Location-based controls for remote visitation in controlled-environment facilities

• US 10,560,497 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2017
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Original Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Inventors: Smith, Matthew Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Joshua D
• Application Number:
  US15/719,840
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 709228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/30 for supporting lawful interception, monitoring or retaining of communications or communication related information circuit switched telephony call monitoring H04M3/2281
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/306 intercepting packet switched data communications, e.g. Web, Internet or IMS communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/64 using geofenced areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Systems and methods for developing, deploying, and/or providing location-based controls for remote visitation in controlled-environment facilities are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include identifying a request to establish a visitation session between a resident and a non-resident of a controlled-environment facility, wherein the visitation session includes at least one of: a voice or a video call, and wherein the non-resident operates a mobile device; receiving spacial information of the mobile device; and applying a rule to the visitation session based upon the spacial information.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

identifying a request to establish a visitation session between a resident and a non-resident of a controlled-environment facility, wherein the visitation session includes at least one of;

a voice or a video call, and wherein the non-resident operates a mobile device;

receiving spatial information of the mobile device, wherein the spatial information comprises a direction of travel of the mobile device; and

applying a rule to the visitation session based upon the spatial information, wherein applying the rule includes determining that the direction of travel is within a selected trajectory, and wherein the selected trajectory is along a highway used in a criminal activity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlled-environment facility is a correctional facility, and wherein the resident is an inmate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the spatial information comprises a location of the mobile device, and wherein applying the rule includes determining that the location is within a selected geographic area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the spatial information comprises a proximity to another mobile device associated with another non-resident.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the spatial information periodically during the visitation session.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising charging an account of the resident for a telecommunication provider'"'"'s fees associated with providing the spatial information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the rule comprises at least one of:

flagging the visitation session for monitoring or recording, or issuing an alert provided in the rule.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the visitation session is a Video Relay Service (VRS) call.

9. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having computer-readable instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the processor, cause the system to;

identify a request to establish a video visitation session between a resident and a non-resident of a controlled-environment facility, wherein the non-resident operates a mobile device;

receive spatial information of the mobile device, wherein the spatial information comprises a direction of travel of the mobile device; and

apply a rule to the video visitation session based upon the spatial information, wherein to apply the rule the system determines that the direction of travel is within a selected trajectory, and wherein the selected trajectory is along a highway used in a criminal activity.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the spatial information comprises a location of the mobile device, and wherein applying the rule includes determining that the location is within a selected geographic area.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the spatial information comprises a direction of travel of the mobile device, and wherein applying the rule includes determining that the direction of travel is within a selected trajectory.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the spatial information comprises a proximity to another mobile device associated with another non-resident.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein applying the rule comprises at least one of:

flagging the video visitation session for monitoring or recording, or issuing an alert associated with the rule.

14. A hardware memory device having computer-readable instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a processor, cause a computer system to:

identify a request to establish a video visitation session between a resident and a non-resident of a controlled-environment facility, wherein the non-resident operates a mobile device;

receive spatial information of the mobile device, wherein the spatial information comprises a direction of travel of the mobile device; and

apply a rule to the video visitation session based upon the spatial information, wherein to apply the rule the computer system determines that the direction of travel is within a selected trajectory, and wherein the selected trajectory is along a highway used in a criminal activity.

15. The hardware memory device of claim 14, wherein the spatial information comprises a location of the mobile device, and wherein applying the rule includes determining that the location is within a selected geographic area.

16. The hardware memory device of claim 14, wherein the spatial information comprises a direction of travel of the mobile device, and wherein applying the rule includes determining that the direction of travel is within a selected trajectory.

17. The hardware memory device of claim 14, wherein the spatial information comprises a proximity to another mobile device associated with another non-resident.

18. The hardware memory device of claim 14, wherein applying the rule comprises at least one of:

flagging the video visitation session for monitoring or recording, or issuing an alert associated with the rule.