WO2017030500A1

WO2017030500A1 - Biometric access control system

Info

Publication number: WO2017030500A1
Application number: PCT/SG2016/050381
Authority: WO
Inventors: Weifeng Li; Bin WENG; Yongji Wang; Zhou Hong; Zhilin Li; Xiangfeng WENG; Qili Huang; Chenglin LIANG
Original assignee: Jing King Tech Holdings Pte Ltd
Current assignee: Jing King Tech Holdings Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2015-08-19
Filing date: 2016-08-08
Publication date: 2017-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 2018-02-19
Also published as: CN204883895U

Abstract

The present invention provides a biometric access control system for managing access to a place or resource comprising a controller, a display means connected to and in communication with the controller, a card reading device, a control panel for controlling the means to access a place or resource, the card reading device connected to and in communication with the control panel, and the control panel connected to and in communication with the controller, and a finger vein recognition device connected to and in communication with the controller, wherein the finger vein recognition device provides multiple verification for granting access, thereby increasing the level of security of the system.

Description

BIOMETRIC ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a biometric access control system for managing access to a place or resource and in particular, but not exclusively, to a biometric access control system that can be applied to various systems such as doors, gantries, vaults, safe deposit boxes and the like, and automated teller machines, kiosks including kiosks that provide government-linked services, portals including government-linked portals and the like, and to any system the access of which requires a high level of security.

BACKGROUND The following discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgment or admission that any of the material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction as at the priority date of the application. Access control systems are used for selective restriction of access to a place or resource. Access control systems, such as a conventional door control system, is a system that is used to manage entrances and exits through a door, and is developed from the traditional mechanical door lock. The traditional mechanical door lock relies on a simple mechanical device comprising a lock which would be integrated into the door and a key that is used to operate the lock for controlling access to a place. However, such a device can be easily compromised which gives rise to a relatively low level of security. In addition, if the key to the lock is lost or misplaced, the entire lock that has been fixed in the door needs to be replaced, which costs money and is time-consuming.

Combination locks were invented to effectively solve the above-mentioned problems associated with the traditional mechanical door lock. However, a new problem emerges: the password for these combination locks can be easily leaked and/or cracked which compromises security. Therefore, such combination locks are unable to meet the security needs of people. With advancement in technology, there have been introduced some door control systems that adopt the smart card recognition technology. Such systems that adopt the smart card recognition technology ensure the system security by relying only on the technical difficulty to duplicate or replicate such a smart card. In the event if the smart card is lost or falls into the wrong hands, the consequence will be no different from losing a key of a traditional mechanical lock. Hence, such a system similarly does not address the above- mentioned problems. Similar problems are also present in existing access control systems that are applied to other systems such as gantries, vaults, safe deposit boxes and the like, and automated teller machines, kiosks, portals and the like. In light of increasing security threats including domestic security threats, there is an urgent need for an access control system for controlling access to a place or resource so as to ensure the safety and security of the same. The present invention provides such a system to overcome at least in part some of the aforementioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Throughout this document, unless otherwise indicated to the contrary, the terms "comprising", "consisting of, and the like, are to be construed as non-exhaustive, or in other words, as meaning "including, but not limited to".

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a biometric access control system for managing access to a place or resource, comprising:

a controller;

a display means connected to and in communication with the controller;

a card reading device;

a control panel for controlling the means to access a place or resource, the card reading device connected to and in communication with the control panel, and the control panel connected to and in communication with the controller; and

a finger vein recognition device connected to and in communication with the controller, wherein the finger vein recognition device provides multiple verification for granting access, thereby increasing the level of security of the system.

Preferably, the biometric access control system further comprises an image acquisition module operable to acquire a facial image, wherein the image acquisition module is connected to and in communication with the controller.

Preferably, the image acquisition module is a high resolution camera.

Preferably, the display means comprises input means for facilitating operation by a user.

Preferably, the display means is in the form of a display screen comprising a touch screen.

Preferably, the card reading device is operable to read an identity card and/or an integrated circuit card.

Preferably, the display screen is connected to and in communication with the controller via a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) interface. Preferably, the touch screen is connected to and in communication with the controller via a universal serial bus (USB) interface.

Preferably, the control panel is connected to and in communication with the controller via a USB interface.

Preferably, the finger vein recognition device is connected to and in communication connection with the controller via a USB interface.

Preferably, the card reading device is connected to and in communication with the control panel via a Wiegand interface.

Preferably, the image acquisition module is connected to and in communication with the controller via a USB interface. Preferably, the biometric access control system is a biometric door access control system.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for managing access to a place or resource, comprising:

(a) obtaining information from an identity card and/or an integrated circuit card by a card reading device of a biometric access control system for verification;

(b) acquiring a finger vein image of a user by a finger vein recognition device of the biometric access control system for verification; and

(c) acquiring a facial image of a user by an image acquisition module of the biometric access control system for verification;

wherein the biometric access control system further comprises a controller, a display means connected to and in communication with the controller, and a control panel for controlling the means to access a place or resource; the card reading device connected to and in communication with the control panel, the control panel connected to and in communication with the controller, and each of the finger vein recognition device and the image acquisition module connected to and in communication with the controller; and

wherein at least two of the steps (a) to (c) are performed by the biometric access control system for verification and whereby successful verification is required for the biometric access control system to grant access to a user.

Preferably, the image acquisition module is a high resolution camera. Preferably, the display means comprises input means for facilitating operation by a user.

Preferably, the card reading device is connected to and in communication with the control panel via a Wiegand interface. Preferably, the image acquisition module is connected to and in communication with the controller via a USB interface.

Preferably, the biometric access control system is a biometric door access control system. In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a biometric access control system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompany drawing as appropriate.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the ensuing description, which proceeds with reference to the following illustrative drawings of various embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described, by way of illustrative example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, of which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a biometric access control system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Particular embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Additionally, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

With reference to Fig. 1, there is described hereinafter a biometric access control system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The biometric access control system comprises a controller, such as in the form of an industrial-control motherboard, a display means connected to and in communication with the controller, a card reading device such as an identity card and/or smart card reading device (ID/IC reader), and a control panel, such as a door or resource control panel, for controlling the means to access a place or resource. The card reading device is connected to and in communication with the control panel, and the control panel is connected to and in communication with the controller. The controller serves to control the overall operation of the means to access a place or a resource such as a door. The display means comprises input means or an input device for facilitating operation by a user. Advantageously, the display means is in the form of a display screen in which the display screen serves to display the human-computer interaction interface and guide or show the user how to operate the system, and the input device serves to acquire operational instructions sent by the user. In order to facilitate the user operation, the input device is in the form of a touch screen. In another embodiment, the display means is in the form of a dedicated device for displaying the human-computer interaction interface, and the biometric access control system further comprises an input means or an input device for facilitating operation by a user. In other words, the display means can be in the form of an integrated device in which the device can serve as a display screen as well as input means, or there can be two separate devices or means, one for displaying the human-computer interaction interface and the other for acquiring operational instructions being input by a user.

The card reading device serves to read the information contained on an identity card and/or a smart card (or integrated circuit card). Each of the display screen and the input device is respectively connected to and in communication with the controller.

In order to further enhance access security level, the biometric access control system further comprises a finger vein recognition device, wherein the finger-vein recognition device acquires finger vein information and is connected to and in communication with the controller. The finger vein recognition device comprises an image capturing device such as a camera for acquiring a finger vein image. A finger vein image comprises personal information that is unique to each user, which can be safely used to recognize and authenticate the user. Advantageously, the finger vein recognition device provides a means of multiple verification prior to granting access to a user, thereby increasing the level of security of the system. In order to further enhance access security level, the biometric access control system further comprises an image acquisition module operable to acquire a facial image of a user for recognition and authentication of the user. The image acquisition module is connected to and in communication with the controller. The image acquisition module can be in the form of a human face acquisition module, in which the human face acquisition module acquires human face information. Preferably, the image acquisition module is in the form of a high resolution camera. Advantageously, the image acquisition module provides a means of multiple verification prior to granting access to a user, thereby increasing the level of security of the system. In order to adapt to all kinds of identity and/or smart cards, the card reading device is in the form of an identity card and/or an integrated circuit card (ID and/or IC) card reading device operable to read an ID and/or IC card.

In order to adapt to specific needs for communication connection of the components namely, the display means, the control panel, the finger vein recognition device and the image acquisition module, to the controller, each of the aforementioned components is connected to and in communication with the controller via connection means. Such connection means include low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) interface, universal serial bus (USB) interface and any other interface that is suitable for connection to and communication with the controller. Preferably, the display means is connected to and in communication with the controller via a LVDS interface.

In another embodiment, preferably the display screen is connected to and in communication with the controller via a LVDS interface and input means or input device in the form of a touch screen is connected to and in communication with the controller via a USB interface.

Preferably, the finger vein recognition device is connected to and in communication with the controller via a USB interface. Preferably, the image acquisition module is connected to and in communication with the controller via a USB interface.

Preferably, the card reading device is connected to and in communication with the control panel via a Wiegand interface. In operation of the biometric access control system when the system is applied to door, a user first conducts the operation of opening the door on the touch screen and the display screen displays the human-computer interaction interface to assist the user in operating the system. Thereafter, a two-step verification process is required prior to the system granting access to the user. In the two-step verification process, the user is required to present an identity card or smart card to the card reading device for verification of the information obtained from the identity card or smart card by the card reading device. Such information may include the identity/card number, personal information such as name, address, validity date of the card and the like. The user is also required to present one or more fingers to the finger vein recognition device for the device to acquire at least one finger vein image for verification. If both verifications are successful, the system will grant access to the user and in this case, the door will be opened. If either one of the verifications mentioned above is unsuccessful, the system will not grant access to the user.

In another embodiment, the two-step verification process comprises obtaining information from an identity card or smart card by the card reading device for verification and acquiring a facial image of a user for verification. Both verifications are required to be successful in order for the system to grant access to the user.

In another embodiment, the two-step verification process comprises acquiring a finger vein image of a user by the finger vein recognition device and acquiring a facial image of a user by the image acquisition module for verification. Both verifications are required to be successful in order for the system to grant access to the user. This is advantageous especially in situations where the identity card or smart card that has been registered with the system has been misplaced, as the user would still be able to gain access through verification of the user's finger vein image and facial image whilst a high level of security is maintained and not compromised. In another embodiment, the verification process can be in the form of a three-step verification process comprising obtaining information from an identity card or smart card by the card reading device for verification, acquiring a finger vein image of a user by the finger vein recognition device for verification and acquiring a facial image of a user by the image acquisition module for verification. Advantageously, this three-step multiple verification process provides a very high level of security.

Prior to the biometric access control system being in operation for performing the two- step verification process or the three-step verification process described above, certain information is required to be stored in the system. Such information includes information contained in the identity card or smart card of a user who is given access to the place or resource that is system is managing, at least one finger vein image of the user and at least one facial image of the user.

When the biometric access control system is in operation and performs the two-step or three-step verification process described above, verification of each of the steps is considered successful based on the following:

• Information obtained from the identity card or smart card of a user by the card reading device corresponds to the information of the identity card or smart card that is stored in the system.

• Finger vein image(s) of a user acquired by the finger vein recognition device corresponds to the finger vein image(s) that is stored in the system.

• Facial image(s) of a user acquired by the image acquisition module corresponds to the facial image(s) that is stored in the system.

Although the various embodiments described above relates to the biometric access control system being applied to a door, it would be appreciated that the system can be applied to or integrated into other systems such as gantries, vaults, safe deposit boxes and the like, and automated teller machines, kiosks including kiosks that provide government-linked services, portals including government-linked portals and the like, and to any system the access of which requires a high level of security. The two-step or three- step verification process described above can similarly be applied to such other systems.

The technical effects of the present invention are that the level of security for access to a place or resource is significantly improved as compared to conventional access control systems that use smart card recognition technology by incorporating into the biometric access control system at least a two-step verification process enabled by two or more of the following: the card reading device, the finger vein recognition device and the image acquisition module, to achieve multiple verification for granting access, thereby increasing the level of security of the system and ensuring the safety and security of the place or resource to which access is being granted. To achieve an even higher level of security, the biometric access control system can be programmed to put in place a three- step verification process enabled by the card reading device, the finger vein recognition device and the image acquisition device, to achieve multiple verification for granting access to a user. In addition, the biometric access control system advantageously comprises a simple structure and can be widely applied to various systems such as doors, gantries, vaults, safe deposit boxes and the like, and automated teller machines, kiosks including kiosks that provide government-linked services, portals including government- linked portals and the like, and to any system the access of which requires a high level of security, at a low cost.

It is to be understood that the above embodiments have been provided only by way of exemplification of this invention, and that further modifications and improvements thereto, as would be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art, are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the present invention described herein. It is further to be understood that features from one or more of the described embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. A biometric access control system for managing access to a place or resource, comprising:

a controller;

a display means connected to and in communication with the controller;

a card reading device;

2. The biometric access control system according to claim 1, further comprising an image acquisition module operable to acquire a facial image, wherein the image acquisition module is connected to and in communication with the controller.

3. The biometric access control system according to claim 2, wherein the image acquisition module is a high resolution camera.

4. The biometric access control system according to any preceding claim, wherein the display means comprises input means for facilitating operation by a user.

5. The biometric access control system according to claim 4, wherein the display means is in the form of a display screen comprising a touch screen.

6. The biometric access control system according to any preceding claim, wherein the card reading device is operable to read an identity card and/or an integrated circuit card.

7. The biometric access control system according to claim 5, wherein the display screen is connected to and in communication with the controller via a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) interface.

8. The biometric access control system according to claim 5, wherein the touch screen is connected to and in communication with the controller via a universal serial bus (USB) interface.

9. The biometric access control system according to any preceding claim, wherein the control panel is connected to and in communication with the controller via a USB interface.

10. The biometric access control system according to any preceding claim, wherein the finger vein recognition device is connected to and in communication connection with the controller via a USB interface.

11. The biometric access control system according to any preceding claim, wherein the card reading device is connected to and in communication with the control panel via a Wiegand interface.

12. The biometric access control system according to claim 2, wherein the image acquisition module is connected to and in communication with the controller via a USB interface.

13. The biometric access control system according to any preceding claim, wherein the system is a biometric door access control system.

14. A method for managing access to a place or resource, comprising:

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the image acquisition module is a high resolution camera.

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the display means comprises input means for facilitating operation by a user.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the display means is in the form of a display screen comprising a touch screen.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the display screen is connected to and in communication with the controller via a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) interface.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the touch screen is connected to and in communication with the controller via a universal serial bus (USB) interface.

20. The method according to any of claims 14 to 19, wherein the control panel is connected to and in communication with the controller via a USB interface.

21. The method according to any of claims 14 to 20, wherein the finger vein recognition device is connected to and in communication connection with the controller via a USB interface.

22. The method according to any of claims 14 to 21, wherein the card reading device is connected to and in communication with the control panel via a Wiegand interface.

23. The method according to any of claims 14 to 22, wherein the image acquisition module is connected to and in communication with the controller via a USB interface.

24. The method according to any of claims 14 to 23, wherein the biometric access control system is a biometric door access control system.

25. The biometric access control system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompany drawing as appropriate.