Axcess, Tyco Integrate Event-Driven RFID into Access Control Systems

June 23, 2006

Axcess International Inc. and Tyco Fire & Security announced a partnership that integrates Axcess ActiveTag radio frequency identification (RFID) solutions into the Tyco Fire & Security suite of Software House and Kantech access control solutions.

The partnership provides capabilities of tracking, protecting and monitoring personnel, assets and vehicles using Axcess' semi-active, on-demand RFID system's control-point architecture, which allows RFID tag reads to act as triggers for automated alerts. These alerts can be displayed on the command console in real-time and tied to video recording for verification of events.

The RFID solution uses long-range semi-active credential, asset and vehicle RFID tags to track and monitor personnel and assets as they move hands-free throughout a facility without requiring employees to interact with the system. The RFID tags can be activated on-demand at doors, gates and virtual zones called control points to provide location and direction of movement of the person or asset being tracked. Also, live video can be linked to tag events to facilitate response of security personnel to specific events, with the appropriate response to the event.

"We have demonstrated this complete solution to a number of industry executives ranging from school administrators to petroleum refineries operations managers and have had an overwhelmingly positive response to this event-driven security system," said Chuck Hutzler, senior director of product management for Tyco Fire & Security’s Access Control and Video Systems. "This system frees up time for security personnel to confidently attend to other duties knowing that an automated alarm will be triggered in the event of a security breach."

Axcess' ActiveTag RFID systems use small, low-cost battery powered tags, called active or semi-active tags that when automatically activated, transmit a wireless message 30 to 100 feet to hidden palm size receivers. The receivers are connected simultaneously via a standard network to the enterprise system software, the existing security alarm equipment and stand-alone management software.

The Axcess OnlineSupervisor software platform provides:

• Real time location displays.
• Automatic inventory counts.
• Custom reports.
• Alerts based on programmable rule-base conditions including automatic e-mail alerting and paging for rapid response.

The tags are used for productivity applications including:

• Automatic personnel access control and tracking.
• Automatic vehicle access control and payload management.
• Real-time location determination.
• Automatic asset management and protection.
• Special purpose sensing.

Source: Axcess Inc.