Dual mode transmission in a controlled environment

• US 10,104,710 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2017
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Tel-Link Corporation
• Original Assignee: Global Tel-Link Corporation
• Inventors: Hodge, Stephen L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dean, Jr., Joseph
• Application Number:
  US15/626,953
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/086 using security domains
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/37 Managing security policies for mobile devices or for controlling mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/16 Involving different core network technologies, e.g. a packet-switched [PS] bearer in combination with a circuit-switched [CS] bearer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A dual-mode mobile device and a method for coordinating calls for the dual-mode mobile device over a first and second connection within a controlled environment is disclosed. The method includes communications between a monitoring server and the dual-mode mobile device over the first connection while the dual-mode mobile device conducts the call over the second connection. The monitoring server transmits control messages to the dual-mode mobile device to control operations of the dual-mode mobile device and establishment of the call and also monitors operations of the dual-mode mobile device as well as the communications transmitted and received by the dual-mode mobile device during the call.

Claims

1. A method, performed by a monitoring server, for providing dual-mode transmission functionality within a controlled environment, comprising:

receiving, over a first connection between the monitoring server and a mobile device within the controlled environment, from the mobile device, a first call request, wherein the first call request is a request for the mobile device to conduct a call over a second connection between the mobile device and an outside device located outside the controlled environment, the first call request including an identifier of an inmate associated with the mobile device;

determining, based on the identifier, whether to conduct the call over the first connection or the second connection, wherein the second connection is a cellular connection;

based on the determining, transmitting, over the first connection, an authorization message to the mobile device authorizing the call over the second connection wherein the authorization message is configured to cause the mobile device to transmit a second call request to establish the call over the second connection;

receiving, over the first connection, call data from the mobile device, wherein the call data includes data transmitted and received by the mobile device over the second connection during the call; and

monitoring the call data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first connection is a Wi-Fi connection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to conduct the call over the first connection or the second connection comprises:

retrieving an inmate profile associated with the identifier; and

allowing or permitting the call based on a rule in the inmate profile, wherein the rule includes at least one of a personal allowed number (PAN) list, a blacklist, a whitelist, and an administrative rule associated with the identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a streaming session over the first connection between the monitoring server and the mobile device, wherein the call data is received over the streaming session.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein monitoring the call data comprises monitoring the call data received over the streaming session, the method further comprising:

based on the monitoring the call data received over the streaming session, detecting a trigger condition based on the call data by comparing the call data with at least one administrative rule associated with the monitoring server.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

based on the detecting the trigger condition, generating a control message, wherein the control message includes an instruction for controlling the call; and

transmitting the control message over the first connection.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the instruction is configured to cause the mobile device to hand off the call from the second connection to the first connection.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, over the first connection, a client control application to the mobile device, wherein the client control application is configured to control transmission of the first call request and the second call request.

9. A dual-mode mobile device for operating within a controlled environment, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to;

transmitting, over a first connection between a monitoring server and the dual-mode mobile device, a first call request to the monitoring server, wherein the first call request is a request to conduct a call over a second connection between the dual-mode mobile device and an outside device located outside of the controlled environment, the first call request including an identifier of an inmate associated with the dual-mode mobile device;

receiving, over the first connection, an authorization message from the monitoring server;

based on the authorization message, transmitting a second call request to establish the call over the second connection;

establishing, over the second connection, the call;

establishing a streaming session with the monitoring server wherein the streaming session includes data transmitted by the dual-mode mobile device over the second connection during the call; and

transmitting, over the first connection, call data to the monitoring server, wherein the call data includes transmitted and received data over the second connection during the call.

10. The dual-mode mobile device of claim 9, wherein the first connection is a Wi-Fi connection.

11. The dual-mode mobile device of claim 9, wherein the streaming session is established over the second connection between the monitoring server and the dual-mode mobile device.

12. The dual-mode mobile device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive, over the first connection, a client control application to the dual-mode mobile device, wherein the client control application is configured to control transmission of the first call request and the second call request.

13. The dual-mode mobile device of claim 12, wherein the client control application is further configured to:

receive a file control policy from the monitoring server; and

create, by the client control application, a container in a file system of the dual-mode mobile device based at least on the file control policy, wherein the file control policy specifies at least one condition regarding execution of any application located within the container.

14. The dual-mode mobile device of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

allocate, by the client control application, at least one application to the container based on the file control policy.

15. The dual-mode mobile device of claim 12, wherein the client control application is further configured to:

transmit operation information to the monitoring server, wherein the operation information is associated with an action performed by the dual-mode mobile device.

16. A method, performed by a dual-mode mobile device operating within a controlled environment, comprising:

transmitting, over a first connection between the dual-mode mobile device and a monitoring server, a first call request to the monitoring server, wherein the first call request is a request to conduct a call over a second connection between the dual-mode mobile device and an outside device located outside of the controlled environment, the first call request including an identifier of an inmate associated with the dual-mode mobile device;

receiving, over the first connection, an authorization message from the monitoring server;

based on the authorization message, transmitting a second call request to establish the call over the second connection;

establishing, over the second connection, the call;

establishing a streaming session with the monitoring server wherein the streaming session includes data transmitted by the dual-mode mobile device over the second connection during the call; and

transmitting, over the first connection, call data to the monitoring server, wherein the call data includes transmitted and received data over the second connection during the call.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first connection is a Wi-Fi connection.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the streaming session is established over the second connection between the monitoring server and the dual-mode mobile device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving, over the first connection, a client control application to the dual-mode mobile device, wherein the client control application is configured to control transmission of the first call request and the second call request.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a file control policy from the monitoring server; and

creating, by the client control application, a container in a file system of the dual-mode mobile device based at least on the file control policy, wherein the file control policy specifies at least one condition regarding execution of any file located within the container.