EP0678838A1 - Surveillance system of persons on a site - Google Patents

Abstract

The system for surveillance of people on a given site includes a number of portable radio frequency transmitters (2), and at least one radio frequency receiver (4). Each transmitter is allocated to one person who controls it. The transmitter is able to emits a radio wave carrying the identification data of the transmitter user. A central unit (1), connected to the receiver, processes the data. Several beacons (3) are distributed over the different zones of the site. Each beacon emits an infrared signal carrying location information thus allowing the central unit to locate the position of the person who calls. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a system for monitoring people on a site.

• à la surveillance de personnes, en milieu médical ou para-médical,
• au contrôle de l'accès à des zones dont l'accès est réglementé.

The invention is particularly advantageously applicable:

• monitoring people, in a medical or paramedical environment,
• controlling access to areas to which access is regulated.

Systems are already known which are implemented, in particular in residences for the elderly, and which allow residents to signal to distant surveillance personnel that they are in difficulty. Residents wear radio frequency transmitters for this purpose. A simple manual press on a control button triggers an emergency radio signal.

Such systems, however, do not make it possible to locate the emergency call other than by a dialogue with the person making the call or by consulting a list associating with each resident one or more places where he may be.

A main object of the invention is to solve this problem.

• une pluralité d'émetteurs portables attribués chacun à une personne et aptes à émettre sur commande de celle-ci un rayonnement radiofréquence porteur d'informations d'identification,
• une unité centrale qui est reliée à l'unité de réception et qui traite les informations en provenance des émetteurs,

comportant une pluralité de balises réparties sur les différentes zones du site et émettant chacune un rayonnement infrarouge porteur d'informations de localisation, les émetteurs comportant des moyens pour la réception de ce rayonnement infrarouge et pour la retransmission des informations de localisation reçues par le rayonnement radiofréquence émis, ces informations de localisation permettant à l'unité centrale d'identifier la zone où se trouve la balise dont l'émetteur qui appelle a retransmis les informations de localisation, et ainsi de localiser la personne qui appelle, les balises d'émissions infrarouges étant alimentées par le secteur.A system for monitoring people on a site has already been proposed in WO 92/18 956, comprising:

• a plurality of portable transmitters each assigned to a person and capable of transmitting, on the latter's command, radiofrequency radiation carrying identification information,
• a central unit which is connected to the reception unit and which processes the information coming from the transmitters,

comprising a plurality of beacons distributed over the different areas of the site and each emitting infrared radiation carrying location information, the transmitters comprising means for the reception of this infrared radiation and for the retransmission of the location information received by the radiofrequency radiation emitted, this location information enabling the central unit identifies the zone where the beacon is located, the calling transmitter of which retransmits the location information, and thus locates the person calling, the infrared emission beacons being supplied by the sector.

In the system described in WO 92/18 956, the central unit does not dialogue with the beacons. It exchanges information over the air with portable transmitters. For this purpose, portable transmitters are equipped with two receivers, one for receiving the beacon code, the other for receiving radio information transmitted by the central unit.

The invention in turn provides a system for simplifying the architecture of the transmitters.

To this end, the system according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a carrier current transmitter connected to the central unit and transmitting, to beacons on the site's electrical supply network, information that it transmits the central unit.

• . la figure 1 représente schématiquement un système de surveillance de personnes âgées conforme à un mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• . la figure 2 représente schématiquement un système de contrôle d'accès conforme à un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows. This description is purely illustrative and not limiting. It must be read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

• . FIG. 1 diagrammatically represents a monitoring system for the elderly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
• . Figure 2 shows schematically a access control system according to another embodiment of the invention.

The surveillance system shown in FIG. 1 is for example implemented in a residence for the elderly. It comprises a central unit 1, as well as medallions 2 worn by the residents to be watched. Each medallion 2 emits radio frequency RF signals intended to be received by at least one reception unit 4, to which the central unit 1 is connected.

Each zone Z of the monitored site is equipped with at least one beacon 3 emitting coded infrared IR radiation intended to be received by the medallions 2. The code transmitted to the medallions 2 notably includes a location code specific to each beacon 3.

• le code de l'émetteur (c'est-à-dire l'identification de la personne qui appelle) ;
• le type d'appel (appel de secours - appel de service) ;
• le dernier code balise mémorisé par le médaillon.

The information frame transmitted by a medallion 2 towards the reception unit 4 and the central unit 1 comprises in particular:

• the code of the transmitter (i.e. the identification of the person calling);
• the type of call (emergency call - service call);
• the last tag code memorized by the medallion.

The central unit 1 is connected to a unit 5 which is a carrier current transmitter, by which it communicates with the beacons 3. This unit 5 transmits, on the site's electrical distribution network 7, coded frames conveyed by the currents carriers. In FIG. 1, the reference 6 schematically illustrates the supply of the network 7 by the 220 V lines of the sector.

The various elements of the system will now be described in detail.

The central unit 1 comprises a microcomputer 10 which manages the information received and transmitted by the network, as well as a printer 11 connected to the microcomputer 10.

• du signal radiofréquence en un signal binaire transmis par la liaison 12,
• du signal binaire transmis par la liaison 13 en un signal à courants porteurs.

The links 12, 13 between the central unit 1, and the transmitting and receiving units 4 and 5 use means of the BATIBUS type, RS 232, RS 485, current loops, etc. We have referenced in FIG. 1 by 14 and 15 the means of the units 4 and 5 which ensure the conversions,

• of the radiofrequency signal into a binary signal transmitted by the link 12,
• of the binary signal transmitted by the link 13 into a carrier current signal.

The beacons 3 are infrared transmitters plugged into sockets 9 in the sector. They permanently emit in the infrared a code defining the place Z in which they are installed. They include means for programming the location code before the system is put into operation. The same tag 3 can thus be adapted to different places of installation.

Thanks to the connection to the site's power supply network 7, the infrared emission power is significant. The signals are transmitted omnidirectionally and are received, either directly or indirectly by reflection on the walls and ceiling of the room, by any receiving medallion 2 located nearby.

It will be noted that the IR signals have the essential characteristic of being stopped by material obstacles, and in particular by the walls and ceilings of the premises in which they are emitted, so that they are necessarily located, unlike radiofrequency radiation, which they pass through walls and ceilings.

A beacon 3 can be a simple beacon emitting only its location code.

A tag 3 can also include means for the reception of information conveyed by sector 7 in the form of carrier currents and for the transmission of this information to medallions 2.

The information can be transmitted by the unit 5 generally to all the beacons 3. When they receive information, the beacons 3 modify their emission codes so as to re-transmit the information received intended for the medallions 2 .

The tags 3 can also be individually addressable by the unit 5. They for this purpose include a decoder of the frame received from the sector.

• soit retransmise au médaillon 2 qui vient d'appeler et uniquement à celui-ci, les médaillons 2 comportant également des décodeurs de trames ;
• soit uniquement lue par la balise 3, la réception du signal commandant par exemple l'émission d'un signal sonore par la balise 3 elle-même, ce signal sonore constituant un signal d'acquittement confirmant au pensionnaire qui a appelé que son appel a bien été reçu par l'unité centrale 1.

The information received can then be:

• either retransmitted to medallion 2 which has just called and only to it, the medallions 2 also comprising frame decoders;
• or only read by the beacon 3, the reception of the signal controlling for example the emission of a sound signal by the beacon 3 itself, this sound signal constituting an acknowledgment signal confirming to the resident who called that his call has received by central unit 1.

The information received by a tag 3 can also control a mechanism, in room Z where the tag 3 is located, such as a lock opening.

The infrared information sent by the beacons 3 may contain a specific acknowledgment code intended for the central unit 1.

Several terminals can communicate in the same room with complete confidentiality, without the need for time window openings.

The medallions 2, like the existing models, each include a unit 20 for the transmission of coded radio frequency signal frames. The transmission is controlled by pressing a button 21a or 21b or tearing off the holding strap 22. The button 21a triggers an emergency call signal; key 21b triggers a service call signal.

Each medallion 2 also comprises a reception unit 23 and storage means 24 in which the identification of the resident and the last location code received from a beacon 3 are stored.

Thus, a medallion 2 can always emit a location code, even if it is outside the range of emission of the beacons 3.

Advantageously, the medallions 2 send back to the central unit 1 a signal which notably includes their own code as well as the message received from the beacons.

This allows permanent monitoring of each transceiver and allows monitoring of the redundancy of retransmitted RF messages.

Certain transmitters can be specific.

In particular, the transmitter used by the surveillance intervention personnel may be a box 8 comprising a keyboard 8 a and display means 8 b allowing the surveillance personnel to interact with the central unit 1.

The box 8 also has the same functionality as the medallions 2.

However, it is only active when in use and always remains in the pocket, out of function. It is activated by push button. He then memorizes the code of the place where he is. Information is displayed on the screen 8b to indicate to the user that a location code transmitted by a beacon 3 has been received and that the transmitter unit 8 is ready for the transmission of a coded sequence.

The code generated by typing on the keyboard 8a is integrated into the general location and identification frame sent in radio frequency.

In the case of installations where the central unit 1 returns an acknowledgment signal to transmitter 2 or 8 from which it receives a call, the sending of the radio frequency frame triggers for box 8 an internal delay during which the reception of the acknowledgment code (carried by an IR signal) triggers an audible signal on said housing 8.

After transmission of the radio frequency signal, or after a few minutes if transmission has not been triggered, the power supply is interrupted and the site memory is reset to zero.

The keyboard 8a in particular allows callers to be identified by specific codes transmitted to the central unit 1.

In return, the central unit 1 can transmit to the box 8, via the beacons 3, messages displayed on the screen 8b.

The box 8 can also include mobility detectors ensuring the protection of isolated personnel, this box 8 emitting a particular code in the event of prolonged immobilization.

The number of reception units 4 depends on the importance and the topology of the place to be covered. The reception units 4 merely retransmit the information they receive. They can therefore be easily moved or their numbers modified, depending on the progress of the installation.

The carrier current transmitter 5 is controlled by the central unit 1.

It can be of the general acknowledgment type, that is to say it transmits the information it receives to all of the beacons, these all receiving and retransmitting, by infrared emission, the code received in addition their own location code.

It can also be a coded transmitter, and send the information transmitted to it by the central unit. on certain specific tags only.

The application to monitoring in a retirement home will now be described.

No wiring being necessary, the installation can be envisaged in new construction or on occupied site. The premises can be gradually equipped.

The tag type can then always be changed to meet specific requirements.

The tags 3 are simply plugged into sockets 9 of the rooms, apartments, common premises and passageways of the site. The location codes of the beacons 3 are programmed thereon, when they are set up on the site.

Note that since the location codes issued by the tags 3 are stored successively by the medallions 2, a single tag 3 provides coverage of an apartment with several rooms if it has only one entry. This tag 3 is then placed in the room overlooking this entry. The medallion 2 of any resident in the apartment must necessarily pass this tag 3 and therefore carries the location code of said apartment.

In the event of a call from one of the other rooms (bedroom, shower room, wc), the apartment code is issued.

Similarly, beacons 3 identifying common rooms (library, dining room, TV room ...) are installed near the entrances.

The presence of beacons 3 in the corridors, and in particular in those leading to the outside, allows in the event of a call to know the direction taken by the person before his call.

The commissioning of these beacons being carried out without wiring, the protection of the external zones is possible. Breakpoints, summer garden, gazebo, ... can be equipped as well as crossing points, paths, crossings, gates ...

On reception of a call frame, the central unit 1 warns the operator of the place of call, the name of the caller and possibly prepares a file on this caller.

This option is interesting in the case of establishments where the staff is new or temporary and therefore does not personally know the habits and medical problems of each resident.

On site, the service provider, by typing a code on its box 8, simply acknowledges the call if everything is in order or requires the intervention of a specific person.

In the case where the intervention site is equipped with beacons 3 with general acknowledgment, the worker is informed by an audible signal emitted by the beacons or by his box 8, that his message has been taken into account by the central unit 1. The coding returned by the tags 3 on the housing 8 may correspond to a particular response from the central unit 1.

• . Nom de l'appelant, lieu d'appel, type d'appel, heure d'appel
• . Nom de l'intervenant, lieu de réponse, type d'acquittement, heure d'acquittement.

The principle of acknowledgment by staff of received calls allows the central unit to record continuously:

• . Name of caller, place of call, type of call, time of call
• . Name of speaker, place of response, type of acquittal, time of acquittal.

It is important to ensure that the medallions 2 worn by the residents function properly. One solution consists in having display means such as a screen in the vicinity of a specific verification tag 3 on a common passageway (restaurant, television room, etc.). The reception of a frame in the source of this tag 3 is recognized by the central unit 1 as a test and returns on the screen a message addressed by name to the sending boarder signaling that everything is in order.

In conjunction with the display of this message, the central unit 1 updates an activity control file. The latter is also updated by all receptions, alarms or services, received from all transmitters 2 and 8 on the site. Consultation of this file brings up the list of transmitters 2 and 8 which have not transmitted for a specified time, for example for 24 hours or 48 hours.

In the event that no emission from a particular transmitting medallion 2 is recorded within the time indicated above, a manager, nurse, housekeeper, is informed. During his next service, this worker then asks the resident carrier of the transmitter 2 to launch a call, and immediately follows this call with a call from his own transmitter associated with a particular code. The reception following these two frames will then be considered by the central unit 1 as an update of the activity control file. The reception of the frame sent by the speaker alone signals the failure of the resident's medallion 2.

Some of the apartments in these residences can be fitted with coded 3 beacons. Following a call, the central unit 1 periodically triggers, until acknowledged by the operator, the audible signal from the beacon 3 to reassure the caller.

Putting a terminal on standby (medallion 2 or other transceiver) in a room equipped with dialog beacons allows calls and messages to be sent to this terminal.

The use of Terminal 2 by the personnel of service allows, for example, ordering meals and direct retransmission. This transmission being carried out from the occupant's own room allows the central unit to compare the request with a possibly prescribed regime.

The setting in "automatic call" of a terminal 2 at each change of zone allows the central unit to be informed of the location in real time of the carrier.

Other applications of the invention are also possible.

In particular, the invention is advantageously used for controlling access to areas with regulated access. FIG. 2 shows an access control system according to the invention. For the elements of the system of FIG. 1 which are found in that of FIG. 2, the same reference numbering increased by 100 has been used.

This access control system notably comprises a central unit 101 connected to a radio frequency reception unit 104 and to a carrier current transmission unit 105 by computer links 112 and 113.

Beacons 103 for emitting infrared coded radiation, connected to sector 107, are arranged near the access points, which are represented schematically by a door P in FIG. 2.

The people on site are equipped with boxes 108 which receive the IR frames emitted by the beacons 103 and emit RF radiation intended to be received by the units 104.

The insertion of beacons 103, near the access points which do not give rise to an intensive passage, offers an economical alternative to conventional systems using a smart card or magnetic strip.

The use of coded beacons 103 and RF transmitters 108 with displays allows the establishment of a dialogue in complete confidentiality with the central unit 101.

• . La porte P à contrôler peut être équipee d'une serrure télécommandée par l'unité centrale 101 :
  Une balise 103 est enfichée près de cet accès. La demande d'ouverture est faite par l'émetteur RF 108 du personnel et l'ouverturecommandée par l'unité centrale 101.
• . La commande de la porte P n'est pas reliée à l'unité centrale 101 :
  Cette porte P est équipée d'une serrure électrique S reliée au contact de sortie d'une balise 103 codée enfichée à proximité. Sur réception de son code par courants porteurs, c'est la balise 103 qui commande alors l'ouverture de la porte P.

The principle used allows access control without modification or addition to the existing wiring. There are two cases to consider:

• . The door P to be controlled can be equipped with a lock remote controlled by the central unit 101:
  A tag 103 is plugged in near this access. The opening request is made by the personnel RF transmitter 108 and the opening recommended by the central unit 101.
• . The door P control is not connected to the central unit 101:
  This door P is equipped with an electric lock S connected to the output contact of a coded tag 103 inserted nearby. On reception of its code by carrier currents, it is the tag 103 which then controls the opening of door P.

As in the above example of the equipment of a retirement home, the choice of the number and location of the 104 RF reception units depends on the configuration of the site.

The type of transmission unit 105, general or coded acknowledgment, depends on the communication protocol between the personnel and the central unit 101 and therefore on the type of beacon 103 adopted.

• . Mise en oeuvre immédiate sans câbles.
• . Installation rapide, en complément éventuel d'une installation existante.
• . Coût faible par point contrôlé en regard d'un lecteur de carte.
• . Protection anti-vandalisme, pas de lecteurs de cartes fragiles, la balise discrète peut être située en partie haute.
• . Sécurité accrue, la frappe d'un code peut être demandée pour contrer le problème des émetteurs perdus ou volés.

The special features are as follows:

• . Immediate implementation without cables.
• . Quick installation, possibly in addition to an existing installation.
• . Low cost per point checked next to a card reader.
• . Anti-vandalism protection, no fragile card readers, the discreet beacon can be located in the upper part.
• . Increased security, code entry can be requested to counter the problem of lost or stolen transmitters.

Other applications of the invention than those which have just been described are of course also possible. In particular, the invention can also be applied to the guarding of premises.

The implementation of this principle of calling from a specific location and confirmation, automatically recorded permanently allows the implementation of any monitoring protocol for all types of establishment.

The immediate installation without cable offers the possibility of establishing the monitoring of a temporary activity: construction site, exhibition, temporary storage ...

The route of the rondiers can be modified according to the use of the premises under surveillance. The new route will simply be redefined by moving the beacons to a new outlet.

By using coded beacons, the plumber can be discreetly informed when calling a route modification.

Claims (10)

System for monitoring people on a site comprising: - a plurality of portable transmitters (2, 102) each assigned to a person and capable of transmitting on command thereof radiofrequency radiation (RF) carrying identification information, - at least one radio frequency (RF) reception unit (4, 104), a central unit (1, 101) which is connected to the reception unit (4, 104) and which processes the information originating from the transmitters (2, 102), comprising a plurality of beacons (3, 103) distributed over the different zones (Z, P)) of the site and each emitting infrared radiation (IR) carrying location information, the transmitters (2, 102) comprising means for the reception of this infrared radiation (IR) and for the retransmission of the location information received by the radiofrequency radiation (RF) emitted, this location information allowing the central unit (1, 101) to identify the area (Z, P) where is the beacon (3, 103) of which the transmitter (2, 102) which calls has retransmitted the location information, and thus to locate the person who calls, the beacons (3, 103) of infrared emission (IR) being supplied by the sector (6, 7; 106, 107), the system being characterized in that it comprises a carrier current transmitter connected to the central unit (1, 101) and transmitting, intended for beacons (3, 103), on the electrical supply network (7, 107) that of the site, information transmitted to it by the central unit (1, 101). System according to claim 1, characterized in that the beacons (3, 103) comprise means for transmitting, by infrared radiation (IR), information received from the central unit (1, 101) intended for transmitters (2, 102; 8, 108). System according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the central unit (1, 101) comprises means for transmitting, when it receives a call from a transmitter (2, 8; 102, 108 ), an acknowledgment information item intended for this transmitter (2, 8; 102, 108) and / or at least for its tag (3, 103), the reception (4, 104) of this information by said transmitter or said beacon triggering an audio or visual acknowledgment signal. System according to claim 3, characterized in that a transmitter comprises timing means which, after an emission in radiofrequency (RF) of the transmitter, open a time window awaiting an acknowledgment information coming from the central unit (1, 101) carried by infrared radiation (IR) emitted by a beacon (3, 103). System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmitters (2, 102) comprise means for memorizing the location information carried by the last infrared (IR) radiation received. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a beacon for the verification of the transmitters (2, 102) and display means arranged near the latter, the central unit (1, 101 ) returning to said display means an acknowledgment information, when it receives, from a transmitter, location information specific to this verification beacon. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central unit (1, 101) comprises means for detecting the transmitters (2, 102) from which it has not received a call for a predetermined time. System for monitoring the residence of medically or para-medically followed persons, in particular the residence of the elderly, according to one of the preceding claims. Access control system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that beacons (103) are arranged near doors (P) which control access to restricted areas, the central unit (101 ) transmitting, when it receives a call from a transmitter (102), and, after verification of the identification of the transmitter, a door opening order. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the opening order is transmitted by carrier currents to the beacon identified by the central unit (101), the beacons (103) comprising means for controlling the opening of the doors in function of orders received from the central unit (101).

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