Access points creation and configuration

In this article, we will show you how to create an Access Point on Connect&GO's Back-office. 

What is an Access Point?

An access point is the location in which the client will scan their RFID wristband or barcode. An access point can be an entry point, exit point, and/or a token/addon point. For example, between zones Main Area and the VIP Lounge, you may have an entry access point called 'IN VIP Lounge.' Or at the entrance of an activation (a water slide), you may have a token/addon access point called 'Water Slide 5 Tokens' that requires 5 tokens/addons to be eligible to use the activation.

As well, you can have one access point for more than one gate, depending on how many entrances you have for one area. For example, if there are two entrances to go into the VIP Lounge zone, then you can have two gates called 'Entry 1 VIP Lounge' and 'Entry 2 VIP Lounge,' both using 'IN VIP Lounge' access point. 

PART 1: Prerequisites

Prior to creating and configuring an access point, you may want to create the following:

1. The zones that are to be mapped. These are not mandatory, but it also depends on the purpose of the access point (tracking entries vs tracking tokens/addons).
2. The access points (display) configuration, if applicable. This is necessary to create if your access point is displayed on a tablet/screen.
3. The accepted ticket type that the access point will allow. 
4. The addons, if applicable. Addons can also be used as added access. For example, clients have access to the main venue, but the VIP clients will have an addon to grant them access to the VIP lounge. The addon will be removed once they have entered the lounge.
5. The users that will have permission to log into the access point to run it. This helps control which staff was managing the access point during a days operation.

PART 2: How to create an Access Point

1. On the left side column, under Configuration click Access Points.
2. On the top, right side of the table, click Create Access Point.
3. Fill out fields:
   1. Name of the access point. As used in the example above, it can be 'IN VIP Lounge,'  'OUT VIP Lounge' or 'Water Slide 5 Tokens.' All depends on the purpose of the access point.
   2. Name internationalization. This is the translated name if you are supporting more than one language. 
   3. The 'From' zone, if applicable.
   4. The 'To' zone, if applicable.
   5. Validation type in (to, from, both or none).
      1. Validation to means that the access point will only validate that the client has permission to enter the zone they are going to.
      2. Validation from means that the access point will only validate that the client has permission to enter the next zone based on the zone they are coming from.
      3. Validation both means that the access point will validate which zone the client is coming from and which zone they are going to.
      4. Validation none means the access point will not need to validate the client into the zone they are coming from or going to.
   6. Validation type out (both, from, to or none).
   7. Update zone current can be left off or turned on. When this field is turned on, the access point will update the wallet's zone to the new zone it is being scanned into. That way, if a client scans the same access point twice, the access point will read 'already in zone'. If this field remains off and a client scans the access point twice, the access point will continue to grant access to the client.
   8. Kill switch (No, Global, UID) is used to bypass the scan validation (in case of emergency).
   9. The configuration (access point display) that you configured for this access point(s), if applicable. 
      
4. Once finished, click Create Access Point at the bottom, right side of the table. 

PART 3: How to view and complete an Access Point configuration

1. Once the access point hasbeen created, click on the VIEW (Eyeball) icon on the right side of the access point you just created.
2. Now, on the top menu, you can configure fields in the following tabs:
   1. The Ticket Type tab will allow you to choose a specific validity that has already been created and configured. If every client has access to a zone, then you can leave it blank and fill in the start and end dates and times that the access point will be valid for. Depending on your requirements, you may want to leave a lot of time between the start and end date/time if your installation is open to clients for the majority of the year. Or if it is more specific to the validity, then the start and end date/time can reflect that.
   2. The Addons tab will allow you to choose addons that are required by the client when they scan at the access point. When configuring this, you will also have to add the quantity of addons as well as the validity of it. This is important in case the validity of the addon is more restricted than the total access. If not, then you can create a validity that represents the addon validity.

PART 4: How to edit an existing Access Point

Click on the EDIT (Pen + Paper) icon on the right side of the access point you created to edit it. When viewing the access point (VIEW (Eyeball)) as well, you can also find shortcuts to edit the configurations.