Systems and methods for controlling access to physical space

A method for controlling access to a physical space comprising:

• receiving, by an interface of a smart access control reader, one or more first credentials;
• determining, via the smart access control reader, whether the one or more first credentials are authorized;
• and
• transmitting, via the smart access control reader, a second credential stored in a storage module of the smart access control reader to an access control panel of the access control system when the one or more first credentials are authorized, in response to a request by a first user to access an area monitored by the access control system.

A method for providing access to an area monitored by an access control system comprising:

• replacing a first access control reader connected to the access control system with a smart access control reader, wherein the first access control reader is configured to provide access to the area based on a plurality of first credentials associated with the first access control reader;
• providing, by the smart access control reader, to at least one first user access to the area based on at least one credential of the plurality of first credentials in response to a request by the at least one first user to access the area;
• receiving from a server, by the smart access control reader, a second credential;
• and
• providing, by the smart access control reader, to a second user access to the area based on the received second credential in response to a request by the second user to access the area.

A smart access control system for an access point comprising:

• a wireless interface of a smart control reader at the access point configured to receive at least one first credential from a user mobile device;
• a remote database configured to store a plurality of credentials associated with a pre-existing access control reader previously located at the access point and a plurality of credentials associated with the smart access control reader;
• and
• a processor of the smart control reader configured to receive the at least one first credential from the wireless interface and provide a user of the user mobile device with access to the access point based on the plurality of credentials associated with the pre- existing access control reader previously located at the access point and the plurality of credentials associated with the smart access control reader.

A smart access control reader for an access point, the smart access control reader comprising:

• a wireless interface configured to receive one or more first credentials from a user mobile device;
• and
• a processor operatively connected to the wireless interface, wherein the processor is configured to:
• receive, from the wireless interface, the one or more credentials from the user mobile device,
• receive information from a remote database, and
• determine whether the one or more first credentials is authorized, and
• provide the user with access to the access point based on the one or more credentials from the user.