System And Method For Controlling, Monitoring And Recording OF Wireless Communications In Penal Institutions

• US 20130331061A1
• Filed: 06/29/2013
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian Francis Byrne
• Original Assignee: Brian Francis Byrne
• Inventors: Byrne, Brian Francis
• Granted Patent: US 9,271,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• 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 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6081 Service authorization mechanisms
• 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 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/00 Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security

Abstract

A system for controlling, monitoring, and recording of wireless telecommunications services associated with penal institutions is provided comprising a portable electronic device and application executing on the device that present a listing of available call destinations based on receiving a first instruction from a first authorized party possessing the device. The application receives a second instruction comprising a choice of a first call destination from the listing. The application transmits a third instruction requesting connection with the destination and joins a second authorized party associated with the first call destination in a first voice session. The application joins the first authorized party to the first session. The application further joins the first party to a second voice session initiated by the second party based on determining that the second party initiated the second session from the first destination. The device originates and receives transmissions solely upon approval of the application.

Claims

1. A system for controlling, monitoring, and recording of wireless telecommunications services associated with penal institutions, comprising:

a portable electronic device; and

an application that, when executed on the portable electronic device,

presents a listing of available call destinations based on receiving a first instruction from a first authorized party in possession of the portable electronic device,

receives a second instruction comprising a choice of a first call destination from the listing,

transmits a third instruction requesting connection with the first call destination,

joins a second authorized party associated with the first call destination in a first voice session, and

joins the first authorized party to the first voice session,

wherein the application further joins the first authorized party to a second voice session initiated by the second authorized party based on the application determining that the second authorized party initiated the second voice session from the first call destination and wherein the portable electronic device originates and receives transmissions solely upon approval of the application.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first authorized party is a detainee in a penal facility and wherein the second authorized party is external to the penal facility.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device interacts with a control application accessible via the third instruction and executing on a private branch exchange (PBX) located one of on the premises of a penal facility and elsewhere.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the control application provides to the portable electronic device the listing of available call destinations and information regarding permitted calling schedule and funds availability for calling.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the listing of available call destinations is stored at least one of on the portable electronic device and on the private branch exchange.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the private branch exchange at least one of adds and deletes entries from the listings of available call destinations and pushes the listings to the portable electronic device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device generates at least one of a text messaging alert and an electronic mail alert upon detection that the portable electronic device has been at least one of physically and electronically tampered with.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is automatically disabled upon detection that the portable electronic device has been at least one of physically and electronically tampered with wherein tampering comprises includes removal of subscriber identity module (SIM) from the portable electronic device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the third instruction is transmitted to the control application via one of dialing a telephone number, contacting an Internet Protocol (IP) address, and contacting a Media Access Control (MAC) address associated with the control application.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein a first subscriber identity module (SIM) installed in the portable electronic device is modified to permit transmissions only to a predetermined telephone number associated with the first instruction, wherein the first SIM becomes inoperable when not used in the portable electronic device, and wherein the portable electronic device cannot engage in outgoing or incoming calls when the first SIM is not installed.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is verifiable as non-contraband at least by one of locally reading an International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI) of the portable electronic device, by manually verifying a non-removable application executing on the portable electronic device that provides a digital validator or watermark, and by an officer entering a keypad entry on the portable electronic device that returns a unique validation response verifiable by the officer.

12. A method of remotely reassigning detainee profiles to portable electronic devices in penal institutions, comprising:

creating a first profile for a first detainee, the first profile linked to a first schedule file, a first permitted parties file, and a first accounts file associated with the first detainee;

assigning a previously unassigned portable electronic device to the first profile;

providing the portable electronic device to the first detainee for use subject to limitations described at least in the first profile;

creating a second profile for a second detainee, the second profile linked to a second schedule file, a second permitted parties file, and a second accounts file associated with the second detainee;

cancelling assignment of the portable electronic device to the first profile; and

providing the portable electronic device to the second detainee for use subject to limitations described at least in the second profile.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein assignments of detainee profiles to portable electronic devices are at least one of remotely activated and cancelled using one of a monitoring station and a management station associated with a system for controlling wireless telecommunications services in penal institutions.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein rotation of the portable electronic device between the first profile and the second profile takes place upon retaking possession of the portable electronic device from the first detainee.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein reassignment of detainee profiles to the portable electronic device takes place on at least one of a scheduled basis, on an emergency basis, on an ad hoc basis.

16. A system for monitoring and controlling wireless telecommunications services in penal institutions, comprising:

a processor

a memory; and

an application, that, when executed on the processor;

monitors activities engaged in by a plurality of detainees using portable electronic devices in at least one penal facility,

determines that a first monitored activity engaged in by a first detainee violates at least one rule associated with the at least one penal facility, and

remotely disables a first portable electronic device in possession of the first detainee in response to a command entered in to one of a monitoring station associated with the application and an official portable electronic device associated with the application and in possession of a penal facility official.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first monitored activity comprises one of a voice transmission one of received by and transmitted by the portable electronic device, a keypad entry entered into the portable electronic device, and at least one physical movement of the portable electronic device.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the application remotely disables a plurality of portable electronic devices in at least a first physical area of the penal facility.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the instruction entered into the official portable electronic device is one of a text message and an electronic mail message to the application.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the monitoring station and the official portable electronic device accept a plurality commands to selectively disable a plurality of portable electronic devices in detainee possession.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the first portable electronic device is automatically disabled when detected in connection with cell tower signaling activity to have been moved from a predetermined physical area.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the first portable electronic device generates at least one of a text message and an electronic mail message and is automatically disabled upon detection of at least one of electronic tampering and physical tampering of the first portable electronic device.