Systems and methods for access control

Abstract

The disclosure describes various systems and methods for access control. One such method includes providing an access control module that includes a base portion and an update portion. The update portion is electrically coupled to the base portion via a detachable electrical connector, and wherein operation of the access control module is based at least in part on an interaction between the base portion and the update portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing radio frequency identification access control, the method comprising:
 providing an access control module, wherein the access control module is capable of interacting at two or more frequencies;   providing an access credential operable at a first frequency and at a second frequency;   communicating data from the access credential to the access control module at the first frequency;   determining within the access control module the frequency at which the data was communicated;   if the access control module is capable of receiving at the first frequency, acknowledging receipt of the data to the access credential; and   where the data received is sufficient to authorize access, granting access by the access control module to an access point.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein if the access control module is not capable of receiving at the first frequency, the method further comprises:
 communicating the data from the access credential to the access control module at the second frequency;   determining within the access control module the frequency at which the data was communicated;   if the access control module is capable of receiving at the second frequency, acknowledging receipt of the data to the access credential; and   where the data received is sufficient to authorize access, granting access by the access control module to the access point.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein where the data is insufficient to authorize access, denying access by the access control module to the access point. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the access control module is deployed locally to the access point. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first frequency is 125 KHz and the second frequency is 13.56 MHz. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein granting access by the access control module includes actuating a locking mechanism of a door. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the access control module includes a base portion and a first update portion, and wherein the method further comprises updating the access control module by replacing the first update portion with a second update portion. 
     
     
         8 . An access control system comprising:
 an access credential operable to transmit data at two or more frequencies;   an access control module including a processor and a computer readable medium, wherein the computer readable medium includes instructions executable by the processor to:   determine a first frequency at which the data from the access credential is transmitted;   if capable of receiving at the first frequency, acknowledge receipt of the data to the access credential;   if not capable of receiving at the first frequency, determine a second frequency at which the data from the access credential is transmitted;   if capable of receiving at the second frequency, acknowledge receipt of the data to the access credential; and   where the data is sufficient to authorize access, grant access to an access point.   
     
     
         9 . The access control system of  claim 8 , wherein the first frequency is 125 KHz and the second frequency is 13.56 MHz. 
     
     
         10 . The access control system of  claim 8 , wherein the computer readable medium further includes instructions executable by the processor to deny access where the data is insufficient to authorize access. 
     
     
         11 . The access control system of  claim 8 , wherein the access control module is deployed locally to the access point. 
     
     
         12 . The access control system of  claim 8 , wherein the access point is a door. 
     
     
         13 . The access control system of  claim 8 , wherein the access control module includes a base portion and a first update portion, and wherein the access control module is updatable by replacing the first update portion with a second update portion. 
     
     
         14 . An access control device comprising:
 a receiver operable to determine a frequency at which data from an access credential is transmitted;   a first channel operable to receive the data at a first frequency;   a second channel operable to receive the data at a second frequency; and   a control circuit operable to receive the data from the first channel and from the second channel and, where the data is sufficient to authorize access to an access point, to grant access to the access point based at least in part on the data.   
     
     
         15 . The access control device of  claim 14 , wherein the first frequency is 125 KHz and the second frequency is 13.56 MHZ. 
     
     
         16 . The access control device of  claim 14 , wherein the access point is a door, and wherein the control circuit is operable to actuate an actuator associated with the door upon granting access. 
     
     
         17 . The access control device of  claim 14 , wherein the access control device is deployed locally to the access point. 
     
     
         18 . The access control device of  claim 14 , further including a programming interface wirelessly linked to a programmer, wherein the programming interface permits the communication of updated instructions to the control circuit. 
     
     
         19 . The access control device of  claim 18 , wherein the programmer is one of an EEPROM reader/writer and a flash memory reader/writer.