Digital telecommunications call management and monitoring system

• US 20060285650A1
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Tel-Link Corporation
• Original Assignee: Value-Added Communications Incorporated
• Inventors: Hodge, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,783,021 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/32.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/304 intercepting circuit switched data communications lawful interception of wireless network communications H04W12/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/306 intercepting packet switched data communications, e.g. Web, Internet or IMS communications
• 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 2203/301 Management of recordings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/551 Call history
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6054 Biometric subscriber identification
• 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 3/385 using speech signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

The present invention discloses a centralized, digital, computer-based telephone call management system for authenticating users of a telephone system in an institutional facility. The system includes the capacity to allow an institution to control, record, monitor, and bill and report usage and access to a telephone network. The telephone call management system further includes both accounting and management software for use in controlling, monitoring, billing, recording, and reporting usage and access. Also, it can operate over both a Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) and a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) infrastructure.

Claims

1. An inmate telecommunication call processing system comprising:

a plurality of trunk lines of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN);

at least one telephone terminal;

at least one routing means coupled to said telephone terminal; and

a control platform;

wherein said control platform includes one or more apparatuses for the purposes of monitoring, controlling, storing, and billing related to telephonic communication between a plurality of local and remote users.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said routing means routes attempted telephonic communication to said control platform.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said local user is only granted access to place a telephone call if an authentication means verifies identification information as indicative of a valid user.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said telephonic communication is only allowed upon verification of acceptable contact between said local and said remote user.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said control platform digitally records said telephonic communication between said local and said remote user.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

at least one workstation for monitoring, controlling, storing and billing related to said telephonic communication.

7. An inmate telecommunication call processing system comprising:

at least one network connection;

at least one telephone terminal;

at least one gateway; and

a control platform connected to said at least one gateway;

wherein said control platform includes one or more apparatuses for the purposes of monitoring, controlling, storing, routing, and billing related to telephonic communication between a plurality of local and remote users.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said at least one network connection is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) connection.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein said gateway converts attempted telephonic communication between said local and said remote user for transmission over said network connection.

10. A system according to claim 7, wherein said gateway sends said attempted telephonic communication to said control platform via said network connection.

11. A system according to claim 7, wherein said gateway includes routing means.

12. A system according to claim 7, wherein said gateway enables mixed environment operation.

13. A system according to claim 7, wherein said local user is only granted access to place a telephone call if an authentication means verifies identification information as indicative of a valid user.

14. A system according to claim7, wherein said control platform digitally records said telephonic communication between said local and said remote user.

15. A system according to claim 7, wherein said system further comprises:

at least one workstation for monitoring, controlling, storing and billing related to said telephonic communication.

16. A method for inmate telephonic communication, said method comprising the steps of:

identifying a local user-attempting access to a telephone call management system;

monitoring said attempted access to said system;

controlling said access of said local user to said system;

allowing telephonic communication between said local user and a remote user;

storing said telephonic communication between said local and said remote user; and

billing for usage of said system.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein said identifying said local user includes verifying identification information as indicative of said local user.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein said controlling said access only allows said telephonic communication after verifying contact between said local and said remote user is permitted.

19. A method according to claim 16, wherein said method further includes the step of allowing said remote user to deny said local user the ability to contact said remote user.