Secura Key
Client > Secura Key
The Challenge: Help Secura Key upgrade its access control panel system to offer both wired and wireless remote management.
The Solution: Embed either the Lantronix XPort® or WiPort® within a plug-in module for the access control panel to affordably offer network connectivity as a standard feature.
The Result: Secura Key’s new SK-ACP Advanced Control Panel helps customers maintain a high level of security while saving on installation and wiring costs by leveraging their existing local area network.
“Working with Lantronix, we easily saved six months in development time. Lantronix made it simple to network connect our product.” Randy Watkins, Vice President, Technology, Secura Key
The Challenge: Opening the Door to Network Connectivity
Secura Key has been in the business of manufacturing access control and radio-frequency identification (RFID) products for over 35 years. They offer a complete line of access control products ranging from single-door, highly intelligent stand-alone systems to complete multi-door, online PC-based systems. Secura Key also manufactures a full line of RFID products that comply with ISO standards including 15693 and 14443.
Several years ago, Secura Key developed the SK-ACP, an access control panel for entry/exit management for industrial-grade usage, including office buildings, parking lots, hospitals and other areas in which security is a priority. The control panel has inputs for two card readers and output relays to control door locking devices or gate operators. The panel maintains a database of card holders and access schedules, allowing it to deny or grant access to cardholders based on their access privileges.
On the advice of Symmetry Electronics, a longtime distributor of Lantronix products, Secura Key adapted the initial version of the SK-ACP access panel to interface to a local area network via Ethernet using the Lantronix UDS1100 external device server. While the single-port UDS1100 was a quick, simple and relatively inexpensive way to bring the advantages of network connectivity to the access control system, for the updated version of its control panel, Secura Key wanted to offer an embedded networking capability.
The Solution: Lantronix Unlocks the Key to Both Wired and Wireless Connectivity
Secura Key initially redesigned the SK-ACP Advanced Control Panel to communicate with, and provide power to, two new network modules. Then, with Lantronix field engineers providing guidance, Secura Key designed the two modules, which incorporate either the Lantronix XPort, to allow wired connectivity, or the WiPort, to provide wireless connectivity. Both of these low-cost networking modules take the complexity out of RF design and embedded Ethernet networking, enabling Secura Key engineers to focus on their core competency of designing security products.
By building the Lantronix XPort and WiPort into a plug-in module, Secura Key eliminated the requirement for a separate power supply, separate mounting of the UDS1100, and cabling between the UDS1100 and the ACP, resulting in lower installation and purchase cost for its dealers. Secura Key’s previous system architecture used the TCP/IP connection as a gateway to connect the host system software to access control panels on an RS-485 network at each location. The software was upgraded to allow every access control panel in a location to be on the network. By changing the system topology, and by offering low cost network connectivity as a standard feature for the new SK-ACP, Secura Key can now compete more effectively in the security market, where network compatibility has become the industry standard.
The Results: Secura Key Grants Access to Superior End-Customer Benefits
The SK-ACP Advanced Control Panel is currently being sold to both current customers, as an upgrade, as well as to new customers, who require high security and remote network connectivity. The highly secure system allows Secura Key customers to save significantly on their insurance costs, to reduce losses due to theft, and to eliminate the expense of rekeying buildings due to the loss of keys.
Secura Key wrote its own intuitive software wizard to allow integration into a full featured Windows-based access control system. Says Randy Watkins, Secura Key’s Vice President of Technology, “Lantronix gave us the ability to incorporate our own look and feel based on how our customers use the product. It’s basically ‘plug and play’ right out of the box.” Going forward, Watkins expects to work with both Symmetry Electronics and Lantronix as the company develops future versions of the SK-ACP as well as other products.
About Secura Key
Since 1971, Secura Key has been providing products for electronic access control and RadioFrequency Identification (RFID) with an emphasis on quality, security and value. Secura Key products are known internationally for their reliability, simplicity of operation, ease of installation and ability to withstand harsh weather and extreme temperatures. More recently, Secura Key has emerged as a leading manufacturer of RFID products for security, asset management and automatic data collection applications.
Visit www.securakey.com for more information.