Multifunction wireless device

• US 9,614,954 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2015
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Tel-Link Corporation
• Original Assignee: Global Tel-Link Corporation
• Inventors: Hodge, Stephen, Johnson, Garth, McNitt, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): SIVJI, NIZAR N
• Application Number:
  US14/935,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20160066182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/305 by remotely controlling device operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/082 applying multi-factor authentication cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• 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 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724631 by limiting the access to the user interface, e.g. locking a touch-screen or a keypad
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8235 Access based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2033 Call handling or answering restrictions, e.g. specified by the calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6045 Identity confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
• 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 3/42025 : Calling or Called party identification service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 : Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4365 : based on information specified by the calling party, e.g. priority or subject
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 : Continuous authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 : using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A communication device and system are disclosed for providing communication and data services to residents of a controlled facility. The device can be restricted to communicating only using an internet protocol so as to restrict the device communication to an internal intranet. Wireless access points may be disposed throughout the environment to route calls and data between the device and a central processing center. By converting a protocol of the communications received from the device to a protocol used by the central processing center, minimal modifications to the central processing center are needed to support a wireless communication infrastructure. Many restrictions and safeguards may be implemented within the phone and system in order to prevent improper use.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device for use in a controlled environment, the wireless communication device comprising:

one or more circuits and/or processors, including;

a communication module configured to restrict communication capabilities of the wireless communication device to be able to communicate using only an internet protocol; and

an authentication module configured to;

authenticate a user of the wireless communication device;

lock the wireless communication device upon a failed authentication; and

while the wireless communication device is in a powered-off mode,

sense, via at least one sensor, audio and visual information of the environment;

receive, via a monitoring module coupled to the at least one sensor, the sensed audio and visual information from the at least one sensor;

analyze the sensed environment information, the analyzing comprising detecting spoken keywords; and

store the sensed environment information,

wherein at least the at least one sensor and the monitoring module are powered on during the powered-off mode.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the one or more circuits and/or processors are further configured to provide control of the wireless communication device to administration personnel.

3. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein the administration personnel controls the wireless communication device remotely.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the one or more circuits and/or processors are further configured to receive at least one biometric input from the user.

5. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising a microphone configured to receive the audio information from the environment.

6. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the one or more circuits and/or processors are further configured to lock the wireless communication device upon making a determination that the wireless communication device has been lost.

7. The wireless communication device of claim 6, wherein the one or more processors and/or circuits are further configured to determine that the wireless communication device has been lost after a predetermined period of time has lapsed since its last use.

8. A wireless communication device for use in a controlled environment, the wireless communication device comprising:

one or more processors and/or circuits configured to;

facilitate communication with a central processing center;

restrict communication capabilities of the wireless communication device to only be over a controlled environment network;

perform an initial authentication of a user of the wireless communication device;

permit use of the wireless communication device after the user has been successfully authenticated;

in response to the user carrying out a predetermined process on the wireless communication device, perform a continuous authentication of the user during the predetermined process; and

while the wireless communication device is in a powered-off mode;

detect audio and visual information from the controlled environment; and

analyze the audio and visual information to detect spoken keywords,

wherein at least components necessary for detecting the audio and visual information, and for performing the analyzing of the audio and visual information, are powered on during the powered-off mode.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 8, wherein the initial authentication authenticates the user by:

receiving a first type of personal information from the user;

receiving a second type of personal information from the user;

comparing the received first type of personal information to a stored first type of personal information associated with a claimed identity of the user;

comparing the received second type of personal information to a stored second type of personal information associated with the claimed identity of the user;

determining that the received first type of personal information sufficiently matches the stored first type of personal information; and

determining that the received second type of personal information sufficiently matches the stored second type of personal information.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 9, further comprising:

a first input device for receiving the first type of personal information; and

a second input device for receiving the second type of personal information.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 8, wherein the predetermined process is at least one of participating on a phone call or accessing the internet.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 8, further comprising:

an independent power source,

wherein the one or more processors and/or circuits are further configured to;

monitor, using the independent power source, an elapsed time since the wireless communication device was last used;

determine that the elapsed time exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

set the wireless communication device to a permanent lockdown in response to the determination.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors and/or circuits are further configured to:

receive an administrative override instruction from the central processing center; and

in response to the administrative override instruction, remove control of the wireless communication device from the user and provide control to a remote administrator.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors and/or circuits are further configured to:

monitor an elapsed time since the wireless communication device was last used;

determine that the elapsed time exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

set the wireless communication device to a permanent lockdown in response to the determination.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 14, further comprising an independent power source.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 15, wherein the independent power source performs the monitoring.

17. The wireless communication device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors and/or circuits are further configured to:

receive an administrative override instruction from a remote administrator having administrative privileges; and

in response to the administrative override instruction;

remove control of the wireless communication device from the user; and

provide control of the wireless communication device to the remote administrator.

18. A wireless communication device for use in a controlled environment, the wireless communication device comprising:

one or more processors and/or circuits configured to;

communicate with a central processing center;

restrict communication capabilities of the wireless communication device to be able to communicate only over a controlled environment network;

initially authenticate a user of the wireless communication device;

permit use of the wireless communication device in response to completion of the initially authenticating the user;

continuously authenticate the user during the use of the wireless communication device; and

while the wireless communication device is in a powered-off mode,

detect audio and visual information from the controlled environment; and

analyze the audio and visual information for investigative purposes, the analyzing detecting spoken keywords,

wherein at least components necessary for detecting the audio and visual information, and for performing the analyzing of the audio and visual information, are powered on during the powered-off mode.

19. The wireless communication device of claim 18, wherein the initial authentication authenticates the user by:

receiving a first type of personal information and a second type of personal information from the user;

comparing the first type of personal information and the second type of personal information to corresponding first and second types of stored personal information associated with a claimed identity of the user; and

determining that the comparisons each sufficiently match to a predetermined degree.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 19, further comprising:

a first input device for receiving the first type of personal information; and

a second input device for receiving the second type of personal information.