Patent ID: 7775429

Claim:
A method for controlling access to an enclosed area, the method comprising: receiving a card identification signal including a card identifier (ID) in an access card reader and controller associated with an entrance to the enclosed area, the access card reader and controller being powered via a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) interface; determining an operational mode of the access card reader and controller, the operational modes including a standalone mode and a network mode; authenticating the card ID by transmitting the card ID to an access control server when the access card reader and controller is determined to be operating in the network mode; authenticating the card ID against entries of one or more internal tables stored in the access card reader and controller when the access card reader and controller is determined to be operating in the standalone mode; and sending a signal to unlock a door at the entrance to the enclosed area associated with the access card reader and controller when the card ID has been successfully authenticated; wherein the access card reader and controller serves, from the access card reader and controller to a Web browser external to the access card reader and controller, one or more Web pages by which a user can configure the access card reader and controller.