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Scanning IDs

Everything the door staff does happens in the PulseID scanner app on the phone.

The scan

  1. Open the scanner. Point the camera at the back of the ID — the PDF417 barcode.
  2. PulseID detects the barcode and, at the same moment, captures a still of the front of the card for the fake-ID cross-check.
  3. In about half a second you get a full-screen decision with a haptic buzz — green to admit, red to refuse.

The decision the bouncer acts on is computed on the phone from the barcode and your door policy, so it's instant even on a weak connection. The front-vs-back fake-ID comparison finishes a few seconds later and updates the result.

What the bouncer sees

  • A large decision banner (see Door Decisions) with the patron's age.
  • The front-of-ID photo that was captured.
  • The fake-ID verdict — whether the front matches the barcode, with a confidence level and any mismatched fields.
  • A flag alert if the patron is on your flag list, including the flag's face photo and reason.
  • A pass-back warning if the same ID was scanned within the last 15 minutes.

Capture modes

PulseID adapts to how your door works:

  • Full capture (default). Reads the barcode, captures the front photo, and runs OCR — the complete check.
  • Hardware scanner. On rugged handhelds (e.g. Zebra) the barcode comes from the device scanner for maximum speed; no front photo is taken.

If the connection drops

PulseID keeps working offline:

  • The barcode still parses and the door decision still runs locally.
  • A recent copy of your flag list is cached on the device, so bans and trespasses still catch.
  • Scans that couldn't upload are queued on the phone and sync automatically when the connection returns (or tap Sync). Nothing is lost.

→ Next: Door Decisions explains each outcome.