Patents Assigned to SECURUS TECHNOLOGIES
  • Patent number: 10638404
    Abstract: A communication device may be assigned to a resident of a controlled-environment facility. A data network interface of the resident device establishes a connection with a resident network via one or more network access points located within the facility. A tracking network interface of the resident device transmits location tracking signals received by location tracking devices located within the facility. The resident device connects with the resident network via the data network interface in providing services to the resident. During intervals when the resident device is not connected to the resident network via the data network interface, tracking network interface is used to transmit the location tracking signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Chenault, Daniel Wright, Robert E. Day, Scott D. Passe, Kendrick Sims
  • Patent number: 10607307
    Abstract: Systems or methods for collective purchasing by controlled-environment facility residents may employ a plurality of controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or media devices, each associated with a respective controlled-environment facility resident. These devices, disposed within one or more controlled-environment facilities, may each present an interface for purchasing goods and/or services via the device. The devices may each offer, via the interface, an option to collectively purchase a single good or service by a number of controlled-environment facility residents and may accept an indication of partial payment from the resident associated with the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Connor Pickens, Alexander Noland
  • Patent number: 10609089
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying individuals using contraband communications devices in a controlled-environment facility are disclosed. Wireless communications are intercepted using a plurality of access points positioned at different locations within the controlled-environment facility. All wireless communications are blocked in a first group of locations, and individuals assigned to the first group of locations are identified. Some or all wireless communications are allowed in a second group of locations. Individuals are identified as possible contraband sources if they move from the first group of locations to one of the second group of locations after wireless communications are allowed in the second group of locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Baker, Mark Landon Wasson
  • Patent number: 10609094
    Abstract: Controlled-environment facility resident contact tools for intelligent controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or media device interfaces may be configured to present a contact list of non-residents of the controlled-environment facility for a respective resident of the controlled-environment facility, to the respective resident. The interface may also present the resident an interface to input name and contact information for the contacts. Additionally or alternatively, the system may auto-populate the contact list for at least one resident. Messages, such as nudges for the non-resident to take an action with respect to the resident, such as make a deposit to a trust account of the resident, set-up a video visitation with the resident, or the like, are transmitted to the contacts, in the name of the respective resident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alice J. Clements, Joseph Higgs, Matthew Smith
  • Patent number: 10581871
    Abstract: Controlled-environment facility resident electronic communications for controlled-environment facility resident communications and/or data devices disposed within a controlled-environment facility may employ a controlled-environment facility communications processing system, or the like. The controlled-environment facility communications processing system, may be configured to host controlled-environment facility communications access services and accept a Cross-Origin Request Sharing (CORS) request from a non-resident device. These CORS requests may be for access to the controlled-environment facility communications access services for use by a controlled-environment facility communications Application Program Interface (API) running on the non-resident device to communicate with one of the controlled-environment facility resident devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Nikita Dehoumon
  • Patent number: 10582155
    Abstract: Providing video visitation with cognitive and/or dexterity impaired individuals may call for limiting functionality of a personal cognitive and/or dexterity impaired individual communication and/or media device, such as by an operating system of the personal device. The personal device may play audio and video, accept video communications in response to touching of a screen of the personal device, and establish a video communication in response to such touching of the screen. Providing the video visitation may also include receiving a request to initiate a video communication over the personal device with a cognitive and/or dexterity impaired individual, such as may be requested via a visitor communication and/or media device. Whereupon, an audible message may be played by the personal device, indicating the request, and the video communication between the personal device and the visitor device may be established in response to touching of the screen of the personal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander Noland
  • Patent number: 10565793
    Abstract: Embodiments provide methods and systems for regulating the use of virtual reality environments provided to residents of controlled-environment facilities. In response to a request for virtual reality programs from an inmate, the privilege status of the inmate is used to determine the available virtual environments in which the inmate may participate. The participation of the inmate within a virtual reality session may be restricted based on the privilege status of the inmate. Any limitations on an inmate's participation within an approved virtual environment may be enforced by restricting the behavior of an avatar representing the inmate within the virtual environment. The privilege status of inmates may be used to enforce restrictions that prohibit contact between certain inmates or certain classifications of inmates. The participation of inmates may be restricted and terminated based on a measured physiological responses to the inmate's participation in a virtual environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alice J. Clements, Scott Passe, Luke Keiser
  • Patent number: 10560497
    Abstract: Systems and methods for developing, deploying, and/or providing location-based controls for remote visitation in controlled-environment facilities are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include identifying a request to establish a visitation session between a resident and a non-resident of a controlled-environment facility, wherein the visitation session includes at least one of: a voice or a video call, and wherein the non-resident operates a mobile device; receiving spacial information of the mobile device; and applying a rule to the visitation session based upon the spacial information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Richard Smith
  • Patent number: 10554809
    Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing location-based services for controlled-environment facilities are disclosed. The location-based services may be used to restrict the ability of residents to communicate with non-residents that are located within geographic areas defined with the location-based service, such as within a specified proximity of the facility. A resident of the controlled-environment facility requests a remote communication with a non-resident that is utilizing a mobile device, such as a cellular phone, smart phone or tablet device. The request for the remote communication may be allowed based, at least in part, upon the physical location of the mobile device as determined based on the location of cellular towers in use by the mobile device and based on a GPS (Global Positioning System) location provided by the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam C. Edwards, Russell W. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20200036663
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing privileged communications in a controlled-environment facility are disclosed. A privileged communication is received from a user via an online portal, wherein the user having been previously confirmed as having a privileged relationship with a resident of the controlled-environment facility, transmitting the privileged communication to the resident in a manner that prevents inspection by controlled-environment facility staff, and notifying the user when the privileged communication has been accessed by the resident. The privileged communication may be one or more of a document, an image, a text message, an email, a voicemail, or any other electronic or digital communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Connor Pickens, Alice J. Clements
  • Patent number: 10536278
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide the generation of signed recordings of audio and video calls. The signed recordings include information that may be used to verify the integrity of a purported copy of the recording. The recording may be generated by capturing the audio and/or video from a monitored communication and streaming the captured data to a recording. As the captured data is streamed to the media file used for the recording, a hash value is calculated for each segment of the received data. Information describing the context of the communication may be used to generate another hash value. A digital signature for the recorded call may be generated based on the two combined hash values. Operating in this manner, a signed recording of the communication may be generated while a recording of the communication to a media file is being made, rather than by post-call processing of a stored file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Donaldson, Krishna Balantrapu
  • Patent number: 10523898
    Abstract: Systems and methods for blocking, adding, and/or modifying video content in a video conference session are disclosed. A video conferencing session is established between a first device and a second device. Video conferencing session data that is received from the first device comprises only audio information. Video conferencing session data that is received from the second device comprises both audio and video information. Video content is added to the video conferencing session data from the first device before sending the video conferencing session data to the second device. The added video content is not captured from the first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mario Ward
  • Patent number: 10524106
    Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering video emergency services using Rich Communication Service (RCS) protocols are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include: receiving, at a 9-1-1 dispatch system, a 9-1-1 text message sent via a computing device using an RCS protocol, and initiating a 9-1-1 video communication with the computing device following the RCS protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Skertich, Alexander Noland, John Wange
  • Patent number: 10515243
    Abstract: A location-based analytics system provides tracking and visualization of individuals within a controlled-environment facility. A plurality of sensors, such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) sensors, are located within the controlled-environment facility and detect individuals located within a first proximity to the sensors. An analytics system determines the identity of individuals detected by the sensors and reports the locations of the identified individuals. A user interface provides the ability to select the display of the location and movement of selected individuals of the identified individuals on a three-dimensional model of the controlled-environment facility. The user interface also provides the ability to select a three-dimensional representation for the selected individuals and various other aspects of the controlled-environment facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dionisia Ray
  • Publication number: 20190364053
    Abstract: A controlled-environment facility resident interface runs on top of, or as a part of, an operating system of a controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or media device. The interface may request, accept and verify identification information from a resident of the controlled-environment facility operating the device. The interface presents application programs (apps) available for use by the resident on the device, via the interface. A selected app is executed and a countdown of time the selected app and/or the interface itself remains active starts. An interface tab or other visual indicator may display this countdown or it may be presented aloud. The selected app is closed or suspended upon expiration of the countdown, and the selected app, the interface and/or the device may be locked out from use by the resident for a time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: SECURUS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Alice J. Clements, Luke Keiser
  • Patent number: 10484648
    Abstract: Systems and methods enabling inbound calls to controlled-environment facility resident telephone numbers employ resident-associated communications devices deployed in the facilities. An inbound and outbound calling platform assigns a telephone number to each resident and associates a routable (IP) address of each resident communications device with such telephone number. This calling platform also presents an online directory to accessing inbound callers that lists residents the caller is allowed to call, the telephone number(s) of such resident(s), and whether such residents and their communications devices are ready to receive a call. The calling platform reconfirms such information upon an inbound call being placed to a telephone number assigned to a resident and signals the resident communications device associated with the resident assigned that telephone number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James Sturges
  • Patent number: 10484815
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing communications based upon location information associated with electronic files exchanged during the communications are described. In some embodiments, a method may include intercepting an electronic file exchanged during an electronic communication; identifying location information representative of a physical location where the electronic file was created or edited; and applying, based upon the location information, a selected one of a plurality of processing rules to at least one of: the electronic communication or the electronic file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew R. Smith
  • Patent number: 10452337
    Abstract: A controlled-environment facility and/or communications management system interface accepts definition of a digital bulletin board message directed to at least one controlled-environment facility resident, accepts assignment of a priority for displaying the digital bulletin board message on the digital bulletin board and a schedule for display of the digital bulletin board message and accepts assignment of the digital bulletin board message to controlled-environment resident communication and/or media device(s) disposed in the controlled-environment facility. The digital bulletin board message(s) are received by the controlled-environment resident communication and/or media device(s) to which the digital bulletin board message is assigned, and are displayed by the controlled-environment resident communication and/or media device(s) to which the digital bulletin board message(s) are assigned, in accordance with the assigned priority and the schedule for display of the digital bulletin board message(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alice J. Clements, Joseph Higgs, Matthew Smith
  • Patent number: 10455084
    Abstract: Inbound call processing systems and methods for processing inbound calls to controlled-environment facility resident media and/or communications devices employ an inbound resident call server configured to host inbound calling accounts established by non-residents, receive inbound calls from the non-residents, route the inbound calls to an authenticating server, confirm that the resident device is active, and connect the inbound resident call system with the resident device if active or inform the non-resident the resident is not available if not. The inbound resident call server also connects the non-resident inbound call with the resident device if the non-resident is associated with the inbound calling account, the inbound calling account is associated with an address identifier of the resident device and the resident's personal identification number is associated with the address identifier of the resident device, all of which may be authenticated by the authenticating server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Luke Keiser, Scott Passe, Krishna Balantrapu
  • Patent number: 10447968
    Abstract: Video communications of residents of a controlled-environment facility are monitored to detect instances of non-verbal communications within the video, such as the display of written messages and hand signals. Residents may participate in live video visitation sessions with non-residents. Video recordings are generated for each video feed of the live video visitation. During the live video visitation, indications of non-verbal communications displayed in the live video are detected. If indications of non-verbal communications are detected in the live video, the recorded video is annotated to specify the locations of the detected indications in the recording. Upon completion of the video visitation session, post-processing of the recorded video detects additional indications of displayed non-verbal communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott D. Passe, Luke Keiser