EP0545756A1 - Guardian's tour evaluation method - Google Patents

Abstract

Adhesive labels (2) bearing identification bar codes (3) are arranged at all the exits (4) of the premises (5) to be visited. The security guard successively scans, by means of a time-stamping bar code reader pen (6), one of these bar codes (3) and the relevant bar code or codes (9) corresponding to a list (8) of conditions (open, closed, broken into) likely to be noted in relation to the exit (4) or the premises (5). At the end of the round, these items of information are transferred into a computer (11) which allows round reports (13) to be drawn up. This method allows easy and reliable checking of the execution of the rounds and reliable transmission of information. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to the control and operation of patrols carried out by surveillance agents during the closing hours of industrial, commercial and other premises.

A classic method of verifying that a surveillance officer has carried out all the prescribed rounds by passing through all the points to be visited consists in asking him to record the hour and the minute of each of his passages on a sheet or on a register kept at each point. The agent can easily circumvent this measure by registering several hours of passage at once.

A safer way is to use devices called data carriers which are mechanically fixed at each visit point and which record the date and time of each visit using a patrol controller which is fitted with the surveillance officer. .

This control mode requires the installation of a data carrier at each visit point. It therefore does not lend itself to frequent changes in the distribution of visit points which may result, for example, from changes in the use of the premises.

In addition, apart from serious events and situations such as fires, floods, break-ins, suspicious presence, surveillance officers are able to observe during their rounds various conditions relating to the premises visited which may be of interest to the owner. or the user of these premises, such as open or closed door or window, light on or off, machine or appliance on or off.

Supervisors have no simple and reliable means of recording such findings and making them known to interested parties.

The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to provide a simple, inexpensive and safe method for controlling the execution of rounds, further enabling optimum use of these rounds to collect and transmit information.

These results are obtained, according to the invention, thanks to a process in which there is at each of the points to be visited during the rounds a support provided with a bar code containing information allowing the identification of this point, the surveillance officer, during each pass, scans said bar code by means of a portable time stamp bar code reader capable of recording the information contained in the bar code associated with the date and time of the reading , and, following each round or a series of rounds, the information recorded by the reader is transferred to operating means.

• Lesdits supports sont des étiquettes adhésives.
• L'agent de surveillance est muni d'une liste de différentes conditions susceptibles d'être constatées en relation avec un point de visite et associés chacun à un code à barres décrivant cette condition, et en ce que l'agent de surveillance balaie au moyen du lecteur, directement après le code à barres apposé en un lieu de visite, le ou les codes à barres relatifs à des conditions qui se présentent effectivement lors de sa visite.
• Des supports munis de codes à barres sont affectés à chaque issue d'un local à visiter, et ladite liste inclut les conditions suivantes : "issue fermée", "issue ouverte" et "effraction".
• Le lecteur est du type stylo.
• Le transfert des informations du lecteur aux moyens d'exploitation s'effectue au moyen d'un puits de vidage.
• Les moyens d'exploitation sont propres à établir des rapports de ronde contenant l'identification des points visités et pour chacun d'eux la date et l'heure de chaque passage de l'agent de surveillance et le cas échéant la mention des conditions constatées à son égard, chaque rapport pouvant concerner l'ensemble des points visités au cours d'une série de rondes ou un sous-ensemble de ceux-ci.
• Les moyens d'exploitation comprennent une imprimante propre à imprimer les rapports de ronde.
• Les moyens d'exploitation sont propres à conserver en mémoire les informations recueillies pour permettre des contrôles ultérieurs.
• Les moyens d'exploitation comprennent un ordinateur.

Advantageous optional features of the invention are set out below:

• Said supports are adhesive labels.
• The surveillance agent is provided with a list of different conditions that may be found in relation to a visit point and each associated with a bar code describing this condition, and in that the surveillance agent scans by means of the reader, directly after the bar code affixed in a place of visit, the bar code (s) relating to conditions which actually arise during his visit.
• Media with bar codes are assigned to each exit from a room to be visited, and the said list includes the following conditions: "closed exit", "open exit" and "break-in".
• The reader is of the pen type.
• Information is transferred from the reader to the operating means by means of a dump well.
• The operating resources are suitable for establishing round reports containing the identification of the points visited and for each of them the date and time of each visit by the surveillance officer and, where appropriate, the mention of the conditions observed. in this regard, each report may concern all the points visited during a series of rounds or a subset of them.
• The operating means include a printer capable of printing the round reports.
• The operating resources are suitable for keeping in memory the information collected to allow subsequent checks.
• The operating means include a computer.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on examining the detailed description below, and the appended drawing, in which the single figure is a functional diagram illustrating a method according to the invention.

In this figure, the reference 1 designates a barcode printer for example of the DuraType 240 type marketed by KROY FRANCE (93 VILLEPINTE), and the reference 2 an adhesive label carrying a barcode 3 printed by means of the printer 1 The label 2, which has the shape of a rectangle of about a centimeter in width and a few centimeters in length, is stuck on or near a window 4 which constitutes one of the exits of a room 5 such as an office belonging to a factory or an industrial zone. A surveillance officer who, during his rounds, must pass in front of window 4, is equipped with a time barcode reader 6 and a plate 7 on which is written a list 8 containing conditions likely to s 'apply to window 4, for example "open", "closed", "tile broken "," break-in ", etc., as well as conditions that may apply to room 5, for example" light on "," light off ", and if necessary other conditions that can only apply at other points of visit. Next to each condition in list 8 is arranged a corresponding bar code 9, which may also have been printed by means of printer 1. The bar code reader 6 is shaped pen, for example of the DATAWAND IIB or III type, marketed by NETCODE (LYON). The bar code 3 contains information allowing to identify room 5 and window 4, for example: name of the company to which belongs the room, building number, office number, name and function of the occupant, position of the window if the office has more than one. The surveillance officer passes the tip 6a of the pen 6 over the barcode 3, recording thus this information automatically associated with the date, time and date minute of reading, then scans the barcode (s) 9 that correspond to a condition noted in relation to window 4 or room 5.

If room 5 has several windows and / or doors leading to the outside, the same operations are repeated for each of these exits, with which respective labels similar to label 2 are associated. The same sequence is repeated for all rooms with exterior exits. If the round provides for entry into premises, labels with bar codes may be placed inside them to allow the recording of the passage of the agent and of findings relating to elements not visible from the exterior such as light on or off, operation of a device or not.

At the end of the round or of a series of rounds, the information recorded in the reader 6 is transferred to a computer 11 by means of a dump well 10, for example of the DATAWELL type marketed by NETCODE. The employer of the surveillance agent, which can be a security company, or the company operating the factory or the shopping center monitored, can, from this information, draw up surveillance reports concerning all or part of the points visited and intended for the company's customers, to the management and / or interested departments of the company, as the case may be. These reports indicate the date and time of each visit to each visit point, and the observations made. These reports can be daily or have any desired frequency. They are printed on a paper support 13 by means of a printer 12 controlled by the computer 11.

A barcode label can be added easily, quickly and practically free of charge and without labor for any new waypoint, whether permanent or temporary. Replacing a damaged label is just as easy.

Claims (9)

Method for exploiting the patrols of a surveillance agent, in which there is at each of the points (4) to be visited during these patrols a support (2) provided with a bar code (3) containing information allowing the 'identification of this point, the surveillance agent, during each pass, scans said bar code by means of a portable time stamp bar code reader (6), capable of recording the information contained in the associated bar code on the date and time of reading, and following each round or series of rounds, the information recorded by the reader is transferred to operating means (11), characterized in that l the surveillance officer is provided with a list (8) of various conditions which may be observed in relation to a visit point and each associated with a bar code (9) describing this condition, and in that the agent monitoring scans by means of the reader, directly after s barcode (3) affixed to a business point or the bar codes (9) related to conditions that do arise during his visit. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said supports are adhesive labels. Method according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that supports provided with bar codes are assigned to each exit (4) from a room (5) to be visited, and in that said list includes the following conditions : "closed exit", "open exit" and "break-in". Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reader is of the pen type. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transfer of information from the reader to the operating means is carried out by means of a dump well (10). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating means (11) are suitable for establishing round reports containing the identification of the points visited and for each of them the date and time of each passage of the surveillance agent and the mention of the conditions observed in his regard, each report being able to relate to all the points visited during a series of rounds or a subset of these. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the operating means comprise a printer (12) capable of printing the round reports. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating means are suitable for keeping in memory the information collected to allow subsequent checks. Method according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the operating means comprise a computer (11).

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