Method and apparatus for configuring an access control system

An apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of configuration files on a computer readable medium where each configuration file defines an access control system and each configuration file is different than any other configuration file of the plurality of configuration files;
• a display that presents the plurality of configuration files to a person;
• a set up processor presenting a layout of the secured area to the person using a building information model, receiving through the presented layout an identification of a plurality of security zones within the secured area from the person, receiving notification of activation of at least one sensor in each of the plurality of security zones and logically associating the activated sensor with a physical location of the sensor within the building information model;
• a configuration processor that receives a selection of a configuration file of the plurality of configuration files from the person and that automatically configures an access control system in accordance with the selected configuration file, the identified plurality of security zones, the at least one sensor in each of the plurality of security zones and the respective physical location of each of the sensors within the building information model;
• an access control system configured by the configuration processor wherein the automatically configured access control system further comprises an alarm processor that monitors the at least one sensor for activation by an intruder and forwards an alarm notification to a central monitoring station;
• and
• integrating the access control system with a logical access system using SAP software.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for providing a plurality of configuration files where each configuration file defines an access control system and each configuration file is different than any other configuration file of the plurality of configuration files;
• means for displaying that presents the plurality of configuration files to a person;
• means for receiving a selection of a configuration file of the plurality of configuration files from the person;
• a set up processor presenting a layout of the secured area to the person using a building information model, receiving through the presented layout an identification of a plurality of security zones within the secured area from the person, receiving notification of activation of at least one sensor in each of the plurality of security zones and logically associating the activated sensor with a physical location of the sensor within the building information model;
• means for automatically configuring an access control system in accordance with the selected configuration file, the identified plurality of security zones, the at least one sensor in each of the plurality of security zones and the respective physical location of each of the sensors within the building information model wherein the automatically configured access control system further comprises an alarm processor that monitors the at least one sensor for activation by an intruder and forwards an alarm notification to a central monitoring station;
• and
• integrating the access control system with a logical access system using SAP software.