Integration of cellular phone detection and reporting into a prison telephone system
First Claim
1. A cellular telephone detection system for detecting unauthorized cellular telephone usage within predetermined zones within a facility, comprising:
- a plurality of cellular telephone transmission detectors, each detector operatively associated with a predetermined zone within a facility and configured to produce a detection signal upon detection of cellular telephone transmissions within its respective predetermined zone;
an interface device coupled to each of said plurality of cellular telephone transmission detectors; and
a telephone system coupled to said interface device, wherein said telephone system is configured to receive one or more detection signals from one or more of said plurality of cellular telephone transmission detectors and to generate one or more notification messages indicative of detected cellular telephone transmissions;
wherein the notification messages comprise an identification of each detected cellular telephone transmission within its respective predetermined zone within the facility, the date and time of transmission detection, and location information identifying the respective predetermined zone within the facility in which each cellular telephone transmission was detected;
wherein the notification messages are relayed to authorized personnel of the operation of unauthorized cellular telephone usage within the predetermined zone within the facility; and
wherein one or more of said cellular telephone transmission detectors are positioned within a facility such that their respective detection zones at least partially overlap the respective detection zone of at least one other of said plurality of cellular telephone transmission detectors.
18 Assignments
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
The present subject matter is directed to an apparatus and methodology for monitoring for the occurrence of use of unauthorized telecommunications equipment within a designated area. The present subject matter has particular utility to the corrections environment in that it discloses a methodology for detecting and reporting the unauthorized operation of cellular telephones within a corrections facility. The present technology may be used advantageously in combination with inmate telephone systems to transmit information to appropriate personnel in the form of email messages and/or voice communications by way of telephone local or corrections facility external telephone lines. The present technology also provides for recordation and storage of time, date and location information for detected events.
44 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A cellular telephone detection system for detecting unauthorized cellular telephone usage within predetermined zones within a facility, comprising:
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a plurality of cellular telephone transmission detectors, each detector operatively associated with a predetermined zone within a facility and configured to produce a detection signal upon detection of cellular telephone transmissions within its respective predetermined zone; an interface device coupled to each of said plurality of cellular telephone transmission detectors; and a telephone system coupled to said interface device, wherein said telephone system is configured to receive one or more detection signals from one or more of said plurality of cellular telephone transmission detectors and to generate one or more notification messages indicative of detected cellular telephone transmissions; wherein the notification messages comprise an identification of each detected cellular telephone transmission within its respective predetermined zone within the facility, the date and time of transmission detection, and location information identifying the respective predetermined zone within the facility in which each cellular telephone transmission was detected; wherein the notification messages are relayed to authorized personnel of the operation of unauthorized cellular telephone usage within the predetermined zone within the facility; and wherein one or more of said cellular telephone transmission detectors are positioned within a facility such that their respective detection zones at least partially overlap the respective detection zone of at least one other of said plurality of cellular telephone transmission detectors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for monitoring one or more areas within a facility for unauthorized cellular telephone transmissions therein, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of cellular telephone transmission detectors, with each detector configured to produce a detection signal upon detection of cellular telephone transmissions; positioning the plurality of cellular telephone transmission detectors in a respective corresponding plurality of predetermined zones within a facility to be monitored; coupling each of said plurality of cellular telephone transmission detectors to an interface device; coupling the interface device to a telephone system; and configuring the telephone system to produce notification messages for relay to authorized personnel of the operation of unauthorized cellular telephone usage within one or more of the predetermined zones within the facility upon detection of cellular telephone transmissions by one or more of said cellular telephone transmission detectors, said notification messages specifically comprising an identification of each detected cellular telephone transmission within its respective predetermined zone within the facility and location information identifying the respective predetermined zone within the facility in which each cellular telephone transmission was detected; and wherein the step of positioning comprises positioning one or more of the cellular telephone transmission detectors such that their respective detection zones at least partially overlap the respective detection zone of at least one other of said plurality of cellular telephone transmission detectors. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An inmate telephone system for detecting unauthorized cellular telephone usage within a corrections facility, comprising;
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a plurality of cellular telephone transmission detectors, each detector operatively associated with a predetermined zone within a corrections facility and configured to produce a detection signal upon detection of cellular telephone transmissions within its respective predetermined zone; and a telephone system coupled to said plurality of cellular telephone transmission detectors, wherein said telephone system is configured to receive one or more detection signals from one or more of said plurality of cellular telephone transmission detectors and to generate one or more notification messages indicative of detected cellular telephone transmissions, said one or more notification messages specifically comprising an identification of each detected cellular telephone transmission within its respective predetermined zone, the date and time of transmission detection, and location information identifying the respective predetermined zone within the corrections facility in which each cellular telephone transmission was detected; and wherein one or more of said cellular telephone transmission detectors are positioned such that their respective detection zones within the corrections facility at least partially overlap the respective detection zone of at least one other of said plurality of cellular telephone transmission detectors. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification