System and method for access control via mobile device

A system for controlling physical access comprising:

• a central security server;
• a mobile wireless communication device supporting a plurality of wireless communication technologies including:
• mobile wireless, and
• short-range wireless;
• an electro-mechanical access control security device;
• a receiving unit controlling the electro-mechanical access control security device, wherein the receiving unit is adapted to be paired with a host on the mobile wireless communication device, and wherein the receiving unit is adapted for receiving user commands from the paired host for activating the electro-mechanical access control security device via a plurality of modes including:
• a remote mode solely using a peer-to-peer communication directly with the mobile wireless communication device via the short-range wireless communication technology;
• and
• a global mode using a pre-authorization, obtained by the host on the mobile wireless communication device from the central security server via the mobile wireless technology, for a user command issued from the mobile wireless communication device to the receiving unit via the short-range wireless communication technology.