Security control and access system
The present disclosure provides methods, devices, and systems for controlling access to a controlled area. The method may comprise receiving a credential identifier in an access controller associated with an entrance to the enclosed area, and then authenticating the credential identifier. The method may then comprise sending an unlock signal through a solid state relay within the access controller to power a lock associated with but external to the access controller to unlock a door at the entrance to the enclosed area when the credential identifier has been successfully authenticated.
1. A method for controlling access to an enclosed area, the method comprising:
receiving a credential identifier in an access controller associated with an entrance to the enclosed area;
authenticating the credential identifier; and
sending an unlock signal through a relay of the access controller to power a lock associated with the access controller to unlock a door at the entrance to the enclosed area when the credential identifier has been successfully authenticated, wherein the relay is powered via a direct current power source, and wherein at least a portion of the access controller is powered via a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) interface.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unlock signal is sent through the relay via the direct current power source.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the relay is a solid state relay.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the solid state relay comprises a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the relay is a mechanical relay.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unlock signal is sent through a mechanical relay and a solid state relay.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the relay is positioned within the access controller.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining an operational mode of the access controller from a set of operational modes including a standalone mode and a network mode; and
wherein authenticating the credential identifier comprises one of:
authenticating the credential identifier by transmitting the credential identifier to an access control server in response to a determination that the access controller is in the network mode; and
authenticating the credential identifier by comparing the credential identifier to entries of at least one table accessible to the access controller in response to a determination that the access controller is in the standalone mode.
9. An access control device for controlling access to an enclosed area, the access control device comprising:
a communication module configured to receive a credential identifier; and
a local input/output module configured to send an unlock signal through a relay of the access control device to power a lock associated with the access controller to unlock a door at an entrance to the enclosed area in response to successful authentication of the credential identifier, wherein the relay is powered via a direct current power source, and wherein at least a portion of the access control device is powered via a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) interface.
10. The access control device of claim 9 , wherein the unlock signal is sent through the relay via the direct current power source.
11. The access control device of claim 9 , wherein the relay is a solid state relay.
12. The access control device of claim 9 , wherein the relay is a mechanical relay.
13. The access control device of claim 9 , wherein the relay is positioned within the access control device.
14. The access control device of claim 9 , further comprising:
a mode module configured to determine an operational mode of the access control device from a set of operational modes including a standalone mode and a network mode; and
a local authentication module configured to authenticate the credential identifier against of at least one table accessible to the access control device in response to a determination that the access control device is in the standalone mode; and
wherein the communication module is configured to authenticate the credential identifier by transmitting the credential identifier to an access control server in response to a determination that the access control device is operating in the network mode.
15. An access control device for controlling access to an enclosed area, the access control device comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory comprising a plurality of instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the at least one processor, causes the access control device to:
receive a credential identifier associated with an entrance to the enclosed area authenticate the credential identifier; and
send an unlock signal through a relay of the access control device to power a lock associated with the access control device to unlock a door at the entrance to the enclosed area subsequent to successful authentication of the credential identifier, wherein the relay is powered via a direct current power source.
16. The access control device of claim 15 , wherein the unlock signal is sent through the relay via the direct current power source.
17. The access control device of claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the access control device is powered via a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) interface.
18. The access control device of claim 15 , wherein the relay is positioned within the access control device.