Using low power radio to control a higher power communication interface

Abstract

An integrated access control system for wirelessly managing an access point comprises a wirelessly operable electronic door lock coupled to the access point, a computing device controlled and operated by a first user, and a multi-radio host device located at or adjacent to the access point, the host device being in communication with the electronic door lock and the computing device. Each of the computing device and the host device comprises a memory configured to store instructions to enable the device to wirelessly communicate with the electronic door lock and the other device, a processor configured to execute the instructions, a low power wireless communication radio, and a high power wireless communication radio, wherein the host device and computing device are selectively capable of bidirectional communication via each of a low power radio communication channel and a high power radio communication channel. The host device further comprises at least one mechanism for detecting and/or capturing the presence of a second user accessing the access point, and the computing device further comprises a display and a user interface. The host device is configured to send event and/or system notifications to the computing device and receive operational and/or configuration commands from the computing device via the low power radio communication channel, and the host device is further configured to selectively operate the host device high power wireless communication radio to transmit an image and/or video captured by the host device at least one mechanism to the computing device in response to a command from the computing device via the low power radio communication channel.