Method and system and monitoring apparatus for access control of persons

Abstract

 Method, system and camera for access control to an area (1,14) accessible for an authorised subject. In a first step, initial identification strings IIS (6) of authorised subjects e.g. persons (4) are stored, comprising representations of such subjects. In a subsequent second step, an operational identification string OIS (9) is created, comprising the image of a person (8) requesting for access. The OIS is compared with the saved IISs of the authorised persons. In the second step, an additional, operational authorisation string OAS (11) is generated, comprising the image of a further information carrier FIC (13), carrying further information concerning the requested access. In the first step, moreover, an initial authorisation string (16) may be created and saved, comprising the image of a further information carrier FIC (17) carrying further information concerning the access to the secured area for authorised persons (4), while in the second step, the OAS is compared with IAS (16).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to access control to an area for subjects. More specifically the invention relates to a method, system and monitoring apparatus for access control to an area using automatic recognition of representations of persons or objects.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The area of recognition of representations of "subjects" , e.g. digital images of persons or objects, involves automatic identification of persons or objects by means of algorithms that look for pattern matches between images representing a person or an object applying for access, and previously recorded reference images beyond a certain probability of doubt.

[0003] Additional to subject (person/object) recognition there is a need to provide specific services (access rights, service facilities etc.) to e.g specific persons or groups of persons, based on personal identification means like ID cards etc. In many cases additional information is needed to establish what specific services (e.g. which access rights and/or limitations, access times, etc.) should be provided to a person who has been given permission to access a certain area, e.g. a building, room and/or LAN, telecommunications or computing facilities (network etc.).

[0004] A disadvantage of the known systems is that the system for person recognition and the system for service provisioning are separate systems, each of them using their own means and resources.

SUMMARY

[0005] The invention comprises a method, a system and monitoring apparatus for access control for subjects (e.g. persons or objects), to a physical (e.g. building, room) or virtual (e.g. network, facilities etc.) area. Such a monitoring apparatus can be a (digital) camera.

[0006] In a first step (initial step) for subjects e.g. persons to be given access to a secure physical or virtual area, a first identification string (initial identification string, IIS) is generated, comprising a (digital) representation, e.g. image, of (a distinguishing part of) the relevant subject. After generation, the IIS will be stored. The term storage here refers to having the data available in any possible manner such as registration of the location of the data, saving the data on a data carrier, knowing the whereabouts of the data somewhere in a network etc.

[0007] Subsequently, for each subject applying for access to the secured area, to investigate whether the subject is entitled to enter the secured area or not, a second identification string (operational identification string, OIS), is generated, comprising a (digital) representation of that subject applying for access. To investigate the subject's entrance rights to the secure area the operational identification string can be compared with the various initial identification strings stored for the subjects which -via previous registration during the initial step- are authorised to have access to the secured area. In the operational step, besides said OIS, an operational authorisation string (OAS) can be generated , representing a further information carrier (FIC), which comprises information about further access rights, facilities etc. to or services within the secured area, e.g. access or service time restrictions, further access or service rights and/or limits within the secured area, charges to be paid for use of the area e.g. network or communication facilities, etc. etc.

[0008] With the method as described above a single system can provide the person recognition function as well as the service provisioning function. In this way a significant advantage can be achieved, while all information needed, viz. for access and further services can be derived from the same kind of information representation.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment an initial authorisation string (IAS) is generated and stored in the initial step. The IAS relates to the OAS and may comprise -like the OAS- an image or other representation of a further information carrier (FIC) carrying information about access to or services within said physical or virtual area. In the mentioned operational step, to be executed when a person requests access to the secured area, the operational authorisation string (OAS) is compared with the relevant initial stored authorisation string (IAS). This option can provide additional security, while both the subject's OIS is investigated whether it matches (at least) one stored IISs, and, additionally, the subject's OAS is investigated whether it matches the relevant OIS.

[0010] The further information carrier (FIC) may compriseinformation about further access rights or services within the secured area, e.g. access or service time restrictions, further access or service rights and/or limits within the secured area, charges to be paid for use of the area e.g. network or communication facilities, etc. etc.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment instead of generating separate initial strings (IIS and IAS) during the initial step, a common initial identification/authorisation string (IIAS) may be generated and stored, incorporating, at least partly, an initial identification string (IIS) and an initial authorisation string (IAS), and comprising, for recognition purposes, e.g an image of at least part of the authorised subject, and, for further access and/or services provisioning purposes, the authorised subject's further information carrier (FIC). In a similar way, in the subsequent, operational step, for a subject requesting access to the secured area, a common operational identification/authorisation string (OIAS) is generated, incorporating, at least partly, an operational identification string (OIS) as well as an operational authorisation string (OAS). Like the IIAS, the OIAS may comprise, for recognition purposes, e.g an image of at least part of the authorised subject and, for further access and/or services provisioning purpose, the relevant subject's further information carrier (FIC). The operational identification/authorisation string (OIAS) is compared with the initial identification/authorisation strings (IIAS) of the various subjects authorised to access to the secured area, storedduring the initial step.

[0012] The further information carrier (FIC) may have the form of a "token", e.g. a card, label or coin. It may be restricted to an individual person or may apply for a group of persons. The FIC may be worn on a person's body or clothes. Finally, it may, for additional security, comprise a unique identification mark of e.g. the relevant person, authorised to or applying for access, e.g. the person's signature, fingerprint, face scan or retina scan.

[0013] It is noted that the previous embodiments or variants of the previous embodiments of the invention can be combined.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

[0014] Figures 1 and 2 show an exemplary embodiment of a system fit for execution of the method depicted above.

[0015] For the purpose of teaching the invention, preferred embodiments of the method and devices of the invention are described in the sequel. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that other alternative and equivalent embodiments of the invention can be conceived and reduced to practice without departing from the true spirit of the invention, the scope of the invention being only limited by the claims as finally granted.

[0016] Figure 1 shows a system for access control of persons to a secured physical or virtual area 1, controlled by an access controller 2. The secured area here comprises a closed room 1, comprising a computer network 14 and terminals. Access to the room 1 is controlled by means of a door or the like, actuated by control means 2. After a person 4 or 8 has got permission to enter the room 1, each person has his specific further access and/or service privileges and/or restrictions in the use of the network 14.

[0017] The access controller 2 is controlled by a system processor 3. In an initial step I, for a person 4, to be authorised to have access to room 1, an initial identification string (IIS) 6 is generated by means of a camera 5, comprising a digitised representation, viz. a digital image or scan of a distinguishing part of the authorised person's body, e.g. the person's face. Subsequently the processor 3 stores the IIS 6, formatted as an ordinary bitmap or as a string of vector parameters describing the image, in a database (DB) 7.

[0018] In a subsequent, operational step II for each person 8, applying for access to the area 1, an operational identification string (OIS) 9 is generated, by means of a camera 10, comprising a bitmap or -after processing inside or outside the camera- a vector string representing the face of the person 8 applying for access. In this step II the operational identification string is compared, by the processor 3, with the IISs 6 previously generated and stored in database 7for various persons 4 authorised to have access to the area 1.. If an IIS matches the OIS of person 8, the person is granted permission to enter the secured area.

[0019] In the operational step II, moreover, an operational authorisation string (OAS) 11 may be generated by a camera 12, comprising the image (again formatted as a bitmap string or a processed, e.g. vectorised data string) of a further information carrier (FIC) 13, comprisingfurther information concerning e.g. the rights of person 8 within the area 1.

[0020] The further information carrier (FIC) may comprise further information concerning the access rights of the person 8 to the area 1 e.g. time restrictions (entrance times) or rights/restrictions to (not-shown) sub-rooms, or to further services to be offered within that area e.g. access rights to the computer network 14. The FIC 13 may have the form of a card, coin or label and may be strictly personal or may apply for a group of persons. Said "further information" may be printed upon the surface of the FIC card, coin or label, while such card, coin or label e.g. may be clipped on the person's clothes.

[0021] The image scanned by camera 12, representing the "further information" e.g. printed on the FIC 13, is converted by processor 3 into an operational authorisation string (OAS), fed to the area controller 2 (for e.g. controlling the entrance time) and/or the network 14, for controlling the services to be offered to person 8 after being entered into area 1, in conformity with the rights as displayed on the person's FIC 13. In said initial step I, besides the OIS, an initial authorisation string (IAS) 16 may be generated, by means of a camera 15, for each person 4 to be authorised to have access to the secured areas 1 (room) and 14 (network), which IAS is subsequently stored in database 7.

[0022] The IAS 16 comprises a representation (vectorised or not) of the image of a further information carrier (FIC) 17, comprising further information concerning the access and service rights of the relevant authorised person 4 to the secure room 1 and/or network 14. Note: if person 4 and person 8 are one and the same, the FIC 13 is likely to be the same as the FIC 17.

[0023] In each operational step II the operational authorisation string (OAS) 11 of the relevant person 8 requesting access to area 1, is compared, by processor 3, with the initial authorisation strings (IAS) 16, recorded previously and stored in database 7 during the initial step I.

[0024] Depending on the result of the comparison of the requesting person's OIS 9 with the stored IISs 6 and the result of the (preferred) additional comparison of the requesting person's OAS 16 with the stored IASs 16, the requesting person will or will not get permission, by means of the access control means 2, to enter and use the area 1 and the services of network 14. If person 8 gets permission to enter, the information content of the person's FIC 13 is interpreted by processor 3 and determines the person's further rights for access to and services within area 1.

[0025] Note: if the preferred option of storing IASs 16 of authorised persons 4 in the initial step is not applied, only the comparison (matching) result of the person's OIS 11 with the stored IISs 16 determines the grant or refusal of access to area 1. In that case the contents of person's FIC 13 is not checked against stored FIC representations (IASs), but only serves to determine -only after person 8 gets permission to access area 1 due to a positive investigation result of his OIS 9 against the stored IISs 16- the further rights etc. of person 8 within area 1 (for instance the access rights to services of network 14) after being entered area 1. It is noted that the cameras 5, 10, 12 and 15 can be replaced by a single camera suited to execute one or more of the functions of the cameras 5, 10, 12 and 15 as described above. The processor 3 can be an integral part of the camera(s). The storage means 7 can be an integral part of the camera as well as being physically separated from the camera. In the latter case the camera(s) can be equipped with network communication means in order to transmit and/or receive the various strings to be stored in said storage means 7 over a network. In an embodiment the camera is further equipped with state-of-the-art compression means to reduce the capacity needed for the storage means and to limit bandwidth usage of the network.

[0026] Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention.

[0027] In the initial step I for a person authorised to have access to the area 1, instead of separate image strings IIS 6 and IAS 16 (in figure 1), one common initial identification/authorisation string (IIAS) 18 is generated by camera 5, and saved in database 7. Each IIAS comprises an integrated image of a (distinguishing part of the) body of the authorised person 4 and of the authorised person's FIC 17.

[0028] In said operational step II for a person requesting for access to the physical or virtual area a common operational identification/authorisation string (OIAS) 19 is generated by camera 10, comprising an integrated image of a (distinguishing part of the) body of the requesting person and of the requesting person's FIC 13. Subsequently, the OIAS 19 of person 8 is compared with the stored IIASs 18 of the various persons 4 authorised to have access to the area 1, each of which has an IIAS stored in the database 7.

[0029] It is noted that the access controller 2 not necessarily prohibits access of e.g. a person to an area in case the initial strings (IIS, IAS, IIAS) do not match with the operational strings (OIS, OAS, OIAS). Instead of or simultaneously to prohibitting access to said area an alarm or other signalling of non-matching strings can be provided for.

[0030] Finally it is noted that, as an extra security option, the FIC of persons 4 and 8 also may, additionally, include a unique representation of those persons, e.g. the person's signature, fingerprint, etc.

Claims

1. Method for access control of a requesting subject to an area accessible for an authorised subject comprising,
in a first step (I) generating and storing at least a first identification string comprising a representation of said authorised subject,
in a second step (II) generating a second identification string comprising a representation of said requesting subject requesting access to said area and generating a first authorisation string comprising a representation of a first information carrier having additional information of said requesting subject for said area
and comparing said second identification string with said stored first identification string.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein, in the first step (I), a second authorisation string is generated and stored, comprising a representation of a second information carrier having additional information of said authorised subject for said area,
while in the second step (II) said first authorisation string is compared with said second authorisation string.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first information carrier and/or said second information carrier comprise information about relevant subject's rights and/or restrictions about the use of and/or access to said area and/or services within said area.

4. Method according to claim 2, wherein, in said first step (I), for said authorised subject a first identification/authorisation string is generated and stored, comprising a representation of said authorised subject and of said relevant authorised subject's second information carrier,
while in said second step (II) for the requesting subject a second identification/authorisation string is generated, comprising a representation of the requesting subjectand of said relevant requesting subject's first information carrier,
and comparing said second identification/authorisation string with said stored first identification/authorisation string.

5. System for access control of a requesting subject to an area accessible for an authorised subject comprising means for, in a first step (I), for said at least one authorised subject generating and storing at least a first identification string comprising a representation of said authorised subject,
and means for generating, in a second step (II), for said requesting subject a second identification string comprising a representation of said requesting subject,
and means for creating, in said second step, a first authorisation string, comprising a representation of a first information carrier, comprising additional information of said requesting subject for said area.
and means for comparing said second identification string with said stored first identification string,

6. System according to claim 5, comprising means for generating and storing, in said first step (I) a second authorisation string (16) comprising a representation of a second information carrier (17) comprising additional information of said authorised subject for said area,
and means for comparing said first authorisation string (11) with said second authorisation string (16).

7. System according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said first and/or second information carrier comprises information about the relevant subject's rights and/or restrictions about the use of and/or access to said area, and/or services to be offered.

8. System according to claim 6, comprising means for generating and storing, in said first step for each authorised subject a first identification/authorisation string, comprising a representation of the authorised subject and of the authorised subject's second information carrier, and means for generating, for the requesting subject a second identification/authorisation string, comprising a representation of the requesting subject and of the requesting subject's first information carrier, and means for comparing said second identification/authorisation string with said stored first identification/authorisation string.

9. System according to claim 5, wherein said first and/or second information carrier has the form of a card, label or coin.

10. System according to claim 5, wherein said first and/or second information carrier applies for a group of subjects.

11. System according to claim 5, wherein said first and/or second information carrier is worn on the relevant subject's body or clothes.

12. System according to claim 5 or 8, wherein said first and/or second information carrier includes a unique representation of the relevant subject like a signature, fingerprint, etc.

13. Monitoring apparatus for access control of a requesting subject to an area accessible for an authorised subject comprising:

means for generating at least one first identification string comprising a representation of said at least one authorised subject;

storing means for storing said first identification string; means for generating a second identification string comprising a representation of said requesting subject;

means for generating a first authorisation string comprising a representation of a first information carrier comprising additional information of said requesting subject for said area processing means for comparing said second identification string with said stored first identification string.

14. Monitoring apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said apparatus further comprises means for generating a second authorisation string comprising a representation of a second information carrier having additional information of said authorized subject for said area and storing means for storing said second authorisation string.

15. Monitoring apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said apparatus comprises:

means for generating a first identification/authorisation string comprising a representation of said authorised subject and of said relevant authorised subject's second information carrier; storage means for storing said first

identification/authorisation string;

means for generating a second identification/authorisation string comprising a representation of said requesting subject and of said relevant requesting subject's first information carrier;

processing means for comparing said second

identification/authorisation string with said stored first identification /authorisation string.

16. Monitoring apparatus according to any of the claims 13 - 15 wherein said storage means are not an integral part of said apparatus and said apparatus comprises network communication means for transmitting and receiving said first identification string and/or said second authorisation string or said first identification /authorisation string.

17. A computer program for running on a computer system at least including software code portions for access control of a requesting subject to an area accessible for an authorised subject performing in a first step (I) generating and storing at least a first identification string comprising a representation of said at least one authorised subject,
in a second step (II) generating a second identification string comprising a representation of said requesting subject requesting access to said area and generating a first authorisation string comprising a representation of a first information carrier having additional information of said requesting subject for said area
and comparing said second identification string with said stored first identification string.

18. A computer program according to claim 17 wherein said software code portions further include portions wherein in the first step (I), a second authorisation string is generated and stored, comprising a representation of a second information carrier having additional information of said authorised subject for said area,
while in the second step (II) said first authorisation string is compared with said second authorisation string.

19. A computer program according to claim 18 wherein said software code portions further include portions wherein in said first step (I), for said authorised subject a first identification/authorisation string is generated and stored, comprising a representation of said authorised subject and of said relevant authorised subject's second information carrier, while in said second step (II) for the requesting subject a second identification/authorisation string is generated, comprising a representation of the requesting subjectand of said relevant requesting subject's first information carrier,
and comparing said second identification/authorisation string with said stored first identification/authorisation string.

20. A data carrier, stored with data loadable in a computer memory said data representing a computer program for running on a computer system at least including software code portions for access control of a requesting subject to an area accessible for an authorised subject performing in a first step (I) generating and storing at least a first identification string comprising a representation of said at least one authorised subject,
in a second step (II) generating a second identification string comprising a representation of said requesting subject requesting access to said area and generating a first authorisation string comprising a representation of a first information carrier having additional information of said requesting subject for said area
and comparing said second identification string with said stored first identification string.

21. A data carrier according to claim 20 wherein said software code portions further include portions wherein in the first step (I), a second authorisation string is generated and stored, comprising a representation of a second information carrier having additional information of said authorised subject for said area,
while in the second step (II) said first authorisation string is compared with said second authorisation string.

22. A data carrier according to claim 20 wherein said software code portions further include portions portions wherein in said first step (I), for said authorised subject a first identification/authorisation string is generated and stored, comprising a representation of said authorised subject and of said relevant authorised subject's second information carrier, while in said second step (II) for the requesting subject a second identification/authorisation string is generated, comprising a representation of the requesting subjectand of said relevant requesting subject's first information carrier,
and comparing said second identification/authorisation string with said stored first identification/authorisation string.

Drawing