TransCore Access Control System First to Successfully Combine Biometrics and RFID

The heart of the system is TransCore’s SmartWatch SecurePass™ software, a robust application capable of utilizing data gathered from vehicle-mounted RFID transponders, and biometric devices, proximity cards, badges and other forms of identification. For initial testing with the U.S. military, TransCore combined its own RFID technology with the Privaris BPID™ Security Device, a wireless, handheld device that uses fingerprints to biometrically authenticate its user prior to releasing sensitive or confidential information. System pricing will depend on the configuration of particular installations, including the number of lanes, number of access and exit gates, number of vehicles and users registered in the system, and other factors.

SecurePass System Functions

In automated “assist” mode, SecurePass can identify pre-screened and registered vehicles and users and grant facility access without input from a guard, though guards may monitor all activity from a computer screen and incorporate override gates, alarms and lane controls if necessary. In this mode, the system continuously monitors arrivals, grants or denies access, opens and closes gates, and provides real-time activity data and a number of automatically generated reports.

For situations requiring higher security, “control” mode provides a Windows®-based user interface to help guards perform access inspections. When a registered user and vehicle approach, the system reads the vehicle’s RFID tag and recognizes the registered user after their successful biometric authentication. The system then automatically displays pre-entered matching data on the guard’s computer monitor, such as vehicle information, the user’s photograph and status such as military rank, and more. The guard uses this information to perform a visual verification of the car and driver before granting or denying access.

One of the system’s fundamental benefits is that higher-risk, non-registered drivers and vehicles are isolated from everyday authorized users to ensure a more thorough security check. Depending on the situation, TransCore’s system can be customized with a number of alarms and contingency actions to handle invalid RFID tags, failed biometric authentications, illegal entries, loitering in the lane, gate crashes, and other risk scenarios.

About the Privaris Wireless Biometric Device

The Privaris BPID™ Security Device is a patented, wireless, handheld, battery-operated, device that uses fingerprint biometrics to positively identify itself and its registered user. Various models of the device enable secure solutions for facility access, PC and network access, cryptographic services, identity document delivery, and authenticated contactless payment. The BPID™ Security Device’s unique features enable it to provide significantly enhanced security while protecting an individual’s personal privacy. All fingerprint sensing, encoding, matching, and template storage is done on the device. The fingerprint template never leaves the device, so a centralized biometric database is not required. Credentials stored on the device are only released upon a successful biometric authentication of the registered user. The device supports two-way encrypted communications and employs industry standard communication protocols, including combinations of low frequency RFID (125 KHz), high frequency RFID (13.56 MHz, ISO 14443/15693), Bluetooth™, IEEE 802.15.4, and custom RF channels.

About TransCore

TransCore is a transportation services company with 1,800 employees and 80 locations. With installations in 41 countries, more than 100 patents and pioneering applications of RFID, GPS and satellite communications technologies, TransCore's technical expertise is unparalleled in the markets it serves. TransCore’s 60-year heritage spans the development of RFID at Los Alamos National Labs to implementation of the first electronic toll system in the United States to establishing North America’s first freight matching network. For more information, visit www.transcore.com.