Multifunction wireless device

• US 10,205,820 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2017
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Tel-Link Corporation
• Original Assignee: Global Tel-Link Corporation
• Inventors: Hodge, Stephen, Johnson, Garth, McNitt, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Sivji, Nizar N
• Application Number:
  US15/478,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20170208468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/305 by remotely controlling device operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/082 applying multi-factor authentication cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724631 by limiting the access to the user interface, e.g. locking a touch-screen or a keypad
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8235 Access based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2033 Call handling or answering restrictions, e.g. specified by the calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6045 Identity confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 : Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 : Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42025 : Calling or Called party identification service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 : Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4365 : based on information specified by the calling party, e.g. priority or subject
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 : Continuous authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 : using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A communication device and system are disclosed for providing communication and data services to residents of a controlled facility. The device can be restricted to communicating only using an internet protocol so as to restrict the device communication to an internal intranet. Wireless access points may be disposed throughout the environment to route calls and data between the device and a central processing center. By converting a protocol of the communications received from the device to a protocol used by the central processing center, minimal modifications to the central processing center are needed to support a wireless communication infrastructure. Many restrictions and safeguards may be implemented within the phone and system in order to prevent improper use.

Claims

1. A system for providing communication services to a wireless communication device associated with an inmate of a correctional facility, the system comprising:

a database that stores outside party information relating to an outside party;

a central processing server configured to process an incoming call from the outside party to the inmate; and

a personal wireless device assigned to the inmate and configured to wirelessly communicate with the central processing server,

wherein the central processing server is configured to process the incoming call by;

receiving the incoming call from the outside party;

receiving an indication that the incoming call is designated for the inmate;

authenticating the outside party;

terminating the incoming call;

notifying the inmate of the incoming call;

receiving a second call from the inmate designated for the outside party after the incoming call is terminated; and

in response to the inmate being successfully authenticated, completing the second call to the outside party.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the incoming call is connected to the personal wireless device in response to the inmate being successfully authenticated.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the notifying of the inmate includes transmitting at least one of a Short Message Service (SMS) or a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message to the wireless communication device associated with the inmate.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the notifying of the inmate includes the central processing server causing an audible notification to be announced over a public address (PA) system within the correctional facility.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the authentication of the inmate and the authentication of the outside party include performing biometric matching and verification.

6. A method of providing communication services to a wireless communication device associated with an inmate of a correctional facility, the method comprising:

storing outside party information relating to an outside party;

assigning a personal wireless device to the inmate; and

processing an incoming call from the outside party to the inmate, the processing of the incoming call including;

receiving the incoming call from the outside party;

receiving an indication that the incoming call is designated for the inmate;

authenticating the outside party;

terminating the incoming call;

notifying the inmate of the incoming call;

receiving a second call from the inmate designated for the outside party after the incoming call is terminated;

authenticating the inmate during the second call; and

in response to the inmate being successfully authenticated, completing the second call to the outside party.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising connecting the second call to the incoming call in response to the inmate being successfully authenticated.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the notifying of the inmate includes transmitting at least one of a Short Message Service (SMS) or a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message to the wireless communication device associated with the inmate.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the notifying of the inmate includes the central processing server causing an audible notification to be announced over a public address (PA) system within the correctional facility.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the authentication of the inmate and the authentication of the outside party include performing biometric matching and verification.

11. A system for processing an incoming call from an outside party to an inmate of a correctional facility, the system comprising:

a database that stores inmate contact restrictions and outside party information;

a telephone terminal; and

a central processing server configured to process the incoming call, the processing including;

receiving the incoming call from the outside party;

prompting the outside party to identify the inmate and provide a biometric sample;

receiving the identification of the inmate and the biometric sample from the outside party;

authenticating the outside party based on the received identification and biometric sample;

terminating the incoming call;

notifying the inmate of the incoming call in response to the outside party being successfully authenticated;

receiving a second call from the inmate designated for the outside party after the incoming call is terminated; and

in response to the inmate being successfully authenticated, completing the second call to the outside party.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the central processing server is further configured to process the incoming call by:

further receiving an identification of the outside party from the outside party;

retrieving from the database a baseline biometric sample corresponding to the received identification of the outside party; and

comparing the received biometric sample to the baseline biometric sample,

wherein the outside party is authenticated based on the comparison.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the central processing server is configured to notify the inmate by transmitting at least one of a Short Message Service (SMS) or a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message to a wireless communication device associated with the inmate.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the central processing server is further configured to process the incoming call by performing a second authentication of the outside party after receiving the second call, but before completing the second call to the outside party.