Patents Assigned to Tech Friends, Inc.
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Patent number: 11784952Abstract: The correspondence system accepts input from a sender to create a correspondence that is transmitted to a recipient. The system creates a digital file of the generated correspondence from the sender's input. The system analyzes and/or further processes the digitized correspondence according to at least one rule or set of rules. The system may transform the generated correspondence to an approved correspondence, augment the generated correspondence to an approved correspondence, or trigger alerting based on the generated correspondence as a result of the correspondence analysis. The system transmits the approved correspondence to the recipient or the recipient's facility.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2020Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Tech Friends, Inc.Inventor: Bobby L. Shipman, Jr.
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Patent number: 11514745Abstract: A delivery system applies rules for authorizing transactions to a recipient that are individualized for each recipient. These rules may limit the number of items available for the purchaser to purchase for a recipient, the types of items available for purchase for a recipient, and the price of the items for the recipient. The system automates the delivery of the item to the recipient via a kiosk, such as a vending machine. An identification device of the vending machine identifies the recipient. The vending machine dispenses the items to the identified recipient.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Tech Friends, Inc.Inventor: Bobby L. Shipman, Jr.
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Patent number: 10838464Abstract: The housing provides layers of rigid material and cushioning around the components of a mobile electronic device, such as a tablet. The rigid material includes a positioning frame that positions the display, the battery, and the circuit board within the housing. Cushioning positioned exterior of the frame provides additional cushion around the components of the mobile electronic device. The housing partially encloses the components of the mobile electronic device and provides a viewing window for viewing the display. A support rib abuts a rear wall of the housing to increase the rigidity of the housing. Antimicrobial agents and/or fire-retardant agents added to the housing provide additional features to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2018Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Tech Friends, Inc.Inventors: Bobby L. Shipman, Jr., Bryan Taylor, Jason Cochran, Joshua L. Parrish, Mark Haney, Bobby Shipman, III
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Patent number: 10678302Abstract: The secured storage receives an electronic device including but not limited to a tablet, smart phone, mobile computing device, or other computing device. The secured storage provides a charging system that charges the device. The system selectively charges the devices based upon identified rules. The lock of the secured storage secures the electronic device within the storage. The system maintains a log of the users who access the electronic devices. The system then control access by granting access to users and restricting access to users based upon usage history, behavior, or other criteria.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2018Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Tech Friends, Inc.Inventors: Bobby L. Shipman, Jr., Bryan Taylor, Jason Cochran, Joshua L. Parrish, Mark Haney, Bobby Shipman, III
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Patent number: 10256645Abstract: The protective housing at least partially encases a tablet, smart phone, mobile computing device, or other computing device. The housing inserts into a charging system that charges the electronic device. The housing also secures a charging adapter within a charging port of the device. The housing aligns the charging adapter adjacent to charging contacts of the charging system to complete the circuit to charge the device. The housing also eliminates access to certain features, buttons, controls, and other inputs to limit accessibility of the device.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2015Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Tech Friends, Inc.Inventors: Bob Shipman, Bryan Taylor, Jason Cochran
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Patent number: 10242417Abstract: Systems and methods for automated check-in of controlled-environment facility residents, such as correctional facility inmates, employs at least one biometric capture device or mechanism disposed within a controlled-environment area configured to capture biometrics of residents of the controlled-environment facility within the controlled-environment area. A controlled-environment facility administration and management system, or the like, is configured to enroll key biometric identification biometric features of residents of the controlled-environment facility and compare captured biometrics of the residents to enrolled key biometric features of residents of the controlled-environment facility to identify the resident. Whereupon, the controlled-environment facility administration and management system, or the like, logs the presence of an identified resident as in the controlled-environment area at a time the biometrics of the identified resident were captured.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2018Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Tech Friends, Inc.Inventors: Bobby L. Shipman, Jr., Mark A. Haney
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Patent number: 10225734Abstract: The secured storage receives an electronic device including but not limited to a tablet, smart phone, mobile computing device, or other computing device. The secured storage provides a charging system that charges the device. The lock of the secured storage secures the electronic device within the storage. The system maintains a log of the users who access the electronic devices. The system then control access by granting access to users and restricting access to users based upon usage history, behavior, or other criteria. The lock adjusts between locked to secure the device and unlocked to allow access to the device.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2016Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: Tech Friends, Inc.Inventors: Bob Shipman, Bryan Taylor, Jason Cochran
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Patent number: 9917455Abstract: The charging system charges electronic devices through the use of a charging base. Charging contacts within the charging base contact a charging adapter inserted into a port of the electronic device. The charging contacts of the charging base contact the charging contacts of the charging adapter to charge the device. A housing that partially encloses the electronic device limits the orientations in which the device can be inserted into the charging base. The housing promotes inserting the device into the charging base in a charging orientation that will charge the device.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2015Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Tech Friends, Inc.Inventors: Bob Shipman, Bryan Taylor, Jason Cochran
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Patent number: 9858632Abstract: Systems and methods for automated check-in of controlled-environment facility residents, such as correctional facility inmates, employs at least one biometric capture device or mechanism disposed within a controlled-environment area configured to capture biometrics of residents of the controlled-environment facility within the controlled-environment area. A controlled-environment facility administration and management system, or the like, is configured to enroll key biometric identification biometric features of residents of the controlled-environment facility and compare captured biometrics of the residents to enrolled key biometric features of residents of the controlled-environment facility to identify the resident. Whereupon, the controlled-environment facility administration and management system, or the like, logs the presence of an identified resident as in the controlled-environment area at a time the biometrics of the identified resident were captured.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2016Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: Tech Friends, Inc.Inventors: Bobby L. Shipman, Jr., Mark A. Haney
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Patent number: 9106789Abstract: Systems and methods for providing video visitation security to a controlled-environment facility are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include detecting an image of a face in a video stream transmitted between a resident (e.g., an inmate) of a controlled-environment facility (e.g., a jail or prison) and a non-resident of the controlled environment facility during a video visitation session. For example, the first image may occupy a given area on a display upon rendering of the video stream. As such, the method may include defacing (e.g., blurring, clouding, darkening, distorting, masking, shading, etc.) other areas on the display outside of the given area. Moreover, in various implementations, a method may also include detecting additional faces, determining and/or validating any number of visitors (e.g., via facial recognition), identifying certain attempts to circumvent security procedures, as well as taking pre-established corrective measures.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2012Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: Tech Friends, Inc.Inventors: Bobby L. Shipman, Jr., Laura Shipman
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Publication number: 20130311364Abstract: Systems and methods for managing financial accounts associated with residents of controlled-environment facilities are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include receiving information corresponding to a pooled account (e.g., a trust account, etc.) held by a financial institution (e.g., a bank), at least in part, for the benefit of residents (e.g., work-release inmates, etc.) of a controlled-environment facility (e.g., a jail, prison, etc.). The method may also include allocating funds within the pooled account to corresponding residents. The method may further include designating a first portion of the funds allocated to a given resident as inaccessible to the resident and designating a second portion of funds allocated to the given resident as accessible to the resident.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2013Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: Tech Friends, Inc.Inventors: Bobby L. Shipman, Mark A. Haney
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Patent number: 8498937Abstract: Systems and methods for managing financial accounts associated with residents of controlled-environment facilities are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include receiving information corresponding to a pooled account (e.g., a trust account, etc.) held by a financial institution (e.g., a bank), at least in part, for the benefit of residents (e.g., work-release inmates, etc.) of a controlled-environment facility (e.g., a jail, prison, etc.). The method may also include allocating funds within the pooled account to corresponding residents. The method may further include designating a first portion of the funds allocated to a given resident as inaccessible to the resident and designating a second portion of funds allocated to the given resident as accessible to the resident.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2011Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: Tech Friends, Inc.Inventors: Bobby L. Shipman, Jr., Mark A. Haney