System and method for detecting and controlling contraband devices

• US 10,362,528 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2018
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Tel-Link Corporation
• Original Assignee: Global Tel-Link Corporation
• Inventors: Hodge, Stephen Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Joshua L
• Application Number:
  US15/878,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20180295562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

The growing problem of contraband devices being smuggled into a correctional facility raises both security and safety issue. General fixed contraband detection systems are not cost effective because they require a high up-front cost and high maintenance, training and upgrade cost after installation. The present disclosure provides details of a system and method to detect and control the usage of contraband devices in a correctional facility cost effectively. Such a system is portable and can be relocated to different locations. Such as system both detects contraband devices and disrupts the operations of the contraband devices. Such a system further provides a report on the severity of contraband usage to the correctional facility.

Claims

1. A portable detection device for detecting contraband devices in a controlled-environment facility, the device comprising:

a navigation system configured to detect a current location of the portable detection device;

a radio transceiver configured to conduct a first contraband device scan of a first scan area at a first location in response to the navigation system detecting the current location as being at the first location, and to conduct a second contraband device scan of a second scan area at a second location in response to the navigation system detecting the current location as being the second location, wherein the first contraband device scan detects a presence or an absence of a contraband wireless communication device within the first scan area, and wherein the second contraband device scan detects a presence or an absence of a contraband wireless communication device within the second scan area;

one or more processors and/or circuits configured to;

receive scan results of the first contraband device scan and the second contraband device scan;

analyze the scan results to determine a number of contraband devices detected by the first contraband device scan and the second contrabrand device scan; and

generate a threat score based on the analysis.

2. The portable detection device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors and/or circuits are further configured to receive the first location and the second location.

3. The portable detection device of claim 2, further comprising a memory that stores the first location and the second location, stores the scan results of the first contraband device scan in association with the first location, and stores the scan results of the second contraband device scan in association with the second location.

4. The portable detection device of claim 3, wherein the navigation system is further configured to compare the current location to the stored second location.

5. The portable detection device of claim 4, further comprising a movement system configured to adjust a position of the portable detection device based on the comparison.

6. The portable detection device of claim 5, wherein the one or more processors and/or circuits are configured to initiate the second contraband device scan based on a result of the comparison.

7. The portable detection device of claim 5, wherein the threat score indicates at least one of a number, a density, a distribution, and a frequency of detected contraband devices in the controlled-environment facility.

8. A method for performing a contraband device threat analysis of a controlled-environment facility by a portable detection device, the method comprising:

first determining that the portable detection device is located at a first location;

conducting a first contraband device scan at the first location in response to the first determining, the first contraband device scan detecting an absence or a presence of a contraband wireless communication device within a first scan area;

second determining that the portable detection device is located at a second location, different from the first location;

conducting a second contraband device scan at the second location in response to the second determining, the second contraband device scan detecting an absence or a presence of a contraband wireless communication device within a second scan area;

analyzing results of the first contraband device scan and the second contraband device scan; and

calculating a threat score for the controlled-environment facility based on the analysis.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving the first location and the second location from a server.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising navigating to the first location based on the received first location.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the calculating of the threat score includes:

determining a number of distinct contraband devices detected by the first contraband device scan and the second contraband device scan; and

determining a distribution of the contraband devices within the controlled-environment facility.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

storing first scan results of the first contraband device scan in association with the first location; and

storing second scan results of the second contraband device scan in association with the second location.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving signals from a satellite; and

calculating a current location of the portable detection device based on the received signals.

14. A system for determining a contraband threat level of a controlled-environment facility, the system comprising:

a remote scanner that includes;

a location subsystem configured to determine a current location of the remote scanner;

a radio transceiver configure to receive instructions from a terminal, and to carry out a plurality of contraband device scans based on the current location of the remote scanner determined by the location subsystem; and

a memory configured to store scan results of the plurality of contraband device scans; and

the terminal that includes;

a transceiver; and

one or more processors and/or circuits configured to;

cause the transceiver to transmit the instructions to the remote scanner, the instructions including a scan location; and

receive, via the transceiver, the scan results from the remote scanner.

15. The system of claim 14, the remote scanner further comprising a movement subsystem configured to move the remote scanner.

16. The system of claim 15, the remote scanner further comprising one or more processors and/or circuits configured to compare the scan location to the current location, and to cause the movement system to move the remote scanner toward the scan location based on the comparison.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the location subsystem is configured to receive location signals from a satellite, and to calculate the current location of the remote scanner based on the location signals.

18. The system of claim 14, the remote scanner further comprising a movement system configured to cause physical movement of the remote scanner.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors and/or circuits of the terminal are configured to calculate a threat score of the controlled-environment facility based on the received scan results.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the threat score indicates a level of infiltration of contraband wireless communication devices into the controlled-environment facility.