Inbound calls to intelligent controlled-environment facility resident media and/or communications devices

• US 10,270,905 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2018
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Original Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Inventors: Keiser, Luke, Passe, Scott, Balantrapu, Krishna, Noland, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Tieu, Binh Kien
• Application Number:
  US16/021,821
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• Field of Search: 379111, 37911201, 37911205, 37911208, 37911209, 37911401, 37911417, 3791142, 37911426, 379118, 379120, 379130, 379133, 37920102, 37920717
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/172 Classification, e.g. identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0227 Filtering policies mail message filtering H04L51/212
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• 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: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8005 Flat-fee
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/41 using speaker recognition speaker recognition per se G10L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6045 Identity confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6054 Biometric subscriber identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• 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 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 : Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4365 : based on information specified by the calling party, e.g. priority or subject
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 : Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 : Click to dial services

Abstract

Sponsorship of controlled-environment facility resident media and/or communications devices by non-residents may include associating a non-resident with an address identifier of a sponsored resident media and/or communications device and associating a controlled-environment facility resident identified by the non-resident with the address identifier of the sponsored device. Thereafter, inbound calls to the sponsored device are connected as a result of confirming that an inbound calling party is associated with the address identifier of the sponsored device and verifying that the resident operating the sponsored device is associated with the address identifier of the sponsored device. Revocation of sponsorship of the sponsored device removes or deactivates association of the non-resident with the address identifier of the sponsored device and removes or deactivates association of the controlled-environment facility resident with the address identifier of the sponsored media and/or communications device.

Claims

1. An inbound call system employing sponsored inmate media and/or communications devices, the system comprising:

one or more inmate media and/or communications devices, each having a unique address identifier;

an inbound inmate call server configured to;

host inbound calling accounts established by non-inmates;

accept sponsorship of one of the controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications devices by a non-inmate;

associate the non-inmate with an address identifier of a sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device;

associate a controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate with the address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device;

direct provision of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device to the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate;

an authenticating server configured to;

authenticate that a calling party is associated with an address identifier of the sponsored inmate media and/or communications device the party is calling; and

verify that the inmate operating the sponsored inmate media and/or communications device is associated with the address identifier of the sponsored inmate media and/or communications device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the inbound inmate call server is further configured to connect an inbound call from the calling party with the sponsored inmate media and/or communications device as a result of the authenticating server confirming that the inbound calling party is associated with the address identifier of the sponsored inmate media and/or communications device and verifying that the inmate operating the sponsored inmate media and/or communications device is associated with the address identifier of the sponsored inmate media and/or communications device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the inbound inmate call server is further configured to:

accept revocation of sponsorship of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device by the non-inmate;

remove or deactivate association of the non-inmate with the address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to the revocation of sponsorship;

remove or deactivate association of the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate with the address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to the revocation of sponsorship; and

direct retrieval of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device from the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate in response to the revocation of sponsorship.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the inbound calling account of the non-inmate comprises a subscription by the non-inmate, renewable at predetermined time intervals and the authenticating server is further configured to:

revoke sponsorship of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to expiration of the subscription;

remove or deactivate association of the non-inmate with the address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to the expiration of the subscription;

remove or deactivate association of the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate with the address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to the expiration of the subscription; and

direct retrieval of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device from the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate in response to the expiration of the subscription.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the non-inmate is a friend or family member of the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the non-inmate is a service provider associated with the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the authenticating server is further configured to:

revoke sponsorship of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to termination of the association of the inmate and the service provider;

remove or deactivate association of the service provider with the address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to the termination of the association of the inmate and the service provider;

remove or deactivate association of the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the service provider with the address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to the termination of the association of the inmate and the service provider; and

direct retrieval of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device from the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the service provider in response to the termination of the association of the inmate and the service provider.

8. A method for providing intelligent controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications devices to controlled-environment facility inmates for inbound phone or video calling to the inmates, the method comprising:

hosting, by an inbound inmate call server, inbound calling accounts established by non-inmates;

accepting, by the inbound inmate call server, sponsorship of a sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device by a non-inmate;

associating, by the inbound inmate call server, the non-inmate with an address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device;

associating, by the inbound inmate call server, a controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate with the address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device;

providing the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device to the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate; and

connecting, by the inbound inmate call server, an inbound call with the sponsored inmate media and/or communications device as a result of confirming, by an authenticating server, that an inbound calling party is associated with the address identifier of the sponsored inmate media and/or communications device and verifying, by the authenticating server, that the inmate operating the sponsored inmate media and/or communications device is associated with the address identifier of the sponsored inmate media and/or communications device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

accepting, by the inbound inmate call server, revocation of sponsorship of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device by the non-inmate;

removing or deactivating, by the inbound inmate call server, association of the non-inmate with the address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to the revocation of sponsorship;

removing or deactivating, by the inbound inmate call server, association of the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate with the address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to the revocation of sponsorship; and

directing, by the inbound inmate call server, retrieval of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device from the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate in response to the revocation of sponsorship.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the inbound calling account of the non-inmate comprises a subscription by the non-inmate, renewable at predetermined time intervals and the method further comprises:

revoking, by the authenticating server, sponsorship of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to expiration of the subscription;

removing or deactivating, by the authenticating server, association of the non-inmate with the address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to the expiration of the subscription;

removing or deactivating, by the authenticating server, association of the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate with the address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to the expiration of the subscription; and

directing, by the inbound inmate call server, retrieval of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device from the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate in response to the expiration of the subscription.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the non-inmate is a friend or family member of the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the non-inmate is a service provider associated with the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

revoking, by the authenticating server, sponsorship of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to termination of the association of the inmate and the service provider;

removing or deactivating, by the authenticating server, association of the service provider with the address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to the termination of the association of the inmate and the service provider;

removing or deactivating, by the authenticating server, association of the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the service provider with the address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to the termination of the association of the inmate and the service provider; and

directing, by the authenticating server, retrieval of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device from the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the service provider in response to the termination of the association of the inmate and the service provider.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by one or more controlled-environment facility communications systems, cause the one or more communications systems to:

host inbound calling accounts established by non-inmates;

accept sponsorship of one of the controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications devices by a non-inmate;

associate the non-inmate with an address identifier of a sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device;

associate a controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate with the address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device; and

connect an inbound call with the sponsored inmate media and/or communications device as a result of confirming that an inbound calling party is associated with the address identifier of the sponsored inmate media and/or communications device and verifying that the inmate operating the sponsored inmate media and/or communications device is associated with the address identifier of the sponsored inmate media and/or communications device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein execution of the program instructions causes the one or more controlled-environment facility communications systems to direct provision of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device to the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein execution of the program instructions causes the one or more controlled-environment facility communications systems to:

accept revocation of sponsorship of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device by the non-inmate;

remove or deactivate association of the non-inmate with the address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to the revocation of sponsorship; and

remove or deactivate association of the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate with the address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to the revocation of sponsorship.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein execution of the program instructions causes the one or more controlled-environment facility communications systems to direct retrieval of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device from the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate in response to the revocation of sponsorship.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the inbound calling account of the non-inmate comprises a subscription by the non-inmate, renewable at predetermined time intervals and execution of the program instructions causes the one or more controlled-environment facility communications systems to:

revoke sponsorship of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to expiration of the subscription;

remove or deactivate association of the non-inmate with the address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to the expiration of the subscription; and

remove or deactivate association of the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate with the address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to the expiration of the subscription.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein execution of the program instructions causes the one or more controlled-environment facility communications systems to direct retrieval of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device from the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate in response to the expiration of the subscription.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the non-inmate is a friend or family member of the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the non-inmate is a service provider associated with the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the non-inmate.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the inbound calling account of the service provider non-inmate comprises a subscription by the service provider, renewable at predetermined time intervals and execution of the program instructions causes the one or more controlled-environment facility communications systems to:

revoke sponsorship of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to termination of the association of the inmate and the service provider;

remove or deactivate association of the service provider with the address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to the termination of the association of the inmate and the service provider; and

remove or deactivate association of the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the service provider with the address identifier of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device in response to the termination of the association of the inmate and the service provider.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein execution of the program instructions causes the one or more controlled-environment facility communications systems to direct retrieval of the sponsored controlled-environment facility inmate media and/or communications device from the controlled-environment facility inmate identified by the service provider in response to the termination of the association of the inmate and the service provider.