Access control system with feedback to portable electronic device

1. A method of controlling access to a predetermined service or area, comprising:

sending an access code to a portable electronic device of a user before granting any access to the user to enter the predetermined area or to provide any service to the user;

reading, using an electronic reader at a service site, the access code from the portable electronic device of the user before granting any access to the user to enter the predetermined area or to provide any service to the user; and

as a result of reading the access code from the portable electronic device, verifying if the access code is valid and, if it is valid, granting access to the user or providing service-related information to the portable electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending the access code to the portable electronic device based on a device identifier of the portable electronic device.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the device identifier comprises a global identifier for a communications system, the communications system being external to an access control system.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the service-related information is provided to the portable electronic device using a webpage displayed on the portable electronic device.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising using the webpage to display the access code on the portable electronic device.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising using the webpage for requesting the access code.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating an audio message in conjunction with the service-related information at the portable electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access code is displayed on the portable electronic device as an optical code.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising processing an elevator call associated with the read access code and assigning an elevator to service the elevator call, wherein the processing and assigning is performed by an elevator control system.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the service-related information comprises at least one of an indication of an assigned elevator and guidance information, and wherein the at least one of an indication of an assigned elevator and guidance information is communicated to the user via the portable electronic device.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the service-related information includes causing the portable electronic device to display at least one of text and one or more pictograms or symbols, and/or to generate an audible announcement.

12. A system, comprising:

a sensor;

an access terminal at a service site;

a database; and

a computer-based control unit coupled to the sensor, the access terminal, and the database, the control unit comprising a processor and a computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that cause the processor to;

send an access code to a portable electronic device of a user before granting any access to the user to enter the service site or to provide any service to the user;

read, using the sensor, the access code from the portable electronic device of the user before granting any access to the user to enter the service site or to provide any service to the user; and

provide, as a result of reading the access code from the portable electronic device, service-related information to the portable electronic device.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the sensor includes an optical reader to sense an optical code.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to grant access to the user.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to process an elevator call associated with the read access code and assign an elevator to service the elevator call, wherein the processing and assigning is performed by an elevator control system.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the service-related information comprises at least one of an indication of an assigned elevator and guidance information, and wherein the instructions cause the processor to communicate at least one of an indication of an assigned elevator and guidance information to the user via the portable electronic device.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to at least one of provide the service-related information to the portable electronic device-using a webpage displayed on the portable electronic device, to use the webpage to display the access code on the portable electronic device, and to use the webpage for requesting the access code.