Secure video visitation system

• US 9,681,097 B1
• Filed: 01/20/2016
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Tel-Link Corporation
• Original Assignee: Global Tel-Link Corporation
• Inventors: Hodge, Stephen L., Bambocci, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US15/002,073
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1416
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1059 End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/50 Telephonic communication in combination with video communication
• 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 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/385 using speech signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

Video conferencing in a controlled environment facility entails significant security concerns. These concerns are even more prevalent in a system that permits residents of such facilities to communicate via their own personal devices. Therefore, in order to alleviate these concerns and provide a secure system in which a resident is able to make video calls using their personal device, a kiosk unit is provided to which the personal device must be linked for completing a video call. When making the video call, the camera and display on the personal device are disabled, and all video data is captured and displayed by the kiosk unit. The link between the kiosk unit and the personal device facilitates the exchange of the image information for transmission to the outside party, or display to the user. By providing a fixed camera, and disabling the personal device camera, security can be maintained while permitting video calling services.

Claims

1. A personal electronics device, comprising:

an image capture device;

a display device;

an input control device;

a kiosk interface configured to interface with an external device via a communication link;

a communication device configured to communicate with a server; and

one or more processors and/or circuits configured to;

disable at least one of the image capture device or the display device in response to the kiosk interface interfacing with the external device;

establish a video call connection with a called party;

receive incoming video call data via the communication device;

output the received video call data to the external device via the kiosk interface;

receive outgoing video call data from the external device via the kiosk interface; and

transmit the outgoing video call data to the server via the communication device.

2. The personal electronics device of claim 1, wherein the received incoming video call data is received from the called party.

3. The personal electronics device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors and/or circuits are configured to disable both the image capture device and the display device.

4. The personal electronics device of claim 1, further comprising a biometric data capture device,

wherein the one or more processors and/or circuits are further configured to authenticate a user using biometric data acquired by the biometric data capture device.

5. The personal electronics device of claim 4, wherein the image capture device includes the biometric data capture device, and

wherein the biometric data capture device captures the biometric data prior to the image capture device being disabled.

6. The personal electronics device of claim 5, wherein the biometric data includes at least one of faceprint or iris data.

7. The personal electronics device of claim 1, wherein the communication link is a hardwired link, and

wherein the communication device communicates wirelessly with the server.

8. A video calling kiosk, comprising:

a display;

an image capture device;

a device interface; and

one or more processors and/or circuits configured to;

establish a communication link with an inmate device via the device interface;

enable the display and the image capture device in response to the establishing of the communication link;

capture image data using the image capture device;

forward the captured image data to the inmate device via the device interface;

receive image data from the inmate device via the device interface; and

display the received image data using the display.

9. The video calling kiosk of claim 8, further comprising a communication device configured to communicate with a central server.

10. The video calling kiosk of claim 9, wherein the device interface is configured to receive authentication data from the inmate device, and

wherein the communication device is configured to transmit the received authentication data to the central server.

11. The video calling kiosk of claim 9, wherein the communication device is configured to connect a video call to an outside party, and

wherein the communication device is configured to disconnect the video call upon detecting that the communication link with the inmate device has been severed.

12. The video calling kiosk of claim 8, wherein the device interface is configured to transmit captured image data to the inmate device via the communication link.

13. The video calling kiosk of claim 12, wherein the device interface is configured to receive image data from the inmate device via the communication link.

14. The video calling kiosk of claim 13, wherein the display is configured to display the received image data.

15. A method for video calling, the method comprising:

establishing a communication link between a personal device and a kiosk device;

enabling a camera and a display of the kiosk device in response to the establishing of the communication link;

disabling a camera and a display of the personal device in response to the establishing of the communication link;

capturing image data using the camera of the kiosk device; and

transmitting the captured image data to a central server.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmitting of the captured image data is performed by the kiosk device.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising forwarding the captured image data to the personal device via the communication link.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the personal device performs the transmitting of the captured image data to the central server.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

the personal device receiving incoming image data from the central server; and

the personal device transferring the incoming image data to the kiosk device via the communication link.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the kiosk device displaying the received incoming image data on the display of the kiosk device.