SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING AND CONTROLLING CONTRABAND DEVICES IN A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY UTILIZING PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20180062784A1
• Filed: 08/24/2016
• Published: 03/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Tel-Link Corporation
• Original Assignee: Global Tel-Link Corporation
• Inventors: HODGE, Stephen Lee
• Granted Patent: US 10,735,131 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/825 by jamming
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions

Abstract

The present disclosure provides details of a system and method for detecting and monitoring a contraband device including communication devices and drones/UAVs by utilizing a combination of mobile devices, fixed monitoring devices, and a contraband monitoring center. The mobile devices include smart phones or tablets that are borrowed, rented, or purchased by an inmate from a correctional facility. These mobile devices are configured to detect, monitor, and intervene in the communications of target devices. Further, the mobile devices are configured to communicate with fixed monitoring devices located throughout the correctional facility in performing intervention operations. The contraband monitoring center may also be utilized in the coordination, monitoring, and intervention of target devices.

Claims

1. A system for detecting and monitoring a target device unauthorized for use in a facility, the system comprising:

a mobile device configured to;

communicate on a first communication network;

detect transmissions from the target device communicating on a second communication network;

capture a time and a location of the detection;

generate an alert indicating that the target device has been detected and including the time and the location; and

generate motion data which indicates a movement of the mobile device away from the location of the detection.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is further configured to:

generate a jamming signal to jam communications to or from the target device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the mobile device is further configured to:

detect the transmissions by detecting a center frequency of a transmission from the target device; and

generate the jamming signal by transmitting an interference signal having a predetermined number of transmissions centered at the center frequency.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the mobile device includes an always-on mode for the jamming signal such that the jamming signal is generated when a main operating system of the mobile device is powered on, in a sleep mode, or powered off.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is further configured to:

transmit the motion data to a contraband detection center or a second mobile device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is further configured to:

generate a managed access signal to force the target device to connect to the mobile device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the mobile device is further configured to:

transmit the managed access signal at a sufficiently high signal strength such that the signal strength of the managed access signal is greater than a signal strength of a base station located by the facility.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the mobile device is further configured to:

gather information including one or more of an international mobile subscriber identity number (IMSI) or an electronic serial number (ESN) from the target device based on the managed access signal; and

transmit the gathered information.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the mobile device is further configured to:

compare the gathered information against IMSIs or ESNs of an authorized cellular phone list.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is further configured to:

generate instructions for performing an intervening operation with the target device; and

transmit the instructions to one or more mobile devices or fixed monitoring devices.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is further configured to:

transmit the alert on the first communication network.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

a fixed mobile device configured to;

receive the alert from the mobile device; and

perform an intervention operation in response to the alert.

11. A system for detecting and monitoring a target device unauthorized for use in a facility, the system comprising:

a first mobile device configured to;

communicate audio, video, and text communications on a first communication network;

detect transmissions on a second communication network from the target device;

capture time and location information indicating a time and a location of the detection; and

generate an alert indicating that the target device has been detected, the alert including the time and location information; and

a second mobile device configured to;

communicate audio, video, and text communications on the first communication network;

receive the alert from the first mobile device, and

transmit location information of the second mobile device to the first mobile device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second mobile device is further configured to:

generate motion information of the second mobile device; and

transmit the motion information of the second mobile device to the first mobile device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first mobile device is configured to:

receive the motion information of the second mobile device; and

generate instructions for performing an intervening operation with the target device, based on the location information and motion information of the second device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first mobile device is further configured to transmit the instructions to the second mobile device, and wherein the second mobile device is further configured to perform an intervention operation based on the instructions.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the first mobile device is further configured to:

generate location and motion information of the first mobile device, and;

generate the instructions based on the location and motion information of the first mobile device.

16-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A system for detecting and monitoring a target device unauthorized for use in a facility, the system comprising:

a first mobile device configured to;

communicate on a first communication network;

detect transmissions from the target device communicating on a second communication network;

capture a time and a location of the detection;

generate an alert indicating that the target device has been detected, the alert including the time and the location; and

transmit the alert on the first communication network; and

a second mobile device configured to;

receive the alert from the first mobile device; and

perform an intervention operation in response to the alert.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the first mobile device is further configured to:

generate motion data indicating movement of the first mobile device; and

transmit the motion data to the second mobile device, and wherein the fixed monitoring device is further configured to;

perform the intervention operation in response to the alert and the motion data.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the intervention operation is one or more of a jamming signal, a managed access signal, or an audio or video recording.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the intervention operation includes instructions for one or more of the first mobile device, the second mobile device, or a fixed monitoring device to generate one or more of a jamming signal, a managed access signal, or an audio or video recording.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the second mobile device is further configured to transmit the intervention operation to one or more of the mobile device, another mobile device, the fixed monitoring device, or another fixed monitoring device.