DEVICE FOR CHECKING ACCESS PERMISSIONS

Abstract

A device for checking access permissions includes an access area with guidance devices for forming an access lane for separating people or objects, in which blocking and/or signal means define an access threshold. A gate controller having a Bluetooth radio interface allows an access permission to be read from mobile data carriers, and positive validation of the access permission results in the access controller releasing the blocking and/or signal means and thus allowing separate passage through the access threshold. An access lane has an associated multiphase antenna group, the transmission/reception antennas of which are actuated by a Bluetooth transceiver module via an antenna feed network in such a way that at least two antenna lobes form that are at different distances from the access threshold as seen in the direction of access.

Claims

1. A device for checking access permissions comprises an access area with guiding devices for forming an access lane for separating people or objects, in which blocking and/or signal means define an access threshold, with a gate controller with Bluetooth interface for reading an access permission from mobile data carriers, wherein, in the case of positive validation of the access permission, the access controller releases the blocking and/or signal means and thus allows separate passage through the access threshold, and wherein an access lane is assigned a multiphase antenna array, the transmitting/receiving antennas of which are actuated by a Bluetooth transceiver module via an antenna network for feeding antenna elements in such a way that at least two antenna beams form, which are at different distances from the access threshold, viewed in the access direction, wherein when not in use the gate controller continuously transmits short signals (advertising events) via the antenna beam that is at a greater distance from the access threshold, viewed in the access direction, and in such a way activates the Bluetooth interface of an approaching mobile data carrier in that every data carrier with access permission is assigned a unique identifier or permission identifier which can be read via a ticket app which can be activated by means of the Bluetooth interface in that the gate controller retrieves the unique identifier or permission identifier from the ticket app via the antenna beam that is at a shorter distance from the access threshold and measures the received signal strength indicator of the signal transmitted by the data carrier at this antenna beam and in that in the case of positive assessment of the received signal strength indicator and positive validation of the unique identifier or permission identifier, the access controller generates the release signal for the blocking and/or signal means.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the Bluetooth transceiver generates a release signal by linking validation information and an item of position information from the evaluation of triangulation values of the antenna array.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the Bluetooth antenna array comprises at least two and preferably four antenna modules which are arranged at a distance of λ/2 of the wavelength relative to one another, viewed in the access direction, wherein directed antenna beams can be produced by means of switches and phase shifters between the input of the antenna network and the antenna modules.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the guiding devices delimit an access lane with a width of less than one meter, preferably 60 cm, in that, on at least one side of the access lane, a Bluetooth antenna array is arranged immediately in front of, preferably within one meter in front of the access threshold, in that the antenna array consists of at least two, preferably four, antenna elements, which are at a center-to-center distance of λ/2 of the wavelength of the Bluetooth frequency from one another, viewed in the access direction, and in that an antenna network for feeding the antenna elements produces two directed antenna beams within one meter in front of the access threshold, the first of which lies closer to the access threshold and the second of which is at a greater distance from the access threshold, viewed in the access direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The invention is described in more detail below with the aid of an embodiment and with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 is an oblique view of an access lane for checking access permissions at a ski lift;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the design of an access lane;

[0023] FIG. 3 shows a front view in the access direction;

[0024] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram with important circuit elements; and

[0025] FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of an antenna network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] General properties of Bluetooth technology are described, for example, at “https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetooth_Low_Energy”. Bluetooth is a standardized radio transmission method in the 2.4 GHz ISM band, with which devices can be connected in a surrounding area of 10 meters. In the following description it is assumed that the communication processes of the standardized Bluetooth method are known, without being limited to the methods known under this term. The invention can also be applied to comparable radio communication methods.

[0027] Every mobile data carrier 1 is assigned a ticket app (a program module) that can be activated using Bluetooth and an unique identifier or a permission identifier that can be read via the latter. The unique identifier or the permission identifier can be a unique number in the system, which references the actual permission data such as valid location, valid period, valid value of the permission, or also valid personal data. The unique identifier or the permission identifier can also directly contain individual items or all of these permission data.

[0028] An access lane is represented in an oblique view in FIG. 1, wherein the arrow 7 symbolizes the access direction here. The access lane 7 is delimited on both sides by device columns 10 and 11 at a width of approx. 60 cm, with the result that only one person in each case can enter. Barrier arms 12, 13 that can be pivoted by means of a motor form an access threshold 3 in the closed state (see also FIG. 2). The space in front of the access threshold 3 is the waiting and checking area, the space behind the threshold is only intended to be reachable with a valid access permission. Further details of such a structure are described, for example, in EP 1990777. In the state shown here, a skier 20 is located immediately in front of the access threshold 3, his access permission is stored in a smartphone 1 with Bluetooth interface. The arrangement is intended to ensure separate access, i.e. the data of a second person in the waiting queue should not be checked instead of the data of the skier 20 immediately in front of the access threshold 3.

[0029] As is also explained below, the smartphone 1 connects via its Bluetooth interface and the transmitting/receiving antenna 2 in the access lane 7. The access permission is checked and, in the case of positive validation, the barrier arms 12, 13 swing open in the access direction and clear the access lane 7. The skier 20 passes through the access threshold 3 and the barrier arms 12, 13 immediately close thereafter. The closing is triggered by light barriers, not represented here, in the access lane 7.

[0030] The top view of the access lane 7 for people is represented in FIG. 2. The access lane is 60 cm wide and is formed on both sides by mechanical guiding devices, in the case represented by a left-hand device column 10 and a right-hand device column 11. The device columns 10 and 11 in each case carry a drive, not represented in greater detail here, for barrier arms 12 and 13 which form the access threshold 3 in the closed state represented. Viewed in the access direction 7, the area in front of the access threshold 3 is the waiting area for checking and validation of the access permission. If an access permission is positively validated, the barrier arms 12, 13 then swing open in the access direction; in the drawing, this movement is symbolized by dashed arrows.

[0031] The left-hand device column 10 has an antenna mounting plate 14 with a Bluetooth multiphase antenna array 2 which is arranged at a distance of up to one meter in front of the access threshold 3. This Bluetooth multiphase antenna array 2 produces two directed antenna beams, of which the first antenna beam 5 points immediately in front of the access threshold 3. The second antenna beam 6 is at a greater distance from the access threshold 3, viewed in the access direction.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows this device in a front view in the access direction. The device columns 12, 13 are not mounted suspended here, but rather are fixed to the ground. Furthermore, a variant is represented in FIG. 3 in which the right-hand device column 11 also has a Bluetooth multiphase antenna array 2. This mirrored design can be advantageous in order to be able to more easily detect a smartphone 1 carried on the right-hand side of the body of the user 20.

[0033] The user 20—a skier in the example according to FIG. 1—has a smartphone 1 and can comfortably carry it on the body in a pocket. A ticket app (program application), which can be uniquely identified via a UUID (Universal Unique Identifier), is installed on the smartphone 1. The access permission (ticket) is assigned to this UUID. The parameters (i.e. restrictions in terms of time, location, person, value) of the access permission can be stored directly in the app, or these parameters are assigned to the UUID in a database and can be retrieved from there for the validation.

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of circuit elements that are important for the invention. The access control function is monitored and controlled by an access controller 9. The access controller 9 is connected to a Bluetooth transceiver 8, which contains the transmitting and receiving amplifier for the Bluetooth communication. The evaluation of the field strength of the radio signal, i.e. of the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator), is important for the function. This signal is an indicator of the distance of the smartphone 1 relative to the entry threshold 3.

[0035] The Bluetooth transceiver 8 actuates the antenna array 2 via an antenna network 4. Antenna network 4 and antenna array 2 are formed such that at least two directed antenna beams 5 and 6 arise. The first antenna beam 5 points into an area immediately in front of the access threshold 3, viewed in the access direction. The second antenna beam 6 is oriented such that it is at a greater distance in front of the access threshold 3 than the first antenna beam 5, viewed in the access direction.

[0036] In the waiting position, the blocking/signal means 21 are closed. The Bluetooth transceiver 8 continuously generates so-called advertising events and transmits them via the antenna beam 6, which is at a greater distance from the access threshold 3. If a person now moves into the waiting position, i.e. in the direction of the access threshold 3, then his smartphone 1 receives these radio signals via the Bluetooth interface (22) and they activate communication readiness.

[0037] If the person (20) moves further in the direction of access threshold 3, the smartphone 1 enters the reception range of the antenna beam 5 and the gate controller 9 retrieves validity data by the ticket app of the smartphone 1 transmitting the unique ID or permission ID. If the validity data correspond to the predetermined criteria of the respective access, then the access permission is deemed to be validated.

[0038] In addition, the gate controller 9 assesses the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) transmitted by the smartphone 1 and received via the antenna beam 5 and therefrom forms a criterion for the immediate approach of the person (20), of the data carrier (1) to the access threshold (3).

[0039] The smartphone 1 and its user 20 are now located immediately in front of the access threshold 3. If both checks are positive, the access permission is positive and the position determination is positively validated, then the access controller 9 sends a release signal to the controller 24 of the signal or blocking means 21 and waits with the next inquiry until the person 20 has passed through the access threshold 3.

[0040] The logic operations can in principle be freely assigned to the circuit elements. The validation can for example be effected through inquiry in the database of the system; in this case, the validity data are stored e.g. in the host. The checking can, however, also be effected locally by the app installed on the smartphone transmitting the validity parameters via the Bluetooth interface, or the app checks autonomously and internally by determining whether its access parameters are valid for the location of the access point (access number).

[0041] FIG. 5 shows the antenna network 4 in conjunction with elements of the Bluetooth antenna array 2. The antenna array 2 uses four round patch antennas 30, 30′, 30″, 30′″, which are in each case at a distance of λ/2 of the wavelength of the Bluetooth frequency from one another, viewed in the access direction. The patch antennas 30 are actuated via 90° hybrid dividers 32, which are terminated with 50 Ohm resistors 34. In each case 6 dB attenuators 33 and 33′″ are arranged upstream of the patch antennas 30 and 30′″ lying on the outside in order to make it possible to suppress the side beams. A 3-way switch 37 with the outputs a, b, c forms the input of the antenna network 4. The output 37a is connected to a 2-way switch 35a, the output 37c is connected to a 2-way switch 35b, the output 37b is connected to a power divider 36.

[0042] The power divider 36 has 4 outputs a, b, c, d and two states. In the first state the phase is shifted in each case by +90° at outputs a to d, in the second state it is shifted in each case by −90°. The output 36a actuates the patch antenna 30, the output 36d actuates the patch antenna 30′″. The outputs 36b and 36c can be connected to the patch antennas 30′ and 30″ lying on the inside via switches 35a and 35b.

[0043] The antenna network represented here can emit a circularly polarized electromagnetic wave in order to produce a more position-independent pairing with the smartphone.

[0044] The two directed antenna beams 5 and 6 are produced by switching the power divider 36 from the first state into its second state. The inner patch antennas 30′ and 30″ can additionally be directly connected to the switch 37 via the switches 35a and b. The antenna network thus makes it possible also to use the phase difference of the signals at these antennas in addition to the position determination using the directed antenna beams 5, 6.