Patents by Inventor Stephen Hodge

Stephen Hodge has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20200028963
    Abstract: There is a growing problem in correctional facility telecommunications systems in which parties on a voice call may connect inmate callers with restricted parties. Prison communication systems monitor calls to prevent such activity, but in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) environments such systems may fail to detect this activity. The present disclosure provides details of a system and method for using SIP messages common in VoIP environments to detect illicit activity initiated by a party on a voice call within a controlled environment. Scenarios are detected in which a called party connects an inmate caller to a restricted party via three-way call conferencing, call forwarding, or other call features. Corrective actions are then taken when such activity is detected, such as call blocking or alerting officials illicit activity is occurring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen HODGE, Eric GONZALEZ
  • Publication number: 20190348184
    Abstract: A tumor tracking device (110) includes a guideline engine (130), a detection engine (132), and a user interface (134). The guideline engine (130) receives a current measurement and a plurality of prior measurements of at least one lesion according to a medical image of a subject, each of the current and the plurality of prior measurements identified chronologically, and calculates growth between the current measurement and a most recent measurement of the plurality of prior measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Merlijn SEVENSTER, Michael Stephen HODGE
  • Patent number: 10462285
    Abstract: A method and system are described for enhancing the security of calls made by a member of a controlled environment to an outside party, particularly when the outside party communicates via a cellular phone. An application is provided for the cellular device, which must communicate and register with a calling platform of the controlled environment. Certain elements of personal verification data are obtained by the user of the cellular device and stored at the calling platform for later reference. Calls from the inmate to the cellular device cause the calling platform to issue a notification to the user via the application. The user verifies his/her identity using the application, after which the call can be connected. As a further security measure, certain conditions can be required and periodically checked during the call to ensure the user remains verified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corp.
    Inventor: Stephen Hodge
  • Patent number: 10442297
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a drivetrain and multiple power modules. The drivetrain includes at least one wheel. Each power module includes an energy system, and a propulsion system to which the drivetrain is mechanically connected. The energy system is operable to generate electrical energy using fuel. The propulsion system is electrically connected to the energy system, and operable to contributorily power the at least one wheel using electrical energy from the energy system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheldon Z. Brown, Giorgio L. Zoia, Takehito Yokoo, Stephen Hodges
  • Publication number: 20190289127
    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: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen HODGE, Garth JOHNSON, Christopher McNITT
  • Patent number: 10397410
    Abstract: Disclosed is a voice message exchange system and method for improving communication between an inmate and a third party by enabling the inmate to leave a message when a call is not answered and further allowing the third party who receives the message to reply with a message to the inmate. Additionally, outside parties that meet the institution's requirements can leave messages for inmates at any time. The present invention can be used as an add-on to legacy inmate call management systems or incorporated internally into an inmate call management system. The system also provides monitoring, controlling, recording, and billing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Value-Added Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Hodge, David Woody
  • Patent number: 10367935
    Abstract: There is a growing problem in correctional facility telecommunications systems in which parties on a voice call may connect inmate callers with restricted parties. Prison communication systems monitor calls to prevent such activity, but in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) environments such systems may fail to detect this activity. The present disclosure provides details of a system and method for using SIP messages common in VoIP environments to detect illicit activity initiated by a party on a voice call within a controlled environment. Scenarios are detected in which a called party connects an inmate caller to a restricted party via three-way call conferencing, call forwarding, or other call features. Corrective actions are then taken when such activity is detected, such as call blocking or alerting officials illicit activity is occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Hodge, Eric Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 10341484
    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: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Hodge, Garth Johnson, Christopher McNitt
  • Publication number: 20190132364
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for secure electronic message exchange including coupling a control platform to a workstation of a plurality of workstations via a communications medium, where the control platform includes one or more apparatuses for monitoring, controlling, conversion, and billing, related to messages exchanged between a plurality of local users and a plurality of remote users. The system prevents forwarding or copying of a message sent by a local user of the plurality of local users and received by a remote user of the plurality of remote users, to another party by the control platform. The system and method also provides for authenticating the remote user with the control platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen HODGE, David WOODY
  • Publication number: 20190132319
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for registering outside parties for communications inmates, and for processing communications between the inmates and outside parties. In order for an outside party to be approved for any particular communication with an inmate, the outside party is subjected to the approval of the jurisdiction. In this regard, a registration system identifies the relevant jurisdiction and applies one or more rules associated with the jurisdiction to information obtained regarding the outside party. Based on the analysis, the outside party is registered in a database along with an approval indication for all jurisdictions and inmates for which a registration has been performed. For later calls, the registration database can be quickly accessed to determine whether a given communication is authorized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen HODGE
  • Patent number: 10234941
    Abstract: A wearable sensor for tracking articulated body parts is described such as a wrist-worn device which enables 3D tracking of fingers and optionally also the arm and hand without the need to wear a glove or markers on the hand. In an embodiment a camera captures images of an articulated part of a body of a wearer of the device and an articulated model of the body part is tracked in real time to enable gesture-based control of a separate computing device such as a smart phone, laptop computer or other computing device. In examples the device has a structured illumination source and a diffuse illumination source for illuminating the articulated body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: David Kim, Shahram Izadi, Otmar Hilliges, David Alexander Butler, Stephen Hodges, Patrick Luke Olivier, Jiawen Chen, Iason Oikonomidis
  • Patent number: 10218842
    Abstract: Disclosed is a voice message exchange system and method for improving communication between an inmate and a third party by enabling the inmate to leave a message when a call is not answered and further allowing the third party who receives the message to reply with a message to the inmate. Additionally, outside parties that meet the institution's requirements can leave messages for inmates at any time. The present invention can be used as an add-on to legacy inmate call management systems or incorporated internally into an inmate call management system. The system also provides monitoring, controlling, recording, and billing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Value-Added Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Hodge, David Woody
  • Publication number: 20190046883
    Abstract: In the present disclosure, systems and methods are described for video gaming in a controlled environment facility. A video game server allows tenants of a controlled environment facility to play video games that are served and monitored by the video game server. In embodiments, users may initiate a game session to play games in a single player mode, competitive multiplayer or cooperative multiplayer mode depending on the game being played. The video game server maintains block lists for each user such that those users may not initiate or engage in the same game sessions with each other. In game sessions with two or more users, the video game server allows users to communicate via audio or text communications. The video game server may monitor those communications for potential security concerns. Users may also view videos of previously completed or live game sessions, subject to similar security monitoring measures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen HODGE
  • Patent number: 10205820
    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: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Hodge, Garth Johnson, Chris McNitt
  • Publication number: 20180375914
    Abstract: Controlled-environment communication systems are increasingly using voice over internet protocol (VoIP) to serve their users. VoIP allows voice to be sent in packetized form, where audio is encoded using one of several codecs. Because of bandwidth constraints, particularly during peak call times, codecs may be used which sacrifice audio quality for bandwidth efficiency. As a result, several features of communication systems, including critical security features. The present disclosure provides details for systems and methods by which a controlled-environment communication system may shift between codecs to perform security-related features or to alleviate bandwidth considerations. This involves the special formatting of control-signaling messages, including session initiation protocol (SIP) and session description protocol (SDP) messaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Hodge
  • Publication number: 20180339594
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a drivetrain and multiple power modules. The drivetrain includes at least one wheel. Each power module includes an energy system, and a propulsion system to which the drivetrain is mechanically connected. The energy system is operable to generate electrical energy using fuel. The propulsion system is electrically connected to the energy system, and operable to contributorily power the at least one wheel using electrical energy from the energy system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Sheldon Z. Brown, Giorgio L. Zoia, Takehito Yokoo, Stephen Hodges
  • Patent number: 10116707
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for secure electronic message exchange including coupling a control platform to a workstation of a plurality of workstations via a communications medium, where the control platform includes one or more apparatuses for monitoring, controlling, conversion, and billing, related to messages exchanged between a plurality of local users and a plurality of remote users. The system prevents forwarding or copying of a message sent by a local user of the plurality of local users and received by a remote user of the plurality of remote users, to another party by the control platform. The system and method also provides for authenticating the remote user with the control platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Hodge, David Woody
  • Publication number: 20180304465
    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: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen HODGE
  • Publication number: 20180307246
    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: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen HODGE
  • Publication number: 20180255108
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for secure electronic message exchange including coupling a control platform to a workstation of a plurality of workstations via a communications medium, where the control platform includes one or more apparatuses for monitoring, controlling, conversion, and billing, related to messages exchanged between a plurality of local users and a plurality of remote users. The system prevents forwarding or copying of a message sent by a local user of the plurality of local users and received by a remote user of the plurality of remote users, to another party by the control platform. The system and method also provides for authenticating the remote user with the control platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Hodge, David Woody