Patent ID: 8078146

Claim:
A security and asset management system ( 100 ) that controls access to a secure area ( 240 ) having a device ( 110 ) operable for mobile communication, said device ( 110 ) having an id code ( 112 ) and a device communication interface ( 116 ) operable to initiate transmission of the id code ( 112 ) and to respond to a request for transmission of the id code ( 112 ), said system ( 100 ) comprising: a plurality of readers ( 140 ) each having a reader communication interface ( 144 ) operable to obtain the id code ( 112 ) from the device via a predetermined frequency band wherein mobile frequencies or cellular networks are not used for secure communications and wherein each of the plurality of readers ( 140 ) is operable to determine a direction and distance of the device ( 110 ) from the reader ( 140 ); a control panel ( 170 ) operable to communicate with said at least one reader ( 140 ); and a memory ( 180 ) for storing location data ( 184 ) and ID data ( 182 ) separate from the control panel ( 170 ), the memory ( 180 ) including at least one or more id codes ( 112 ), said memory ( 180 ) accessible by said control panel ( 170 ), wherein the control panel ( 170 ) validates the id code ( 112 ) received from said reader ( 140 ), and the control panel ( 170 ) determines a device location ( 119 ) within a room or floor or the secure area by coordinating the location data ( 184 ) from the memory ( 180 ) with the determined direction and distance of the device ( 110 ) from the reader ( 140 ) wherein said control panel ( 170 ) permits entry by a user of the device ( 110 ) into the secure area ( 240 ) via any of the plurality of readers ( 140 ) based upon the validated id code ( 112 ) and determined location and sends messages to a user of the device ( 110 ) through one of the plurality of readers based upon a determined location of the device ( 110 ) within the secure area ( 240 ).