Method and system for training users related to a physical access control system

• US 9,256,996 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Buildings Americas Incorporated (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric Buildings LLC (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Morley, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahase, Pameshanand
• Application Number:
  US13/270,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20130088324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A system and method for training users of an access control system. In particular, the system and method allow for the imposition of “penalties” for improper behavior so as to balance the training of the user with the burden placed on the operators of the system reacting to violations, while allowing the users to accomplish their tasks. The system can also track the location of users or items, determine if a request to pass through a control point is proper based on various factors, and if appropriate, administer a “penalty” based on several contributing factors.

Claims

1. A security system for allowing access to secure areas, the system comprising:

at least one access control device configured to control the flow of items or users in an at least one secure area;

an access control database containing information regarding criteria for allowing access to the at least one secure area; and

a control system configured to receive information from the at least one access control device and to compare the information to the access control database to determine if access is to be granted;

the control system configured to modify access if a discrepancy is noted, the control system including a training model configured to modify the access based on operator-based rules and based on the discrepancy to train a user to adhere to access policies.

2. The security system for allowing access to secure areas of claim 1, further comprising a location database configured to track the location of users in the at least one secure area.

3. The security system for allowing access to secure areas of claim 2, wherein the training model is capable of being customized by an operator.

4. The security system for allowing access to secure areas of claim 3, wherein customization is based on the time since the security system was implemented.

5. The security system for allowing access to secure areas of claim 3, wherein the customization is based on the user'"'"'s start date.

6. The security system for allowing access to secure areas of claim 3, wherein the customization is based on a change in a security level.

7. The security system for allowing access to secure areas of claim 3, wherein the customization is based on a number of previous violations by the user.

8. The security system for allowing access to secure areas of claim 3, wherein the customization includes a penalty for deviating from standards related to access to the at least one secure area.

9. The security system for allowing access to secure areas of claim 8, wherein the penalty is no access to the at least one secure area.

10. The security system for allowing access to secure areas of claim 8, wherein the penalty includes a notification to the operator and the user identifying a violation of the standards related to access to the at least one secure area.

11. The security system for allowing access to secure areas of claim 8, wherein the penalty is delayed access to the at least one secure area.

12. The security system for allowing access to secure areas of claim 11, wherein the delay is based, in part, on the number of days since a change in the security level.

13. The security system for allowing access to secure areas of claim 11, wherein the delay is based, in part, on whether the user is categorized as a new user.

14. A security system for allowing access to secure areas, the system comprising;

at least one access control device configured to control the flow of items or users in at least one secured area;

an access control database containing information regarding criteria for allowing access to the at least one secure area;

a control system configured to receive information from the at least one access control device and to compare the information to the access control database to determine if access is to be granted;

a location database configured to track the location of users in the at least one secure area;

the control system configured to modify access if the user'"'"'s location is inconsistent with information in the location database; and

the control system including a training model configured to modify the access based on operator-based rules and based on detection that the user'"'"'s location is inconsistent with information in the location database to train a user to adhere to access policies.

15. The security system for allowing access to secure areas of claim 14, where the training model is capable of being customized by the operator and the customization includes a penalty for deviating from the standards related to access to the at least one secure area.

16. The security system for allowing access to the secure areas of claim 15, wherein the customization is based on the time since the security system was implemented.

17. The security system for allowing access to secure areas of claim 15, wherein the customization is based on the user'"'"'s start date.

18. The security system for allowing access to secure areas of claim 15, wherein the customization is based on a change in a security level.

19. The security system for allowing access to secure areas of claim 15, wherein the penalty is delayed access to the at least one secured area.

20. The security system for allowing access to secure areas of claim 19, wherein the delay is based, in part, on the number of days since a change in the security level.

21. The security system for allowing access to secure areas of claim 19, wherein the delay is based, in part, on whether the user is categorized as a new user.

22. A method of training for an access control system comprising:

providing at least one access control device for controlling the flow of items or users in at least one secure area;

detecting a request to access the at least one secure area by a user;

determining if the user'"'"'s location is known prior to the access request;

providing a training mode that includes customizable penalties for an access request that has an inconsistency as compared to an access control database containing information regarding criteria for allowing access to the at least one secure area; and

determining a penalty for inconsistency based on a level of training of the user to train the user.

23. The method of training for an access control system of claim 22, wherein the penalty is for deviating from the standards related to access to the at least one secure area.

24. The method of training for an access control system of claim 22, wherein the penalty is no access to the at least one secure area.

25. The method of training for an access control system of claim 22, wherein the penalty includes notification to an operator and user identifying a violation of the standards related to access to the at least one secure area.

26. The method of training for an access control system of claim 22, wherein the penalty is delayed access to the at least one secure area.

27. The method of training for an access control system of claim 22, wherein the customization is configured to be performed by the operator.

28. The method of training for an access control system of claim 27, wherein the customization is based, in part, on the time since the security system was implemented.

29. The method of training for an access control system of claim 27, wherein the customization is based, in part, on the user'"'"'s start date.

30. The method of training for an access control system of claim 27, wherein the customization is based, in part, on a change in a secuty level.