Granted Patent B2

US 10,326,767 · App. 14/497,445 · Granted Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

Claims (70)

1. A method of configuring an auto-enrollment type controller, the method comprising:

asserting a command to the auto-enrollment type controller, with the assertion of the command being for a minimum specified duration that causes the auto-enrollment type controller to enter an auto-enrollment process;

broadcasting by the auto-enrollment type controller to an enrollment server, an enrollment request message with the broadcast being in response to the auto-enrollment type controller entering the auto-enrollment process;

adding by the enrollment server credential data associated with the auto-enrollment type controller to a list based on the broadcasting, wherein the list comprises credential data for each of a plurality of other auto-enrollment type controllers, wherein each the plurality of other auto-enrollment type controllers are waiting to be enrolled;

capturing by a user device a code associated with the auto-enrollment type controller, with the captured code including auto-enrollment type controller configuration information;

causing by the user device the credential data and the auto-enrollment type controller configuration information from the captured code to be sent to a server;

identifying by the enrollment server the auto-enrollment type controller in the list by searching the list with the credential data; and

programming by the enrollment server the auto-enrollment type controller with the auto-enrollment type controller configuration information in response to identifying the auto-enrollment type controller in the list.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

rebooting by the auto-enrollment type controller in response to programming the auto-enrollment type controller; and

connecting by the auto-enrollment type controller to a gateway to place the auto-enrollment type controller on-line in response to programming the auto-enrollment type controller.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the code is a two dimensional bar code.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

enrolling the auto-enrollment type controller as a master controller by transmitting periodically by the auto-enrollment type controller a network message to enroll the auto-enrollment type controller, subsequent to assertion of the command.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the auto-enrollment type controller enrolls another controller as a slave controller when a master controller is enrolled and connected to a gateway, by enrolling the another auto-enrollment type controller through the master controller; and the another auto-enrollment type controller is configured by:

capturing a second code associated with the another auto-enrollment type controller;

causing the captured second code to be sent to the enrollment server;

receiving by the auto-enrollment type controller from the enrollment server, second configuration information; and

configuring the another auto-enrollment type controller using the received second configuration information.

6. A server system, comprising:

a processor;

memory; and

a computer program product to configure the processor to:

receive an enrollment request broadcasted from an auto-enrollment type controller;

add credential data associated with the auto-enrollment type controller to a list, wherein the list comprises credential data for each of a plurality of other auto-enrollment type controllers, wherein each the plurality of other auto-enrollment type controllers are waiting to be enrolled;

receive a code associated with enrollment of the auto-enrollment type controller, with the code including auto-enrollment type controller credential data and configuration information;

extract the configuration information from the code;

identify the auto-enrollment type controller in the list by searching the list with the auto-enrollment type controller credential data, and upon identifying the auto-enrollment type controller:

assigning the auto-enrollment type controller as a master controller into a new connection;

programing the auto-enrollment type controller configuration information, as contained in the code associated with the auto-enrollment type controller.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the code is a two dimensional bar code that is unique to the auto-enrollment type controller.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the code is a two dimensional bar code that is unique to the auto-enrollment type controller and that encodes at least one of a MAC address, serial number or batch number of the auto-enrollment type controller.

9. A method of configuring an auto-enrollment type access controller, the method comprising:

broadcasting by the auto-enrollment type access controller to an enrollment server, an enrollment request message with the broadcast being in response to the auto-enrollment type access controller entering an auto-enrollment process;

adding by the enrollment server credential data associated with the auto-enrollment type access controller to a list based on the broadcasting, wherein the list comprises credential data for each of a plurality of other auto-enrollment type access controllers, wherein each the plurality of other auto-enrollment type access controllers are waiting to be enrolled;

capturing by a user device a code associated with the auto-enrollment type access controller, with the captured code including auto-enrollment type access controller configuration information;

causing by the user device credential data and the auto-enrollment type access controller configuration information associated with the captured code to be sent to the enrollment server;

identifying by the enrollment server the auto-enrollment type access controller in the list by searching the list with the credential data; and

programming by the enrollment server the auto-enrollment type access controller with the auto-enrollment type access controller configuration information in response to identifying the auto-enrollment type access controller in the list.

10. The method of claim 9 , programming further comprising:

rebooting by the auto-enrollment type access controller; and

connecting by the auto-enrollment type access controller to a gateway to place the auto-enrollment type access controller on-line.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the code is a two dimensional bar code.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

enrolling the auto-enrollment type access controller as a master by transmitting periodically, by the auto-enrollment type access controller a network message to enroll the auto-enrollment type access controller, subsequent to assertion of the broadcasting.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the auto-enrollment type access controller enrolls another auto-enrollment type access controller as a slave controller when a master controller is enrolled and connected to a gateway, by enrolling the another auto-enrollment type access controller through the master controller, and the another auto-enrollment type access controller is configured by:

capturing a second code associated with the another auto-enrollment type access controller;

causing the captured second code to be sent to the enrollment server;

receiving by the auto-enrollment type access controller from the enrollment server, second enrollment information; and

configuring the another auto-enrollment type access controller upon receiving the second enrollment information.

14. The system of claim 6 , wherein the configuration information is for an auto-enrollment type controller.

15. The system of claim 6 , wherein the computer product program configures the processor to receive the code via an e-mail message.

16. An auto-enrollment type access controller, comprising:

access control functional components;

a switch device affixed to the auto-enrollment type access controller, the switch device upon assertion for a minimum specified duration causing the auto-enrollment type access controller to enter an auto-enrollment process;

a device having a code that encodes configuration information for the auto-enrollment type access controller;

a central processing module including a processor board having a processor, memory, communication interface and network interface circuity and storage that stores a computer program product to configure the processor to auto-enroll the auto-enrollment type access controller, with the computer program product comprising instructions to:

receive an assertion of a command upon actuation of the switch to initiate the auto-enrollment process;

cause a server to add credential information associated with the auto-enrollment type access controller to a list by broadcasting an enrollment request message in response to a reception of the assertion of the command, the list comprising credential data for each of a plurality of other auto-enrollment type access controllers, wherein each of the plurality of other auto-enrollment type access controllers are waiting to be enrolled;

identifying by the server the auto-enrollment type access controller in the list by searching the list with the credential data;

receive by the auto-enrollment type access controller from the server an enrollment confirmation;

program the auto-enrollment type access controller with the configuration information in response to a reception of the configuration information from the server.

17. The auto-enrollment type access controller of claim 16 , wherein the access functional components comprise at least one of a relay control, a lock/switch interface, door input interface, or a card reader interface;

wherein the computer program product further comprises instructions to:

upon receiving the configuration information from the server, reboot the auto-enrollment type access controller; and

connect to a gateway to place the auto-enrollment type access controller on-line.

18. The auto-enrollment type access controller of claim 16 , wherein the code is a two dimensional bar code.

19. The auto-enrollment type access controller of claim 16 , further comprising instructions to:

enroll the auto-enrollment type access controller as a master controller by transmitting periodically by the auto-enrollment type access controller a network message to enroll the auto-enrollment type access controller, subsequent to assertion of the switch.

20. The auto-enrollment type access controller of claim 16 , wherein the auto-enrollment type access controller enrolls another auto-enrollment type access controller as a slave controller when a master controller is enrolled and connected to a gateway, by enrolling the another auto-enrollment type access controller through the master controller.

Assignments (9)