BLE Lift Control System User Guide
(Admin & Resident)
   Admin Guide Main Page
INTRODUCTION
 
Our ‘TimeTec Lift Control Panel BLE-16’ is a lift controller which utilises Bluetooth Low Energy 4.2 (BLE) technology in your smartphone for secure lift access in high-rise buildings. Pairing this hardware with i-Neighbour solution allows Administrators to control the accessibility for each floor by defining the access rights for all user roles such as Master Admin, Admins, Security Guards and Residents.

Meanwhile, for users, you can select your destination floor (based on the permission given by Administrator) in i-Neighbour’s mobile app, or using a Bluetooth Smart Card and this will send a command to the lift system through Bluetooth. Following that, on the lift’s Floor Request Button Panel, without you pressing, the button for your requested floor will light up as indication the lift has been programmed to move there.

Similarly, visitors also have the option of either using the i-Neighbour App (lift access is provided directly within the app if they complete the pre-registration process) or they can go through the guardhouse for walk-in registration. If they choose the latter, the guards will then have to initiate the floor selection or temporarily issue visitors with a Bluetooth Smart Card.
Implementation Steps
 
To implement the system, there are several aspects:
 
1 Installation of TimeTec Lift Control Panel BLE-16
Note: The installation of BLE-16 Lift Relay Control should be done by licensed/qualified lift contractor
(i.e. in accordance with applicable legal requirements)
2 Admin Setup for the BLE Lift (Web Setup & Upload to BLE-16)
3 Residents/Guards use Mobile app for Lift Access
4 Procedure for Visitors – Access With i-Neighbour App/ Bluetooth Smart Card
5 Offline Mode
6 Read our FAQ
   
On this page, we will provide a guide for steps 2 to 5 and please also refer to the FAQ for more information.
 
Guide: Admin Setup for the BLE Lift
 
a) Web Setup in i-Neighbour Account
 
1. After the installation of BLE-16 controller by your appointed lift contractor, Administrator(s) will need to configure settings in the BLE Lift module inside i-Neighbour account. Login Admin account > go to IOT > BLE Lift.
 
 
2. You will see the ‘BLE Lift Setting’ tab. On this page, there will be a list of the building blocks in your neighbourhood, taken from ‘Manage Unit’. Click on ‘Add Block’ if you have a dedicated block for common areas, installed with BLE Lift.

Next, choose a block, for example A (Block A) and go to ‘Manage Levels’ to recheck and define the levels, especially common area levels such as Lobby or Underground Parking which may not have been added prior to this.
 
 
3. In this example, we will add 6 levels (5 levels Underground Parking + 1 Ground/Lobby) and we start by clicking Edit. Go to the lowest level (e.g. level 1) and choose the ‘Add Lower Level’ option.
 
 
 
4. Insert the level number/identifier, for example P1 (Level Underground Parking 1) > Repeat for another 5 levels > Save.
 
 
 
5. When you are done with ‘Manage Levels’, proceed to ‘Manage Lift’ to configure lift settings.
 
 
6. Click ‘Add BLE Lift’ and system displays a setup page.
 
 
7. Name the lift, for example ‘Block A Lift 1’. Expand the grey bar to configure the BLE-16 relay board.
 
 
8. Please insert the serial number (attached to the packaging box of the controller) into the Serial number column, system detects the MAC address from server automatically.
 
 
 
9. Then, proceed with assigning level to each of the relay board channel accordingly. Make sure that the assigned level to relay board channel is matched with the wiring installation, for example P5 floor is represented by CH-1 > Save.

Note:
i) One controller board is allowed to handle a capacity of 16 levels only. For example, a building with 30 floors will need 2 units of BLE-16 relay boards, where the first relay board will control access from Floor 1 to Floor 16, and the second relay board will control the access from Floor 17 to Floor 30.

ii) For your Ground floor/Lobby, if you prefer this level to have unrestricted lift access, you do not need to match to a relay board channel. In other words, lift users can just press the usual button on the lift panel to access the Lobby. Please ensure during the BLE-16 installation that the Ground floor button in your lift panel is still connected to the Destination Floor Reservation System and this level is not intercepted through BLE-16.
 
 
 
10. As explained above, a building with 30 floors will need 2 units of BLE-16 relay boards and so on. Thus, before you press Save, you might need to continue with the next relay board setting. The system will automatically add the required number of relay board based on your total levels (configured at Manage Levels).
 
 
11. When you are done, go to the 2nd tab (Access Rights) to assign accessible floors for each group of user based on User Role (i.e. Master Admin, Admin, Guard House, Resident Block A/B/C and onwards). Choose the Role on the left panel, then click the pencil icon or ‘Add Accessible Levels’ button.
 
 
12. All the blocks in your i-Neighbour account will be displayed. Now select the building and the floors within that this Role is allowed to access > tick at the upper right corner to Save.
 
 
 
13. As for residents, they are grouped by their residential block, e.g. Resident Block A, Resident Block B. When setting access rights for their Role, you only need to select common level(s) that can be accessed by ALL residents. For example, levels P5, P4, P3, P2, P1 for Underground Parking.
 
 
 
b) Upload Settings to BLE-16 (Using Bluetooth)
 
1. After you are finished with the web setup above, you can move on to the second part of Admin Setup: Upload the settings you have just configured online to the offline BLE-16 controller using Bluetooth.
Generally, this is a synchronisation that is required for one time only, when you have to transfer the settings of which level has been matched to each relay board channel. Therefore, it only needs to be performed again if you make any changes to the level assignment.
 
2. Login to your mobile app with a Security Guard account (not Admin account). Go to More on the Menu > select Lift Access.
Note: In the app, the Lift Access module shown below is hidden for all users (regardless of Role) until you add at least 1 lift in the neighbourhood (irrespective of which block).
 
 
3. On the Lift Access screen, select the Settings icon on the bottom right corner. Next, choose ‘BLE Controller’.
 
 
4. Following that, choose the BLE-16 Controller you want to configure from the drop down list.
 
 
5. For the ‘Type of Configuration’ field, pick ‘Add ID’ to upload settings to the BLE-16 Controller (‘Delete ID’ will remove the settings in the controller).
 
 
6. Turn on Bluetooth function for your mobile phone and make sure your phone is within the Controller’s reading range; 10 metres from the BLE-16 device. Press Configure and wait for the successful message.
 
 
7. Once you have uploaded settings to the Controller, you can now proceed to test the system.
Login to your mobile app with your Admin account. Go to More > Lift Access > select your destination floor (Please make sure you have enabled your phone’s Bluetooth). Wait for the button of your requested floor to light up inside the lift car’s panel and this will indicate the lift has been successfully programmed to move there.
 
 
8. Finally, after the system is rolled out, please take note that there is a function inside the web account that allows you to disable the BLE lift control for any individual lift. This is useful for lift maintenance or downtime.

Go to BLE Lift Settings > Manage Lift > Toggle off to disable the lift. This will remove the access rights for the lift and users will not be able to select in the app (the buttons will be completely hidden).
 


 
Residents/Guards use Mobile app for Lift Access
 
Note:

1. Please note that when you login to the app, Lift Access module as shown below will only appear if your neighbourhood Admin has made the appropriate system configurations beforehand.

2. If you are not able to view this or have queries on the levels which are displayed for your access, please refer to your management office for assistance.
 
1. Login to Mobile App > Lift Access.
 
2. Turn on Bluetooth function for your phone. From the list displayed, select your destination level by pressing button on the app (you will only see the levels you are allowed to access, based on rights granted by Admin). You do not have to press the usual Button Panel inside the lift car.
 
Note:
a. Please check that your phone can support BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) technology and not classic Bluetooth only. However, BLE is very common in smartphones these days so if you are using iPhones or Android phones, as long as it supports Bluetooth 4.0 and above, then you should be fine.

b. Usually, the management will choose to leave the Ground floor/ Lobby with unrestricted lift access (i.e. not intercepted by the BLE-16 Controller). If that is the case, you will be briefed that you do not need to use the app only for Ground floor and can just press the button on the lift panel for access.

c. To access other common area levels such as underground car park and floors that have facilities such as gym, clubhouse, entertainment or swimming pool, you can use the button in your app.

d. If you wish to visit another residential floor, you will have to use i-Neighbour App to request a visit or receive an invitation by your neighbour to their house, and vice versa. Once the request is accepted, lift access will be given to visitor in the app. This means following the pre-registration procedure for visitors, which you can refer to in the section below.
 
 
3. Following that, observe the lift’s Floor Request Button Panel. If your request is successful, the button for your requested floor will light up as indication the lift has been programmed to move there.
 
 
Procedure for Visitors
 
General Information:
1. Overall, there are 2 types of visitors in i-Neighbour:
 
a) Pre-registered Visitor
i) Consists of those who pre-registered, either through the web or mobile platform and have been approved by the resident. Therefore, the visitor should be able to present a valid QR code upon reaching the neighbourhood.

For a visitor to pre-register through mobile app, they must first sign up for an i-Neighbour Visitor Account; this group will be given Lift Access directly within the i-Neighbour App.

ii) Also consists of visitors directly invited by a resident (QR code is sent through social app) For all those visitors who do not have the i-Neighbour mobile app, a security guard will either have to escort the visitor and initiate the floor selection or temporarily issue visitors with a Bluetooth Smart Card.
 
b) Walk-In Registration
The visitor arrived at the guardhouse without any pre-registration carried out beforehand. Similarly, for these visitors, a security guard will either have to proceed with floor selection in the lift or otherwise issue them with a Bluetooth Smart Card.
 
2. If you are a Resident visiting a neighbour on another residential floor, you will have to use i-Neighbour App to request a visit or receive an invitation by your neighbour to their house. Refer to step 6 in the ‘Guide for Visitor – Access with i-Neighbour Mobile App’, as provided below.
 
Guide for Visitor - Access with i-Neighbour Mobile App
 
1. Prior to your visit, please go through the visitor pre-registration process in accordance with the steps provided in the Visitor Account User Guide. Ensure that the request is accepted by your host so that you receive a QR code for access.
 
 
2. When you reach the neighbourhood guard house, go to My Visit > present your QR code and follow the check-in procedures.
 
 
3. After the code is scanned, you will see the detail of your visitation shift to the next tab, for Checked in. Select the entry > choose the Lift Access icon on the right side of the resident’s profile picture.
 
 
4. Turn on Bluetooth function for your phone. You are provided with access to one specific floor only, the level for your host’s residence. Select that destination level by pressing the button on the app; you do not have to press the usual Button Panel inside the lift car.
 
Note:
a. Please check that your phone can support BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) technology and not classic Bluetooth only. However, BLE is very common in smartphones these days so if you are using iPhones or Android phones, as long as it supports Bluetooth 4.0 and above, then you should be fine.

b. Usually, the management will choose to leave the Ground floor/ Lobby with unrestricted lift access. If that is the case, you will be briefed that you do not need to use the app if you need to go to the Ground floor and can just press the button on the lift panel for access.
 
5. Following that, observe the lift’s Floor Request Button Panel. If your request is successful, the button for your requested floor will light up as indication the lift has been programmed to move there.
 
 
6. If you are a Resident visiting a neighbour on another residential floor, you will have to use i-Neighbour App to request a visit or receive an invitation by your neighbour to their house. Once the request or invitation is accepted, go to My Visit and select the visitation entry to view details > choose the Lift Access icon on the right side of your neighbour’s profile picture. Proceed as usual.
 
 
Guide for Security Guard - Access with Bluetooth Smart Card
 
1. Your neighbourhood may also opt to use Bluetooth Smart Card as lift access card for visitors. Before issuing the card, Security Guard has to firstly login to mobile app and assign which level(s) is allowed for that visitor. Following that, upload the setting via Bluetooth to the card itself.

Go to More on the Menu > select Lift Access.
 
 
2. On the Lift Access screen, select the Settings icon on the bottom right corner. Turn on Bluetooth function for your phone and please enable Setting mode for the Bluetooth Smart Card (press both buttons on the left and right side simultaneously for 8 seconds until the LED lights up in yellow). Once ready, on BLE Configuration screen, choose ‘BLE Card’.
 
 
 
3. The app will scan for cards that are within range. From the list that is detected, connect to the relevant card, e.g. Quintic BLE 08:7C:BE:B2:23:1C. Once connected, the four buttons/key on the Smart Card will be reflected on the app’s screen.

Select one button (e.g. Button number 2) to assign the level that this particular visitor is allowed to access (e.g. Block Chen Building, Level 7) > Save. A success message will be shown to indicate the level that was added to the selected button. Repeat with another button, if necessary.

Once you are done, click on any button on the Smart Card to quit the Setting mode.
 
 
4. This Bluetooth Smart card is now ready to be issued to the visitor. They only need to directly press on the specific button which represents their destination floor and wait for the lift to respond.

When the card is returned to security upon visitor check-out, you can remove access rights and clear the settings by connecting to the card again using steps 1 to 3 as mentioned above. When connected, the four buttons/key on the Smart Card will again be reflected on the app’s screen. Select the previously configured button (e.g. Button number 2) > choose the option ‘Clear Level’ under ‘Block’ > Save. A success message will be shown. Repeat with another button, if necessary.

Once you are done, click on any button on the Smart Card to quit the Setting mode.
 
 
5. Lastly, it is also important to remind all Residents and Visitors who have been issued with a Bluetooth Smart Card to immediately report any missing/misplaced card to the Security station.

If you receive such a report, you will need to remove the card from the system and block access by unauthorized person. Please note that this removal feature is currently still in development phase and we will update this part once it is released.
 
Offline Mode
 
1. In the i-Neighbour app, there is an Offline Mode, whereby Admins and Residents will still be able to use the Lift Access function even when there is no Internet connection.
 
2. This is possible because the system is designed to function in Offline mode by using Bluetooth communication.
 
3. For Admin and Resident users, you only need to be logged in to your account when you still have mobile network coverage before you enter the lift area. Once internet connection is lost, the system will prompt a ‘No Internet Connection’ message to alert the users. Subsequently, users are allowed to access Offline Mode by clicking on ‘Go Offline’ at the top right corner.
 
The app will then continue to work in Offline mode by referring to the last updated records for your Lift Access.
 
 
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
Administrator
1. Can TimeTec BLE -16 work with any types of lifts?

There are many types of lift systems in the market, and you can hardly find any plug-and-play systems. Customizations to some degree might be required at the initial installation. Please write to us at info@timeteccloud.com if you have a lift system and interested to work with TimeTec BLE-16.

2. If someone loses his BLE card and somebody else found it; can the person who found the card use it to access the lift?

No. The person who lost a BLE card shall report to the management instantly to remove the card from the system and block access by unauthorized person.

3. Our neighbourhood just wants to install the TimeTec BLE -16 controller to secure lift access, without subscribing to your i-Neighbour cloud system. Is that feasible or allowed?

Yes, you can install the TimeTec BLE-16 controller to secure lift access even if you choose not to subscribe to the i-Neighbour solution. We are in the midst of developing a TimeTec Access App and a TimeTec VMS App that will also function with this controller. For further information, please visit the respective websites at https://www.timetecaccess.com/ and https://www.timetecvms.com/

4. In the product specifications, besides i-Neighbour App, it's mentioned that Timetec Access and TimeTec VMS can also be used with the TimeTec BLE -16 controller?

At the moment, you can already install and use the i-Neighbour app, from our cloud-based visitor and residential management system for high-rise residential and gated guarded residences. We are also in the midst of developing two other solutions, TimeTec Access (Cloud Access Control Management System) and TimeTec VMS (Cloud Visitor Management System). These will also come with mobile apps that function with the TimeTec BLE -16 controller. For further information, please visit the respective websites at https://www.timetecaccess.com/ and https://www.timetecvms.com/

Resident
1. By installing TimeTec BLE lift control into the i-Neighbour system, does it mean that residents can only access to their unit floor only?

Yes, residents can only access to the floor of their own unit and will not be able to access other blocks or floors not related to their unit. However, they will also be able to use the app to access common area floors such as underground parking or facilities area provided the relevant access rights have been given based on Admin’s settings.

2. Do I still need to press the floor number on my smartphone or on the lift car panel when we are using TimeTec BLE-16?

Yes, you will need to press the floor number on the app’s Lift Access screen (with phone Bluetooth function enabled). However, you do not have to press the usual Button Panel inside the lift car.

3. Can I access to other blocks or floors of my neighbourhood that are not related to my unit?

No, you can’t unless your neighbours grant permission to you. You can use i-Neighbour App to request a visit or invite your neighbours to your house, and vice versa.

4. Can I allow my friends or neighbours to have multiple time access to my floor during their visit?

Yes. When you permit multiple time access, the App automatically will allow you to provide one time or multiple time access for the lift to your unit.

5. How could I use the i-Neighbour App when I don’t even have a line to call out when I entered the lift?

Yes, you can definitely use i-Neighbour App to access TimeTec BLE-16 lift control because the system is designed to function in offline mode by using Bluetooth communication. You only need to be logged in to the app when you still have mobile network coverage before you enter the lift area and the app will then continue to work in offline mode by referring to the last updated records.

6. Is it safe for a lift car and a smartphone to communicate in an offline mode?

Yes. Just imagine when you have been issued a card to access a lift; the same mechanism applies when you are granted access on a preapproved basis and it is no difference in TimeTec BLE-16 Lift Control System. The only distinction is, the RFID card is replaced by a smartphone as your credential. Preapproved basis and offline mode is a much reliable mechanism and it can reduce technical glitch in operation. Worry not; all access log activities will be uploaded to the system once the smartphone is back online.

7. What are the benefits of using a smartphone than using a card?

Cards can easily be lost, stolen or forgotten because it has no other functions except to open doors or gate; but a smartphone is functional and personal, an important part of today’s people’s lifestyle. Smartphone contains a lot power and functions including controlling the lift with BLE-16, one of the many i-Neighbour’s integrated features.

8. Can a resident still access the lift after he/she has moved out?

No. The admin is responsible and can easily disable and remove his smartphone access from i-Neighbour management.

9. My underage children do not have any smartphone, what’s the solution to that?

We suggest that every unit to be issued with a BLE card as back up to cater for such situation, and it would be preset to access to your designated floor only.

10. If I have misplaced or lost my mobile phone, how can I get lift access?

You will have to report this incident to the management in order to reset or change your account details and they can temporarily issue a BLE card for your access. Please refer to your Management or Security office for assistance.

11. How do I access an underground car park or common areas? Do I have to use a smartphone also?

This will depend on settings configured by the management. If they have opted to connect these floors to the TimeTec BLE -16 controller, which is what we recommend, then you will be assigned access rights to these levels within the app. In that case, yes, you need to use your smartphone to access these floors. If they have not done so, you can just press button on the lift panel to access to these common floors. Please refer to your management office for enquiries on this.

12. What if I want to access to the floor that has gym, clubhouse, entertainment or swimming pool? Shall I press any button on the lift panel?

No. These floor numbers would appear on your i-Neighbour app. The management can set and group all facilities under Facilities Floors. All of these floor numbers shall be reflected on resident’s mobile app for easy access.

13. What kind of smartphones is required or do we need to find any specific functions to use i-Neighbour app to access a lift?

The system is running on Bluetooth Low Energy technology, which is very common in nowadays smartphones. If you are using iPhones or Android phones, as long as it supports Bluetooth 4.0 and above, then you should be fine.

Visitation
1. If my friend visits me, would the guard issue him with a card or he could access by using the i-Neighbour App?

We strongly recommend using the i-Neighbour App because by pre-registering, visitor will receive a QR code to be scanned at the guardhouse, and a pre-approved access code to access to your block (if using BLE reader) and a lift access to your floor (if using BLE lift control). No card needs to be issued and returned at the reception or guardhouse to ease visitation process without compromising security.

2. What if some visitors didn’t have any smartphones?

The BLE smart card can be issued and used as a backup.

3. If residents have an all time access on the lift, how about visitors who are only allowed to visit at a certain time period?

i-Neighbour has time zone control for visitors to access the lift depending on the nature of the visit and the right granted to him/her.

4. Your system is using an offline mechanism based on a pre-approved basis. Is it possible for a visitor to cheat your system by setting the date and time on their smartphone back to the period when he or she was allowed to access the lift?

No, the lift would not be accessible. Because even BLE Lift Control is a passive panel based on the instruction given by i-Neighbour App, there is a real time clock built into the board. When visitor use i-Neighbour app to make request to access to the preapproved floor, the App will send the mobile phone’s date-time as well. The BLE Lift Control panel only grants access if the mobile phone’s date-time is the same as the information on the panel.

Note: If some of the screenshots or steps viewed here are different from the ones in the current system, this is due to our continuous effort to improve our system from time to time. Please notify us at info@i-neighbour.com, we will update it as soon as possible.