Access control system in seamless communication with personnel management systems and the like

• US 20030132830A1
• Filed: 10/29/2001
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Pitts, Vikki W., Dow, Wayne B., Stone, Harvey
• Application Number:
  US09/984,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20030132830A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.22
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

An access control system such as a telephone entry system (TES) capable of seamless communication with a general purpose computer. Entries made in the TES are seamlessly transferred to the general purpose computer and updated in corresponding databases stored therein. Likewise entries made in selected databases within the general purpose computer or in other types of selected files are reflected in the TES, seamlessly, and without requiring manual intervention. Thus, for example, employees may be added or removed from the factory personnel logs in the general purpose computer and, as each is entered or removed, the corresponding entry code in the TES is added or deleted.

Claims

1. An access control system in seamless communication with a general purpose computer, said access control system comprising:

a main control unit telephonically in communication with entities within a building, said main control unit being mountable at an entrance to said building;

at least one code entry unit receiving access codes, each said code entry unit providing received said access codes to said main control unit; and

at least one controlled door, access through each said controlled door being provided by said main control unit in response to a correct access code entered at one said code entry unit;

whereby adding or removing access codes from said main control unit seamlessly causes said main control unit to communicate code changes to a general purpose computer and said general purpose computer makes a corresponding entry or deletion, and correspondingly, entries or deletions made in said general purpose computer are seamlessly communicated to said main control system and said main control unit makes corresponding additions or removals of access codes in said access control system.

2. An access control system in seamless communication with a general purpose computer as in claim 1, wherein one of said at least one code entry units is a keypad located on said main control unit.

3. An access control system in seamless communication with a general purpose computer as in claim 2 wherein said at least one controlled door is two or more controlled doors, said main control unit controlling access through said controlled doors at entrances to said building, at least one of said entrances including a remote said code entry unit.

4. An access control system in seamless communication with a general purpose computer as in claim 3 wherein said remote code entry unit is a keypad.

5. An access control system in seamless communication with a general purpose computer as in claim 3 wherein said remote code entry unit is a card reader.

6. An access control unit in seamless communication with a general purpose computer as in claim 3 further comprising a peripheral control unit in communication with said main control unit, said peripheral control unit controlling at least one remotely controlled door at an entrance remotely located from said main control unit.

7. An access control unit in seamless communication with a general purpose computer as in claim 6 further comprising a remote said code entry unit at said remotely controlled door, said remote code entry unit communicating with said main control unit through said peripheral unit.

8. An access control system in seamless communication with a general purpose computer as in claim 7 wherein said remote code entry unit is located external to said building, entry requests being placed by entering an access code at said remote code entry unit.

9. An access control unit in seamless communication with a general purpose computer as in claim 8 wherein said remote code entry unit is a card reader.

10. An access control system in seamless communication with a general purpose computer as in claim 8 wherein said remote code entry unit is a keypad.

11. An access control unit in seamless communication with a general purpose computer as in claim 8 further comprising a second remote code entry unit located internal to said building, access code entries to said second remote code entry unit requesting exit from said building, said main control unit authenticating access codes, said peripheral unit opening said remote controlled door responsive to authenticated access codes being entered in either said remote code entry unit.

12. An access control system in seamless communication with a general purpose computer as in claim 2 further comprising a monitor connected to said main control unit, said main control unit displaying system information on said monitor.

13. An access control unit in seamless communication with a general purpose computer as in claim 2 further comprising a closed circuit TV camera, said closed circuit TV camera being remotely controlled by said access control system.

14. An access control system in seamless communication with a general purpose computer as in claim 2 wherein said main control further comprises a display, said display selectively displaying a menu of available options.

15. An access control system in seamless communication with a general purpose computer as in claim 14, the main control unit further comprising:

a microphone receiving a voice communications from persons requesting building access; and

a speaker providing audio responses to said persons requesting building access.

16. An access control system in seamless communication with a general purpose computer as in claim 14, the main control unit further comprising:

a memory module;

an electronics assembly adapted to receive said memory module, said memory module being pluggable into said electronics assembly, said display being attached to said electronics assembly; and

an alphanumeric keypad, said access control system being programmed directly from said alphanumeric keypad, access control codes being programmed into said main control unit using said alphanumeric keypad, program entries being selectively communicated, seamlessly, to said general purpose computer.

17. An access control system in seamless communication with a general purpose computer as in claim 16 wherein said electronics assembly unit comprises:

a control subsystem controlling connected peripheral units and controlled doors, receiving and authenticating access codes and monitoring unauthorized accesses; and

a communication subsystem passing voice communications telephonically between said entities within said building and individuals seeking building access.

18. An access control system in seamless communication with a general purpose computer as in claim 17 wherein said control subsystem comprises:

a microcontroller controlling building access, communicating access authorization changes to the general purpose computer and changing access code data in response to communications from said general purpose computer;

memory storing current access codes, system related program code, data and system logs;

a handheld interface and real time clock communicating with said general purpose computer; and

said memory module, program initialization data and operating codes contained in said memory module.

19. An access control system in seamless communication with a general purpose computer as in claim 18 wherein said memory includes Flash EPROM and dynamic random access memory.

20. An access control system in seamless communication with a general purpose computer as in claim 17 wherein said communication subsystem comprises:

a digital signal processor;

memory storing code for said digital signal processor; and

a communications interface providing a voice interface with said microphone and audio interface with said speaker at said main control unit and providing a telephonic interface to a connected telephone system responsive to said digital signal processor.

21. An access control system in seamless communication with a general purpose computer as in claim 20 wherein said memory in said communication subsystem comprises Flash EPROM and random access memory.

22. An access control system in seamless communication with a general purpose computer, said access control system comprising:

a main control unit telephonically in communication with entities within a building, said main control unit being mountable at an entrance to said buildings;

at least one code entry unit receiving access codes, each said code entry unit providing received said access codes to said main control unit; and

at least one controlled door, access through each said controlled door being provided by said main control unit in response to access codes entered at one said code entry unit;

whereby controlled door related data is seamlessly transmitted by said main control unit to a general purpose computer and said general purpose computer records the controlled door related data and correspondingly, controlled door related data in said general purpose computer is seamlessly communicated to said main control unit and said main control unit makes corresponding additions or removals of controlled door related data in said access control system.