Access control reader enabling remote applications
View Patent ↗A system and method for enabling users to run remote applications on access control readers located throughout office buildings. A system administrator creates different remote applications groups such as admin, engineer or cardholder and then assigns users to one of the remote application groups. Users are then able to run the remote applications assigned to their remote application group from any of the access control readers located throughout the office building.
1. A security system operation method, comprising:
in a security system comprising access control readers which are distributed around structures to provide access to restricted areas of the structures, upon user activation of the access control readers by users, validating the users by reference to user information provided by an application server and determining whether an application mode of the access control readers is selected by the users;
displaying selectable applications on displays of the access control readers in response to selection of the application mode; and
invoking the applications in response to selection by the users, wherein invoking the applications includes:
invoking occupancy applications, and
displaying on the displays of the access control readers numbers of occupants within one or more zones and a remaining allowance of people allowed in the one or more zones.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein displaying selectable applications comprises:
determining assigned groups of the users; and
acquiring a list of selectable applications from the application server based on the assigned groups of the users.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
executing the applications on the application server; and
sending output from the executing applications for display on the access control readers.
4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein sending the output from the executing applications comprises the application server sending web pages that are displayed on the displays of the access control readers.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
confirming that the users are authorized for access to doors associated with the access control readers; and
unlocking the doors when the users are authorized for access and the application mode is not invoked by the users.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the application mode is only enabled for validated users.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the access control readers include intercom systems, which are comprised of speakers and microphones.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the access control readers include card readers to read keycard information associated with keycards.
9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein invoking applications includes:
invoking daily swipes applications; and
displaying on the displays of the access control readers numbers of swipes by the users over previous days.
10. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein invoking applications includes:
invoking change PIN applications; and
displaying on the displays of the access control readers current PIN screens, new PIN screens, and PIN confirmation screens.
11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein invoking applications includes:
invoking device configuration applications; and
displaying on the displays of the access control readers device settings that users are able to configure.
12. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the applications, which are assigned to the users and displayed on the access control readers when the users are validated, are based on the user information provided by the application server for the users.
13. A security system for structures, comprising:
access control readers which are distributed around the structures to provide access to restricted areas of the structures, each of the readers comprising:
a user validation system for validating users based on user information, and
a display that displays a user interface that includes selectable applications that are invoked by the users, wherein the applications include an occupancy application that provides numbers of occupants within one or more zones and a remaining allowance of people allowed in the one or more zones on the displays of the access control readers; and
an application server that supplies the user information to the access control readers.
14. The system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the user validation system includes a card reader to read keycards of the users.
15. The system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the applications that are selected by the users are run on the application server.
16. The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the displays of the access control readers display web pages sent from the application server.
17. The system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the applications that are selected by the users are run on at least one backup server when a primary application server fails.
18. The system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the access control readers include intercoms, each of the intercoms including at least one speaker and at least one microphone.
19. The system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the applications include a daily swipes application that indicates on the displays of the access control readers numbers of swipes by the users over previous day.
20. The system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the applications include a pin change application that provides on the displays of the access control readers a current PIN screen, a new PIN screen, and a PIN confirmation screen.
21. The system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the applications include a configuration application that displays device settings for the access control readers that the users are able to configure.
22. The system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the applications, which are assigned to the users and displayed on the access control readers after the user validation system validates the users, are based on the user information supplied by the application server.
23. A security system operation method, comprising:
in a security system comprising access control readers which are distributed around structures to provide access to restricted areas of the structures, upon user activation of the access control readers by users, validating the users by reference to user information provided by an application server and determining whether an application mode of the access control readers is selected by the users;
displaying selectable applications on displays of the access control readers in response to selection of the application mode; and
invoking the applications in response to selection by the users, wherein invoking the applications further includes:
invoking muster zones applications, and
displaying on the displays of the access control readers numbers of occupants entering and leaving a zone based on keycard swipes.
24. A security system for structures, comprising:
access control readers which are distributed around the structures to provide access to restricted areas of the structures, each of the readers comprising:
a user validation system for validating users based on user information, and
a display that displays a user interface that includes selectable applications that are invoked by the users, wherein the applications include muster zones applications that indicate numbers of occupants entering and leaving a zone based on keycard swipes on the displays of the access control readers; and
an application server that supplies the user information to the access control readers.
25. A security system for structures, comprising:
access control readers which are distributed around the structures to provide access to restricted areas of the structures, each of the readers comprising:
a user validation system for validating users based on user information,
a display that displays a user interface that includes selectable applications that are invoked by the users, wherein the selectable applications include:
a pin change application that provides on the displays of the access control readers a current PIN screen, a new PIN screen, and a PIN confirmation screen, and
an occupancy application that provides numbers of occupants within one or more zones and a remaining allowance of people allowed in the one or more zones on the displays of the access control readers, and
an intercom system, which includes at least one speaker and at least one microphone; and
an application server that supplies the user information to the access control readers.