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.

Abstract: A controlled-environment facility paid network-based activity controller, or the like, searches for paid network-based activity opportunities and determines a particular resident of the controlled-environment facility is eligible to participate in a particular activity. If, in accordance with rules and procedures of the controlled-environment facility, the resident is allowed to participate in the activity, an offer is made, on a personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or media device of the resident, for the resident to participate in the activity and/or to invite a non-resident to participate in an activity. The resident, and/or non-resident, is presented access to the activity, on the resident's or a non-resident device, in response to acceptance of the option to participate. Interaction, by the resident, via the device, is enabled to carry out the activity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling access to one or more media devices that may be shared among multiple users, such as multiple residents in a controlled-environment facility, are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes operating at least one computer system. Operating the at least one computer system includes checking out a media device. Checking out the media device comprises enabling the media device for use for a first duration of a first timer. Operating the at least one computer system further includes, upon expiration of the first duration of the first timer, disabling use of the media device, and checking in the media device. The media device is prohibited from being checked out for a second duration of a second timer.

Abstract: Dynamic controlled-environment facility resident media broadcasting services transmit, via a controlled-environment facility local area network, a controlled-environment facility wireless media channel within a controlled-environment facility, playing a playlist available to controlled-environment facility residents to listen to, on respective personal controlled-environment facility resident media devices of the residents. An option for one of the residents to control content of the playlist and/or an option to suggest content for the playlist is offered on the respective personal resident media devices of the residents. Content of the playlist may be adjusted based on suggestions by the residents, such as in response to no resident accepting the offer to control content of the playlist.

Abstract: A system and method for preventing unauthorized inmate to inmate communications comprises establishing a video conferencing session between a first device and a second device. Video content is extracted from video conferencing session data received from the second device. One or more artifacts are identified in the video content. The artifacts indicate that a third device is a source of at least a portion of the video content. The artifacts comprise at least three layers of objects in the video content, wherein the layers are associated with different rates of variation in linear measurements of the objects. In other embodiments, multiple backgrounds are detected in the video conferencing session data.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices provide gaming services to residents of a controlled-environment facility. A first network interface of a device provides a restricted-bandwidth connection to a gaming system via one or more network access points located within the facility. A second network interface of the device establishes a second connection with the gaming system via a high-bandwidth connection in order to download one or more games to the device. Once the device is disconnected from the high-bandwidth connection, a request for the resident to access a downloaded game is issued to the gaming system via the restricted-bandwidth connection. An authorization key granting temporary access to the game is transmitted to the device via the restricted-bandwidth connection. The resident has access to the game until expiration of the authorization key is detected. The authorization key may expire based on duration of gameplay or based on gameplay progress.

Abstract: Systems and methods for collaborative gaming are described herein. In some embodiments, a system comprises a computer system. The computer system comprises at least one processor and a memory coupled to the at least one processor. The memory stores program instructions are executable by the at least one processor to cause the computer system to perform tasks. The tasks include enabling a first user, via a first gaming device, to initiate a gaming session of a gaming application using an account of the first user, enabling a second user, via a second gaming device distinct from the first gaming device, to join the initiated gaming session; and enabling the second user, via the second gaming device, to engage in game-play in the initiated gaming session on behalf of the first user. The second user engages in the game-play using the account of the first user.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for establishing a video conferencing session between a first device and a second device; extracting video information from video conferencing session data received from the second device; and identifying one or more known cues that have been added to the video information, wherein the known cues identify a third device as a source of the video conferencing session data. The systems and methods may add cues to outbound video information prior to transmission as video conferencing session data, wherein the added cues identify the first device as a source of the transmitted video conferencing session data. The systems and methods may generate an alert and/or terminate the video conferencing session and/or flag a video conferencing session record for further analysis when a known cue has been identified in the video information.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide a resident of a controlled-environment facility with voice messaging. The facility provides the resident with voice communication services. In response to a request by a resident for a voice communication with a non-resident, a call request to the non-resident may be initiated. In certain scenarios, the non-resident is unable to accept the call request. If a voice message is authorized, the resident is allowed to record a voice message for the non-resident. Certain restrictions may limit the resident to selecting from automated voice messages. A notification of the recorded voice message is dispatched to the non-resident. The notification identifies a unique link that directs the non-resident to a voice message retrieval system that allows the resident to retrieve and listen to the voice message recorded by the resident. The voice message recording remains under the control of the controlled-environment facility based on applicable security policies and procedures.

Abstract: Inbound call system and method implementations that provide sponsors of resident media and/or communications devices priority inbound calling host inbound calling accounts established by non-residents sponsors of sponsored resident devices. A unique address identifier (AID) of each sponsored resident device is associated with a particular non-resident sponsor (and a particular resident). Inbound calls to sponsored resident media and/or communications devices are received, the calling party is authenticated as associated with an AID of the called resident device the party is calling, and it is determined whether the calling party is a sponsor of the called resident device. If so, any ongoing call, and/or other activity, taking place on the sponsored resident device is interrupted and the non-resident inbound call is connected with the sponsored resident device.

Abstract: Sponsorship of controlled-environment facility resident media and/or communications devices by non-residents may include associating a non-resident with an address identifier of a sponsored resident media and/or communications device and associating a controlled-environment facility resident identified by the non-resident with the address identifier of the sponsored device. Thereafter, inbound calls to the sponsored device are connected as a result of confirming that an inbound calling party is associated with the address identifier of the sponsored device and verifying that the resident operating the sponsored device is associated with the address identifier of the sponsored device. Revocation of sponsorship of the sponsored device removes or deactivates association of the non-resident with the address identifier of the sponsored device and removes or deactivates association of the controlled-environment facility resident with the address identifier of the sponsored media and/or communications device.

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.

Abstract: An inbound controlled-environment facility resident call server may route a non-resident inbound call to a controlled-environment facility resident media and/or communications device. The called resident device may confirm that the non-resident is associated with an Address Identifier (AID) of that resident device. The resident device may also receive data for verifying authentication of the resident operating the device, verify authentication of the resident operating the device, and verify that the resident operating the device is associated with the AID. The inbound resident call server, or the called resident device itself, may connect the inbound call to the called resident device in response to the device authenticating the non-resident is associated with the AID, verifying authentication of the resident operating the device, and verifying that the resident operating the device is associated with the AID.

Abstract: Systems and methods for inbound calls to controlled-environment facility resident media and/or communications devices may receive, via the device, data associated with the resident operating the device. Authentication of the resident operating the device may be verified as associated with an address identifier of the device and it may be confirmed that an inbound calling non-resident is associated with the address identifier. A notification of the inbound call may then be sent to the device, and the same or other data associated with the resident operating the device may be received, via the device. Authentication of the resident operating the device as a resident as associated with an address identifier may be re-verified using the same or other data and the call connected as a result of the verification, confirmation and/or re-verification.

Abstract: An inbound call connection request may be received from a non-resident, directed to a controlled-environment facility resident and/or the resident's device. A determination may be made that a calling account of the resident does not have sufficient funds to pay for the inbound call, whereupon a message may be provided to the non-resident offering billing options, including at least a wireless carrier billing option, to complete the call connection. The call may be connected with the resident device in response to a determination a calling account of the inmate has sufficient funds to pay for the call or acceptance of one of the payment methods by the non-resident, along with authentication that the non-resident is associated with an address identifier (AID) of the resident device, and verification that the resident operating the device is associated with the AID of the device.

Abstract: In systems and methods for inbound phone or video calling to intelligent controlled-environment facility resident media and/or communications devices utilizing inbound calling subscriptions, each inbound calling account associates a non-resident with an address identifier of a controlled-environment facility resident media and/or communications device. An authenticating server, or the like validates, and re-validates identification of the non-resident associated with each inbound calling account at a predetermined time interval for each inbound calling account.

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.