Multiple wireless access points for wireless locksets

An access control system comprising:

• an access control computer system comprising a central database of information for making access control decisions;
• at least one wireless access point including a WAP database of information for making access control decisions and communicatively connected to the access control computer system, wherein the information for making access control decisions in the WAP database is a proper subset of the information for making access control decisions in the central database;
• and
• a plurality of wireless access control device controllers, each including a controller database of information for making access control decisions and each wirelessly communicatively connected, at least occasionally, to at least one wireless access point;
• wherein the plurality of wireless access control device controllers includes a plurality of first wireless access control devices, wherein the information for making access control decisions in the controller database of each of the first wireless access control device controllers is a proper subset of the information for making access control decisions in the WAP database of at least one wireless access point wirelessly communicatively connected, at least occasionally, to such first wireless access controller.

An access control device controller comprising:

• a memory storing a database of access control information;
• an input;
• a wireless transceiver that communicates with a central access control system;
• and
• a connection with an access control device;
• wherein the access control device controller is configured to:
• receive an access request from the input;
• determine an access control decision for the access request using the database of access control information when the database of access control information includes information sufficient to make an access control decision for the access request,
• transmit at least a portion of the access request to the central access control system using the wireless transceiver when the database of access control information does not include information sufficient to make an access control decision for the access request and then receive an access control decision for the access request from the central access control system;
• and
• supply an access control signal to the access control device based on the access control decision for the access request.

A method for operating a wireless access control system including:

• a switch;
• a plurality of wireless access points coupled to the switch and including a first wireless access point including a first wireless transceiver and a second wireless access point including a second wireless transceiver, the first wireless transceiver adapted to define a first coverage area, and the second wireless transceiver adapted to define a second coverage area overlapping a portion of the first coverage area;
• and a wireless device located within the overlapped portion of the first coverage area and having an identity code adapted to uniquely and wirelessly identify the wireless device to the plurality of wireless access points, the method comprising:
• receiving at the first wireless access point a first signal from the wireless device;
• receiving at the second wireless access point a second signal from the wireless device;
• measuring at the first wireless access point a first signal strength of the first signal;
• measuring at the second wireless access point a second signal strength of the second signal;
• sending the first signal strength by the first wireless access point to the second wireless access point;
• sending the second signal strength by the second wireless access point to the first wireless access point;
• determining at the first wireless access point and the second wireless access point a stronger signal strength of the first signal strength and the second signal strength;
• selecting, if the first signal strength is determined to be the stronger signal strength, the first wireless access point as a primary access point corresponding to the wireless device;
• and
• selecting, if the second signal strength is determined to be the stronger signal strength, the second wireless access point as a primary access point corresponding to the wireless device.

A method for operating a wireless access control system including:

• a switch;
• a plurality of wireless access points coupled to the switch and including a first wireless access point including a first wireless transceiver and a second wireless access point including a second wireless transceiver, the first wireless transceiver adapted to define a first coverage area, and the second wireless transceiver adapted to define a second coverage area overlapping a portion of the first coverage area;
• and a wireless device located within the overlapped portion of the first coverage area and having an identity code adapted to uniquely and wirelessly identify the wireless device to the plurality of wireless access points, the method comprising:
• receiving at the wireless device a first signal from the first wireless access point;
• receiving at the wireless device a second signal from the second wireless access point;
• measuring at the wireless device a first signal strength of the first signal;
• measuring at the wireless device a second signal strength of the second signal;
• determining at the wireless device a stronger signal strength of the first signal strength and the second signal strength;
• selecting, if the first signal strength is determined to be the stronger signal strength, the first wireless access point as a primary access point corresponding to the wireless device;
• and
• selecting, if the second signal strength is determined to be the stronger signal strength, the second wireless access point as a primary access point corresponding to the wireless device.

An access control system comprising:

• an access control computer system comprising a central database of information for making access control decisions;
• a wireless access point, including a WAP database of information for making access control decisions;
• a first communication link communicatively connecting the wireless access point to the control computer system allowing transfer of information between the central database and the WAP database;
• a plurality of wireless access control device controllers, each including a controller database of information for making access control decisions;
• and
• a plurality of second communication links, each communicatively connecting one of the wireless access control devices controllers to the wireless access point allowing transfer of information between the WAP database and the controller database of the one of the wireless access control devices controllers;
• wherein the plurality of wireless access control device controllers are configured to, when their second communication link is functional and when their second communication link is not functional, make access control decisions;
• wherein the wireless access point is configured to, when the first communication link is functional and when the first communication link is not functional:
• receive access control requests from the wireless access control device controllers and return access control decisions using one of the second communication links;
• and
• transfer information between the WAP database and the controller databases.