ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM WITH SYMBOL RECOGNITION

A video camera is located at a secure access point and is connected to a computer network. The camera is used as a conventional security camera and also provides automated assistance with access control. When an identity badge is presented to the camera by a person requesting access to the facility, a computer that is monitoring the camera recognizes a bar code or other symbols on the badge and accesses a database to locate information associated with that identity badge. This information is then used to determine if the person should be granted access.