Rules-based systems and methods for video visitation

• US 9,924,135 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2013
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Original Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Inventors: Smith, Matthew Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): El-Zoobi, Maria
• Application Number:
  US13/764,470
• Time in Patent Office: 1,863 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

Rules-based systems and methods for video visitation. In some embodiments, a method may include receiving a request for a video visitation between a resident and a non-resident of a controlled-environment facility, identifying, among a plurality of predetermined rules, one or more rules that are applicable to the request, and evaluating the request based upon the one or more identified rules.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

performing, by one or more computer systems configured to support and control video visitations by residents of a controlled-environment facility;

schedule a video visitation between a resident and a non-resident of a controlled-environment facility, wherein the resident is classified according to a privilege status;

identifying, among a plurality of predetermined rules, one or more rules that are applicable to the scheduled video visitation, wherein the one or more rules include a video visitation allotment for the resident, and further include restrictions on communication devices that the resident is permitted to utilize for video visitations;

receiving a modification to the scheduled video visitation, wherein the modification alters the location of the scheduled video visitation within the controlled-environment facility; and

evaluating the modification based upon the one or more identified rules, and based on the privilege status of the resident, wherein the evaluation modifies the video visitation allotment based on communication devices available at the new location for the video visitation and based on the privilege status of the resident.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing, by the one or more computer systems;

re-scheduling the video visitation in response to the evaluation determining that the modified visitation allotment permits the video visitation at the new location.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing, by the one or more computer systems;

cancelling the video visitation in response to the evaluation determining that the modified visitation allotment does not permit visitations at the new location.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing, by the one or more computer systems;

presenting the modified video visitation allotment to the resident or the non-resident; and

re-scheduling the video visitation in response to the resident or the non-resident accepting the modified video visitation allotment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification specifies two or more of:

an identification of the resident, an identification of the non-resident, a date of the video visitation, a time of the video visitation, a duration of the video visitation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification specifies one or more of:

an identification of one or more of a plurality of different locations for the video visitation within the controlled-environment facility, or an identification of one or more of a plurality of different video visitation terminals within the controlled-environment facility.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more identified rules prescribe one or more constraints for video visitations involving at least one of:

the resident or the non-resident.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more constraints are associated with a one of a plurality of predefined groups to which the resident or the non-resident belong.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing, by the one or more computer systems;

determining that the resident has been re-classified from a first privilege status classification to a second privilege status classification during the course of the resident'"'"'s incarceration in the controlled-environment facility; and

making the one or more constraints more or less strict based upon the determination.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the video visitation allotment indicates a maximum number of video visitations in a given time period or a maximum duration of all video visitations that the resident is allowed in a given time period.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifications to the scheduled video visitation includes changes to a visitation area within the controlled-environment facility.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifications to the scheduled video visitation includes changes to the video visitation terminal to be used by the resident.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifications to the scheduled video visitation includes changes to the time of the visitation.

11. A video visitation system, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory configured to store program instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the video visitation system to;

schedule a video visitation between a resident and a non-resident of a controlled-environment facility, wherein the resident is classified according to a privilege status and wherein video visitation limits are associated with the privilege status classification;

identify, among a plurality of predetermined rules, one or more rules that are applicable to the scheduled video visitation, wherein the one or more rules include video visitation limits for the resident, and further include restrictions on video visitation terminals that the resident is permitted to utilize for video visitations;

receive a modification to the scheduled video visitation, wherein the modification alters the location of the scheduled video visitation within the controlled-environment facility;

modify the video visitation allotment based on video visitation terminals available at the new location for the video visitation and based on the privilege status of the resident; and

re-scheduling the video visitation in response to determining that the modified visitation allotment permits the video visitation at the new location.

12. The video visitation system of claim 11, the program instructions further executable by the at least one processor to cause the video visitation system to:

identify a conflict between the scheduled video visitation and a non-scheduled event; and

cause the non-scheduled event to be terminated prior to the scheduled visitation.

13. The video visitation system of claim 12, wherein the non-scheduled event is taking place in a same video visitation terminal to be used during the scheduled video visitation.

14. The video visitation system of claim 12, wherein the non-scheduled event is taking place in an area within the controlled-environment facility where the video visitation terminal to be used during the scheduled video visitation is located.

15. A tangible computer-readable storage medium having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a computer-based video visitation system, cause the computer-based video visitation system to:

schedule a video visitation between a resident and a non-resident of a controlled-environment facility, wherein the resident is classified according to a privilege status;

identify a rule that is applicable to the scheduled video visitation, wherein the one or more rules include a video visitation allotment for the resident, and further include restrictions on communication devices that the resident is permitted to utilize for video visitations;

receive a modification to one the scheduled video visitation, wherein the modification alters the location of the scheduled video visitation within the controlled-environment facility;

modify the video visitation allotment applicable to the resident based on the communication devices available at the new location for the video visitation;

determine that the privilege status of the resident does not conform with the identified rule, including the modified video visitation allotment of the resident; and

modify the scheduled video visitation such that the privilege status of the resident conforms with the identified rule.

16. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the computer-based video visitation system to present the modified scheduled video visitation to the resident or the non-resident.

17. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the computer-based video visitation system to grant the modified scheduled video visitation in response to the resident or the non-resident accepting the modified scheduled video visitation.