one of the transmitter's speed and de-acceleration thereof.

3. The gate system according to claim 1, wherein said information comprising said location of said transmitter in relation to said gate transmitted by said transmission, comprises location obtained from a positioning tool attached to said transmitter.

4. The gate system according to claim 1, wherein said location obtained from said positioning tool and transmitted by said transmission, is encrypted.

5. The gate system according to claim 1, wherein said transmission is intensity-measurable, and wherein said information comprising said location of said transmitter in relation to said gate comprises intensity of said transmission as reaching to said receiver.

6. The gate system according to claim 1, wherein said at least allowed code of said requests transmitted by said transmitter comprises at least two codes, thereby said requests continuously transmitted by said transmitter comprise said information comprising location of said transmitter in relation to said at least two gates, and said at least two codes, thereby said device for each of said at least two gates continuously receives said continuous transmission, and continuously approves said requests according to one of said at least two codes, for opening its gate only once said requests comprise said information of said transmitted transmission indicating that said transmitter is sufficiently near that gate.

7. The gate system according to claim 1, wherein said continuous transmitting of said transmission comprises intervals of said transmission.

8. The gate system according to claim 1, wherein said intervals within said transmission decrease upon increasing said nearness of said transmitter to said gate.

9. The gate system according to claim 1, wherein said requests further comprise time changing information.

10. The gate system according to claim 9, wherein said time changing information comprises at least one member selected from a group consisting of: current time; a rolling code.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Embodiments, features, and aspects of the invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings:

[0014] FIG. 1 depicts a first request to open a gate.

[0015] FIG. 2 depicts a second request to open the gate of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 3 depicts a third request to open the gate of FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 4 depicts a fourth request to open the gate of FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 5 depicts the struggle between transmitter and transceiver.

[0019] The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The invention will be understood from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features are not described in detail.

[0021] The reference numbers have been used to point out elements in the embodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention. They are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Also, the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting.

[0022] An access control system is configured to identify a user and to automatically open an access barrier when the user approaches the access barrier.

[0023] The term “vehicle” refers herein to vehicles, wheel chairs, robots, etc.

[0024] The system may include in a vehicle a wireless communications controller, for example a Wi-Fi communications component connected to a USB socket inside the vehicle continuously receiving power from the vehicle, and on the side of the gate a modem which communicates with the communications controller. The gate modem may include a Wi-Fi modem.

[0025] As the vehicle approaches the modem at the gate, encrypted information is transmitted between the vehicle communications controller and the gate modem. Optionally, the encrypted information is 128 bit. The Wi-Fi transmissions between the vehicle communications controller and the gate modem include preselected fixed time durations, for example, 100 milliseconds.

[0026] The wireless communications between the vehicle communications controller and the gate modem may include any one of the following communications modes: mobile phone communications, Bluetooth communication and Wi-Fi especially of 2.4 GHz which may be encrypted, nRF24, nRF52, among other wireless communications modes.

[0027] The gate modem may use scanning networks to detect the vehicle communications controller to allow transmitting the information via a secure communications connection between the gate modem and the vehicle communications controller.

[0028] As the vehicle communication controller approaches the gate modem, it may receive a transmission signal from the gate modem and may responsively start transmitting the information back to the modem.

[0029] Upon the gate modem receiving the desired information, if the information is encrypted, it may convert the encryption into plain text and may request authentication from a server associated with a company which provides the service. Additionally, or alternatively, authentication may be performed by an access authentication component inside the gate modem.

[0030] In some embodiments, to prevent duplication and copying of frequency or the information, the information sent from the vehicle communications controller may be changed in every transmission. The transmitted information may include, for example, a serial number of the controller combined with a random number, or an increasing number, or the current date and time, among other information.

[0031] In some embodiments, the gate modem may be a 4th generation data modem (and not a dial-up modem) which may be controlled through a dedicated application program on a mobile phone, and/or a remote control and/or RF communication devices operating at a frequency of 2.4 GHz and with a range of up to 100 meters.

[0032] In some embodiments, the system may include GPS which may detect when the vehicle is a predetermined distance from the gate and may automatically activate the vehicle communications controller. Alternatively, the system may include a sensor to detect that the vehicle is not moving, and the vehicle communications controller may automatically send a transmission signal to the gate modem. Optionally, the vehicle communications controller may activate a hotspot which may be detected and identified by the gate modem, and to which the gate modem may securely connect for the purpose of transmitting information.

[0033] FIG. 1 depicts a first request to open a gate.

[0034] A vehicle gate system 10 includes an allowed transmitter 12A for the vehicle 14A and a receiver 12B for the gate 16A.

[0035] Transmitter 12A and receiver 12B use correlated encoding 18A and decoding 18B.

[0036] At a first transmittance being while vehicle 14A is far, say 50 meters, transmitter 12A transmits a request 20A, being after encoding 18A according to an example, the code 10110111.

[0037] Code 10110111 being request 20A is produced by including code 22A1 allowed by gate 16A such as “JOE1”, combined with allowed code 22A2 allowed by gate 16B such as “JOE2”, and combined with the hour/time 34A, such as “9:05” retrieved from time 25 of the clock 24A, and encoding (18A) the combination of codes 22A1, 22A2 and time 34A.

[0038] Controller 30B1 of gate 16A receives request 20A from receiver 12B, and decodes (18) request 20A to “JOE1”, “JOE2”, and “9.05”.

[0039] Controller 30B1 of gate 16A approves “JOE1” in its database 26, and approves “9:05” upon checking in its clock 24B. However, controller rejects request 20A due to low transmittance intensity 32A measured by a transmittance intensity meter embedded in receiver 12B, such as used by RSSI.

[0040] Controller 30B2 of gate 16B receives request 20A, and decodes request 20A to “JOE1”, “JOE2”, and “9.05”. Controller 30B2 of gate 16B approves “JOE2” in its database 26, and approves “9:05” upon checking in its clock. However, controller 30B2 as well rejects request 20A due to low transmittance intensity.

[0041] FIG. 2 depicts a second request to open the gate of FIG. 1.

[0042] At a second transmittance being while vehicle 14A is near, say 20 meters, transmitter 12A transmits a request 20B, being according to an example the code 111101.

[0043] Request 20B is produced by including the allowed code 22A1, being according to the example “JOE1”, combined with the current hour 34B, such as “9:06” retrieved from clock 24A.

[0044] Controller 30B1 receives request 20A from receiver 12B, and decodes (18) request 20A to “JOE1” and “9.05”.

[0045] Controller approves “JOE1” in its database 26, and approves “9:06” upon checking in its clock 24B. Controller 30B1 as well finds sufficient intensity 32A of the transmittance, and thus approves request 20B, thus opens gate 16A.

[0046] Thus, the decision to open gate 16A is a function of the allowed request 20A and its transmittance intensity 32A, after continuously approving allowed code 22A1 of requests 20A, 20B, etc., and comparing transmittance intensity 32A of each of approved requests 20A,20B, etc. with a pre-determined intensity, for opening 16A only once transmittance intensity 32A of approved request 20B exceeds the pre-determined intensity.

[0047] Requests 20A,20B, etc. are automatically and continuously produced and transmitted while driving the vehicle. For example at distance 100 meters, 99 meters, 98 meters, etc., thus improving the distance resolution for opening the gate exactly upon arriving the gate, even at a high speed of driving the vehicle.

[0048] An interval between requests 20A, 20B, etc. may be determined. According to one embodiment the interval between request may be decreased upon decreasing the distance from the gate. For example at a distance of 200 meters, the interval between each request may be 2 seconds, whereas at a distance of 30 meters, the interval between each request may be 0.1 seconds.

[0049] The allowance of request 20A according to its allowed code 22A1 and current hour 34B is an example for any secured transmission 36 whose intensity 32A may be measured by the receiver.

[0050] Request 20A may be allowed according to its allowed code 22A1 and an additional hooping/rolling code instead of current hour 34B, being another secured transmission 36 whose intensity 32A may be measured by the receiver.

[0051] The intensity of the transmission reaching the transceiver of the gate allows computing the distance of the vehicle from the gate.

[0052] The distance of the vehicle from the gate may as well be measured by a positioning tool 38 attached to the vehicle, such as by GPS.

[0053] Transmitter 12A may transmit the location of the vehicle as provided by positioning tool 38. The controller of the gate knows the gate's location and computes the distance of the vehicle, and opens the gate upon being near than a pre-determined distance.

[0054] Positioning tool 38 may as well obtain the speed of the vehicle. Transmitter 12A transmits the location and speed of the vehicle as provided by positioning tool 38. The controller of the gate knows the gate's location and computes the distance of the vehicle, and opens the gate upon a combination of the distance of the vehicle from the gate to be sufficiently near and of the vehicle's speed, which may include to have sufficient deceleration.

[0055] The position and speed of the vehicle within transmission 36 may as well be encrypted.

[0056] Secured transmission may apply 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi encrypted transmission including its Service Set IDentifier (SSID) and code 22A1.

[0057] Controller 30B1 may receive requests 20A,20B etc. along time such that the intensity increases along time, and may open gate only at a pre-determined intensity, being only at the moment the vehicle enters the gate.

[0058] FIG. 3 depicts a third request to open the gate of FIG. 1.

[0059] Suppose a vehicle 14B disposed far from gate 16A, includes a non-allowed transceiver 12C, and receives (21) request 20B being according to the example code 111101, from allowed transmitter 12A, and transmits it.

[0060] Then, controller 30B1 receives request 20B from transceiver 12C, and decodes (18) request 20B to “JOE1” and “9.06”.

[0061] Controller approves “JOE1” in its database 26, and approves “9:06” upon checking in its clock 24B. However, controller finds low transmittance intensity 32B, and thus rejects request 20B from transceiver 12C, thus closes gate 16A.

[0062] FIG. 4 depicts a fourth request to open the gate of FIG. 1.

[0063] Suppose vehicle 14B has reached at time 9:07 near gate 16A, and includes non-allowed transceiver 12C, and receives transmittance 20B being according to the example code 111101, from allowed transmitter 12A.

[0064] Controller 30B1 receives request 20B from non-allowed transceiver 12C, and decodes (18) request 20B to allowed code 22A1 being “JOE1” and to time 34B being “9.06”.

[0065] Controller approves “JOE1” in its database 26. However, controller rejects “9:06” upon checking in its clock 24B time 9:07, even though controller now finds sufficiently high intensity 32B of the transmittance, and thus rejects request 20B from transceiver 12C, thus closes gate 16A.

[0066] FIG. 5 depicts the contest between transmitter 12A and transceiver 12C.

[0067] Thus, transmitter 12A as being able to transmit the security code only and not another transmitter can open gate 16A and only at a certain moment being upon exceeding a pre-determined intensity, thus at a pre-determined distance.

[0068] Since already request 20A is approved regarding its security, the decision regarding the intensity requires less computing power, and thus is swift, thus high speed driving of the vehicle may open the gate a short time before arriving.

[0069] Thus, in one aspect, the invention is directed to an automatic gate (16A) system (10), including: [0070] a transmitter (12A), for continuously transmitting transmission (36) including requests (20A,20B) including [0071] information including location of the transmitter (12A) in relation to the gate (16A), and [0072] at least an allowed code (22A1); and [0073] a device (30B1) for the gate (16A), including: [0074] a) a receiver (12B), for continuously receiving the continuous transmission (36); and [0075] b) a controller (30B1) including the allowed code (22A1), [0076] for continuously approving the requests (20A,20B) according to the allowed code (22A1), and [0077] for opening the gate (16A) only once the requests (20A,20B) include the information of the transmitted transmission (36) indicating that the transmitter (12A) is sufficiently near the gate (16A).

[0078] The information may further includes speed and de-acceleration of the transmitter (12A) towards the gate (16A), and [0079] wherein the controller (30B1) is characterized to open the gate (16A) only once the requests (20A,20B) include the information of the transmitted transmission (36) indicating a combination of transmitter's (12A) distance from the gate (16A) and of at least one of the transmitter's (12A) speed and de-acceleration thereof.

[0080] The information including the location of the transmitter (12A) in relation to the gate (16A) transmitted by the transmission (36), includes location obtained from a positioning tool (38) attached to the transmitter (12A).

[0081] The location obtained from the positioning tool (38) and transmitted by the transmission (36), may be encrypted.

[0082] The transmission (36) may be intensity-measurable, and the information including the location of the transmitter (12A) in relation to the gate (16A) may include intensity of the transmission (36) as reaching to the receiver (12B).

[0083] The at least allowed code (22A1) of the requests (20A,20B) transmitted by the transmitter (12A) may include at least two codes (22A1,22A2), [0084] thereby the requests (20A,20B) continuously transmitted by the transmitter (12A) may include [0085] the information including location of the transmitter (12A) in relation to the at least two gates (16A,16B), and [0086] the at least two codes (22A1,22A2), [0087] thereby the device (30B1) for each of the at least two gates (16A,16B) continuously receives the continuous transmission (36), and continuously approves the requests (20A,20B) according to one of the at least two codes (22A1,22A2), for opening its gate (16A) only once the requests (20A,20B) include the information of the transmitted transmission (36) indicating that the transmitter (12A) is sufficiently near that gate (16A).

[0088] The continuous transmitting of the transmission (36) may include intervals of the transmission.

[0089] The intervals within the transmission may decrease upon increasing the nearness of the transmitter (12A) to the gate (16A).

[0090] The requests (20A,20B) may further include time changing information.

[0091] The time changing information may be current time and/or a rolling code.

[0092] In the figures and description herein, the following reference numerals (Reference Signs List) have been mentioned: [0093] numeral 10 denotes the vehicle gate system according to one embodiment of the invention; [0094] 12A: transmitter of vehicle 14A; [0095] 12B: receiver of gate 16A; [0096] 14A,14B: vehicles; [0097] 16A: gate; [0098] 17: hinge of gate 16A; [0099] 18A: encoding; [0100] 18A: decoding; [0101] 20A,20B: requests to open gate 16A; [0102] 21: receipt of transmittance from one vehicle to another; [0103] 22A1: code encoded within request 20A allowed for gate 16A; [0104] 22A2: code encoded within request 20A allowed for gate 16B; [0105] 22B: another code allowed by controller 30B1 of gate 16A; [0106] 24A,24B: clocks; [0107] 25: current hour/time; [0108] 26: database within controller 30B1; [0109] 30A: controller of vehicle 14A; [0110] 30B1: controller of gate 16A; [0111] 32A: low intensity of transmittance of request 20A or 20B, indicating it is too early to open gate 16A; [0112] 32B: high intensity of transmittance of request 20A or 20B, indicating the vehicle has arrived and it is time to open; [0113] 34A: hour/time encoded within request 20A; [0114] 34B: hour/time encoded within request 20B; [0115] 36: secured transmission; [0116] 38: positioning tool;

[0117] The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention have been presented for the purpose of illustration, and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form.

[0118] Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should be interpreted according to this definition.

[0119] The reference numbers in the claims are not a part of the claims, but rather used for facilitating the reading thereof. These reference numbers should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any form.