Abstract: A method of automatically distributing phone call recordings to interested parties generally includes associating one or more forwarding criteria with each of one or more interested parties, establishing a phone call from a calling party to a destination number through an institutional phone system, recording the phone call, and, if the phone call satisfies one or more forwarding criteria associated with one or more interested parties, automatically distributing the recording of the phone call to the at least one interested party associated with the satisfied one or more forwarding criteria. Distribution may be by e-mail, by uploading the recording to a website that interested parties (and preferably only interested parties) can access, by queuing the recordings for export to physical media, and/or through a voice mail system. Calls may be selected for distribution based on the caller, the called party, conversation content, call time, or any other suitable criteria.

Abstract: A method of controlling free phone calls placed from within a secured premises through an institutional phone system generally includes assigning a unique access identifier to an individual caller upon entry into the secured premises; receiving a destination number from the individual caller within the secured premises, the destination number being associated with a telephone located outside the secured premises; determining if the destination number is a per se free number, and, if the destination number is not determined to be a per se free number: receiving the unique access identifier from the individual caller; validating the unique access identifier; and, if the unique access identifier is valid, processing a telephone call to the destination number.

Abstract: Three-way call detection is an important component of correctional facility telephone equipment because it helps restrict calling access by certain persons to certain restricted telephone numbers. Various three-way call detection methods exist, but all of these implementations suffer from one major limitation—the detection accuracy is not as high as is desired by the industry. The present invention improves detection accuracy, using “steganography.” Steganography involves hiding one set of data or signals within another signal or carrier in such a way that its presence is virtually imperceptible to the end recipient, and potential even the originator of the carrier signal. Television producers use steganographic methods to encode data in video signals for security, distribution monitoring, piracy-control, and other reasons.