Apparatus and method for access control

An access controller for controlling access from a first area to a second area, the access controller comprising:

• an identity signal receiver arranged to receive identity signals from an identifier input device;
• a processing unit configured to check if an access criterion is fulfilled, one access criterion being that an identity represented by identity signal is registered as being present in an area from where the identity signal is sent;
• a memory configured to store data indicating all identities registered as present in the first area;
• a pass signal generator configured to generate a pass signal in response to fulfilment of the access criterion;
• a controller selector configured to select a second access controller controlling a passage from the second area to a third area and to select a third access controller controlling a passage to the first area;
• an enter message transmitter configured to transmit an enter message to the selected second access controller controlling the passage from the second area, the enter message includes at least the identity and data indicating that an entity associated with the identity is present in the second area;
• and
• an exit message transmitter configured to transmit an exit message to the selected third access controller controlling the passage to the first area, the exit message including at least the identity and data indicating that the entity associated with the identity is not present in the first area,
• wherein the enter message and the exit message are separate messages.

A method for controlling access from a first area to a second area, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a first access controller controlling access from the first area to the second area, an identity signal from an identifier input device;
• checking, in a memory of the first access controller, for data indicating that an identity represented by the identity signal is registered as present in the first area;
• if the identity is registered as present in the first area, then determining that one access criterion is fulfilled;
• determining a predetermined access requirement is fulfilled, responsive to at least fulfilment of said one access criterion, to then perform the following acts:
• generating a pass signal at the first access controller granting passage from the first area to the second area;
• retrieving, in the memory of the first access controller, an address of a second access controller controlling access from the second area;
• sending an enter message to the second access controller controlling access from the second area, the enter message including at least the identity and data indicating that an entity associated with the identity is present in the second area;
• retrieving, in the memory of the first access controller, an address of a third access controller controlling access to the first area;
• and
• sending an exit message to the third access controller controlling access to the first area, the exit message including at least the identity and data indicating that the entity associated with the identity is not present in the first area,
• wherein the enter message and the exit message are separate messages.

An access controller for controlling access from a first area to a second area, the access controller comprising:

• an identity signal receiver arranged to receive identity signals from an identifier input device;
• a processing unit configured to check if an access criterion is fulfilled, one access criterion being that an identity represent by identity signal is registered as being present in an area from where the identity signal is sent;
• a memory configured to store data indicating all identities registered as present in the first area;
• a pass signal generator configured to generate a pass signal in response to fulfilment of the access criterion;
• a controller selector configured to select a second access controller controlling a passage from the second area to a third area and to select a third access controller controlling a passage to the first area, the controller selector is further configured to retrieve, in the memory of the access controller, an address of the second access controller controlling the passage from the second area to the third area and an address of the third access controller controlling the passage to the first area;
• an enter message transmitter configured to transmit an enter message to the selected second access controller controlling the passage from the second area to the third area, the enter message includes at least the identity and data indicating that an entity associated with the identity is present in the second area;
• and
• an exit message transmitter configured to transmit an exit message to the selected third access controller controlling the passage to the first area, the exit message including at least the identity and data indicating that the entity associated with the identity is not present in the first area,
• wherein the enter message and the exit message are separate messages.