Using Read-a-Card for RFID and door access card enrollment

Most contactless ID and door access systems use radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology to store and transmit a unique card-holder identity code from their card to a reader mounted on the wall. Popular high-frequency 13.56MHz RFID technologies used in this market include Mifare, iClass and FeliCa, while older systems use various low-frequency 125KHz technologies including HID Prox.

The process of adding a user to a system, also known as enrollment, usually involves entering all of the user's personal data at the point of card activation, or calling up an existing database record for that user, and adding their card details. This will 'tie' the user to a specific pre-programmed card ID and will typically enable the card for use at the door within a short period of time.

In some cases, the card may also be printed with the user's photo and other identity information, while other data, such as PKI-based digital certificates, may also be generated and loaded onto a chip for logical access (e.g. Windows PC logon) purposes.

Crucially, many PC-based systems used for enrollment do not have the built-in ability to read ID data from a card using a general purpose USB desktop smart card reader. Some systems use a 'Weigand converter' to enable a standard wall-mounted door reader to be connected to a PC, but this is not ideal, since these readers are usually expensive and require separate power supplies and mounting panels. Alternatively, some systems require the operator to 'swipe' the card past a nearby door reader, and then look up the ID using the access system logs before it can be stored against the user's record.

Read-a-Card provides a perfect solution to this problem. It enables quick and easy card ID reading on a PC, using low-cost desktop readers from a wide range of suppliers. It can read multiple card types, technologies and data formats, and therefore provides future-proofing against the introduction of different card technologies and systems.