Granted Patent B2

US 9,390,573 · App. 14/515,907 · Granted Jul 12, 2016

Abstract

Claims (49)

1. A security system operation method, comprising:

upon user activation of access control readers of the security system by users, validating the users by reference to user information stored by a realtime controller, the access control readers communicating with the realtime controller over a communications network;

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;

invoking the applications in response to selection by the users;

executing the applications on an application server; and

sending output from the executing applications for display on the access control readers over the communications network for display on the access control readers.

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 t application server based on the assigned groups of the users.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein sending the output from the executing applications comprises the application server sending PHP web pages that are displayed on the displays of the access control readers.

4. 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.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the application mode is only enabled for validated users.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the access control readers include intercom systems, which are comprised of speakers and microphones.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the access control readers include card readers to read keycard information associated with keycards.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein user selections made by interacting with the executing application at the access control readers are returned to the application server.

12. A security system comprising:

access control readers, each of the readers comprising: a display that displays a user interface that includes selectable applications that are invoked by the users;

a realtime controller that performs validation of users b comparing information read from keycards to user information stored at the realtime controller, the access control readers communicating with the realtime controller over a communications network; and

an application server that supplies the user information to the access control readers and executes the applications and sends output from the executing applications for display on the access control readers over the communications network.

13. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the user validation system includes a card reader to read keycards of the users.

14. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the displays of the access control readers display web pages sent from the application server.

15. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the applications that are selected by the users are run on at least one backup server when a primary application server fails.

16. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the access control readers include intercom systems that are comprised of at least one speaker and at least one microphone.

17. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the applications include a daily swipes application that indicates on the displays of the access control reader numbers of swipes by the users over previous days.

18. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the applications include a pin change application that provides on the displays of the access control readers a new PIN screen and a PIN confirmation screen.

19. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the applications include a configuration application that displays device settings for the access control readers that users are able to configure.

20. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein user selections made by interacting with the executing application at the access control readers are returned to the application server.

21. A security system operation method, comprising:

upon user activation of access control readers of the security system 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; and

invoking the applications in response to selection by the users, including:

invoking daily swipes applications,

displaying on the displays of the access control readers numbers of swipes by the users over previous days,

invoking change PIN applications, and

displaying on the displays of the access control readers current PIN screens, new PIN screens, and PIN confirmation screens;

enabling intercom functions at the access control readers using speakers and microphones,

wherein the applications execute on the application server and send output from the executing applications for display on the access control readers over a communications network.

Assignments (7)