Communications system for residents of secure facility
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of accepting responses to multiple different queries originating from a single mobile telephone number or SMS short code and pertaining to a resident of a secure facility, said method comprising:
- generating an electronic message from a person outside a detention environment to a resident of the detention environment via a communications module and transmitting messages to the resident of the secure facility using the single mobile telephone number or SMS short code, and causing each message to prompt a response;
generating a unique set of numbers, characters, keywords, or methods, via a processing center and causing the unique set to remain effective for the resident only for a predetermined period of time, and converting the electronic message from an electronic messaging format to and from a different format suitable for delivery to and from a terminal located inside the detention environment, and wherein the terminal is used by the resident of the detention environment and others confined within the detention environment and subsequently verifying that the resident of the detention environment is authorized to communicate with the person outside the detention environment, the processing center further comprising a database and a processor, the database storing rehabilitation milestone information established by the detention environment, and the processor generating a message automatically in response to the rehabilitation milestone information; and
subsequently, a transmission module transmitting the electronic message to the terminal located in the detention environment, wherein the terminal further comprises an interactive audio/video platform.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and a method are provide for two-way communications, automated request handling, and push notifications, via SMS, MMS, IM, email, and other electronic messaging systems, between (1) residents confined to a secure facility, such as a jail or a prison, and (2) persons located outside the secure facility who have friendly or family relationships with the confined residents.
29 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of accepting responses to multiple different queries originating from a single mobile telephone number or SMS short code and pertaining to a resident of a secure facility, said method comprising:
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generating an electronic message from a person outside a detention environment to a resident of the detention environment via a communications module and transmitting messages to the resident of the secure facility using the single mobile telephone number or SMS short code, and causing each message to prompt a response; generating a unique set of numbers, characters, keywords, or methods, via a processing center and causing the unique set to remain effective for the resident only for a predetermined period of time, and converting the electronic message from an electronic messaging format to and from a different format suitable for delivery to and from a terminal located inside the detention environment, and wherein the terminal is used by the resident of the detention environment and others confined within the detention environment and subsequently verifying that the resident of the detention environment is authorized to communicate with the person outside the detention environment, the processing center further comprising a database and a processor, the database storing rehabilitation milestone information established by the detention environment, and the processor generating a message automatically in response to the rehabilitation milestone information; and subsequently, a transmission module transmitting the electronic message to the terminal located in the detention environment, wherein the terminal further comprises an interactive audio/video platform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for accepting responses to multiple different queries originating from a single mobile telephone number or SMS short code and pertaining to a resident of a secure facility comprising:
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a terminal located inside a secure facility, wherein the terminal generates the electronic communication and further comprises an interactive audio/video platform; a processing center comprising; a database for storing data to verify that a resident of the secure facility who originates the electronic communication is authorized to communicate with an intended recipient of the electronic communication, wherein the database stores rehabilitation milestone information established by the secure facility; and a processor that receives the data from the database, and to use the data to verify that the resident is authorized to communicate with the intended recipient, wherein the processor generates an electronic message automatically in response to the rehabilitation milestone information; and wherein the processing center converts the electronic message from an electronic messaging format to and from a different format suitable for delivery to and from the terminal located inside the secure facility, and wherein the terminal is used by a resident of the secure facility and others confined within the secure facility, and wherein the processing center verifies that the resident of the secure facility is authorized to communicate with the intended recipient; and wherein the system transmits messages to the resident of the secure facility using the single mobile telephone number or SMS short code, and causes each message to prompt a response; and wherein the system generates a unique set of numbers, characters, keywords, or methods, and causes the unique set to remain effective for the resident only for a predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification