Interception of unauthorized communications in an controlled-environment facility

• US 9,916,462 B1
• Filed: 11/18/2013
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Original Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Inventors: Edwards, Adam C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cervetti, David Garca
• Application Number:
  US14/082,550
• Time in Patent Office: 1,576 Days
• Field of Search: 726 27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/554 involving event detection and direct action
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/304 intercepting circuit switched data communications lawful interception of wireless network communications H04W12/02

Abstract

The present embodiments describe methods and systems for intercepting unauthorized communications in a controlled-environment facility. Unauthorized communications may originate from contraband cell phones, for example. In an embodiment, attempted communications from the contraband communication device are intercepted by the facility communication systems. The attempted communication may or may not be connected or completed, depending upon facility rules, policies, and regulations.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

intercepting a communication of an unauthorized communication device operating within a controlled-environment facility;

routing the communication to a communications processing system associated with the controlled-environment facility;

presenting an admonishment to a user of the unauthorized communication device to warn the user that the communication has been intercepted, the admonishment comprising a statement that charges will apply for the communication;

facilitating the communication through the communications processing system;

and

billing for the communication as though the unauthorized communication device were a standard controlled-environment facility communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising covertly monitoring the communication.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the admonishment comprises a statement that the communication may be monitored.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein billing for the communication further comprises obtaining account information for applying charges associated with the communication.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording information associated with the communication in a data storage device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising installing a surveillance utility on the unauthorized communication device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining whether additional surveillance is desired or required by the controlled-environment facility; and

installing the surveillance utility on the unauthorized communication device is in response to determining additional surveillance is desired or required by the controlled-environment facility.

8. A system comprising:

a communication processing system configured to process communications to and from communication devices within a controlled-environment facility; and

communication security device coupled to the communication processing system, the communication security device configured to;

intercept a communication of an unauthorized communication device operating within a controlled-environment facility;

route the communication to the communications processing system associated with the controlled-environment facility;

present an admonishment to the user of the unauthorized communication device to warn the user that the communication has been intercepted, the admonishment comprising a statement that charges will apply for the communication;

facilitate the communication through the communications processing system;

monitor the communication; and

scan the communication for key words.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the communication security device is further configured to covertly monitor the communication.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the admonishment comprises a statement that the communication may be monitored.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the communication security device is further configured to obtain account information to bill for the communication as though the unauthorized communication device were a standard controlled-environment facility communication device.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the communication security device is further configured to record information associated with the communication in a data storage device.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the communication security device is further configured to install a surveillance utility on the unauthorized communication device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the communication security device is further configured to:

determine whether additional surveillance is desired or required by the controlled-environment facility; and

install the surveillance utility on the unauthorized communication device in response to determining additional surveillance is desired or required by the controlled-environment facility.

15. A computer implemented method comprising:

monitoring at least one communications access point associated with a controlled-environment facility for a communication from unauthorized communication device operating within the controlled-environment facility;

routing the communication to a communications processing system associated with the controlled-environment facility;

determining whether communication from the unauthorized device is allowed;

blocking the unauthorized communication in response to a determination that communication from the unauthorized device is not allowed;

determining whether the communication is to be covertly monitored;

presenting at least one admonishment to a user of the unauthorized communication device stating that the communication has been intercepted and that charges will apply for the communication and obtaining billing information for the communication from the user, in response to a determination that the communication is not to be covertly monitored; and

connecting the communication from the unauthorized communication device, in response to a determination that the communication is to be covertly monitored or following obtaining the billing information for the communication from the user.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 15, further comprising monitoring a resulting connected communication, following connecting the communication.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining whether additional surveillance is desired or required by the controlled-environment facility; and

installing a surveillance utility on the unauthorized communication device is in response to determining additional surveillance is desired or required by the controlled-environment facility.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 15, further comprising installing a surveillance utility on the unauthorized communication device.