Emergency Communication within Controlled-Environment Facilities

• US 20170257485A1
• Filed: 04/14/2017
• Published: 09/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Original Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Inventors: Edwards, Adam Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 11,159,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• 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: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing emergency communications within controlled-environment facilities are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include providing a communication platform. The communication platform may be configured to, in a first mode of operation, enable communications between devices (e.g., telephones, etc.) operated by residents (e.g., inmates, etc.) of a controlled environment facility (e.g., jail, prison, etc.) and devices (e.g., telephones, etc.) operated by non-residents of the controlled environment facility. The method may also include switching the communication platform from the first mode of operation to an emergency mode of operation. In the emergency mode of operation, the communication platform may be configured to enable an emergency communication from a first device operated by a resident of the controlled environment facility to a second device controlled by emergency response personnel (e.g., hostage negotiator, counselor, police officer, etc.).

Claims

1. A controlled-environment facility communications system supporting a plurality of resident devices, the system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory device coupled to the one or more processors, the memory device storing computer-readable instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors, cause the communications system to;

receive an indication of an emergency within the controlled-environment facility;

identify an off-hook condition in a first resident device within the plurality of supported resident devices;

establish a connection to the first resident device;

capture a video stream from a video camera coupled to the first resident device;

generate a recording of the captured video stream; and

route the captured video stream to an emergency response station.

2. The controlled-environment facility communications system of claim 1, wherein the emergency indication is received from a second resident device within the plurality of supported resident devices.

3. The controlled-environment facility communications system of claim 1, wherein the emergency indication is received from one or more of an alarm system or an alert system, wherein the one or more of the alarm system and the alert system are implemented at least in part within the controlled-environment facility.

4. The controlled-environment facility communications system of claim 1, wherein, in a first mode, the communications system restricts communications by the first resident device according to a first security protocol.

5. The controlled-environment facility communications system of claim 4, wherein, upon receipt of the emergency indication, the communications system switches to a second mode, wherein, in the second mode, the communications system restricts communications by the first resident device according to a second security protocol.

6. The controlled-environment facility communications system of claim 5, wherein the second security protocol specifies fewer communications restrictions on the first resident device than the first security protocol.

7. The controlled-environment facility communications system of claim 1, wherein the connection to the first resident device is established without user input from the first resident device.

8. The controlled-environment facility communications system of claim 7, wherein the video stream is captured from the video camera coupled to the first resident device without user input from the first resident device.

9. A computer-readable storage device having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive an indication of an emergency within a controlled-environment facility;

identify an off-hook condition in a first resident device within a plurality of resident devices supported by a controlled-environment facility communication system.

establish a connection to the first resident device;

capture a video stream from a video camera coupled to the first resident device;

generate a recording of the captured video stream; and

route the captured video stream to an emergency response station.

10. The computer-readable storage device of claim 9, wherein the emergency indication is received from a second resident device within the plurality of supported resident devices.

11. The computer-readable storage device of claim 9, wherein the emergency indication is received from one or more of an alarm system or an alert system, wherein the one or more of the alarm system and the alert system are implemented at least in part within the controlled-environment facility.

12. The computer-readable storage device of claim 9, wherein, in a first mode, the program instructions further cause the one or more processors to restrict communications by the first resident device according to a first security protocol.

13. The computer-readable storage device of claim 12, wherein the program instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

switch to a second mode upon receipt of the emergency indication; and

while operating in the second mode, restrict communications by the first resident device according to a second security protocol.

14. The computer-readable storage device of claim 13, wherein the second security protocol specifies fewer communications restrictions on the first resident device than the first security protocol.

15. The computer-readable storage device of claim 9, wherein the connection to the first resident device is established without user input from the first resident device.

16. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the video stream is captured from the video camera coupled to the first resident device without user input from the first resident device.

17. A method for providing communications services to a plurality of supported resident devices within a controlled-environment facility, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of an emergency within a controlled-environment facility;

identifying an off-hook condition in a first resident device within a plurality of resident devices supported by a controlled-environment facility communication system.

establishing a connection to the first resident device;

capturing a video stream from a video camera coupled to the first resident device;

generating a recording of the captured video stream; and

routing the captured video stream to an emergency response station.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the connection to the first resident device is established without user input from the first resident device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the video stream is captured from the video camera coupled to the first resident device without user input from the first resident device.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the emergency indication is received from a second resident device within the plurality of supported resident devices.