Card reader for security system

A security system comprising:

• a central controller;
• a plurality of card reader means coupled to said central controller for reading data stored substantially permanently on magnetic card and transmitting said data to said central controller when communication with said central controller is possible and for comparing the card data to authorization data stored in said card reader means in order to make a local decision whether to grant access during times when communication with said central controller is not possible, said authorization data comprising identification data stored in each said reader which identifies those persons authorized access to controlled areas through the associated reader during times when communication with said central controller is not possible;
• storage means in each of said card reader means for storing data read from a card which does not match the authorization data and information indicating access was not granted and time of day access was not granted based on said data read from said card during times when communication between said central controller and said card reader means is not possible;
• means in said card reader means for communicating said stored data and information to said central controller during times when communication between said card reader and said central controller is possible;
• means in said central controller for receiving card data transmitted from said plurality of card reader means when communication with said card reader means is possible and for deciding whether to grant access based upon said card data and for transmitting a message to the card reader means that sent the card data, causing said card reader means either to grant or deny access;
• and
• means in said central controller for determining when a particular card reader means is requesting a download of authorization data and for determining whether the requesting card reader means is authorized to grant access during times when communication between the card reader means and the central controller is not possible and for finding the authorization data for each person authorized to have access through said requesting card reader means during said times when said communication is not possible and for sending said authorization data to said card reader means for storage when said communication is possible.

A method of operating a security system which includes a card reader and a central controller capable of communicating with the card reader to control access comprising the steps of:

• reading a card to derive from said card data stored substantially permanently on said card;
• sensing whether communication between said central controller and said card reader is possible;
• sending said card data to said central controller if communication with said central controller is possible;
• determining in said central controller if access is to be granted;
• sending a message from said central controller to said reader indicating whether access is to be granted or denied;
• granting or denying access to the area controlled by said card reader based upon said message from said central controller;
• comparing said card data to data stored in said card reader during times when communication with said central controller is not possible;
• granting or denying access based upon said comparison;
• storing card data which does not match said data stored in said reader, and information indicating that access was not granted based upon said card data which does not match, in said card reader during times when communication with said central controller is not possible;
• and
• sending the stored card data and information to the central controller during times when communication between the card reader and the central controller is possible.

A method of operating a security system which includes a central controller and a card reader, the method comprising the steps of:

• loading in a buffer within the card reader, identification data designating persons authorized access during times when communication between the card reader and the central controller is not possible;
• sensing when communication between the card reader and the central controller is not possible;
• reading card data from a card, said card data comprising system code data and identification code data stored substantially permanently on said card;
• comparing said system code data to a first set of data stored in said card reader;
• comparing said identification code data to a second set of data stored in said card reader;
• storing the identification code data as a record in a buffer in the card reader when said identification code data does not match data in said first set of data or when said system code data does not match data in said second set of data;
• marking the record as a "No Go" transaction;
• and
• sending the stored identification code data to the central controller during times when communication between the card reader and the central controller is possible.

A method of operating a security system having a plurality of card readers and a central controller comprising the steps of:

• storing in said central controller identification data designating persons authorized access to areas controlled by each card reader;
• transmitting the identification data stored in the central controller and associated with a particular card reader to that card reader during times when communication with said card reader is possible;
• comparing, in a card reader and independent of said central controller, data read from a card to data stored in said card reader during times when communication between said card reader and said central controller are not possible, to determine whether said card reader should grant access to the card holder;
• storing data read from said card which does not match data stored in said card reader and information indicating that access was not granted based upon said data which does not match data stored in the card reader, in said card reader during times when communication between the card reader and the central controller is not possible;
• and
• sending the stored data read from the card and the information indicating access was not granted to the central controller during times when communication between the card reader and the central controller is possible.

A card reader for use in a security system having a central controller which communicates with said card reader, said card reader comprising:

• mean so for storing authorization information identifying persons to whom access may be granted by the card reader;
• means for reading data stored permanently on a card;
• means, which are independent of the central controller, for comparing data from the card with the authorization information and for selectively granting access to a controlled location based on said comparison of card data and authorization information;
• means for receiving signals from the central controller;
• means electrically coupled to said receiving means for sensing when communication with the central controller is not possible;
• means responsive to said sensing means for storing, during periods when communication between the card reader and the central controller is not possible, card data which does not match authorization data, along with associated information indicating that access was denied in response to the comparison of said card data with the authorization information;
• and
• means electrically connected to the storing means for sending the stored card data and associated information to the central controller during times when communication between the card reader and the central controller is possible.

A method of operating a security system which controls access to a location and which includes a local card reader and a central controller which communicate to limit access based on card data, comprising:

• storing authorization information at said local card reader, said authorization information identifying persons to whom access may be granted by the card reader;
• reading data stored permanently on a card;
• comparing, independently from the central controller, data from the card with the authorization information;
• selectively granting access to a controlled location based on said comparison of card data and authorization information;
• sensing at said local card reader for inability to communicate with said central controller;
• storing at said card reader during periods when communication between the card reader and the central controller is not possible card data which does not match authorization data, along with associated information indicating that access was denied in response to the comparison of said card data with said authorization information;
• and
• sending the stored card data and associated information to the central controller during times when communication between the card reader and the central controller is possible.