Borer’s CAN Reader Redefines The Access Control Landscape

April 2002

Borer Data Systems has announced a major technological breakthrough in access control that achieves unparalleled system performance gains. Addressing the rapidly changing critical security needs that drive commercial
organisations, Borer has unveiled the CAN Reader – a blueprint for a new generation of access control hardware.

“Surprisingly, in an industry which relies so heavily on technology, the fundamental architecture of an access control system has not changed for 20 years - until now that is,” says Robert Chapman, Managing Director of Borer. “Current generations of door access control systems are based on a card reader head with a Wiegand or Magnetic stripe interface connected to a separate control panel and power supply. CAN technology has enabled Borer to produce a proximity card access reader / controller which is faster, smaller, cheaper and far more flexible than competitive systems.

CAN (Controller Area Network), which is an ISO standard (ISO 11898) for serial data communication was originally developed for automotive applications. Today CAN is widely used in many automation and control systems because it offers reliable, high-speed data transmission.

The Borer CAN system has the many features to make installation quick and easy. The use of ’Plug and Play’ technology ensures devices can be installed onto a Borer CAN network without special programming and with the minimum of fuss. Different devices (door access readers, attendance terminals, alarm monitors) can be connected on one CAN network configured in either a star or daisy chain topology.
Unlike conventional solutions, any one device on a network can talk to any other device so a device monitoring a fire panel can force all doors to open, without the intervention of the controlling PC, when a fire alarm is reported. All devices have local intelligence so that a system can continue to function even when the controlling PC is disconnected.

With data transmission rates of up to 1Mbit/s the Borer CAN network is up to 100 times faster than traditional solutions. For example a card access transaction is processed in 4 thousandths of a second in contrast to the industry norm of a quarter of a second. Fast communications provide a high degree of system flexibility and allow for even the biggest of projects to be undertaken.

The Borer CAN Reader has been developed to enhance security and prevent possible cloning of proximity card. When a user presents a card to the CAN Reader there follows a two-way ‘mutual authentication’ procedure that validates both card and card reader. No exchange of data can take place - and the card will not divulge its information - until both card and reader are authenticated.

Borer’s CAN network based system is designed and manufactured in the UK. Borer Data Systems has developed the Borer CAN network using the latest chip technology and communications standards, applying experience gained in over 25 years of providing security solutions. Having successfully run trial systems over 3 years in real world applications, CAN has been proven to provide affordable and reliable solutions with the flexibility required for demanding corporate security applications.

Borer Data Systems is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers in the specialist field of access control, attendance management and data collection systems. The company specialises in providing “Enterprise Wide” solutions that can be deployed across an existing corporate IP network to link satellite offices into one integrated security information system. Borer offer a fully integrated approach employing a range of custom-designed card readers and computer software to provide features such as access control, alarm monitoring and attendance management in the same system.