Systems and processes for scheduling and conducting audio/video communications

• US 7,256,816 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2004
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Tel-Link Corporation
• Original Assignee: 3V Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Profanchik, John D., Whitebread, Alan L., Boyd, Sandra L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah; Melur
• Application Number:
  US10/973,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20060087554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 141, 379/114.03, 379/114.16, 379/114.2, 379/202.01, 379/210.01, 709/204, 370260-263, 715/753
• US Class Current: 348/14.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods of scheduling and conducting video visits, as well as computer architecture for providing such scheduling and conducting, where the participants in the visit are not required or able to interact with the audio/video equipment for the initial connection to start the video visit. In some embodiments, participants are also not able to interact with the equipment during the actual visit, and thus the equipment employed during the video visit may be isolated from physical contact by the participants. To initiate or terminate a video visit, a data center establishes a data connection with each participant, and thus the flow of data between the participants moves across a computer network and via the data center. The visit may be monitored in virtually real-time by splitting the data transmitted between the participants and sending it to a monitoring terminal, rather than establishing a separate connection for the monitoring.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a video visit between at least a first participant and a second participant located at distinct endpoints, the method comprising:

establishing a first data connection from a data center and the first participant at a scheduled time;

establishing a second data connection from the data center and the second participant at the scheduled time, the first and second participants visiting via the first and second data connections;

capturing video and audio as original communications data from the first and second participants;

transmitting the original communications data to and from the first and second participants across a computer network via the data center;

splitting along the first or second data connection either the communications data transmitted from one of the first and second participants to the data center, or the communications data transmitted to the one of the first and second participants from the data center, to create a copy of the video and audio communications data from the original video and audio communications data; and

monitoring the video visit by receiving the copy of the communications data at a monitoring station substantially simultaneously with the transmitting of the original communications data to and from the one of the first and second participants.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the splitting comprises splitting the original communications data with a multiplexing means.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the first and second participants are positioned at respective first and second geographic locations, and the data center is positioned at a third geographic location.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the multiplexing means is positioned at the first, second, or third geographic location.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the monitoring further comprises monitoring at the location of the multiplexing means.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising recording the communications data by receiving the copied communications data with recording equipment.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the splitting comprises splitting the communications data with a multiplexing means.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the recording equipment is positioned at the location of the multiplexing means.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the recording equipment is located with the data center.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the scheduled time is determined based on an availability of the first or second participant.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second participant is a prison inmate and the first participant is visitor of the prison inmate.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring further comprises monitoring a plurality of video visits at the same time.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising selecting audio from one of the plurality of video visits during the monitoring.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the computer network is a packet-based computer network.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the packet-based computer network is the Internet.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second data connections comprise wired or wireless high-speed data communications links.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the high-speed data communications links are selected from the group consisting of a T1 line, a T3 line, a T4 line, DSL, SHDSL, DS3, OC3, and a satellite communications link.

18. A method according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether the second participant is authorized to communicate with the first participant before establishing the first and second data connections.

19. A method according to claim 1, further comprising verifying the identity of the first or second participant before establishing the first and second data connections.

20. A method according to claim 19, further comprising verifying the identity of the first or second participant using a biometric device.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the biometric device is selected from the group consisting of a finger print reader, a retina scan reader, a face mapping device, a voice recognition device, and a signature comparison device.

22. A method according to claim 1, further comprising determining if sufficient monetary funds have been paid for the video visit before establishing the first and second data connections.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the funds have been paid by the first participant or second participant.

24. A method according to claim 22, wherein the funds have been paid using at least one selected from the group consisting of wire transfers, electronic fund transfers, currency, bank draft, and money order.

25. A method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying rules for participating in the video visit to the first and second participants during the video visit.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the rules pertain to prohibited conduct during the video visit.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the monitoring further comprises terminating the video visit based on a rules violation.

28. A method according to claim 27, further comprising noting the termination on a status of the second participant, the noting affecting availability of the second participant to engage in a future video visit.

29. A method according to claim 1, wherein transmitting further comprises transmitted encrypted communications data.

30. A system for monitoring a video visit between at least a first participant and a second participant located at distinct endpoints, the system comprising:

a data center connected to a computer network;

a first terminal associated with the first participant and configured to capture video and audio as original communications data from the first participant during the video visit;

a second terminal associated with the second participant and configured to capture video and audio as further original communications data from the second participant during the video visit;

a first data connection between the data center and the first terminal established by the data center at a scheduled time;

a second data connection between the data center and the second terminal established by the data center at the scheduled time;

transmitting means configured to transmit all of the original communications data to and from the first and second participants across the computer network and via the data center;

multiplexing means along the first or second data connection configured to split either the original communications data transmitted from one of the first or second participants to the data center, or the original communications data transmitted to the one of the first or second participants from the data center, to create a copy of the video and audio communications data from the original video and audio communications data; and

a third terminal connected to the multiplexing means and configured to receive the copy of the communications data substantially simultaneously with the transmitting of all of the original communications data to and from the one of the first and second participants for use in monitoring the video visit.

31. A system according to claim 30, wherein the first and second participants are positioned at respective first and second geographic locations, and the data center is positioned at a third geographic location.

32. A system according to claim 31, wherein the first terminal is connected to the data center via a first local area network, and the second terminal is connected to the data center via a second local area network.

33. A system according to claim 32, wherein the multiplexing means is positioned at the first, second, or third geographic location.

34. A system according to claim 33, wherein the third terminal is positioned proximate to the location of the multiplexing means.

35. A system according to claim 30, further comprising recording equipment configured to receive and record the copied communications data.

36. A system according to claim 35, further comprising another multiplexing means for copying the communications data transmitted to the recording equipment.

37. A system according to claim 36, wherein the recording equipment is positioned at the location of the multiplexing means.

38. A system according to claim 37, wherein the recording equipment is located with the data center.

39. A system according to claim 30, wherein the scheduled time is determined based on an availability of the first or second participant.

40. A system according to claim 30, wherein the second participant is a prison inmate and the first participant is visitor of the prison inmate.

41. A system according to claim 30, wherein the third terminal is configured to receive communications data comprising a plurality of video visits at the same time.

42. A system according to claim 41, wherein the third terminal is further configured to selectively provide audio from only one of the plurality of video visits during monitoring.

43. A system according to claim 30, wherein the computer network is a packet-based computer network.

44. A system according to claim 43, wherein the packet-based computer network is the Internet.

45. A system according to claim 30, wherein the first and second data connections comprise wired or wireless high-speed data communications links.

46. A system according to claim 45, wherein the high-speed data communications links are selected from the group consisting of a T1 line, a T3 line, a T4 line, DSL, SHDSL, DS3, OC3, and a satellite communications link.

47. A system according to claim 30, wherein the data center further comprises managing equipment configured to determine whether the second participant is authorized to communicate with the first participant before the first and second data connections are established.

48. A system according to claim 30, wherein the data center further comprises authentication equipment configured to verify the identity of the first or second participant before the first and second data connections are established.

49. A system according to claim 48, wherein the authentication equipment comprises a biometric device.

50. A system according to claim 49, wherein the biometric device is selected from the group consisting of a finger print reader, a retina scan reader, a face mapping device, a voice recognition device, and a signature comparison device.

51. A system according to claim 30, wherein the data center further comprises payment equipment configured to determine if sufficient monetary funds have been paid for the video visit before establishing the first and second data connections.

52. A system according to claim 51, wherein the funds have been paid by the first participant or the second participant.

53. A system according to claim 51, wherein the funds have been paid using at least one selected from the group consisting of wire transfers, electronic fund transfers, currency, bank draft, and money order.

54. A system according to claim 30, wherein the multiplexing means is embodied in hardware, software, or a combination of both.

55. A system according to claim 30, wherein the communications data is encrypted communications data.