Key to future

The global trend in access control is shifting increasingly towards the integration of mechanical and electronic security solutions, says Assa Abloy.

To make certain the company was on the right track in its own ideas for the future of electronic security it launched a 'Future Lab' initiative to try out inventive ideas and concepts on the leading players in the global market.

The latest concept the company presented was an ‘Intelligent Door Server’ - a system that involves doors equipped with standardised, intelligent devices connected to a data network.

The objective was to encourage an analysis of security trends and identify customer needs.

The web-based survey, conducted between December 2005 and January 2006 had a total of 141 responses from "opinion leaders" throughout the global security industry.

Access security trends

In a previous Assa Abloy Security Trend Report on ‘e-cylinders’ from May 2005, the company identified security trends from 260 opinion leaders around the world.

It was discovered that different national markets were adopting different positions in relation to two "mega trends".

These mega trends were:

• The convergence of IT and physical security (particularly strong in the USA)
• The move towards Keyless systems (particularly strong in Germany)

In the the more recent study for the ‘Intelligent Door Server’ (February 2006) the company found four interesting areas of development related to these mega-trends.

It was made clear that on a global level there is a movement from organisations relying heavily on mechanical key systems in a separate environment, towards keyless systems where there is more integration with the existing IT infrastructure and the security solution.

1. The most prominent movement was the "convenience trend". This is where most respondents emphasised the need for increasing the use of smart cards and one-key systems, that will make security solutions easier to use and maintain.

2. The "security evolution" was the second most prominent movement. Almost as important as the "convenience trend" was the fact that respondents saw an increasing trend towards integration of physical and logical security.

3. The third movement was the "electronic revolution". What was clearly distinguished from respondents was the increased need for electromechanically managed doors to reduce the mechanical key population.

4. The fourth development area that was clearly identified was the definition of a another 'mega-trend' that relates to all the three previously mentioned.

This states that there is an increasing awareness and demand for a move from today's proprietary solutions (developed by the supplier with low integration capabilities) to more flexible solutions based on open standards (advanced solutions based on standardised modular components with the convenience of plug and play).

Make it easier to use

When asked about which system was regarded as the main system among a choice of options, a clear majority – 73 per cent – responded that they regarded the electronic access control system as their main system. This implies that integration and standardisation efforts should primarily focus on the electronic access control system and making the total solution easier to use.

Remarked one respondent from a retailing company in Sweden: "This is a good development. We would like to have a 'total solution' where every component gets its own IP-address, enabling free combination of components without limitation imposed by sub-centrals."

It 'CAN' be done

So what is an ‘Intelligent Door Server’? The system involves doors equipped with standardised, intelligent devices that are connected to a data network.

There is an increasing demand for systems based on open standards

Each component in a door is connected with the other components using a standard for communication named the Controller Area Network (CAN).

This is the same standard that is being used in the manufacture of most cars. It is plug and play and uses four wires in the same cable: two for power supply and two for data communication.

This enables connected devices to exchange and share encrypted information, thus opening up the technology for a wide range of functions.

Connecting the components

The electronic lock can be equipped with sensors that can tell when the performance of the motor is degrading. Each door component holds intelligence to adapt to changes in the interconnected door system, enabling it to change its behaviour according to input from the other components. In case of a degradation of the motor, a CAN-equipped lock can report to the door opener to wait an extra second before it starts to push the door open.

Serving the door

The intelligent door system concept can be expanded further by connecting it to a TCP/IP network through the door server.

The door server device ties in with the existing computer network. It serves as the bridge between the intelligent door system and the computer network. This enables it to be accessed via the Internet, and thereby it can deliver status and be configured remotely.

This enables administration, monitoring and service of the doors and the door server can also interact with other systems in the building by sending and receiving instructions.

Unaware of concept

The concept of the ‘Intelligent Door Server’ was new to the majority of the respondents who took part in the survey. A total of 66 per cent were not aware of it. However, as a result of taking part in the survey, 79 per cent reacted as "positive" or "very positive" towards it.

It was regarded as a concept that would enhance the security level by allowing improved real time control and error reporting. By using open standards, it would also improve integration and capability between different systems.

Said one respondent, a large distribution company in the USA: "I think this is the way forward for door security and I like the way it integrates with other components. I can see many benefits in this kind of system."

The opinion leaders' opinions

The respondees thought the most desired function that an Intelligent Door Server would provide would be the ability to add cameras and other peripherals to the door environment.

The plug-and-play ability was also an important factor enabling integration with other systems such as the existing electronic access control system, HVAC system and building management system.

Other perceived advantages were remote servicing, maintenance and firmware upgrades, real-time monitoring and event reporting of components, pre-failure service calls and service calls with detailed error reporting on components.

Summing up opinions, one respondent – a telecom company in Sweden – said that open standards, plug and play and high user friendliness were what was needed:

"It is a natural and necessary development and the quicker we can get it implemented the sooner we will see a desired increase in the overall security level."

Assa Abloy aims to continue to conduct surveys of future security solution concepts via Future Lab. Leila Rosenstrale, manager of Future Lab, said these studies will "help to shape tomorrow's security solutions".