by jbs070110f3 — July 5, 2010—Honeywell recently introduced IdentIPoint, an IP-based access control system that shifts system intelligence to the card reader using smartcard technology. IdentIPoint reportedly eliminates the need for centralized access controllers, and allows access decisions to be made locally between the smartcard and the card reader. The result is a more secure, flexible and scalable system that is less expensive to deploy and maintain, says the company.
The IdentIPoint system features a smartcard that contains all cardholder credentials, including access rights, permissions and a biometric template if applicable. This makes the card more than just a unique number, but also a certificate of authenticity used to validate the user, says the company.
When the smartcard is presented to a network-connected IdentIPoint card reader, the access decision is made locally at the reader instead of an access controller. And the subsequent transaction is logged by Honeywell Enterprise Buildings Integrator (EBI), a facilities management platform that boosts efficiency and reduces operating costs by integrating core building technology.
The IdentIPoint smartcard uses a microprocessor to write information directly from the reader, making cardholder enrollment and security updates easier. Cardholders can be enrolled into the system, and their information automatically updated, through any designated IdentIPoint card reader.
IdentIPoint also allows building operators to secure remote doors where networks are not present. When a cardholder accesses a remote door, the standalone reader can write access events to the smartcard, enabling the transaction to automatically upload to EBI as soon as the cardholder accesses a network-connected reader.
