Watchman's clock system

Details Watchman's clock system Watchman's clock system

1994-12-14

1996-02-13

Miska, Vit W.

Horology: time measuring systems or devices

Combined with disparate device

235377, 34082531, 34082555, 34082572, G04B 4700, G06K 710

Patent

active

054916720

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a time clock system, particularly a watchman's clock system for use in security guarding and similar applications, and to a time clock for use with such a system.
In security guarding duties there is often a need to patrol premises or visit specific locations at periodic intervals, and record in a secure manner that this has been done by the guard allocated to the particular duty.
Traditionally this has been done by providing the guard with a sealed portable time clock having a marking mechanism able to be activated to leave a time of visit record on a card or paper tape within the time clock, using keys located at the places of visit, which engage with the time clock to activate the marking mechanism.
Such a system is open to abuse in a number of ways, for example by the use of covert duplicate keys which may be used to activate the time clock without a visit having been made, and is susceptible to mechanical damage to the key or to the portable time clock itself to render the record keeping facility inoperative.
It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved watchman's clock system in which these disadvantages are overcome.
In its broadest aspect the invention consists in a watchman's clock system comprising a portable time clock capable of reading one or more of a plurality of identification means, each of which may represent and be located at a specific location, without any physical contact between the time clock and the identification means, of recording the identity of each such identification means, and thereby its physical location, and of storing such recorded information therein for subsequent transfer to other equipment.
Preferably the time of visit to each location is recorded concurrently with the identification means identity information.
The identification means is preferably a radio frequency transponder, programmed with an identification code, responsive to a radio frequency interrogation signal from the time clock to transmit a coded radio frequency response for reception by the time clock. The radio frequency transponder may be a passive device powered from the incoming radio frequency interrogation signal, and may be a passive integrated circuit radio frequency tag.
The time clock may include a display, and may be programmed to indicate the order in which and the time at which specific locations are to be visited. The locations may be displayed sequentially, successful interrogation and receipt of identification at one location causing display of the next.
The equipment to which the recorded information from the time clock is transferred may be a computer. The computer may be programmed to check compliance between data representing a route between specific locations received from the time clock, and data representing the originally programmed route.
The time clock includes means for generating dial tone multi-frequency signals, by means of which stored information is transferred from the time clock to the computer via a modem. The dial tone multi-frequency signals may be conveyed to the computer via a telephone line.
The time clock may be provided with a complementary mounting upon which the time clock may be positioned in association with a telephone handset. The complementary mounting may also include a power supply and interconnecting means to enable a battery within the time clock to be charged whilst the time clock is positioned upon the mounting.
A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a watchman's clock system in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the time clock of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the time clock of FIG. 2 linked to a computer at a remote control centre.
Referring to FIG. 1, a watchman's clock system in accordance with the invention comprises two principal elements: a portable time clock 10, and an associated computer 12, located at a control centre, ei

REFERENCES:
patent: 4495496 (1985-01-01), Miller
patent: 4688026 (1987-08-01), Scribner
patent: 4801786 (1989-01-01), Stobbe
patent: 5181744 (1993-01-01), Betheil

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