BuildingMINDER solves key management nightmare

Key management problems solved: breakthrough development turns any authorised mobile phone into a key

SeeFar, formed 2 years ago to exploit the integration of building systems using internet technology, has announced a powerful development of its advanced BuildingMINDER hosted security and building management solution.

By exploiting the ubiquity of the mobile phone, facility managers and security professionals can now easily and cost-effectively solve key-management problems.

BuildingMINDER adapts to almost any door, gate or barrier whether for a building, plant room, remote site, car park, construction site or other facility where access must be controlled.

"By eliminating the need for keys or access control cards a major issue of managing who can go where and when is resolved", said Peter Manolescue, SeeFar's Sales and Marketing Director.

He continues, "As any facility or operations manager with wide responsibilities knows, keys are always in the wrong place at the wrong time; and they often go missing which causes expensive and inconvenient lock replacement".

Once fitted, BuildingMINDER controls the door or gate, allowing entrance only to those visitors whose phone numbers are stored in its memory.

On arrival, the visitor dials the number assigned to the door controller.

The controller reads the caller ID of the calling phone then drops the line without incurring any phone cost for the visitor.

Then it checks the calling number against its database.

If the number is valid and the requested time of entry is within permitted hours, the electric door lock is powered and the visitor enters.

All transactions are automatically logged in the controller (including the phone numbers of visitors refused entry).

These are sent back over the GSM/GPRS network to the BuildingMINDER hosted service centre.

Users can receive regular reports or make ad-hoc enquiries about system usage.

Alarms and alerts can be sent to pre-arranged recipients via SMS or e-mail.

If required, doors may be opened remotely via the wireless network.

The controller is managed via any standard web browser from an internet-connected computer.

The list of authorised visitors and their phone numbers can be updated at any time.

Once confirmed the service centre automatically updates all the relevant controllers.

All reports are also browser-based.

"The initial reaction from key industries across all sectors has been very positive," said Peter.

"BuildingMINDER has solved a persistent and time-consuming problem in an elegant and cost-effective manner".

"We are getting great interest, especially for unmanned and geographically dispersed sites requiring visits from varied trades and at irregular times".

SeeFar plans to expand the range of services for dispersed sites by offering CCTV and intrusion detection with remote monitoring and control of variables such as temperature, gas concentrations, water levels and energy consumption.

Back to top