System and method for deploying handheld devices to secure an area

#The present invention relates to computer driven security systems including hardware and software configurations to operate access control and video surveillance systems.

#Historically, access control systems have required dedicated card readers and fixed door controllers connected to electro-mechanical door locks or gates. Local door controllers provide for recognition of magnetic cards and generation of control signals for electromagnetic door locks or turnstiles. Separate and apart from access control, video surveillance and video recording systems have required fixed cameras and positioning motors and matrix switches coupled with mass storage devices such as digital video recorders to store video data. However, in many situations the access control systems and video surveillance system have been separate. Such legacy systems include, among other things, digital and analog cameras, and positioning hardware, door controllers, gate controllers, alarms, motion sensors, card readers, biometric readers and keypads for password entry. For each of these different types of legacy systems, there are numerous controllers and protocols.

#Modern access control systems seek to integrate access control and video surveillance with an integrated combination of hardware and software operated on a central computer server. Generally, such servers provide control for multiple access control points, communication with local controllers, cameras and camera position controllers and digital and analog video recording devices. The servers also generally provide software for user interfaces, database control and drivers for various hardware components.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art security system.

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of a handheld device.

#FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a preferred architecture for the system.

#The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the system described. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify description. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.

#Referring to FIG. 2, handheld device 200 comprises processor 205, memory 210 and a set of peripheral devices. The peripheral devices include keypad 215, display 220, camera 225, network interface 240, RFID reader 245, bar code reader 250 capable of reading bar codes, QR codes and the like, security card reader 255 and a biometric scanner 260. The peripheral devices also include programmable router 261. In preferred embodiments, the handheld device can include a smart phone, a personal digital assistant, a dedicated hardware device or other digital device that are portable and capable of supporting a network connection, such as laptop computers and tablet computers.

#Network interface 240 enables wired and wireless communications. In a preferred embodiment, network interface 240 includes a local radio communications chipset that allows direct communication between several handheld devices of voice information and data.