Systems and methods for detecting a call anomaly using biometric identification

• US 9,560,193 B1
• Filed: 04/23/2015
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Original Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Inventors: Hogg, John S. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Paul S
• Application Number:
  US14/694,101
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.03, 379/188
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/68 Circuit arrangements for preventing eavesdropping
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/41 using speaker recognition speaker recognition per se G10L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6054 Biometric subscriber identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• 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 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42357 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/58 Arrangements for transferring received calls from one subscriber to another; Arrangements affording interim conversations between either the calling or the called party and a third party substation line holding circuits H04M1/80

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed generally to use of biometric identification during a call for detecting an anomaly occurring in the call, such as a change in the parties participating on the call. Communication between parties of a call is monitored and biometric identification is performed using the communication. According to one exemplary embodiment, biometric prints, such as voice prints, face prints, etc., are obtained for parties that are authorized to participate on a call. The call is then monitored and biometric data (e.g., audio, video, etc.) captured from communication during the call is compared with the biometric prints of the authorized parties to detect changes in the parties participating on the call, such as a new, unauthorized party joining the call. Thus, a call processing system can detect anomalies occurring during monitored calls, such as three-way calling, a handoff of a call, etc.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

initiating a call between an inmate and another party via a call processing system, wherein the inmate and the other party are both allowed to participate in the call;

continuously monitoring biometric voice prints during the call in real-time using the call processing system;

determining, using the call processing system and based at least in part upon the monitored biometric voice prints, that a handoff event has taken place while the call is ongoing; and

in response to the determination, initiating one of a plurality of different responsive actions via the call processing system, the actions selected from a group consisting of;

terminating the call, recording the call, recording the event, notifying at least one party to the call, and notifying correctional facility personnel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating a first biometric voice print for the inmate within a correctional facility during an enrollment process; and

creating a second biometric voice print for the other party prior to initiating the call.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining that the handoff event has taken place further comprises identifying the presence of a third biometric voice print corresponding to a third-party during the monitoring of the biometric voice prints during the call, wherein the third biometric voice print is different from the first biometric voice print and from the second biometric voice print, and wherein the third-party is not allowed to participate in the call.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining that the third-party is in the physical vicinity of the inmate.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the determination that the handoff event has taken place occurs in response to the determination that the third-party is in the physical vicinity of the inmate.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the determination that the third-party is in the physical vicinity of the inmate is based upon the use of a location tracking device associated with the third-party.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the determination that the third-party is in the physical vicinity of the inmate is based, at least in part, upon the monitoring of background audio during the call.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising comparing the background audio to voice prints of well-known voices of radio or television personalities to determine that another third-party is not present in the physical vicinity of the inmate.

9. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the processor, cause the system to;

create a biometric voice print for an inmate within a correctional facility during an enrollment process;

initiate a call between the inmate and another party, wherein the inmate and the other party are both allowed to participate in the call;

continuously monitor biometric information during the call in real-time;

determine, based at least in part upon the monitored biometric information, that a handoff event has taken place while the call is ongoing; and

in response to the determination, initiate one of a plurality of different responsive actions selected from a group consisting of;

terminating the call, recording the call, recording the event, notifying at least one party to the call, and notifying correctional facility personnel.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the processor, further cause the system to create another biometric voice print for the other party prior to initiating the call.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein to determine that the handoff event has taken place, the program instructions, upon execution by the processor, further cause the system to identify the presence of a third biometric voice print corresponding to a third-party during the monitoring of the biometric information during the call, wherein the third biometric voice print is different from the biometric voice print and from the other biometric voice print, and wherein the third-party is not allowed to participate in the call.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the processor, further cause the system to determine that the third-party is in the physical vicinity of the inmate or the other party.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the determination that the handoff event has taken place occurs in response to the determination that the third-party is in the physical vicinity of the inmate or the other party.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the determination that the third-party is in the physical vicinity of the inmate or the other party is based upon the use of a location tracking device associated with the third-party.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the determination that the third-party is in the physical vicinity of the inmate or the other party is based, at least in part, upon the monitoring of background audio during the call.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the processor, further cause the system to compare the background audio to voice prints of well-known voices of radio or television personalities to determine that another third-party is not present in the physical vicinity of the inmate or the other party.

17. A memory device having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a processor of a computer system, cause the computer system to:

create a biometric voice print for an inmate within a correctional facility during an enrollment process;

initiate the call between the inmate and another party, wherein the inmate and the other party are both allowed to participate in the call;

continuously monitor biometric information during the call in real-time;

determine, based at least in part upon the monitored biometric information, that a handoff event has taken place while the call is ongoing; and

in response to the determination, initiate one of a plurality of different responsive actions selected from a group consisting of;

terminating the call, recording the call, recording the event, notifying at least one party to the call, and notifying correctional facility personnel.

18. The memory device of claim 17, wherein to determine that the handoff event has taken place, the program instructions, upon execution by the processor, further cause the computer system to identify the presence of another biometric voice print corresponding to a third-party during the monitoring of the biometric information during the call, wherein the other biometric voice print is different from the biometric voice print, and wherein the third-party is not allowed to participate in the call.

19. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the determination that the handoff event has taken place occurs in response to a determination that the third-party is in the physical vicinity of the inmate or the other party, and wherein the determination that the third-party is in the physical vicinity of the inmate or the other party is based upon the use of a location tracking device coupled to the third-party.

20. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the processor, further cause the system to determine that the third-party is in the physical vicinity of the inmate or the other party, wherein the determination that the third-party is in the physical vicinity of the inmate or the other party is based, at least in part, upon the monitoring of background audio during the call, and wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the processor, further cause the system to compare the background audio to voice prints of well-known voices of radio or television personalities to determine that another third-party is not present in the physical vicinity of the inmate or the other party.