Abstract: An access control system for controlling access to an enclosed area, the access control system comprising a radio-frequency communication module configured to receive a card identification signal, a mode module configured to determine an operational mode of the access control system, the operational modes including a standalone mode and a network mode, a communication module configured to authenticate the card identification signal by transmitting the card identification signal to an access control server when the access control system is determined to be operating in the network mode, a local authentication module configured to authenticate the card identification signal against entries of one or more internal tables stored in the access control system when the access control system is determined to be operating in the standalone mode, and a local input/output module configured to send a signal to unlock a door at an entrance to the enclosed area when the card identification signal has been successfully auth

Abstract: A system for controlling access to one or more enclosed areas comprises at least one access card reader and controller powered via a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) interface, each access card reader and controller being capable of controlling access through a particular entrance to a particular enclosed area and an access control server in communication with the at least one access card reader and controller, the access control server being capable of controlling the operation of the at least one access card reader and controller, and a signal converter disposed between the access card reader and the access control server.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling access to an enclosed area is described. One illustrative embodiment is an access card reader and controller that is powered via a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) interface. The access card reader and controller may include a plurality of operating modes, including a network mode in which the access card reader and controller relies on an external access control server to authenticate received card identifiers and a standalone mode in which the access card reader and controller authenticates card identifiers independently of the access control server based on information stored locally in the access card reader and controller. In this illustrative embodiment, the access card reader and controller may also include a local tamper detector configured to detect when the access card reader and controller is being tampered with.