BlueView Software Architecture 

The BlueView access control software is used for the administration, monitoring and operation of the system using Windows PCs. The software uses a common, central Microsoft SQL database located on the network. 

System Overview

A BlueWave access control system consists of NetGen door controllers and the BlueView access control software. At each door with a NetGen door controller, the NetGen controller is installed to physically open the electronic lock, monitor the door sensor and read user credentials using an attached card reader or pin pad. The BlueView access control software is used to configure, administer and monitor the NetGen door controllers through an Ethernet or Wi-Fi network. 

MODULES 

There are three main components of the application: 

BlueView Windows Application: The administration module is used to configure and manage people, groups, shifts (time zones), badges, special events and reports. 

Microsoft SQL Express Database: A Microsoft SQL Server Express database is used to store all BlueWave information 

Bluelink Network Service: The Bluelink Network Service, a Windows service, manages communication with the NetGen door controller at each door, sending updated access control lists to the door controllers and downloading audit events for storage in the central database. 

System Logins / Roles 

The BlueView software comes with three built-in access level logins: 

Full Administrator: The Administrator user has full administration rights to all features of the software 

Operations Administrator: The Operations user cannot change system configuration information, but can execute door operations 

Monitor Station: The Monitor user can only view the system overview screen to monitor door events as they occur 

In BlueView Professional and Enterprise editions, additional logins can be created using the Login Administration screen in BlueView. 

Tables 

There are seven main tables, or lists, stored in a central database used to configure the BlueView software: 

Sites: Sites are simply names used to organize and identify physical locations for this BlueWave system. Sites are typically used to identify a particular facility such as "San Diego Sales Office" or "Store 78290" or "Chemistry Building." There can be multiple Sites within a BlueWave system associated with the Company Name. Permissions can be granted on a Site basis. The system comes configured with a default Site named "My Site." 

Areas: Sites are subdivided into Areas. Areas are simply names used to organize specific groups of doors. Areas can be physical names such as "1st floor" or logical names such as "Chemistry Department." There can be multiple Areas within each site. Permissions can be granted on an Area basis. The system comes configured with a default Area named "My Area." 

Doors: Each door in the BlueWave system must be assigned to an Area. Each door must be given a name and a static IP address. Each door represents a NetGen door controller. Permissions can be granted on a Door basis. 

Card Holders: Card Holders are people in the BlueWave system that have been assigned a proximity card credential (facility code and badge number) or PIN credentials (facility code and PIN). Card Holders must be assigned to a group to become active in the system. 

Groups: A group is simply a name used to identify a group of people, such as Staff or Management or Janitorial. 

Shifts: Shifts, or time zones, are weekly or daily schedules used to limit access to certain time periods for each day of the week. Shifts can be applied to groups, or used to lock or unlock doors at specific times. The system comes configured with a default Shift named "24x7." 

Permissions: Groups and shifts are associated with specific sites, areas or doors to control who and at what times certain people can come and go through a given door or opening. 

Door Operation Modes 

The NetGen door controllers operate independently making decisions to admit a person even if the network is down. 

Enable: In normal enabled mode, audit events are uploaded to the central database on a regular basis. The BlueView software can be used in enable mode to send updated access control lists to the NetGen door controller and automatically upload audit events. NetGen door controllers can also control the door in real time using operation commands such as LockDown and UnLock. 

Disable: In disabled mode, the door controller operates in full Standalone mode. When the BlueView software is used to compile new permissions for the door, the new permissions will NOT be downloaded to the door controller. The software makes no attempt to communicate with the door controller until the Administrator is used to switch to an Enable mode. This mode is usually used when it is desirable to remove a door controller from service while retaining its configuration information. An example of this is when there is a hardware problem at the door that is preventing normal operations. 

Network Overview

Bluelink Network Service is the application that directly communicates with the door controllers. BlueLink Network Service writes significant events to the database. BlueView watches the database for new records. When it finds new records, it retrieves them and displays the information. When BlueView needs to send information to one of the door controllers, it does so by calling a remotable function in BlueLink Network Service. This service in turn processes the request and sends the relevant commands to the desired controller(s). 

Location of Software 

BlueView can be installed on the same machine as Microsoft SQL Server, or they can be installed on separate machines. If SQL Server is on a different machine than BlueView, it will need to be configured for remote access, as described below. 

Sharing the Database 

Microsoft SQL Server can be configured for remote access but the default installation does not allow this. Please consult the document Configuring BlueView for Remote Client Access in the BlueView Documentation directory for instructions on how to configure it to allow remote connections. You must always have a Server install of BlueView before you can add Client installations. Once you have the BlueView server installed and the SQL Server configured for remote access you can install client versions and configure them to communicate with the server install (subject to software licensing). Clients are installed using the same installation package used to install BlueView server.