Secure nonscheduled video visitation system

{
  "publication_number": "US10225518B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Secure nonscheduled video visitation system",
  "abstract": "Described are methods and systems in which the censorship and supervision tasks normally performed by secured facility personnel are augmented or automated entirely by a Secure Nonscheduled Video Visitation System. In embodiments, the Secure Nonscheduled Video Visitation System performs voice biometrics, speech recognition, non-verbal audio classification, fingerprint and other biometric authentication, image object classification, facial recognition, body joint location determination analysis, and/or optical character recognition on the video visitation data. The Secure Nonscheduled Video Visitation utilizes these various analysis techniques in concert to determine if all rules and regulations enforced by the jurisdiction operation the secured facility are being followed by the parties to the video visitation session.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system comprising: an identity database; a censorship database; a local video communication device of an inmate in a correctional facility, wherein the local video communication device is configured to transmit a video visitation request to a remote video communication device of a party outside of the correctional facility; and a video visitation central processing platform comprising one or more processors and/or circuits configured to: determine whether the video visitation request includes a designated time of day, week, and/or month for a video visitation session; connect the video visitation session between the local video communication device and the remote video communication device based on the determination; conduct a first analysis on video visitation data using the identity database to identify individuals participating in the video visitation session, wherein a first signal is generated; conduct a second analysis on the video visitation data using the censorship database to detect a presence of an entry in the censorship database in the video visitation data, wherein a second signal is generated; and control a state of the video visitation session based on a sum of the first and second signals as weighted by a first and second weight.",
    "2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors and/or circuits are further configured to: connect the video visitation session at a scheduled time in response to determining that the video visitation request includes the designated time of day, week, and/or month.",
    "3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors and/or circuits are further configured to: connect the video visitation session at an unscheduled time in response to determining that the video visitation request does not include the designated time of day, week, and/or month.",
    "4. The system of claim 3, wherein the video visitation session is connected for a predetermined length of time.",
    "5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors and/or circuits are further configured to: determine that the video visitation request includes a schedule of times that an individual participating in the video visitation session does not want to be contacted; and connect the video visitation session between the local video communication device and the remote video communication device according to the schedule of times.",
    "6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first analysis comprises identifying one or more of the individuals participating in the video visitation session based on image data of the video visitation session using facial recognition.",
    "7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second analysis comprises identifying non-verbal audio in the video visitation data, identifying objects in the video visitation data, or identifying written characters in the video visitation data.",
    "8. The system of claim 1, wherein: the video visitation central processing platform further comprises a first analysis module configured to conduct the first analysis and a second analysis module configured to conduct the second analysis; the first signal comprises an output of the first analysis module after the first analysis; the second signal comprises an output of the second analysis module after the second analysis; and the state of the video visitation session comprises one of a connected state, a disconnected state, or a supervised state.",
    "9. A method for video visitations in a controlled environment, the method comprising: receiving, by a video visitation system, a video visitation request from a local video communication device or a remote video communication device; determining whether the video visitation request includes a designated time of day, week, and/or month for a video visitation session; connecting the video visitation session between the local video communication device and the remote video communication device based on the determination; analyzing video visitation data to determine if content of the video visitation session is in accordance with a set of rules; determining that the video visitation session is not in accordance with the set of rules, wherein a plurality of signals are generated; and transmitting an alert that the video visitation session is not in accordance with the set of rules based on a weighted sum of the plurality of signals.",
    "10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: connecting the video visitation session at a scheduled time in response to determining that the video visitation request includes the designated time of day, week, and/or month.",
    "11. The method of claim 9, further comprising: connecting the video visitation session at an unscheduled time in response to determining that the video visitation request does not include the designated time of day, week, and/or month.",
    "12. The method of claim 9, further comprising: determining that the video visitation request includes a schedule of times that an individual participating in the video visitation session does not want to be contacted; and connecting the video visitation session between the local video communication device and the remote video communication device according to the schedule of times.",
    "13. The method of claim 9, wherein the set of rules is determined by a jurisdiction operating a secured facility and the local video communication device is located within the secured facility.",
    "14. The method of claim 9, further comprising: disconnecting the video visitation session in response to determining that the video visitation session is not in accordance with the set of rules.",
    "15. A system comprising: an identity database; a censorship database; and a video visitation central processing platform comprising one or more processors and/or circuits configured to: determine whether a request for a video visitation session between a local video communication device of an inmate in a correctional facility and a remote video communication device of a party outside of the correctional facility includes a designated time of day, week, and/or month for the video visitation session, wherein the request is made by the inmate; connect the video visitation session between the local video communication device and the remote video communication device based on the determination; conduct a first analysis on video visitation data using the identity database to identify individuals participating in the video visitation session, wherein a first signal is generated; conduct a second analysis on the video visitation data using the censorship database to detect a presence of an entry in the censorship database in the video visitation data, wherein a second signal is generated; and control a state of the video visitation session based on a sum of the first and second signals as weighted by a first and second weight.",
    "16. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more processors and/or circuits are further configured to: connect the video visitation session at a scheduled time in response to determining that the video visitation request includes the designated time of day, week, and/or month.",
    "17. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more processors and/or circuits are further configured to: connect the video visitation session at an unscheduled time in response to determining that the video visitation request does not include the designated time of day, week, and/or month.",
    "18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first analysis comprises identifying one or more of the individuals participating in the video visitation session based on image data of the video visitation session using facial recognition.",
    "19. The system of claim 15, wherein the second analysis comprises identifying non-verbal audio in the video visitation data, identifying objects in the video visitation data, or identifying written characters in the video visitation data.",
    "20. The system of claim 15, wherein: the video visitation central processing platform further comprises a first analysis module configured to conduct the first analysis and a second analysis module configured to conduct the second analysis; the first signal comprises an output of the first analysis module after the first analysis; the second signal comprises an output of the second analysis module after the second analysis; and the state of the video visitation session comprises one of a connected state, a disconnected state, or a supervised state."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The disclosure relates to video communications, and specifically to video communications implemented via an inmate personal device in a controlled environment facility.\n\nAmerican prisons house millions of individuals in controlled environments all over the country. The rights of these prisoners are largely restricted for a number of reasons, such as for their safety and the safety of others, the prevention of additional crimes, as well as simple punishment for crimes committed. However, these prisoners are still entitled to a number of amenities that vary depending on the nature of their crimes. Such amenities may include phone calls, commissary purchases, access to libraries, digital media streaming, as well as others.\n\nOne such amenity that is currently in the process of being provided to inmates of correctional facilities is that of video conferencing, also known as video calling or video visitation. However, like with all such services, video visitation services present a number of challenges that are unique to prisons. Conventional video visitation for residents (hereinafter “inmates”) of controlled environments typically has required a process of scheduling prior to video visitation. One reason for the scheduling requirement is the specialized monitoring equipment and personnel required to monitor inmate communications.\n\nEmbodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.",
  "cpc": [
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  "ipc": [
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  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Global Tel Link Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Stephen Lee Hodge"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2017-09-22",
  "publication_date": "2019-03-05",
  "grant_date": "2019-03-05",
  "priority_date": "2016-03-23",
  "application_number": "US-201715713181-A",
  "family_id": "57867294",
  "cited_by_count": 14,
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