ACCESS CONTROL FOR A GAS CONTAINER

Abstract

An assembly having an access control device for a gas cylinder, a centralized management system, a gas cylinder and a mobile terminal the access control device having: an electrically controlled lock which is configured to allow the use of the cylinder when in the open position and to restrict the use of the cylinder when in the closed position, an identifier of the access control device comprising a printout or a radio tag, and a control unit configured to control the lock so as to open or close, a first, short-range, radio communication interface. Wherein the centralized management system has a computer configured to determine, on the basis of the identifier of the access control device, an access parameter for the first communication interface.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. An assembly comprising an access control device for a gas cylinder, a centralized management system, a gas cylinder and a mobile terminal the access control device comprising: an electrically controlled lock which is configured to allow the use of the cylinder when in the open position and to restrict the use of the cylinder when in the closed position, an identifier of the access control device comprising a printout or a radio tag, a control unit configured to control the lock so as to open or close, a first, short-range, radio communication interface, wherein the centralized management system comprises a computer configured to determine, on the basis of the identifier of the access control device, an access parameter for the first communication interface, the mobile terminal comprising: a second communication interface configured to communicate with the centralized management system, a third, short-range, radio communication interface, configured to communicate with the first communication interface, an electronic circuit configured to sequentially: receive the identifier of the access control device, transmit the identifier of the access control device via the second interface, receive the access parameter, via the second interface, establish radio communication with the first communication interface, using the access parameter, in order to transmit, to the control unit, a control signal for controlling the lock so as to open or close.

12. The assembly as claimed in claim 11, establishing radio communication with the first communication interface comprising a step of pairing the first interface and the third interface, pairing being allowed by the first interface only after checking the access parameter.

13. The assembly as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a fixing member arranged to be attached to the lock in the closed position and detached from the lock in the open position.

14. The assembly as claimed in claim 13, the fixing member and the lock being arranged in any one of the following configurations: the fixing member) is secured to a frame and the lock is secured to the cylinder, or the fixing member is secured to the cylinder and the lock is secured to a frame, or the fixing member and the lock are secured to a frame.

15. The assembly as claimed in claim 11, the lock comprising a bolt mounted so as to be able to move, the movement of the bolt being electrically controlled in order to allow movement into the open position or into the closed position.

16. The assembly as claimed in claim 11, the control signal being distinct from the access parameter.

17. An access control method for a gas cylinder, using an assembly as claimed in claim 11, the method comprising the steps of: reading the identifier of the access control device, transmitting the identifier of the access control device to the centralized management system, determining, on the basis of the identifier of the access control device, an access parameter for the first communication interface, transmitting the access parameter to the mobile terminal, establishing radio communication between the mobile terminal and the access control device, using the access parameter, controlling the lock so as to open or close.

18. The access control method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising the steps of: reading the cylinder identifier, transmitting the cylinder identifier to the management system.

19. The access control method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the step of: storing information relating to a state of closure of the lock in relation to the identifier of the access control device and to the cylinder identifier, in order to make it possible to pair the cylinder and the access control device.

20. A method for managing a fleet of gas cylinders, using an assembly as claimed in claim 11, the method comprising a step of generating an order to deliver full cylinders in order to replace a predetermined batch of cylinders.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0075] The invention will be understood better from reading the following description and from studying the accompanying figures. These figures are given only by way of illustration and do not in any way limit the invention.

[0076] FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of an assembly according to the invention;

[0077] FIG. 2 is a schematic depiction of an access control device according to the invention;

[0078] FIG. 3 is a schematic depiction of an access control method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0079] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an assembly 1 comprising an access control device 4 for a gas cylinder 9, a centralized management system 2, a gas cylinder 9 and a mobile terminal 3 are depicted.

[0080] In the example under consideration, the access control device 4 comprises: [0081] an electrically controlled lock 5 which makes it possible to allow the use of the cylinder 9 when it is in the open position and to restrict the use of the cylinder 9 when it is in the closed position, [0082] an identifier 6 of the access control device comprising, in the example under consideration, a printout of barcode type, for example of QR code type, [0083] a control unit 7 configured to control the lock 5 so as to open or close, [0084] a first, notably short-range, radio communication interface 8, for example of Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE or NFC type.

[0085] The centralized management system 2 comprises a computer configured to determine, on the basis of the identifier 6 of the access control device, an access parameter for the first communication interface 8.

[0086] In the example under consideration, the access parameter may comprise the physical address of the Bluetooth or Bluetooth LE interface and/or an authentication password for this first interface 8. The centralized management system 2 comprises a data storage memory, in which a first table is stored which makes it possible to make a link between an identifier 6 of an access control device and the access parameter which is linked to it.

[0087] It remains possible to modify the access control parameter, for example for reasons linked to security.

[0088] In the example described, the mobile terminal 3 is a tablet or a mobile telephone. The mobile terminal 3 comprises: [0089] a second communication interface, configured to communicate with the centralized management system 2, for example a Wi-Fi or cellular interface of 2G, 3G, 4G or 5G type, [0090] a third; notably short-range, radio communication interface configured to communicate with the first communication interface 8, this third interface being in this instance of the same type as the first interface 8, [0091] an electronic circuit configured to sequentially: [0092] receive the identifier 6 of the access control device, [0093] transmit the identifier 6 of the access control device via the second interface, [0094] receive the access parameter, via the second interface; [0095] establish radio communication with the first communication interface 8, using the access parameter, notably in order to transmit, to the control unit 7, a control signal for controlling the lock 5 so as to open or close.

[0096] In the example under consideration, the centralized management system 2 is a remote server.

[0097] The cylinder comprises a cylinder identifier 10 which is secured to the cylinder. In the example of FIG. 1, the cylinder identifier 10 takes the form of a barcode, for example a QR code or any other type of code which can be read by the mobile terminal 3.

[0098] The first interface 8 is configured to accept the establishment of communication only with a mobile terminal 3 which has received the access parameter beforehand. This makes it possible at the same time to make it easier to initiate detection of the correct communication interface, particularly when a plurality of cylinders 9 are stored in the same place. This furthermore makes it possible to ensure security of access to the first interface 8, so that only the mobile terminal 3 which has received the access parameter beforehand can actually establish communication and then exchange data with this first interface 8.

[0099] In the example of FIG. 1, the assembly 1 comprises a fixing member 12 arranged to be attached to the lock 5 in the closed position and detached from the lock 5 in the open position. In the open position, the fixing member 12 is free with respect to the lock 5. The fixing member 12 makes it possible to access the cylinder 9 in the open position and to restrict access to the cylinder 9 in the closed position.

[0100] In the example under consideration, the fixing member 12 and the lock 5 are secured to a frame. The frame can, for example, be a room, a depot or a container. The frame is not necessarily fixed with respect to the ground, but its possible movement is made difficult by its size and its weight, compared to the size and weight of a cylinder 9. In the example under consideration, the fixing member 12 comprises two free ends, the lock 5 being mounted so as to be fixed with respect to one end, the other end being arranged to be connected to the lock 5 in the closed position and free with respect to the lock 5 in the open position. In this case, the fixing member 12 is a chain welded to a metal beam 11 which is secured to the frame. A first end of the chain is connected to the lock 5 so that the lock 5 cannot be removed from this end. Another end of the chain can be inserted into the lock 5 when the latter is in the open position, so that the chain is connected to the lock 5 in the closed position.

[0101] The lock 5 comprises a bolt mounted so as to be able to move, the movement of the bolt being electrically controlled in order to make it possible to move into the open position or into the closed position. Thus, when the bolt moves so that the lock 5 moves into the closed position, it locks the other end of the chain.

[0102] In a variant not depicted in FIG. 1, the lock 5 comprises an electrically controlled valve. In the example under consideration, the valve is positioned between a gas tank of the cylinder 9 and a tap of the cylinder 9, in order to make it possible to control access to the gas of the cylinder 9. In this configuration, the cylinder can be moved even in the closed position, as access control is performed at the point of access to the fluid enclosed in the cylinder 9. The lock 5 can comprise both the electrically controlled valve and the movable bolt so as to make access control relating to both the movement of a cylinder 9 and its gas flow possible.

[0103] In a variant not depicted in FIG. 1, the lock 5 comprises a device for locking/unlocking the tap. This locking/unlocking device can comprise an electrically controlled pin. In the open position, the tap is operational and, in the closed position, the tap is inoperative.

[0104] With reference to FIG. 3, an access control method for a gas cylinder 9 is depicted, using an assembly as described in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0105] The method comprises the steps of: [0106] reading E1 the identifier 6 of the access control device, [0107] transmitting E2 the identifier 6 of the access control device to the centralized management system 2, [0108] determining E3, on the basis of the identifier 6 of the access control device, an access parameter for the first communication interface 8, [0109] transmitting E4 the access parameter to the mobile terminal 3, [0110] establishing E5 radio communication between the mobile terminal 3 and the access control device 4, using the access parameter, [0111] controlling the lock 5 so as to open E6 or close E6a.

[0112] The method can furthermore comprise the steps of: [0113] reading Ela the cylinder identifier 10, [0114] transmitting Eta the cylinder identifier 10 to the management system 2.

[0115] The method can furthermore comprise the step of: [0116] storing E7 information relating to a state of closure of the lock 5 in relation to the identifier 6 of the access control device and to the cylinder identifier 10, in order to make it possible to pair the cylinder 9 and the access control device 4.

[0117] The step of storing E7 the information is performed by the centralized management system 2.

[0118] The storage memory of the centralized management system 2 is arranged to make it possible to store a second table for storing a pairing between an identifier 6 of an access control device and an identifier of a cylinder, when a cylinder 9 is locked by the lock 5 of an access control system 4.

[0119] The method can comprise a step of modifying the access parameter. In this case, the centralized management system 2 decides to modify the access parameter.

[0120] It transmits the old and the new value to the mobile terminal 3, which, when establishing communication with the first interface 8, begins by requesting the first interface 8 to change the access parameter in turn.

[0121] The method can comprise a step of acknowledging an operation: [0122] of changing the access parameter, and/or [0123] the lock 5 moving into the closed position, and/or [0124] the lock 5 moving into the open position.

[0125] The acknowledgment step then consists in transmitting information between the access control device 4 and the centralized management system 2, via the mobile terminal 3, which acts as a gateway.

[0126] The method can comprise an authentication step prior to transmitting the access parameter. This authentication step can implement a step of generating a single-use code by means of an SMS message to a mobile telephone which is distinct from the mobile terminal 3, so as to reinforce the security of the access control method. In this case, the mobile terminal 3 displays a screen for entering a verification code and the user enters the code contained in the message as received by SMS. The method then comprises a step of the mobile terminal 3 transmitting the verification code to the centralized management system 2. The centralized management system 2 then comprises a step of comparing the verification code with the single-use code.

[0127] It will be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangement of parts, which have been herein described in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments in the examples given above.