Updating dynamic information within an intelligent controller utilizing a smart card

A system for updating a control device of a security system, comprising:

• a portable programmable medium including a data storage device;
• a primary control device including a primary computer and a primary data storage device for storing data of the security system, the primary control device managing transactions;
• a primary reader/writer communicating with the primary control device, the primary reader/writer and primary control device authenticating the portable programmable medium via a card identifier read from the portable programmable medium, the primary reader/writer transferring transactional data for a first transaction and control data from the primary data storage device to the portable programmable medium, the transactional data and the control data being received by the primary control device from a remote device communicating with the primary control device via a network;
• a secondary control device that controls access through a point of entry of the security system, the secondary control device including a secondary computer and a secondary data storage device for storing data;
• and
• a secondary reader/writer communicating with the secondary control device, the secondary reader/writer and secondary control device authenticating the portable programmable medium via the card identifier read from the portable programmable medium, the secondary reader/writer transferring the control data from the portable programmable medium to the secondary control device and storing the control data in the secondary data storage device, wherein the control data updates existing data in the data storage device of the secondary control device, and the secondary control device is a stand-alone device not communicating with the remote device and wherein the update to the existing data changes a processing feature of the secondary control device and conditions of access by an authorized user of the portable medium or by other users through the point of entry controlled by the secondary control device, wherein the update to the secondary control device from the portable programming medium eliminates a need for a technician to visit the secondary control device to update the conditions of access.