Multifunction wireless device

• US 9,661,128 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2016
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• 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): Smithers, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US15/260,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20160381556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 256 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 prison facility, the wireless communication device comprising:

a communication module configured to limit wireless communication to the wireless communication device over a wireless network of the prison facility;

an authentication module configured to;

perform an initial authentication of an inmate user of the wireless communication device,

permit the wireless communication by the wireless communication device after performing the initial authentication of the inmate user of the wireless communication device, and

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

a monitoring module coupled to at least one sensor, the monitoring module configured to;

receive sensed environment information from the at least one sensor, wherein the sensed environment information is associated with monitoring activities of one or more inmates of the prison facility, wherein the one or more inmates are distinct from the inmate user, and

at least one of analyze and store the sensed environment information.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising an administrative authentication module configured to provide remote control of the wireless communication device to administration personnel.

3. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the authentication information is biometric authentication information.

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

5. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising a microphone configured to receive audio information from at least one of the inmate user and an environment of the prison facility, wherein

the monitoring module receives environment audio information from the microphone.

6. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising a lost device module configured to determine that the wireless communication device has been lost after a predetermined period of time associated with a use of the wireless communication device has lapsed and lock the wireless communication device upon determining that the wireless communication device has been lost.

7. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication is performed to receive a game or provide access to music.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein information used for the initial authentication is non-biometric identifying information.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 8, wherein the authentication information used for the continued authentication is biometric identifying information.

10. A wireless communication device for use in a prison facility, the wireless communication device comprising:

one or more circuits configured to;

facilitate communication with a central processing center,

restrict wireless communication to a wireless network of the prison facility,

perform an initial authentication of an inmate user of the wireless communication device,

permit the wireless communication after performing the initial authentication of the inmate user,

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

receive sensed environment information from at least one sensor coupled to the one or more circuits, wherein the sensed environment information is associated with monitoring activities of one or more inmates of the prison facility, wherein the one or more inmates are distinct from the inmate user, and

at least one of analyze and store the sensed environment information.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the initial authentication authenticates the inmate user by:

receiving a first type of personal information from the inmate user;

receiving a second type of personal information from the inmate user;

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

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

determining that the received first type of personal information matches to a first predetermined degree of the stored first type of personal information; and

determining that the received second type of personal information matches to a second predetermined degree of the stored second type of personal information.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 11, 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.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the predetermined process is at least one of participating on a phone call or accessing an internet.

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

an independent power source,

wherein the one or more 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.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the one or more 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 inmate user and provide control to a remote administrator.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the one or more 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.

17. The wireless communication device of claim 16, further comprising an independent power source to perform the monitoring.

18. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the wireless communication is performed to support an interactive course at least interfaced through the wireless communication device.

19. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the one or more 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 inmate user; and

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

20. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein information used for the initial authentication is non-biometric identifying information.

21. The wireless communication device of claim 20, wherein the authentication information used for the continued authentication is biometric identifying information.

22. A wireless communication device for use in a prison facility, the wireless communication device comprising:

one or more circuits configured to;

communicate with a central processing center;

limit wireless communication to a wireless network of the prison facility;

initially authenticate an inmate user of the wireless communication device;

permit the wireless communication in response to completion of the initial authentication of the inmate user;

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

receive sensed environment information from at least one sensor coupled to the one or more circuits, wherein the sensed environment information is associated with monitoring activities of one or more inmates of the prison facility, wherein the one or more inmates are distinct from the inmate user, and

at least one of analyze and store the sensed environment information.

23. The wireless communication device of claim 22, wherein the initial authentication authenticates the inmate user by:

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

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

24. The wireless communication device of claim 23, 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.

25. A wireless communication device for use in a prison facility, the wireless communication device comprising:

a communication module configured to limit wireless communication to the wireless communication device over a wireless network of the prison facility;

an authentication module configured to;

perform an initial authentication of an inmate user of the wireless communication device,

permit the wireless communication by the wireless communication device after performing the initial authentication of the inmate user of the wireless communication device, and

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

a monitoring module coupled to at least one sensor, the monitoring module configured to receive sensed environment information from the at least one sensor and at least one of analyze and store the sensed environment information; and

an administration authentication module configured to provide remote control of the wireless communication device to administration personnel.

26. The wireless communication device of claim 25, wherein the authentication information is biometric authentication information.

27. The wireless communication device of claim 25, wherein the wireless communication to the wireless communication device is performed to support an interactive course at least interfaced through the wireless communication device.

28. The wireless communication device of claim 25, further comprising a lost device module configured to determine that the wireless communication device has been lost after a predetermined period of time associated with a use of the wireless communication device has lapsed and lock the wireless communication device upon determining that the wireless communication device has been lost.

29. The wireless communication device of claim 25, wherein the wireless communication is performed to receive a game or provide access to music.

30. The wireless communication device of claim 25, wherein the remote control permits a configuration of the wireless communication device to be changed.