Remote web-based visitation system for prisons

• US 9,094,569 B1
• Filed: 02/01/2012
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HomeWAV, LLC
• Original Assignee: HomeWAV, LLC
• Inventors: Humphries, Gary James
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwah, Olisa
• Application Number:
  US13/363,498
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.03, 348/14.08, 348/14.1, 348/14.11, 348/14.01, 348/14.12, 379/32.01, 379/38
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/14 Systems for two-way working H04N7/12, H04N7/173 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN

Abstract

A web-based video conferencing system and method for providing remote visitation with inmates incarnated in a prison. All visitations are initiated by the inmates and no endpoint control by prison personnel is required. “Jail-hardened” terminals in the prison communicate via Internet with visitor Internet-enabled devices. Payment for services is paid by visitors using an on-line payment service relieving prison personnel of any handling of money. All calls (excluding clergy, lawyers, etc.) are typically recorded and no routine monitoring is required by prison personnel. Inmates use the “jail-hardened” terminals to initiate video conference using only a 12-key telephone style keypad. A fee-per-minute is charged. Time is tracked for each call and the call duration and remaining time for a call based upon the maximum allowed call length and an inmate'"'"'s available minutes are displayed for both the visitor and the inmate.

Claims

1. A method of providing endpoint control free, inmate-initiated, web-based audio/video visitation between an inmate and a single previously registered visitor, the steps comprising:

a) providing at least one terminal configured exclusively for audio/video inmate visitation disposed in an incarnation facility, said at least one audio/video terminal being operatively connected to a web-based audio/video visitation system;

b) registering an inmate housed in said incarceration facility and providing log-in information to said inmate allowing said inmate to access said web-based audio/video visitation system using said at least one audio/video terminal;

c) registering at least one visitor authorized to receive an inmate-originated audio/video visit from said registered inmate;

d) providing said at least one registered visitor with log-in information allowing him/her to remotely access said web-based audio/video visitation system;

e) initiating an audio/video visit by said registered inmate at said at least one audio/video terminal at said registered inmate'"'"'s convenience to one of said at least one registered visitor without pre-scheduling and without any other human intervention, said initiating step comprising selecting a name of a pre-approved visitor from a list of one or more names displayed at said audio/video terminal; and

f) after successfully completing said initiating step (e), conducting an audio/video visit between said registered inmate and said one of said at least one registered visitor.

2. The method of providing endpoint control free, inmate-initiated web-based audio/video visitation between an inmate and a single previously registered visitor as recited in claim 1, wherein said providing step (a) comprises:

providing at least one terminal having at least a video monitor, a processor, a video camera, and a keypad all operatively connected one to another, said processor being operatively connected to a network interface that is in turn, operatively connected to the Internet;

a handset operatively connected to said processor; and

computer software comprising instructions stored within and executed by said processor for managing an audio/video visit.

3. The method of providing endpoint control free, inmate-initiated web-based audio/video visitation between an inmate and a single previously registered visitor as recited in claim 2, wherein said providing step (a) further comprises:

housing at least a portion of said at least one terminal in a “

jail-hardened”

case housing at least one selected from the group;

said video monitor, said processor, said video camera, said keypad and said network interface, said handset being disposed outside said “

jail-hardened”

case and connected to said processor by a protected cable.

4. The method of providing endpoint control free, inmate-initiated web-based audio/video visitation between an inmate and a single previously registered visitor as recited in claim 3, wherein said providing step (a) further comprises:

housing at least a portion of said at least one terminal in a “

jail-hardened”

case comprises a steel case having at least one transparent window therethrough to provide visibility of said video monitor from outside said steel case and to allow said video camera visibility outside said steel case.

5. The method of providing endpoint control free, inmate-initiated web-based audio/video visitation between an inmate and a single previously registered visitor as recited in claim 1, the steps further comprising:

g) providing an administrative facility operably connected to said web based audio/video visitation system and using said administrative facility to perform said registering step (c).

6. The method of providing endpoint control free, inmate-initiated web-based audio/video visitation between an inmate and a single previously registered visitor as recited in claim 5, the steps further comprising:

h) using said administrative facility to accept a payment from said registered visitor using an Internet based payment service operatively connected to said web-based administrative facility, said payment being associated with a single registered inmate.

7. The method of providing endpoint control free, inmate-initiated web-based audio/video visitation between an inmate and a single previously registered visitor as recited in claim 1, the steps further comprising:

g) storing information related to both said registered inmates and said registered visitors in a database operatively connected to said administrative facility.

8. The method of providing endpoint control free, inmate-initiated web-based audio/video visitation between an inmate and a single previously registered visitor as recited in claim 1, wherein said conducting step (f) comprises the sub-step:

i) timing said audio/video visit; and

ii) automatically terminating said audio/video visit upon the occurrence of at least one of the conditions;

an allowable maximum visit time is reached, and dollar funds available to support said audio/video visit are exhausted.

9. The method of providing endpoint control free, inmate-initiated web-based audio/video visitation between an inmate and a single previously registered visitor as recited in claim 1, wherein said conducting step (f) comprises the sub-step:

i) recording at least a portion of said audio/video visit.

10. The method of providing endpoint control free, inmate-initiated web-based audio/video visitation between an inmate and a single previously registered visitor as recited in claim 9, wherein said recording sub-step (i) comprises the additional sub-step:

ii) prior to performing said recording sub-step (i), determining if said audio/video visit is with a registered visitor having privileged status and when said registered visitor has privileged status, suppressing said recording of at least a portion of said audio/video visit.

11. The method of providing endpoint control free, inmate-initiated web-based audio/video visitation between an inmate and a single previously registered visitor as recited in claim 1, the steps further comprising:

g) indicating at at least one location selected from the group;

said at least one terminal for inmate visitation and a terminal at which said registered visitor accesses said web-based audio/video visitation system, the availability of respective ones of said inmate and said at least one registered visitor for visitation.