Questions and Answers from the Product Manager's POV
A conversation with Felix Mira
FOR almost a century, the Schlage brand, part of Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies, has been protecting residential and commercial facilities with a line of locks and other access control devices. We sat down recently with Felix Mira, the electronic security marketing manager for Schlage, to talk about how the line is growing from simple access control to more complex tasks like video recording and retrieval.
Q. What is the Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies vision for access control?
A. People have recognized the Schlage brand for years. It’s on their office doors, their homes and many other places. When we look at electronic access control, we look at it from the door out. We are especially cognizant that a user might need a mechanical lock today but require a basic standalone electronic locking solution in the future. They may need to add credentials, such as proximity or smart cards, and later migrate to video integration and a networked system deploying both wired and wireless access. Users need an easy migration path from one technology to the next, and that’s exactly what the new security management system from Schlage provides.
Q. What is the legacy of the new Schlage security management system?
A. For more many years, Geoffrey Systems served the international access control and video marketplace. Geoffrey joined the Ingersoll Rand family in 2003, and we are now aligning Geoffrey’s reputation for product innovation and service with Schlage’s range, quality and brand strength. We combined the strength of Geoffrey’s access control and security management system with Schlage’s LockLink software access control platforms and created the new security management system from Schlage. The new security management system from Schlage replaces the Geoffrey brand in North America and is backwards compatible with previous versions of both LockLink software, Schlage SMS and Geoffrey software and hardware.
Q. Could we have a quick overview of the new system?
A. The security management system complements its suite of mechanical, electronic, biometric and wireless security products by integrating a variety of technologies using open-architecture design standards. Compatible with the Microsoft Windows® 2000, 2003 and XP Pro operating environments, the system offers advanced access control, alarm monitoring, digital video, photo ID badging and visitor management.
It allows integrators and users to maximize the effectiveness of multiple security applications with one system. Transactions, associated video and badging photos can be viewed simultaneously, eliminating the need to access multiple systems or flip to alternate screens. Its diverse software includes integrated digital video management, visitor management and alarm graphics. Its offline and online hardware offerings are uniquely integrated and include Schlage CM, CL, VIP and wireless access devices.
Q. Explain the migration path from mechanical to fully integrated and networked.
A. Let’s start out with a standard, mechanical lock. One day, the facility manager says he wants a little more protection for some of the offices and labs. An upgrade from mechanical keys, the new King Cobra Series 2 and SNAP! Programmer will let this user secure doors, manage lists of authorized users and access an audit trial from the lock to see who went where and when. The SNAP! Programmer and PC application work with most USB-enabled computers. Later, the user may want the locks to automatically lock and re-lock at certain times of the day. At that point, the user can simply make the investment into the security management system software.
Four software levels comprise the new system. These levels are specifically designed so end users can seamlessly migrate from one level to the next as security requirements expand while being able to leave existing databases and hardware intact.
- Express supports Schlage CM locks in a single-client package.
- Select supports Schlage CM and CL offline locks in one- and five-client packages.
- Premier supports Schlage CM, CL, VIP, wireless access and all online devices in one-, five- or 10-client packages.
- Enterprise supports all hardware up to 25-client packages with single-client expansions available thereafter.
Q. What are the IT implications?
A. To ensure compatibility and ease of use, the new software operates in multiple server environments, including Windows NT, 2000, 2003 and XP, and is OBDC- and MDAC-compliant.
The controllers provide multiple communications options and can make decisions at the local level in case communication with the host is severed. All industry standard technologies, in addition to Schlage wireless access and VIP hardwired devices, are supported. The controllers also have direct configuration options with Schlage-manufactured, open-architecture devices to save time and money on components and installation. An unlimited number of controllers and downstream devices may be used.
Q. What credentials does the security management system support?
A. It supports a variety of credential technologies, including proximity, smart card, biometrics, magnetic stripe, Wiegand, barium ferrite, bar code, keypad and iButton. It works with both online and offline devices. It also can import from or export to other facility systems for enhanced security.
Q. One doesn’t think of video when considering the Schlage brand. What’s unique in video that this system can provide?
A. As mentioned earlier, users did think of video when they thought of Geoffrey. The new system builds upon the highly respected video platform.
Beyond completed integration with online access control, alarm monitoring and visitor management, the system uniquely provides video support for offline locks such as the Schlage CM and CL locks. Many systems can tie video to access control events with online systems--we can provide a similar video match for offline access control.
Q. Do users and integrators get full digital video management and components?
A. Absolutely. The Schlage video recording and retrieval system eliminates the need for video multiplexers and the hassle of video tape recorders. Searchable criteria--day, time, camera and alarm--provide instant access to stored video. Recorders can capture video associated with events and transactions. In addition, integrated video motion can create efficient use of disk space by recording video only during select periods of activity. The system also provides Web-based remote capabilities.
Q. What about mobile video?
A. The mobile video manager supports up to four cameras, is compatible with both narrow and wideband networks and provides simultaneous video recording and playback on all channels. The communicator provides remote PTZ camera control and event driven recording, including pre- and post-alarm, and video motion detection. The unit is high-shock and vibration resistant for the most challenging of mobile applications. The hard disk is removable for control room viewing. A GPS module also is available.
Video captured can be sent via cellular, wireless, mesh or LAN/WAN networks to alert security personnel quickly, from multiple locales, using mobile phones, PDAs and/or PCs.