Patent ID: 8264323

Claim:
An access control module for controlling access through a door, the access control module comprising: a power interface coupled to a merged power-communication cable and controllably coupled to a processing computer in a processing module; said power interface providing electrical power to an access control identification mechanism; said power interface providing electrical power to an access controlled door lock; said power interface providing electrical power to a communication interface; and wherein the processing module comprises: said processing computer accessibly coupled with a processing memory containing at least one program step of a processing program system directing said processing computer; said processing computer communicatively coupled with said communication interface coupled with said merged power-communication cable; said processing computer coupled with a peripheral interface coupled with said access control identification mechanism, with said merged power-communication cable, with a door position sensor, with a request-to-exit switch, and with said access controlled door lock; wherein said processing program system comprises the program steps of: managing said power interface to distribute part of the electrical power to the processing module, to provide a first electrical power to the access control identification mechanism and to provide a second electrical power to the access controlled door lock; and controlling said access controlled door lock based upon interactions with said access control identification mechanism, with said door position sensor, with said request-to-exit switch, and with said merged power-communication cable.