Patent ID: 7583188

Claim:
An access control system that controls access to a plurality of areas by controlling a door associated with each area, the access control system comprising: a server; a plurality of devices, each device operable to sense a signal and output an alarm signal in response to the sensed signal; a first reader positioned adjacent a first door and operable to receive first data from a first user at a first time; a second reader positioned adjacent a second door and operable to receive second data from a second user at a second time; and an access control door controller including: a processor operable to run software; a plurality of alarm inputs each alarm input operable to receive the alarm signal from a corresponding one of the plurality of devices; a first data port operable to receive the first data and forward the first data to the processor at a third time; a second data port operable to receive the second data and forward the second data to the processor at a fourth time; a communication module operable to communicate with the server; and a plurality of relays, each relay operable to receive an instruction signal from the processor, based at least partially on the first data and the second data, and each relay further operable to send an actuation signal in response to the instruction signal.