Avigilon Alta access control offers the ability to leverage your mobile phone as your credential to unlock an entrance via our reader. We do this using our patented, Triple Unlock technology that leverages Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, and LTE simultaneously to send three signals from the phone to the reader. The three signals are pitted against each other and the first one to arrive unlocks the door; the other two are discarded.
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When a credentialed user approaches the reader and enters the overlapping Bluetooth range of both the phone and the reader, the reader makes a handshake with the mobile phone (in listening mode), which allows the connection to be sustained. The reader waits for a trigger event to activate the unlock process. The trigger event could be a hand wave in front of the reader, touching the reader, or pressing the unlock button on the phone app.
In addition to mobile, Avigilon Alta also supports other credential formats for unlocking entrances via the reader: physical cards/badges, physical key fobs, as well as the option to enter a keycode (on the keypad reader only.)
Given all of the different access capabilities and the underlying technologies they rely on, there are optimal reader and mobile app settings, as well as installation and environmental considerations to ensure a reliable unlock experience.
The purpose of this document is to review the various factors that may affect the unlock experience and provide guidance on what you as a customer or installer should consider when architecting your Avigilon Alta access control deployment.
Mobile Device Considerations
A variety of factors can affect a device’s compatibility as well as performance when used as a mobile credential. These include, among other things, the type of phone, settings, configurations, and current state. The below section will cover requirements and considerations that should be taken into account when exploring mobile credentials.
Basic compatibility requirements
Mobile credentials can be used with Android or iOS devices, and the smartphone must be running a version of the OS that is supported by the approved app, available in the Apple App Store, and the Google Play Store (please refer to the guidance in the App store to see the current supported OS versions). The device must also have LTE, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth capabilities.
Configuration and current state
In order to use one’s phone as a credential, it must be powered on. If it has zero battery or is powered off, one should not have the expectation that the phone can be used to unlock an entry via the Avigilon Alta Access control system. Secondly, the Alta access application must be installed on the phone for unlock to work. In addition to having the app installed, the user must be issued a credential by the administrator, and the credential must be provisioned on the App installed on the phone. Third, the phone must have Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and/or LTE capabilities turned on, and the app must be given explicit permission to use Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and/or LTE capabilities when installing the app. Without these radios enabled and permissions granted, the phone will not be able to be used as a mobile credential. For example, if a user has their phone in airplane mode with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and LTE disabled, their phone will not be able to send out a signal to the reader.
Note that there is a function called “Visitor Pass” which can be issued one-off to allow guests access to a reader through their mobile device. The user is sent a web link to click on their device via the browser running on the smartphone (this assumes access to the internet) that allows them to use a reader to unlock an entrance by sending a command over the internet.
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