Multifunction wireless device

• US 9,614,955 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2016
• 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:
  US15/261,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20160381212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 207 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
• 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 system for monitoring use of a wireless communication device in a prison facility, the system comprising one or more circuits configured to:

receive authorization information from the wireless communication device via a private network of the prison facility;

validate the wireless communication device for use with the private network based on the received authorization information;

receive a request for a communication from the wireless communication device following a successful validation of the wireless communication device;

perform the requested communication with the wireless communication device after an initial authentication of a user of the wireless communication device is performed;

perform an action to the requested communication in response to failing a continued authentication of the user of the wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device performs continued authentication that uses authentication information from the user that is provided continuously or at a given authentication interval; and

receive sensed environment information from the wireless communication device via the private network, wherein the sensed environment information is associated with monitoring activities of one or more inmates of the prison facility, wherein the sensed environment information is separate from the requested communication, and wherein the wireless communication device includes at least one sensor to provide the sensed environment information.

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

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the requested communication is performed to support a game or provide access to a music subscription.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more circuits are further configured to provide the received sensed environment information to a processing center for analysis of the the monitored activities of the one or more inmates in the prison facility.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more circuits are further configured to receive audio information from a microphone via the wireless communication device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein, the one or more circuits are further configured to place an outbound phone call based on a request from the wireless communication device or forward an inbound phone call to the wireless communication device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the requested communication is performed to support an interactive educational course at least interfaced through the wireless communication device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the performed action is to terminate the requested communication.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more circuits are further configured to remotely configure the wireless communication device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more circuits are further configured to:

validate an outbound phone call requested by the wireless communication device, where the call validation is based on one or more of call blocking, payment confirmation and restriction detection; and

place the outbound phone call based on a successful call validation.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the performed action is to lock down the wireless communication device.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the authentication information includes a passcode.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the authentication information includes facial information.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the authentication information includes fingerprint information.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the authentication information includes voice information.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensed environment information originates from a location sensor, a movement sensor, a visual sensor or an audio sensor.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensed environment information includes monitored conversations occurring when the wireless communication device is powered off.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more circuits are further configured to:

remotely activate the wireless communication device to provide the sensed environment information associated with monitoring the activities of the one or more inmates of the prison facility.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the requested communication is one or more of telephonic communication and video communication.

11. A method for monitoring a wireless communication device in a prison facility, the method comprising:

receiving authorization information from the wireless communication device via a private network of the prison facility;

validating the wireless communication device for use with the private network based on the received authorization information;

receiving a request for a communication from the wireless communication device following a successful validation of the wireless communication device;

performing the requested communication with the wireless communication device after an initial authentication of a user of the wireless communication device is performed;

performing an action to the requested communication in response to failing a continued authentication of the user of the wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device performs continued authentication that uses authentication information from the user that is provided continuously or at a given authentication interval; and

receiving sensed environment information from the wireless communication device via the private network, wherein the sensed environment information is associated with monitoring activities of one or more inmates of the prison facility, wherein the sensed environment information is separate from the requested communication, and wherein the wireless communication device includes at least one sensor to provide the sensed environment information.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing remote control of the wireless communication device by administration personnel.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the requested communication is performed to support a game or provide access to a music subscription.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing the received sensed environment information to a processing center for analysis of the the monitored activities of the one or more inmates in the prison facility.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving audio information from a microphone via the wireless communication device.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

placing an outbound phone call based on a request from the wireless communication device or forwarding an inbound phone call to the wireless communication device.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the requested communication is performed to support an interactive educational course at least interfaced through the wireless communication device.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the performed action is to terminate the requested communication.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

remotely configuring the wireless communication device.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

validating an outbound phone call requested by the wireless communication device, where the call validation is based on one or more of call blocking, payment confirmation and restriction detection; and

placing the outbound phone call based on a successful call validation.

30. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

remotely activating the wireless communication device to provide the sensed environment information associated with monitoring the activities of the one or more inmates of the prison facility.