Patent ID: 7494060

Claim:
An information-based access control system for sea port terminal personnel, comprising: a plurality of security checkpoints at located at entrance portals within the sea port terminal, wherein said security checkpoints are in networked communication with a central processor, each of said security checkpoints including a smart card reader and a device for collecting biometric data from an individual; a database associated with said central processor, a registration module in communication with said central processor for issuing sea port credentials for a person requiring access, wherein said registration means is operable to store identifier data for the person in said database, said registration means including: means to capture a digital image of the person; means for inputting alphanumeric data associated with the person; means to retrieve coded electronic data from government-issued identification documents; means for obtaining a biometric reference from the person; wherein said digital image, alphanumeric data, biometric reference, and coded electronic data form the government issued identification document form identifier data for the person; validation means wherein a positive permission or negative permission for the person is returned, said validation means including: communication means operable to access government databases associated with the government-issued identification documents to validate the authenticity of the document by verification of the coded electronic data thereon; and communication means operable to access the National Criminal Identification Center (NCIC) database in order to perform an instantaneous background check based on the government-issued identification document; and means to produce credentials on portable media if a positive permission is returned; a smart card specific to a person having access permission wherein at least a portion of said identifier data for the person is stored on a microprocessor embedded on the smart card, said smart card further including the digital image of the person in a visible format and alphanumeric data associated with the person; and processing means coupled to said plurality of security checkpoints, said processing means operable to perform the steps of: retrieving said biometric data from said smart card to determine if a match exists with data obtained with said biometric reader, querying the database to determine if the person is authorized for access, recording chronological parameters associated with entry, and storing said chronological parameters in said database to create a tracking record for the person.