EP1318481A1 - Method and system of security-filtering passengers of a public transport network - Google Patents

Abstract

Security method for filtering passengers using public transport (R3) in which prior to travel passengers enroll (10, 100) thus forming a collection of agreed passengers (90) with all undesirables rejected (75). Travelers are rejected by use of security databases. At the time of travel verification (250) of agreed passengers takes place. Validation or identification can be by biometric means, e.g. digital fingerprinting, etc. An Independent claim is made for a passenger filtering system to improve passenger security comprising networks for enrolling passengers and checking their identity.

Description

The present invention relates to identity verification and filtering of public transport passengers. These are security measures, especially in air transport, whose importance is no longer to prove. Passenger screening has recently become a major concern air carriers.

By filtering, we mean the detection of dangerous individuals registered by security services, in particular the police, to drive them back beyond their means access to public transport.

In this context, there are few procedures for verifying identity passengers. In general, passengers must present a card identity, passport, possibly with visa, and screening access is carried out "manually", without electronic means, by the police of air and borders and as far as a border must be crossed and, in general, by the various security services.

Various checks can also be carried out during reservations electronic type CRS (computer reservation systems) or GDS (global distribution systems), or when processing requests for passports or visas.

These processes are very ineffective and very unreliable, because false identities, or forged passports can be presented.

In addition to these processes, there are control systems to monitor passenger boarding and in particular to detect if these passengers seek to "pass" fraudulently goods, even weapons. These systems are essentially made up of electromagnetic gantries and filters X-ray detection.

But these complementary systems also do not allow filtering departing passengers effectively, detecting substitutions of people when boarding. They are not designed to that.

We also know computer means of identity search by fingerprints, available to police and notably INTERPOL.

These systems, called AFIS (automated fingerprint identification systems), are very heavy to use, specific to the activities of very reserved police and access.

The needs in terms of security of access to public buildings have therefore elsewhere prompted the development of means of identification or authentication of people by their biometric characteristics, by example by recognizing the characteristics of the shape of the face, patterns of the iris of the eye, the geometry of the hand, the timbre of the voice and especially fingerprints.

In the field of electronic payment, finally, we know the usage very widespread bank cards, including memory cards, for of a transaction, authenticate the holder using a secret code.

Well, the Applicant has realized that with the means commonly used in the fields of reservation, electronic payment, combined to the means implemented in AFIS, it could greatly improve security in the area of public transport.

And that's how she proposes her invention.

To this end, the present invention relates first of all to a method of passenger security screening of at least one transport network common, characterized in that it includes a preparatory stage for transportation, passenger enrollment, to form a set of approved passengers, redacted persons to be driven back, and an initial stage of transport, verification of approved passengers.

By enrollment, it is necessary to understand the local recording, on a support, for example a badge or memory card, or central registration, in a database, of a person's biometrics, preferably in the kind of his fingerprints.

By verification, we must understand either what the skilled person calls identification, which is what he calls authentication. authentication aims to compare a person's living biometric footprint to one reference fingerprint, for example that recorded on a badge. It's about a proper verification, a 1-on-1 comparison that can be done locally. If you use a personal "identification" code (PIN) to find the fingerprint in a central file, you must use the resources of a computer network. As for the identification of a person, this is a comparison of a fingerprint to all fingerprints from a central database to retrieve the identity of the person, of a comparison in 1 against N, with systematic exploitation of a computer network.

The advantage of the process of the invention is both to ensure that the persons admitted for transport do not present a risk for the security of other travelers and that those to be transported are well those that have been previously admitted.

The proposed filtering makes it possible not only to push people back sought at the level of the Police (ies) - there can be several black lists for the same trip, that of Interpol, that of the country of departure and that of the destination country - but it also allows companies to transport to refuse access to their means to the tried individuals undesirable (shooter / air rage problems in the air, but the problem is meets of course also on the ground, for example in the buses of some locations).

The enrollment step can be carried out at the earliest, for example at the time when ordering the ticket or reservation, or even when a passport or visa application; this stage includes a phase Identification.

Thus, the authorities and other administrations in charge of the files of unwanted people are contacted as soon as possible.

Preferably, after the preparatory stage for transport, a search in a central file and the receipt of an approval notice, we print a ticket of transport with characteristics of captured fingerprints.

Advantageously, in the initial verification stage, the fingerprints are taken passenger fingerprints and compare them with fingerprints on tickets, boarding passes or amenity cards (authentication) or fingerprints stored in a database central (identification).

Attempts to substitute people are therefore really detected.

• un réseau de moyens d'enrôlement de personnes, pour former un ensemble de passagers agréés,
• des moyens informatiques de stockage des identités de passagers agréés, auxquels sont reliés les moyens d'enrôlement de personnes, et au moins
• un réseau de moyens de vérification des passagers agréés, reliés auxdits moyens informatiques de stockage.

The invention also relates to a passenger security filtering system of at least one public transport network, characterized in that it comprises

• a network of means of enrolling people, to form a set of approved passengers,
• IT means for storing the identities of approved passengers, to which the means for enrolling people are linked, and at least
• a network of approved passenger verification means, linked to said computer storage means.

Advantageously, each enrollment console comprises, around a processor to which they are connected, a fingerprint sensor, a identity input keypad, printer, card reader / writer with memory and a link input-output interface with the others system components, and each verification console has a fingerprint sensor, memory card reader, card reader boarding pass and a fingerprint comparator connected to the sensor and to both readers.

Preferably, the system includes a network of enrollment consoles and enrollment and verification consoles and at least one network of verification consoles and the enrollment and verification consoles are linked to an AFIS center and to an IT approval server managing a base for storing identities of approved passengers.

• la figure 1 est une illustration schématique et par blocs fonctionnels du système ;
• la figure 2 est une représentation schématique d'une console d'enrôlement du système de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une représentation schématique d'une console de vérification du système de la figure 1 et
• la figure 4 est une représentation schématique d'une console d'enrôlement et de vérification du système de la figure 1.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description of the safety filtering method and system, with reference to the appended drawing, in which

• FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic and functional illustration of the system;
• Figure 2 is a schematic representation of an enrollment console of the system of Figure 1;
• FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a console for verifying the system of FIG. 1 and
• FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a console for enrolling and verifying the system of FIG. 1.

The system of the invention which will now be described, with reference to the Figure 1, is essentially based on an R1 network of consoles of enlisting people, of two types: a simplified type 10 and a type developed 100, in which enrollment is coupled with a function of checking people. Enrollment consoles 10 are installed "in town", the enrollment and verification consoles 100, at the counters 20 of an R2 network of check-in counters airlines in airport areas, like zone 1 here considered, to take the example of an R3 air transport network to which the system of the invention applies.

The system also includes, in town, an R4 network of travel 110 and a network R5 of 120 booking and ticketing counters airlines.

Enrollment consoles 10, 100, travel agencies 110 and 120 airline counters are connected to a server electronic reservation 130 of the CRS or GDS type.

Beyond the check-in counters 20 and the associated system of DCS departure control, there is provision in airport area 1 R6 network of 250 person verification consoles at points boarding area (gangways and aerobus) and another R7 network of consoles 250 at the access points on board the aircraft, not forgetting the immigration control crossing points.

The enrollment consoles 10, 100 are connected to an AFIS 60 center as well than to an approval computer server 80 managing a base 90 of storage of identities of approved passengers. Verification consoles250 are also linked to the approval server 80.

Generally, people can be identified during issuance of passports and visas, registration and control immigration, authentication being sufficient at other points and sales and reservation, embarkation and disembarkation desks, baggage delivery, etc.

AFIS center 60 is connected to a server 70 managing a file 75 of unauthorized persons which is constituted and updated by the services of safety 50, like INTERPOL.

All the connections mentioned above, and the others, are made by data communication buses and links, so that all the equipment of the system of the invention are interconnected.

The enrollment proposed here is a record of characteristics biometrics of people, in this case, their fingerprints. Thus, the base 90 and the file 75 are storage elements of the fingerprints of approved and unwanted persons, respectively.

With reference to FIG. 2, each enrollment console 10 comprises, around a processor 106 to which they are connected, a fingerprint sensor digital 101, an identity entry keyboard 102, a printer 103, a memory card reader and writer 104 and an I / O interface 105 of connection with the other elements of the system.

Referring to Figure 3, each verification console 250, or security, R5 and R6 networks only have one sensor 251 fingerprint reader, 252 memory card reader, boarding pass 253 and a fingerprint comparator 254, connected to the sensor and both readers.

Each enrollment and verification console 100, with reference to the figure 4, therefore integrates the components of an enrollment console 10 and the components of a 250 verification console, with the exception of the boarding pass 253, linked in the same way.

Fingerprint data is stored in the memories of memory cards as well as a magnetic stripe of cards boarding.

People who often use the R3 transport network can register approved persons in base 90 with a console 10 established in the city, for example in an agency travel 110 or at an airline counter 120, or even at a check-in counter 20 at the airport, and be issued a accreditation card, which is a memory card, for an approved passenger. Enrollment consists of capturing the passenger's fingerprints, search for these fingerprints in the database 75 containing the references and fingerprints of undesirable individuals.

Before going to the airport 1 to take a plane 2, a person must obtain their ticket from an agency 110 or from a ticket office 120.

Before the ticket is issued, and if the person has not previously visited entered in base 90, a preliminary step is carried out using elements 10, 60, 70, 75 of the system to identify the passenger and make sure it is not junk.

Thus, unwanted people are immediately detected.

When the passenger with his ticket arrives at the airport, he must complete certain ordinary formalities to gain access to the aircraft.

During these formalities, please submit to procedures of verification of his person.

The verification consists of a verification consolde 250 or a enrollment and verification console 100, by fingerprinting the passenger and a comparison of these footprints with the footprints one way or another, written on the ticket or its accreditation card or with the fingerprints of the central database 75.

Thus, attempts to substitute people at the airport are perfectly detected.

• la personne est dans la situation de nouveau passager, qui ne s'est pas encore fait agréer,
• la personne est dans la situation d'un passager habituel ayant déjà été enregistré comme tel et qui est agréé ; il possède une carte d'agrément.

More specifically, when a person arrives either at a travel agency 110 or at the counter of an airline 120 to make a reservation or buy a ticket, two cases can occur:

• the person is in the situation of a new passenger, who has not yet been approved,
• the person is in the position of a regular passenger who has already been registered as such and who is approved; he has an accreditation card.

Person not yet approved

The agency 110 or the counter 120 records the ticket request using a keyboard 102 and captures the fingerprints of the person thanks to the sensor 101 of console 10.

Using this data thus recorded, the console 10 transmits, by means of its interface 105, an identification request to the AFIS center 60, accompanied by fingerprint data.

AFIS center then searches for transmitted fingerprints in the central file 75 containing the fingerprints of the individuals registered by security services 50.

If the search is positive, i.e. if the fingerprints registered by the console 10 is in file 75, the individual is undesirable and cannot be admitted as a passenger. He is turned back and the agency or the counter as well as the police are notified.

If the search is negative, the console 10 receives an approval notice and prints (103) a transport ticket including on the back the printing of characteristics of the fingerprints entered, for example in 2D bar code, possibly encrypted.

To avoid repeating this search later for the same person, the console 10 can cause the storage of the result of this search in the database 90 containing the identities of approved passengers, by through the server 80 managing the database 90 and editing, by the the recorder 104 an approved passenger electronic card containing the passenger's references and fingerprints. This card is can be used later on any other enrollment console and / or verification.

Person approved and registered in the database

The person already has their approval card, acquired as indicated previously.

He presents it to the agency 110 or to the counter 120. The card is read in the console 104 electronic card reader and writer 10. The processor 106 checks whether the person's status has not been changed by performing, via the input-output interface 105, a search request to the base server 80.

In the event of a positive response, the status not having been changed, the ticket is issued as in the previous case.

Otherwise, the person is turned back.

Note that the search performed here is much simpler and faster, since an alphabetical search in an alphanumeric file is sufficient.

With his ticket, the passenger can go to the counter record 20 where security screening will start with a verification procedure.

• on saisit les empreintes digitales de la personne sur le capteur 251 des consoles 250, les empreintes enregistrées sur le billet et/ou la carte d'agrément sont lues au moyen du lecteur 252 ou 253,
• on procède à la comparaison des résultats dans le comparateur 254 (comparaison un contre un).

The verification of the person to be transported is done as follows:

• the fingerprints of the person are captured on the sensor 251 of the consoles 250, the fingerprints recorded on the ticket and / or the approval card are read by means of the reader 252 or 253,
• the results are compared in the comparator 254 (comparison one against one).

The comparator indicates whether the fingerprints read on the sensor 251 are the same as those read on readers 252, 253. If so, the person is the right person and they are invited to pass through the screening station of safety.

Note that authentication can also consist in comparing a a person's living fingerprint to a file fingerprint using a "personal identification code" (PIN code).

Naturally, we can extend the system which has just been described to include include the network of embassies and any other network of administrations having to know, these networks, like those previously described, being linked to the AFIS 60 center, as well as to the elements to which it is also connected.

It will have been noted that the method of the invention which has just been described applies just as well for international flights as for domestic flights. Likewise, the example considered above concerns air transport. But the invention obviously also applies to rail transport and, in general, all other land transport as well as transport Maritime.

Note again that copies of the blacklist from file 75 could be deported to some conscription consoles or verification, at least at check-in counters.

Finally, it is perfectly possible to use the elements of the system which has just been described with reference to the boarding of users of air transport also when disembarking, on arrival of their flights.

Claims (13)

Method for filtering the security of passengers from at least one public transport network (R3), characterized in that it comprises a preparatory stage for transport, the enrollment (10, 100) of passengers, to form an assembly of approved passengers (90), redacted from the people to be driven back (75), and an initial stage of transport, of verification (250) of the approved passengers. The method of claim 1, wherein in the preparatory step enrollment, passengers register with all passengers approved (90) with enrollment consoles (10) located in the city for be issued an accreditation card. The method of claim 2, wherein after the preparatory step during transport, a search in a central file (75) and the reception of a approval notice, we print (103) a transport ticket containing characteristics of captured fingerprints (101). Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, in which, before to issue a transport ticket for an approved passenger, we check (106, 105, 80, 90) if its status has not been changed. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which, in step initial check, the fingerprints of the passengers are captured (251) and we compare them (254) with fingerprints on tickets, boarding passes or amenity cards or fingerprints stored in a central database (75). Passenger security screening system for at least one public transport network, characterized in that it comprises a network (R1) of means (10, 100) for recruiting people, to form a set of approved passengers, IT means (60, 80, 90) for storing the identities of approved passengers, to which the means for enrolling people are connected, and at least a network (R6, R7) of means (250) for verifying approved passengers, connected to said computer storage means. System according to claim 6, comprising a network (R1) of enrollment consoles (10) and enrollment and verification consoles (100) and at least one network (R6, R7) of verification consoles (250). The system of claim 7, wherein the enrollment consoles (10) are located in the city (R4, R5). System according to either of Claims 7 and 8, in which the consoles and verification procedures (10, 100, 250) are linked to an AFIS center (60) and to an approval computer server (80) managing a database (90) of storage of identities of approved passengers. System according to one of claims 6 to 9, comprising a server (70) management of a file (75) of unauthorized persons. System according to one of Claims 7 to 10, in which each enrollment console (10) comprises, around a processor (106) to which they are connected, a fingerprint sensor (101), a keyboard (102) of identity entry, printer (103), card reader / writer memory (104) and an interface (105) for input-output for linking with other elements of the system. System according to one of Claims 7 to 11, in which each verification console (250) has a fingerprint sensor (251), a memory card reader (252) a card reader boarding pass (253) and a fingerprint comparator (254), connected to the sensor and both readers. System according to one of claims 7 to 12, in which consoles (10, 100, 250) contain a black list of unauthorized passengers.

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