Patents Assigned to Global Tel?Link Corporation
  • Patent number: 12264902
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to mobile correctional facility robots and systems and methods for coordinating mobile correctional facility robots to perform various tasks in a correctional facility. The mobile correctional facility robots can be used to perform many of the tasks traditionally assigned to correctional facility guards to help reduce the number of guards needed in any given correctional facility. When cooperation is employed among multiple mobile correctional facility robots to execute tasks, a central controller can be used to coordinate the efforts of the multiple robots to improve the performance of the overall system of robots as compared to the performance of the robots when working in uncoordinated effort to execute the tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Hodge
  • Patent number: 12265572
    Abstract: A Controlled Environment Secure Media Streaming System with Digital Video Recording (DVR) manages the delivery of content to Secured Devices. Cloud Services provide content to Integration Hub. The Integration Hub interfaces with various cloud services providers and prepares content for consumption by a resident of a secured facility. Integration Hub utilizes Content Filter to inspect content received from cloud service providers for suitability for use in a secured environment. Once content is retrieved, filtered, formatted, and packaged by Integration Hub, the content is stored in Data Warehouse. When requested content is not available, the system schedule a future retrieval or DVR of the content when it becomes available. When the system detects that the content is stopped, the system creates a bookmark, so the user can resume the content at the bookmarked portion at a later time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Lee Hodge
  • Patent number: 12262146
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Lee Hodge
  • Patent number: 12251188
    Abstract: A system and method for integration of telemedicine into multimedia video visitation systems of correctional facilities is disclosed herein. The system includes a telemedicine center that communicates with a medical center located at a correctional facility and a physician kiosk remote to the correctional facility. The medical center includes an inmate kiosk and a medical assistant station. The inmate kiosk and physician kiosk participate in a secure video call as part of an appointment between the inmate and physician. The inmate kiosk coordinates with the telemedicine center to verify an identity of the inmate. The inmate kiosk interfaces with a number of medical sensors and communicates data collected from the sensors to the physician kiosk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Hodge
  • Patent number: 12249863
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed for providing electrical charge to residents of a controlled-environment facility. In an embodiment, a charging station may be provided in an area accessible to an inmate to allow charging of in an inmate smart device, such as a phone or tablet. In an embodiment, a portable charger may be provided to an inmate for charging a smart device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Lee Hodge
  • Patent number: 12250187
    Abstract: A messaging system for relaying messages to groups of inmates located in one or more controlled-environment facilities. The system receives a message from a user and a recipient designation identifying those inmates designated for receiving the message. The system performs a content check of the message or requests administrator authorization of the message, and then packages the message in a format designated by the facility. The packaged message includes the message itself, and also recipient information and other delivery information. The message may be packaged uniquely according to facility specifications. At the facility, the received message is unpacked. Recipients are identified from the recipient designation in the message, and delivery methods are retrieved for each of the intended recipients. Delivery of the message is then carried out, at a time designated in the message, according to the retrieved delivery methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen L. Hodge
  • Patent number: 12212553
    Abstract: A communication device and system are disclosed for providing communication and data services to residents of a controlled facility. The device can be restricted to communicating only using an internet protocol so as to restrict the device communication to an internal intranet. Wireless access points may be disposed throughout the environment to route calls and data between the device and a central processing center. By converting a protocol of the communications received from the device to a protocol used by the central processing center, minimal modifications to the central processing center are needed to support a wireless communication infrastructure. Many restrictions and safeguards may be implemented within the phone and system in order to prevent improper use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Hodge, Garth Johnson, Christopher McNitt
  • Patent number: 12202603
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for locating, identifying, and tracking a known criminal, fugitive, missing person, and/or any other person of interest. An embodiment operates by deploying an unmanned aerial vehicle, determining the mode of operation of the UAV, operating the UAV in accordance with the mode of operation of the UAV, determining whether a subject has been detected, capturing a first voice sample associated with the subject, authenticating the identity of the subject, and transmitting the GPS location of the unmanned aerial vehicle to a computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Mitch Volkart
  • Patent number: 12206814
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides details on an intermediary service bureau (ISB) system which includes an ISB center that acts as an intermediary communication center between communication devices used by correctional facilities and contract providers. The ISB records communications, stores security data, and provides front end processing to facilitate an inmate to communicate with an outside party by way of a contract provider. Further, the ISB provides accounting services for inmates and friends and family that use services provided the contract provider. The contract provider provides security and routing services for the ISB by obtaining data from the ISB and updating data at the ISB according to the communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Lee Hodge
  • Patent number: 12206817
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing secure communication between an inmate and an outside user are disclosed. In various aspects, account information of both the user and the inmate is stored. A message transmission is received from a first device that includes a header portion and an encrypted payload portion. The system verifies that confidential communication between the inmate and the outside user is permitted based on the header portion and the stored account information. Once verified, the message is transmitted to a second device without decrypting the payload portion of the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen L. Hodge
  • Publication number: 20250023981
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a monitoring environment that monitors an activity for activity that may be indicative of being prohibited by the local, the state, and/or the national governing authorities, namely suspicious activity, or activity that is prohibited by the local, the state, and/or the national governing authorities, namely prohibited activity. The monitoring environment verifies the activity is actually being monitored within the monitoring environment. The verification can require one or more monitoring persons monitoring the activity to perform one or more tasks to verify their attentiveness in monitoring the activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2024
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Applicant: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Lee HODGE
  • Patent number: 12198214
    Abstract: Secure system and method of detecting and preventing inmate to inmate message relays. A system and method which monitors inmate communications for similar phrases that occur as part of two or more separate inmate messages. These similar phrases may be overlapping in real time as in a conference call or can occur at separate times in separate messages. The communications that appear similar are assigned a score and the score is compared to a threshold. If the score is above a certain threshold, the communication is flagged and remedial actions are taken. If the flagged communication contains illegal matter then the communication can be disconnected or restricted in the future.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen L. Hodge
  • Patent number: 12199748
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Garth Johnson
  • Patent number: 12200159
    Abstract: A layered security suite is disclosed wherein multiple security barriers that prevent the unsanctioned use of a mobile device issued by a controlled-environment facility. The security barriers are implemented along multiple points within the communication path between the mobile device with outside networks, including on the mobile device, on wireless access points that serve data traffic for the mobile device, and a firewall device that monitors all data coming to and from the wireless access points. The barriers on the mobile device prevent the user from performing unsanctioned application and settings changes, including both software and hardware components, while the barrier on the wireless access point detects and prevents unauthorized connections between mobile devices and unsanctioned wireless access points. The firewall device discards packets with unsanctioned internet addresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Marass, Brian Peters, Garth Johnson, Stephen Lee Hodge
  • Patent number: 12199698
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for activating remote monitoring functionality of a personal wireless device associated with a released individual. After incarceration, former inmates are released under a variety of different circumstances, many of which require follow-up check-ins with case managers or other individuals. As part of their release, inmates often agree to multiple restrictions and requirements. In order to better monitor compliance with those requirements, a personal wireless device assigned to the released individual can be programmed with certain rules and automatically trigger when a violation is detected. As a result of a detected violation, the personal wireless device activates certain devices, such as a camera, microphone, etc., to capture data in order to remotely monitor the released individual. A case manager can also manually activate monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Lee Hodge
  • Publication number: 20240428359
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing location fencing within a controlled environment are disclosed herein. A location fencing server determines a location of a first inmate based on a first beacon device, and determines a location of a second inmate based on a second beacon device. Further, the location fencing server determines a proximity status based on the location of the first inmate and the location of the second inmate. Additionally, the location fencing server determines that the first inmate and the second inmate are in violation of a proximity policy based on the proximity status. In some embodiments, the location fencing server sends a notification to an employee device based on the violation of a proximity policy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Applicant: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Lee HODGE
  • Patent number: 12175189
    Abstract: The growing amount of communication data generated by inmates in controlled environments makes a timely and effective investigation and analysis more and more difficult. The present disclosure provides details of a system and method to investigate and analyze the communication data in a correctional facility timely and effectively. Such a system receives both real time communication data and recorded communication data, processes and investigates the data automatically, and stores the received communication data and processed communication data in a unified data server. Such a system enables a reviewer to review, modify and insert markers and comments for the communication data. Such a system further enables the reviewer to search the communication data and create scheduled search reports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Lee Hodge
  • Patent number: 12177379
    Abstract: A centralized and robust threat assessment tool is disclosed to perform comprehensive analysis of previously-stored and subsequent communication data, activity data, and other relevant information relating to inmates within a controlled environment facility. As part of the analysis, the system detects certain keywords and key interactions with the dataset in order to identify particular criminal proclivities of the inmate. Based on the identified proclivities, the system assigns threat scores to inmate that represents a relative likelihood that the inmate will carry out or be drawn to certain threats and/or criminal activities. This analysis provides a predictive tool for assessing an inmate's ability to rehabilitate. Based on the analysis, remedial measures can be taken in order to correct an inmate's trajectory within the controlled environment and increase the likelihood of successful rehabilitation, as well as to prevent potential criminal acts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Mitch Volkart
  • Patent number: 12169874
    Abstract: A system for high definition (HD) image recognition of criminals is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of cameras, an image recognition server, investigator user devices, a computing device, a database, and a network. At least one processor of the image recognition server is configured to receive a plurality of photographs of a first individual, perform image processing of the plurality of photographs to extract a first set of physical features, store feature data regarding the first set of physical features in the database, receive suspect data regarding a suspected individual from a first investigator user device, match the suspect data with the feature data stored in the database, and transmit an alert to the computing device in the prison, wherein the alert activates a mobile application on each investigator user device to display match data identifying the suspected individual as the first individual based on the feature data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Lee Hodge
  • Publication number: 20240414630
    Abstract: The growing problem of contraband devices being smuggled into a correctional facility raises both security and safety issue. General fixed contraband detection systems are not cost effective because they require a high up-front cost and high maintenance, training and upgrade cost after installation. The present disclosure provides details of a system and method to detect and control the usage of contraband devices in a correctional facility cost effectively. Such a system is portable and can be relocated to different locations. Such as system both detects contraband devices and disrupts the operations of the contraband devices. Such a system further provides a report on the severity of contraband usage to the correctional facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Applicant: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Lee HODGE