U.S. patent application number 15/418167 was filed with the patent office on 2017-05-18 for video mail between residents of controlled-environment facilities and non-residents.
This patent application is currently assigned to Securus Technologies, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Securus Technologies, Inc.. Invention is credited to Ligit Koodarathil Mathew, Russell Wayne Roberts, Matthew Richard Smith.
Application Number | 20170142368 15/418167 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58227611 |
Filed Date | 2017-05-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170142368 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smith; Matthew Richard ; et
al. |
May 18, 2017 |
VIDEO MAIL BETWEEN RESIDENTS OF CONTROLLED-ENVIRONMENT FACILITIES
AND NON-RESIDENTS
Abstract
Providing video mail to and from residents of
controlled-environment facilities may include presenting a resident
or non-resident a user interface and receiving a selection to send
video mail. Whereupon, the user may be offered a selection to
either upload a video or image or to capture a video or image. A
selection by the user is accepted and in response to a selection to
upload a video or image file, the user may be presented a file
selection interface to enter a video or image filename and/or
browse for a video or image file. In response to a selection to
capture a video or image, the user may be presented a video or
image capture interface for capturing the video or image, such as
by using a camera of the host device. The selected or recorded
video or image may then be uploaded and presented to the recipient
for viewing.
Inventors: |
Smith; Matthew Richard;
(McKinney, TX) ; Roberts; Russell Wayne;
(Colleyville, TX) ; Mathew; Ligit Koodarathil;
(Flower Mound, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Securus Technologies, Inc. |
Dallas |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Securus Technologies, Inc.
Dallas
TX
|
Family ID: |
58227611 |
Appl. No.: |
15/418167 |
Filed: |
January 27, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14507627 |
Oct 6, 2014 |
9596366 |
|
|
15418167 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/42 20130101; H04N
5/765 20130101; G06F 3/04847 20130101; H04N 7/147 20130101; G10L
17/00 20130101; G06F 3/04842 20130101; G06K 9/00288 20130101; H04N
1/00127 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 7/14 20060101
H04N007/14; G06F 3/0484 20060101 G06F003/0484; H04N 5/765 20060101
H04N005/765 |
Claims
1. A method for providing an inmate of a correctional facility with
video mail services, comprising: providing the inmate with a
graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface is
configured to allow the inmate to send a video message to a
non-inmate, wherein the graphical user interface allows the inmate
to select the video message by uploading a recorded video message
file and wherein the graphical user interface further allows the
inmate to generate the video message by recording a video file;
confirming the identify of a participant in the video message as
the inmate; dispatching an alert if the participant cannot be
confirmed as the inmate; and sending the video message to a
graphical user interface provided to the non-inmate, if the
participant is confirmed as the inmate.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an amount
of storage required to store the video message for delivery to the
non-inmate; and determining a storage limit applicable to the video
message; and providing the inmate an option to increase the
applicable storage limit via the provided graphical user
interface.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the storage limit applicable to
the video message comprises a storage duration, after which time
the video message will be deleted.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the storage limit applicable to
the video message comprises a file size.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein the option to increase the
applicable storage limit is provided if the required storage for
the video message is determined to exceed the applicable storage
limit.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, wherein the identity
of the participant in the video message is confirmed based on
biometric recognition information associated with the inmate.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein biometric recognition information
is used to compare the biometric recognition information of the
inmate versus information describing the participant in the video
message.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the biometric recognition
information comprises one or more of speech recognition information
and facial recognition information.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising; providing an
investigative graphical user interface configured to allow review
of the video message prior to sending the video message to the
non-inmate and further configured to receive the alert.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the alert identifies a
particular portion of video message that contains prohibited
content.
11. A system for providing an inmate of a correctional facility
with video mail services, the system comprising: one or more
processors; and a memory device coupled to the one or more
processors, the memory device storing computer-readable
instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors,
cause the system to: provide the inmate with a graphical user
interface, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to
allow the inmate to send a video message to a non-inmate, wherein
the graphical user interface allows the inmate to select the video
message by uploading a recorded video message file and wherein the
graphical user interface further allows the inmate to generate the
video message by recording a video file; confirm the identify of a
participant in the video message as the inmate; dispatch an alert
if the participant cannot be confirmed as the inmate; and send the
video message to a graphical user interface provided to the
non-inmate, if the participant is confirmed as the inmate.
12. The system of claim 11, further comprising: determine an amount
of storage required to store the video message for delivery to the
non-inmate; and determine a storage limit applicable to the video
message; and provide the inmate an option to increase the
applicable storage limit via the provided graphical user
interface.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the storage limit applicable to
the video message comprises a storage duration, after which time
the video message will be deleted.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the storage limit applicable to
the video message comprises a file size.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the option to increase the
applicable storage limit is provided if the required storage for
the video message is determined to exceed the applicable storage
limit.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein the identity of the participant
in the video message is confirmed based on biometric recognition
information associated with the inmate.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein biometric recognition
information is used to compare the biometric recognition
information of the inmate versus information describing the
participant in the video message.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the biometric recognition
information comprises one or more of speech recognition information
and facial recognition information.
19. The system of claim 11, the memory device storing additional
computer-readable instructions that, upon execution by the one or
more processors, further cause the system to: provide an
investigative graphical interface allowing review of the video
message prior to sending the video message to the non-inmate
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the investigative graphical
interface allows the identification of particular portions of video
message that include prohibited content.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claims priority to, and is a
continuation of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/507,627 filed
on Oct. 6, 2014 and titled "Video Mail Between Residents of
Controlled-Environment Facilities and Non-Residents," which is
herein incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to communications
to and from residents of controlled-environment facilities,
specifically to communications sent from and to outside parties to
and from residents of controlled-environment facilities, and
particularly to video mail sent to and from outside parties from
and to residents of controlled-environment facilities.
BACKGROUND
[0003] According to the International Centre for Prison Studies,
the United States has the highest prison population per capita in
the world. In 2009, for example, 1 out of every 135 U.S. residents
was incarcerated. Generally, inmates convicted of felony offenses
serve long sentences in prison (e.g., federal or state prisons),
whereas those convicted of misdemeanors receive shorter sentences
to be served in jail (e.g., county jail). In either case, while
awaiting trial, a suspect or accused may remain incarcerated.
During his or her incarceration, an inmate may have opportunities
to communicate with the outside world.
[0004] By allowing prisoners to have some contact with friends and
family while incarcerated, the justice system aims to facilitate
their transition back into society upon release. Traditional forms
of contact include telephone calls, in-person visitation, conjugal
visits, etc. More recently, technological advances have allowed
jails and prisons to provide other types of communication,
including individual-to-individual videoconferences and online chat
sessions.
[0005] Traditional communication services provided to residents of
controlled-environment facilities (such as correctional facilities)
may include allowing residents (inmates) to place outbound phone
calls to non-residents of the controlled-environment facility.
Additionally, non-residents can typically schedule video visitation
with residents (inmates) of the controlled-environment facility.
Other types of communication available to controlled-environment
residents include the ability to exchange email and canned text
messages between residents and non-residents of the
controlled-environment facility.
[0006] To enable these various types of communications, a jail or
prison may install communication devices in different parts of the
facility. Such communication devices are dedicated to provide
inmate contact with the outside world. These devices are located in
different areas throughout the facility. Traditionally,
controlled-environment facility communication vendors have provided
services that allow residents of a controlled-environment facility
to initiate phone calls. This is typically referred to as an inmate
outbound call. Alternatively, non-residents of a
controlled-environment facility can pay for a scheduled video
visitation event to occur where both the resident and the
non-resident log into a video visitation application at the
scheduled time to have a video conversation.
[0007] Basically, all of these forms of communication aim to
facilitate communication between a resident of a
controlled-environment facility and a non-resident. There have
traditionally been few, mechanisms for outside parties, even family
members, to initiate communication with a resident of a
controlled-environment facility. Use of an intermediary such as a
common family member or friend of the resident is often
challenging, since in many cases the resident would typically need
to initiate an outbound communication to the intermediary before
the resident could be given the message. Thus, constituents have no
practical method to maintain proactive contact with residents of a
controlled-environment facility due to these limitations in terms
of communication options.
SUMMARY
[0008] The present invention is directed to systems and methods,
which provide video mail from non-residents to residents of the
controlled-environment facility and/or from controlled-environment
facility residents to non-residents. Embodiments of the
controlled-environment facility communication systems and methods
present the non-resident a user interface, such as on a
non-resident device, which may be a personnel communications device
such as a smartphone, media player, tablet, personal computer, or
any other device capable of technology for capturing or sharing
video, images, or the like. The present systems and methods may
receive a selection of the non-resident, via the user interface, to
send non-resident video mail to a resident of a
controlled-environment facility, whereupon the non-resident may be
offered, via the user interface, a selection to either upload a
non-resident video or image or to capture a non-resident video or
image. The present systems and methods may then accept from the
non-resident the selection via the user interface to upload the
non-resident video or image or to capture the non-resident video or
image. In response to a selection by the non-resident to upload a
non-resident video or image file, the non-resident may be
presented, via the user interface, a non-resident file selection
interface to enter a non-resident video or image filename and/or
browse for a non-resident video or image file. However, in response
to a selection by the non-resident to capture a non-resident video
or image, the non-resident may be presented a non-resident video or
image capture interface, via the user interface, for capturing the
non-resident video or image, via the non-resident video or image
capture interface, such as by using a camera of the non-resident
device.
[0009] The selected or recorded non-resident video or image may be
uploaded and presented to the resident of the
controlled-environment facility for viewing using the
controlled-environment facility communications system, or the like,
or alternatively, a resident media device approved and/or adapted
for use in the controlled-environment facility by the resident.
[0010] The resident may be presented a resident interface on a
terminal, or the like of the controlled-environment facility
communications system or on a resident media device, which provides
the resident a selection to view the non-resident video or image,
such as, via the resident interface. This same interface may be
used to initiate video mail to a non-resident. In accordance with
some embodiments of the present systems and methods, the resident
interface may present the resident an option to send a reply
resident video or image to the non-resident, and/or an initial
video mail. An option to send the reply resident video or image to
the non-resident may be presented as a result of the resident
selecting to view the non-resident video or image, and may be
presented during and/or following playback of the non-resident
video or image. In accordance with such embodiments, the resident
interface may receive a selection by the resident to send a return,
or initial, resident video mail to the non-resident. Further, this
option to send the non-resident a video or image may, in some
embodiments, be an option to capture and send a resident video or
image to the non-resident, or an option to upload and send an
existing video or image. The present systems or methods accept, via
the resident interface, a resident's selection to upload a resident
video or image or to capture a resident video or image. The
resident is provided a resident file name entry interface, via the
resident interface, to enter a resident video or image filename
and/or an option to browse for a resident video or image file, in
response to selection by the resident to upload a resident video or
image file. Alternatively, in response to a selection by the
resident to capture a resident video or image the resident is
provided a resident video or image capture interface for capturing
a resident video or image using a camera connected to the
controlled-environment facility communications system or
incorporated into the resident media device. The selected or
recorded resident video or image is then uploaded and presented to
the non-resident on the non-resident device, such as via the
non-resident interface.
[0011] In accordance with some embodiments of the present systems
and methods, the controlled-environment facility may be a
correctional facility, jail, or the like and the resident is a
prisoner, inmate, detainee, arrestee, or the like.
[0012] In various embodiments, one or more of the techniques
described herein may be performed by one or more computer systems.
In other various embodiments, a tangible computer-readable storage
medium may have program instructions stored thereon that, upon
execution by one or more computer systems, cause the one or more
computer systems to execute one or more operations disclosed
herein. In yet other various embodiments, one or more systems may
each include at least one processor and memory coupled to the
processors, wherein the memory is configured to store program
instructions executable by the processor(s) to cause the system(s)
to execute one or more operations disclosed herein.
[0013] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and
technical advantages of the present invention in order that the
detailed description of the invention that follows may be better
understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention
will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims
of the invention. It should be appreciated that the conception and
specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis
for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the
same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized
that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the invention
as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are
believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its
organization and method of operation, together with further objects
and advantages will be better understood from the following
description when considered in connection with the accompanying
figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of
the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and
description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits
of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Having thus described the invention in general terms,
reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are
not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an example of a
communications environment, wherein an example embodiment of the
present systems and methods for video mail to and from residents of
controlled-environment facilities is shown deployed in conjunction
with a controlled-environment facility, according to some
embodiments;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an example implementation of a
process for providing outside initiated video mail to residents of
controlled-environment facilities from non-residents, according to
some embodiments;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an example implementation of a
process for enabling a resident of a controlled-environment
facility to view and/or send video mail to a non-resident,
according to some embodiments; and
[0018] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example of a computer system
configured to implement various systems and methods described
herein, according to some embodiments.
[0019] While this specification provides several embodiments and
illustrative drawings, a person of ordinary skill in the art will
recognize that the present specification is not limited only to the
embodiments or drawings described. It should be understood that the
drawings and detailed description are not intended to limit the
specification to the particular form disclosed, but, on the
contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents
and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the claims.
As used herein, the word "may" is meant to convey a permissive
sense (i.e., meaning "having the potential to"), rather than a
mandatory sense (i.e., meaning "must"). Similarly, the words
"include," "including," and "includes" mean "including, but not
limited to."
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter
with reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention may,
however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather,
these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be
thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the
invention to those skilled in the art. One skilled in the art may
be able to use the various embodiments of the invention.
[0021] For example, various types of controlled-environment
facilities are present in today's society, and persons may be
voluntary or involuntary residents of such facilities, whether
temporarily or permanently. Examples of controlled-environment
facilities may include correctional institutions (e.g., municipal
jails, county jails, state prisons, federal prisons, military
stockades, juvenile facilities, detention camps, home incarceration
environments, etc.), healthcare facilities (e.g., hospitals,
nursing homes, mental health facilities, rehabilitation facilities,
such as drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities, etc.),
restricted living quarters (e.g., hotels, resorts, camps,
dormitories, barracks, etc.), and the like. For convenience of
explanation, various examples discussed herein are presented in the
context of correctional facilities, or the like. For instance, in
some of the embodiments discussed below, a controlled-environment
facility may be referred to as a correctional facility, jail or
prison, and its residents may be referred to as inmates, arrestees,
or detainees. It should be understood, however, that the systems
and methods described herein may be similarly applicable to other
types of controlled-environment facilities and their respective
residents (e.g., a hospital and its patients, a school dormitory
and its students, etc.). As a further example, as used herein the
term "video mail" includes, but is not limited to, an electronic
message that may include a video recording, one or more digital
photographic images, or the like, which may include audio and/or
text or captions.
[0022] As noted, the present disclosure relates generally to
communications to residents of controlled-environment facilities,
specifically to communications sent to or from outside parties
(non-residents) to residents of controlled-environment facilities,
and particularly to video mail sent from or to outside parties to
of from residents of controlled-environment facilities. In
accordance with embodiments of the present systems and methods,
providing video mail initiated by non-residents or residents of
controlled-environment facilities may include presenting the
non-resident or resident a user interface and receiving a selection
by the non-resident or resident to send video mail. Whereupon, the
non-resident or resident may be offered a selection to either
upload a video or image or to capture a video or an image. A
selection by the non-resident or resident is accepted and in
response to selection by the non-resident or resident to upload a
video or image file, the non-resident or resident may be presented
a file selection interface to enter a video or image filename
and/or to browse for a video or image file. In response to
selection by the non-resident or resident to capture a video or an
image, the non-resident or resident may be presented a video and/or
image capture interface for recording the video or capturing an
image, such as by using a camera of the device providing the
interface. The selected or recorded video or image may then be
uploaded and presented to the resident of the
controlled-environment facility or non-resident for viewing.
[0023] Thus, if constituents want to maintain proactive contact
with a resident of a controlled-environment facility they may take
advantage of embodiments of the present systems and methods to
expand their communication options. While traditionally,
constituents may want to receive a telephone call from a
controlled-environment facility resident, may send mail through the
postal service, or may drive to or set-up a video visitation with a
resident, none of these communication options provide the instant
proactive gratification of video mail, such as offered by
embodiments of the present systems and methods.
[0024] In accordance with embodiments of the present systems and
methods, a constituent may send video mail to residents of a
controlled-environment facility using an interface or the like,
such as may be provided by a controlled-environment facility
communications provider, the controlled-environment facility
itself, a governmental agency associated with the
controlled-environment facility, etc. This interface may be a
unified interface that enables the constituent to perform any
number of transactions related the residents of
controlled-environment facilities, such as make deposits to trust,
commissary, or communication accounts maintained t the benefit of
residents, check on the present status of such residents, etc. In
accordance with embodiments of the present systems and methods, the
constituent is enabled to employ such an online interface to either
upload a picture or video from their computer, mobile device, or
the like, or take a picture or record a video and upload it,
directly. The constituent may then use the same interface to select
a controlled-environment facility, select a resident, and send the
video mail. In accordance with various embodiments of the present
systems and methods, this video may be limited or
increased/extended by size, duration, and/or the like.
[0025] Residents are able to retrieve the video mail, in accordance
with various embodiments of the present systems and methods,
through software and hardware that resides at the
controlled-environment facility, and/or that is otherwise
associated with the controlled-environment facility. For example,
the resident may be provided an ability to watch and/or listen to
the message a configurable number of times or for a configurable
duration of time. As an additional service, residents may be able
to pay for, and send, a return/reply video message or pay to extend
the duration for which the initial message is retained and
available for viewing.
[0026] In accordance with embodiments of the present systems and
methods, an authorized facility administrator may be able to review
and/or retrieve video messages. Such administrators may also be
able to pre-approve, delete, and/or edit the video or image, such
as by adding their own message to the front and/or back of the
video message.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an example of a
communications environment, wherein example embodiment 100 of the
present systems and methods for video mail to and from residents of
controlled-environment facilities from and to non-residents is
shown deployed in conjunction with controlled-environment facility
105, according to some embodiments. Therein, communication
processing system 110 may provide telephone services,
videoconferencing, online chat, and other communication services to
residents of controlled-environment facility 105. In some cases,
communication system 110 may be co-located with a
controlled-environment facility, as illustrated. Alternatively,
communication system 110 may be centrally or remotely located, in
whole or in part with respect to one or more controlled-environment
facilities and/or may provide communication services to multiple
controlled-environment facilities. More generally, however, it
should be noted that communication system 110 may assume a variety
of forms, and may be configured to serve a variety of facilities
and/or users, whether within or outside of a controlled-environment
facility.
[0028] In some controlled-environment facility facilities,
residents may access communication services, or the like, using a
personal wireless media device, 115, which may be a tablet
computing device, media player, or the like, approved and/or
adapted for use in controlled-environment facility 105. Under
control of communication processing system 110, resident media
device 115 may be capable of connecting to a non-resident's (i.e.,
a person not incarcerated or otherwise committed to a
controlled-environment facility) personal computer 120, or the
like, a personnel communications device such as smartphone 125, a
media player, or the like, across public data network 130. Switch
135, or media gateway functionality, associated with communication
processing system 110 may be used to connect calls and/or otherwise
provide voice and/or data communications across public data network
130 to non-resident device 120 or 125. Public data network 130 may
be an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Voice-over-IP
(VoIP), or packet data network, such as, for example the
Internet.
[0029] Internal network 140 may provide packet-based data to
internal devices intended for non-resident use, such as terminal
145 and/or non-resident video visitation device 150X. Router 155 of
communication system 110 is used to route data packets associated
with a call connection to devices 145 or 150X. Internal network 140
may be internal to controlled-environment facility 105 and/or may
extend outside of controlled-environment facility 105, as
illustrated. For example, terminal 145 and/or non-resident video
visitation device 150X may be disposed in a visitation area of
controlled-environment facility 105, within adjacent to, or remote
with respect controlled-environment facility 105, itself.
[0030] Intelligent facility or video visitation devices 150A-N and
X are each a telephone/videophone terminal that may have video
conferencing capabilities to enable residents, such as inmates in a
correctional facility, to participate in video visitation sessions
with non-residents of the controlled-environment facility via video
communication, secure online chat, etc. For example, a non-resident
party may use internal terminal 145 or video visitation device
150X, have a personal or laptop computer 120 with camera 160 (or a
cell phone, tablet computer, etc. 125). Additionally or
alternatively, non-resident device 125 may have an integrated
camera 165 and display (e.g., a smart phone, tablet, etc.). A
network connection between the parties may be established and
supported by a facility, organization or commercial service that
provides computer services and software for use in
telecommunications and/or Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP).
Additionally or alternatively, the correctional facility and/or the
destination may use videoconferencing equipment compatible with ITU
H.323, H.320, H.264, and/or V.80, or other suitable standards.
Telephone/videophone terminals 150, which, as noted, may be
referred to as intelligent facility devices may be a replacement
for typical telephones provided in controlled-environment
facilities, such as rehabilitation centers, jails and prisons,
utilizing existing facility telephony wiring. While
telephone/videophone terminal 150 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as a
hardened, wall mounted device this intelligent facility device may
also take the form of a kiosk-type terminal or tablet. The
intelligent facility device may replace a typical pay phone found
in some facilities and may provide touch screen computer
functionality that enables a resident to perform "self service"
tasks such as setting up doctor appointments, scheduling
visitation, viewing schedules, and checking the status of his or
her case. The intelligent facility device may include an RFID or
biometric reader, or the like to enable precise identification of
each resident. In addition, the intelligent facility device
includes, as noted, a built-in camera and telephone handset to
enable a resident to use video conferencing to meet face to face
with attorneys, family and friends. Generally speaking, each video
visitation device 150 may be disposed in a visitation room, in a
pod, kiosk, etc.
[0031] In some embodiments, video visitation device 150 may be
implemented as a computer-based system, and/or may assume the form
of any computer, tablet computer, smart phone, etc., or any other
consumer device or appliance with videoconferencing capabilities.
For example, each of video visitation devices 150 may include a
display, camera, and handset (or microphone and speaker). The
display may be any suitable electronic display such as, for
example, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a touchscreen display
(e.g., resistive, capacitive, etc.), or the like, whereas the
camera may be any suitable imaging device such as, for instance, a
video camera or webcam equipped with Charge-Coupled Devices (CCDs),
Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) active pixel
sensors, etc. A handset may be similar to a traditional telephone
handset including an earpiece portion (with a loudspeaker), a
handle portion, and a mouthpiece portion (with a microphone).
[0032] Controlled-environment facility resident media device 115,
which may be referred to as an intelligent resident device, may be
a specially adapted, or otherwise facility approved,
controlled-environment facility resident tablet computing device,
media player, or the like. Resident media device 115 may be
adapted, and/or approved for use by residents of the
controlled-environment facility, within the controlled-environment
facility. For example, each tablet computing device 115 may be
particularly adapted for use in a controlled-environment, such as,
in a correctional institution, jail, or the like, such a tablet
computing device may have a specially adapted operating system
and/or may be "stripped-down," particularly from the standpoint of
what applications programs (apps) and/or hardware are provided or
allowed on tablet computing device 115, and/or connectivity
afforded to such a tablet computing device. By way of example, such
a resident tablet computing device may employ an operating system
kernel based upon an open source platform such as the CyanogenMod
ANDROID.TM.-based operating system, which may be rebuilt for use in
such a tablet computing device in a controlled-environment
facility. In such an example, the tablet computing device may be
adapted to only connect to a network provided by the
controlled-environment facility. Also, the resident tablet may have
a few fixed apps pre-installed on the device, and installation of
further apps on the device may be forbidden (i.e. prevented by
modifications to the device's operating system, or the like) and/or
restricted, such as by requiring permission from a facility
administrator, or the like. Apps provided on resident tablets might
include apps of particular interest to residents of the
controlled-environment facility. For example, tablet computing
devices provided to inmates of correctional facilities, might
include apps that may be of particular use to an inmate, in
general, such as access to a legal research service, or of more
specific interest, such as providing an inmate nearing release,
access to employment searching apps or the like. Hence, such inmate
tablet computing devices may be used to help soon to be released
inmates transition. For example, the tablet may be used to
communicate with a future employer, or the like. As such, tablets
may be sponsored, or otherwise subsidized by organizations or
companies, assisting with the transition of inmates into
society.
[0033] In some implementations, communication system 110 may be
configured to perform video monitoring operations configured to
monitor and copy video messages. In scenarios where communication
system 110 is located within the controlled-environment facility,
it may have direct access to and Administration Management System
(AMS) or Jail Management system (JMS) 170. In other embodiments,
however, communication system 110 may be located remotely with
respect to the controlled-environment facility, and access to AMS
or JMS 170 may be obtained via a computer network such as, for
example, networks 130 or 140.
[0034] In various implementations controlled-environment facility
communications system 100 for providing video mail from or to
non-residents, to or from residents of the controlled-environment
facility may present the non-resident a user interface (175), such
as on a non-resident device 120 or 125, terminal 145 or video
visitation device 150X. System 100 may receive a selection by the
non-resident, via user interface 175, to send non-resident video
mail to a resident of controlled-environment facility 105,
whereupon the non-resident may be offered, via user interface 175,
a selection to either upload a non-resident video or image or to
capture a non-resident video or non-resident image. The present
systems and methods may then accept from the non-resident the
selection via user interface 175 to upload the non-resident video
or image or to capture the non-resident video or image. In response
to selection by the non-resident to upload a non-resident video or
image file, the non-resident may be presented, via user interface
175, a non-resident file selection interface to enter a
non-resident video or image filename and/or browse for a
non-resident video or image file. However, in response to selection
by the non-resident to capture a non-resident video or image, the
non-resident may be presented a non-resident video or image capture
interface, via user interface 175 for recording the non-resident
video or capturing the non-resident image, via the non-resident
video or image capture interface, such as by using camera 160 or
165 of non-resident device 120 or 125, or camera 180 or 185 of
terminal 145 or video visitation device 150X.
[0035] The selected or recorded non-resident video or image may be
uploaded and presented to the resident of the
controlled-environment facility for viewing using
controlled-environment facility communications system 110, or the
like, such as via one intelligent facility devices 150, or
alternatively, via resident media device 115, approved and/or
adapted for use in the controlled-environment facility by the
resident.
[0036] The resident may be presented a resident interface (190) on
one of terminals 150(a), or the like of controlled-environment
facility communications system 110 or on resident media device 115,
which provides the resident a selection to view the non-resident
video or image, such as, via resident interface 190. Additionally
and/or alternatively, resident interface 190 may present the
resident an option to send a resident video or image to the
non-resident, such as an initial video or image to the non-resident
or in reply to a video or image sent by the non-resident. Resident
interface 190 may receive a selection by the resident to send a
resident video mail to the non-resident. This option to send the
resident video or image to the non-resident may be presented as a
result of the resident selecting to view a non-resident video or
image, and may be presented during and/or following playback of the
non-resident video or image. Further, this option to send the
non-resident a resident video or image may, in some embodiments, be
an option to capture and send a resident video or image to the
non-resident, or an option to upload and send an existing video or
image. The present systems or methods accept, via resident
interface 190, a resident selection to upload a resident video or
image or to capture a resident video or image. In response to
selection by the resident to upload a resident video or image file,
the resident is provided a resident file name entry interface, via
the resident interface, to enter a resident video or image filename
and/or an option to browse for a resident video or image file.
Alternatively, in response to selection by the resident to capture
a resident video or image, the resident is provided a resident
video or image capture interface for capturing a resident video or
image using camera 185 or 195 connected to or incorporated into
controlled-environment facility communications system intelligent
facility device 150(A) or incorporated into resident media device
115. The selected or recorded resident video or image is then
uploaded and presented to the non-resident on the non-resident
device, such as via the non-resident interface 175.
[0037] Controlled-environment facility communications management
system 110 may store non-resident and/or resident video mail for a
predetermined time, and/or limit the size or duration of
non-resident or resident video mail to a predetermined length or
size. In accordance with various embodiments of the present systems
and methods, the resident may be presented, such as via resident
interface 190, and/or the non-resident may be presented, such as
via the non-resident user interface 175, an option to extend a
predetermined storage time of non-resident and/or resident videos
or images. Similarly, the resident and/or the non-resident may be
presented, via the resident or non-resident user interface, an
option to expand a permitted size or duration of non-resident or
resident video mail, in accordance with various embodiments of the
present systems and methods. Controlled-environment facility
communications management system 110 may charge the resident (i.e.
a resident communications account, or the like) and/or the
non-resident (such as via a credit card, or the like) for such
extension or expansion.
[0038] As noted, in accordance with embodiments of the present
systems and methods, an authorized facility administrator, or an
investigator, may be able to review and/or retrieve video messages.
Such administrators or investigators may also be able to
pre-approve, delete, and/or edit the video or image, such as by
adding their own message to the front and/or back of the video
message. Such review and/or notation may be carried out employing
controlled-environment facility communications management system
110, employing the aforementioned video monitoring operations, such
as in conjunction with AMS 170. Moreover, controlled-environment
facility communications management system 110 may, in an automated
matter, confirm parties' (resident and/or non-resident) identities
through personal identification numbers (PINs), other identifying
information or biometrics. Further biometrics, such as facial
recognition, voice recognition, or the like may be used to confirm
the identities of residents and/or non-residents in videos or
images exchanged in accordance with embodiments of the present
systems and methods. Similarly, controlled-environment facility
communications management system 110 may autonomously screen the
audio portion of resident and/or non-resident videos for keywords,
profanity and/or other offensive or significant words or sounds. In
a like manner, video or images may be screened in an automated
manner, by controlled-environment facility communications
management system 110 for gang signs, hand signals, hidden messages
or the like, such as through gesture or optical marking
recognition. In investigative embodiments, the
controlled-environment facility communications management system
110 may send alerts or flag questionable messages, and may identify
a particular point in a message, such as a particular time index in
a video, which should be reviewed by an investigator and/or
administrator.
[0039] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an example implementation of
process 200 for providing outside initiated video mail to residents
of controlled-environment facilities from non-residents, according
to some embodiments. Therein, embodiments of the
controlled-environment facility communication systems and methods
may present the non-resident a user interface (175) at 205, such as
on a non-resident device (120, 125, 145, 150X), which may be a
personal computer or the like, or a personnel communications device
such as a smartphone, media player, or the like, etc. The present
systems and methods may receive a selection of the non-resident at
210, via the user interface, to send non-resident video mail to a
resident of a controlled-environment facility, whereupon the
non-resident may be offered, via the user interface at 215, a
selection to either upload a non-resident video or image or to
capture a non-resident video or image. The present systems and
methods may then, at 220, accept from the non-resident the
selection via the user interface to either upload the non-resident
video or image, or to capture the non-resident video or image. In
response to selection by the non-resident to upload a non-resident
video or image file, the non-resident may be presented, via the
user interface at 225, a non-resident file selection interface to
enter a non-resident video or image filename and/or to browse for a
non-resident video or image file. However, in response to selection
by the non-resident to capture a non-resident video or image, the
non-resident may, at 230 be presented a non-resident video or image
capture interface, via the user interface for capturing the
non-resident video or image, via the non-resident video or image
capture interface, such as by using a camera (160, 165, 180, 185)
of the non-resident device.
[0040] At 235, the selected or recorded non-resident video or image
may be uploaded and presented to the resident of the
controlled-environment facility for viewing using a
controlled-environment facility communications system (110), or the
like, or alternatively, a resident media device (115) approved
and/or adapted for use in the controlled-environment facility (105)
by the resident.
[0041] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an example implementation of
process 300 for enabling a resident of a controlled-environment
facility to view video mail from, and/or to send video mail to, a
non-resident, according to some embodiments. In accordance with
process implementation 300, the resident may be presented a
resident interface (190) on a terminal (150), or the like of a
controlled-environment facility communications system (110) or on a
resident media device (115), at 305. This resident interface may
prompt the resident to provide identification data, such as a PIN,
other identifying information or biometrics, and upon verification
provide the resident a selection to view a non-resident video or
image (sent at 235). At 310 the resident interface may present the
resident an option to send an initial or reply resident video or
image to a non-resident and may receive a selection by the resident
to send a resident video mail to the non-resident at 315. An option
to send the reply resident video or image to the non-resident may
be presented as a result of the resident selecting to view the
non-resident video or image via the resident interface, and may be
presented during and/or following playback of the non-resident
video or image. Further, this option to send the non-resident a
resident video or image may, in some embodiments, be, or include an
option (such as at 320) to capture and send a resident video or
image to the non-resident, or an option to upload and send an
existing resident video or image. The present systems or methods
accept, at 325, via the resident interface, a resident selection to
upload a resident video or image or to capture a resident video or
image. In response to selection by the resident to upload a
resident video or image file, the resident is provided a resident
file name entry interface, via the resident interface, to enter a
resident video or image filename and/or an option to browse for a
resident video or image file, at 330. Alternatively, in response to
selection by the resident to capture a resident video or image the
resident is provided a resident video or image capture interface
for capturing a resident video or image at 335, using a camera
connected to the controlled-environment facility communications
system or incorporated into the resident media device. The selected
or recorded resident video or image is then uploaded and presented
to the non-resident on a non-resident device (120, 125, 145, 150X),
at 340, such as via a non-resident interface (175).
[0042] In accordance with further embodiments of either of process
implementations 200 or 300, the resident may be presented, such as
via the resident interface, and/or the non-resident may be
presented, such as via the non-resident user interface, an option
to pay to extend a predetermined storage time of non-resident
and/or resident videos or images. Similarly, the resident and/or
the non-resident may be presented, via the resident or non-resident
user interface, an option to pay to expand a permitted size or
duration of non-resident or resident video mail, in accordance with
various embodiments of the present systems and methods. In various
embodiments of the present systems and methods the non-resident
and/or resident may be provided an option, such as via the
respective user interface, to add a caption to the respective
selected or recorded video or image.
[0043] Further, in accordance with further embodiments of either of
process implementations 200 or 300, prior to presenting the
uploaded videos or images for viewing, an identity of the resident
and/or non-resident in uploaded videos or images may be confirmed,
such as by controlled-environment facility communications system
110, employing biometrics. The uploaded videos or images for
keywords, may also be screened for profanity, gang signs, hand
signals and/or hidden messages through controlled-environment
facility communications system 110 employing speech, gesture and/or
optical marking recognition. An alert may be sent to an
investigator and/or controlled-environment facility administrator
and/or a questionable uploaded videos or images may be flagged,
identifying a particular point in the questionable uploaded videos.
In various embodiments of the present systems and methods an
investigator may be provided an interface to review uploaded videos
or images prior to presenting the uploaded videos or images for
viewing. This investigator interface may provide the investigator
an option to flag and/or append a note to uploaded videos or
images.
[0044] Embodiments of the present systems and methods for providing
video mail to and from residents of controlled-environment
facilities, as described herein, may be implemented or executed, at
least in part, by one or more computer systems. One such computer
system is illustrated in FIG. 4. In various embodiments, computer
system 400 may be a server, a mainframe computer system, a
workstation, a network computer, a desktop computer, a laptop, a
tablet computing device, media player, or the like. For example, in
some cases, computer 400 may implement one or more steps of example
processes 200 and/or 300, described above with respect to FIGS. 2
and 3, and/or a computer system such as computer system 400 may be
used as, or as part of, one or more of controlled-environment
facility communication processing system 110, nonresident devices
120 and/or 125, resident media device 115, intelligent facility
devices 150A-N and X, controlled environment facility management
system 170, and/or the like. In various embodiments two or more of
these computer systems may be configured to communicate with each
other in any suitable way, such as, for example, via a network
(e.g., in FIG. 1, non-resident devices 120 and 125 are illustrated
as communicating with controlled-environment facility communication
processing system 110, such as via network 140).
[0045] As illustrated, example computer system 400 includes one or
more processors 410 coupled to a system memory 420 via an
input/output (I/O) interface 430. Example computer system 400
further includes a network interface 440 coupled to I/O interface
430, and one or more input/output devices 450, such as video
device(s) 460 (e.g., a camera), audio device(s) 470 (e.g., a
microphone and/or a speaker), and display(s) 480. Computer system
400 may also include a cursor control device (e.g., a mouse or
touchpad), a keyboard, etc. Multiple input/output devices 450 may
be present in computer system 400 or may be distributed on various
nodes of computer system 400. In some embodiments, similar
input/output devices may be separate from computer system 400 and
may interact with one or more nodes of computer system 400 through
a wired or wireless connection, such as over network interface
440.
[0046] In various embodiments, computer system 400 may be a
single-processor system including one processor 410, or a
multi-processor system including two or more processors 410 (e.g.,
two, four, eight, or another suitable number). Processors 410 may
be any processor capable of executing program instructions. For
example, in various embodiments, processors 410 may be
general-purpose or embedded processors implementing any of a
variety of instruction set architectures (ISAs), such as the x86,
POWERPC.RTM., ARM.RTM., SPARC.RTM., or MIPS.RTM. ISAs, or any other
suitable ISA. In multi-processor systems, each of processors 410
may commonly, but not necessarily, implement the same ISA. Also, in
some embodiments, at least one processor 410 may be a graphics
processing unit (GPU) or other dedicated graphics-rendering
device.
[0047] System memory 420 may be configured to store program
instructions and/or data accessible by processor 410. In various
embodiments, system memory 420 may be implemented using any
suitable memory technology, such as static random access memory
(SRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), nonvolatile/Flash-type
memory, or any other type of memory. As illustrated, program
instructions and data implementing certain operations, such as, for
example, those described in connection with FIGS. 1 through 3,
above, may be stored within system memory 420 as program
instructions 425 and data storage 435, respectively. In other
embodiments, program instructions and/or data may be received, sent
or stored upon different types of computer-accessible media or on
similar media separate from system memory 420 or computer system
400. Generally speaking, a computer-readable medium may include any
tangible or non-transitory storage media or memory media such as
magnetic or optical media--e.g., disk or CD/DVD-ROM coupled to
computer system 400 via I/O interface 430, Flash memory, Random
Access Memory (RAM), etc. Program instructions and data stored on a
tangible computer-accessible medium in non-transitory form may
further be transmitted by transmission media or signals such as
electrical, electromagnetic, or digital signals, which may be
conveyed via a communication medium such as a network and/or a
wireless link, such as may be implemented via network interface
440.
[0048] In some embodiments, I/O interface 430 may be configured to
coordinate I/O traffic between processor 410, system memory 420,
and any peripheral devices in the device, including network
interface 440 or other peripheral interfaces, such as input/output
devices 450. In some embodiments, I/O interface 430 may perform any
suitable protocol, timing or other data transformations to convert
data signals from one component (e.g., system memory 420) into a
format usable by another component (e.g., processor 410). In some
embodiments, I/O interface 430 may include support for devices
attached through various types of peripheral buses, such as a
variant of the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus standard
or the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard, for example. In some
embodiments, the function of I/O interface 430 may be split into
two or more separate components, such as a north bridge and a south
bridge, for example. In addition, in some embodiments, some or all
of the functionality of I/O interface 430, such as an interface to
system memory 420, may be incorporated into processor 410.
[0049] Network interface 440 may be configured to allow data to be
exchanged between computer system 400 and other devices attached to
a network, such as other computer systems, or between nodes of
computer system 400. In various embodiments, network interface 440
may support communication via wired or wireless general data
networks, such as any suitable type of Ethernet network, for
example; via telecommunications/telephony networks such as analog
voice networks or digital fiber communications networks; via
storage area networks such as Fiber Channel SANs, or via any other
suitable type of network and/or protocol.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 4, memory 420 may include program
instructions 425, configured to implement certain embodiments
described herein, and data storage 435, comprising various data
accessible by program instructions 425. In an embodiment, program
instructions 425 may include software elements corresponding to one
or more of the various embodiments illustrated in the above
figures. For example, program instructions 425 may be implemented
in various embodiments using any desired programming language,
scripting language, or combination of programming languages and/or
scripting languages (e.g., C, C++, C#, JAVA.RTM., JAVASCRIPT.RTM.,
PERL.RTM., etc.). Data storage 435 may include data that may be
used in these embodiments. In other embodiments, other or different
software elements and data may be included.
[0051] A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that
computer system 400 is merely illustrative and is not intended to
limit the scope of the disclosure described herein. In particular,
the computer system and devices may include any combination of
hardware or software that can perform the indicated operations.
Additionally, the operations performed by the illustrated
components may, in some embodiments, be performed by fewer
components or distributed across additional components. Similarly,
in other embodiments, the operations of some of the illustrated
components may not be provided and/or other additional operations
may be available. Accordingly, systems and methods described herein
may be implemented or executed with other computer system
configurations.
[0052] Although the present invention and its advantages have been
described in detail, it should be understood that various changes,
substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is
not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the
process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means,
methods and steps described in the specification. As one of
ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the
disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines,
manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps,
presently existing or later to be developed that perform
substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same
result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be
utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the
appended claims are intended to include within their scope such
processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means,
methods, or steps.
* * * * *