Systems and methods for identity verification using continuous biometric monitoring

• US 7,494,061 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Original Assignee: Evercom Systems Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Inventors: Reinhold, Dennis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Labaze; Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US11/480,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20080040780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 235/382, 235/375, 235/470, 235/487
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• 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: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6054 Biometric subscriber identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods for verifying the identity of a person operating a device are shown. In some representative embodiments, a method comprises authorizing a person to operate a device, continuously monitoring a biometric trait of a device operator, and using the monitored biometric trait of the device operator to verify, during operation of the device, whether the device operator is the authorized person. In other representative embodiments, a system comprises a biometric sensor associated with a device, and a continuous biometric monitoring (CBM) module coupled to the biometric sensor. The CBM module may be adapted to continuously acquire a one biometric sample from the device operator during operation of the device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

authorizing a resident of a controlled-environment facility to participate in a telephone call;

continuously monitoring a first biometric trait of a person participating in the telephone call;

verifying whether the first biometric trait of the person participating in the telephone call belongs to an authorized resident; and

monitoring a second biometric trait of the person participating in the telephone call at selected intervals to confirm an identity of that person.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the controlled-environment facility is a prison.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein authorizing the resident to participate in the telephone call comprises requesting that the resident provide a personal identification number.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein authorizing the resident to participate in the telephone call comprises acquiring a biometric sample from the resident.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein authorizing the resident to participate in the telephone call comprises acquiring an RFID information associated with the resident.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising terminating the telephone call if the biometric trait of the person participating in the telephone call does not belong to the authorized resident.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising blocking a telephone function if the first biometric trait of that person does not belong to the authorized resident.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising alerting a party if the biometric trait of the person participating in the telephone call does not belong to the authorized resident.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising recording an identity of the person participating in the telephone call if the first biometric trait of that person does not belong to the authorized resident.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising recording at least a portion of the telephone call if the first biometric trait of the person participating in the telephone call does not belong to the authorized resident.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising storing the portion of the telephone call along with the first biometric trait of the person participating in the portion of the telephone call.

12. A method comprising:

authorizing a resident of a controlled-environment facility to participate in a telephone call;

continuously monitoring a first biometric trait of a person participating in the telephone call;

verifying whether the first biometric trait of the person participating in the telephone call belongs to an authorized resident; and

monitoring a second biometric trait of the person participating in the telephone call upon the occurrence of an event detected via the monitoring of the first biometric trait to confirm an identity of that person.

13. A call processing system for monitoring an identity of a resident of a controlled environment facility participating in an ongoing telephone call, the call processing system comprising:

a biometric sensor associated with a controlled-environment facility'"'"'s telephone;

a continuous biometric monitoring (CBM) module coupled to the biometric sensor and adapted to continuously acquire a biometric sample from the resident during the ongoing telephone call, wherein the CBM module is adapted to use the biometric sample to verify, during the ongoing telephone call, whether a biometric trait of the resident belongs to an authorized resident, the CBM further adapted to monitor a second biometric trait of the resident during the telephone call upon the occurrence of an event detected via the monitoring of the first biometric trait and to confirm an identity of that person using the second biometric trait.

14. The call processing system of claim 13, wherein the biometric sensor is positioned to passively acquire the biometric sample from the resident.

15. The call processing system of claim 13 wherein the CBM module is adapted to determine the identity of the resident by comparing the biometric sample acquired from the resident with a biometric record stored in a biometric records database.

16. The call processing system of claim 13 wherein the CBM module is adapted to use the biometric sample to determine the identity of the resident participating in the ongoing telephone call has changed during the call.

17. The call processing system of claim 13 further comprising a telephone switch connected to the CBM module.

18. The call processing system of claim 17 wherein the telephone switch is adapted to terminate the ongoing telephone call if the resident is not authorized to participate in the ongoing telephone call.

19. The call processing system of claim 17 wherein the telephone switch is adapted to issue a warning if the resident is not authorized to participate in the ongoing telephone call.

20. The call processing system of claim 17 wherein the telephone switch is adapted to allow authorities to listen to the ongoing telephone call if the resident is not authorized to participate in the ongoing telephone call.

21. The call processing system of claim 17 wherein the CBM module is adapted to record the ongoing telephone call if the resident is not authorized to participate in the ongoing telephone call.

22. A biometric telephone handset for use in a controlled-environment facility'"'"'s telephone system, the handset comprising:

a first physical biometric sensor adapted to continuously scan a first physical biometric trait of a resident during an ongoing telephone call; and

a second biometric sensor adapted to scan a second biometric trait of the resident during the ongoing telephone call, the scanning of the second biometric trait triggered by the occurrence of an event detected while the monitoring the first biometric trait, the second biometric trait used to confirm an identity of the resident.

23. The biometric telephone handset of claim 22 wherein the controlled-environment facility is a prison.

24. The biometric telephone handset of claim 22 wherein the first biometric sensor is a fingerprint scanner.

25. The biometric telephone handset of claim 22 wherein the first biometric sensor is a handprint scanner.

26. The biometric telephone handset of claim 22 wherein the second biometric sensor scans the second biometric trait at selected time intervals.