Controlled environment facility visitation system using personal devices

• US 10,643,416 B1
• Filed: 09/17/2019
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Original Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Inventors: Smith, Matthew R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Brian E
• Application Number:
  US16/573,152
• Time in Patent Office: 231 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 in combination with an identity check of the pass holder

Abstract

A visitation system provides visitation sessions between a resident of a controlled-environment facility and a nonresident, where the nonresident utilizes a personal wireless devices that connects to a wireless access point that may be accessible from a designated visitation area of the facility. A connection request from a personal wireless device of a nonresident is evaluated to determine the personal wireless device is authorized to interface with the visitation system, and whether the nonresident is authorized to communicate with the resident. If authorized, a visitation session between the resident and the nonresident is initiated with the nonresident participating via the personal wireless device. The visitation system may respond to a visitation session request from a registered personal wireless device by sending an access code to the personal wireless device. By confirming the access code, the nonresident may initiate the requested visitation session that terminates upon expiration of the access code.

Claims

1. A visitation system for providing visitation services to a resident of a controlled-environment facility, the system comprising:

an external wireless local area network access point configured to receive a connection request from a personal wireless device of a nonresident, the external wireless local area network access point accessible from a designated visitation area of the controlled-environment facility;

an authorization server configured to;

evaluate the connection request to determine whether the personal wireless device of the nonresident and/or the nonresident is/are recognized and registered with the visitation system; and

redirect the connection request to register the personal wireless device of the nonresident and/or the nonresident with the visitation system, in response to a determination that the personal wireless device of the nonresident and/or the nonresident is/are not recognized or not registered with the visitation system; and

a visitation server configured to establish a visitation session between the resident and the nonresident, wherein the nonresident participates via the personal wireless device, via the external wireless local area network access point, at least in part, in response to a determination that the personal wireless device of the nonresident and the nonresident is recognized and registered with the visitation system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorization server and/or the visitation server determines whether the nonresident is allowed to enroll with the visitation system upon redirection of the connection request to register the nonresident with the visitation system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the nonresident is not allowed to enroll with the visitation system based, at least in part, on the nonresident being below a predetermined age.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the nonresident is not allowed to enroll with the visitation system based, at least in part, the nonresident being an identified gang member, conspirator of the resident, former resident of a controlled-environment facility and/or a specific individual that has been prohibited from using the visitation system.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the determination whether the nonresident is allowed to enroll with the visitation system further comprises verification of an identity of the nonresident.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the verification of an identity of the nonresident further comprises obtaining a voice, fingerprint and/or facial image sample from the nonresident.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the authorization server and/or the visitation server determines whether the personal wireless device of the nonresident is compatible with the visitation system, in response to a determination the nonresident is allowed to enroll in the visitation service.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the determination whether the personal wireless device of the nonresident is compatible with the visitation system further comprises determining visitation services that may be provided based on capabilities of the personal wireless device of the nonresident.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the determination whether the personal wireless device of the nonresident is compatible with the visitation system further comprises prompting the nonresident to provide information describing the hardware and software of the personal wireless device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorization server and/or the visitation server, upon redirection of the connection request to register the personal wireless device of the nonresident and/or the nonresident with the visitation system, prompts the nonresident to authorize installation of programs for interfacing with the visitation system in negotiating connection requests on behalf of the personal wireless device and/or programs for allowing the nonresident to participate in various types of visitation sessions, on the personal wireless device of the nonresident.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorization server and/or the visitation server are further configured to determine a status of the resident prior to establishing the visitation session, and in response to determining the resident has already joined a visitation session, establish the visitation session between the resident and the nonresident by connecting the nonresident directly into this visitation session, and in response to determining the resident has not already joined a visitation session, initiating the visitation session and placing the nonresident on hold until the resident joins the visitation session.

12. A method for providing visitation services to a resident of a controlled-environment facility, the method comprising:

receiving, at an external wireless local area network access point, a connection request for a visitation session with a controlled-environment facility resident, from a personal wireless device of a nonresident, the external wireless local area network access point accessible from a designated visitation area of the controlled-environment facility;

evaluating, by an authorization server, the connection request, the evaluation;

determining whether the personal wireless device of the nonresident and the nonresident are authorized to access the visitation services;

determining whether the visitation session is scheduled; and

forwarding the connection request for manual authorization by personnel associated with the controlled-environment facility, in response to a determination that the visitation session is not scheduled; and

establishing, by a visitation server, in response to a determination that the personal wireless device of the nonresident and the nonresident are authorized to access the visitation services and that the visitation session is scheduled, a visitation session between the resident and the nonresident, the nonresident participating in the visitation session via the personal wireless device, via the external wireless local area network access point.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein establishing the visitation session between the resident and the nonresident further comprises determining a status of the resident and, in response to determining the resident has already joined a visitation session, establishing the visitation session between the resident and the nonresident by connecting the nonresident directly into this visitation session.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein establishing the visitation session between the resident and the nonresident further comprises determining a status of the resident and, in response to determining the resident has not already joined a visitation session, initiating the visitation session and placing the nonresident on hold until the resident joins the visitation session.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

evaluating the connection request to determine whether the personal wireless device of the nonresident and/or the nonresident is/are recognized and registered with the visitation system; and

redirecting the connection request to register the personal wireless device of the nonresident and/or the nonresident with the visitation system, in response to a determination that the personal wireless device of the nonresident and/or the nonresident is/are not recognized or not registered with the visitation system.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining whether the nonresident is allowed to enroll with the visitation system upon redirection of the connection request to register the nonresident with the visitation system.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining whether the personal wireless device of the nonresident is compatible with the visitation system.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising, upon redirection of the connection request to register the nonresident with the visitation system, prompting the nonresident to authorize installation of programs for interfacing with the visitation system in negotiating connection requests on behalf of the personal wireless device and/or programs for allowing the nonresident to participate in various types of visitation sessions, on the personal wireless device of the nonresident.

19. A computer-readable storage device having program instructions stored thereon for providing visitation services to a resident of a controlled-environment facility, upon execution by a one or more processors, the program instructions cause the one or more processors to:

receive a connection request from a personal wireless device of a nonresident at an external wireless local area network access point accessible from a designated visitation area of a controlled-environment facility;

evaluate the connection request to determine whether the personal wireless device of the nonresident and/or the nonresident is recognized and registered with a visitation system;

redirect the connection request to register the personal wireless device of the nonresident and/or the nonresident with the visitation system, in response to a determination that the personal wireless device of the nonresident and/or the nonresident is not recognized or not registered with the visitation system;

determine whether the visitation session is scheduled;

forward the connection request for manual authorization by personnel associated with the controlled-environment facility, in response to a determination that the visitation session is not scheduled; and

establish in response to a determination that the personal wireless device of the nonresident and the nonresident are the personal wireless device of the nonresident and the nonresident are recognized and registered with the visitation system and that the visitation session is scheduled, a visitation session between the resident and the nonresident, the nonresident participating via the personal wireless device, via the external wireless local area network access point.

20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 19, wherein, upon execution by the one or more processors, the program instructions cause the one or more processors to, upon redirection of the connection request to register the personal wireless device of the nonresident and/or the nonresident, prompt the nonresident to authorize installation of programs for interfacing with the visitation system in negotiating connection requests on behalf of the personal wireless device and/or programs for allowing the nonresident to participate in various types of visitation sessions, on the personal wireless device.