Security system

To ensure that guest abnormal behavior can be easily found by visual inspection. A security system includes a staff electronic name tag device (SENTD), a guest electronic name tag device (GENTD), a monitoring device, a guest management device, and a gate device. The SENTD displays the face image of the staff who is assigned with the SENTD. The GENTD includes a display unit and a first wireless communication unit. The display unit displays the face image of the guest to which the GENTD is assigned. The photographing unit photographs the face image of the guest in the facility and outside the monitoring area. The second wireless communication unit wirelessly communicates with the first wireless communication unit of the guest electronic tag unit. The holder registration unit transmits the photographed face image of the guest to the GENTD in the second wireless communication unit for display.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-014156 filed on Jan. 30, 2017 the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a security system.

In a typical exemplary security system, in a facility where base stations are provided in a distributed manner, when a person moves with a wireless mobile sensor node, the wireless mobile sensor node communicates with its nearest base station. Then, it is detected that the base station communicating with the wireless mobile sensor node switches to another, and the person's behavior is being kept under observation.

On the other hand, in a typical examplary electronic business card system, the electronic business card device downloads the user ID, personal information, and face photograph data corresponding to the ID of the electronic business card device from the server and displays the user ID and the face picture on a display unit. In this system, a visitor has his/her own electronic business card device and personal information etc. of an interviewer who deals with the visitor, upon arrival of the visitor at the interviewer, are to be transmitted to and displayed on the visitor's electronic business card.

SUMMARY

A security system according to the present disclosure includes a staff electronic name tag device, a guest electronic name tag device, a monitoring device, a monitoring device, and a gate device. The staff electronic name tag device is assigned to each staff member in a facility and carried by each staff member in a visible manner for others. The guest electronic name tag device is assigned to each guest in a lent manner and carried by the each guest in a visible state for others. The monitoring device uses a sensor network provided in a monitoring area in the facility to monitor a position of the electronic name tag device of the each staff member in the facility and a position of the guest electronic name tag device. The guest management device assigns a guest to the guest electronic name tag device. The gate device permits the guest electronic name tag device to enter the facility after the guest is assigned and permits the staff electronic name tag device to enter the facility after successful authentication of the staff electronic name tag device. Then, the staff electronic name tag device is configured to display a face image of the each staff who is assigned with the staff electronic name tag device. The guest electronic name tag device is provided with a display unit and a first wires communication unit. The display unit displays a face image of the each guest who is assigned with the guest electronic name tag device. The first wireless communication unit communicates with the guest management in a wireless manner. The guest management device is provided with a photographing device, a second wireless communication unit, and a holder registering unit. The photographing device photographs the face image of the guest in the facility and outside the monitoring area. The second wireless communication unit communicates with, in a wireless manner, the first wireless communication unit of the guest electronic name tag device. The holder registering unit causes the second wireless communication unit to transmit the photographed face image of the each guest to the guest electronic name tag device for display.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1is a block diagram showing a configuration of a security system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the security system shown inFIG. 1, an electronic name tag device1is a guest electronic name tag device1allocated to each guest101in a lent manner only while he/she is staying in a facility such as a company. An electronic name tag device2is a staff electronic name tag device assigned to each staff member102in the facility. It is to be noted that the electronic name tag devices1and2are portable and are worn by the staff member102and each guest101, respectively, with a strap or clip such that they are visible from, others. The electronic nameplate device1displays a face image of the guest to whom the electronic name tag device1is assigned. The electronic name tag device2displays a face image of the staff member who is assigned with the electronic name tag device2.

In the facility, there are also installed a sensor network3, a monitoring device4, a guest management device5, a gate device6, and a staff management device7.

The sensor network3includes sensor nodes arranged in a distributed manner in monitoring areas in the facility. The monitoring area is set inside the gate unit6. Each of the sensor nodes has a wireless communication interface that is capable of conducting wireless communication with the electronic name tag devices1and2that exist within a specified distance range. Each of the sensor nodes uses the wireless communication interface to detect the electronic name tag devices1and2and notifies the monitoring device4of the device ID of the electronic name tag devices1and2and the like.

The monitoring device4is coupled to the sensor network3in a wired or wireless communication manner and conducts a database management by interconnecting, in a mutual way, the node ID and installation location of each of the sensor nodes of the sensor network3. Then, the monitoring device4, using the sensor network3that is installed in the monitoring area in the facility, detects the position of the electronic name tag device1in the facility (that is, the position of the guest101) and the position of the electronic name tag device2(that is, the position of the staff member102).

The monitoring device4is a terminal device that includes, for example, a communication unit capable of communicating with the guest management device5, the gate device6, the staff management device7and like, and another communication unit capable of communicating with the sensor network3and the like. The monitoring device4identifies the position of the sensor node that has detected the electronic name tag device1as the position of the electronic name tag device1assigned to the guest101and if the position is determined to be within an area where an entry of the guest101is not permitted, the monitoring device4, using the sensor network3, transmits a warning command to the electronic name tag device11.

The guest management device5is a terminal device that assigns the guest101to the electronic name tag device1. The guest management device5is installed inside the facility and outside the monitoring area (that is, outside the gate device6such as a lobby of a building entrance or the like).

The gate device6permits the electronic name tag device1(that is, the guest101) to enter the facility after the guest101is allocated with the electronic name tag device1, and permits the electronic name tag device2(that is, the staff102) to enter the facility after the electronic name tag device2succeeds in authentication. It is to be noted that the gate device6refuses to enter the person who does not have the electronic name tag device1or2. In addition, in case of failure of an authentication of the electronic name tag device2, the gate device6refuses an entry of the concerned staff member102.

The staff management device7is a terminal device that assigns the electronic name tag device2to the staff member102. It is to be noted that the guest management device5, when the guest101comes, assigns the guest101to the electronic name tag device1, while the staff management device7assigns the staff member102to the electronic name tag device2upon entrance of the staff member102.

FIG. 2is a block diagram showing a configuration of the electronic name tag devices1and2shown inFIG. 1.FIG. 3is a perspective view of the electronic name tag devices1and2shown inFIG. 1.

The electronic name tag devices1and2are common in their hardware as shown inFIG. 2. Each of the electronic name tag devices1and2includes a display unit11, a wireless communication unit12, a storage unit13, an audio output unit14, an arithmetic processing unit15, and a power supply unit16.

The display unit11includes a thin display panel11asuch as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display or the like, an indicator11b, and the like. The display unit11causes its thin display panel11ato display the face image of at least a holder (the staff member102or the guest101) of the electronic name tag devices1or2.

The wireless communication unit12is a wireless communication unit for short-range wireless communication within a communication coverage range of, for example, several meters to several tens of meters. For example, the wireless communication unit12is a wireless interface of Bluetooth (registered trademark) such as BLE.

The wireless communication unit12is capable of communicating with the sensor nodes of the sensor network3, the guest management device5, the staff management device7, and the like which are within the communicable range.

The storage unit13is in the form of a rewritable memory for storing the image data of the face image of the holder. As the storage unit13, a volatile memory, a nonvolatile memory, or the like is available in appropriate manner.

The audio output unit14, using a speaker or the like, outputs operation sounds, warning sounds, and the like.

The arithmetic processing unit15includes a computer having a CPU or the like and operates as various processing units by executing a program stored in the storage unit13or the storage device. In this configuration, the arithmetic processing unit15operates as a holder setting unit21, the display control unit22, the setting deleting unit23, and the warning processing unit24.

The holder setting unit21, using the wireless communication unit12, receives the image data of the face image of the holder (the guest101or the staff member102) together with the holder's attribute information from the guest management device5or the staff management device7and stores the received image data and attribute information in the storage unit13. The attribute information includes the type of holder (the staff member or the guest), and a staff ID in the case of staff member, a staff ID, a name, a department name, and the like.

A display control unit22causes, based on the image data in the storage unit13, the thin display panel11aof the display unit11to display the face image of the holder as shown inFIG. 3. At this time, if the holder type is guest, the display control unit22causes the thin display panel11ato display an image (for example, a text “guest” as shown inFIG. 3) providing a guest indication together with the face image. On the other hand, if the holder type is staff member, the display control unit22causes the thin display panel11ato display the staff member's name, department name, etc. based on the attribute information in the storage unit13together with the face image.

A setting deletion unit23, when receiving a face image deletion instruction at the wireless communication unit12, deletes the image data of the face image in the storage unit13. It is to be noted that the attribute information is also deleted together with the image data.

A warning processing unit24causes, when receiving a warning command from the monitoring device4via the wireless communication unit12, the thin display panel11aof the display unit to display a warning screen. At the same time, the warning processing unit24may cause the sound output unit14to output an alarm sound.

The power supply unit16supplies electric power to the internal devices (such as the display unit11, the wireless communication unit12, the storage unit13, the sound output unit14, the arithmetic processing unit15, and the like) of each of the electronic name tag devices1and2. The power supply unit16may be in the form of a primary battery or a secondary battery with a charging circuit for charging the secondary battery. The charging circuit charges the secondary battery with externally supplied electric power in a contact manner via a power supply terminal16aas shown inFIG. 3or in a non-contact manner.

FIG. 4is a block diagram showing a configuration of each of the guest management device5and the staff management device7inFIG. 1. The guest management device5and the staff management device7are provided with common hardware as shown inFIG. 4. More specifically, each of the guest management device5and the staff management device7includes an photographing unit31, an input unit32, a wireless communication unit33, a communication unit34, and an arithmetic processing unit35.

The photographing unit31photographs a face image of a holder (the guest101or the staff member102) assigned to the electronic name tag devices1or2.

More specifically, the photographing unit31of the guest management device5photographs the face image of the guest in the facility and outside the monitoring area (that is, outside the gate device6).

The input unit32is a device such as a keyboard, a hard key, a soft key or the like that accepts a user operation. In the staff management device7, the input unit32is used for input of the attribute information (including, for example, name) of the holder when the holder is a staff member.

The wireless communication unit33can communicate with each of the electronic name tag devices1and2(that is, the wireless communication units12).

The communication unit34is a communication unit that is capable of communicating with the monitoring device4. For example, when the monitoring device4, the guest management device5, and the staff management device7are connected to an intranet, the communication unit34is treated as a network interface connected to the intranet.

The arithmetic processing unit35includes a computer having a CPU or the like and operates as various processing units by executing a program stored in the storage unit. In this configuration, the arithmetic processing unit35operates as a holder information acquisition unit41, a holder registration unit42, and a registration deletion unit43.

The holder information acquiring unit41, which controls the photographing unit31according to the operation applied to the input device32, causes the image capturing unit31to capture the face image of the guest101or the staff member102to transmit the image data of the face image to the holder registration unit42. The holder information acquisition unit41of the staff management device7acquires the attribute information of the staff member102to be input to the input unit32and provides the acquired attribute information to the holder registration unit42.

The holder registering unit42causes the wireless communication unit33to transmit the face image (image data of the face image) of the guest101or the staff member102which is photographed by the photographing unit31to the electronic name tag device1or2for the registration therein together with the display thereon.

In accordance with the operation given to the input unit32, the registration deletion unit43causes the wireless communication unit33to transmit a face image deletion command to the electronic name tag devices1and2. When the guest101leaves, the registration deletion unit43of the guest management device5causes the wireless communication unit33to transmit the face image deletion instruction to the electronic name tag devices1of the guest101. As a result, pursuant to the face image deletion command, the face image of the guest101is deleted from the electronic name tag device1.

Next, an operation of the above-described security system will be described.

(A) Operation Associated with Staff Member

(A1) Registration of Staff Member

First, at the time of an entry of the staff member102, an administrator or the like operates the staff management device7to assign a unique electronic name tag device2to the staff member102(that is, this electronic name tag device2cannot be assigned to another staff member).

In the staff management device7, according to the operation of the administrator or the like given to the input unit32, the holder information acquisition unit41acquires the image data and the attribute information of the face image of the staff member102, and the holder registration unit42causes the wireless communication unit33to transmit the image data and the attribute information to the electronic name tag device2of the staff member102. In the electronic name tag device2, the holder setting unit21causes the wireless communication unit12to receive the image data and attribute information and stores the received image data and attribute information in the storage unit13. The display control unit22of the electronic name tag device2causes the display unit11to display the face image and attribute information of the staff member102based on the image data and the attribute information as shown inFIG. 3, for example.

In addition, the holder registration unit42of the staff management unit7notifies the monitoring device4of the staff ID of the staff102and the device ID of the electronic name tag device2assigned to the staff member102. The monitoring device4, when receiving the staff ID and the device ID, registers the received staff ID and device ID in the database in association with each other.

(A2) Staff Member's Entry Through the Gate

If the staff member102want to enter the facility, he/she with his/her assigned electronic name tag device2comes to the installation location of the gate device6.

The gate device6acquires the device ID and the staff ID of the electronic name tag device2in a wireless communication manner from the electronic name tag2and determines whether or not the paired device ID and staff ID is registered in the database of the monitoring device4. If the paired device ID and staff ID is determined to be registered in the database of the monitoring device4, the gate device6permits the staff member102to enter the facility, and otherwise refuses an entrance of the staff member102.

(A3) Monitoring Staff Member

The staff member102, who has entered the facility, carries the electronic name tag device2in visible to others and moves around within the facility.

When a specific one of the sensor nodes detects the electronic name tag device2, the sensor network3notifies the monitoring device4of the node ID of the sensor node and the device ID of the electronic name tag device2. The monitoring device4, when receiving the node ID and the device ID, identifies the installation location of a sensor node having the node ID and determines that the electronic name tag device2having the received device ID (that is, the staff member to whom the electronic name tag device2is assigned) exists in the location. Thereby, the monitoring device4can grasp the position of the staff member102entering the facility (that is, within the monitoring area).

(B) Guest Associated Operation

(B1) Registration of Guest

When a guest101visits the facility, first, at the reception, a confirmation is made as to an identification of the guest101and if the guest101is permitted to enter the facility, the electronic name tag device1(that is not one assigned to another guest) is assigned to the guest101.

In the guest management device5, according to the operation of the receptionist or the like, the holder information acquisition unit41acquires the image data of the face image of the guest101from the photographing device31, and the holder registration unit42causes the wireless communication unit33to transmit the image data and attribute information indicating that the holder is “guest” to the electronic name tag device1of the guest101. In the electronic name tag device1, the holder setting units21causes the wireless communication unit12to receive the image data and the attribution information and stores the received image data and attribution information in the storage unit13. Based on these image data and attribution information, the display control unit22of the electronic name tag device1causes the display unit11to display, as shown inFIG. 3, the face image of the guest101and an image indicating that the holder is “guest”.

In addition, the holder registration unit42of the guest management device5notifies the monitoring device4of the device ID of the electronic name tag device1assigned to the guest101. The monitoring device4, when receiving the device ID, registers the device ID in the database as the electronic name tag device1assigned to the guest.

It is to be noted that in this embodiment, personal information of the guest101is unnecessary for the registration of the guest101, but like the staff member102, the personal information of the guest101may be registered as part of the attribute information.

Thereafter, the electronic name tag device1is lent to the guest101. At this point, the face image of the guest101is being displayed on the electronic name tag device1.

(B2) Guest's Passage Through the Gate

The guest101comes to the installation location of the gate device6in order to enter the facility after being lent with the electronic name tag device1that displays his/her own face image at the reception.

The gate device6conducts communication with the electronic name tag device1to acquire the device ID of the electronic name tag device1and determines whether or not the acquired device ID is registered as being assigned to the guest in the database of the monitoring device4. If the device ID is determined to be thus registered in the database of the monitoring device4, the gate device6permits an entry of the guest101, and otherwise rejects an entry of the guest101.

(B3) Monitoring the Guest

The guest, who has entered the facility, carries the electronic name tag device1in visible to others and moves within the facility.

If a specific one of the sensor nodes detects the electronic name tag device1, the sensor network3notifies the monitoring device4of the node ID of such a sensor node and the device ID of the electronic name tag device1. The monitoring device4, when receiving the node ID and the device ID, identifies the installation location of the sensor node having the node ID, and determines that the electronic name tag device1(that is, any guest101) having the device ID exists. Thereby, the monitoring device4can grasp the position of the guest101who entered the facility (that is, the guest101within the monitoring area).

Then, if the guest101enters a restricted area (where no guest is permitted to enter), the guest entered such an area is detected by the monitoring device4as described above, and based on the instruction from the monitoring device4, the electronic name tag device1of the guest101is caused to display a warning screen or sound an alarm. As a result, it is possible to confirm that the guest101and another person have entered the restricted area. For this reason, even if the guest101intends to enter the restricted area with malice, such an action can be found in an easy way by another person.

If the guest101illegally obtains an electronic name tag device2of a staff member102in the facility and pretends to be the staff member102, the guest101will carry the electronic name tag device2displaying the face image of the staff member102in visible for others. Therefore, the face image of the guest101differs from the face image displayed on the electronic name tag device2, which makes it possible for others to recognizes the pretention in a visible easy way. Further, in such a way, an easy detection of abnormal behavior in a visible way will also give a restriction thereof.

It is to be noted that in a case where the guest101pretends to be the staff member102for the intension of entering the restricted area, if the guest101keeps carrying the electronic name tag device1assigned to him/her, as described above, the electronic name tag device1will be detected by the sensor network3. Therefore, it is necessary for the guest101to conceal the electronic name tag device1assigned to hide him/her somewhere in the facility. It is to be noted that the necessity to return the electronic name tag device1at the time of leaving disables the discarding thereof. More specifically, it is impossible for the guest101to attain a compatibility between occupying the electronic name tag device2assigned to himself/herself in a conceal manner and carrying the electronic name tag device2of the staff member102in visible. In addition, if the hidden electronic name tag device1is found, the displayed face image of the guest101thereon will cause an immediate identification of the guest101under abnormal behavior. Further, even if the guest101does not carry any of the electronic name tag devices1and2in visually observable, another person can find the guest101as a suspicious person at a glance.

In this way, these abnormal behaviors of the guest101are easily detected and suppressed.

(B4) Registration Deletion of the Guest

The guest101, at the time of leaving, returns the lent electronic name tag device1to the reception. Then, the person who is in charge of reception or the like deletes the registration of the guest101associated with the electronic name tag device1.

In the guest management device5, according to the operation of the receptionist or the like, the registration deletion unit43causes the wireless communication unit33to transmit the face image deletion command to the electronic name tag device1. In the electronic name tag device1, the setting deletion unit23deletes the image data (and attribute information) of the face image stored in the storage unit13.

In addition, the registration deletion unit43of the guest management device5notifies the monitoring device4of the device ID of the electronic name tag device1. The monitoring device4, when receiving the device ID, deletes the device ID as the electronic name tag device1assigned to the guest in the database.

As a result, the electronic name tag device1returns to the state before being lent to the guest101.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, the electronic name tag device2is assigned to each the staff member102in the facility, while the electronic name tag device1is allocated in a lent manner to each the guest101. The monitoring device4uses the sensor network3installed in the monitoring area in the facility to monitor the positions of the electronic name tag devices1and2in the facility. The gate device6permits the electronic name tag device1(that is, the guest101) to enter the facility after the guest101is allocated with the electronic name tag device1, and permits the electronic name tag device2(that is, the staff102) to enter the facility after the electronic name tag device2succeeds in authentication. Then, the electronic name tag device1displays the face image of the guest101who is assigned with the electronic name tag device1, while the electronic name tag device2displays the face image of the staff member102to whom the electronic name tag device2is assigned. The guest management device5photographs the face image of the guest101in the facility and outside the monitoring area with the photographing unit31and transmits, in a wireless manner, the photographed face image of the guest101to the electronic name tag device1for display.

As a result, abnormal behavior of the guest101within the monitoring area can be easily found in visible.

In the security system of the above-described typical example, even when a malicious guest moves without carrying his/her wireless mobile sensor node, it is difficult for the staff member or the like to easily discover the behavior of the guest. Also, with the above-described security system, if a malicious guest illegally obtains the wireless mobile sensor node of the staff member, he/she can impersonate as a staff member and it is difficult for the true staff member or the like to easily discover the behavior of the guest.

Further, although it may be possible to use an electronic business card of the above-mentioned typical example, visitors (that is, guests) need to prepare their own electronic business cards, which is not realistic. In such a case, a malicious guest can switch the face image displayed on the electronic business card machine in advance to his/her own face image and staff member's face image, which makes it possible for the malicious guest to easily impersonate a staff member after entering the facility.

However, according to the security system of the present disclosure, an abnormal behavior of a guest can be easily found by visual inspection.

Various changes and modifications to the above-described embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. That is, such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the electronic name tag devices1and2may be configured without including input devices (hardware keys or the like) for accepting respective operations from the guest101and the staff member102. As a result, it is possible to prevent illegal operations conducted from the guest101to the respective electronic name tag device1and2.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the power supply unit16of each of the electronic name tag device1and2may be configured such that as a power management mode either one of standby and operation modes is selectable. In the standby mode, the display unit11is extinguished, and the electronic name tag devices1and2are set to be in a power-saving operation. In the operation mode, the display unit11is lit. For example, the power supply unit16of each of the electronic name tag device1and2may be configured to receive a mode selection command from an external unit via the wireless communication unit12and select, as the power management mode, either one of standby mode and the operation mode according to the mode selection command. In addition, the electronic name tag device1of the guest101may be configured such that when the face image of the guest101is registered in the electronic name tag device1(that is, when the face image of the guest101is stored in the storage unit13), the power management mode is automatically switched to the operation mode, and when the face image of the guest101is deleted from the electronic name tag device1(that is, when the image data of the face image of the guest101is deleted in the storage device13), the power management mode is automatically switched to the standby mode. Further, the power supply unit16of the electronic name tag device2of the staff member102may automatically select the standby mode outside the facility, while automatically selecting the operation mode when entering the facility. In such a case, for example, a beacon or the like of a wireless communication scheme similar to that of the sensor node of the sensor network3is installed in the area inside the facility and concurrently outside the monitoring area, and the power supply unit16of the electronic name tag device2uses the wireless communication unit12to detect that the guest has entered the facility based on wireless communication with the sensor node and the beacon.

The present disclosure is applicable to, for example, a security system using a sensor network in a corporate facility.