Integration of existing Paxton technology with modern network solutions

In the newly constructed building of the Dr. Ott fertility clinic in Ludwigsburg, the challenge was to upgrade an outdated but proven Paxton access control system with modern technology. The aim was to implement a flexible, centrally manageable and fail-safe access control and intercom system that would meet the requirements of a multi-user building as well as the highest security and communication standards. The combination of modern Paxton hardware, powerful network technology and precisely coordinated audio/video management resulted in a high-performance overall solution that reliably and efficiently supports all user groups.

The Dr. Ott Fertility Clinic in Ludwigsburg offers medical support for couples who are unable to conceive. It offers various diagnostic and therapeutic methods of reproductive medicine, including hormone treatments, insemination and procedures such as IVF and ICSI. An interdisciplinary team of doctors and specialists accompanies the process, based on the latest scientific findings and the highest technical standards.

Requirements

For access control in the new building, the existing 15-year-old Paxton system must be taken over and expanded with new Paxton controllers. The system should enable centralised management of access rights for different user groups such as tenants, employees and visitors. Flexible customisation options for individual access times and authorisations are also required. The security of the system must be ensured through encrypted data transmission and high reliability.

As the building is used by several tenants, a flexible intercom system with a concierge function is required. This must enable central control of access and ensure direct communication between visitors and the respective tenants. The system should be flexibly configurable to meet the different requirements of the tenants and support efficient management of visitor flows.

Specific network requirements must also be met to ensure the smooth operation of the access control and intercom system. PoE (Power over Ethernet) management must be integrated to reliably supply the connected devices with power and enable central control. The network must support the latest security features. Stable and high-performance distribution of audio and video data without jerkiness and with absolute lip synchronisation is particularly important.

Solution

Paxton products, which are characterised by their long-term backward compatibility, were used for access control and intercom systems in the new building. This allowed the existing 15-year-old Paxton system to be seamlessly integrated and expanded with modern Paxton controllers. This combination enables centralised management of access rights for tenants, employees and visitors, as well as flexible adjustment of access times and authorisations without having to abandon existing structures.

Touch intercoms with tenant images were used in the outdoor area to ensure intuitive operation and quick identification of parties. The particularly compact P38 readers, with a width of only 3.8 cm, were installed on the thin-frame doors to enable space-saving and unobtrusive integration.

The network was implemented with switches from Barox, which offer PoE management for reliable power supply to all components. To ensure high reliability, the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) was also implemented to avoid network loops and maximise system stability. This network technology ensures that alternative routes are automatically used in the event of a network path failure without impairing the functionality of the system.

Thanks to a perfectly coordinated Quality of Service (QoS) system, audio and video are distributed smoothly and with perfect lip synchronisation. The optimised QoS ensures that audio and video traffic is prioritised, enabling stable and delay-free communication between visitors and tenants. At the same time, the QoS system ensures that other data streams do not interfere with real-time audio and video streaming, guaranteeing consistently high communication quality.

Result

The combination of proven Paxton technology, modern network components and optimised audio and video quality ensures a powerful and fail-safe solution. The integration of PoE management and Spanning Tree Protocol guarantees high stability and availability. The flexible intercom system and intelligent access control provide a future-proof infrastructure that meets the needs of a modern building.