Controlling access with XProtect Access

If your organization has integrated at least one access control system with your XProtect VMS through the XProtect Access extension, you can:

monitor doors.
control door states.
investigate access control events.
respond to access requests.
manage cardholder information.

Access control in live mode

In live mode, you can view live video from the cameras associated with access control sources, together with the list of events on the right-hand side of the video.

When you click any of the events in the list, the live video automatically pauses and changes to independent playback of the event. To go back to viewing live video, either click the event again or click the Independent playback icon on the camera toolbar.

If the system and the event hold information about cardholders, you can click the search icon next to the cardholder name on a selected event to jump to the Access control tab and view all events associated with the cardholder.

Monitor doors on maps

If your organization uses the map functionality to support your surveillance and access control tasks, you can add access control units to a map:

In setup mode, expand the System overview pane.
Select Map from the list and drag it to a view item.
Locate the map file and click OK.
From the map toolbox that is displayed, click Add access control.
In the list that is shown, drag the relevant access control unit, for example a door, onto the map. A door icon is displayed on the map.
Click Setup to change to live viewing, then right-click the door icon to, for example, trigger commands.

You can unlock the door from a command button on the access request notification or on the map itself. When you have granted access, the door icon turns green and is displayed as an open door.

When the door is locked again, automatically or manually, the door icon turns red and is displayed as a closed door.

Because the current status of each access control unit is always displayed, the map provides a fast, graphical overview of their status across the area or building you're monitoring.

Investigating access control events

Search and filter access control events

You can filter the event list in multiple ways to display only the data you need. Any filters you apply are immediately reflected in the event list.

On the Access control tab, select Events list.
Click any of the filters at the top of the list and specify the criteria or right-click a specific time, event, source, or cardholder A person that possesses a card that is recognizable to an access control system and gives access to one or more areas, buildings or similar. See also access control. within the list and filter using that value.

You can filter on:

Events list	Description
Time	Select a time range to view data for that specific duration. For example, click Today to see only events that took place today or use the custom interval to specify a particular duration. If you select Live update, the list of events is updated right away if new events occur that meet the filter criterion. The list displays maximum 100 events. You cannot search for cardholders when you work in live update mode.
Event	Select at least one available event type from the list of event categories and uncategorized events, or choose from specific access control events.
Source	Select one or more of the available sources directly from the list of doors or select between other sources to view only events for those units. Other sources can be access points or controllers from the access control system.
Access Control System	If your XProtect system has integrated with multiple access control systems, select the specific access control system integration you want to view events from.
Cardholder	Select one or more of the available cardholders.

The Events list

On the Access control tab, when you select an event, a preview with the related video sequence is displayed on the right. The preview camera’s title bar shows the camera linked to the unit that triggered the event.

If you have multiple cameras associated with a door, they all appear in the preview.
Default playback options are available from the toolbar.
Related cardholder information is displayed below the video preview together with details about the selected event.
Click to view live video or play back recorded video in a detached window.

Export an access report

On the Access control tab, you can create and export a report of the event list to a PDF file when you are not in live update mode.

Filter or search for the events you want in the report. If the event count is high, refine your search to reduce the number of results.
Click the Access Report button, then fill out the fields. The report contains:
- Report name
- Report destination
- A list of the applied filters
- A comment field
- An option to include snapshots.
Click OK and wait until the report is complete.
In the top right corner, click Details and in the window that is displayed, click Open. The access report opens in PDF format.

Switch to or from the live update mode of the Events list

Instead of viewing live video of access control events in live mode, you work in live update mode on the Access control tab. The event list updates automatically when new events that meet the filter criteria occur.

On the Access control tab, select Events list.
In the drop-down list of the filter where you select a duration, select Live Update.
Next to the search field, notice that you have changed mode. The event list updates automatically when new events that meet the filter criteria occur. When you work in live update mode, you cannot search for cardholders and you cannot create an access report.
To switch back from the live update mode, filter on a new duration.

Monitor and control door states

The Doors list provides a list of the doors, access points, and other access control units in each access control system, plus their current state. The list can be useful if need to know the state of a specific door or similar.

There are several ways you can filter the doors list to display the data you're interested in. Any filters you apply are immediately reflected in the list.

On the Access control tab, select Doors list.
Click any of the filters at the top of the list and specify the criteria.
You can combine the filters or enter your criteria in the search field to search for doors or right-click a door or a state within the list and filter using that value.

What can you filter on?

Doors list	Description
Name	Select one or more of the available doors, access points and uncategorized types or select between other access control units to view only states of those selected.
Access Control System	If your XProtect system integrates with multiple access control systems, select from which access control system you want to view doors.
State	Select one or more of the available states directly from the list of state categories and uncategorized states or select between specific access control states.

Another way that you can monitor the door states for your surveillance area is by Monitor doors on maps.

The doors list

On the Access control tab, when you select a door in the Doors list, the associated camera shows live video on the right-hand side of the screen together with detailed information.

If you have multiple cameras associated with a door, they all appear in the preview
Default independent playback options are available from the toolbar
Action buttons allow you to perform certain commands related to that door, for example lock/unlock door. Available commands depend on your system configuration
Information related to the selected door appears below the live video preview
Click to view live video or play back recorded video in a detached window

Investigate cardholders

The Cardholders list is a list of the cardholders in each integrated access control system and their details which you can access to get more information about a cardholder.

There are several ways you can filter the cardholders list, so it displays the data that you are interested in.

On the Access control tab, select Cardholders list.
Click the filter at the top of the list to specify the access control system you want to investigate cardholders from. You can only work with one access control system at a time.
Combine the filters or enter your criteria in the search field to search for cardholders. Alternatively, you can right-click a cardholder or a type within the list and set the filter using that value.

Any filters you apply are immediately reflected in the list.

Available filters

Cardholders list	Description
Name	Select one of the available cardholders to view detailed information about this person.
Type	Select one of the available cardholder types to view the list of cardholders with this type.

When you select a cardholder, detailed information about that cardholder is disoplayed on the right-hand side of the screen. An image of the cardholder and a link to manage the cardholder's record might also be shown.

Accessing request notifications

If your organization has decided that only security personnel can open the doors for people wanting to enter a door, you might receive access request notifications when someone attempts to enter such an area.

You must specify all conditions that trigger an access request notification in XProtect. The notification displays live video related to the access request, allowing you to see the person requesting access.

The name of the door that should open is shown as a headline, indicating, for example, Access Request - Front door. The door state (for example open, closed, or forced open) is also displayed. If you have multiple cameras associated with a door, they are displayed below each other.

Access request notifications are temporary. When you close an access request notification, the notification is no longer present in your system. If you close XProtect Smart Client while an access request notification is shown, the notification is not restored when you restart.

Managing access request notifications

When XProtect Smart Client is running, access request notifications are displayed on your screen even when you work in other applications.

Click if you want to view the live video in a detached window.

Access requests stack up on each other in the access request notification window so that you can handle all incoming access request notifications from the same notification window. You can drag a notification to the other side of the screen or even to another connected screen.

If you need to, you can minimize the access request notification window to allow it to continue in the background. The XProtect Smart Client icon blinks in the taskbar when you have new notifications.

Respond to access requests

If your VMS Short for "Video Management Software". system supports two-way audio and if a speaker and microphone is attached to the relevant camera that shows the access request notification, access request notifications enable you to speak and listen to people who want to enter:

To listen to what the person requesting access is saying, click the button.
To speak to the person requesting access, for example, to give instructions on how to proceed or behave in the area, click and hold the button.
To carry out other actions, use the command buttons to the right of the microphone and speaker buttons. The most typical action is to unlock a door for a person requesting access, but it could also be to turn on the lights in the area close to the relevant entry.

Cardholder information might be available if your access control A security system that controls the entering of persons, vehicles, or others into a building or area. system provides such information to the XProtect system. Examples of cardholder information include the cardholder's ID number, name, department, phone number, and authority level. Depending on your system configuration, you might be able to manage cardholder information (see Manage cardholder information).