New Haven, CT - PERSONA, the leading campus stand alone locking solution, has completed an interface which integrates to the Blackboard Transaction System, a key component of the Blackboard Commerce Suite. PERSONA’S new interface utilizes Blackboard’s Building Blocks, a comprehensive data and transaction integration tool, to link essential user information to the PERSONA locking solution.

The interface provides new functionality, reliability and fewer databases for existing Blackboard/PERSONA clients to manage. By eliminating the need for campuses to maintain separate databases, data accuracy can be dramatically improved. Changes to data brought about by enrollment or other status changes can be easily communicated to all systems with greater speed.

The software interface enables PERSONA’s offline access control products-commonly used in residence halls, common areas, and classrooms-to be seamlessly integrated into connected databases and the campus transaction system card management process. With an integrated system, every ID card is automatically encoded with access control privileges recognized by the PERSONA lockset and all on-line systems associated with the Blackboard Transaction System. All normal interactions with the offline lock system are handled through data exchange between systems linked through Blackboard Building Blocks. Manual operations within the offline lock system are communicated back to card production as well.

The compatible software platform provides convenience for both campus administrators and students; campus personnel will spend less time maintaining data, while students will be able to access buildings, rooms, meal plans, vending machines, POS systems and other verified systems with a single card. Persona’s “offline” or stand alone locks complement Blackboard’s “online” solution for hardwired locks frequently used by campuses to manage external door access. The integrated software is compatible with all Blackboard Transaction System Editions including the newly released Blackboard Transaction System - Universal Edition.

“Linking our software systems provides the higher education marketplace the benefit of not only having a one-card system, but also more importantly, a single database system for issuing and maintaining the cards,” said Angelo Faenza, PERSONA General Manager. “Our stand alone locking solution coupled with Blackboard’s Transaction System will simplify life for campus administrators and students.”

The interface was facilitated by PERSONA’s status as a partner in the Blackboard Building Blocks program which allows third parties to interface with the Blackboard Academic and the Blackboard Commerce Suite. The Blackboard Transaction System is used at hundreds of schools throughout North America

A successful beta test of the integrated PERSONA and Blackboard system was completed at the University of Pittsburgh (Windowsr) and is now being implemented at Tulane University (UNIXr) in New Orleans.

About PERSONA PERSONA develops and markets advanced electronic access locking systems for medium sized to large campuses. PERSONA, under the auspices of the VingCard Group, introduced its first lock for educational campuses in 1995, focusing on dorm applications. The PERSONA stand alone access application is based on VingCard’s 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry. PERSONA is now focused on the university and campus market, while VingCard remains committed to the hospitality market. Both PERSONA and VingCard are part of the ASSA ABLOY group. For more information, visit www.personacampus.com.

ASSA ABLOY is the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of locking solutions, meeting tough end-user demands for safety, security and user friendliness. The Group has some 30,000 employees and annual sales of about EUR 3 billion.