SECURE EXCHANGE OF DIGITAL CONTENT

• US 20130179949A1
• Filed: 03/04/2013
• Published: 07/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Original Assignee: JPay, Inc. (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Inventors: SHAPIRO, Ryan Jacob
• Application Number:
  US13/783,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20130179949A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• 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

Abstract

The invention includes delivering and monitoring digital content distributed to correctional facility inmates, giving supervisory authorities the ability to screen the incoming digital content. Digital content can include email, and stored and steamed video content, and can be scanned for keywords by supervisory authorities before delivery to an inmate. A computer kiosk can be used by inmates to view and record digital video content. A portable player is provided to inmates which can be used to play, and in some embodiments record, digital content. The player is issued to a particular inmate, and can only be used with respect to that particular inmate'"'"'s digital content. The kiosk, and in some embodiments, the player, can be used to shop for items available at a store, for example a commissary.

Claims

1. A system for managing an exchange of digital content between inmates in a correctional facility and non-inmates, comprising:

at least one computer server having a processor and connected to software stored on non-transitory media, the server software configure to—

obtain digital content from inmates or non-inmates,

store the digital content until a staffperson of the correctional facility approves distribution of the digital content to an intended recipient, and

distribute the digital content to the intended recipient if approved; and

at least one inmate device having a processor, a digital display, and controls, the inmate device including software stored on non-transitory media, the device software configured to—

read stored assignment data pertaining to an inmate authorized to use the particular inmate device executing the device software,

connect to the at least one computer server and transmit information pertaining to the inmate authorized to use the particular inmate device executing the device software,

obtain approved digital content distributed by the server software and intended for the particular inmate authorized to use the particular inmate device connected to the at least one computer server, and

present the digital content.

2. The system of claim 1, the server software further configured to analyze the digital content to create a result set of keywords in the digital content.

3. The system of claim 2, the server software further configured to report the result set to a staffperson of the correctional facility.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital content is video content.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital content is streaming audio content, the digital audio content stored by the server software for a delay period sufficient to enable correctional facility staff to monitor and interrupt the stream if non-authorized content is streamed.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital content is streaming video content, the digital video content stored by the server software for a delay period sufficient to enable correctional facility staff to monitor and interrupt the stream if non-authorized content is streamed.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the inmate device software is further configured to:

obtain information pertaining to commissary items available for sale from the at least one server; and

enable an inmate to select and request items from the obtained information, using the inmate device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the inmate device software is further configured to:

obtain information pertaining to digital content available for downloading into the inmate device;

enable an inmate to select and request digital content for downloading; and

connect to the at least one server to obtain the digital content.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the inmate device software is further configured to allocate credits assigned to the inmate to pay a cost of obtaining the digital content.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the inmate device is configured to only carry out an exchange of digital content with at least one of the at least one server.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the inmate device is configured to be unopenable by an inmate without using tools.

12. A system for managing an exchange of digital content between inmates in a correctional facility and non-inmates, comprising:

at least one computer server having a processor and connected to software stored on non-transitory media, the server software configure to—

obtain digital video content from inmates or non-inmates,

delay distribution of at least a portion of the digital video content until a staffperson of the correctional facility approves transmission of the at least a portion of digital video content to an intended recipient, and

distribute the digital video content to the intended recipient if approved; and

at least one inmate device having a processor, a digital display, and controls, the inmate device including software stored on non-transitory media, the device software configured to—

read stored assignment data pertaining to an inmate authorized to use the particular inmate device executing the device software,

connect to the at least one computer server and transmit information pertaining to the inmate authorized to use the particular inmate device executing the device software,

obtain the distributed digital video content distributed by the server software and intended for the particular inmate authorized to use the particular inmate device connected to the at least one computer server, and

present the video digital content.

13. The system of claim 12, the server software further configured to analyze the video digital content to create a result set of keywords in the digital content.

14. The system of claim 12, the server software further configured to report the result set to a staffperson of the correctional facility.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the delay is sufficient to enable correctional facility staff to monitor and interrupt the video digital content if the digital video content contains non-authorized content.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the digital content is streaming video content, the digital video content stored by the server software for a delay period sufficient to enable correctional facility staff to monitor and interrupt the stream if non-authorized content is streamed.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the inmate device software is further configured to:

display information pertaining to commissary items available for sale from the at least one server;

enable an inmate to select and request items from the obtained information, using the inmate device.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the inmate device software is further configured to:

obtain visual information pertaining to digital content available for downloading into the inmate device;

enable an inmate to view, select and request digital content for downloading;

connect to the at least one server to obtain the digital content.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the inmate device software is further configured to allocate credits assigned to the inmate to pay a cost of obtaining the digital content.

20. A method for managing an exchange of digital content between inmates in a correctional facility and non-inmates, comprising:

using at least one computer server having a processor and connected to software stored on non-transitory media, the server software configure to—

obtain digital video content from inmates or non-inmates,

delay distribution of at least a portion of the digital video content until a staffperson of the correctional facility approves transmission of the at least a portion of digital video content to an intended recipient, and

distribute the digital video content to the intended recipient if approved; and

providing to at least one inmate a device having a processor, a digital display, and controls, the inmate device including software stored on non-transitory media, the device software configured to—

read stored assignment data pertaining to an inmate authorized to use the particular inmate device executing the device software,

connect to the at least one computer server and transmit information pertaining to the inmate authorized to use the particular inmate device executing the device software,

obtain the distributed digital video content distributed by the server software and intended for the particular inmate authorized to use the particular inmate device connected to the at least one computer server, and

present the video digital content.